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Giza Plateau, Cairo
A traveller's destination for over 3000 years, from the early Greek travellers to the modern day package tourist, the Giza Plateau is a top site for any traveller to Egypt. Here stands the only remaining Wonder of the Ancient World, the Great Pyramid. The pyramids of Giza are giants of architecture and offer a humbling experience for anyone who stands at their base and ponders how they were built. Constructed between 2650 - 2500 BC, they consist of the Larger Pyramid of Khufu, the slightly smaller Pyramid of Khafre, the smallest Pyramid of Menkaure, as well as the mysterious Sphinx. A unique experience in Egypt is crawling through the narrow shafts of these huge structures up to the ancient pharaoh's tomb.
Karnak, Luxor
Karnak is arguably Egypt's most impressive site and the largest temple complex/religious site ever built by man. Karnak was named Ipet Sut in ancient Egypt, "the most venerated place". This sprawling open-air museum was begun in 16th century BC and approximately 30 pharaohs contributed to the buildings. Walking through the giant pillars in the Hypostyle Hall while the sun beams in from the west is a timeless experience not to be missed. Built and dedicated to the all important god Amun, visitors are treated to large temple sanctuaries, stunning obelisks, towering rainforest like hieroglyph inscribed pillars, expertly carved granite statues and hours of exploration, just to scratch the surface.
Abu Simbel
Abu Simbel is a fantastic site comprising of two massive rock cut temples. It is located in southern Egypt, on the western bank of Lake Nasser, about 290 km southwest of Aswan. The temples were originally carved out of the mountainside during the reign of Pharaoh Ramesses II as a lasting monument to himself and his queen Nefertari. Built between 1284 BC and 1264 BC, their purpose was to intimidate Egypt's southern neighbours, particularly the Nubians. The main temple was intentionally and precisely cut by the ancient Egyptian architects in such a way that twice a year, on October 20 and February 20, the rays of the sun would penetrate deep into the dark sanctuary and illuminate the holy sculptures.
Saqqara
Saqqara is a vast, ancient burial ground south of Cairo boasting the world's oldest stone built pyramid, the Step Pyramid of the Djoser. Saqqara covers an area of around 7 km by 1.5 km; there are numerous tombs and more than 10 more pyramids in different states of preservation. Saqqara is deep in the desert and thus, over the centuries, was covered by layer upon layer of sand. This has helped in preserving these ancient tombs as well as concealing them. Archeologists continue to find tombs and caches rich with Egyptian treasures in this barren landscape.
Valley of the Kings
The Valley of the Kings is a barren sun baked valley in Egypt where for a period of nearly 500 years, from the 16th to 11th century BC, tombs were constructed for the mighty Pharaohs and powerful nobles of ancient Egypt. The Valley is located on the west bank of the Nile, across from what was once ancient Thebes and is today modern Luxor. Containing at least 63 known tombs, this inhospitable desert landscape continues to reveal buried Egyptian treasure and provide information on how death and the afterlife was so pivotal to ancient Egyptian culture. Descending into the humid rock cut tombs to view strange, colourful, Egyptian funery scenes is a rare look back in time at how the ancients dealt with death.
