Egypt is a destination that you must see at least once in your lifetime. It is the land of the Pharaohs! It is here that you will see the temples and antiquities that even the ancient Greeks and Romans came to view in wonder. From walking around the Great Pyramids of Giza to floating down the Nile, there are so many amazing sights and experiences.
'It has more wonders in it than any other country...and provides more works that defy description than any other place.' 5th century BC. Herodotus wasn’t wrong!
But Egypt isn’t only the Pyramids. It is chaotic Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and Abul Simbel and the contrasting coast of Sharm El Sheik where you can relax, swim and snorkel among the colourful fish and reefs or for those who love diving but are happy to go basic Dahab.
The best time to travel to the Middle East is anytime between October though to March. Outside these months the temperatures are far too high to enjoy what the area has to offer!
Where do you start!
CAIRO – chaotic but necessary.
The Pyramids of Giza – it is worth going into the Great Pyramid but you will need to preorganise this as numbers are limited.
Visit the Egyptian Museum – it is best to go with a guide and then take some free time to wander around. The exhibits are crammed together and matches Cairo’s chaos!
The Khan al Khalili Bazaar – be prepared to haggle and be continually approached by the many stall owners but go with the flow and enjoy the experience! Don’t forget Islamic Cairo!
NILE CRUISE – a must do – there are lots of choices and standards but whatever you choose, you will enjoy the experience. I suggest flying to Aswan and cruising up to Luxor. Spend a night in Aswan where you can take a short flight to Abu Simbel. Kings Don’t miss Abu Simbel which you should consider an essential part of your trip not an add on! On your cruise you will see such amazing sites - The Temple of Philae, Kom Ombo, the temple of Horus and the amazing Valley of the Kings.
LUXOR is worth a couple of nights at least. Here you have the Temples of Karnak with its amazing columns and sphinx lined path. There is also the Luxor Temple and the Luxor Museum. This museum is a contrast to the one in Cairo – a more selective collection excellently displayed.
Don’t forget the West Bank in Luxor where you can see the burial places of the artisans and nobles. There is also a great bazaar – a little less daunting than the Khan al Khalili bazaar in Cairo. SHARM El SHEIK is a very touristy place but a great place to unwind. The swimming and snorkelling is great and you can take boats out for those who want to snorkel on the reefs. The colourful fish are amazing even from the short swim out from the beach to the floating platforms.
