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Africa , Egypt , Middle East , Travel Accessories , Travel Books

7 must-read travel books to visit egypt.

I always had a dream to visit Egypt in Africa for the Great Pyramids and the River Nile. The history and constructions of the Pyramids of Giza amazed me since I read about the seven wonders of the ancient world in my childhood at school. The first look of the pyramids from the land of Egypt was like a throwback to those history books I enjoyed reading. Finally, I made a memorable solo trip to Egypt . I had a fantastic 18 days trip, and during that time I visited several destinations and all the famous historical monuments and cities. So, Egypt is all about the rich history and fascinating culture. It is common to go with guided tours in Egypt, but to be more familiar with the longest histories of ancient Egypt; it is a must to go through some of the best travel guide books. Here, I’ve listed 7 must-read travel books to visit Egypt and help you plan your perfect trip in the future.  

The world’s oldest tourist destination Egypt has a lot to offer for every visitor. Many UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the oldest three pyramids in Giza Necropolis, got every year all the massive attention from the world tourists. Cruising on the blue Nile River or a traditional Felucca ride is one of the must-do for all. The capital city Cairo itself is one of the oldest and historic and best to explore many beautiful mosques and Egyptian Museum for the vast collections of the great Egyptian civilizations of antiquity.

Besides exploring all the ancient temples in Aswan and Luxor during the reign of Pharaohs, Egypt also has all the lovely beaches for a relaxing trip on the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. And you can’t forget about Queen Cleopatra when in Egypt, visiting the port of Alexandria will take you back to the reign of Cleopatra.  

Furthermore, these days it is also fun to enjoy the safari and camping tour in the beautiful oasis of Egypt. I had a unique experience in Bahariya Oasis to explore White Desert, Black Desert, and Crystal Mountain. And what to tell about the mouth-watering Egyptian desserts? I simply loved to have a lot during my Egypt tour.

Yes, Egypt is a vast country; apart from all I mentioned, there are a lot of places to explore. For first time visitors, the following list of books on Egypt will guide you to know about the country and its history and culture, how to travel around Egypt, essential travel tips, must-visit travel sights, and top things to do during Egypt travel.

Disclosure: All are paid links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Table of Contents

• 1 Lonely Planet Egypt (Travel Guide)
• 2 Egypt – Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture
• 3 DK Eyewitness Egypt (Travel Guide)
• 4 A History of Egypt: From Earliest Times to the Present
• 5 Top 10 Cairo and the Nile (Pocket Travel Guide)
• 6 The Nile: A Journey Downriver Through Egypt’s Past and Present (Vintage Departures)
• 7 3rd Grade History: The Egyptian Civilization: Egyptian Books for Kids (Children’s Ancient History Books)
• 8 Are You On Pinterest? Click To Save These For Later Read!

Lonely Planet Egypt (Travel Guide)

Lonely Planet Egypt Travel Guide to give you the best planning advice and local secrets to help you to visit all top sights along with hidden discoveries in Egypt. It covers cultural insights, history, politics, music, cuisine, landscapes based on different parts of Egypt mainly Cairo, Giza, Nile Valley, Alexandria, Luxor, Suez Canal, Siwa Oasis, Sinai, the Mediterranean, and Red Sea Coasts, and more. You’ll get all insider money-saving tips and reviews to explore the best of Egypt with Lonely Planet Egypt. The eBook version also comes with downloadable PDF and offline maps. Lonely Planet Egypt books are 100% well researched and packed with all updated travel information to the country.

Moreover, Lonely Planet Egyptian Arabic Phrasebook & Dictionary is also a great addition to avoid any language and custom barriers by knowing and learning all common social words and helpful phrases in Egyptian Arabic and more than 120 languages. Such a phrasebook is truly helpful for safe travel while traveling around like a local or even chatting with locals. In this way, you’ll also be able to discover more about their culture, custom, and travel style.  

• Egypt travel itineraries  
• Up-to-date travel advice  
• Essential money-saving tips on any budget
• Colorful maps and images
• Egyptian culture, history, politics, music, landscapes, cuisine, people
• Insider tips for traveling like a local  
• Hidden discoveries along with all top Egypt destinations

Egypt – Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture

Egypt – Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture written by Jailan Zayan is a must-read to guide you and to be familiar with local customs and culture. The author of this book is Egyptian and shared all the practical advice and tips for foreign visitors. You’ll get to know the changes between the ancient and present Egyptian traditions and customs from this essential guide book.

This guidebook covers all the significant changes in Egyptian life and attitudes throughout the history and revolution of the country. However, as a tourist or visitor, it is a great practice to respect and understand the local customs before your travels or during your visit and safe stay in Egypt.  

• Egyptian history, values, and attitudes
• Culture of Egypt
• Traditions and customs of Egypt
• Culture of ancient Cairo
• How to make friends and communicate in Egypt
• The outline of present Egypt, peoples, and cultural changes
• Private and Family Life of Egypt
• Travel, Health, and Safety information for foreign visitors

DK Eyewitness Egypt (Travel Guide)

DK Eyewitness Travel Guide Egypt provides depth insight and expert tips on all the most magnificent sights of Egypt. It covers detailed itineraries on must-visit destinations, from ancient pyramids to famous monuments, museums. It is fun to explore Egypt with the help of this travel book as it comes with many custom maps, area maps, 3-D drawings, illustrations, and colorful photos. This travel guide to Egypt also provides guided walking tours with history and cultural insights and visitor information.

DK Eyewitness travel books on Egypt also packed with particular recommendations on the best hotels and restaurants for tourists. You’ll get all the expert tips and information on the local drink and dining specialties, the best places to eat, and shop from this travel guide.

• Detailed itineraries and highlights on the “must-visit” destinations of Egypt
• Hundred colorful photos and custom maps  
• Area maps marked with sightseeing attractions
• 3-D drawings with hand-drawn illustrations
• Guided walking tours with insights on the history and culture of the sights
• Detailed Cairo city map with street finder indexes
• Best things to do in Egypt
• Places to shop in Egypt
• Best places to eat and drink  
• Recommendations on Egypt hotels and restaurants

A History of Egypt: From Earliest Times to the Present

It is the history of Egypt that fascinates many visitors every year to travel to Egypt. A History of Egypt: From Earliest Times to the Present is by Jason Thompson and great reads for general readers to students and, of course, for travelers. It provides the most extended 5,000 years of Egyptian history full of insights. Moreover, it highlights the secure connections between the earliest pharaohs times in ancient Egypt to the present modern day of the Arab nation.

The author has given an excellent introduction to Egyptian history and mentioned important events and all the monuments built in different dynasties. Those loves and eager to know and learn about ancient history this book is a must-read for them. This book is highly informative, easy to follow, and also gives a clear overview of the country in different eras.

• History of Egypt
• The ancient history of Egypt
• Human history by the Nile
• Panoramic historical view of Egypt
• Highly informative and easy to follow

Top 10 Cairo and the Nile (Pocket Travel Guide)

Are you looking for a perfect pocket-sized companion to explore the best in the Cairo city of your own? Top 10 Cairo and the Nile are the recommended pocket travel guidebook to Cairo by DK Eyewitness. This pocket travel guide offers 10 best of everything to make the best trip to an ancient and historic city like Cairo. It covers dozens of top 10 lists and insider tips for every visitor based on a different area in Cairo.  

You’ll get top 10 recommendations on must-see museums, festivals and events, art and culture, best Nile cruises, restaurants, cafes, coffee shops and hotels, best outdoor and fun activities for kids, best places to shop. Best restaurant reviews in various areas of Cairo also included in this Cairo travel guide book. Not only about the capital city, but it also included a guide to exploring the best in the surrounding areas of Cairo like Alexandria, Saqqara, Aswan, Luxor, and Lake Nassar.  

Highlights  

• Cairo city guide
• Pull-out and fold-out map and guide with useful phone numbers
• Top 10 museums in Cairo and the Nile
• Top 10 events and festivals in Cairo and the Nile
• Best arts and culture in the city of Cairo
• To spend a day in Cairo and surrounding areas with 60 great ideas
• Best hotels in Cairo for every budget
• Restaurant reviews in the city of Cairo areas
• Recommendations on cafes and coffee shops and restaurants and places to shop in Cairo
• What not to miss in the top 10 sights of Cairo and the Nile
• Top 10 things to avoid in Cairo

The Nile: A Journey Downriver Through Egypt’s Past and Present (Vintage Departures)

The Nile: A Journey Downriver Through Egypt’s Past and Present is a great history and travelogue written by Toby Wilkinson , a famous Egyptologist. Both Egypt and the River Nile are timeless, but the Nile is the life of Egypt, and without the Nile, no Egypt can exist. In the entire book, through the journey from Aswan to Cairo, the author describes the history and importance of the great River Nile and Egypt’s complete dependence on the Nile’s waters.  

The Nile brought life to an ancient Egyptian civilization in the past, also in the present playing a vital role in supporting the country’s agriculture and its more than 96% population. Yes, Egypt consists of only the river-land. He wrote how everyone has fallen under the spell of the Nile, and it’s not only the stunning river view. All the pharaohs, emperors from the Great Pyramid of Giza to the Valley of the Kings, Valley of the Queens, Luxor Temple, gained immortality who joined their fate to the Nile.  

• History of the River Nile
• Ancient Egyptian civilizations  
• Importance and the vital role of the River Nile in Egypt

3rd Grade History: The Egyptian Civilization: Egyptian Books for Kids (Children’s Ancient History Books)

Egypt is a great historic destination for a family tour with kids. Children’s got fascinated by the enchanting history of the pyramids from their school. It’s the best and recommended to go through some of the informative Ancient Egypt history books before the tour. 3rd Grade History: The Egyptian Civilization: Egyptian Books for Kids by Baby Professor is a fun way to learn about Egyptian Civilization from a visual perspective. The magic of this Children’s Ancient History Books is they will not feel bored while reading Ancient History of Egypt. It is free from dense texts but full of colorful pictures to tell a thousand stories; you’ll love to imagine that you were there. For each photo, short references included, and it will be easy for the kids to remember the incident based on the picture.  

Furthermore, Egyptian Books for Kids is full of information regarding pyramids and pharaohs, ancient Egyptians religion, culture, and their practices. The interactive way to learn about Egyptian Civilization will give back life to ancient Egypt.  

