Cairo Tours
A walk through the streets of Cairo in Egypt is like a journey through time, there are the ancient marketplaces, such as the Khan El-Khalili, an ancient “suc” dating back to the late 1300s. Just outside of the city are the Plains of Giza where the smiling Sphinx rests near the enormous pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure; Old Kingdom pharaohs whose builders had perfected their arts. There is the remarkable Egyptian Museum, home to the world’s greatest collection of Egyptian artifacts, including the sarcophagus and funerary objects of King Tutankhamun, as well as the famous mummies located in the notorious cache at Deir el Bahri in the 1870s.
Of course the history of the city does not begin or end with the pharaohs, and in fact today’s Cairo is the largest city in Africa, and one of the most populated cities in the entire world. It is a city of contrasts, full of modern technology and yet set in a land that is forever linked to its own ancient past.
The diversity of fascinating sights and subjects makes Cairo tours one of the main reasons for visitors to travel to Egypt. While there are many distinct regions or districts within the city proper, Cairo tours generally touch on a few very popular and historical areas. For example the older quarters of the city, including “Old Cairo” and the “Islamic Cairo” sectors tend to be heavily visited by those enjoying Cairo tours. This is because they contain the Citadel, historic mosques and medieval structures as well as the Khan El-Khalili. Of course the more modern areas have their appeal as well, and contain some older and popular areas such as the museum, many of the well-known hotels and the main transportation centers. These neighborhoods are also generally part of Cairo tours, particularly the “Midan Tahrir” and the “Midan Ramses”.
Outside of the city, most Cairo tours aim to take in Giza, as well as the suburban towns of Gezira and Zamalek where many hotels and shopping can be enjoyed.
In addition to visiting city streets, famous building and landmarks, enjoying native and gourmet cuisine and meeting the friendly inhabitants of the city, most Cairo tours will also include a ride on the Nile River. There are beautiful and graceful “felucca”, with billowing sails and different routes that take visitors to many locations in the city. There are also evening dinner cruises along the river as well, and these make for a wonderful way to view the twinkling lights of this city that is home to over sixteen million people!
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