Sunrise Resorts & Nile Cruises

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Geography:
Egypt is bounded by the Mediterranean to the north, to by the Sudan the south, by Libya to the west, and by the Red Sea, Palestine, and Jordan to the east. The extension of the Blue River Nile divides the country unevenly in two, while the Suez Canal provides a third division with the Sinai Peninsula. Beyond, the highly cultivated Nile Valley and Delta, a lush green tadpole of land that holds more than 90 per cent of the population. The landscape is mainly a flat desert, devoid of vegetation apart from the few oases that have persisted in the once fertile depressions of the Western Desert. Narrow strips are inhabited on the Mediterranean coast and on the African Red Sea coast. The coast south of Suez has fine beaches and coral reefs just offshore, which attract many divers. The Aswan High Dam now controls the annual floods that once put much of the Nile Valley under water; it also provides electricity.

Language:
Arabic is the official language. English and French are widely spoken.

Religion:
Over 85 per cent of the population follows Islam; the rest is Christian. All types of Christianity are represented, especially the Coptic Christian Church.

Time:
GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from May to September)

Electricity:
Most areas 220 volts AC, 50Hz. certain rural parts still use 110-380 volts AC.

Major Cities:

Cairo:

Cairo, “Al Qahira", is Egypt's capital, the largest city in the Middle East and Africa and home to 18 million people of the Nile Valley, the Delta, and the deserts, as well as foreign businessmen, scholars, and refugees, a true melting pot of different cultures. Cairo’s journey across history started over a period of four and a half thousand years. Over this long period of time, Cairo managed

to keep it’s culture and traditions over this long period of time. It has combined between the past and the present. A history of four and half thousand years has left their marks on this city and the people, where technology and monuments exist side by side. The great Nile divides the city into the east and west side. On the east side, one can find the Islamic, Christian Coptic and Jewish culture flourishing, and on the other side lies the ancient Egyptian city of Memphis (Giza) and the Pyramids, one of the seven wonders of the world.

Apart from being a meeting point between Arab and European cultures, Cairo, is still the sophisticated metropolitan that gave the world a Nobel prize winner, Naguib Mahfouz, and the world’s oldest functioning university, Al Azhar Timelessness is what Cairo is all about and time is what it needs to be given, in order for it to reveal just a part of its secrets.

Alexandria:

Known as “The Pearl of the Mediterranean”, Alexandria as the second largest city in Egypt has an atmosphere that is more Mediterranean than Middle Eastern, its ambiance and cultural heritage distance it from the rest of the country although it is only 225 km. from Cairo.

Alexandria was founded by Alexander the Great in 331 B.C., Alexandria became the capital of Greco-Roman Egypt, and its status as a beacon of culture is symbolized by Pharos, the legendry lighthouse that was one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
Moving to Alexandria’s ancient Roman sights, you’ll be impressed by the variety of places to visit. The Roman Theatre was probably a roofed theatre used for musical poignancies and passed on the inceptions carved on the seats.

You can enjoy a wide variety of Pharonic, Ptolemaic, Roman and Christian antiquities at the Greco Roman museum.

Luxor:

Once the ancient Egyptian capital of Thebes, Luxor lies about 670 km south of Cairo and contains the greatest achievements of Egyptian architecture. Here in a sort of open-air museum that occupies both banks of the Nile is the highest construction of monuments in ancient Egypt. Luxor was the Thebes of the Ancient Egyptians- Capital of Egypt. Its importance started to
emerge appreciably from the 10th dynasty onwards, for both political and spiritual reasons, until finally it became the capital of the pharaohs of the New Kingdom (1550 BC - 1070 BC) for 500 glorious years and remained the country’s spiritual center for much longer.

Luxor is famous for its temples and the Valley of the Kings, which contains many of the tombs of Phaoroes including Tutankhamun and Ramesses the Great.
Furthermore, there is the Luxor Temple, Luxor Museum, Karnak complex of temples, which is famous for its main Hypostyle Hall with 134 massive columns, and the Ramesseum, which is one of the major temples of Luxor. We cannot also forget the temple of 18th-dynasty Queen Hatshepsut, which is a masterpiece of design, built into a natural amphitheatre in the cliffs during the early 15th century BC.

