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Cairo -the Jewel of the Orient - the City of the Thousand Minarets -

the Melting Pot of Ancient and Modern Civilizations - The Mother of the World - The City of Victory - and starting point for your Egypt tour. Visitors sometimes find it a bewildering mixture of old and new. Businessmen in suits and locals in traditional robes can be seen in the same footpath coffee shops - minarets and domes share the skyline with high-rise office buildings and hotel towers - and traditional music mixes Egyptian pop and the continuous sound of car horns.However you describe Cairo, it is a dynamic and lively city combining a cosmopolitan lifestyle with a rich cultural heritage. The people are proud of their ancient city that they call al-Qahira, and Cairo has much to offer the interested tourist by way of ancient Pharaonic sites, Islamic monuments and Coptic churches. It is easy to feel the history in Cairo, where early seeds of civilization were sown surrounded by the harsh desert. Here there were many firsts - from the first multinational state to the first writing using hieroglyphics.

It is a city where the past meets the present - it extends along the banks of the River Nile to the delta in the south where the river divides into two waterways - Rosetta and Damietta. On the east side of the river stands evidence of 2,000 years of Islamic, Christian and Jewish culture, still evident today. To the west of the river lies the ancient city of Giza which was known as Memphis when it was the capital of the Old Kingdom. This is where you can see the Pyramids, the only remaining one of the seven wonders of the world.
Cairo isn't a gentle city. As with most mega cities the air is not as clean as it could be - the place is chaotic, noisy, polluted, totally unpredictable and seething with people - the sheer intensity of the city will either fascinate or frighten you.
Home to more than 16 million Egyptians, Arabs, Africans and others, the 'Mother of the World' is an amazing place. With its patchwork of ancient and medieval and modern, Cairo can be a bit hard to get a grip of - often things take longer than you would have thought, and nothing works quite perfectly. Patience is essential - but if you set realistic goals, take it easy and drink plenty of water, you'll have a wonderful time.
Also Cairo, the Triumphant City, known officially as al-Qāhirah is one of the world's largest urban areas and offers many sites to see. It is the administrative capital of Egypt and, close by, is almost every Egypt Pyramid, such as the Great Pyramids of Giza on the very edge of the city. But there are also ancient temples, tombs, Christian churches, magnificent Muslim monuments, and of course, the Egyptian Antiquities Museum all either within or nearby the city.
Cairo, Egypt is an amazing city full of life and movement, and it is that way almost 24 hours every day, with the noisy honking of horns, children playing in the streets and merchants selling their wears and services. And here, the Egyptians are most at home in this powerful, modern and ancient city
Cairo, Egypt provides great culture, including art galleries and music halls, such as the Cairo Opera House, as well it should, being one of the largest cities in the world. It also provides some of the grandest accommodations and restaurants in the world.

Cairo offers an incredible selection of shopping, leisure and nightlife activities. Shopping ranges from the famous Khan el-Khalili souk, (or bazaar) largely unchanged since the 14th century, to modern air-conditioned centers displaying the latest fashions. All the bounty of the East can be here. Particularly good buys are spices, perfumes, gold, silver, carpets, brass and copperware, leatherwork, glass, ceramics and mashrabiya. Try some of the famous street markets, like Wekala al-Balaq, for fabrics, including Egyptian cotton, the Tentmakers Bazaar for appliqué-work, Mohammed Ali Street for musical instruments and, although you probably won't want to buy, the Camel Market makes a fascinating trip. This is, and has been for over a thousand years, truly a shopper's paradise

There are no more famous ancient sites within Egypt, or for that matter elsewhere in the world, than the Great Pyramids at Giza. They are, without question, the icon most associated with the Egypt. They have been both the main destination for tourists, and a source of imaginative thought to the world for over three thousand years.
However, there are actually over 100 pyramids in Egypt, many of which are relatively unknown to anyone who is not an ancient Egypt enthusiast. All but a very few are grouped around and near the City of Cairo, just south of the Nile Delta. Otherwise, only one royal pyramid is known in southern Egypt (at Abydos), that being the one built by Ahmose, founder of the 18th Dynasty and Egypt's New Kingdom. It may have also been the last royal pyramid built in Egypt.
Hence, major pyramids were not built throughout Egypt's ancient history. The Pyramid Age began with a burst of building, starting with the 3rd Dynasty reign of Djoser. Some of the early kings, most specifically Snefru, built more than one pyramid. Almost all of the kings added to their number through the end of the Middle Kingdom, with the possible exception of the First Intermediate Period between the Old and Middle Kingdoms. After the first Pharaoh of Egypt's New Kingdom, Ahmose, royal pyramid building by Egyptians ceased entirely. Somewhat abruptly the kings of the New Kingdom chose, rather than making their tombs completely obvious, to hide them in the hills of the West Bank of Thebes (modern Luxor).

However, smaller pyramids were constructed, for example in the Deir el-Medina necropolis,

by private individuals. The Late Period Nubians who ruled Egypt also built relatively small pyramids with much steeper sides, though these were in fact constructed in Nubia itself. This tradition was carried on in Nubia after these southern rulers lost control of Egypt, and eventually, more pyramids were actually built in Nubia than Egypt, though on a much smaller scale.
Other pyramids in the world certainly exist, but their purpose, for the most part, was different than those of ancient Egypt. The most famous outside Egypt are probably those located in Mexico and to the south of Mexico, but these appear to have been built more as temples. In Egypt, all but a select few of the pyramids were built as tombs, sometimes to hold the physical body of a pharaoh (as well as other individuals), or to hold the soul of the deceased (as in the case of the small cult pyramids built next to the larger ones). Otherwise, the purpose of only a few small, regional stepped pyramids remains elusive.
While pyramids were, for the most part, tombs for the Pharaohs of Egypt, one must nevertheless question the reason that Egyptian rulers chose this particular shape, and for that matter, why they built them so large. Today, we believe that they chose the shape in order to mimic the Benben, a pyramid shaped stone found in the earliest of temples, which itself is thought to symbolize the primeval mound from which the Egyptians believed life emerged. This also connected the pyramid to Re, the Sun God, as it was he, according to some of the ancient Egypt mythology, who rose from the primeval mound to create life.
As far the great size of many of the pyramids in Egypt, we can really only surmise that the Pharaohs were making a statement about their own power and perhaps, about the glory and strength of their country. However, it should also be remembered that many of the latter pyramids were not nearly as large as the Great Pyramids at Giza (and elsewhere).
Pyramids evolved. The first of them was not a perfectly formed pyramid. In fact, the first Pyramid we believe that was built in Egypt, that of Djoser, was not a true pyramid at all with smooth sides and a point at the top. Rather, its sides were stepped, and the top of the pyramid truncated with a flat surface (as best we know). As the Egyptian pyramids evolved, there were failures as well glorious failures until finally, they got it right with what was probably the first smooth sided true pyramid built at Meidum. In fact, pyramids continued to evolve throughout their history, perhaps not always in outward appearances, but in the way that they were built and in the theology surrounding their construction. For example, towards the latter part of Egypt's Pyramid Age, Osirian beliefs seem to have had more and more impact on the arrangement and layout of the subterranean chambers.
However, soon after the first pyramids were built, their form became somewhat standardized. Royal pyramid complexes included the main pyramid, a courtyard surrounding the main pyramid, a much smaller cult pyramid for the king's soul, a mortuary temple situated next to the main pyramid, an enclosure wall and a causeway that led down to a valley temple. Some pyramid complexes included subsidiary, smaller pyramids for family members, and most were surrounded by some sort of tombs for family members.

Our thinking on pyramids has evolved considerably over the years. Many of us who are a bit older were taught that the pyramids were built using Jewish slave labor, which is a fabrication of immense proportions. Most of the pyramids were built long before the Jews made their appearance historically and currently, many if not most scholars believe they were not built using slave labor at all (or perhaps a nominal number of slaves).
Otherwise, we can also dismiss offhand alternative theories related to aliens or some lost culture being responsible for pyramid building. There is just far too much evidence, including tools, drawings, evolutionary changes, and even worker villages that rule these farfetched ideas obsolete.
However, some mysteries remain, even in some of the best well known Pyramids. The most famous of them all, the Great Pyramid of Khufu, continues, year after year, to give up a few more secrets, and there doubtless remains much to learn from these Egyptian treasures. There may even be one or more pyramids yet to be discovered.

