Egypt | Walk like an Egyptian

Of course, no Egyptian really walks this way except to perhaps encourage some willing tourist participants for a happy snap. However, walking in a normal fashion is a perfect way to get around the busy streets of Cairo and Egypt’s ancient sites. It’s good for you and you really get in amongst the action.

The Bangles’ catchy song of the 1980s made famous this distinctive Egyptian pose found in the stylised Egyptian reliefs. But what really makes this pose so distinctive?

If you look closely it all comes down to the representation of the human body. The head and legs are in profile and the torso is faced to the front presenting a unique view.

Want to have your very own Lawrence of Arabia moment atop a camel riding across the Egyptian sands? You will see camels aplenty at any visit to the Great Pyramids of Giza. Here you might choose to take a ride and experience these magnificent structures from the back of a camel. Be warned though that this is also one of the most expensive places to ride.

Look for camels in good shape with firm and tall humps. An unhealthy camel may have a hump that sags. Camels can go for long periods of time without water but it is a myth that they store the water in their hump. When they do have a drink it can be up to 90 litres in 10 minutes.

The traditional felucca sailing boat has remained a primary transportation link over the centuries. The wooden sail boat offers a quiet and calm way to cruise the Nile. It also affords you the opportunity to soak up life alongside the river. Glide across the waters of Aswan past Kitchener’s Island and the Agha Khan Mausoleum for a wonderfully relaxing way to spend the afternoon.

Cruise the Nile in style and 5-star comfort on board a luxury cruise. Enjoy your surroundings and also what your cruise ship has to offer! Sundeck, lounge and cabins are all great spots from which to enjoy and indulge yourself with a good book whilst popping your feet up as you sail along. Our picks for what to read should you be able to tear your eyes away from your surroundings? You can’t go wrong with Agatha Christie’s Death on the Nile, Michael Ondaatje’s The English Patient or the classic Tin Tin Adventure, Cigars of the Pharaoh.

Dahabiya are beautifully crafted wooden ships, decorated with period furnishing. These river-going sailboats were common in Egypt in the days of the monarchy (1920s-1940s) when aristocrats and sophisticated travellers cruised the Nile in style. They used the boats for weeks at a time and made their way from temple to temple enjoying the river breeze.

Relying on the soft river currents, the dahabiya will take you back in time to a gentler, more gracious era and allow you to experience the Nile’s romance in an intimate, privileged setting.