From Luxor you can take Nile cruises south to Aswan, visit the magnificent temples
in Kom Ombo, Edfu, Esna, Dendara and Abydos, take tours to the first Oasis in theWestern Desert or head to Hurghada on the Red Sea.

Luxor has attracted tourists and treasure hunters along its history, who camped in or around the tombs and temples, or stayed on board their sailing boats, and today with more tombs and temples uncovered, more tourists eager to visit them, more hotels needed to accommodate them, Luxor hosts numerous luxurious hotels and Nile cruises catering to every taste and offering tourists unforgettable experiences.

Aswan:

Aswan known as the southern gate of Egypt, it is famous for the view of the Nile, The Aghakhan tomb, The High Dam and The Philae Temple.From Aswan you can cruise the Nasser Lake, the biggest lake made by man in the world.

As a beautiful winter resort, Aswan enjoys a dry temperate climate, is situated on the eastern bank of the Nile, 899km south of Cairo, linking Egypt with Sudan, and is the gate to the African continent.

In Pharaonic times, the town was known as "Suno" (the Market) later changed to "Aswan" by the Arabs.Much quieter than Luxor, Aswan is small enough to walk around and is graced with the most beautiful setting on the Nile, dotted with islands, covered with shady gardens. The two main ones are Elephantine and Kitchener's Islands, which is the site of a botanical gardens. Elephantine Island is the biggest and has timeless artifacts dating from pre-dynastic times onward.

Sharm El Sheikh:

Sharm Al Sheikh is 336 km from Suez, 491 km from Cairo (less than an hour by plane) and 20 km from Ras Mohammed at the southernmost tip of the Sinai Peninsula. With its golden beaches, warm sun, azure sea and the luxury of five-star hotels and resorts, Sharm el Sheikh, can be truly dubbed the “Red Sea Riviera”. A thriving holiday resort, and one of the most popular in Egypt both in summer and winter, due to its excellent climate all year round.

Most hotels, restaurants, casinos, nightclubs, shopping centers, water sports and activities are found in Naema Bay. It is the center of most tourist activities. In addition, there is Sharks bay, famous for the many diving centers, and the small harbor known as Sharm el-Moiya.

However, Sharm El Sheikh is mostly famous as a world class diving heaven. One of the best diving sites in the world is located just west of Ras Mohammed National Park, a pristine area of extraordinary beauty, which was declared a National Park in 1983.

Sharm El Sheikh also is a place for many other adventures activities as scuba diving and snorkeling, and all kinds of water sports, it is also perfectly placed for desert safaris and camel trekking

If you seek sunny days, spectacular sunsets, clear starry nights, tropical fish and rare birds, some harmless adventure and entertaining nightlife, Sharm is the place.

Travel & Tourism

History:

Pharaonic

The history of Egypt is one of the richest, oldest and most varied of any country in the world and the country’s place in the Middle East is as central now as it was in the fourth millennium BC. The unification of the Lower and the Upper Kingdoms, in about 3180 BC, marks a convenient starting point for Egyptian history. This dynamic,culturally sophisticated and powerful kingdom on the banks of the Nile grew into one of the greatest civilizations of the

ancient world. The pre-Hellenic period is reckoned in Kingdoms (Old, Middle and New) and subdivided into dynasties. The IVth dynasty saw the construction of such architectural masterpieces as the Great Pyramid, while the XIth and XIIth saw the zenith of Egyptian power at the start of the second millennium. Tutankhamun, whose famous tomb was discovered in 1922, ruled briefly during the XVIIIth dynasty. From the XXth dynasty onwards, the power of Egypt was on the wane and the country was overrun on several occasions by foreign powers.