Egyptian Museum

The Egyptian Museum was first built in Boulak. In 1891, it was moved to Giza Palace of "Ismail Pasha" which housed the antiquities that were later moved to the present building. The Egyptian Museum is situated at Tahrir square in Cairo. It was built during the reign of Khedive Abbass Helmi II in 1897, and opened on November 15, 1902.
It has 107 halls. At the ground floor there are the huge statues. The upper floor houses small statues, jewels, Tutankhamon treasures and the mummies.
The Museum also comprises a photography section and a large library. The Egyptian museum comprises many sections arranged in chronological order

The first section houses Tutankhamon’s treasures.
The second section houses the pre-dynasty and the Old Kingdom monuments.
The third section houses the first intermediate period and the Middle Kingdom monuments.
The forth section houses the monuments of the Modern Kingdom.
The fifth section houses the monuments of the late period and the Greek and Roman periods.
The sixth section houses coins and papyrus.
The seventh section houses sarcophagi and scraps

Opera House
Location: El Dokky, Cairo, Egypt
The new 7 -story opera house at the Gezira Exhibition Grounds was inaugurated on October, 3, 1988. Designed by a team of Japanese and Egyptian architects, it is an architectural masterpiece of Islamic design. It is equipped with the most sophisticated audio-visual system and comprises:
1.The Main Theater, a closed hall comprising 1200 seats, is used for opera, ballet, and classic music performance.
2.The Second Theater is also a closed hall comprising 500 seats and is used for various purposes, including film festivals and conferences.
3.The Third Theater is open and comprises 1000 seats.
There are other halls, some of which are used for training and rehearsals. In addition, the Museum and the Library contain references pertaining to the most significant artistic works.
Cairo becomes alive at night, the best time to shop, eat delicious Middle Eastern cuisine, or simply watch the world go by from a pavement cafe. You can dine in a floating restaurant on the Nile, sample a shisha at a coffee-shop or see oriental dancers at a luxury hotel.

The splendid Opera House complex houses several galleries (including the Museum of Modern Art), restaurants and concert halls. Listening to Arabic music under the stars, in the open air theater, is a magical experience. At El-Ghuriya, in the heart of Islamic Cairo, you can watch folk musicians and whirling dervish dancers. And don't forget the most essential after-dark experience, the sound and light show at the Pyramids, a dramatic fusion of light and music recounting the story of antiquity .

Khan el-Khalili
How could a market in Egypt be responsible for the founding of the United States? Khan el-Khalili, once known as the Turkish bazaar during the Ottoman period, is now usually just called the 'Khan', and the names of it and the Muski market are often used interchangeably to mean either.

Named for the great Caravansary, the market was built in 1382 by the Emir Djaharks el-Khalili in the heart of the Fatimid City. Together with the al-Muski market to the west, they comprise one of Cairo's most important shopping areas.

But more than that, they represent the market tradition which established Cairo as a major center of trade, and at the Khan, one will still find foreign merchants.

Perhaps, this vary market was involved in the spice monopoly controlled by the Mamluks, which encouraged the Europeans to search for new routes to the East and led Columbus, indirectly, to discover the Americas. During its early period, the market was also a center for subversive groups, often subject to raids before the Sultan Ghawri rebuilt much of the area in the early 16th century.

Regardless, it was trade which caused Cairo's early wealth, even from the time of the Babylon fort which was often a settlement of traders.
Lots of colorful brass
This market is situated at one corner of a triangle of markets that go south to Bab Zuwayla and west to Azbakiyyah.

The Khan is bordered on the south by al-Azhar Street and on the west by the Muski Market. One of the old original gates guards the entrance to the original courtyard which lies midway down Sikkit al-Badistan (street).

On a narrow street leading off al-Badistand, one will find the El-Fishawi Cafe, or Cafe of Mirrors, which was once a meeting place for local artists, and is still frequented by the Nobel Award winning Naguib Mahfouz, one of Egypt's most well known authors. There are any number of canvas covered streets such as the one pictured to the right.

Luxor is the largest world's greatest open-air museum, filled with the awe-inspiring monuments of ancient civilization. As Weset, it was the capital of Egypt during the new kingdom as Thebes it was described by Homer as “ the hundred-gated city ”, its later name is “ Al-Uqsur “, means ” city of palaces” .Testaments to a desire for immortality, built for eternity in sandstone and granite, the temples, tombs and palaces still stand, surrounded by souks and Luxury hotels.
Luxor has often been called the worlds greatest open air museum, as indeed it is and much more. The number and preservation of the monuments in the Luxor area are unparalleled anywhere else in the world that know of. Actually, what most people think of as Luxor is really three different areas, consisting of the City of Luxor on the East side of the Nile, the town of Karnak just north of Luxor and Thebes, which the ancient Egyptians called Waset, which is on the west side of the Nile across from Luxor.

Right - The west bank across the Nile from Luxor.
To say that the Luxor area is a major attraction for tourists in Egypt would be an understatement. It has been a tourist destination since the beginning of tourism. Even in ancient times, during the late Dynasties of the Greek and Roman periods, the area drew tourists, and has been doing so ever since. Today Luxor is well equipped to accommodate tourists with many hotels and in general a tourist industry ready and willing to serve the people from many countries that descend on this area of the Nile Valley every year.
Within Luxor, there are only three main streets consisting of Sharia al-Mahatta, Sharia al-Karnak and the Corniched, next to the Nile. The street in front of the train station is Sharia al-Mahatta and runs away from the Nile where it meets the gardens of Luxor Temple. Sharia al-Karnak, or Maabad al-Karnak which means Karnak Temple Street runs along the Nile from Luxor Temple to Karnak Temple. However, Sharia al-Karnak is known as Sharia al-Markaz where it meets Sharia al-Mahatta street, and to the south around the temple it is known as Sharia al-Lokanda. Along this street one will find the colorful signs of restaurants and cafes, as well as bazaars where the usual variety of Egyptian souvenirs can be found. Of interest is the alabaster, which is plentiful along the west bank and miled not far from here. Also look for the clay pots used by the locals for cooking, which are more unusual.

Luxor today is a city of some 150,000 people and is governed by special statues that allow it more autonomy then other political areas of Egypt. One thing you might notice is that various government and other buildings confirm to an 'ancient' building code. Particularly, the National bank of Egypt (located near the winter palace), the spa south of the police station, and the railway station are all designed to appear as pharaonic constructs. All of this occurred after the Egyptianization of the modern town resulting mostly from the mania that resulted from Howard Carter's discovery of the Tomb of Tutankhamun. As one might think, the city has all the amenities tourists might expect, including a variety of hotels, bars, nightclubs and restaurants.

In Luxor proper on the East Bank, one of the first stops must be the Temple of Luxor built by Amenophis III. Head south on Sharia al-Karnak to reach the temple, which was connected to the Karnak Temple via a long stone processional street called a dromos. The dromos (Picture at right) was built by Nectanebo I, and originally was lined on either side by sphinxes. In front of the Luxor temple, the dromos is well preserved, and on the way to the entrance one passes by a Roman chapel of burnt brick dedicated to the god Serapis, which was built during the rule of Hadrian. There is a path that leads to the Nile side of the Temple where one enters the complex.

After leaving Luxor, head back to Sharia al-Karnak and go north towards Karnak. Down the road, near the police station which is near the tomb is the oldest mosque in Luxor, the El-Mekashkesh Mosque. It contains the remains of a 10th century Islamic saint who rumor has it was a monk prior to converting to Islam. The mosque is a popular pilgrimage destination. Here also is the Franciscan Church and its schools, one for boys and the other girls. Beyond this lies a great Coptic basilica.
At the Police station, head towards the Nile Corniche. Here, opposite the Mina Palace Hotel you will find the Mummification Museum, which has most anything you would ever want to know about mummifications. From here, head north towards Karnak.
About halfway to Karnak, you will discover the Luxor Museum. It should certainly be visited if you plan a well rounded and educated experience. While this is a small museum, most of the relics are from the surrounding area and provide considerable insight to the monuments you will visit.
From the Museum, head back to Sharia al-Karnak and continue north towards Karnak. After crossing a small bridge one will begin to see the excavated dromos off the road and running through a small village. A little further on you will pass the ruins of the Temple of Mut where another dromos leads to the gateway of the tenth pylon. The road finally arrives at the domed tombs of two saints, Sidi Ahmed and Sidi Ali, where a road leads past the Department of Antiquities leads to the main Temple of Karnak entrance. This road is built along a canal that once connected the Nile to the Temple. There was a dock in ancient times, but now all that is left is the quay and the raised dais. Just past that is a red brick Roman dock and past that two paved ramps led to the river bank. They are bordered by stone parapets, and were built during the rule of Taharqa. Past these is the Chapel of Achoris, which received the sacred boat of Amun when it was used in ceremonies.

