Egypt

Cairo is a megacity that sits at the crossroads of ancient and modern — the Great Pyramids of Giza are literally at the city's edge. The Egyptian Museum holds treasures spanning millennia, Islamic Cairo's mosques and bazaars are a maze of history, and the Nile runs through it all. Chaotic, overwhelming, and absolutely unforgettable.

The world's greatest open-air museum — ancient Thebes holds more monuments than anywhere on earth. The Valley of the Kings, Karnak Temple, and Hatshepsut's mortuary temple are staggering. Hot air balloon rides at sunrise over the West Bank are unforgettable.