• Egyptian Civilization
• Ancient History of Egypt
• Colorful high-quality photos
• A fun way to learn ancient Egypt History with a visual experience
• Free of dense texts yet informative
• Easy to learn and remember

Are You On Pinterest? Click To Save These For Later Read!

How about a trip to Egypt? Share your top essential tips  and must-read travel books before visiting Egypt.

Last update on 2024-04-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Nafisa Habib

Nafisa Habib loves nature and often got fascinated by old beautiful architecture. Here she is with My Own Way To Travel to share her adventures on the road. To her nothing is so interesting than exploring new destinations around. And knowing a new culture and meeting new peoples on the road? Oh, yeah she just loves that too.

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Egypt Travel Guide: Best Places to Visit

Egypt, the land of mysteries. Explore the world-famous Pyramids, ancient temples, incredible landscapes, white beaches, and the beautiful reefs of the Red Sea. Egypt is an enormous country that can be traveled on every kind of budget. It is time-consuming to travel around Egypt, so we recommend spending at least one week in this beautiful destination. Use our 10-day Egypt travel guide to visit the best places in Egypt

Egypt Travel Guide (10 days)

The majority of historical sights to visit in Egypt are located along the Nile because the ancient Egyptians lived along its banks. In these 10 days traveling Egypt, you will be guided down following that river. Please note: We optimized the tour we did so you can possibly do the best itinerary.

Day 1 – 2: Cairo

Your journey starts in Egypt’s capital: Cairo. It is the gateway to the Pyramids and Sphinx of Giza. Cairo itself is chaotic but in a fascinating way. Visit the mummy room in the museum, the mosque and plan to spend two days with the things to do in Cairo .

Cairo to Luxor: 9 hours

Hotels in Cairo 😴

Day 3 – 4: Luxor

Welcome to the world’s largest open-air museum. Luxor is the city where would need at least 4 days to visit all the well-preserved temples and tombs. Good to know: If you travel in Egypt is it required to buy a photography pass in order to take photos at most sites.

The city has a relaxed vibe, very different from Cairo. You will find yourself in some ‘jaw-dropping’ moments, for example when wandering around in Valley of the Kings. This is where the tomb of Tutankhamun is located.

Here’s: how to get your Visa for Egypt

Spend two days in Luxor and visit the Luxor Temple, Valley of the Kings, Karnak Temple, and Temple of Queen Hatshepsut. Luxor is one of the highlights when you travel to Egypt.

Luxor to Aswan: 4 hours

Hotels in Luxor 😴

Day 5: Aswan

Aswan is another great stop on the Egypt Travel Guide. Like Luxor, Aswan is located on the Nile. Therefore, sailing the Nile with a felucca from Aswan to Luxor is a popular way to travel Egypt .

Order your Visa online here

While in Aswan, visit the Kom Ombo and Philae Temple and plan a trip to the temple of Edfu, one of the best-preserved ancient monuments in Egypt.

Hotels in Aswan 😴

Day 6: Abu Simbel & Nubian village

Rise and shine early and prepare for a 3-hour trip down south Egypt to visit Abu Simbel. The temple complex near the border with Sudan is completely carved out of the side of a rock. Between 1964 and 1968, the entire temple has been moved to higher ground because it was threatened to be flooded. An unbelievable story when you are standing in front of the massive temple. Read more about the colorful Nubian Village in Egypt .

Tip: If time isn’t a problem, visit Abu Simbel in the afternoon. It will be far less crowded.

Get back to Aswan, arrange a motorboat and cruise the Nile to the Nubian village. The Nubians are known for their kindness and colorful building. Wander around in the village for 2 hours, have lunch at Kato Dool restaurant and jump back on the boat the Aswan.

Stay in a beautiful Nubian House

Day 7 – 9: Dahab

Dahab is a chilled backpacker town on the Red Sea. Most travelers visit Dahab for its incredible snorkeling and diving into the Blue Hole. Rent an ATV and go on a desert safari and eat at some delicious restaurants located on the boulevard. After traveling in Egypt, Dahab will be one of your top stays so make sure to spend enough time here.

Hotels in Dahab 😴

You can either fly from Aswan into Sharm El-Sheikh via Cairo. This is only 20 minutes away from Dahab.

Book your flight to Sharm el Sheikh

Another option is a 12-hour drive, where you catch a ferry from Hurghada to Sharm El-Sheikh.

We recommend to rent a car in Egypt through Sunny Cars with free cancellation and insurance included. Book your rental car here .

Day 10 – End of Traveling Egypt

Your incredible Egypt travels have come to an end. Depending on where you need to fly, you should take an international flight from Cairo or Sharm El-Sheikh.

Book your tour online

Egypt + Jordan

Egypt by tour or not?

Traveling in Egypt with a tour company is a great decision. Why? Getting from A to B isn’t that easy, and in Egypt, every little thing comes with a hassle. By joining a tour, you learn a lot about Egypt’s history, it makes traveling safer , and easier, and you will meet a lot of like-minded people.

Best time to visit Egypt

Travel to Egypt in their winter which runs from October until April. Temperatures will be much more comfortable but the attractions will be busier. Try to avoid December and January as these are known as the peak months.

Egypt Budget

Egypt can be traveled on any kind of budget. Go on a low budget by staying in hostels and traveling by train and local buses. Or choose for a little more comfort by joining a tour in Egypt .

Costs of Traveling in Egypt

Travel on a budget in Egypt, from $190 − $470 USD weekly per person, mid-range $530 − $790 USD, and high-end from $760 − $1180 USD. However, costs depend on factors like accommodation, transportation, and activities. We did not include flights. Check flight prices here

• Hotels: $30 − $120 USD Check available hotels
• Hostels: $10 − $40 USD Check available hostels
• Transport: $5 − $30 USD Book public transport
• Food: $4 − $20 USD
• Activities: $5 − $20 USD See tickets & tours
• Sim: $1 − $3 USD Get an eSIM or SIM here
• Travel Insurance: $2 − $6 USD Get Travel Insurance

What to wear while traveling in Egypt?

Egypt is a modern country where they wear modern clothes. As a woman, you don’t need need to cover your hair or ankles outside religious sites. It’s best to wear breathable fabrics such as cotton, linen, and silk. During the winter time, take a sweater and long jeans as the temperatures in the evening will drop.

Visa in Egypt

Entering Egypt requires a visa. A Visa on Arrival can be purchased for 25 USD at the airport in Cairo. Make sure to have the exact amount with you in US dollars.

By purchasing through our links, you support us at no additional cost. Thank you for your support. ♥️

• Find Hotels via Booking.com
• Find a Rental Car via Sunny Cars
• Find Flights to Egypt via Skyscanner
• Get a Travel Insurance via Heymondo
• Book Tours & Attractions via Viator
• Book a Bus/Train/Transfer via 12Go

Visit the Colorful Nubian Villages in Egypt

7 best things to do in luxor, egypt, visa for egypt: how to get it and entry requirements.

Looking for more travel information? Plan a chat with us for personalised travel advice or get an answer from the Salt in our Hair Travel Community on Facebook.

We had such a great time in Egypt! We didn’t get to visit a Nubian Village, but we hope there is a next time :)

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Best Books and Travel Guides for Egypt

• Post author: Avoid Crowds
• Post published: November 6, 2022
• Post category: Egypt / Travel Guides
• Post comments: 0 Comments

Egypt is a fascinating country but sometimes it isn’t the easiest country to get around. Visiting Egypt can be more than a bit overwhelming. It is not just the hustle and bustle of a busy country. There are lots of fellow tourists, things work differently than what we are used to and there is an immense number of different activities to choose from. With large crowds and too many options available, you will have to make choices. We highly recommend properly planning your visit to Egypt. The travel books and travel guides in this post are here to help you on your way. We have hand-picked all of these books and used several! This post has been fully updated in March 2024.

• All books have been handpicked by us!
• Books with bad reviews are left out.
• This post includes affiliate marketing links on which we can earn a commission.

Lonely Planet Egypt (full edition)

“Lonely Planet’s Egypt” unravels the mystery and magnificence of Egypt, offering an extensive guide to its ancient landmarks, vibrant culture, and breathtaking natural landscapes. Whether you’re aiming to explore the grandeur of the Pyramids of Giza, the life-giving Nile, or the underwater wonders of the Red Sea, this guide is packed with essential insights and recommendations.

• 🗺️ Diverse Itineraries : Tailored suggestions help you craft the ultimate trip, whether you’re interested in historical sites, culinary experiences, or natural wonders.
• 📖 Local Insights : Gain a richer, more rewarding travel experience with in-depth information on Egypt’s history, people, music, landscapes, and politics.
• 🍲 Eating and Drinking : Dive into the regional culinary scene to discover the dishes and drinks you must try to truly taste Egypt.
• 🛫 Travel Toolkit : Find all the planning tools you need, whether you’re a solo traveler, LGBTQIA+, traveling with family, or in need of accessible travel advice.
• 🗺️ Color Maps and Images : Navigate confidently and inspire your journey with detailed maps and vibrant imagery throughout the guide.
• 💬 Language Tips : Essential phrases and language tips help you communicate and immerse in the local culture.
• 🕵️ Insider Tips : Save time and money while getting around like a local, avoiding crowds and tourist traps.

Covering key destinations like Cairo, the Nile Delta, Luxor, and beyond, “Lonely Planet’s Egypt” is your passport to discovering both the celebrated and the hidden facets of this ancient land. It’s the perfect travel companion for anyone looking to embark on a journey filled with adventure, history, and beauty in Egypt.

“Moon Egypt” is an essential travel companion for anyone looking to delve into the heart of Egypt, combining Sarah Smierciak’s expert knowledge with practical travel tips and captivating narratives. Here’s why this guide stands out:

• 🏺 Comprehensive Itineraries : Offers a meticulously planned two-week Best of Egypt itinerary that highlights the country’s ancient marvels and modern attractions.
• 🗿 Insider Knowledge : Benefit from firsthand insights from an American expat living in Cairo, guiding you to experience Egypt beyond the typical tourist paths.
• 🌄 Adventure Awaits : From summiting historic peaks to kayaking the Nile, the guide is packed with outdoor adventures that showcase Egypt’s natural wonders.
• 🍽️ Culinary Delights : Explore the rich tapestry of Egyptian cuisine, from street food favorites to traditional sweets, ensuring a taste of local culture.
• 📚 Cultural Immersion : Delve into Egypt’s rich history, government, culture, and customs with thorough background information and a handy Egyptian Arabic phrasebook.