The road eventually winds itself westward until reaching the Valley of Asasif. These are 25th and 26th Dynasty tombs. At the end of of the Valley of Asasif at the foot of a cliff named Deir el-Bahri is a spectacular complex of temples. The Temple of Mentuhetep I, Hatshepsut and Thotmose II here must be seen. Much of the architecture here seems so very powerful against the towering cliffs in the background. From here, the road continues past the remains of the temples of Ramesses IV and Thutmose III, eventually reaching the Necropolis of Sheikh Abd el-Qurna. This 18th Dynasty necropolis sits amidst houses where there are hundreds of holes. And below here, one comes to the famous Ramesseum, built by Ramesses II, a huge complex that took twenty years to complete.
As the road runs along past the remains of Thutmose IV, Merneptah, Ay and Horemheb's Temples, it finally comes to the huge complex known as Medinet Habu, which is another of Thebe's major attractions and a must see sight. The gate has square towers and appears almost oriental. Behind the complex is the workmen's village called Deir el-Medina. Out in the fields near here is the Colossi of Memnon, one of the major tourist attractions throughout time. Southwest of Deir el-Medina is the Valley of the Queens, where queens of the 18th and 19th Dynasties were buried.

To arrive at the entrance one follows the dromos with its crio-sphinxes. They have the head of a Ram and the body of a lion and are symbolic of the God Amun. Arriving at the temple, there is a statue of Ramesses II with his son between his feet.
To the right is a structure that has red steps, a red front colonnade and red brick walls. Inside there are pedestals. inscribed with the names of Roman emperors, that once held their statues. This was a Roman chapel dedicated to imperial worship. After leaving the Temple complex on the left is the Franco-Egyptian Center which has managed the temple complex since 1967. Down on the shore of the Nile is the Centre National dl la Recherche Scientifque, or CNRS, which houses the French and the Chicago House, a project of the University of Chicago is near by.
After this, you will wish to take a boat trip over to the West bank. This trip had a special meaning to the Egyptians, for they were more crossing the way to the West and life, then to a necropolis. The Valley of the Kings is as good as any to try first, with tombs from the 18th and 19th Dynasties. Outside the Valley of the Kings, the road leads past Antef, named for the 11th Dynasty prices who were buried here. Some tombs can still be seen as one heads towards the Temple of Seti I. Most of what is left of Seti's Temple is the view. The court is entered by the ruined gate of a pylon The court has what is left of a palace on the south side. The road continues south passing Dra-Abu el-Naga necropolis. From here, the road continues past the mudbrick remains of the Amenhotep III's palace called Malkatta. There is a lake to the east and at the other end of that, a small Roman temple called Deir Shelwit and built at the end of the 1st century.Thousands of years ago, the Pharaohs reigned supreme over a limitless playground of lavish indulgences, fine food and drink, and the best entertainment the world had to offer. Today, this luxurious lifestyle lives on within the walls of the great pyramid at Luxor Resort & Casino. At Luxor, travelers once again encounter rare earthly pleasures at one of the world's most celebrated resorts.
Facts
Named after Upper Egypt's most exotic tourist destination, Luxor Resort & Casino stands 30 stories tall and is topped by one of the world's brightest beams of light. With 4,408 rooms and 120,000 square feet of casino space, Luxor Resort & Casino is the second largest hotel in the United States. This entertainment destination features a wide variety of first-rate entertainment, award-winning restaurants and state-of-the-art gaming.
Entertainment
Blue Man Group – Live at Luxor, now appearing in the Luxor Theater, performances nightly at 7 p.m.
and/or 10 p.m.
Midnight Fantasy, showing at the Pharaoh's Theater, appears at 8:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, Wednesday and Friday at 10:30 p.m. and Sunday at 8:30 p.m. The show is dark on Monday. Must be at least 21 years old to attend.
RA, the Nightclub at Luxor, features a state-of-the-art sound and lighting system and live DJs.
Nefertiti's Lounge features live entertainment nightly.

To sample a little of Egypt's attractions, history, scenery, climate and contemporary culture.
Aswan could be the one stop answer. A perfect microcosm of the country, it is also a revitalizing interlude on a comprehensive tour.
Dramatically positioned on the first cataract of the Nile, the attractive and atmospheric town looks over several tiny islands scattered in the river's flow.
Some, like Elephantine Island, are the idyllic settings for classic hotels. Others now house beautiful relics such as the rebuilt Temple of Philae, while famous Kitchener Island boasts botanical gardens and Mausoleum of the Aga Khan.
All are gently reached by taking to the white-sailed feluccas that litter the waterway. Land-linked highlights of Aswan include the impressive High Dam, the huge Unfinished Obelisk,

shops and alleyways, but find time too to visit the lesser known temples on the shores of Lake Nasser.
The construction of the High dam nearly saw many of the temples on this region disappearing forever under the shores of the newly created lake, but in a major feat of engineering the temples were moved
to higher ground so they can be enjoyed for many more years.
On such temple is the incomparable Abu Simbel on the southern shores of the lake an inarguable highlight of any holiday to Egypt.

EGYPT's southernmost city, situated not far above the Tropic of Cancer, is the country's gateway to Africa, and Egypt's most beautiful winter resort. It lies on the eastern bank of the Nile, 899kms from Cairo and 215kms from Luxor. The mighty and beautiful Nile is Aswan's trademark. It weaves its way through amber desert and granite rocks, lush islands covered in palm groves and tropical plants.
One can wander along the Corniche, or take a felucca and sail around Elephantine Island or around the tranquil botanicaples from various eras, including the Tomb of Khnum, an Egyptian god, the Trajan Temple, and Elephantine Museum. Kitchner's island -- named after Lord Horatio Kitchner who ruled the Egyptian army in late 19th century -- flourishes with botanical plants and trees, specially imported and rooted by Kitchner himself.
Over the centuries, Aswan has been a garrison town and a frontier city as well as a prosperous marketplace at the crossroads of ancient caravan routes. In ancient times, the area was known as Swenet, meaning "trade", a name that later became the Arabic "As- Suan", meaning "market".
Aswer exotic wares visited the city.
The exotic atmosphere of Aswan's back-street souqs is one of the city's highlights. Although the fabulous caravans no longer pass this way, the colour and activity of these markets and stalls recall those romantic times.

On wandering through the small, narrow alleyways one might see, hear, smell and taste life as it has been for many centuries. From the souq of Aswan, a visitor can pick up everything from scents, spices, perfumes and scarves, to baskets and fine alabaster.

Aswan also boasts a number of Pharaonic, Graeco-Roman, Coptic, Islamic and modern monuments such as the unfinished obelisk, the Tombs of the Nobles, the Monastery of St Simon, the Agha Khan Mausoleum, the Aswan Museum, the Nubian Museum and the Aswan High Dam.
Aswan facts
Egypt's southernmost city and ancient frontier town is considered Egypt's best Nile-side winter resort.
Population: 150,000
Industries: Tourist related industries include basketry, and the making of galabiyyas and taqeyyas(traditional hats). Other industries include mining and electric power generation via the Aswan High Dam.
Stadium:Aswan stadium, capacity 20,000, El-Sadat Street, 1km (5 min) from the town centre; 10km (20 min) from Aswan International Airport
Famous football teams: Aswan

Egypt's sunniest southern city and ancient frontier town located about 81 miles south of Luxor, has a distinctively African atmosphere. Its ancient Egyptian name was Syene. Small enough to walk around and graced with the most beautiful setting on the Nile, the pace of life is slow and relaxing. Days can be spent strolling up and down the broad Corniche watching the sailboats etch the sky with their tall masts or sitting in floating restaurants listening to Nubian music and eating freshly caught fish.
In Aswan the Nile is at its most beautiful, flowing through amber desert and granite rocks, round emerald islands covered in palm groves and tropical plants. Explore the souk, full of the scent and color of spices, perfumes, scarves and baskets. View the spectacular sunsets while having tea on the terrace of the Old Cataract Hotel (Named due to the location of the Nile's first cataract located here). Aswan has been a favorite winter resort since the beginning of the nineteenth century, and it's still a perfect place to get away from it all.
Every night Nubian dancers and musicians perform in the Cultural Center, just off the Corniche. Folklore troupes recreate scenes from village life and perform the famous Nubian mock stick-fight dances.
Aswan is a strategic location which currently houses a garrison of the Egyptian army, but which has also seen ancient Egyptian garrisons, as well as that of General Kitchener, Turkish troops of the Ottoman empire and the Romans.

