FOURSEASONSFIRSTRESIDENCE, CAIROLocated on the Giza side (west bank) of the Nile,the Four Seasons is a grand, elegant and luxurioushotel. As part of the prestigious First Residencecomplex, the hotel has direct access tosophisticated haute couture boutiques andgalleries, yet the ancient history and culture of thecity are just minutes away. The 269 rooms andsuites are among the largest in the city and aredesigned with elegance and relaxation in mind,while the large spa is the perfect place to unwindafter a day's sightseeing.KEMPINSKINILEHOTEL, CAIROWith one of the most exclusive addresses incentral Cairo, the Kempinski Nile Hotel offers atasteful blend of European luxury with exoticEgyptian flavour. Smaller than other internationalhotels in the city, it promises a more personal and intimate atmosphere. The hotel isimmaculately decorated and the attention todetail is outstanding. It boasts all the modernfacilities that you could ask for, with a number of bars and restaurants, a beautiful spa and arooftop swimming pool, topped off by greatviews of the Nile.Islamic CairoIslamic Cairo is a distinct quarter of the capital and is a wonderful place to explore on foot, withbeautiful examples of Islamic architecture foundaround each corner. It is difficult to discern the city walls any more but some of the gates remain.The grand Bab an-Nasr and Bab Zuweila gates atthe northern and southern ends of the city showjust how powerful and prosperous a place Cairowas in the medieval age. Elsewhere, tranquilmadrassas, mausoleums and traditional familyhomes offer an insight into life in a Muslim city ofthe past, contrasting with the bustling streets filledwith the cries of vendors and the aromas of spices, coffee, incense and perfumes.Coptic CairoCoptic Cairo is one of the quietest areas of thecapital, its calm streets and alleys a welcome relieffrom the hustle and bustle of central Cairo. This isthe oldest part of the city, and is home to ancientchurches and Africa's first mosque. It is here thatthe Holy Family is reputed to have stayed duringthe flight to Egypt, as described in the Bible. TheHanging Church (Al-Mu'allaqa in Arabic) is one of the capital's most iconic monuments, cherishedby Christians and Muslims alike. It is not only abeautiful piece of architecture but also anextraordinary feat of engineering, built withoutfoundations so it appears suspended in its position.www.audleytravel.com/egypt ?01993 838 410 ?Egypt11St George's Church, Coptic CairoFour Seasons First Residence, CairoMinarets of Islamic CairoRooftop pool, Kempinski Nile Hotel, CairoMosaic, Hanging Church, Coptic Cairo

Visiting the Pyramids of Giza, Saqqara and DashurWe would recommend a day to visit thePyramids of Giza, Saqqara and Dashur,accompanied by a driver and guide. Your guidewill recount the histories of all three sites andthe stories of the pharaohs who ordered theconstruction of these burial monuments. Byvisiting Giza, Saqqara and Dashur you will beable to get a really in-depth insight into thedevelopment of pyramid design, starting withthe mastabas (a simple tomb structure thatdeveloped over time to become a pyramid) on view at Saqqara and ending with the zenithof Ancient Egyptian engineering and architectureat the Great Pyramids of Cheops.SaqqaraWithin easy reach of Cairo, the site of Saqqarais far less visited than the Giza Plateau. Saqqarais where the royalty and nobility of Memphis(Ancient Egypt's capital) were buried, and thereare a large number of mastabas and temples toexplore. The most important is the StepPyramid of Zoser, which predates the GreatPyramid of Cheops by about 75 years andmarks the moment when the pyramid agebegan under the direction of the architectImhotep. Building on increasingly larger mortuarymastabas for his pharaoh Zoser, Imhotepeventually struck on the idea of a steppedpyramid, and the other larger and more famouspyramids took their inspiration directly from this design.The Pyramids of GizaMore than any other monuments, the Pyramidsof Giza symbolise the mystic appeal that Egypthas exerted over travellers for centuries.Instantly recognisable, their vast silhouettesdominate the Giza skyline, with gritty streets onone side and endless desert sands on the other.Sentinel to the Pyramids, the Sphinx sits inenigmatic splendour. The Giza Plateau spreads for several kilometres,with the three Pyramids the most obviousmonuments in a much larger burial complex.The Pyramids date back to the fourth dynasty of the Ancient Egyptians, (between 2670 BCand 2500 BC) and were one of the SevenWonders of the Ancient World. You can goinside some of the pyramids, but it is a bit of aphysical ordeal and it is not recommended forthose who are claustrophobic.Pyramids12The Pyramids of GizaGuardian, SaqqaraThe Step Pyramid at SaqqaraSphinx at Memphis, near Cairo