Major Attractions:
1- Karnak Temple, Luxor
2- Abu Simbel Temple, Aswan
3- Pyramids and Sphinx of Giza
4- Valley of the kings, Luxor

Greco Roman :

When Cleopatra and Mark Antony died, Egypt was annexed by Rome. It became the personal estate of the Emperor Octavian - who later became Augustus - and the granary of the Roman Empire. Roman emperors after Augustus styled themselves like pharaohs just to maintain the appearance of being legitimate Egyptian kings. The true Egypt of the pharaohs had vanished with the last native pharaoh, Nectanebo II, in 343 B.C.

Annexed by Rome, Egypt became a prosperous part of the Roman Empire. It had indeed become a wealthy province, and many new cities had been founded. Some monuments from the Roman period still stand in Egypt. One of the best-known buildings from Roman Egypt is called Pharaoh’s Bed, or Trajan’s Kiosk. It was built on the Philae Island by Trajan, a Roman ruler from A.D. 98 to 117.

Egypt continued to enjoy its wealth until the end of the 2nd Century. After this period, however, during the reign of Commodus, from A.D. 180 to 192, Egyptian supplies had to be supplemented from North Africa. In addition, during that period the coins used in Egypt dropped in value.

Later, the Roman Empire was divided into east and west. Under the rule of Emperor Diocletian, Egypt was not administered as a separate province, but was made part of the eastern empire, and it was split into three provinces: the Thebaid, Aegyptus Jovia, and Aegyptus Herculia. About A.D. 341, a new province named Augustus was formed, and later Herculia was renamed Arcadia. At that time Egypt had a civil administrator as well as a military one. Egypt also used the same coins that were used in the Roman Empire. Things remained much this way for several centuries.

Major Attractions:
1. Pompey's Pillar, Alexandria
2. Roman Museum, Alexandria
3. Underwater City of Alexandria
4. Roman Ruins of Sidi Bishr, Alexandria

Coptic

The Coptic Church is based upon the teachings of St Mark, who brought Christianity to Egypt at around 50 AD. St Mark was one of the four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) and the gospel of St Mark is the oldest canonical gospel. A small community of Christians developed in Alexandria in the late first century, and became more numerous by the end of the second century. The Egyptians embraced the new

faith, and Christianity quickly spread throughout Egypt within half a century of St Mark's arrival in Alexandria. Some similarities in beliefs helped Christianity to be accepted by Egyptians, including the beliefs that the Egyptian god Osiris was both human and god, the resurrection of Osiris, and the godly triad of Osiris, Isis, and Horus.

There are many sites throughout Egypt at which the holy family are said to have taken shelter and sought refuge during the three years that they spent in Egypt after fleeing from Judea and King Herod. Many ancient churches have been built upon these sites.

Major Attractions:
1- Hanging Church, Cairo
2- Church of Virgin Mary, Maadi
3- Monastery of Saint Antoniou, Red Sea
4- Monastery of Virgin Mary, Dronka Assuit
5- St. Catherine's Monastery

Islamic:

When the Prophet Muhammad, Peace and Prayers be upon Him, died, his followers quickly pushed out of Arabia and into the lands nearby - first Iraq, then Syria, Palestine, and finally Egypt. The Muslim invasion of Egypt came on 641 A.D. At that time, Egyptians were unhappy with the Byzantine Empire’s rule, which made it easier for the Islamic army to overrun Egypt.

An Arabian general named Amr Ibn El A'as, with 4,000 cavalry, rode across the Sinai Desert, and attacked the fort of Babylon. Ibn El A'as made his headquarters at Fustat, a new town located in what is now Old Cairo, which became afterwards the capital of Egypt instead of Alexandria. Under the Muslim rule, most Egyptians in time converted to Islam.

In the beginning, Muslim Egypt was under the Kalives at Medina, then Damascus. But due to internal conflict, its power declined, and in 868 A.D. Egypt became more or less independent under its governor Ibn Tulun. His dynasty ended in 905 A.D, when the forces of the Abbasid Kalives in Baghdad invaded. From 935 A.D. until 969A.D., Egypt enjoyed semi-independence under Ikhshidid Dynasty. The Ikhshidids had survived several attacks by the Fatimids from the west, but in 969 the Fatimids struck a final blow. They made Egypt the center of their expanding empire and broke all ties with the Abbasid state.

