Holidays in Egypt

Travelers have been marveling at Egypt's wondrous antiquities for thousands of years - even the ancient Greeks and Romans were awed by them. But today, a visit to Egypt is more than an immersion into past glories - mud-brick villages sprout TV antennae, stone and glass high-rises tower over ancient monuments and pop music blaring from radios counterpoints the call to prayer.

Although nearly all of Egypt is desert, the small part that isn't - the valley of the Nile River - is vital to the nation (95% of the population lives within a few miles of the Nile's banks). Most tours of Egypt - except to desert oases - whether by cruise, train, bus or a private car, never stray too far from the river's shores