“Moon Egypt” equips travelers with all they need to discover the depth and diversity of Egypt, making every moment of the journey unforgettable.

The Nile: Travelling Downriver Through Egypt's Past and Present

The Nile equals life in Egypt. Everything you want to visit and experience is scattered on the east and west bank of this mighty river. We recommend seeing the main sights on the river and reading all about this.

In this book, you explore the Nile from the south of Egypt to the North: from upper Egypt to lower Egypt.

The Nile, like all of Egypt, is both timeless and ever-changing. In these pages, renowned Egyptologist Toby Wilkinson takes us on a journey downriver that is both history and travelogue. We begin at the First Nile Cataract, close to the modern city of Aswan. From there, Wilkinson guides us through the illustrious nation birthed by this great river.

We see Thebes, with its Valley of the Kings, Valley of the Queens, and Luxor Temple. We visit the fertile Fayum, the Great Pyramid of Giza, and finally, the pulsing city of Cairo, where the Arab Spring erupted on the bridges over the water. Along the way, Wilkinson introduces us to the gods, pharaohs, and emperors who joined their fate to the Nile and gained immortality; and to the adventurers, archaeologists, and historians who have all fallen under its spell. Peerlessly erudite, vividly told, The Nile  brings the course of this enduring river into stunning view.

Fodor's Essential Egypt

“Fodor’s Essential Egypt” is your gateway to the ancient wonders and modern marvels of Egypt, designed with input from local experts to ensure a comprehensive and engaging experience. This guidebook is ideal for those eager to explore iconic landmarks such as the Pyramids of Giza, sail the majestic Nile, or delve into the historic depths of Luxor’s Valley of the Kings. With a fresh layout, updated information, and stunning color photography, navigating and planning your Egyptian adventure has never been easier.

Why “Fodor’s Essential Egypt” stands out:

• 🌟 Illustrated Experiences Guide : Discover Egypt’s top attractions and hidden treasures through a beautifully illustrated guide to the best experiences.
• 🗺️ Tailored Itineraries : Utilize multiple itineraries to effectively organize your exploration and make the most of every moment in Egypt.
• 📍 Detailed Maps : More than 20 maps provide confident navigation through Egypt’s diverse landscapes, from ancient ruins to bustling cities.
• 📸 Vibrant Photography : Full-color photos throughout the book ignite your wanderlust and offer a glimpse into the beauty awaiting in Egypt.
• 🍽️ Insider Recommendations : Benefit from honest and up-to-date advice on the best dining, accommodations, and activities, including local secrets for an authentic experience.
• 🏛️ Cultural Insights : Gain rich context on Egypt’s history, culture, and people, enhancing your understanding and appreciation of this fascinating country.

With features on the “Best Diving and Snorkeling Sites,” “Best Beaches in Egypt,” and “Best Street Food in Cairo,” “Fodor’s Essential Egypt” caters to diverse interests, ensuring travelers experience all aspects of Egypt’s rich offerings. Whether you’re drawn by history, adventure, or culinary delights, this guide is an indispensable companion for a deeply rewarding Egyptian journey.

The Rise and Fall of Ancient Egypt

“The Rise and Fall of Ancient Egypt” by Toby Wilkinson is a comprehensive and engaging account of Egyptian civilization, chronicling its journey from the dawn of the first nation-state to its integration into the Roman Empire. This New York Times bestseller offers a magisterial exploration of Egypt’s evolution over three millennia, drawing on four decades of archaeological research. Wilkinson, an award-winning Egyptologist, presents a rich tapestry of a society led by divine kings and influenced by human emotions, economic developments, and political dynamics.

Key highlights of the book:

• 📜 Epic Scope : Traces Egypt’s history across three thousand years, offering insights into its complex evolution.
• 🏺 Archaeological Depth : Leverages forty years of research to provide a detailed view of ancient Egypt’s society, culture, and governance.
• 👑 Legendary Figures : Examines the lives and impacts of pivotal leaders such as Akhenaten, Nefertiti, Tutankhamun, and the Ramesses lineage.
• 🌟 New Interpretations : Delivers fresh perspectives on Egypt’s political and societal shifts, enriched with dramatic narratives and bold spectacle.
• 📘 Critical Acclaim : Celebrated for its literary quality and factual accuracy, earning accolades from notable publications and scholars.

Wilkinson’s narrative combines rigorous scholarship with a storytelling flair, making “The Rise and Fall of Ancient Egypt” not only a historical account but also a compelling read. The book serves as a window into the opulence, cultural sophistication, and political intrigues of pharaonic Egypt, revealing the human elements behind its legendary pharaohs and monumental achievements. For anyone fascinated by ancient history, this work offers a riveting journey through the life cycles of one of the world’s most extraordinary civilizations.

Ancient Egypt for Kids: Learn About Pyramids, Mummies, Pharaohs, Gods, and More!

“Ancient Egypt for Kids” by Samuel John opens up a captivating world of pyramids, mummies, pharaohs, gods, and much more, tailored especially for young, curious minds. This educational book is designed to make learning about ancient Egypt both fun and engaging, encouraging children to explore one of history’s most fascinating civilizations. With its child-friendly language, vibrant illustrations, and storybook vibe, it ensures that learning feels more like an adventure than a lesson.

Why this book is a treasure trove for young explorers:

• 📚 Rich Historical Content : Offers a comprehensive look into ancient Egypt, covering key aspects like pyramids, mummies, and pharaohs, all in a language that kids can easily understand.
• 🎨 Vibrant Illustrations : Each page is accompanied by colorful pictures that not only capture the imagination but also provide a visual context to the information being shared.
• 👻 Kid-Friendly Mummies : The book carefully introduces the concept of mummies in a way that is intriguing and not frightening, ensuring a positive learning experience.
• 🎧 Downloadable Audiobook : Enhances the reading experience with an audio format, perfect for auditory learners or bedtime stories.
• 🎁 Bonus Materials : Comes with a wealth of additional resources, including a free ebook, printable coloring pages, mazes with solutions, and more, to extend the fun beyond the book.

“Ancient Egypt for Kids” is not just any history book; it’s a gateway to a world that will enchant and educate, sparking a love for history and archaeology in young hearts. Whether your child is already fascinated by the ancient world or you’re looking to ignite that spark of curiosity, this book is the perfect starting point. It’s a delightful journey through time that promises to keep young readers engaged and eager to learn more about the mysteries of ancient Egypt.

DK Eyewitness Egypt

“DK Eyewitness Egypt” is the ultimate guide for travelers seeking to immerse themselves in the enchantment of one of the world’s most ancient destinations. This comprehensive guide not only provides detailed itineraries and essential “don’t-miss” highlights but also enriches your journey with illustrated cutaways of significant sights, floor plans of major museums, and guided walking tours that promise an in-depth exploration of Egypt’s rich history and vibrant culture.

Why “DK Eyewitness Egypt” stands out:

• 🏛️ In-Depth Coverage : Offers thorough insights into Egypt’s historical landmarks, including the majestic pyramids and the architectural wonders of the Nile Valley.
• 🗺️ Exceptional Illustrations : Features cutaway 3-D drawings and hand-drawn illustrations that bring to life the ancient monuments and museums.
• 🚶‍♂️ Guided Tours : Includes walking tours and expert recommendations for food, activities, and shopping, ensuring a rich, local experience.
• 🍴 Culinary Journeys : Dive into the delicious street food and local dining specialties, a must-do for any visitor.
• 📚 Cultural Insights : Delve deeper into the stories behind the sights, understanding Egypt’s history and culture through expert narratives.

Accompanied by stunning full-color photographs and custom maps that highlight every page, “DK Eyewitness Egypt” goes beyond traditional travel guides by offering a visual feast that captivates and informs. Whether you’re navigating the bustling streets of Cairo, exploring ancient ruins, or experiencing the local festivals and markets, this guide ensures a journey filled with discovery and wonder.

Ideal for travelers who seek a comprehensive exploration of Egypt, from its monumental history to its living culture, “DK Eyewitness Egypt” is an indispensable travel companion that shows you the country in unmatched depth and detail. Experience the best of Egypt with DK Eyewitness, your guide to a truly remarkable journey.

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Fully Guided Tours & Trips in Egypt

Find the right fully guided tour for you in Egypt. There are 1269 trips to choose from, that range from one day in length, up to 30 days. The month with the most departures is May, making it the most popular time to visit Egypt.

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250+ fully guided tour packages in egypt with 11,505 reviews.

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Cairo and Nile Cruise Tours - Included Internal Flights

Wie hatten mit Diaa einen sensationellen Guide, der uns mit Humor und Intellekt das Alte Ägypten näher gebracht hat. Das Programm ist mit dem häufig sehr frühen Abfahrtszeiten schon sehr ambitioniert. Im Anschluss braucht man dann ein paar Tage zur Erholung.

• €110 deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

Queen Cleopatra - 7 days

I am coming into Luxor right now probably the most spectacular time ever. The boat is amazing the food is great the whole country is so accommodating. Our tour guide, anas, it is very entertaining but even more very informed he studied for years and knows all about the temples. I always thought I would just cross Egypt off on my bucket list but I'll find it hard not to return soon.

Nile Adventure - Felucca cruise

Great tour! I enjoyed every minute of it. Food was amazing and the sites visited breathtaking. Will do it again definitely!

• 10% deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

• In-depth Cultural
• Coach / Bus

Felucca Odyssey (5 & 4 Star Hotels)

Overall an outstanding experience in Egypt. Our guide Adham went above and beyond to look after our group, and spent much of his own time explaining everything Egypt to us. This tour is a lovely blend of a cultural experience whilst still feel safe & having the creature comforts of nice hotels most nights. At no point did I (female traveller) feel unsafe & I would say my experience in Egypt exceeded my expectations. My only critique is the dining experience on the first night was less than desirable (very western feeling buffet packed to the brim with tourists singing the Macarena) but this was redeemed by the entertainment. If similar bellydancing entertainment could be found elsewhere I would encourage travel talk to look at another more authentic venue.