The city proper lies on the east bank of the Nile. Relax here, visit a few mosques, but then prepare for an adventure. The bazaar runs along the Corniche, which continues past the Ferial Gardens and the Nubian Museum, and continues on to the Cemetery, with its forest of cupolas surmounted tombs from the Fatimid period. Just east of the cemetery in the famous area quarries is the gigantic Unfinished Obelisk. Just to the south of this, two Graeco-Roman sarcophagi and an unfinished colossus remain half buried in the sand.
The most obvious is Elephantine Island, which is timeless with artifacts dating from pre-Dynastic times onward. It is the largest island in the area. Just beyond Elephantine is Kitchener's Island (Geziret el-Nabatat). It was named for the British general Haratio Kitchener (185--1916) and was sent to Egypt in 1883 to reorganize the Egyptian army, which he then led against the Sudanese Mahdi. But the island is known for its garden and the exotic plants the Kitchener planted there, and which continue to flourish today.
On the opposite shore (west bank), the cliffs are surmounted by the tomb of a marabut, Qubbet el-Hawwa, who was a local saint. Below are tombs of the local (pharaonic) nobles and dignitaries.
Upriver a bit is the tomb of Mohammed Shah Aga Khan who died in 1957. Known as the Tomb of the Aga Khan, it is beautiful in its simplicity. A road from there leads back to the Coptic Monastery of St Simeon, which was built in the sixth century in honor of Amba Hadra, a local saint.
Just up river a bit, there is also the old Aswan dam, built by the British, which was enlarged, expanded, but unable to control the Nile for irrigation.

Although the name "Sinai" is mentioned in the Bible various times (Exodus 16, I and Exodus 19, I), it is still unclear, where it originally comes from. One theory, however, is that it might derive from the word "sin", which is the name of
an ancient god of the moon
.

Brif History of sinai

	2 Mil. Years	The land extention of Sinai, Egypt, and Sauri Arabia has almost been one part. Enormous ravages reformed this area soon apon and left Sinai as a peninsular right between Egypt and the Arabian peninsular.
	30.000 BC	Prove of probably the *oldest settlement*, found in the north of Sinai.
	3100 BC	The Egyptian history of dynasties begins the way we know it today. From what we got handed down, this was the date of the first dynasty, where *Menes* unites two kingdoms in Egypt.
	2500 BC	A heterogeneous nomadic horde from western Asia (called *Hyksos*) crossed Sinai to invade Egypt. Throughout the Hyksos's occupation there was no Egyptian activity found in the mines and quarries of Sinai.
	1400 BC	According to the Biblical, Moses was wandering for many decades in the region of Sinai. It is believed that - leading approx. hal lgrims for more than a thousand years.
	332 BC	Troops of *Alexander the Great* marched through Sinai in order to conquer Egypt.
	~0 AD	*Virgin Mary* with her child Jesus Christ crossed Sinai escaping from and coming back to Palestine.
	~550	St. Catherine's Monastery was constructed by order of the Emperor Justinian
	1050	the Arabs invaded Egypt and penetrated Sinai, where most of the inhabitants were converted into Islam.
	1182	Salah El Din marched with troups across Sinai, entering Transjordan by the route of Aqaba.
	1517	The turkish *Sultan Selim* invaded Egypt via the coast of Sinai. He built fortresses, filled them with Moorish soldiers, who to protect pilgrims. In Acaba there are still descendants of this race nowadays.
	1858	Saed Pasha established a quarantine for pilgrims in Tour city.
	1869	The Suez Canal - between the Mediterranian Sea and the Gulf of Suez is being opened with a length of 195 km.
	1910	Excavation and digging for petrol started. In 1921, petrol was finally discovered close to Abu Doria.
	1948-49	First Arab-Israel *War*, including Jordan, Iraq, Egypt, Syria and Lebanon.
	1956	As a reaction of the Suez crisis and in coordination with the British and French military, Israel is *occupying Sinai*. In the same year (end of war), the UDSSR and the USA are forcing Israel to return Sinai's territory to Egyptian control.
	1967	Six-Day-War, an attack from Israel against Egypt on June 5th to June 11th. By the end of this war Sinai is under Israeli control.
	1973	*6th October War* (also Yom Kippur War), lead by Egypt and Syria against Israel. Disengagement agreements finally leaves Egypt with parts of the East Bank of the Suez Canal, a zone stretching only a couple of kilometers into Sinai.
	1979	Peace agreement between Egypt and Israel, forcing Israel to withdraw military forces as well as disengaging settlements from Sinai until 1982.
	1982	Israel finishes the Sinai withdrawal process. *Multinational Force Observers* are installed to secure protection from Israeli or Egyptian military activities.
	1983	Ras Mohamed as the first and only *Egyptian National Park* was declared with an area of 97km². Since then it has been extended to 480km² and includes marine and terrestrial areas (also on Tiran Island).
	1989	March 15th: the small town of Taba, next to the Israeli border, is being handed over to Egypt. Before this, Egypt and Israel had tough negotiations throughout years, since Israel saw the peace agreement of 1979 as not including Taba.

Desert
Desert is something that most people would associate with boring and lifeless matters.
In fact, people who have ever been to the Sinai are convinced of the very contrary.
The predominating landscape of Sinai is desert. It extremely varies in both color and form, an exeptional mineral universe being formed in millions of years (see geology) in which nature has created splendid, singular sculptures out of the rock. Next to sand you find limestone, crystalline rock, sandstone, and vulcanic rocks.
Colors rank from light white via yellow and red to dark black. The combination of these colours seen against the dark blue of the mostly cloudless sky is a breath-taking experience every minute. Especially in the mornings (6-9 a.m.) and in the evenings (4-6:30 p.m.) the sun is giving an intense light that illuminates the desert in the most beautiful photo scene. Photographers find a perfect time to capture the most marelous atmosphere.
The Sinai desert is quite arid due to the meager rainfall and the fast evaporation caused by the high daytime heat. It beares a complex ecosystem with different types of plants that have adapted to this difficult environment. Even a heterogeneous fauna is part of this desert including wild foxes, goiats, rodents, gazelles reptiles, raptors and various insectivores.

Most parts if the peninsula is rocky and mountainous, with some sandy streches. These sandy areas are mostly located in the central Tih Plateau and were created by the pulverization of the rocks my meteors.
The mass of the rocks in the Sinai peninsula is cut by amazing valleys, the so called wadis. They are mostly parallel and can be dozens of kilometers long while hundreds of meters wide. On the other hand, sometimes these wadis are so weakly developed that they may be merely crevices in the rock. Wadis basically are fossil beds of rivers that run through the region in the Quaternary Era (some 1,8 mil. years ago). At that time there was much more rainfall which deeply eroded the rock beds.
To the right, a massive sand dune located in Ras Mohamed, south Sinai. Nice to be seen the small waves on each side of the dune, naturally formed by the wind.

Beduines come from places around Sinai such as Palestine, Arabia or Jordan. They settled in Sinai long ago, even though the environment is and was quite tough for living. There is hardly anything else than sand and mountains. Only a closer glance shows that there are some few oasises, plants and animals that allow the Beduines to live a nomadic life as they have always done In all Sinai there are approx. 80.000 Beduines, from which only perhaps 30% have found a touristic related occupation. These beduines are mostly found between the Monastery of St. Catherine and Sharm El Sheikh .
Very eye-catching is the clothing of women. It is difficult for visitors to get to see them. Mostly they will see men, while Beduin women stay hidden. However, in some cases you might get across a woman wearing the famous veil (Burgaa) or the scarf, which is called "Tarha" in local language. 5 The Bedunine Tribes as of Today There are about 11-13 tribes to be distinguished in Sinai, depending on how to define clans and tribes. They are mostly living in tents so that they can leave the place again easily. Others are already living in smaller "wall-surrounded areas" where they usually stay.
The boundaries of the Beduines tribes are indistinct. However, they are understood by a long tradition, each area has been known and respected most of the time. In the past tribal raiding was evident, the history of these movements, alliances and eventual extinction in some cases is fascinating. Aleiqat: This tribe was one of the first that has settled in Sinai (at the time of the Islamic conquest of Egypt). Their territory is now on the west coast of Sinai.

