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.
It is impossible to understand how the Pyramids of Giza have survived over 4000 years. The desert, looters and all of the elements that Mother Nature can throw at them will not destroy these ancient structures. To see these giants standing proud over the land, you wonder in awe how they could have possibly be built by human hands. Take a camel to see the grounds and imagine that you are an ancient Pharaoh coming across these great monuments for the first time. What would it have felt like then?
Once you have explored Cairo, make your way south to Luxor a city located on the Nile River. It is here that you will find The Valley of the Kings, the final resting place for 63 kings and noblemen of ancient time. King Tut was buried here and his chamber can be explored.
Make sure to conceal your camera, as it will be confiscated at the gate. Many people manage to smuggle their cameras into the grounds anyway, just be respectful of not taking photos inside the tombs. They will be taken away for sure as there are guards watching everything.
Rameses IV and Merneptah are two temples not to be missed. Well preserved and interesting, they are both quite different experiences. King Tuts tomb is most likely not open for visitors, but it is not considered and impressive tomb anyway. Only a handful of tombs are open to tourists at any one time, so you are at the mercy of what is open for viewing on the day of your visit. The chambers are all impressive though, simply for the fact that they are thousands of years old. But also with the grand scale of their size and for the scenes painted on their walls that have survived for centuries.
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.
Don't miss visiting the Hatshepsut's Temple nearby. Another must see destination in Egypt, it is a temple made for one of Egypt's most successful Pharaohs. What is so interesting about this temple is that it was made for a female king. It is amazing to see that Egypt was ruled by a woman for 21 years, in 1479 BC!
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.
Don't let the massacre of 1997 scare you away from seeing this great temple. Armed guards patrol the grounds and after 12 years, calm has been restored in the land. By the looks of the amount of people visiting the ruins, it has not been hurt by tourism in recent years.
Back in the town of Luxor you can find a great temple within footsteps of your hotel. Located in the heart of the city it is an impressive monument. Make sure to visit it at night for awesome photo opportunities as they are lit up for viewing. There are many shops and restaurants located across the street from the temple all with great views of the square out front where children play football.
Standing on the banks of Lake Nasser enroute to Sudan is Abu Simbel this temple was originally built on lower ground. With the creation of the Aswan Dam, an enormous undertaking was initiated in the 1960s to move the ruins to higher ground to keep them from becoming submerged under water.
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.
Egypt is a destination that everyone must make time to visit. It is one of the most ancient locations on earth. Filled with grand temples and monuments, blessed with the Nile River and alive with energy and excitement it has something for every explorer to see.
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.
It is impossible to understand how the Pyramids of Giza have survived over 4000 years. The desert, looters and all of the elements that Mother Nature can throw at them will not destroy these ancient structures. To see these giants standing proud over the land, you wonder in awe how they could have possibly be built by human hands. Take a camel to see the grounds and imagine that you are an ancient Pharaoh coming across these great monuments for the first time. What would it have felt like then?
Once you have explored Cairo, make your way south to Luxor a city located on the Nile River. It is here that you will find The Valley of the Kings, the final resting place for 63 kings and noblemen of ancient time. King Tut was buried here and his chamber can be explored.
Make sure to conceal your camera, as it will be confiscated at the gate. Many people manage to smuggle their cameras into the grounds anyway, just be respectful of not taking photos inside the tombs. They will be taken away for sure as there are guards watching everything.
Rameses IV and Merneptah are two temples not to be missed. Well preserved and interesting, they are both quite different experiences. King Tuts tomb is most likely not open for visitors, but it is not considered and impressive tomb anyway. Only a handful of tombs are open to tourists at any one time, so you are at the mercy of what is open for viewing on the day of your visit. The chambers are all impressive though, simply for the fact that they are thousands of years old. But also with the grand scale of their size and for the scenes painted on their walls that have survived for centuries.
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.
Don't miss visiting the Hatshepsut's Temple nearby. Another must see destination in Egypt, it is a temple made for one of Egypt's most successful Pharaohs. What is so interesting about this temple is that it was made for a female king. It is amazing to see that Egypt was ruled by a woman for 21 years, in 1479 BC!
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.
Don't let the massacre of 1997 scare you away from seeing this great temple. Armed guards patrol the grounds and after 12 years, calm has been restored in the land. By the looks of the amount of people visiting the ruins, it has not been hurt by tourism in recent years.
Back in the town of Luxor you can find a great temple within footsteps of your hotel. Located in the heart of the city it is an impressive monument. Make sure to visit it at night for awesome photo opportunities as they are lit up for viewing. There are many shops and restaurants located across the street from the temple all with great views of the square out front where children play football.
Standing on the banks of Lake Nasser enroute to Sudan is Abu Simbel this temple was originally built on lower ground. With the creation of the Aswan Dam, an enormous undertaking was initiated in the 1960s to move the ruins to higher ground to keep them from becoming submerged under water.
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.
Egypt is a destination that everyone must make time to visit. It is one of the most ancient locations on earth. Filled with grand temples and monuments, blessed with the Nile River and alive with energy and excitement it has something for every explorer to see.
About the Author:
Deb Corbeil is one half of Canada's unique Couple. Together with her husband Dave Bouskill they have trekked, hiked, biked and climbed to over 30 countries all over the globe. click on their website theplanetd for more tips, advice and information on travel and unique locations. To view their photo gallery click on picturetheplanet
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