Top 10 Places to Discover in Egypt
We have experienced the best of history, adventures and culture this amazing country could offer in 2 weeks. Let us help match you to the best hotels, touring and guides for your trip to Egypt & beyond!
Home to the only surviving wonder of the ancient world, the Great Pyramid of Giza. Egypt has a plethora of pyramids, tombs, temples and a new museum to show off all the discoveries. One of the best ways to experience the country is to take a luxury river cruise on the Nile, the world’s longest river. Our knowledgeable Egyptologists provide insights into the towering pyramids, statues, columns and stone buildings, translating the hieroglyphics, and generally bringing ancient Egypt to life from Cairo to Aswan. You’ll be amazed at what you learn and discover on your travels.
Egypt’s appeal extends beyond its ancient ruins. Divers and snorkelers come for the Red Sea reefs and the country has long been a winter sun favorite for with many luxury resorts on the eastern coast. Most visits to Egypt start in Cairo, but remember to include time for Alexandria, Luxor, and beach town of Sharm el-Sheikh.
Here’s our top choices for your exciting visit to Egypt.
Cairo
The heart of downtown is Tahrir Square and the pink Egyptian Museum, packed to the ceiling with display cases of ancient artefacts. The Grand Egyptian Museum of Giza is our top pick, with loads of treasures, including the famous 23 karat solid gold death mask of King Tutankhamun; yes, the famous King Tut.
Saqqara
Day trip to Saqqara and Dahshur to see the Step Pyramid and the Red Pyramid, two even earlier examples that show how the ancient Egyptians worked to perfect the architecture. The Red and Bent Pyramids are closer to obtaining the smooth pyramid sides as seen at Giza, though the myths weren’t quite correct-notice how the angle of the Bent Pyramid was altered during construction. The interiors of all three are open for visitors to climb around.
Luxor
Sometimes called the ‘world’s greatest open museum’, UNESCO listed Luxor has a cache of historical treasures. The Pharohs of the New Kingdom moved their capital here, then called Thebes, and constructed huge monuments to their gods and themselves, many of which are still standing.
Like many ancient Egyptian cities, Luxor is split in two, buy the Nile River: The east side, where the sun rises, was seen as the ‘Land of the Living’, and the west side, was considered the Land of the Dead’ and the setting sun. Karnak Temple is worth the visit and one of the largest religious temple complexes in the world. Karnak is connected to Luxor Temple by the Avenue of Sphinxes and the colossal statue of Ramses II. This isn’t the last you’ll see of this prolific Pharaoh.
Aswan
One of the most scenic places on the Nile River. If you can stay overnight in this amazing city on river, you will learn more of this region by taking a faluca, a regional sailboat to discover Tombs of the Nobles and the colorful Nubian village of Gharb Soheil. South of Aswan is the Philae Temple, a photogenic island studded with palm trees. At the end of the day a sundowner on the outside terrace of the historic Cataract Hotel is a must. This hotel is where Agatha Christie penned ‘Death on the Nile’.
Abu Simbel
What to do when the planned building of a dam threatens to drown a pair of 3,000-year-old temples? Build an artificial hill and move them stone by stone to safety. The whole operation to move Abu Simbel started in 1964 and took four years, and you can see the extraordinary results on a day trip from Aswan.
The Great Temple of Ramses II is guarded by four colossal statues. The temple is aligned so that twice a year (in FEB and OCT) the first rays of the sun illuminiate the interior statues of Ramses II and the gods Ra-Horakhty and Amun. A smaller nearby temple is dedicated to Ramses II’s favorite wife, Nefartari and the goddess Hathor.
Sharm el Sheikh
This wonderful beach resort town offers sun and sand year round. On Sharm’s doorstep is the Ras Mohammed National Park, which is fantastic for snorkeling, diving and all other water sports. The vibrant coral reefs and colorful fish will keep you entertained in the water for hours.
St. Catherine’s Monestary
Visit the oldest Christian inhabited monestary in the world. Trek up Mount Siani in the morning, before the sun gets hot, and enjoy the walk and amazing views at the top. Most travelers visit here as a day trip from Sharm or Dahab.
Hurghada
Similar to Sharm, this popular Red Sea beach resort, is an alternate place for sun, sand and relaxation. Lots of cafes, shops and beautiful coral reefs to explore for the snorkelers and divers.
Dahab
Another beach escape for the younger crowd with many cafes, shops and nightlife. Divers and snorkelers have excellent sites to explore, underwater canyons and vertical walls of coral await.
Alexandria
Founded by Alexander the Great, was once one of the great intellectual cities of ancient times. Visit the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, a modern marvel with eight million books! Ancient archaeological sites have survived in Alexandria, including the remains of the Roman-era Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa and Pompey’s Pillar and the 15th century carmel colored Citadel of Qaitbay on the coast.
Discover the best Egypt has to offer, from sailing trips along the Nile to ancient sites where you can walk in the footsteps of pharaohs. Contact Donna Salerno Travel today to plan your trip to Egypt & beyond!
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Donna
Donna Salerno Travel
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