Egypt,officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Western Asia. Covering an area of about 1,010,000 square kilometers (390,000 sq mi), Egypt is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Gaza Strip and Israel to the northeast, the Red Sea to the east, Sudan to the south and Libya to the west.

Egypt is one of the most populous countries in Africa and the Middle East. The great majority of its estimated 76 million live near the banks of the Nile River, in an area of about 40,000 square kilometers (15,000 sq mi), where the only arable agricultural land is found. The large areas of the Sahara Desert are sparsely inhabited. About half of Egypt's residents live in urban areas, with the majority spread across the densely-populated centres of greater Cairo, Alexandria and other major cities in the Nile Delta.

Egypt is famous for its ancient civilization and some of the world's most famous monuments, including the Giza pyramid complex and its Great Sphinx. The southern city of Luxor contains numerous ancient artifacts, such as the Karnak Temple and the Valley of the Kings. Egypt is widely regarded as an important political and cultural nation of the Middle East.

Egypt possesses one of the most developed economies in the Middle East, with sectors such as tourism, agriculture, industry and service at almost equal rates in national production.Consequently, the Egyptian economy is rapidly developing, due in part to legislation aimed at luring investments, coupled with both internal and political stability, along with recent trade and market liberalization.

Geography

At 1,001,450 square kilometers (386,660 sq mi),Egypt is the world's 38th-largest country. In terms of land area, it is approximately the same size as all of Central America,twice the size of Spain,four times the size of the United Kingdom,and the combined size of the US states of Texas and California.

Nevertheless, due to the aridity of Egypt's climate, population centres are concentrated along the narrow Nile Valley and Delta, meaning that approximately 99% of the population uses only about 5.5% of the total land area.

Egypt is bordered by Libya to the west, Sudan to the south, and by the Gaza Strip and Israel to the east. Egypt's important role in geopolitics stems from its strategic position: a transcontinental nation, it possesses a land bridge (the Isthmus of Suez) between Africa and Asia, which in turn is traversed by a navigable waterway (the Suez Canal) that connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Indian Ocean via the Red Sea.

Apart from the Nile Valley, the majority of Egypt's landscape is a desert. The winds blowing can create sand dunes more than 100 feet (30 m) high. Egypt includes parts of the Sahara Desert and of the Libyan Desert. These deserts were referred to as the "red land" in ancient Egypt, and they protected the Kingdom of the Pharaohs from western threats.

Climate

Egypt does not receive much rainfall except in the winter months.South of Cairo, rainfall averages only around 2 to 5 mm (0.1 to 0.2 in) per year and at intervals of many years. On a very thin strip of the northern coast the rainfall can be as high as 410 mm (16 in),with most of the rainfall between October and March. Snow falls on Sinai's mountains and some of the north coastal cities such as Damietta, Baltim, Sidi Barrany, etc. and rarely in Alexandria, frost is also known in mid-Sinai and mid-Egypt.

Temperatures average between 80 °F (27 °C) and 90 °F (32 °C) in summer, and up to 109 °F (43 °C) on the Red Sea coast. Temperatures average between 55 °F (13 °C) and 70 °F (21 °C) in winter. A steady wind from the northwest helps hold down the temperature near the Mediterranean coast. The Khamaseen is a wind that blows from the south in Egypt in spring, bringing sand and dust, and sometimes raises the temperature in the desert to more than 100 °F (38 °C).

Egypt has been a tourist magnet for many years, owing to its monuments from ancient civilizations and its exotic aura. It is also one of the newer, emerging destinations in medical tourism. With high standards in cosmetic surgery, combined with low prices, Egypt has become a very affordable medical destination, and the ideal place to combine medical treatment with a cultural experience or a seaside vacation.

Egypt boasts a climate and natural environment considered to be quite therapeutic; from its dry, warm weather to mineral and sulfur rich springs and the healing black sands found at Safga. The country is also rich in its range of treatment resorts and spas on offer. Clinics, hospitals and staff offer world-class services which are on a par with those offered in the UK, Europe and North America. Many of the doctors receive their training and specialist credentials abroad.

A number of specialized tour operators offer medical tourism packages that include a choice of doctors and hospitals, consultation, treatment, recovery plan and tours. Personal helpers for those needing assistance can be also arranged and you’ll find that there are few, if any, language barriers, as tour and medical personnel speak English. In addition to essential medical procedures, many who visit Egypt take advantage of the excellent services in cosmetic treatments and dental work.

History

Egypt is one of the cradles of civilization in the Middle East. Traces of early man were found in Egypt dating back as early as 700,000 years ago. Egypt and ancient Canaan to the north probably served as the bridges by which successive waves of humans: homo erectus, homo habilis, homo neanderthalensis and homo sapiens, evidently migrated out of Africa and into Mesopotamia and Europe. Ancient Egyptians used a phonetic-pictograph writing called hieroglyphics by the Ancient Greeks. This system evolved from portrayal of pictures of objects to using stylized representation of objects to represent sound combinations and compose words, to a phonetic alphabet much like our own. Ancient Egypt boasted considerable achievements in art, medicine, astronomy and literature, and was the hub of civilization in much of the Near East and North Africa.