• €150 deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

8 Days Pyramids and Nile Cruise Aswan - Abu simbel - Luxor - Hurghada

Reliable Tour Company, Knowledgeable Guides, Good Price We had a wonderful time in Egypt. It's a safe and beautiful country with very hospitable people, long history, rich culture, magnificent temples, stunning scenery and delicious food. It's absolutely safe to travel to Egypt. Our tour organizers were Mustafa, Taher and Mohammed. Thanks to their hard work and well-planned itinerary, we could see Egypt from different perspectives within our limited time. We took various modes of transportation: train, car, GoBus, cruise, boat, horse carriage and can view the beautiful landscape and change of scenery from the north to the south, from Nile River to the Red Sea, from desert to oasis. The food on the cruise is exceptionally delicious with a variety of western and Egyptian cuisines. Egyptian music and Belly dance entertainments were provided at night. We would like to thank our guide in Cairo, Sue, and our extraordinary Nile River guide, Hassan who make our dream come true. Hassan speaks very good English. He is exceptionally professional, knowledgeable, humorous, generous and helpful. He showed us the historical society and explained to us Egyptian history, culture, customs and ways of life systemically. His jokes always made us laugh and his explanation was easy to understand. He gave us free time for taking photos. Many thanks to the tour company, the guides and the drivers, we had many unforgettable memories in Egypt which will be kept in our heart and mind for the years to come. Definitely, we would highly recommend Holiday in Egypt to our friends and anyone visiting Egypt. We wish Bob, Sue, Taher, Mustafa, Hassan and Mohammed a Blessed Ramadan Mubarak. The followings are a brief summary of the journey. Day 1: bought Orange sim card (280 E pounds) and picked up by Bob at the airport and drove us to Downtown Cosmopolitan Hotel which allowed us to check in early. The room was spacious and the breakfast next morning was good. After a nap, we went to National Bank of Egypt (5-minute walk from the hotel) to exchange E pounds. At 3:00 pm, we had a briefing with Taher with other group members. Day 2: met our guide, Sue, for Giza and Egyptian Museum at 8:00 am. She speaks good English and is knowledgeable. We had traditional Egyptian Koshari lunch at Abou Tarek. At 8:10 pm, the sleeper train departed from Cairo to Aswan. Dinner was served. The cabin has a washing basin, duvets, pillows and a bunk bed. Day 3: arrived at Aswan Train Station at 9:00 am and picked up by our Nile Cruise guide Hassan. Our 7 group members were joined another 4 members: a British couple and a German couple. We went to Philae Temple by boat and then checked in the cruise at 1:00 pm. In the evening, we went to Aswan Market. It was the most relaxing day. Day 4: joined the optional tour to Abu Simbel. We departed from the cruise at 4:00 am and stopped for a while as the check point opened at 5:00 am. We arrived at Abel Simbel around 8:00 am and stayed there for about 1.5 hours. We went back to the cruise for lunch. In the afternoon, we had tea time on deck and the boat sailed from Aswan and arrived in Kom Ombo around 6 pm. We visited Kom Ombo Temple and the boat sailed again at 9:00 pm to Edfu. Day 5: arrived in Edfu early in the morning and took the horse carriage to Edfu Temple. We went back to the cruise for breakfast and started sailing again to Luxor. We arrived at Luxor around 4:30 pm and visited Luxor Temple and stayed there till 5:45 pm. Day 6: checked out the cruise at 8:00 am and went to Colossi of Memnon, met our group member who joined the optional hot air balloon activity. In the morning, we visited Temple of Hatshepsut, followed by Valley of the Kings. We visited 3 tombs. Lunch was not included but Hassan generously bought 11 group members’ delicious Egyptian sandwiches. His kindness is much appreciated. In the afternoon, we visited Karnak Temple. The British couple, two Korean ladies and two of us took the private car from Luxor at 3:30 pm and arrived in Hurghada at 7:30 pm. We stayed at Jasmine Palace Hotel for 2 nights. Day 7: The hotel is very good with delicious breakfast, lunch and dinner. The room is huge with a balcony facing the Red Sea. We took a walk near the Red Sea and joined a half day city tour of Hurghada. Day 8: picked up by the driver at 1:00 pm and took the 2:00 pm Go Bus to Cairo. We arrived at Cairo at 8:00 pm and picked up by Mohammed. It was the end of our Egyptian Dream Trip.

Best Of Egypt - 5* Cruise

We just got back from the 10 day Best of Egypt tour and I have to say, it was amazing. Our guide Ray/Remon was absolutely outstanding- he helped us with any and everything we possibly needed, was super knowledgeable, was always available via WhatsApp anytime we weren't with him, and most of all, advised us on tours and activities that would keep us safe and would not end up with us getting scammed, which was very relieving. The tour itself was very rigorous for the first few days, lots of early mornings and lots of bus travel time, but you get to see the majority of the TOP sights in Egypt in a short amount of time, which was important to us as we didn't have more than 10 days of vacation time to spend. The weather was beautiful except for the day we were supposed to take the hot air balloon ride in Luxor, which was a disappointment, but you can't control when it rains! Overall I would highly recommend this trip to anyone and i would DEFINITELY request Ray/Remon to be your guide. He really was the cherry on top of an already incredible trip!

Egypt Luxury Guided Tour W/Nile Cruise & Air 5*

Tour guides were also excellent. Great itinerary

• €131 deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

Goddess Hathor - 8 Days (5 stars)

Really great action packed tour. To set expectations, this is not supposed to be a relaxing trip, but one that is continously on the go and some early starts if you take the optional add ons. The tour guide Anas (for majority of the trip) and Nur (our guide in Cairo) were amazing and very knowledgeable. You would be lucky to get them. The tour company itself was by far outstanding right from the day before of the trip to the very last day. You can't ask for more. They go out of the way to make everything perfect. Communication is always key and they were perfect in this area. This one trip is action packed with going to mainly see Temples (including most of the optionals) so bare this in mind. My favourite was one of the optional which was from Luxor and the temple name was Dandara. The hotels in Cairo was good and the one in Luxor amazing. However, the boat tour (ours was Princess Sarah) although advertised as 5 stars is to be questioned if this was really 5 stars or maybe 3 at best as no water was made available as complimentary and no wifi!!!

4 Days 3 nights 5 stars Nile Cruise Aswan to Luxor

I really enjoyed the tour. Especially our guide, Hassan, was very kind and let us know about Egyptian history well. Thank you.

Egypt: Boats & Bazaars

Highly recommend this one! Our guide Mo was very knowledgeable and a lot of fun. We visited some of the most incredible places on earth and added in some of our own adventures while we were at it. Great value for money! Lots of free time is given but we just wanted to see everything and jumped at most of the activities offered. Egypt on a shoestring, a big thumbs up!

Egypt Nile Adventure

It was a good experience, our tour guide Meena is so passionate about history. I was scared to go to Egypt I thought I’ll cancel my trip coz of the war problem. Egypt is very safe. I would like to come back and visit the rest of Egypt ????

Egypt Adventure

Great planned trip! Nice people along the way.

Wonders of the Pharaohs

Excellent itinerary, excellent guide. George made everything easy. Super flexible about most things (but you do need to pre book flights to Aswan as they run out). I would not do Egypt without a tour guide, and Timeless Tours provided a service that I am not sure everyone offers. We were met off our flights (before baggage collection), and after the tour we’re delivered to the airport. The perfect way to make what could have been quite a challenging visit, easy.

Cairo-Luxor-Aswan-Abu Simbel 9 Days with tour guided - domestic Flight

I took this tour last March and it was wonderful. I wasn't able to log on to my account so this review is belated but rather late than never. Ahmed was very communicative and is really concerned with giving customer's the best customer experience. I had such a wonderful experience with this company that I felt compelled to write this review although it's been a while. This tour was worth the price. The accommodations were also very nice, especially that in Cairo. We are very thankful for the guides we had, especially Hasan in the Luxor leg of the trip. He was very kind, patient, informative, and communicated very well. We really felt looked after him, and never felt unsafe with him around. When I return to Egypt, I'll be reaching out to Egypt Direct again.

Best of Egypt

I joined the 8 days tour - Best of Egypt with G-adventure on 22 Dec 2019. I had great experience with my tour. We visited the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Egyptian Museum, then took local train to Aswan, where we visited Philae Temple and Abu Simble. We then sailed to Luxor and visited the Karnak Temple, the Valley of Kings, etc. Our fellow travellers are friendly. Our tour guide Saad Matta is very knowledgeable about Egyptian history. He explained to us about the background of various temples, tombs and arts. The tour was educational and enjoyable. I was very impressed by his rich knowledge about the ancient Egyptian history. In addition, he showed us around the local markets, gave us shopping advice. He was very helpful.

What people love about Fully Guided Tours in Egypt

Great knowledgeable guides and drivers . Safety was foremost in their mind for their guests. So thank you Constance Bruce

Queen Cleopatras is a great tour, highly recommended, Anas is a great guide, he explained everything about Egyptian culture and toke care about our group! I will recommend to head office to deliver schedules with the tours to be able to plan our days. Cruse was amazing, service is great and everyone is very friendly! Also there is laundry available at your room! Ruby II is a great option, the room is very nice! I won’t recommend to take the train from Cairo to Aswan, service is great but services are not good (very old and dirty), washrooms very dirty!

I traveled a lot but this trip was organized the best!

Regions in Egypt

• Nile Valley (879)
• Valley Of The Kings (416)
• Northern Egypt (41)
• Western Desert Egypt (30)
• Eastern Desert Egypt (12)
• Red Sea Coast (12)

Travel Styles

• Fully Guided
• Egypt Travel Guide | All You Need to Know

The Ultimate One to Two Week Egypt Travel Itinerary

20 Comments

• Last Updated On: April 5, 2024

Egypt has countless attractions, ranging from nature, to temples, to mummies, to vast pyramids. Egypt’s has an incredibly rich history dating back to the beginning of civilization and as such, Ancient Egyptian society left behind so many amazing sights, all somehow incredibly well preserved, despite the numerous tomb raiders that looted Egypt throughout history.

Before reading this itinerary, make sure to read my Egypt Travel Guide!

Also, with all the negative press Egypt has been receiving in recent years, many people ask if Egypt is a safe place to travel? This post will clear that up!

How many days do I need to spend in Egypt?

The million dollar question. While planning for Egypt, for some reason I thought there was just too many attractions and I’d never be able to see them all. Well, there certainly is an endless amount of temples and sights. Unless you’re an archaeologist or major history buff, how may temples can you see, and how much history can you ingest before you’ve had enough? As I write this post, I’ve already forgotten most of the temple names let alone the history behind it!