In the Fatimids founded the city of Al Qahirah and made it their capital in 973. Under their rule, Egypt became prosperous and an illustrious center of Islamic culture. By the mid-1100s, the Fatimids were weakened by fighting among the various factions, and they were threatened by a new danger from across the Mediterranean - the crusaders

Major Attractions:
1- Mosque Amr Ebn Al A'as, Fustat
2- Mosque Mohamed Ali, Cairo
3- Mosque Ibn Tulun, Cairo
4- Mosque Rifa'e, Cairo
5- The Citadel
6- Al Azhar

Activities:

Diving:
Egypt hosts some of the finest diving in the entire Red Sea, from the coral playgrounds of southern Sinai to the undiscovered offshore splendor of the Deep South, such as Marsa Allam. Well-known diving areas like the Ras Muhammad National Park have received the lion’s share of international attention, but even in the most intensely dived resort areas, there are still untouched reefs waiting to be discovered. And with over 1500km (930 miles) of coastline covering most of the northwest Red Sea, there is certainly no shortage of pristine dive sites further afield.

Marine life:
Think of any coral species and you will almost certainly find a living example in the Egyptian Red Sea. Even if you concentrated on the species to be found on a single site, the list would be unending. The fish are as unbelievable as the coral and every dive is like a visit to the world’s best aquarium.

Conditions:
Below the surface, the endless summer continues. Water temperatures rarely fall as low as 20ºC (68ºF) in the depths of winter, and summer heights can be well over 30ºC (86ºF). Visibility is generally moderate throughout but individual sites may experience strong localized currents. Surface conditions are also generally benign, but the autumn wind change - from late September on - can bring big waves and swells that make access to isolate offshore sites difficult.

Major Attractions:
1- Thistlegorm, Sharm El Shiekh
2- Ras Muhamed, Sinai
3- Samadie Reef, Marsa Allam
4- St. Johns and Brothers Islands, Marsa Allam and Halieb

Safari:

Three, are the major deserts of Egypt: Sinai, the sacred peninsula in the northeast; the Arabian Desert-locally called the 'Eastern Desert'-along the Red Sea in the east; and the Egyptian Sahara that covers the whole realm west of the Nile. The first two are mountain-and-valley type deserts. The latter is some-thing else; mountains and valleys are almost non-existent: Just barren plateaus, sand seas, boundless plains, .

and hollow depressions. Our expeditions cover a large geographical area which lies between the Nile and the Egyptian-Libyan frontiers, and between the northern and southern limits. Saharan extreme extending for days of travel, dotted here and there with isolated heavens called 'Oases'

The principal oases are six: Siwa, the historical oasis of Jupiter-Amen, is secluded in the northwest-a story in its own right. The other five are, somehow, more interrelated. The oases-depressions of Fayoum, Baharia, Farafra, Dakhla and Kharga respectively form a discontinuous arch that points west. Into that direction, a massive dune-country, the so-called the Great Sand Sea, separates the Egyptian Oases from its sisters in Libya and the rest of the Sahara. Other inferior, unpopulated oases and wild-vegetated wells do exist. Scattered about the otherwise empty waste, those key spots lie usually in axis connecting two main oases. There are two such alignments in the Western Desert: One stretches in the northwest, between Baharia and Melfa, where a number of deserted oases spread over a distance of some 300 kilometers. The second is a line of sanded-up wells that mark the slaves' ancient caravan route of Darb el-Arba'in in the southeast. Outside the oases and aside from those axis the desert is empty, un-traversed for the simple reason of waterlessness.

Major Attractions:
1- Siwa Oasis
2- Abu Galum, Dahab
3- White Dessert
4- Dessert of Marsa Allam

Golf:

Imagine teeing off in front of the Great Pyramids of to the backdrop of the Sinai mountains. There are over 12 championships courses to choose from in Egypt, each presenting its own unique challenge. With guaranteed sunshine and plenty of championship and challenging courses to choose from, Egypt is golfer's paradise. A decade ago, golf was the domain of the dedicated player, with just two
courses in Cairo. Today golfers can enjoy an impressive selection of courses with new arrivals every year.