The unique history of ancient Egypt and visible monuments to that history helped Egyptians to preserve a distinct national consciousness, and to remain a separate entity during the years of Arab, Mameluke and Ottoman conquest.Until the conversion to Christianity, Egyptian polytheistic religion centered around the after life. Pharaohs and rich Egyptians built elaborate tombs in caves or in Pyramids, decorated with elaborate art on the interior and containing jewelry and objects that would be needed in the after-life, and in some cases servants and slaves who were interred with their master. The walls of pyramids were decorated with elaborate stylized frescos such as the one at right, in which noble persons were shown as larger than slaves, and subjects were drawn in profile. In other periods, all subjects were shown in frontal view only. The king or noble person had his or her body embalmed, wrapped in linen, and enclosed in an elaborate carved coffin as a mummy.

Culture

Egypt is a country with an immense cultural mix, In every major city in Egypt you will find traditions that remain from the time of the Pharaohs , and in other parts you will find pure tribal customs that were brought in by many invaders throughout the centuries. That contradiction and contrast between areas of Egypt, when you compare it with other Middle Eastern countries, is what makes Egypt seem advanced against some of the others. Yet here you will find that the customs and mentality tends to be full of warmth towards visitors and foreigners. I guess this could be the secret why Egypt is considered the most attractive country in the region for travellers. The pure nature of the local Egyptians when they are always there when you need help, or when they invite you into their houses when they hardly know you, or when they smile in your face, makes a visit to Egypt a wonderful and unforgettable experience.

Egypt’s population is about 67 million. 57 million of them are Sunni Muslims and about 10 Million are Coptic Christians (Christian Egyptians), although public statistics indicate that they are not more than 7 million. Whether Muslim or Copt, the Egyptians are moderately religious and religious principles are quite noticeable in their daily lives. Here each family member is responsible for the integrity of his or her family and for the behaviour of other members, creating an environment that would be envied by many people in the West. Here they are very close to each other, family ties are far stronger than in the west, and that is why you will find any major city in Egypt is a lot safer than any western metropolis.

Yet when travellers come to Egypt they are often apprehensive, their views of Egyptians and Arabs, fomented by unkind and untrue media stories, often bear no relation to reality. Travellers, when they meet Egyptians are often surprised by their friendly, hospitable reception and take home with them good feelings about Egypt and its population.

Egyptians form a society of a mixture of Middle Eastern family standards, taken from the different religious rules, whether in Islam or Christianity, it creates a sort of background that can colour their decision-making in a way difficult for foreigners to understand, yet it is precisely this training that makes Egyptians some of the most charming and helpful of hosts. By understanding the culture and with consideration for your hosts, you can be a welcome guest in Egypt.

In general, Egyptians are most accommodating and they will go out of their way to help you and respond to any questions you have. Most Egyptians require little personal space and will stand within inches of you to talk! You will find that whenever you start talking with an Egyptian, you will inevitably draw a crowd, and often the Egyptians will start discussing, among themselves, about the correct answer to a question.

A mosaic of fascinating tourist attractions, Egypt in Africa offers the discerning traveler the largest open-air museum in the world. In fact the tourist attractions of Egypt are as old as the origin of civilization.

Enjoy tours to mud-brick villages, Bedouin camps, cities and towns of Egypt with Travour and discover mystical Egypt and enjoy the tourist attractions of this ancient land that glitters like a precious jewel on the map of the African continent.

Cairo

Cairo is the capital city of Egypt and welcomes you into a medley of donkey-drawn carts, luxury cars, mud brick villages, modern homes, ancient culture, modern trends, golf courses, bowling alleys, happening clubs, restaurants, traditional food.

Enjoy tours to Egyptian Antiquities Museum, Al-Qalaa Citadel, Coptic Museum, Museum of Islamic Arts, Gayer-Anderson Museum, Mosque of Ibn Tulun, Mosque at Al-Azhar, Abdeen Palace Museum, Abu Sir Pyramids, Manial Palace Museum and various other tourist attractions that offer you a glimpse into the rich historical tradition of Egypt.

Giza

Giza is among the most important tourist attractions of Egypt and is famous the world over for the Pyramids and the Sphinx. These monuments have been listed as World Heritage Sites by the UNESCO.

Alexandria

Alexandria is rich in tourist attractions and offers ample opportunity for you to enjoy Egypt. Tour the historical buildings and church located at Abu Mina, visit the Sidi Abdel Rahman Beach, Sidi Kir Beach, visit the temples and lighthouse at Borg al-Arab, enjoy tours to the King Mairut Spa on your Egypt travel with Travour. It was in Alexandria, Egypt that the first solar calendar was devised in the ancient times.

Abu Simbel

Abu Simbel invites you to come and explore its monumental treasures with Travour. Visit the Temple of Hathor, Temple of Re-Harakhte and other interesting tour destinations in Abu Simbel in Egypt.

Hurghada

Hurghada is one of the popular holiday spots in Egypt. Loosen up at the nightclubs, casinos and beaches. Tour the National Museum, ruins of Roman Mons Porphyrites, Giftun Island and the Aquarium near the Red Sea.

Luxor

Luxoris described as the "open-air museum, " of Egypt. Dotted with historic monuments Luxor is a great place to travel to on your holidays. Tour the Karnak Temple, twin statues of Ramses II, Temple of Luxor, El-Mekashkesh Mosque, Mummification Museum and the Luxor Museum.