Abusir is a site outside Saqqara, Egypt in the Old Kingdom. It was the main cemetery of Memphis and was associated with the Egyptian God Osiris, overseer of the Underworld. Currently, it is famous for a large number of pyramids, most of which are from 5th dynasty. Egyptian government claims that the long-lost tombs of Marc Antony and Cleopatra may have been discovered at Abisir. If this is true then a lot of loose ends in the Egyptian history can be tied.
There are at least 14 pyramids here though most of them are not in their former glory. Only four pyramids are standing now. Out of the four, only the pyramids of Kings Sahure and Neferirk are in decent state. The pyramid of Niuserre has almost collapsed and that of Neferefre was never finished.
In addition to these pyramids, there are also various tombs in the area including the tomb of the 3rd Dynasty King Sekhemkhet. There are the Sun Temples of the 5th Dynasty Kings located just to the north at Abu Ghauob. There is also a temple called Valley Temple which is very close to the Sun Temples.
This place has an important place in Egyptian history though none of the pharaohs buried here have the glory of the pharaohs of 4th dynasty.
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The city of Port Said was founded by Said Pasha in 1859 to house men working on the Suez Canal. It is a famous summer resort in Egypt. It is a beach resort which has beautiful bungalows and hotels where you can stay during your visit.
It is a great sight to see a large number of ships waiting to enter the Suez Canal, which is a well-known harbor. The city centre boasts of beautiful 19th century architecture.
The port also has a National Museum which has a large number of artifacts collected from all periods of Egyptian history. The museum is located on Sharia Palestine. It has Islamic and Coptic exhibits, including textiles, manuscripts and coins. There is a room in the museum full of artifacts of the Khedival family.
It also has a Military Museum located on Sharia which has displays of pharaonic and Islamic wars, the Suez and the 1967 and 1973 wars. If you have time, you can also visit famous gardens in Port Fuad, which is across the Canal from Port Said.
It is also famous for being the city where the Statute of Liberty was first supposed to be placed, with the name ‘Light of Asia’.
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Temple of Isis is situated on Philae island in Egypt. It was dedicated to the goddess Isis, the wife of Osiris and mother of Horus. Isis is considered the mother of god and giver of life, a healer and protector of kings in Egyptian mythology. She is also associated with funeral rights.
The temple situated in Philae was built beautifully and had a large numbers of paintings on the wall. The island of Philae was later threatened by flood due to a dam project and all the ruins on the island, including the temple of Isis, were shifted to another higher island. This way the temple was preserved though the flood but caused many paintings to be washed away. The new island is also known as Philae. It can be reached by traveling by road from Aswan to the landing stage which is 6km towards the south and then hiring a boat.
It was started during the reign of King Ptolemy II, and then other Ptolemaic Kings continued the process of building it. It has a great traditional pylon with two towers, and an open forecourt, which leads to the 2nd pylon. The 2nd Pylon leads to a Hypostyle Hall with 10 columns, and then 3 vestibules leading to a sanctuary. The temple is beautiful and has a special place in Egyptian history.
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Sharm el Sheikh, which was once a small fishing community, has now become one of the most famous resorts in Egypt. Due to its amazing weather, tourists come here all round the year. Sharm el Sheikh consists of three main areas, namely, the old town of Sharm el Maya and its bay, Al Hadaba and number of other bays which includes Tiger Bay among others.
Tiger Bay is on the Red sea coast and you can always enjoy the view of the sea from here. The beaches are close and are very beautiful. Tiger bay is famous for its water sports. Many of the hotels here provide the facility of water sports. They have swimming pools built along with the sea as well therefore you can almost swim with the fishes and enjoy a great experience.
You can also get a good view from the cliff of Tiger Bay. You can see Tiran island from here.
There are quite a number of good hotels to stay in Tiger Bay. Many of the hotels provide discotheques so if you are looking for a good nightlife, you are guaranteed a fun time here. The food is also good as the restaurants in the hotels provide a variety of cuisines.
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The Temple of Seti is situated in Abydos in Egypt which is approximately 11 km west of the Nile. It was built by Pharaoh Seti I of the 19th Dynasty who had this magnificent edifice raised over the ruins of a previous temple. The Temple of Seti is today still one of the most beautiful temples in Egypt.
The Temple was constructed with white marble in a shape of ‘L’ with the statues of all gods and goddesses of Greece and former pharaohs of Egypt whom Seti I recognized placed inside reverently. Therefore, in spite of being known as the Temple of Seti, the temple is not dedicated to Seti but to other gods whom he believed in as well.
The beautiful Temple has seven chapels and a place for the religious cleansing of the priest among other structures. Seti I’s son Ramesses II further added many decorations and new structures to the temple. When the temple was constructed it extended over 168 m in length, but time and the harsh desert climate have claimed much of its grandeur leaving its forecourts scarcely recognizable. The part of the temple which is in good condition and can still be visited is approximately 76 m long and 107 wide, including the wing at the side.
Inside the Temple, inscriptions have been found listing a long line of pharaohs who ruled Egypt but historians have found that many important names are missing from the list. The Temple of Seti is steeped in mythology and forms the core of several legends which overshadow its historical value.