It turns out a week is enough, in my opinion, to see the main historical sights of Egypt. Opting for 8 days in Egypt would be the best choice in this regard, allowing ample time to explore landmarks like:

• The Great Pyramids of Giza & The Sphinx
• Sakkara Pyramids
• Egyptian Museum of Cairo
• Valley of the Kings

Philae Temple

Karnak temple in luxor.

• Luxor Temple
• Abu Simbel Temple
• Nile Cruise

List is long I know, and you may want more time at each place, but there’s a reason most tours around Egypt are around a week long. If you have more than 1 week, then I’d highly recommend a visit to the Red Sea and the Sinai peninsula. If you’re looking to scuba dive, Dahab has some of the best and is the cheapest diving in the world. It’s one of my all time favorite places.

To Tour or not to tour?

As I was traveling solo, I booked a tour with TopDeck Tours that had fairly cheap prices, about $400 for a 7 day tour that visited all these sights. Turns out, the price did not include entrance fees, the Nile cruise, or any of our food which is ridiculous. After all our extra expenses, the tour probably ran me over $1000 in total.

Egypt is such a cheap place to travel through (which I realized after I arrived in Egypt), that I could have done the exact same itinerary for half the price. I essentially paid the extra money for the company of other travelers, which in the end was probably worth it as we had a great time.

Map of Itinerary

Egypt Two Week Itinerary Day by Day

If a guided tour is not your style, that’s okay, I’m here to provide a general itinerary for seeing all the sights, which also happen to be the same itinerary as most guided tours. The main thing to remember when touring Egypt is the main sights are all located along the Nile, because Ancient Egyptians believed this river to be the lifeblood of anything and everything they did in life. Naturally, they all lived along the Nile and all the impressive monuments they built were as well.

Day 1-2: Great Pyramids of Giza & Sphinx, Egyptian Museum Day 3: Alexandria Day 4:  White Desert Tour overnight Day 5: White Desert Tour, overnight train to Aswan Day 6: Abu Simbel Temple Day 7:  Nile Cruise Day 8: Nile Cruise D ay 9: Nile Cruise Day 10: Arrive in Luxor Day 11:  Valley of the Kings and Karmac temples Day 12: Fly to Sharm El Sheikh for the Red Sea Day 13: Dahab Day 14: Dahab Day 15: Dahab

Day 1-2: Egyptian Museum of Cairo and Pyramids of Giza

Cairo is a huge city and one of the most populated in the world. I found it to be very dirty, with ugly buildings and trash everywhere so I was perfectly content just checking the main sights and getting out.

The Egyptian Museum in Cairo is one of the first stops on most people’s itineraries when traveling to Egypt. With over 120,000 artifacts, the museum houses an incredible display depicting ancient Egypt’s glorious reign. You can enjoy mummies, sarcophagi, pottery, jewelry and of course King Tutankhamen’s treasures. King Tut’s goodies include his socks, underwear and the boy-king’s death-mask made of solid gold, described as the most beautiful object ever made. The displays are not all labeled very well and it’s a little haphazard but you’ll enjoy it nevertheless.

The place is massive, and devout history buffs could spend a few days here alone. It is inevitably overwhelming but there are some big attractions to see here but more visually stunning attractions ahead.

Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx

Likely the most iconic of Egypt’s attractions are the great pyramids of Giza. Located within the city of Cairo, the pyramids can be seen afar pointing to the sky. There are three pyramids in total, and they are every bit as impressive as I’d always imagined. Nowadays, modern Egyptians built around the pyramids so when you’re standing on them, you can actually see downtown Cairo, which is good and bad I suppose.

For my detailed 1 day itinerary of Cairo, please read here!

Many pictures you’ll see of the pyramids make it look like it’s this lost city in the middle of the desert. Quite the opposite.

The great pyramids are actually some of the oldest monuments in Egypt, built during the old kingdom four thousand years ago. It’s absolutely incredible they’ve stayed in such good shape so long after they were built. Truly some incredible people in those times.

The Sphinx is located just a kilometer or two away from the pyramids. The statue of the pharaoh’s head on the lion with the pyramids in the background is probably one of the best pictures you’ll get in Egypt. The Sphinx to me was a bit underwhelming, far smaller than what I thought.

Day 3: Alexandria

The ancient capital of Egypt, Alexandria is Egypt’s second biggest city, located right on the Mediterranean. We spent a day seeing all the sights in Alexandria but sadly enough, most of its ancient wonders have been pillaged over the centuries, not kept up, and have decayed. Trains run regularly from Cairo and I’d only recommend visiting Alex if you have plenty of extra time.

From Cairo, you can either take an Uber (about 1000 LE one way) or take the train. There are also numerous buses daily that take you to Alexandria but I found the trains to be quite nice.

Day 4-5: Overnight Tour to the White Desert

Ah, how I wish I visited this place. I heard all about it from other travelers I met in Egypt and it sounded like a surreal spot. It’s called the white desert because the sand is literally bleach white. Like snow, instead of sand. Trips are easily organized from Cairo to spend a few nights camping under the stars in a much more untouched part of the country.

Trips leave regularly from Cairo and should not cost more than $150 for an overnight tour ($100 is reasonable).

Day 5-6: Overnight Train to the Abu Simbel Temple

Located near the southern town of Aswan, Abu Simbel is an archaeological site comprising two massive rock-cut temples in southern Egypt on the western bank of Lake Nasser. The twin temples were originally carved out of the mountainside during the reign of Pharaoh Ramesses The Great in the 13th century BC, as a lasting monument to himself and his queen Nefertari.

Because of the construction of the Aswan High Dam (which is also an impressive sight), the entire complex was man-moved to a new sight which is where it is now. MAN-MOVED! That’s pretty impressive considering how delicate and massive these sculptures are. I was a really big fan of the statues at Abu Simbel.

Day 7-10: Nile River Cruise

The Nile River cruise is a staple attraction of Egypt. The relaxing ride on a luxury ship with some of the most fantastic sunsets you’ll see is a great way to see Egypt. The cruise stops at some very famous and wonderful temples along the way making it a fantastic and economical way to see Egypt.

A cruise down the Nile is something well warranted. Whether it’s done on a Felucca (a large Arabian Dhow, much more modern than the ones in Mozambique however ) or a cruise ship, it is a good way to relax, take in the sights along the Nile, and a good form of transportation to see Egypt’s other attractions.

The most popular Nile cruise routes go from Aswan to Luxor, allowing you to visit almost all the sights covered in this post. Expect to pay about $60-$80 a night for a nice cruise ship, and this price includes all your meals.

After a long day of walking around temples and bumpy car rides, it’s not too bad to just relax on one of these boats, and take in the beautiful Nile views. The accommodations were quite nice and all had balconies to watch the sunsets from.

Located on an island (Philae Island), and accessible only by taking a ferry ride out, the Philae Island is rich with vegetation, lovely flowers and magnificent temples. Because of its beauty and abundance, it was rightfully once called the ‘Pearl of Egypt’.

Egypt was conquered by the Greeks, and then the Romans and architecture from both these civilizations along with ancient Egyptian are all on display in this place.

Edfu Temple

Of all the temples I saw in Egypt, and I saw many, I think this one was the best preserved. It’s a huge temple, second only to the Karnak temple in Luxor and is dedicated to the falcon God Horus. Our guide here attempted to tell us the story of Horus fighting with ISIS(another Egyptian God), but between his questionable English, and my awe of the giant structure, I didn’t get much history out of it.

To be honest, whatever history I did learn in Egypt was immediately forgotten because there’s just so much of it.

Day 10-11: Luxor and surrounding area

The Valley of the Kings near Luxor is a valley where, for a period of nearly 500 years from the 16th to 11th century BC, tombs were constructed for the kings and privileged nobles of the New Kingdom. The valley contains 63 tombs and chambers, ranging in size from a simple pit to a complex tomb with over 120 chambers.

The royal tombs are decorated with scenes from Egyptian mythology and give clues to the beliefs and funerary rituals of the period. All of the tombs seem have been opened and robbed in antiquity except for the famous tomb of Tutankhamun.

Temple of Hatshepsut

One of Egypt’s most iconic temples, this temple is located in Luxor and built by Queen Hatshepsut. Compared to the other temples and monuments in Egypt, I thought this temple looked the most different from the others. It’s incredible to think that this area was once so green and fertile, and what a temple like this would have looked like during its prime.

Hot Air Balloon Ride over the Valley of the Kings

This was a great experience. As an optional excursion, we decided to all do a hot air balloon tour through the Valley of the Kings. While not as impressive as the hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia, Turkey , how often will you get to take a hot air balloon over Ancient Egyptian temples? I booked this through a hostel that my friend recommended and paid 250 EGP (~$35) per person as of 2014! This is likely 600-800 EGP in 2018 with the exchange rate but it is still a complete STEAL for a hot air balloon! Would not hesitate to recommend this activity!

Karnak is the largest temple in Egypt and probably some of the largest in the world. We came here last on our week long Egypt Tour and I was so burnt out by temples, I almost skipped this one. Thank god I did not. This temple is just simply amazing. The Temple of Karnak actually consists of three main temples, smaller enclosed temples, and several outer temples located outside of Luxor town. One of most famous structures of Karnak is the Hypostyle Hall, a huge hall area with over a hundred giant columns.

The carvings on the columns are quite well preserved in places, and some paint can be seen on rare occasions. The tall ornate columns standing in a row dwarf the visitors strolling by as they look up to admire the awesome sites.

Day 11-15: Red Sea and Dahab

From Luxor, take the Egyptair flight from Luxor to Cairo to Sharm El Sheikh. There is also a bus option but this will take much longer and the bus from Cairo to Sharm El Sheikh regularly shuts down due to unfavorable activity.

From Sharm El Sheikh airport, take a taxi to Dahab, the beautiful and infinitely chilled beachfront town that is probably one of my all time favorite places in the world. There is world class diving to be had here at perhaps the cheapest prices in the entire world. There is also fantastic kitesurfing in the Bay with otherworldly views.

The construct of green water, desert, and granite mountains here make for some of the most breathtaking scenery on Earth in my opinion. It feels like a place that shouldn’t have great diving, but it absolutely does! Read more about Dahab in my Ultimate Dahab travel guide!

