All of Egypt in only one week?
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It appeared like an bold plan — possibly too bold. However, that’s basically what Woman Egypt Excursions promised us on our latest luxury tour of Egypt.
Whereas our concept of vagabonding doesn’t normally contain organized excursions, we knew that Egypt could prove difficult to explore on our own. The desert is huge, Cairo is notoriously chaotic, and admittedly, with greater than 5,000 years of historical past to discover, there’s simply so much of floor to cowl. We learn a number of Egypt tour opinions — specifically relating to escorted excursions in Egypt — and located that Woman Egypt got here extremely really helpful as among the best Egypt excursions firms.
Finest Egypt Excursions
In whole, our entire Egypt trip spanned 16 days. As a result of we have been flying to Africa from Boston, it was vital that we had two days on both finish to settle in and a pair days of downtime the place we might not be touring, touring, or — doing a lot of something actually. We spent these final two days by the pool on the aptly named Le Méridien Pyramids Hotel & Spa sipping fruity cocktails and staring on the Pyramids of Giza straight throughout the road (sure, this job is hard work if you may get it …).
Assuming you could have the time, I extremely advocate you do the identical. Our tour began in Cairo for a whirlwind journey across the metropolis earlier than flying to Aswan (a 90-minute flight south) and dealing our means again to Cairo for our flight house. Assuming you solely have two weeks — together with flying and journey days — right here’s how one can discover 5,000 years of Egyptian historical past in only one week.
Day 1: Discover Downtown Cairo
Cairo is manic. The streets are chaotic, the visitors at any time of day is at a close to standstill, and the air is heavy from the load of its almost 9.5 million individuals. However, it’s arguably Africa’s most vibrant and spectacular metropolis (rivaled solely by Cape Town).
By day, hit the Egyptian Museum (a.ok.a. Museum of Cairo) which boasts the biggest and oldest assortment of artifacts on the earth. It’s an excellent place to get your bearings relating to the overwhelmingly lengthy timeline of Egyptian historical past.
From there, head to the Citadel of Cairo and the beautiful Alabaster Mosque (a.ok.a. The Nice Mosque of Muhammad Ali Pasha), specifically. It’s arguably essentially the most traditionally and culturally vital mosque in all of Egypt.
After darkish, take a look at the Khan El-Khalili bazaar — the biggest and oldest souk on the continent. Carry loads of money and be ready to haggle like a boss.
Day 2: Onward to Aswan and Abu Simbel
Other than The Nice Pyramids of Giza, Abu Simbel is arguably essentially the most iconic landmark in Egypt. The temples are positioned some 300 kilometers (roughly 200 miles) exterior of Aswan. So, a day journey there includes rising very, very early and a six-hour roundtrip drive into the desert. However, it’s a lot price it.
The temples have been constructed in commemoration of Ramesses II tactical victory on the Battle of Kadesh that passed off in 1274 BC. Apparently, the traditional Egyptian architects constructed the Nice Temple in such a means that twice a 12 months (on October 22 and February 22), the sunbeams attain the interior sanctuary and loosen up three out of the 4 sculptures. The statue of the God of the Underworld Ptah at all times stays in darkness.
The Small Temple devoted to Goddess Hathor and Nefertari can be distinctive. It was the primary time in Egyptian structure the statues of the Pharaoh and his spouse have been equal in dimension. Within the night, you’ll be able to take one other elective tour and benefit from the spectacular Sound and Gentle Present on the Philae Temple.
Apparently, the upcoming destruction of the unique temples (earlier than they have been moved, piece-by-piece to their present location) because of substantial erosion from Lake Nasser is what sparked the launch and supreme rise of UNESCO’s World Heritage websites program.
Day 3-4: Nile River Cruise
Sail the Nile River to Edfu and Esna Temples
Few experiences in Egypt are extra iconic than cruising the Nile River. We boarded a three-day cruise with Woman Egypt that allowed us to discover the river leisurely. However, lots of its greatest websites might be seen in a fast 2-day/1-night “journey.”