(Image courtesy of a rancid amoeba)
Nuweiba, known as ‘the pearl of the Gulf of Aqaba’, is situated approximately 87 km away from Dahab in Egypt.
It is a beautiful place to visit with its impressive mountains as well as beautiful beaches. Since there are many shallow coral reefs here, snorkeling and diving are the main attractions there. The most popular diving spots here are Ras Burka, Big Ruta, Devil’s Head and Maagana.
Further, the presence of the imposing mountains makes trekking a favored tourist activity too. You can also take in more of the local charm with visits to local sightseeing spots like St Katherine’s Monastery, Mount Sinai, the Coloured Canyon and the oases. Nuweiba also has a castle which was built in 1893 over the fallen ruins of another ancient castle.
Another attraction of Nuweiba is Tarabin which is a marina walk alongside the city. There are many beach huts there, built of bamboo, where you can relax and peacefully watch the sunrise and sunset.
The city has a large range of accommodations to offer visitors. There are many upscale resorts where you can stay in complete luxury. However, if you do not want to spend too much on accommodation you can find cheap lodgings in Tarabin village which is just one km from Nuweiba. Tarabin is famous for its unique Bedouin-style camps with huts which come at a fraction of the price of a high end resort. The nightlife is also good as there are many bars and restaurants.
(Image courtesy of watchsmart)
Philae is a small island situated in the Nile River in Egypt. The original island was submerged in Lake Nasser owing to a dam project. The island was considered sacred as it was believed to be one of the burying-places of Osiris and therefore was considered a place where only priests could live. To protect the island, a wall was built around it. Philae was famous for its large number of beautiful structures which, though in ruins, reflect the architectural prowess of the ancients.
Although the original island has disappeared, no harm has fallen upon these invaluable ruins as each of them has been restored at a new island which now goes by the name Philae. It can be reached by traveling by road from Aswan to the landing stage which is 6km towards the south and then crossing over by boats which can be hired there.
The biggest attraction of the island is an Ancient Egyptian temple complex dedicated to Isis. It is planned south to north and can be entered from the Hall of Nectanebo.
Another beautiful structure is the Temple of Hathor built by Philometor and Euergetes II in honor of Hathor-Aphrodite. It is a small temple, approximately 50m east of the Temple of Isis.
You must also see the Kiosk of Trajan which was built in the Roman Imperial period. Though it has been left unfinished, it is still beautiful and takes one back to the golden age of Egypt.
(Image courtesy of S J Pinkney)
Ras Mohammed Natural Protected Park is a natural reserve situated in Gulf of Aqaba in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt. It was created in 1983 for the purpose of protecting marine life. Its boundaries stretch from across the Qad Ibn Haddan lighthouse on the Gulf of Suez to the southern boundary of the Nabq Protectorate on the same Gulf. The reserve is spread over an area of 480 km square.
This natural reserve is a popular tourist attraction today which offers fantastic opportunities for diving and snorkeling in the Red Sea. The area is famous for the wide variety in its beautiful coral formation. In fact, the park boasts more than 220 types of hard coral and 125 types of soft coral. It’s beautiful coral reefs are a nature enthusiast’s delight.
You will also come across a great variety of fishes here, numbering around 1000 species in total. Sea urchins, mollusk and sea turtles can also be seen around this protected park.
A few important places to visit here are the Eel Garden which is famous for garden eels; Main Beach which is well known for its stunning vertical coral walls; Marsa Bareika which has beautiful corals as well as vast beaches and Mangrove Channel from where you can see both resident and migratory birds such as Herons, White Stark, Osprey, etc.
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Yes, it’s that time of year again… summer’s coming soon! And with the sunshine we’ve had recently we’re sure you’re looking forward to it even more. But if you just can’t wait, you can have a taste of summer even sooner with Sunmaster. We have a huge range of late deals and last minute holidays to lots of dream destinations.
If you fancy some great weather guaranteed, take a trip to Sharm el Sheikh. It’s still a scorching 29C in April – a lot hotter than the UK’s little sunny spell in spring! There’s so much to see and do, from action-packed watersports to spending a night at a Bedouin camp. And that’s not forgetting the pristine powder-soft white beaches and crystal clear Red Sea.
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(Image courtesy of Mike McHolm)
Medinat Al-Fayoum is the largest town situated on the Al-Fayoum oasis, a favourite holiday spot for 13th-dynasty pharaohs who built many beautiful palaces here for pleasure.
The ruins of 13th century building are spread all over the city of Medinat Al-Fayoum. The Monastery of Archangel Gabriel is a beautiful monastery, dating 6th or 7th century, which is famous for its ancient history, mythological stories attached to it and its simplicity. Situated 13 km away from Medinat Al-Fayoum, it is probably one of the oldest Coptic Christian monasteries in the whole of Fayoum region. The Temple of Madinat Madi is another beautiful relic from past which is merely 30 km away from Medinet El-Fayoum.
Lake Quarun is another must visit if you come to this area. The city is also famous for its canals and the water wheels, which were built by the Greek settlers. There is an Obelisk called Obelisk of Senusert built at the time of Senwosret I of 12th Dynasty and currently stands at the city’s northern entrance. The Obelisk also had a golden statue of Raput at the top of it, though now only a gap remains there.
There are many places to stay around the city. Covered markets and goldsmiths’ street are other attractions.