Egypt One Week Itinerary

So what if you only have 7-8 days for a visit to Egypt? This depends on what you want to see. If you’re focused on history, temples and mummies, then follow this itinerary to check off the historical sights. This more or less eliminates the Red Sea and the White Desert

Day 1 – Cairo:  Egyptian Museum and Great Pyramids of Giza Day 2 – Alexandria : Full day trip in Alexandria, overnight to Aswan Day 3:  Abu Simbel Temple Day 4:  Aswan to Luxor 3 night Nile Cruise tour Day 5:  Same as above Day 6:  Same as above Day 7:  Luxor, explore Karmak temples and the Valley of the Kings Day 8: Return to Cairo for flight out.

Egypt One Week Itinerary Focusing on Diving

If your plan is to soak in the diving and views of the Red Sea, use this itinerary instead. If this is your first time in Egypt, then at the very least you need to see the pyramids! The other temples are fantastic but the Pyramids are still the most iconic and just a 1 hr Uber ride from the airport.

Day 1-2 – Cairo:  Egyptian Museum and Great Pyramids of Giza Day 3 – Fly to Sharm El Sheikh : There are regular flights to Sharm so take an early morning flight out of Cairo Day 4-8:  Dahab/Sharm El Sheikh Diving

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Hi Jonny. I was wondering if you could say a bit more about your experience with the Top Deck tour. I’ve always traveled solo, but I think that it could be good to use a tour to get the most out of Egypt. My major concern would be the other what the group dynamics were like. Were most people on the early 20s side? Just wouldn’t want to be stuck with a bunch of immature college kids. Thanks!

Hi Aaron, I would say Topdeck definitely skewed to the younger crowds, especiaclly depending on the time of year you’re going. There were people of various ages but I’d say we all had a good time together. Not much of a party and get drunk scene in Egypt if you know what I mean!

Hey, booking our trip to Egypt and planning to do a 2 weeks covering most places. I wanted to ask how you booked the White Desert overnight tour?

Hi Daksh, I booked the tour through the hostel/guesthouse I was staying at. I think there should be plenty of options over at something like Viator if you want to book it in advance!

Thanks your blog is really helpful. What are the rates for the Nile River Cruise generally and who did you book it through? It seems they are quite expansive if you book them online from here in the US. Thanks

Hi nosheen, they are much cheaper when booking in person. I booked mine for about $70 usd a night back in 2014. I would say anything below $100 usd or about 2000 LE a night would be reasonable.

I loved your post! When did you go to Dahab ? I am planning march and a whole week for scuba diving and snorkeling. I was thinking more in Urghanda due to the season and since it is more north.. Have you been there? can you compare? Or when and how was the water when you were in Dahab? Thanks in advance .

I meant since it is more South*** Sorry 🙂

Hi Gabrielle! I think March will be slightly cold in dahab but not overly bad. But yes, I think the diving in marsa Alam / hurghada would be warmer and perhaps better conditions. Also I think marsa Alam js better for diving vs hurghada! Enjoy!

loved your blogpost? do you mind telling me the hostel, with which you booked the hot air ballon tour? I can’t seem to find anything under 75$ :/ cheers from Switzerland!

Wow that is so expensive! I booked my hot air balloon with Bob Marley hostel. It was quite some years ago so things change but I specifically remember it being very reasonable. Let me know if it is still the same!

thank you for your reply 🙂 do you by chance remember if you booked it with the bob marley peace hostel or the bob marley sherief house, as there are two.. also was it a shared tour with other backpackers and did you guys feel safe during it? I will! thank you so much 🙂

It was teh peace hostel I believe. And yes you are with other people, some from the hostel, some randoms from other places. They just need to fill up the balloon. Felt safe the entire time 🙂

Egypt has always been a favorite destination for tourists from all over the world. Egypt is, and always will be, a safe country to visit. For more details visit our website http://ask-aladdin.com/

Nice Post…!!!

With all the negative media on travel to Egypt its refreshing to find a recent post and perspective chock full of itinerary ideas and practical tips. Reseach away but keep an open mind. We put together a thorough affordable tour and opened up some space on our group trip to Egypt that includes Cairo, Nile Cruise and Sharm el Sheikh in luxury and egyptologists for our comfort and safety. https://9to5travels.com/majestic-journey-to-egypt/

What to do in Egypt ? is a simple question pop up when you think about your next Egypt holiday tour. Our Egypt travel guide that will assist you for your whole Egypt trips and guide you about what to see and what to skip. We have got you covered if you are looking for a profession and reliable travel guide for your next coming Egypt Trip.

What are the rates generally for the Nile Cruises nowadays?

Have a quick go to to Cairo where you are able to see the pyramids and sphinx at Gisa, or have a camel ride.

14 Days best of Egypt Itinerary – The Ultimate self-travel guide

• Published on November 26, 2022
• Last updated on November 15, 2023

In this blog post, we share our exact 14 Days Egypt Itinerary as we know many of you are also interested in traveling around Egypt independently. Most tourists visit Egypt on a guided tour, and self-traveling is not very popular yet, but it’s doable and safe. In this ultimate self-travel Guide, you will find all the information you need to plan your trip.

Best time to visit Egypt

The best time to visit Egypt is during winter time when the temperatures are the lowest. These months, from November to March, are also the busiest time for tourism. The summer months should be avoided as the temperatures are too high, making exploring very exhausting. Egypt is a desert country, and the highest temperatures can easily reach up to 50 degrees Celsius. We traveled around Egypt in October, shortly before the high season started, and we had a good experience. Anywhere between October and April is the best time to go.

Visa for entering Egypt

To enter Egypt as a foreigner, you need a Visa. You can either get your Visa on arrival or online. We recommend getting your Visa online here to avoid dealing with paperwork when you arrive. The single entry Visa we got was 25 USD per person and was valid for 30 days.

How to travel around Egypt independently

Rental car in egypt.

Most visitors travel around Egypt with a guided tour, and those usually get around by bus or on a Nile River Cruise. But it’s possible to rent a car and travel around Egypt independently. An international driving Licence is recommended. We rented our car via Discover Cars and had our pick up and drop off at Luxor Airport.

Driving in Egypt

The streets in Egypt are usually good, paved roads, especially when driving from one city to another. Drives can be very long (3-5 hours), so you should not mind driving long distances. Even if we are used to long drives, they felt extra long in Egypt as highways lead through the desert and views barely change. Important to know is that there are many police checkpoints that you will cross while you drive around the country. Don’t worry; the people are always amiable, and they were usually positively surprised that we drove ourselves. They will ask you for your name and country, and phone number. We think it’s for safety reasons as the next checkpoint usually knew already that we were coming.

14 Days best of Egypt Itinerary

We are very happy with our trip, and that’s why we share our exact 14 Days Egypt Itinerary with you here.

Day 1 – 3 Cairo

Our first stop on our Egypt Itinerary was Cairo, the capital city. Cairo is a huge city; you could spend more time exploring here. We mainly came for the pyramids, so the time was enough for us. We did not drive ourselves in Cairo as the traffic there was crazy. We recommend using Uber to get around here. 

The highlight of Cairo are the famous Pyramids. Here is our detailed guide on visiting the great Pyramids of Giza without a tour . Other top things to do in Cairo are the Khan El-Khalili souk (market) or the Egyptian Museum.

Where we stayed in Cairo

We stayed at the Nine Pyramids View Hotel , close to the Pyramids of Giza. If that’s your priority like it was for us, we highly recommend staying here as they even have an amazing rooftop to watch the sunset over the pyramids. 

Day 3 – 6 Luxor

Luxor is a must-visit on every Egypt Itinerary. This ancient city is like an open-air museum. Luxor is divided into two parts by the Nile River. East Bank is the city’s bustling center, and West Bank is the quieter and greener part. As the drive from one side to the other takes around an hour, we decided to first stay on the East Bank and then on the West Bank to be close to the temples we wanted to explore.

Our highlights in Luxor are Karnak Temple, the Valley of the Kings, and Hatshepsut Temple. Click here for our detailed Self-travel Guide for Luxor with the 7 best things to do.

Where we stayed in Luxor

Day 6 – 8 Aswan

About 3-4 hours south of Luxor, you will find Aswan. Less touristy, and with lots of islands on the Nile River, it’s an extraordinary place to explore. Our highlight in Aswan was the beautiful Philae Temple, located on an island and can only be reached by boat. There is a cute cafe opposite the temple where you can have lunch with a fantastic view. Other places to see are the colorful Nubian Village and several other islands you can explore.

Where we stayed in Aswan

We stayed at the beautiful BenBen by Dhara Hotel in Aswan and highly recommend it. The views of Philae Temple and Nile River are stunning, the design is so unique, and the staff made our stay perfect.

Day 8 – 9 Abu Simbel

Abu Simbel is a less popular place for tourism, and the visitors that visit Abu Simbel temple are all coming with a tour, most of them not even sleeping in Abu Simbel. That is why there are not many options for hotels to stay in. But if you are adventurous, we recommend coming to Abu Simbel as it is probably our favorite temple in Egypt and the most authentic place.

Where we stayed in Abu Simbel

The only budget-friendly option we found in Abu Simbel was Hllol Hotel . It was fine for one night, the location was great, and the staff was very friendly.

Day 10 – 14 Marsa Alam

Our highlight in this Egypt Itinerary is the underwater world of the Red Sea. Especially if you are a diver, you can’t miss Marsa Alam. But you don’t need to be a certified diver to enjoy the beauty of the Red Sea; even while snorkeling, you can enjoy all the stunning colors and fishes.

We stayed at Red Sea Diving Safari in Marsa Shagra and loved our time there. We could do unlimited self-guided dives at the house reef, dive excursions, and snorkeling with Dolphins at Dolphin house reef. The staff and the whole camp were amazing too.

General Travel Tips for self-traveling Egypt

Vegan in egypt.

Traveling to Egypt as a vegan was not hard at all. Most local restaurants have plenty of vegan options once you know the dishes. Here are our top local dishes for Vegans:

• Tamaya: Egyptian Version of Falafel made from Beans
• Hummus: Chickpea mash
• Baba Ganoush: Aubergine mash
• Foul: Like Hummus but made of Fava Beans
• Vegetable Tajine
• Mashi: Vegetables stuffed with rice
• Red Lentil Soup
• Koshary: Egyptian Street food with pasta, rice, lentils, chickpeas, and tomato sauce

Internet Access

For the internet, we recommend getting a local SIM card. It will make your life easier as hotels often have terrible wifi in Egypt. Especially when you travel independently, it’s beneficial to always have good connection. We got our SIM card from Orange and paid 13 USD for 20 GB.

