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Egyptian murals
Cairo, Egypt
Red Sea
Sphinx, Cairo
Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt
Naples
Naples, Italy See page 65 for details Safaga (for Luxor and Hurghada), Egypt
Built on the 4,000-year-old site of Thebes - Egypts ancient capital - Luxor stands on the east bank of the Nile. Imagine an outdoor museum and this place more than measures up to the vision. Hurghada, meanwhile, is a divers sun-drenched dream.
Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt
Drenched in sunshine, this Egyptian resort is the most popular spot on the Red Sea Riviera. Famous for its golden sands and reefs that come in a rainbow riot of colours, it's fast becoming the place to holiday.
" Don mask and flippers and explore the underwater world.
Think bath-warm waters, brilliant coral and flashing shoals of fish. A good place to head is Ras Mohamed, which showcases some of the world's finest reefs. " If you want to check out the underwater world without getting wet, go for the glass-bottom boat option. It's like peering into a giant aquarium, only this is the real thing. And when you've had enough of life beneath the waves, head out on deck and soak up some of that sun. " Kick up a sandstorm as you bounce across the desert on a quad bike. You'll be part of a convoy of bikes snaking your way across golden dunes and cruising round the foot of rugged mountains. It's the ideal way to get a little adrenaline rush with your suntan. " Check out Sharm El Sheikh's shopping scene in lively Naama Bay. It's got everything from boutiques to craft stalls. And when you're all shopped out, choose one of the bars or restaurants and recharge your batteries. " Visit St Catherine's Monastery. Tucked at the foot of the mountain where Moses is said to have received the Ten Commandments, it's one of the world's most important centres of religious pilgrimage. See the 6th-century church thought to lie directly on the site of Moses' Burning Bush. Take a look at the library packed with ancient manuscripts and icons. And don't miss the small chapel which houses the skulls of monks.
" Your first must see in Luxor is the incredible Temple of Luxor in the heart
of the modern town. Gaze wide-eyed at the incredible obelisks built by Ramses II and wonder at an unimaginably long-ago world. And then finish up with a tour of the citys unmissable mummy-filled museums. " Luxors two other highpoints lie outside the city. Head north to see the Temple of Karnak, a jaw-dropping series of shrines and pillars. Then head across the Nile to see the legendary Valley of the Kings, with its 62 hill-carved tombs, including those of Tutankhamun and Ramses II. Descend into the eerie hieroglyphic-inscribed burial chambers and youll feel totally humbled. " Fancy a break from sightseeing? Then head for the gold-dust beaches of Hurghada. The diving here is out of this world. Fish in garish orange, translucent greens and iridescent blues flash across the coral in brilliant shoals. " Make the most of all that Egyptian sunshine with a trip to the island of Giftun. Top up your tan, swim in the sea and get to know the underwater world with a spot of snorkelling. The islands at the southern tip of a beautiful, two kilometre-long reef, so the scene that awaits you beneath the waves is pretty spectacular.
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