Deir el Medina
Deir el-Medina is an ancient Egyptian working class city. It is a little off the beaten path in a small valley near Thebes. Unfortunately, today you can only admire the ruins of the settlement. The workers who created the Valley of the Kings lived in the approximately 70 houses made of mud bricks for more than five centuries. It is interesting that the workers of Deir el-Medina organized the first documented strike in history. They successfully pushed through their demands with a sit-in. Worth seeing are the ruins of the Hathor temple and the cemetery with beautifully painted tombs. A trip to Deir el-Medina can be easily combined with a trip to the nearby Valley of the Kings.
- Andyeducation: Introduction to education system in Egypt, including compulsory schooling and higher education.
El Gouna
El Gouna means “the lagoon”. The holiday town of El Gouna, which was artificially created towards the end of the 1990s, is located directly on the Red Sea. This little paradise is made up of comfortable (mostly) upscale hotels and villas, a variety of top quality restaurants and bars and a marina that is beautifully lit at night. The crystal blue sea with fine sandy beaches is a dream for kitesurfers in particular due to a decent breeze. Mangroovy Beach is very popular with passionate water sports enthusiasts.
Esna
The small town of Esna is about 60 kilometers south of Luxor. The main attraction is the Khnum Temple (completed in 250 AD) in the middle of the city. The huge columned hall of the temple is very well preserved and is the only part that has been excavated. Other sights include the Church of the Holy Virgin and the El Amri Minaret. In the surroundings of Esna there are also some monasteries worth seeing, such as the monastery of Saint Matthias. The Esna dam is also worth a visit.
Rock Tombs of Beni Hassan
The necropolis of Beni Hassan is located in central Egypt near the village of Abu Qurqas. There are a total of 39 rock tombs from the Middle Kingdom (20th to 19th centuries BC), which were hewn into the limestone rock. They are lined up along a rocky slope. After the ascent you will be rewarded with the sight of the unique murals in the tombs. At the top you also have a wonderful view over the Nile. On an excursion to the rock tombs, it should be noted that not all tombs are open to visitors today. Only a handful of the best-known and best-preserved tombs are still open to the public. Five kilometers south of the rock tombs, the temple of Speos Artemidos and a cat cemetery can be visited.
Gebel es-Silsila
The sandstone used to build the marvelous temples that can still be seen across the country today came largely from the Gebel es-Silsila quarry. The main attraction in Gebel es-Silsila are – in addition to the quarry itself – the rock temple of Haremheb and the almost 30 rock chapels along the Nile bank. The quarry is accessible by land by car or by sea by ferry or boat. Gebel es-Silsila is mostly a destination for holidaymakers from Luxor and Cairo. Some Nile cruise ships also dock here.
Hurghada
One of the most popular seaside resorts in Egypt is Hurghada. Our own airport guarantees a comfortable journey. Good hotels, a wide range of culinary offerings and a varied nightlife make for an unforgettable holiday. It is particularly good to relax on the kilometer-long sandy beaches. In addition to a beach promenade, Hurghada has an Arabic market (souk) where you can buy unique holiday souvenirs. Hurghada is best known as a diving and snorkeling paradise. Here are some of the most beautiful dive sites in the world. A trip to the picturesque Giftun Islands is highly recommended. Apart from that, a variety of excursions are offered on land: day or multi-day tours to Luxor or Cairo and desert tours by camel, car or quad are just a few of them.
Giza
Like many other Egyptian cities, Giza was built on the banks of the Nile. Curiously, the city, which is one of the largest in the country, is so close to Cairo that the two cities are now almost connected. The main attraction is the famous Pyramids of Giza. They are not only a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but also one of the seven wonders of the ancient world – and they are the only wonder of the world still preserved today. The complex of three pyramids is located near Cairo and has very good transport links. The Cheops pyramid is the largest, the two smaller ones are the Chephren and Menkaure pyramids. The 20 meter high Sphinx is very impressive. Giza is mostly the destination of day trippers from the seaside resorts on the Red Sea or a stop on the famous Nile cruises.
Cairo
The lively and never sleeping capital of Cairo offers its visitors an incredible variety of experiences. You can easily move around the city and visit the many sights by metro, bus or taxi. A must for every Cairo vacationer is the Egyptian Museum, in which exhibits from five millennia of Egyptian history are on display. The treasures that could be salvaged from Tutankhamun’s burial chamber are world-famous. Also worth seeing are the Alabaster Mosque with its golden dome, the Ben Ezra Synagogue and the Hanging Church of El Muallaqa. The Ibn Tulun Mosque is the third largest mosque in the world and very impressive. The bazaar Khan el-Khalili invites you to browse and linger. At least since the “Arab Spring” A stroll through the famous Tahrir Square is also part of any visit to Cairo. From the viewing platform of the Cairo Towers, Cairo’s almost 190 meter high television tower, you have a wonderful view over the entire city. From here you can see another attraction: The Pyramids of Giza, which should definitely be visited.
