Ägypten individuell: Kairo, Siwa Oase, Marsa Matruh & Alexandria

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: Siwa Oasis is an urban oasis in Egypt located between the Qattara Depression and the Great Sand Sea in the Western Desert. Siwa Oasis is one of Egypt’s most isolated settlements, home to about 33,000 people who have developed a unique culture and a distinct Berber-family language called Siwi. The oasis is famous for its ancient role as the home of an oracle of Ammon. The ruins of this oracle, a popular tourist attraction, gave Siwa its ancient name: the Oasis of Amun Ra. Historically, Siwa Oasis was part of Ancient Libya.

About the destination: Nestled within a large circular bay and sheltered from the open sea by a chain of rocks that form a natural breakwater, Marsa Matruh is a relatively secluded destination on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast.

About the destination: Alexandria is Egypt’s second-largest city, its largest seaport, and the country’s window onto the Mediterranean Sea. Though it’s a faded version of its once-glorious cosmopolitan past, it’s still worth a visit for its many cultural attractions and the still-palpable echoes of its history. The most important sites to see in Alexandria include: • Qaitbay Citadel, Ras el-Tin: One of the city’s icons, this fortress overlooks both the Mediterranean Sea and Alexandria itself. Built in 1480 by Sultan Qaitbay on the site of the Pharos Lighthouse, it was intended to protect the city from sea-borne Crusader attacks. It stands on the exact location of the famous Lighthouse of Alexandria. • Mostafa Kamel Cemetery: This cemetery contains four tombs dating from the 2nd century BC, in excellent condition and richly decorated. • Kom el-Shouqafa, Karmou: “Kom el-Shouqafa” is the Arabic rendering of the ancient Greek name “Lofus Kiramaikos,” meaning “mound of fragments” or “pots.” • Pompey’s Pillar, Karmouz: An ancient monument, this 25-meter granite column was erected in honor of Emperor Diocletian in 297 AD. The enclosed area around the column also contains other ruins and sculptures, including remains of the Serapeum oracle. • Roman Theatre, Kom El-Dikka: Built in the 2nd century AD. In Ptolemaic times, this area was the Park of Pan, a pleasure garden surrounded by Roman villas and baths. • Montazah Palace: Built in 1892 by Abbas II of Egypt (Abbas Hilmi Pasha), the last Khedive of Egypt. One of the palace buildings, the Haramlek, now houses a casino on the ground floor and a museum of royal relics on the upper floors. • Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Mansheya: Egypt’s memorial dedicated to an unknown soldier. • Presidential Palace, Montazah. • Alexandria National Museum: A historical museum featuring more than 1,800 archaeological pieces. • Greco-Roman Museum: A history museum with a vast collection mostly dating from the 3rd century BC, covering the Ptolemaic and Roman periods.

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.