You know that oasis within the desert are very important. They are like the proof that live exists in the middle of all that sand. Ancient as well as modern people are aware of that. Siwa Oasis is located in the Libyan Desert and there are about 23 000 people living there. The majority of inhabitants in Siwa are Berbers. It is pretty isolated and far from other Egyptian greater cities and nevertheless it attracts numerous visitors.

All visitors must be aware that this is not the sort of stereotypical oasis where there is only a bit of water and one palm tree.

This oasis is actually spread on an area 80km long and 20 km wide.

The most popular tourist attraction here is the oracle to Amon for which it was called Ammonium in its history.
You might be amazed by the fact that the area has been settled since 10th millennium BC.

Due to long isolation from the rest of the world there are many traditions in Siwa which are not used in the rest of the country.
Beside the oracle to Amon there are also the remains of Fortress of Shali dating back to the 13th century and that was built in mud and brick where hundreds of people could live. A strong storm destroyed much of Shali and today only its remains are visible.

The fascinating temple of Kom Ombo stands between Edfu and Aswan, on the bank of Nile. The temple was built on a high dune during the Ptolomeic era about 119 BC.

This temple actually consists of two, one dedicated to Sobek and one to Haroeris, the crocodile god and his wife together. Ptolomy VI started the construction, Neos Dionysus finished the majority of it while Emperor Augustus added some parts. This was the temple is the combination of mostly Egyptian elements with addition of the Roman ones. Healing powers were attributed to the temple so during the time it became a pilgrimage site.

Today, visitors can enter the temple through the ancient gate built by Neos Dionysus known also as Ptolomy XII. A small room inside of the temple is dedicated to the godess Hathor where today are displayed mummified crocodiles.

Since, these are two temples, one can notice that there are duplicate things: two entrances, two courts, two sanctuaries, etc.

The Pompey´s Pillar which was in fact erected to honor the emperor Dioclecian is the tallest ancient monument in Alexandria. Besides that, it is also the largest pillar constructed outside Rome and Constantinople, which were the two capitals of the Roman Empire. This column is built of red Aswan granite and almost 27 m high.

One of the seven wonders of the Middle Ages, a multi-level labyrinth, Kom el Shoqafa, features numeral chambers with pillars, religious symbols and sarcrophagi. The interior of the chambers is a beautiful combination of Egyptian, Roman and Greek culture.

Catacombs were used from 2nd to 4th century and after that period they fell in disuse. In 1900, the catacombs were accidentally discovered. It is believed that those catacombs were intended to be used by a single family but they were later expanded.

A circular staircase was used to move bodies to the tombs. There is one more famous room in these catacombs, the Hall of Caracalla, the mass tomb built by the Roman Emperor Caracalla.

Philae island is located on the Nile. Many valuable monuments from different periods are located here. One of the oldest and perhaps most famous is the Temple of Isis, the patron of nature and magic.

The 30th dynasty of pharaohs was the first one to build a temple here. That temple was dedicated to Hathor. The interiors of the temples and monuments are decorated with Egyptian reliefs and imagies. 

The Temple of Seti I is a mortuary temple which construction begun during his reign but was finished by his son Ramesses the Great. The temple has the shape of an L. The facade has ten columns while, perhaps the most interesting part of the temple is the sanctuary area that is a sort of a triple shrine of the Theban Triad.

Great pylons and sphinx were contructed around the temple of which mostly only remains are left. This is one of the most beautiful and therefore one of the most visited temples.

On the western bank of Lake Nasser the famous Pharaoh Ramesses II and his beloved queen Nefertari decided to build this eternal monument to celebrate their reign. The temple was constructed in the 13th century BC and dedicated to the sun gods; Amon-Re and Re-Horakhte.

Enormous statues are 67 feet high while the entire facade is 119 ft wide and 100 ft high. The interior of the temple consists of halls and rooms. The first hall has two rows of statues. Besides the fact this magnificent site was built by the most appreciated experts of the period, another important thing happened; in the 1960s Egypt started the construction of the Aswan High Dam. The Egyptian government with the help provided by UNESCO moved the temples on top of the cliff to prevent the flood. Absolutely amazing.

Ibn Tulun Mosque is the oldest and the largest mosque in Cairo. The construction of the building started in the 9th century AD by Ahmad Ibn Tulun and it was completed in 879 on Mount Yashkur. Even though over the years it fell in disuse, especially because the city center moved to what is today Cairo center, the  mosque is the most visited tourist attraction of the city.

The mosque has a large courtyard and a round brick minaret which was built few centuries later. Around its courtyard walls there are arcades with Qur´an inscriptions.

Even though it was a Beduin fishing village today it is a great place for relaxation and of course diving. People from all over the world have enjoyed its coast and underwater experience. It is located on the Sinai peninsula and even though it is reachable by all means of transportation the preferred way of many travelers is the international Airport of Sharm el-Sheikh.

Don´t be fooled by the word fishing village and imagine it as a place with poor history. Today, tourism in the area develops rapidly so the tourists which are mostly located in Mashraba and some in Asalah, the Beduin village there is also the old part of the town, the Medina.

Diving is not the only activity preferred by tourists. One can also enjoy in other water sports like windsurfing which is very popular in the area because of the great wind and waves. Of, course, there are also other sports like scuba diving, swimming and snorkeling. 

When in Egypt, don´t miss some of the visitor´s preferred activities like riding on a camel and horse. For those situated in Dahab and who want to see the surrounding area and attractions I could recommend seeing the Saint Catherine´s Monastery on Mount Sinai or even making a day trip to Sharm el-Sheikh from which Dahab is located only 80 km away.

In the last picture you can see the Saint Catherine´s Monastery.