Egypt has been a travel destination for literally thousands of years, and the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx still anchor most first trips — genuinely close to central Cairo rather than a remote excursion. A Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan adds the Valley of the Kings, Karnak, and Abu Simbel, turning a Cairo stopover into a proper multi-stop itinerary.
The Red Sea coast is a different trip entirely — Sharm El Sheikh and Dahab trade historical sightseeing for some of the world's most reliable visibility for snorkeling and diving, reef and wreck sites included. Shoulder-season spring and autumn avoid both Cairo's summer heat and winter's busiest crowds.