Very eye-catching is the clothing of women. It is difficult for visitors to get to see them. Mostly they will see men, while Beduin women stay hidden. However, in some cases you might get across a woman wearing the famous veil (Burgaa) or the scarf, which is called "Tarha" in local language. 5

The Bedunine Tribes as of Today There are about 11-13 tribes to be distinguished in Sinai, depending on how to define clans and tribes. They are mostly living in tents so that they can leave the place again easily. Others are already living in smaller "wall-surrounded areas" where they usually stay.
The boundaries of the Beduines tribes are indistinct. However, they are understood by a long tradition, each area has been known and respected most of the time. In the past tribal raiding was evident, the history of these movements, alliances and eventual extinction in some cases is fascinating.

Aleiqat: This tribe was one of the first that has settled in Sinai (at the time of the Islamic conquest of Egypt). Their territory is now on the west coast of Sinai.

Famous families in Sinai

Awlad Said (Suwalha): In South Sinai this is one clan of the overall tribe Suwalha.
Ayaida: North Sinai, next to the Channel of Suez.
Gebeleya: These are the people of the mountains. As probably only about 1,500 people they have a very small tribal territory around Mt. Sinai. They are not of Arab descent but are descendants of Macedonian people sent by Emperor Justinian to build, protect and serve the Monastery in the sixth century AD.
Haweitat: The Haweitat have their origin in the Hijaz mountains of northern Arabia. They occupy a triangular area southeast of Suez.
Laheiwat: This tribe is split into 3 geographical areas: one in South Sinai (east), one at the Mediterranean Sea, and another one right next to the Channel of Suez.
Muszeina: this is the largest tribe in Sinai. These Beduines are living in the most southern part of Sinai and visitors of Sharm El Sheik will most probably see them on their visit to Sinai.
Qararsha (Suwalha): In South Sinai this is one clan of the overall tribe Suwalha.
Tarabin: The Tarabin, who have tribal territories, or dirha, in both North and South Sinai, are of Palestinian origin
Tiyaha: This tribe occupies an enormous territory in central Sinai; they origine - just as the Tarabin - from Palestine
Suwarka:The Suwarka are the most numerous ones, They live in the north of Sinai, at the Mediterranean coast centred on Al Arish.
Unfortunately, with the arrival of tourism in South Sinai, the living conditions of the Beduines have changed dramatically. They have to fight for their land and are in deep discussions with local investors as well as with the Egyptian government.
In southern Sinai, the beautiful tropical coastline of the Gulf of Aqaba has recently experienced major development. The government has routed the area as the Egyptian Riviera in the interest of attracting international tourists and investors. The initial plan for the development of the Sinai was sponsored by the United States Agency for International Aid, as a result of the Camp David Peace Accords.
The indigenous people of South Sinai, the Bedouins, generally did not benefit from employment in the initial construction boom because the wages were too low to make it worth their while. Sudanese and Egyptian workers from other areas were brought in as laborers instead. The Bedouins increasingly moved into tourist industry positions such as cab drivers, tour guides for sight-seeing on camels or in jeeps, managing cafes or campgrounds. However, they soon had severe competition from foreign tour operators, Egyptians from the Nile Valley, and even with each other.
Since the mid-1980s, the Bedouins who held desirable coastal property have lost control of much of their land as it was sold by the Egyptian government to hotel operators. In the summer of 1999, the latest dispossession of land took place when the army bulldozed Bedouin-run tourist campgrounds north of Nuweiba as part of the final phase of hotel development in the sector, overseen by the Tourist Development Agency (TDA). The director of the Tourist Development Agency dismissed Bedouin rights to most of the land, saying that they had not lived on the coast before 1982. Bedouins had been living on the coast, but their traditional semi-nomadic culture has left them vulnerable to such claims. Most of the Sinai Bedouins have been in Sinai since the fourteenth to eighteenth centuries.

Famous sites in Sinai

site	Description	Photo
Ayun Musa	Ayun Musa (Moses springs) is a small oasis, situated south of Suez. There are several springs that allow some large palms, tamarisks and other plants to flourish the land. They say in a Legend that this was the Hebrews' first camp after the exodus from Egypt.
Blue Hole	This most famous and probably most beautiful *diving spot* in all Sinai, also known as "*The Canyon", lies approx. 10 km north of Dahab*, only accessible via a 15 miniute off-road drive along the beach. It takes it's name from the breath-taking cristal clear dark and blue water, that has a depht of ca. 80m. The Blue Hole is not so easy to reach, but definitely worth it.
Blue Desert	The Blue Desert, which lies western and very close (only a few kilometers) to the monastery of *St. Catherine's, has an extension of ca. 15 km². In 1980-81, the Belgian artist Jean Verame* has painted many boulders with a blue colour. It was - with the permission of the late president *Anwar El Sadat* - meant to symbol the end of the war between Israel and Egypt. It is a definitely extraordinary place which is worth visiting when close to *St. Catherine. The photo to the right is taken from SaharaSafaris*.
Coloured Canyon	The Colored Canyon has become a very popular safari destination. It lies close to the town of *Nuweiba* and can be combined with a trip to the *St. Catherine's Monastery*. The rare rock formations and canyon walls are dramatic and breathtaking. The silence in this canyon is adding a certain oddity. This place is definitely worth visiting.
Dahab	In Beduin language *Dahab* means gold, as they say it is dedicated to the sand of *Bay ofGhazala, one of the two bays that forms Dahab. El-Qura* is the second and much bigger bay of Dahab. Dahab is the spot especially for windsurfers. Along the beach of Ghazala, right in front of the lovely beduine village named *Assalah, there are palm groves that are giving its beauty to the coast. Dahab is especially suitable for touristic activities, since it is situated closer to places like the Coloured Canyon, the Blue Hole, various oasises* and ancient inscription or tombs places like the Nawamis.
El Tur	El Tur (also: El Tor) is the administrative capital of South Sinai. Also known as Tur Sinai, El Tur lies on the west side of South Sinai. The name "El Tur" is originating from the Greek and meant "mountain", given by the first monks who settled here at the beginning of the 4th century.
Geziret Fara'un (Pharaoh's Island)	Only a few miles after the Fjord there is the extremely beautiful island, called Pharaoh's Island (Gesiret el_Faraun). The fortress on this island was built in the *Byzantine's period. Since 1986 it is open to public in its restored form. Also, there is the Phoenician* port (Ezion-Gaber) to be seen.
Hammam Pharaon	Approx. 45 km south of Ras Sidr, there is the Pharaoh’s Bath called Hammam Pharaon. There are hot water springs as well as a cave that leads inside the bath. It is very hot here and it smells of Hydrogen Sulfate. Coming from and going to Cairo resp. Suez, busses can stop there (ask, since it is not anofficial bus stop). Also, the beach of Hammam Pharaon is at a walking distance from there.
Mount Sinai	Mount Sinai (also Jebel Musa, Gebel Mousa, Mount Moses or Mountain of Moses) is considered to be that *biblical peak. It has religious significance to the Islam as the place where Mohammed's horse, Boraq, ascended to heaven. The 7.497 foot mountain has 3.750 steps hewn out of stone by monks of St. Catherine's Monastery*. This place is a must for every Sinai visitor.
Nawamis	This ancient place can be reached on the way from Dahab to *St. Catherins. You would leave the car close to the street and walk the rest towards the historic tombs, that are on the edge of a huge flat, almost white appearing valley. The nawamis*, the name for these tombs is arabic and means as much as "flies", are more than 5.000 years old and for this even older than the great Egyptian Pyramids. Each tomb is constructed with dry-wall stone in a circular way and has its door facing west. They are - especially for their age - still very well preserved.
Nuweiba	About 85 km north of Dahab, just above *Abu Galum, lies the beach resort of Nuweiba. Like other cities in Sinai, Nuweiba has developed to a touristical area, however, not as much as Sharm El Sheikh. From here there are trips possible to different sites like Abu Galum, the Coloured Canyon* and many more. *Hotels* are available along the coast line. This spot is especially suiteable for *windsurfers*, since there is constant wind most of the time.
Qalaat Al-Guindi	Qalaat Al-Guindi is a fortress located approx. 80 km south-east of the tunnel Ahmed Hamdi. It was built in the 12th century AD by *Salah El Din* and was used to protect African and Mediterranean *Muslims* on their holy pilgrimage to *Mecca, where they had to pass by Sinai to get to Mecca. At Ras Sidr*, turn left. Make sure you have a guide, since you are leaving the track.
Ras Abu Galum	The Ras Mohamed National Park is a nature protected area approx. 30 km south of Sharm El Sheikh. This first and only Egyptian National Park was declared in 1983 with an area of 97m². Since then it has been extended to 480km² and includes marine and terrestrial areas (also on island of Tiran). Since this park is a must for any visitor in south Sinai, we are dedicating a separate page for it.
Ras Mohamed	The Ras Mohamed National Park is a nature protected area approx. 30 km south of Sharm El Sheikh. This first and only Egyptian National Park was declared in 1983 with an area of 97m². Since then it has been extended to 480km² and includes marine and terrestrial areas (also on island of Tiran). Since this park is a must for any visitor in south Sinai, we are dedicating a separate page for it.
Ras Nabq	Nabq is the largest coastl Managed Resource Protected Area (declared in 1992) with approx. 600km². It has a variety of ecosystems that provide unique views for the visitors. It hosts rich coral reefs, more than 140 plant species (6 unique for Nabq), mangroves, the larges population of Arak bushes in the Middle East and various animals like the Gazelle, Nubian Ibex, Hyrax and some small mammal populations.
Ras Sidr	On the way from Cairo to Sinai, passing the Ahmed Hamdy Tunnel, Ras Sidr is located approx. 60 km south from it, right on the west coast of Sinai. This place is a holiday place for Egyptians, mostly coming from Cairo to spend the weekend there. Apart from windsurfing there is not much to do or to see. Places close to Ras Sidr are Qalaat Al-Guinndi, *Hammam Pharaon* or Ayun Musa.
St. Catherine's Monastery	Located at the foot of *Mount Moses*, St. Catherine's Monastery was constructed by order of the Emperor Justinian between 527 and 565. It built around what is thought to be Moses' Burning Bush, which has a chapel built on top of it. It is a spectacular natural setting countless works of art such as Arab mosaics, oil & wax paintings, sacerdotal ornaments, marbles, reliquarie and the second largest collection of illuminated manuscripts.
Taba	Taba is situated directly at the border between Egypt and Israel. Given back to Egypt in 1989, this town is now a destination for many tourists and well known for its extraordinary beautiful bays and coves. Lots of tourism industry is planned, especially 4-5 star hotels, overviewing the Red Sea. Target guests are especially tourists from Israel. Apart from the big hotel chains, Bedouin *camps* offer simple accommodations with unforgetable views of the sea.
Tiran Island	Tiran lies in the *Gulf of Aqaba, right between Ras Mohamed and Saudi Arabia. Mostly, divers are attracted to this place, that offers plenty of opportunities for brilliant views and underwater safaris. However, a boat trip to this national park area* is an amazing experience, providing breath-taking views. Most probably one will be passing the *Gordon Reef* and Jackson Reef, which are perfect as well for snorkeling. Even for those visitors, that are neither snorkeling nor diving, this trip offers incredible views.
Sharm El Sheikh	Sharm El Sheikh lies in the very south of Sinai. In 1970 this place was hardly worth mentioning. However, with the arrival of tourism, this place soon getting bigger and bigger. Today there are more than a million visitors each year and the coast is decorated full of hotels. Luckily, the Egyptian government was making sure that mistakes like in Spain were not to me made here: the hotels are not very hight, mostly 2-3 flors. Sharm El Sheikh today is *the* touristical place for Sinai

