Best of Egypt: Explore Cairo, Aswan & Luxor

About the destination: Cairo, one of the largest cities in both Africa and the Middle East, is the capital of Egypt. Cairo has been a center of great importance to many civilizations, cultures, and religions. From Pharaonic and Greco-Roman to Ottoman and European, and encompassing Jewish, Christian, and Islamic influences, each of its identities has left a strong imprint on Cairo, making it one of the most fascinating cities in the world. The Giza Plateau, which includes the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, is the only remaining monument of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and the country's most famous tourist attraction. The sheer mass of the pyramids is awe-inspiring. Islamic Cairo, the center of historic Cairo, is best explored on foot. Located east of downtown, it is full of charming little mosques and water fountains. The most important sites to visit are the Citadel, Mohamed Ali Mosque, Khan el Khalili, the main bazaar, some historic mosques, and displays of medieval architecture, as well as some of Cairo's Turkish baths or Hammams. No visit to Cairo is complete without seeing the Egyptian Museum. With its exotic atmosphere, chaotic traffic, thousands of minarets, noise, and charming people, Cairo is a fascinating city. Few cities in the world surpass Cairo in the number of monuments or architectural styles. Cairo is not an ordinary city; Cairo is a whole world.

About the destination: Luxor is the premier travel destination in Upper Egypt and the Nile Valley. The dynastic and religious capital of Middle Kingdom and New Kingdom Egypt, Luxor has much for travelers to enjoy: vast temples, ancient royal tombs, spectacular desert and river scenery, and a bustling modern life. Numerous architectural monuments of Luxor are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Luxor consists of the City of Luxor on the east side of the Nile, the town of Karnak just north of Luxor, and Thebes on the west side of the Nile across from Luxor. The Valley of the Kings is one of the main reasons why tourists come to Luxor. It is an enormous place full of various tombs of different sizes, which were lavishly constructed for the powerful pharaohs, queens, and nobles. King Tutankhamun's tomb was found here in the 1920s, almost untouched. Other major attractions in Luxor include the temple complexes of Luxor and Karnak, Medinet Habu, the Tombs of the Nobles, the Ramesseum Temple, and the Valley of the Queens. Beautiful and ancient, Luxor is the world's best collection of antiquities.