Few destinations exert such a strong pull on the imagination as Egypt. About 13 million travellers take cheap flights to Egypt each year, many on package tours, to gaze the treasures of the pharaohs, cruise down the Nile, wonder at the temples of Luxor and Abu Simbel, try to catch a glimpse of Alexandria as Cleopatra would have known it, explore the Sinai Peninsula with Bedouin guides or remember the war dead at El Alamein.
It could be said that two men, in relatively recent times, have popularised travel to Egypt. One was Napoleon, whose campaign in Egypt in the 18th century helped to spark enthusiasm for all things Egyptian; the other was Howard Carter, the English archaeologist who discovered the treasures in the Valley of the Kings. The first guide book to Egypt was published in the 1840s and it has become more and more popular with every passing year.
Cairo may be home to King Tutankhamen's bling, but it's also the city of colourful and highly scented souks, and it's a great base for the Giza Necropolis.
On the Red Sea coast, Sharm el Sheikh was once a sleepy diving spot. Now, it's a hugely popular resort (particularly with British tourists). Hurghada, favoured by European tourists, lies across the clear, blue waters, and vies with Sharm as the Red Sea's most popular destination.