With the stat of the art facilities, golf academies and exquisite clubhouses, there's plenty for everyone on and off the course. From course booking to post event receptions, everything cn be arranged fro you including special golf tournaments and private functions in the large conference and dining facilities.

Courses:
1. Mirage City Golf - Cairo
2. Oberoi Mena House - Cairo
3. Moevenpick Golf Resort – Sharm El Sheikh
4. Steigenberger Golf Resort – Hurghada
5. Royal Valley Golf Club - Luxor

Wind Surfing:

Everything from an absolute beginner to expert freestyle!

Instructors have good experience and are qualified. Learning to windsurf or brushing up on some previous training is made as easy as possible with special boards and rigs for beginners. Instructors are RYA qualified and we will only teach small groups (maximum 4 persons per group) in order to cater for individuals needs more efficiently.

Instruction is available to suit all needs and levels, be it private lessons or small group sessions, we can offer it. Instruction for more advanced maneuvers such as waterstarts and carve gybes can take place on the water to get maximum benefit from coaching. There are various cities that are well suited to this level of instruction as the water in front of the centre is particularly flat and it is also possible to plane in and gybe very close to the beach.

Cities:
1. Dahab
2. Hurgahda
3. Safaga
4. Ras Sudr
5. El Tur

Climate:
Hot, dry summers with mild, dry winters and cold nights. Rainfall is negligible except on the coast. In April, the hot, dusty Khamsin wind blows from the Sahara.

Required Clothing:
Lightweight cottons and linens during summer, with warmer clothes for winter and cooler evenings.

Clothing:
You have probably seen this word spelled in a variety of ways (galibayya, galabaya, galibaya), but they all refer to the same article of Egyptian clothing, pronounced 'gal-uh-bee-uh' or 'gal-uh-buy-uh'

Food & drink:
In Egypt, dining out can range from stand-up sandwich bars to luxurious five-course meals. You can find small, inexpensive establishments that serve good Egyptian food for only a few pounds. If you're in a hurry, try the local snack bars. While the cubbyholes off the street (which probably have running water) are generally safe. The larger cities even have Western-style fast-food chains like McDonald's and Kentucky Fried Chicken, but they're relatively expensive.

Although Egyptian eating habits may seem erratic, most natives begin the day with a light breakfast of beans (or bean cakes), eggs, and/or pickles, cheeses, and jams.
Most families eat their large, starchy lunch around 1400-1700. In cities both food and water are safe although the change in your diet may produce short-term gastrointestinal upsets.

Main water is normally chlorinated, and whilst relatively safe may cause mild abdominal upsets. Bottled water is available and is advised for the first few weeks of the stay. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Pork, salad and mayonnaise may carry increased risk. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled. In Egypt, as in the rest of the world, restaurants are only as good as the cooks they employ, and cooks seem to be continually changing.

Health care:
Public hospitals and chemists are open to tourists. Health insurance is strongly advised.

Currency:
Egyptian Pound (E£) = 100 piaster. Notes are in denominations of E£100, 50, 20, 10, 5,1, 0.5 and 0.25. Coins are in denominations of 50, 25, 20, 10 and 5 piasters

Exchange Rates & Value of Money: USD 1 = EGP 6.5

Category Country	Egypt	United States
McDonalds	LE 11.00	$ 7.00
Mineral Water	LE 1.50	$ 2.00
Soft Drinks	LE 1.40	$ 00.75
Beer	LE 20.00	$ 2.00
Bus Transportation	LE 55.00	$ 10.00
Outings	LE 70.00	$ 20.00

Visas:
Required by all except the following:
(a) nationals of Kuwait for stays of up to 6 months;
(b) nationals of Bahrain, Djibouti, Guinea, Libya, Oman, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and holders of Hong Kong (SAR) or Macau (SAR) passports for stays of up to 3 months;
(c) nationals of Jordan (if holding a 5-year passport) for stays of up to 1 month;
(d) nationals of Malaysia for a tourist stay of a maximum of 15 days;
(e) those continuing their journey to a third country within 24 hours, provided holding confirmed tickets.