A Backpacker’s Guide to Egypt

%3Cblockquote%3E%0D%0A%3Cdiv+rc%3D%22169%22%3E%0D%0ATraveling+to+Egypt+may+not+top+every+backpacker%E2%80%99s+to-do+list%2C+but+this+fascinating+country+is+a+gateway+to+the+ancient+world.+Starting+your+journey+in+a+%3Ca+href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hostelbookers.com%2Fhostels%2Fegypt%2Fcairo%2F%22%3E%3Cspan+style%3D%22color%3A+%23cc6600%3B%22%3ECairo+hostel%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fa%3E%2C+the+land+of+the+Pharaohs+is+your+oyster%2C+with+the+pyramids+at+Giza+and+living+museum+Luxor+are+within+easy+reach.+%3C%2Fdiv%3E%0D%0A%3C%2Fblockquote%3E%0D%0AAside+from+the+ancient+monuments+and+dusty+tombs%2C+the+Red+Sea+is+home+to+some+of+the+best+diving+spots+in+the+world%2C+and+%3Ca+href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cairo.com%2F%22%3E%3Cspan+style%3D%22color%3A+%23cc6600%3B%22%3Emodern+day+Cairo%E2%80%99s%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fa%3E+lively+clubs+and+bars+would+make+the+fun-loving+Pharaohs+proud.+And+of+course+you+can+indulge+your+inner+Indiana+Jones+wandering+around+the+Pyramids%2C+trekking+across+the+dunes+of+the+Sahara%2C+or+riding+in+a+boat+along+the+Nile%E2%80%A6%0D%0A%3Cdiv+class%3D%22wp-caption+alignnone%22+id%3D%22attachment_1473%22+style%3D%22width%3A+590px%3B%22%3E%0D%0A%3Cimg+alt%3rO"2Egypt+Pyramids.+Photo+credit+-+Aesum.%22+class%3D%22size-full+wp-image-1473%22+height%3D%22300%22+src%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Funearthingasia.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2009%2F05%2Farticleimg4.jpg%22+title%3D%22Egypt+Pyramids.+Photo+credit+-+Aesum.%22+width%3D%22590%22+%2F%3E+%3Cdiv+class%3D%22wp-caption-text%22%3E%0D%0AEgypt+Pyramids.+Photo+credit+-+Aesum.%3C%2Fdiv%3E%0D%0A%3C%2Fdiv%3E%0D%0A%0D%0A%3Cspan+style%3D%22color%3A+%23444444%3B%22%3E%3Cstrong%3EGetting+Around%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fspan%3EBuses+are+the+easiest+and+cheapest+way+to+get+around+the+country+from+%3Ca+href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.touregypt.net%2Fcairo%2F%22%3E%3Cspan+style%3D%22color%3A+%23cc6600%3B%22%3ECairo%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fa%3E%2C+as+the+service+is+reliable+and+relatively+safe.+The+buses+vary+in+quality+depending+on+how+touristy+the+destination+%E2%80%93+Dahab%2C+Sharm+el+Sheikh+and+Luxor+are+served+by+slightly+more+expensive+buses+with+air+conditioning+and+toilets.%0D%0A%3Cdiv+style%3D%22border-bottom%3A+%232255aa+1px+dotted%3B+clear%3A+both%3B+margin-bottom%3A+15px%3B+padding-bottom%3A+10px%3B+padding-left%3A+0px%3B+padding-right%3A+0px%3B+padding-top%3A+0px%3B%22%3E%0D%0A%3C%2Fdiv%3E%0D%0A%3Cdiv+class%3D%22wp-caption+alignnone%22+id%3D%22attachment_1474%22+style%3D%22width%3A+590px%3B%22%3E%0D%0A%3Cimg+alt%3D%22The+Blue+Mosque.+Photo+credit+-+Javier+D.%22+class%3D%22size-full+wp-image-1474%22+height%3D%22235%22+src%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Funearthingasia.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2009%2F05%2Fblue-mosque-by-javier-d.jpg%22+title%3D%22The+Blue+Mosque.+Photo+credit+-+Javier+D.%22+width%3D%22590%22+%2F%3E+%3Cdiv+class%3D%22wp-caption-text%22%3E%0D%0AThe+Blue+Mosque.+Photo+credit+-+Javier+D.%3C%2Fdiv%3E%0D%0A%3C%2Fdiv%3E%0D%0A%3Ch1%3E%0D%0ACairo%3C%2Fh1%3E%0D%0AModern+day+Cairo+is+certainly+hectic%2C+but+the+capital+is+an+essential+first+stop+on+any+%3Ca+href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Ftravel.nationalgeographic.com%2Fplaces%2Fcountries%2Fcountry_egypt.html%22%3E%3Cspan+style%3D%22color%3A+%23cc6600%3B%22%3EEgyptian+tour%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fa%3E.+The+Egyptian+Museum+is+a+vast+cave+of+ancient+treasures%2C+and+home+of+the+golden+face+of+%3Ca+href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FTutankhamun%22%3E%3Cspan+style%3D%22color%3A+%23cc6600%3B%22%3ETutankhamen%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fa%3E.+It%E2%80%99s+a+great+way+to+cool+off+from+the+heated+streets%2C+and+the+crowds+aren%E2%80%99t+too+hectic+in+the+afternoon.+%0D%0AThe+city+is+also+home+to+scores+of+%3Ca+href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sacred-destinations.com%2Fturkey%2Fistanbul-blue-mosque.htm%22%3E%3Cspan+style%3D%22color%3A+%23cc6600%3B%22%3EArab+architecture%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fa%3E+and+medieval+sites+from+the+days+of+Saladin.+%3Ca+href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.turkeytravelplanner.com%2Fgo%2FIstanbul%2FSights%2FSultanahmet%2FBlueMosque.html%22%3E%3Cspan+style%3D%22color%3A+%23cc6600%3B%22%3EThe+%E2%80%98Blue%E2%80%99+Mosque%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fa%3E%2C+made+of+ink+and+turquoise+mosaic+tiles%2C+was+built+in+1347+and+is+Cairo%E2%80%99s+prettiest%2C+and+the+minaret+of+the+Ahmad+Ibn+Tulun+Mosque+boasts+the+best+view+over+the+city.+%0D%0A%3Cblockquote%3E%0D%0ACairo%E2%80%99s+bustling+bazaars+and+souks+are+a+sensual+feast+of+fragrant+spices+and+sheesha+pipes%2C+brightly+coloured+fabrics+and+stalls+crammed+into+the+marketplace.+Perfect+for+sourcing+an+exotic+souvenir%2C+you%E2%80%99ll+need+razor-sharp+haggling+skills.+%3C%2Fblockquote%3E%0D%0A%3Cdiv+class%3D%22wp-caption+alignnone%22+id%3D%22attachment_1475%22+style%3D%22width%3A+590px%3B%22%3E%0D%0A%3Cimg+alt%3D%22Cruising+the+River+Nile+in+a+felucca.+Photo+credit+-+khowaga.%22+class%3D%22size-full+wp-image-1475%22+height%3D%22244%22+src%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Funearthingasia.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2009%2F05%2Ffelucca-by-khowaga1.jpg%22+title%3D%22Cruising+the+River+Nile+in+a+felucca.+Photo+credit+-+khowaga.%22+width%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