Egypt Travelers Recommend

No trip to Egypt is complete without a visit to the pyramids. The iconic image of the towering Sphinx is one of the most recognizable in the world, and these tours from the capital city will ensure that travelers see these desert wonders up close before heading home. Group travel can be a blast, but sometimes visitors want to explore on their own. A private tour from Cairo lets travelers decide where to spend their time and leaves plenty of room for individualized attention. A professional Egyptologist provides hotel pick up and drop off, and guides tourists through a variety of the most famous landmarks in Egypt, including the famous Giza Pyramids, the iconic Sphinx, Egypt’s ancient capital, the oldest pyramid and the best example of the transition from “step” pyramid to “true” pyramid.

Upon arrival, you’ll find Luxor divided into three areas: Luxor, Karnak, and Thebes.To see all three easily, consider an adventure in an exotic locale and take a hot air balloon flight over your arid new surroundings. A private tour of the East Bank will give you an insider view of some of the most impressive temples in upper Egypt with your own Egyptologist guide. Round off your exploration of the varying avenues and temples of Luxor with a comprehensive West Bank Tour. A step back in time to the days of pharaohs and slaves, and the grizzly stories of bandits and tomb raiders of Tutankhamen should set your hairs on end. So much arid beauty surrounds this Saharan gem of a city, that you should not miss this iconic landscape. Consider a luxury cruise with private guides on perhaps the most famous rivers in all the world, the Nile, in either 8 or 5 day excursions. Truly an unforgettable experience worth writing many a postcard about.

Most journeys to Egypt begin and end in chaotic Cairo, but a mere three-hour drive from the capital will bring you to Egypt’s Second City — Alexandria, the seaside metropolis that could not feel more different from the nation’s capital. Though it was once the country’s premier destination for foreign visitors, Alexandria’s once-legendary sophistication has diminished over the years. Nonetheless, today the city has a youthful vibe that derives, in part, from its position as the country’s window onto the Mediterranean. Alexandria is a great place to experience the Egypt of the 21st century, but it also has plenty of historical monuments and palaces. The following sites can be easily combined for a great Alexandria daytrip from Cairo.

It’s a little Las Vegas in style, but the Red Sea resort port of Hurghada is brilliantly positioned for snorkel adventures and desert encounters. Glass-bottom boat cruises are fun, and the corals and sea creatures you’ll see are just the beginning if you join a Red Sea snorkeling cruise to Giftun Island. Jeep safaris visit oases and Bedouin villages for camel riding, folklore and a spectacular desert sunset, followed by a traditional Bedouin barbecue dinner under the stars. The Red Sea is just one side of Egypt, and you can’t say you’ve seen the real Egypt without taking in the monuments and mummies of Luxor. Explore the pharaohs’ underground tombs in the Valley of the Kings, across the River Nile from Luxor, known in ancient times as Thebes. On the Nile’s east bank, Luxor Temple features the gigantic seated statue of Rameses, soaring obelisks and towering corridors of columns. Nearby Karnak is another maze of ancient statues and colossal columns.

Aswan has been a trading city for millennia, so a visit to the excellent souk is a fitting start. Then head for the Nubia Museum, a compelling site which records Nubian art and culture which would otherwise have been lost under Lake Nasser when the High Dam was constructed. The modern structure is intended to evoke a Nubian village, set in a handsome landscaped garden. Afterward take a walk in nearby Fatimid Cemetery where domed tombs form an eerie, atmospheric village. Finally, see the crack in the enormous Unfinished Obelisk. Cross to Elephantine Island, a fascinating ancient site which once formed the boundary between Egypt and Nubia, to see the villages of Siou and Koti. On the island’s southern tip, visit the ruins of Abu, among Egypt’s oldest antiquities. Then see how the life-giving waters of the Nile have worked their magic in Aswan’s Botanic Gardens, a lovingly landscaped oasis whose towering palms attract a wealth of birdlife.