Egypt is rich in diverse habitats as well as species. Each habitat has its own unique fauna and flora.
The habitats with the greatest species richness and diversity are the wetlands, in particular the coral reefs on the Red Sea.
Due to its strategic geographic location at the juncture of three continents and its diverse habitats, Egypt has rich plant and animal life.
Egypt signed the Convention on Biological Diversity in 1992 and ratified it in 1994.
With the restructuring of the Egyptian Environment Affairs Agency in 1992, the Nature Protection Department was formed to oversee nature conservation in Egypt, including the implementation of law 102/1983 for the Natural Protectorates and managing the national network of Protected Areas. A total of 17 Protected Areas have been established in Egypt.
Protected Areas have proven to date to be the most important management tool to protect the nations biodiversity. As of 1995, approximately 7.5% of the country was protected under law 102/1983, and it is expected that coverage will expand to 15% by the year 2010.

Hunting management also plays a role in Egypts biodiversity strategy. Many different types of hunting take place in Egypt; these are classified as hunting for sport, tourism, subsistence or commercial trade. Hunting has tended to be excessive in Egypt, leading to the depletion of the nations wildlife. Since 1992, Egypt has made significant improvements in hunting management with steps taken to organize sport hunting for game birds, in particular for tourism. To control illegal hunting, a system has been set up to monitor hunting in the desert, and raids have been carried out on shops selling protected species of wildlife.Nature Protection Sector has been active in the conventions and following-up on convention compliance. The Government of Egypt has played a major role in the Biodiversity Convention, and was one of the first countries to sign the agreement in 1992.

Sharm El Sheikh can be divided into several areas...
(from right side to left side of above map)
- Nabq Bay: This would be off the right side of the map, beyond the airport. A quiet area with good views over to Tiran Island. This is a long way from Na'ama Bay though, at least half an hour drive. Not really suitable for divers, due to its distance from the dive centres that we use.
- White Knight bay: Named after the dive site and ho

me to the Four Seasons & Meridien Hotels. Good snorkelling, but quite far from Na'ama Bay. Taxi journey to Na'ama Bay would be about 25 minutes.
- Sharks Bay: You'd have to be very lucky to see sharks here now, but it is a nice location for hotels. Not that close to Na'ama Bay though - about 20 minutes by taxi.
- Na'ama Bay: The heart of Sharm. This long sandy bay was where the first hotel appeared in the early 80's. The development is now complete and the seafront boasts a beautiful paved walkway following the full sweep of the bay. Na'ama Bay is busy and bustling, and where most of the shops, bars and restuarants are to be found; great if you often want to be out in the evenings. Beach at the front of the bay is popular with sun-bathers but keen snorkellers would be better off elsewhere.

The diving:
Sharm is dived by day boat, where you go out in the morning and return in the afternoon, having done two dives (a third is optional). Lunch is available onboard (its very good!) and soft drinks and water are available.
Dive sites/Areas: There are many local sites all within 20 minutes boat journey from the jetty. These are sites such as the Temple, Ras Um Sid & White Knight. At the tip of the Sinai you have the marine park of Ras Mohammed, with sites such as Yolanda Reef and Shark Reef. North of Sharm is the Straits of Tiran with four reefs. Also from Sharm are some specialist sites such as the wrecks of the Dunraven & Thistlegorm.

RAS MOHAMMED MARINE PARKTranslated from Arabic it means 'Mohammed's Head',

translated from diving talk it means 'Wall Dive'. The sheer drops from the reef tables are home to a wealth of marine life, combining reef dwellers with those of the deep blue. Well known dive sites like Yolonda Reef, Shark Observatory, Stingray Alley and Anemone City can offer sightings of grey and black-tip sharks, stingrays, grouper, Napoleon Wrasse & barracuda along with many other smaller reef species. The area is also home to a varied amount of soft and hard corals.

STRAITS OF TIRAN
Sandwiched between Tiran Island and the Sinai coast, the straits are made up of four main reefs, named after those that mapped them; Woodhouse, Thomas, Gordon and Jackson.

The abundance of plankton in the straits, combined with the wide variety of coral and attendant fish inhabitants means encounters with sharks is a distinct possibility. Dolphins are also quite commonly sighted. The profusion of coral is another plus of this area providing gorgonian fans, sea whips, antler, stony and black corals amongst others. The Straits are the only sea route to the ports of Aqaba and Eilat, and many ships have met their fate on the shallow reefs in this area.

WRECKS FROM SHARM

The most famous Red Sea wreck is the S.S. Thistlegorm which was bombed during World War 2. This British army supply ship is a 'Pandora's Box' laden with military cargo destined for Montgomery's North Africa campaign. She was hit by a German bomber and sank on the 6th October 1941. The mid-section which sustained the blast is badly damaged, but further aft the bridge section is complete, with captains bathroom. The cargo includes a steam locomotive with rolling stock, trucks, motorcycles and munitions plus numerous other ordinance supplies.Other wrecks in the area include the steamboat Dunraven. An English steam and sail powered cargo ship which was en route from Bombay to Newcastle, when it sunk in March 1876. The hull, which is cracked in the middle, has many large holes that make it a perfect wreck for penetration dives. The propeller and masts can still be seen, and along with other surface areas, are caked with impressive soft corals.

This pearl of the gulf actually consists of two villages, the Bedouin village of Assalah is the southern half, with the business and administrative center of Dahab to the north.There are also clusters of holiday villages that cater to affluent visitors.