Remember to cease on the twin Temples of Kom Ombo, constructed throughout Egypt’s Ptolemaic Dynasty and devoted to the gods Horus and Sobek. Proceed on afterward to Edfu and Esna — two remarkably well-preserved temples.
At day’s finish, you’ll be able to head to the traditional metropolis of Luxor with its historical monuments that span greater than 4,000 years of Egyptian historical past. Take the time to go to the large, 200-acre Karnak Temple Complex (making it the biggest non secular constructing ever constructed). As soon as darkness begins to fall, head to Luxor Temple which gives beautiful views significantly as soon as it’s illuminated at night time.
Discover the West Financial institution (Valley of the Kings & Valley of the Employees), plus Karnak and Luxor Temples
Exploring the West Financial institution of the Nile is greatest finished by arising early in your first day to keep away from the oppressive noon warmth. Early morning can be the very best time to take a once-in-a-lifetime scorching air balloon journey over the Valley of the Kings.
Upon touchdown, head to the Valley of the Kings to discover 15 of the 63 tombs which might be at the moment open to the general public. These embody Tutankhamun, Thutmose III, Ramesses I and Seti II. All are extraordinarily properly preserved and every was uniquely designed and architected for its respective pharaoh.
Day 5: Hurghada by the Sea
A lot of Egypt is “tough across the edges”. It’s rugged, huge, and impossibly previous — all the issues that make it some of the bucket list-worthy locations on the earth. In contrast, the ocean aspect city of Hurghada is an indication of the very best luxurious that Egypt has to supply.
In brief, it’s the resort city that well-heeled vacationing and honeymooning Egyptians head to when it’s time to chill out. It’s trendy, stunning, and touristy — house, actually to the nation’s most unique resort, The Westin Soma Bay.
It additionally occurs to be among the best locations in Egypt to expertise Bedouin life. Woman Egypt can coordinate a desert tour — together with ATV rides within the desert, climbing amid Egypt’s highest peaks, and a go to to a conventional Bedouin village together with a conventional (and virtually required) camel journey.
Day 6: Fayum and the Valley of the Whales
After visiting historical temples, cruising the Nile River, escaping to Egypt’s most stunning seaside resort city, what’s left? Two issues truly.
First, not far exterior of Cairo lies the tiny fishing village of Fayum. For vacationers, it’s an excellent alternative to see what number of non-urbanite Egyptians at the moment stay. It’s tough across the edges, but it surely’s unimaginable to say you’ve actually visited the nation with out seeing how a lot of its inhabitants truly lives.
Second is the Valley of the Whales (recognized domestically as Wadi Al-Hitan). This comparatively new historic park is one among Egypt’s best-kept secrets and techniques — we have been shocked to be taught lots of the nation’s well-informed tour guides have by no means even heard of it.
Positioned amid an enormous swath of open desert, the park is the location of a latest, however extremely vital archeological discover — totally intact whale skeletons. It’s proof that the Egyptian Desert was as soon as an ocean. To seek out indeniable proof of marine life embedded within the harsh, bone dry desert panorama is surreal to say the least.
Day 7: Return to Cairo to See the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx
You didn’t actually anticipate to go to Egypt with out seeing the Nice Pyramids, did you? Consider it as “saving the very best for final.”
This goes with out saying, however The Nice Pyramid of Giza is the biggest and oldest of these within the Giza pyramid complicated. It’s formally the oldest of the World’s Seven Wonders and essentially the most intact. (Scorching tip: save your cash and skip the inside tour. It’s claustrophobic, impossibly scorching, and it’s basically simply an empty room)
You’ll be able to expertise every thing above in roughly seven full days, plus a couple of days of journey within the center. We went with Lady Egypt Tours — voted among the many greatest Egypt excursions significantly for luxurious suppliers. From touchdown in Egypt to floor and intra-country flights to the second we returned to Cairo to fly house, they supplied us with each final thing we wanted. Whereas they provide all kinds of fantastic packaged excursions, they’re 100% versatile and, actually, encourage vacationers to personalised their journeys to expertise precisely what they need to expertise.
