Egypt

In Luxor, the Temple of Luxor is lit at night, and its obelisk and giant statues stand out against the deep blue sky. A little to the north, Karnak has a hall of colossal columns and reliefs that come alive in the raking light, while on the west bank the Valley of the Kings hides tombs painted thousands of years ago.

The journey passes through Cairo, with the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, and continues on the Nile: a cruise to Aswan stops at the temples of Edfu and Kom Ombo, while a felucca with a white sail takes you out for sunset. At Abu Simbel, the giant seated statues of Ramesses II seem to gaze out over the desert.

Egypt is hot and dry: visits start early in the morning, and the afternoon is for a coffee or a tea. At the table: ful, koshari and freshly baked bread.