Assalah is the most developed part of Dahab, 2,5 miles up the coat from downtown. Historically, most visitors to Dahab have been backpackers traveling independently and staying in the hostels in this area.It is a sprawling conglomeration of palm trees, shops, campgrounds, hotels, bars and restaurants that lie along the shore of Ghazala Bay. Assalah has a distictly bohemian feel. Less laid back, but still relaxed, is the area just south along El-Qura Bay. Here, upscale luxury holiday villages and dive centers attract a very different clientele.

Dahab means 'gold' in Arabic. In Sinai it means golden sands, turquoise sea and off-beat cafe life. It is a focus of tourism development, with swaying palms, fine sand and wonderful snorkeling opportunities. Dahab has excellent hotel accommodations, but also affords less expensive housing in the village, or camping. About 5 miles from town is the famous Blue Hole, for diving. Towards the Israeli border is the Island of Coral, where the Crusaders built a fort. The remains can still be seen.
Dahab was originally a Bedouin fishing village that today is world-renowned for its windsurfing, because of the reliable winds that provide outstanding flat water conditions. However, there are many reefs immediately adjacent to the waterfront hotels, so scuba diving and snorkeling are also very popular sports, especially considering the nearby Blue Hole.

One of the main attractions of Dahab are the unique on-the-ground restaurants, a mixture of Hippie and Bedouin styles developed over several decades. Large cushions and low tables are placed next to the sea, and decorated with colorful cloths. Most of these restaurants have fish stalls in front, where one can pick the fish of one's choice and have it prepared according to one's wishes. The menus are delicious
, quite affordable,
but a bit above the price level of the average Egyptian restaurant.
After finishing one's food, onejust lean back in the cushions and rest for as long as you wish.

The past, present and future map of Egyptian civilization has the New Valley on it. This part occupies two thirds of Egypt's area. It is the land of promise in modern revival and urbanization. Demographically speaking, the New Valley will avail itself for Egyptians to be released of the narrow strip on the banks of the present course of the River Nile. The current space is short of satisfying the great ambitions towards a brighter future.
The New Valley & the oases are special and distinguished as community, environment, natural components, cultural heritage and social features. It is an exclusivity which merges into the homogeneity of Egyptian texture; oneness in diversity.

It is a great pleasure to present in word and picture stories of the past, facts of the present and promise of the future on the land of the New Valley that possesses natural, geographic and human resources; social and cultural heritage; folk arts; then the constituents of comprehensive development, so as to make tomorrow better within context of the dream project, i.e. another valley parallel to the Nile's to race with it in the advancement and progress contest.
Future envisaged
Outside the populous valley is the future envisaged for Egypt; heading for vast horizons of land, with a view to opening new vistas for development and progress.
Tailoring construction and investment map, therefore, is one of the fundamental pillars of Egypt's revival while on the thresholds of the 21st Century. Hence the orientation to adopt a gigantic national scheme to develop Sinai peninsula and its surroundings; digging Al- Salam Canal to convey the fresh water of the River Nile streaming to yield welfare around. Great development projects along the Suez Canal and the Red Sea coast are, also, visualized.

Such project, anyway, is integrated with another grand scheme to develop and promote south Egypt, in such a manner that goes in line with the ongoing projects to develop the northern coast of Egypt in terms of tourism, industry and new urban communities.
The New Valley is a crucial area which extends from the River Nile western bank to international borders to both the south and west. It remains full of investment- suitable climate of all sorts of constituents, as it has land very much favourable to be cultivated, not to mention all other elements.
Land & People

The New Valley area is located in the south western part of the Arab Republic of Egypt, extending along west the Nile valley in the western desert. Governorates of Menia, Assuit, Sohag and Qena border it from the east. Matrouh and El-Bahariya oasis border it from the west along the international boundaries with Libya. As for the south, it is adjacent to the international borders with the Sudan. Such area was formerly called the governorate of western desert. The New Valley (Al-Wadi Al-Gadid) name, however, dates back to 1958.
The area of the New Valley is 376,505 sq. km, constituting 37.6% of Egypt's entire land.
It includes three main downhills, 200 to 300 km away from the River Nile, which are El-Kharga, El-Dakhla and Al-Farafra oases.
El-Kharga is the capital city of the New Valley. It is divided into three districts; El-Kharga which consists of 8 rural councils, El-Dakhla which includes 7 rural councils, together with Mot city, and there is also El-Farafra city, besides two other rural councils.

Al-Wadi Al-Gadid (The New Valley) Governorate is linked with the Nile Valley through highways networks; Cairo-Assuit and Luxor-Kharga.

Establishing two highways, to link El-Farafra and Dayrout directly to Assuit, are underway, besides the local roads networks. There is, also, regular airline between Cairo International Airport and the New Valley airport in El-Kharga.
This Governorate is the biggest in Egypt, still only 150,000 reside there; just 0,004% density per sq. km.
History
The oases area, in Egypt's western desert, has played a significant role over various ages of ancient Egyptian history, as El-Kharga oasis in the Pharaonic era was called "plough", El-Dakhla oasis was termed "southern oasis", while Al-Farafera oasis was named "cow", which clearly speaks of welfare, as such areas were fully cultivated.
El-Kharga and El-Dakhla oases, in the Pharaonic era, were one region affiliated to "Thani" region near Suhag, as Pharaonic rulers were keen on maintaining stability and prosperity, considering such area the vital defence front-line of Egypt to stand against any offensive either from the west or the south.
When Persian Qambiz invaded Egypt in the 6th Century BC, leading an army from Thebes to capture "Amon" oasis and to burn his temple in Siwa, none of Qambiz's soldiers of fortune managed to reach Al-Wahi (inspiration) Temple in Siwa.

As Persian invaders deemed such puzzle as unseen wrath inflicted on their army, King Dara who succeeded Qambiz, reconciliated with residents of the oases, completing Hibesis Temple building and decoration.
As for the Greek-Roman era, Ptolemaists gave a great heed to developing agriculture in these oases. Romans, also, exploited such fertile lands, digging wells known as "Roman eyes", utilizing "Darb Al-Arbaen" and causing trade to thrive.
In third and fourth centuries BC, when Roman suppression towards Christians increased, too many of Egypt's Copts fled to such oases, as they established over there cultivated and arable lands, leaving behind several remains and monuments, namely the Bagawat in El-Kharga. This indicates a Christian presence in the area at that time.
The oases had viable role, especially with the advent of Islam to Egypt, when the Islamic Qasr Village in El-Dakhla received the first Muslims whose monuments so far remain.
Monuments
Successive historical ages, experienced by the New Valley area, had left behind several priceless monuments.
Such three aforementioned oases in the New Valley harbour more than 100 ancient sites, as several Pharaonic and Roman temples are scattered there, for example, Al-Ghoeta, Al-Nadora and Dosh temples.
Debris of the military fortifications, such as Al-Naga and Al-Monera castles are still there, in addition to remains of roads used to be beaten by caravans, such as "Darb Al-Arbaen".
There are, also, Christian monuments, represented in "Al-Bagawat" cemetery built in the premier Christian ages. Still 263 significant monuments remain there.
As for the most famous monuments of El-Dakhla, it is the tile steps (mustaba) which was the venue of the oases residents during Old and Middle Pharaonic Kingdoms.
There are, also, Islamic monuments in plenty, such as Sheikh Bashandi's dome and tomb, in addition to some splendid villages like Qasr and Balat.
Antiquities
The oases of the New Valley went through different historical ages that left behind several monuments which indicate the kind of civilization and prosperity this area had witnessed in the different ages of Pharaonic, Greek, Roman, Coptic and Islamic Egypt.
The oases: Kharga, Dakhla and Farafra include dozens of ancient sites housing temples, tombs, edifices' remnants, cities and roads.
Monuments of Kharga
There are several historical sites in Kharga, the capital of the New Valley. In those sites, a lot of tools used in pre-dynasty ages were found, as well as some Mokharbashat (engravings) of the Old Kingdom, some in Mount El-Tayr near Kharga and some in El-Ghobary road connecting Kharga with Dakhla. Funeral paintings of the 2nd Dynasty were unearthed, as they portray heads of campaigns from Thebes or Abidos for the purpose of inspection of the oases and keeping their security.
Kharga used to be connected to the Nile Valley through several caravan roads coming from Abidos, Luxor and Essna. They are Darb El-Yabese, Darb El-Refouf, Darb Abo-Serwal, Darb Boulaq, Darb El-Gaga and Darb Dosh.
In addition, there was Darb El-Arbaen connecting Egypt's Assuit with Sudan's Darfor. It was also called Darb El-Wahat (oases) and has been mentioned in a lot of the Old Kingdom engravings.
Kharga and Dakhla were also connected with two roads, one is El-Ghobary which is currently used as motorcar road, the other is Ein Amor going through the hill area north to the oasis.
In the Kharga oasis, there are a lot of important monuments and historical sites. Some of the most interesting of its temples are: Hebes, Ghoweta, Nadhora, Zayan and Dosh; all built with sand stone, of walls covered by several engravings.
Also in Kharga, there are some remnants of forts and military posts, as well as castles, like Langa, Mouneira and Dosh. As for the most prominent Christian monument, it is El-Bagawat cemetery; and next to it traces of the Ein Saaf houses are found.
Monuments of Dakhla
Dakhla, together with Kharga oases form one administrative unit. In Dakhla, a painting of the Middle Kingdom in Ancient Egypt was found, as well as paintings of the 12th Dynasty in the village of Balat.
The Dakhla oasis was frequently mentioned in Pharaonic scriptures for its superiority in wine-making and abundance of vineyards. Some important paintings were also found - now preserved in Ashmolian Museum in Oxford - which date back to the 22nd and 25th Pharaonic Dynasties and which were concerned with the ownership of water sources and springs.

