At the top of every travelers list you will most likely find Egypt. People are drawn to its great monuments and world famous temples and pyramids. These incredible structures have intrigued us all for centuries.
Time stands still in this country. People dress traditionally and as you walk the streets you can hear the call to prayer being played over loud speakers throughout the city. Horse carts weave through busy traffic and fruit stands line the streets. The city is alive with energy and you can almost feel the ancient Pharaohs presence in every corner. Nowhere is this more prominent than a visit to the greatest temples on earth.
Built is 2500 BC, the Pyramids of Egypt an incredible sight. You can see them from almost any point in the city, but an up close and personal view is a must. Rent a camel and guide and explore the ruins as the ancient explorers did. You will be away from all of the tour buses and even have the extra bonus of riding through the back alley ways of Cairo.
Valley of the Kings is another popular place to visit on the tourist route is The Valley of the Kings. Located just outside of Luxor. The Valley of the Kings is a giant valley in the desert containing 63 tombs and chambers of Kings and noblemen; the most famous being King Tut.
A good travel tip is to hide your camera when entering the grounds. Many people manage to bring their camera’s in and photos are allowed outside the temples. Do not however attempt to take a photo inside any of the temples. The flash can damage the ancient paints and you will have your camera taken away instantly. It is nice to have photo’s from outside though because the valley is massive and impressive.
Only a handful of tombs are open at any given time. King Tuts tomb is not high on the tour route as it is not an impressive tomb compared to the others. The tombs of Rameses VI, Merneptah, and Rameses IV are far more impressive. The chambers are surprisingly large and airy. They have bright paintings on their walls depicting scenes from the book of the dead, and the book of caverns among others.
They have made the afterlife pleasant for their rulers. Large airy chambers are inviting and the bright colours on the walls make you feel as if you are visiting a joyous place rather than a place of burial. Kings were buried with great treasures, but the chambers in the Valley of the Kings are empty. Bandits had robbed the tombs years ago and whatever had been saved by excavators are now safely stored at the Antiquities Museum in Cairo.
While visiting the Valley of the Kings, you can also visit the Temple of Hatshepsut. A woman ruler from 1479-1458 BC, she was one of Egypt’s most successful rulers. Egypt was run by a woman for 21 years. Our modern world has not been quite so liberal.
Built in harmony into the side of a cliff, Hatsheput’s Temple is considered to be the most dramatically situated temple on earth. Three tiers lead to the main grounds where statues and pillars create a labyrinth to explore.
It was here that a massacre occurred in 1997 killing 60 tourists. Over a decade later, peace has been restored and tourism is back to normal. However you will see many armed guards around grounds
Your tour may take you to the Luxor Temple located right downtown Luxor. A massive structure of pillars, statues and temple spans along the Nile River. It is an impressive sight that is even more beautiful at night when it is lit up for your viewing pleasure. If you are looking for internet and have a laptop, the McDonalds across the street has free Wifi and a great view of the entire Temple.
The last temple that you must see in Egypt is Abu Simbel. Located on Lake Nasser, it is bit harder to get to than the others, but well worth the visit. In the 1960’s it was relocated to a hight point on the lakes banks. With the construction of the Aswan Dam, it would have been buried underwater and lost forever. The relocation was a success however and it is alive and well ready to be viewed.
Abu Simbel was built in 1265 BC. Four great images of Rameses II stand 20-metres high overlooking the great lake. It is definitely worth the over 200km trip from Luxor, or you can see it from the ferry to Wadi Halfa in the Sudan.
It is difficult to grasp just how ancient everything is in the country. Everywhere you turn buildings are thousands of years old. It is almost overwhelming to fathom that every building, structure and monument has a story to tell.
