At the North Eastern point of Africa lies Egypt. It's Northern coast borders the Mediterranean sea and it's Eastern coast the Red Sea. With a hot summer that lasts from May to October and a mild winter this country is ideal for people wanting to vacation at pretty much any time of year. Egypt's population is quite small even though the country is about four times the size of the UK. This is because most of the population is concentrated together along the Nile Valley as large areas of Egypt are taken up by the vast desserts of Northern Africa meaning that only about 5% of the land is fertile.

Cairo is the capital of Egypt and here you will find much to see and do. It has long been renowned as a centre for culture. Ancient mosques and modern buildings lie side by side here, and it's quite an experience to travel through the new and old lying so close here. Special things to try and see are the hanging church - a famous Coptic church built in the third century AD, and the Mosque of Mohamid Ali within the Cairo citadel. There is also the Giza Plateau just on the outskirts of Cairo where the great Pyramid and the two smaller pyramids that stand either side of it can be seen. It's quite odd to see these ancient monuments stood so close to the modern city, and gives these imposing and impressive monuments an even greater feeling of wonder. Any visitor to Cairo should take the opportunity to visit this amazing sight if they can.

Luxor to the south of Egypt is the location for the Karnak temple, and the Valley of the kings on the west bank of the Nile is a valley where from the 16th to the 11th century BC all the kings and nobles of the region were buried and impressive tombs were created for them and can still be seen today. It is here that you can see the tomb of Tutankhamun. Luxor itself is situated on the ruins of the ancient Theban city which was capital of Egypt during part of the 11th dynasty and also part of the 18th dynasty.

One way you can opt to see many of these places is to cruise up the Nile. So many of the important places of Egypt are close to this massive river that it's a fantastic way to see Egypt as well as getting the chance to see the beautiful riverside landscapes and the desert beyond in all it's glory. Evidence of how long this valley has been inhabited can be seen by rock carvings along the terraces of the Nile some of which date back to the Paleolithic era.

To the East on the coast of the Red Sea, there are more modern resorts for those who prefer them, and the Red Sea itself is incredibly clear and supports coral reefs that are teeming with marine life making it an excellent place for anyone wanting to try snorkelling or scuba diving. Another trip worth taking is to see the Suez canal which is a great feat of modern engineering and links the Red Sea with the Mediterranean. Tours are run from the city of Port Said, and also from Suez at the top of the Red Sea.