In Qasr, Dakhla, there are remnants of the temple of god Tehout. 10 km away there is the famous temple of Deir El-Hagar.
Under the Turkish rule of Egypt, the city of Qalamoun was the capital of the Dakhla oasis where there used to be military forces to establish security.
As for the Balat area in Dakhla, it was the place of the rulers of the oases in the Pharaonic era, especially in the age of the Old and Middle Kingdoms where there used to be five mastabas (outdoor stone benches or steps) for burial of the rulers of Kharga and Dakhla in the era of King Bibi I and II, next to the city of Ein Aseel.
The most significant monument of Dakhla is the temple of Deir El-Hagar built in 45/96 AD, the two tombs of El-Mosawaq from the Roman era, as well as the Mastabas of Balat which actually are Pharaonic tombs of the 6th Dynasty covered by Roman mastabas.
Monuments of Farafra
Farafra was mentioned in the Ancient Egyptian documents, especially since the 10th Dynasty in the 21st Century BC, by the name of "Ta Ahat" meaning the land of the cow. It was also mentioned in the texts on the occasional raids of tribes.
In the center of Farafra, there are the remnants of a palace built of clay, with several other plain tombs of rocks, remnants of a Roman temple at the area of Ein Bess, as well as other tombs and some relics near the Farafra palace.

Egypt enjoys a deep-rooted civilization considered as one of the cradles of civilization in the Middle East. A civilization dated back to 700,000 years, when ancient Egyptians inhabited the banks of the River Nile. Indeed, Egypt is the gift of the Nile, quoting Greek historian Herodotus, and it was founded and developed around that river. Cairo is the glorious capital of Egypt and it is Africa's largest city that has been renowned for centuries as a center of learning, culture and commerce. On January 1, 2006, Egypt's total population was estimated at approximately 73,671,661.
The Ancient Egyptians developed an elaborate irrigation system to distribute the waters of the Nile, and convert their arid land into the breadbasket of the Near East. Egypt was divided into a "lower" kingdom in the north of the Nile, and a southern kingdom that extended into modern Sudan (Nubia).

Ancient Egyptians
Used a phonetic-pictograph writing called hieroglyphics by the Ancient Greeks. This system evolved from portrayal of pictures of objects to using stylized representation of objects to represent sound combinations and compose words, to a phonetic alphabet much like our own. Ancient Egypt boasted considerable achievements in art, medicine, astronomy and literature, and was the hub of civilization in much of the Near East and North Africa.
Ramses II a Pharaoh who deserves mentioning. He ruled from 1279 to 1212 BC and is known for his prodigious buildings, rising temples, statues and other monuments throughout Egypt. Among his major achievements was the signing of the first Peace Treaty to be recorded in history, concluded between Egypt and the Hitites.

Alexander the Great

Arrived to Egypt in the late autumn of 332 BC. He founded Alexandria in 331 BC as a gateway to his motherland, Greece. Alexandria became a major center for trading. Its Library became a cultural center that made an important contribution to civilization.
The Ptolemies ruled Egypt until 30 BC and were succeeded by the Romans until 642 AD when the Arabs arrived. It was during the Roman period when Christianity came to Egypt.

Arab and Islam

In 642 AD, Egypt witnessed the beginning of its Arab and Islamic epoch. Successive Arab rulers governed Egypt as part of the Islamic empire, and at various junctures established it as the center of power of the empire. The last Arab dynasty to rule Egypt were the Ayoubids, founded by the great Salah Eddin (Saladin) about 1171. Salah Eddin is famous for driving the crusaders out of Palestine.

Napoleon Bonaparte
On July 2nd 1798, the arrival of Napoleon Bonaparte to Egypt initiated a new phase in Egypt's history and in the history of the Middle East, shocking the Egyptians and the Ottoman Turks out of their complacency. The Egyptians were hitherto totally uninformed about European culture and technical achievements.

Napoleon brought with him a number of scientists who made a complete encyclopedic survey of Egypt, known as "Description de l'Egypte". The expedition contributed significantly to the study of ancient Egyptian history through the discovery of the Rosetta stone and the consequent deciphering of Hieroglyphics.
The Napoleonic invasion caused a drastic revision in the thinking of Egyptian and Ottoman rulers, who finally understood the industrial and technical superiority of the West, and some of its implications. French technology, military techniques and culture were adopted as models, and French instructors were imported to train modern armies. However, the reform was not thorough. Weapons were imported, but the means of achieving an independent industrial capability were not imported. The printing press was not introduced until very late and literacy was low. It was inevitable that these poor societies, including Egypt, would bankrupt themselves trying to pay for the imported Western industrial goods.

Mohamed Ali kingdom
After the French were defeated by the British, Mohamed Ali, who was an officer in the Ottoman Army, rose to power with the support of the Egyptian people.

His rule extended from 1805 to 1849 was an eventful period in Egypt's modern history. He is regarded as the father of modern Egypt who set the country on the march towards modernization. He was an efficient ruler and was able to supplant the Ottoman Turks in Palestine, and withdrew only when forced to do so by the British. Egypt became a British protectorate until 1922, with British troops guarding the Suez canal and other vital British interest. In 1923, the first Constitution was promulgated and Sa'ad Zaghloul formed the first representative government of Egypt. However, British troops continued to guard the Suez Canal. In 1936, 16 year old Farouk came to power, in place of his father Fuad. An Anglo-Egyptian treaty signed in that year regulated the size of British forces in Egypt and guaranteed that Britain would be able to continue to safeguard its interest in the canal, a vital strategic asset.

Officer Movement

On the 23rd of July 1952, the Free Officer Movement led by Gamal Abd El-Nasser seized power in a bloodless revolution which allowed King Farouk to leave the country with a full royal salute.
On the 18th of June 1953, the monarchy ended. Egypt was declared a Republic and Mohamed Naguib were named as the first President.
However, in 1954, Nasser arrested Naguib and assumed control as the second president. Nasser inaugurated the policy of pan-Arabism, attempting to unite all of the Arabs under Egypt. Nasser was adept at maneuvering Egypt into a position of leadership in the non-aligned bloc that he helped to create.
During Nasser's presidency, extensive agricultural and industrial development projects were carried out including agrarian reform and other socialist projects. Progressive economic and social reforms were implemented, but often grandiose projects such as the Aswan High Dam did not prove to economically beneficial and economic gains were swallowed up by the burgeoning population.

Anwar El-Sadat

With the death of President Nasser in September 1970, Anwar El-Sadat assumed office.
On October 6th, 1973, theEgyptian army crossed the Suez Canal, stormed the Bar Lev line and recaptured parts of Sinai occupied by Israel in 1967.
To overcome the state of belligerency, President Sadat announced his historic initiative to visit Israel in pursuit of lasting peace, which he did in November 1977. Finally, the Egyptian-Israeli Peace Treaty was signed in March 1979.

The Sadat period witnessed changes in the political, social and economic domains, and at the same time, the private sector was given a greater share in the country's economy through the implementation of the "Open Door Policy

Hosny Mubarak
In October 1981, Vice President Hosny Mubarak succeeded Sadat as President.

Economic reforms undertaken under Mubarak succeeded in diverting finance towards productive investment in industry and agriculture. The main features of Egypt's national economic policy under President Mubarak are the efforts to broaden the economic base by promoting local, Arab and foreign investment. A process of successful privatization has started, the stock exchange has been revived, and reform programs with the IMF and the World Bank have been signed and implemented.