Few countries grip the imagination quite like Egypt. Just hearing the name conjures images of mighty pharaohs and massive pyramids, sprawling temples and secret tombs, colossal monuments and crowded markets—and cutting through it all, the life-giving Nile River, without which none of these other sights could have existed.

The World’s Longest River

The Nile originates in the Central African nations of Burundi and Rwanda and flows north for over 4,000 miles through 11 countries before ultimately joining the Mediterranean Sea. Since the story of Moses in the basket, though, the Nile has always been most closely associated with Egypt.

Victorian travelers to Egypt popularized leisure cruising down the Nile in order to see the incredible archeological marvels near the riverbanks. Today, Nile cruises are more popular than ever, bringing visitors to Ptolemaic temples and offering easy access to sites like Philae, home of the Temple of Isis. In a country filled with amazing sights, seeing the ancient monuments lit up at night from a perch atop the water is a vision that lingers in the memory forever.

Dig Deeper in Cairo

There are many cities that blend the old world and the new. Then there’s Cairo. Officially founded in 969 AD, Cairo can trace its roots back 4,000 years to Memphis – not the musical capital of Tennessee, but rather the ancient capital of Lower Egypt. It is a city where towering skyscrapers overlook 1,000-year-old monuments, and where getting around could mean hopping on the world-class metro system or catching a relaxing ride down the Nile on a felucca, a traditional wooden sailing boat.

Travelers can often be found wandering the winding alleys of Coptic Cairo, home to the city’s oldest structure, a Babylonian fortress, as well as Africa’s first Christian church and oldest Islamic mosque. The gardens of Al-Alzhar Park, named one of the world’s 60 great public spaces by the nonprofit Project for Public Spaces, are also a tranquil spot for a stroll while taking in the beautiful spires and domes of the city’s skyline. For those hunting for the perfect Egyptian souvenir, there’s always Khan El-Khalili, a labyrinthine bazaar where one can find anything from spices to jewels—while always being prepared to haggle.