The most convenient option for travelers is the eSim Card (digital SIM card) from Airalo . You can download and install a digital data pack and get connected anywhere in the world as soon as you land, so there is no need to waste time looking for a local plastic SIM card. Now that we know this option, we will never go back to buying plastic SIM cards while traveling.

We recommend getting cash at the Egyptian National Bank (ENB) as it had no fees with our card from Revolut . It is helpful to have some money in cash in many situations.

People and Culture

We often got asked if we felt safe and if people weren’t very unfriendly in Egypt. Unfortunately, they usually have a terrible reputation. That comes from typical tourist scams and intrusive sellers in tourist places. And yes, that exists, and it can be unpleasant when you visit these places alone. But we never felt unsafe or harassed. Overall we had so many lovely encounters with the Egyptians and think they are very welcoming and friendly people. 

Budget for this 14 Days best of Egypt Itinerary

To help you with your travel budget, we share here the actual expenses we had for this Egypt Itinerary:

• Visa: 50 USD (for two people)
• SIM Card 20 GB: 13 USD
• Domestic Flight Cairo to Luxor:  70 USD with Egypt Air
• Rental Car for 10 Days: 550 USD for 10 days
• Accomodation: 30.00 – 100.00 USD per night (depending on the standard of accomodation)
• Food 2 meals per day: around 30-40 USD for two people
• Entrance fees for temples: from 7 to 15 USD per person (depending on the temple)

Conclusion to our independent Egypt Itinerary

Independent travel in Egypt isn’t the norm, but it’s very well-doable and safe. We had a lot of fun traveling around Egypt with our rental car, and we met many lovely people and had beautiful experiences outside the typical tourist places. But some of the temples and the pyramids are still a must-do in Egypt as they are truly unique, and their ancient history kept blowing our minds. What we love most about Egypt is the contrast between being a desert country and having the most incredible and alive underwater world we have ever seen. So no trip is complete without some days spent at the coast.

• See what others think about this post and share your opinion with us

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Thank you 🥰 Best wishes, Lea & Stefan

Hi guys! When did you drive in Egypt? Do you know if the situation is unchanged? Did you follow a convoy when travelling down to Abu Simbel?

Can you share more details about your driving experience? Thanks! 🙂

Hi Linda. Sorry for the late response. We were in Egypt in October 2022. We don’t know if the situation has changed as we haven’t been to Egypt since then. When driving to Abu Simbel, we didn’t follow a convoy and just drove on ourselves. In general, we had a good driving experience. For sure, the locals are not used to see tourists driving in rental cars, but everyone was friendly and helpful. If it’s your first time driving in a country outside of America or Europe, then it might be overwhelming in terms of the business, and sometimes chaotic …  Read more »

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The Ultimate Egypt Travel Guide: Discover the Land of Pharaohs

Everything you need to know about planning your trip to egypt.

Whether you’re a history buff with a keen interest in the ancient world, a culture vulture who delights in diverse experiences, or a traveler on a quest for unique adventures, Egypt serves as a fascinating destination teeming with remarkable attractions. From the pyramids of Giza to the bustling markets of Cairo and the stunning waters of the Red Sea, this Ultimate Egypt Travel Guide is your perfect companion for navigating this historically rich land.

Don’t miss the opportunity to explore the best deals on Egypt tour packages , generously discounted by One Nation Travel.

Overview of Egypt

Egypt, located at the northeastern tip of Africa, is one of the world’s oldest civilizations and the home to many world-famous ancient artifacts and archaeological sites. This country of 100 million people seamlessly blends its ancient past with modern-day traditions and cultures.

With a unique culture that’s a blend of African, Middle Eastern, and Mediterranean influences, Egypt offers a rich tapestry of experiences, from the bustle of its cities to the calm of its deserts, the magnificence of its architecture to the warmth of its people.

Best Time to Visit

Egypt is primarily a desert, meaning it has a hot, dry climate year-round. The best time to visit Egypt is from October to April when temperatures are cooler, making it easier to tour the ancient sites and explore the desert landscapes. Keep in mind that this is the peak tourist season, so expect higher prices and crowded attractions.

Must-Visit Sites

Pyramids of giza.

One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Pyramids of Giza, including the Great Pyramid of Khufu, are a must-visit. Nearby, the Great Sphinx, another monumental limestone statue, is equally awe-inspiring.

The Egyptian Museum in Cairo

This museum holds an extensive collection of ancient Egyptian antiquities, including the golden mask of Tutankhamun. A tour here provides a comprehensive journey through Egypt’s rich history.

Luxor’s Karnak Temple and the Valley of the Kings

Luxor, known as the world’s largest open-air museum, is home to the Karnak Temple. Not far away, the Valley of the Kings is an expansive burial site, with notable tombs like that of Tutankhamun.

Aswan on the Nile River is home to many significant sites such as the Philae Temple and the Unfinished Obelisk. Don’t miss a chance to cruise on the Nile to soak in the scenery.

The Red Sea Riviera

For sun, sand, and sea, head to the Red Sea Riviera. Places like Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh are renowned for their beautiful beaches, crystal-clear waters, and world-class diving and snorkeling spots.

Egyptian Cuisine

Egyptian cuisine reflects its diverse culture. Must-try dishes include Ful Medames (mashed fava beans), Koshari (a mix of pasta, rice, lentils, and chickpeas), and Shawarma (grilled meat wrap). For a sweet finish, try Kunafa, a cheese pastry soaked in sweet syrup.

Practical Tips

Visa and entry.

Most visitors require a visa to enter Egypt. This can be obtained in advance or, for some nationalities, on arrival. Always check the current visa requirements before traveling.

Health and Safety

Egypt is generally a safe country for tourists, but like anywhere else, it pays to take precautions. Stay hydrated, apply sunscreen, and be aware of your belongings in crowded places. It’s advisable to have comprehensive travel insurance for the duration of your trip.

Local Customs and Etiquette

Respect for local customs and traditions is important. When visiting religious sites, modest clothing is expected. It’s also essential to remember that haggling is a common practice in Egyptian markets, so don’t be afraid to negotiate prices. A little bit of Arabic goes a long way, so try to learn a few basic phrases.

Getting Around

Egypt boasts a fairly efficient public transportation system. The metro in Cairo is the most convenient way to avoid traffic, while taxis and Uber are also available. For longer distances, trains and domestic flights are good options. However, if you’re planning to explore the more remote areas, consider hiring a private driver or joining a guided tour.

Accommodation

Egypt offers a wide range of accommodations to suit all budgets, from world-class luxury hotels to budget-friendly guest houses. Some unique options include staying in boutique hotels housed in historic buildings or even spending a night on a traditional felucca boat on the Nile River.

Egypt is a shopper’s paradise with plenty of souvenirs to choose from. Some popular items include Egyptian cotton products, traditional jewelry, papyrus art, hand-blown glass, and spices. The bustling Khan El Khalili Bazaar in Cairo is an unforgettable shopping experience.

Egypt is a land of timeless beauty that intertwines its rich, ancient history with a vibrant, modern culture. It’s a place that engages all the senses, offering an unforgettable travel experience. Whether it’s the mystery of the pyramids, the allure of the Nile, or the hospitality of the people, Egypt truly is a destination like no other.

Remember, this is just an introductory guide. Egypt is a vast country, and there’s so much more to see and experience. Plan carefully, stay flexible, and most importantly, embrace the adventure that awaits in this extraordinary corner of the globe. Happy travels!

• Egypt has a variety of transportation options, including trains, taxis, and buses. In cities, Uber is also available. For long distances, domestic flights are an option.
• It’s advisable to stick to bottled water in Egypt, as tap water can upset stomachs, especially for those not accustomed to it.
• Light, breathable clothing is ideal given Egypt’s climate. Don’t forget your sunscreen, hat, comfortable shoes for exploring, and a scarf or shawl for visiting religious sites.
• Major credit cards are accepted in many places, but it’s always useful to carry some cash, especially in smaller towns and for local markets.
• Yes, Egypt is a fantastic destination for families. The country offers a wealth of educational experiences for kids, and many hotels cater specifically to families.

Top 3 Essential Egyptian Tour Experiences

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15 best experiences in Egypt for history, adventure and culture

Aug 16, 2023 • 9 min read

From food tours in Cairo to floating in a desert oasis in Siwa, here are the best things to do in Egypt © Oleh_Slobodeniuk / Getty Images

One day you’re climbing the desert’s highest peak, the next you’re walking amid remnants of the world’s oldest civilization or diving into the depths of the Red Sea. Whether Egypt 's on your travel radar for the history, the adventure, the beaches or even just the pyramids, when it comes to things to do, you are spoiled for choice.

Here's our guide to Egypt's very best experiences. 

1. Have breakfast at the pyramids 

8. Why not kick your visit to the pyramids  up a notch with some falafel, hot mint tea and a vast picture-perfect panoramic view of the ancient wonder? Head to the 9 Pyramids Lounge  for influencer-worthy photo ops and a solid Egyptian breakfast of freshly baked bread, feta cheese or a Tahini salad. 

2. Watch an authentic Tanoura performance in Cairo

Old Cairo is also home to the beautifully restored Wekalet el Ghouri Arts Center that hosts a wide array of cultural events. Here you can see an unforgettable Tanoura show – a whirling dervish performance that merges Egyptian folklore and Sufi spiritual chants. This colorful and mesmerizing one-hour experience is a must-see for anyone visiting Cairo. 

Planning tip: The show runs every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 7pm, but make sure to show up at 6pm to snag your tickets before they’re gone.

3. Experience Egyptian street food at Cairo's Kebdet El Prince 

Situated in the heart of Cairo’s Imbaba neighborhood is Kebdet El Prince, a haven of Egyptian street food with a side of quintessentially Cairene sensory overload. This bustling joint is ideal for anyone looking to experience Egyptian street food. 

Start with the basics: molokhia (jute mallow), kebda (liver), and sogo’ (sausage). More adventurous foodies should try mombar (stuffed sausage), makhasi (bull tesitcles) and shorbet kaware’ (cow’s foot soup).

Detour: If you can still breathe, have dessert next door at El-Malky and top it off with a mint tea from the cafe across the street. 

4. Wander through the alleys of Old Cairo

The ancient streets of Old Cairo are mazes of narrow alleys filled with monuments, mansions, museums, and mosques. Start at El Moez Street and soak in how the rich architectural, religious and cultural history fuses with the vibrant din of daily local life in this bustling neighborhood. 

