5 Things To See And Do In Egypt
It’s time to talk about travel again! It’s the coldest time of the year for many of us, and the temptation to get away somewhere hotter is likely stronger than it has been for quite some time. Whether we’re lucky enough to be able to do that straight away, or if it’s just a case of giving ourselves something to look forward to by planning a getaway for next summer, now is as good a time as any to start thinking about our next vacation destination.
After a period of instability brought around by political change and uncertainty in the Middle East, Egypt is open again for business. If you’ve been in the past, you already know what a strikingly beautiful country it is to visit. If you’ve never been before, words alone aren’t able to express what a spectacular place it is to see with your own eyes. The good news right now is that prices are low, and the country is very keen to see you.
All of us have grown up with the legends of Ancient Egypt, and the empire that its people built. The image of the mummy in horror films has been with us since the Hammer Horror movies of the 1950s. We’re as mystified by the creation of the Pyramids today as we have been for centuries. The calling cards of Egypt are the scene setters for a whole raft of slot games at EgyptSlots.com, where gamblers wager their bets amid the sights and sounds of the Egypt of old, and Cleopatra and the Asp appear on the reels. Gambling companies only market around ideas that make money; if the people behind Egypt Slots have decided to use it as a theme, it’s because they know the imagination of the public at large is interested in it. There are very few countries in the world that can fire passion and imagination in the same way that the land of the Nile does.
If we haven’t whet your appetite to speak to a travel agent about booking a trip there yet, let’s look at what some of the most popular things to see and do in the country are!
Go Sandboarding
We don’t like to give you obvious suggestions every time! Sandboarding, if you haven’t come across it before, is exactly what it sounds like – surfboarding, but on the sand. We don’t really have the sand dunes to do it anywhere in the Western world, but in Egypt, that isn’t a problem. This may not appeal to everybody, but if you’re the active type who likes to try skiing or white water rafting when you’re in a location that suits it, sandboarding might be the activity for you.
The Great Sand Sea, near Siwa Oasis, offers the best spot not only in Egypt but the entire world to take part in the hobby. The largest dune there is approximately 460 feet high!
Cruise The Nile
Having started with an unconventional suggestion, we’ll go back onto the more traditional offerings here. Nobody should go on vacation to Egypt without going on a cruise down the Nile. It’s one of the most famous rivers in the world, and was once the key to the ancient Egyptian economy and therefore the cornerstone of their power.
You can rent a boat and sail it yourself for a few hours, or go on an extended cruise which usually includes a full day, meals and entertainment. Either way, this is an activity that should go close to the top of your ‘must do’ list.
Visit The Pyramids
Another recommendation from the ‘this should be obvious’ list, but if you don’t visit the Pyramids when you go to Egypt, what are you even there for? They’ve stood there for thousands of years; longer than the countries and civilizations that most of us belong to, and nobody can say for certain how the people of the time even managed to construct them. They’re one of the world’s oldest mysteries, hidden in plain sight, with the Great Pyramid of Giza being the one remaining wonder of the old world.
What might amaze you about the Pyramids if you’ve never seen them before is the fact that the modern city has developed right up to and around them; they stand in the middle of a thriving town with shops and bazaars, with all the hustle and bustle of everyday life going on around them. The Sphinx is also an impressive sight you can take in at the same time.
Snorkel Or Dive In The Red Sea
The Red Sea is beautiful. It has a shade of blue that is unmatched by any other body of water anywhere in the world, and if you dip into it from the right point, you can see clearly through it to a good depth; more than far enough to appreciate the incredible and colorful array of sea life that call it home. There are a great many exotic fish and underwater structures below the waters that have to be seen to be appreciated.
Snorkeling and diving trips are offered by most hotels and a number of tour guides that operate from within the country. Popular spots to go into the water from include Sharm-El-Sheikh, Dahab and Hurghada, although that’s by no means an exclusive list.
Walk Through History
When you head out into the deserts of the land, you’re walking deep into Egypt’s history. Temperatures at some points of the year might be among the highest anywhere in the world – especially in Luxor – but if you’re willing to get a little warm and protect yourself from the worst of the heat, you’ll be rewarded with sights that you’ll never forget.
The ancient temples, tombs, and monuments of the long-dead Pharaohs are known as Pharaonic sites. Luxor and Aswan have the bulk of them, although there are delights to be found elsewhere. Because of the dry heat, many of the old structures have survived virtually undamaged for centuries on end, with the vibrant colors they were once decked out in still visible in places. The Ancient Egyptians had a flair for design and style, and it’s as easy to see today as it must have been at the time.
