Egypt is most likely already on your bucket list because of its world-renown archaeological ruins.

The ancient history of Egypt is sordid and fascinating. The country has been the focal point of converging cultures, where east meets west. For this reason, do set aside at least 2 week to properly indulge yourself in the local culture, feast your eyes on beautifully engineered architecture and learn about the ancient traditions and rich heritage.

WHEN TO GO?

Peak Seasons: Late Nov to Late Feb (Winter with temperatures of 0 C in the night and up to 18 C in the day)

Other pleasant seasons: Mar & Apr or Oct & early Nov

Tip: Do check out the Islamic calendar to find out the dates for the Ramadan period (daytime fasting) for the year as it might be difficult for tourists to find meals & transport during the day.

WHERE TO GO?

We traveled from the North of Egypt, commencing in Cairo and taking a cruise down River Nile to end off in the South of Egypt (Aswan).

Source of map: http://www.seat61.com/Egypt.htm

Check out my recommended sights & activities below:

Cairo

Key attractions:

The Egyptian Museum (Midan al-Tahrir, Downtown Cairo) – The museum house the most extensive range of Egyptian antiquities with the famous treasures of Tutankhamun, many mummies and statuettes of divinities. The nearest metro station is “Sadat”. If you are travelling by taxi, do ask for “al-met-haf al-masri”
The Great Pyramids of Giza (Pics below) – one of the 7 wonders of the Ancient World!
The Great Sphinx of Giza – located near the pyramids, this is the famous mythical creature with the body of a lion and head of a human.
Camel Ride – Plan a camel ride through the Giza Plateau and feast your eyes on the amazing structures rising out of the endless desert and blanketed by a clear blue sky.
Mosque of Muhammad Ali (Pics below)

The Great Pyramids of Giza

Mosque of Mohammad Ali

Alexandria (Pearl of the Mediterranean)

We took a domestic flight from Cairo to Alexandria.

Key attractions:

Abu Al-Abbas Al-Mursi Mosque (Pics below)
Catacombs of Kom el-Shouqafa
Pompey’s Pillar (Pics below)
Citadel De Qaitbay (Pics below)

Abu Al-Abbas Al-Mursi Mosque

Citadel De Qaitbay

One of the 7 wonders of the Ancient World, this 15th century lighthouse was partially damaged by one of Egypt’s strongest earthquake.

Pompey’s Pillar (Amud El-Sawan)

Luxor

We took a domestic flight from Alexandria to Luxor. Upon arrival, we commenced our River Nile Cruise via Movenpick River Cruises, ending off in Aswan.

Key attractions:

Karnak Templex Complex (Pics below)
Valley of the Kings – Located on the West Bank of the Nile, this is a vast area filled with secret underground mausoleums, housing the tombs (and gold/jewels) that were built for the pharaohs and power nobles of the New Kingdom of ancient Egypt.
Hot Air Balloon Ride (Pics below) – One of the highlights of our trip, we started the day at 4.30am by taking a short boat ride to the hot air balloon site to view the preparations for the flight. It was amazing to see the balloons inflating in the dark. Our balloon took off just before the first rays of the morning sun (in the extreme cold) and it was a heady experience! We saw great views of the West Bank including the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut’s temple.
Temple of Luxor (Pics below)
Temple of Hatshepsut – Mortuary temple dedicated to the Sun God.
Colossi of Memnon
Deir el-Bahari (Pics below)

Karnak Temple Complex

Hot Air Balloon (Dawn flight)

Luxor Temple

Deir el-Bahari

Otherwise known as “The Northern Monastery” this is complex of mortuary temples and tombs located on the west bank of the Nile, opposite the city of Luxor.

Edfu

A city located on the west bank of the Nile Rive between Esna and Aswan.

Key attractions:

Temple of Horus (Pics below) – A temple dedicated to Horus, the falcon headed God.
Kalesh Ride (aka horse drawn carriage ride) (Pics under Street Views)– A really chaotic experience! Every single tourist will be hustled into the carriages for a bumpy, speedy 20 min journey to the Temple of Horus. Remember to provide tips to your carriage driver or risk being surrounded by a group of the locals demanding payment!
Feluccas – A sail boat ride

Temple of Horus

Kom Ombo

Key attractions:

Kom Ombo Temple (Pics below) – A temple dedicated to Sobek the crocodile god, and Horus the falcon-headed god.

Kom Ombo Temple

Aswan

Key attractions:

Abu-Simbel Temples (pics above) – A key attraction for me in Egypt, I recall a breath-quickening experience when I caught my first glimpse of the magnificent temples, carved into the solid rocks of the mountains. It is one of the most famous ancient monuments after the Great Pyramids of Giza with its most remarkable feature being its perfect engineering! The temple is preciously built in its orientation and elevation, so that twice every year (only on 22 Feb and 22 Oct), the first rays of the morning sun can shine into a small gap and illuminate the entire length of the temple-cave to reveal the statues of the 4 gods seated at the back of the innermost shrine. Note: The temple was reconstructed from its original site to save it from submersion by Lake Nasser.
Aswan Dam – An engineering feat of the 1960s, the dam was constructed to regulate river flooding, provide water and electricity to the whole Egypt.
Unfinished Obelisk

Abu-Simbel Temples – Sun Temple of Ramses II

The Unfinished Obelisk

Cruise of the River Nile (from Luxor to Aswan)

Most cruise boats run between Luxor and Alexandria. We booked the Movenpick Nile Cruise and sailed from Luxor to Aswan taking in all the historical sites along the banks of the River Nile. Our boat was large, elegant and we were pampered by the attentive staff. This floating hotel gives you the chance to see miles of Egyptian geography taking in all the historical sites along the banks of the River Nile and glimpse of rural life in Egypt. You’ll also see locals living as they did hundreds of years ago, in mud-brick homes and using donkeys as their means of transport.

We had 2 interesting nights when river gypsies surrounded our cruise in their little rowboats & large pail basins to sell their hand-made scarfs, jewelries and Egyptian snacks! It was chaotic as these gypsy ladies were screaming at the top of their voices to garner our attention and they threw their goods up on our cruise boat for our closer inspection with amazing accuracy. If we do not wish to purchase their goods, we had to take careful aim to throw it downwards into their little rowboats, all done in the dark of the night! Likewise, if we wish to purchase their goods, we had to wrap our money in little packages and throw this carefully into their rowboats. Such a fun and interactive shopping experience!

On your rest stops, ask for a chance to sail on the Egyptian Sailboats (aka Feluccas) – photos under Street Views.

Snapshots of some Egyptian Food

The best way to experience this rich heritage firsthand is by trying out Egypt’s culinary delights – Fava beans, lentils, rice, pasta, all spiced to perfection with coriander and garlic.

For dessert, make sure to try basbousa, a sweet and syrupy cake with floral tones and hints of lemon and honey.

And finally, after all of your amazing wanderings, sit back and enjoy some tea and shisha pipe smoking with the locals, soaking in your wonderful experiences and memories in this magical land.