Egypt is bounded by the Mediterranean, Sudan, Libya, the Red Sea and Palestine. The River Nile divides the country in two, while the Suez Canal provides a third division with the Sinai Peninsula. Beyond the highly cultivated Nile valley and delta, the landscape is mainly flat desert and largely devoid of vegetation. The coast south of Suez has fine beaches and the coral reefs just off shore attract many divers.

The capital Cairo, sprawling around the Nile and up towards the delta, is a city of astonishing diversity and vitality, uniting elements of Africa, the Orient and Western Europe. The Egyptian Museum contains the celebrated treasures of Tutankhamen.

Cosmos Tours offers Nile cruises, operating from Luxor to Aswan or vice versa, which offer visitors the chance to step back in time and visit the stunning temples which line the banks of the Nile.

Alexandria is more modern than Cairo although it is still graced by numerous Hellenistic and Roman relics.

Egyptian cuisine is excellent. Local specialities include foul (bean dishes), kebabs and humus (chickpeas pureed with garlic and olive oil).

Sophisticated nightclubs, discotheques and good restaurants can be found in Cairo and Alexandria. There is also night entertainment in Luxor and Aswan, including barbecues along the Nile.