Any Egyptian itinerary should include the great monuments of the Nile Valley, but modern life has opened up possibilities for exploring a wider area of Egypt. Travelers might also dive along the Red Sea coast, take a desert trek to remote oases or visit the Sinai Peninsula.

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/kilometers 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.

Cairo, Egypt's capital, is the hub of transportation—and most likely your first and last stop in the country. It is a city that never fails to make a strong impression.