Walk until you reach the Khan El-Khalili bazaar where you can shop for everything from soap powder to ornate clothing and small trinkets. Then head to Bab Zuweila – one of three remaining gates from the Old City of Cairo.

Planning tip: Time your arrival to watch the sun setting over the ancient buildings from the towering minarets of Bab Zuweila – one of the best views you’ll find in the city. 

5. Camp in the Fayoum Desert 

Disconnect from the mayhem of modern life with desert camping in  Fayoum . Experience the dunes on a 4WD safari ride with stops at the Wadi el Rayan waterfalls and the crystal blue lakes in the middle of the desert, and top it off with a freshly prepared Bedouin dinner under the stars. Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a light jacket if your trip is in the summer; for winter, pack your whole closet – the desert gets cold at night. Fayoum is just two hours south of the capital, so this trip can easily be done as a weekend getaway from Cairo.

Planning tip:  For an optimal night of clear stargazing without light pollution, time your visit to Wadi el Rayan or Wadi al Hittan (Valley of the Whales) for when there’s no moon.

6. Go kitesurfing at the Blue Lagoon  

Time stands still at the turquoise Blue Lagoon. Located between the shadows of the Sinai Mountains and the crystal waters of the Red Sea, the Blue Lagoon has flat waters and strong winds, making this Red Sea sweet spot a kitesurfer’s paradise. 

Novices can book a private kitesurfing course upon arrival. If you’re not into kitesurfing, the Blue Lagoon is a perfect spot to do absolutely nothing by laying on the beach, enjoying the sea and serenity.

7. Float in Siwa’s picturesque Salt Lakes 

Picture this: floating in a perfect pool of crystal blue waters in the middle of the desert, surrounded by shimmering towers of sea salt. The Siwa’s salt lakes have long been a treasured local spot. Float effortlessly in an otherworldly pool with the highest water to salt ratios that’s not just picture-perfect, but it's said to clear sinuses and treat infections. 

Siwa Oasis is dotted with hundreds of turquoise salt pools – a stark contrast against the oasis’ palm greens and desert yellows, all laid against the backdrop of stunning sunsets that earned it the title of Sunset Oasis.

Local tip: Keep a few bottles of clean water with you to wash the layers of salt off your body and avoid any skin irritation. Or, even better, go for a dip in Cleopatra’s Spring afterward.

8. Snorkel or dive in the Red Sea's Sataya Reef 

Marsa Alam is great base for divers looking to discover the riches of the Red Sea. Horseshoe-shaped Sataya Reef  ranks as one of the most beautiful dive spots on the planet, with its striking sea life and colorful corals. This wonder of the natural world is suitable for snorkelers too.

9. Temple hop in Luxor

Luxor , the world’s greatest open-air museum, is a testament to the ancient Egyptian civilization through its sheer wealth of temples and monuments. 

Begin your temple-hopping at the Temple of Karnak – the perfect manifestation of pharaonic ambition. A few kilometers southwest of Karnak is the stunning Luxor Temple . If you can, visit at night when the temple lights are turned on. About 40 minutes northwest of the Luxor Temple lies The Valley of the Kings – a popular tourist destination and includes the tombs of Ramses III , Seti I and Ay .  

At the southern portion of the Theban hillside and about 7km (4mi) from the Valley of the Kings is The Valley of the Queens . A 75-tomb area that includes the final resting places of Nefertari and one of the five wives of Ramses II.      

Detour: Other major points along the way include: Queen Hatshepsut’s Temple, the Luxor Museum and Ramses III’s Medinat Habu on the West Bank.

10. Eat like an Egyptian with a local food tour in Cairo

Food is an international love language and Cairo is bursting with culinary gems, but where do you start? What do you try? Where do you go? Connect with local culture on a food tour where you immerse yourself in Egypt’s history and local life, one authentic dish at a time. 

Ideal for solo female travelers, Bellies En-Route is a female-owned food tour provider that skips the culinary tourist hot spots and takes visitors to local mom-and-pop spots or neighborhood favorites known for fantastic street fare. You can even help out in the kitchen at some of the restaurants, an excellent opportunity to connect with the community while preparing food. 

11. Float above Luxor in a hot-air balloon  

Dozens of balloons take to Luxor’s skies every day at dawn for a view that’s literally breathtaking. Watch the sun rise and light up the Theban hills, local farms and ancient monuments. See the Nile River glistening in the distance and wave at locals watching from their balconies. Trust us, it’s definitely worth that 3am wake-up call and pre-ride anxiety. 

12. Take a sunset felucca ride along the Nile  

The world’s longest river is best experienced floating peacefully in a felucca (traditional wooden sailboat) at sunrise or sunset, whether you’re in Cairo or Aswan or anywhere in between. 

In Cairo, docks line the corniche in Maadi, Zamalek and Garden City, and give you a gorgeous view of the Cairene skyline; if you’re in Aswan, feluccas are your go-to mode of transportation between the city’s 20 islands. Either way, grab a few friends, snacks, and drinks and spend some time taking in the stunning serenity of the Nile. 

13. Hike the Sinai Trail or Red Sea Mountain Trail 

Experience Egypt’s most iconic mountain peaks and untrodden wildernesses by hiking alongside local Bedouin guides through the country’s two sister trails: the Sinai Trail and the Red Sea Mountain Trail. 

The Sinai Trail is Egypt’s first long-distance hiking trail, a circuit that runs 550km (342 miles) through the territories of the eight Bedouin tribes of South Sinai. The 170km (106 mile) Red Sea Mountain Trail , located just outside the beachside resort town of Hurghada , showcases the best of the region’s inimitable beauty – from vast desert plains to deep gorges, and from crumbling Roman towns to prehistoric rock art and chapels of Egypt’s Desert Fathers. 

Local tip: Both trails are sustainable tourism initiatives that directly support the local Bedouin communities by creating jobs and help keep the region’s traditional Bedouin knowledge, skills, and heritage alive. And don’t worry, the trails are divided into segments so you can choose whether to take between two- and five-day hikes as part of your trip. 

14. Dive and snorkel near Dahab

Dahab , South Sinai’s token beach town, is ideal for divers and snorkelers to experience mind-blowing marine life. If you're not already a qualified diver, you can start your PADI certification process at one of Dahab’s many dive centers.

A few kilometers north of Dahab is Egypt’s Blue Hole , a submarine sinkhole that drops straight down to a depth of over 100m (328ft), and attracts experienced divers from all over the world. It’s a fascinating but risky dive that’s unfortunately claimed many lives, and it should be left to pro and advanced divers only. 

15. Relax with the view from Castle Zaman 

Come for the view, stay for – well, the view. This medieval-style castle that’s actually a slow-food restaurant, is nestled between Sinai’s signature mountains and lies somewhere between Nuweiba and Taba by the Gulf of Aqaba – an unparalleled vantage point across the Red Sea that spans the shores and mountains of Egypt, Jordan , Israel , and Saudi Arabia . 

Spend a full day at Castle Zaman chilling in the pool, having a drink at the bar, and enjoying a slow-cooked lunch or dinner that includes items like a meat tagine or the catch of the day. Although Castle Zaman doesn’t offer overnight accommodation, you can make use of its amenities such as the sauna and massage treatments.

Planning tip: And for an overnight stay, head to Dayra Camp , a collection of wildly decorated straw huts and wooden bungalows located in the coastal town of Nuweiba  – just 23km (14mi) away.  

This article was first published January 2022 and updated August 2023

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Egypt Travel Guide (The Perfect 10 To 14 Days Itinerary)

Best egypt travel guide.

So, how many days do you need in Egypt? Are you searching for the best Egypt Travel Guide? Thinking which could be the best itinerary? Although 14 days seem like enough and you can visit and do a lot of stuff, once you get to Egypt you will realize that 3 weeks would have been a better idea.

No worries, we prepared the best Egypt Travel Guide so you can organize the perfect exploring adventure in the land of Pharaohs.

This will allow you to see the best part of Egypt in just 14 days and make the best out of your time there.

If you have less than 14 days, you can easily adapt the proposed itinerary to 10 days . And if your next question is what can you see in Egypt in 10 days? Our answer is a lot…if you plan them well.

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• 1. Is Egypt safe?

2. Visa for Egypt

• 3 Best time of year to visit Egypt
• 4. How to best travel in Egypt
• 5. Food in Egypt
• 6. Best Egypt Travel Guide without Tour – 14 Days Itinerary
• 7. Booking accommodation in Egypt
• 8. What to wear while traveling in Egypt
• 9. Our Egypt Top Tips (all you need to know about visiting Egypt)

1. Is Egypt safe? How safe is it to travel to Egypt?

We approached this topic in more detail in our Cairo Guide . This is one of the most common asked questions when it comes to traveling to Egypt. So go check it out here .

Most of the Egyptians are very friendly with tourists. So, if you respect their culture, when it comes to dress-code or local customs, you will get along just fine. The majority of the restaurants are open until late at night and people can walk safely in the streets.

In other words, all we can say is: book that trip!

When traveling to Egypt, you need a VISA . You can either apply for one online and this is in our opinion the best option. Or you can pay for one at the airport after your arrival .

If you wanna go for an online visa you can apply for one here . Or, another option is applying for the e-visa here .

You can get the e-Visa up to 3 months before travel and it is valid for 30 days from the date you enter the country.

Visa upon arrival

Nationals of most countries can get their tourist visa upon arrival at the Cairo International Airport . We recommend you to check this with the Egyptian Embassy or Consulate in your country.

If you wanna buy one in the airport, the most convenient for you is to have the fix amount in cash (a visa costs 25 USD/person). Also, expect a line and be aware that the POS might not work , so you cannot pay for the visa with a card. You can pay in another currency, but the exchange rates can be higher .

Kinds of stuff we experienced at the airport: some tourists tried to pay for the Visa with a bank card. The operator was the National Bank, they had a POS. However, the POS was not connected to the network. So they let people try to pay with one card, then try another, and another, for them to see it is not working. No one realized that they were trying to pay on an offline POS.

That is why our advice is to go for an online Visa 😊.

Now if you really want to get rid of all the pain with the exchange fees and extra hidden fees, make sure you read our article about it.

3. The best time of year to visit Egypt

What is the best time of year to visit Egypt or the best month to visit Egypt? The best times of year to visit Egypt are from March to April and from October to November . These are the times with comfortable temperatures, fewer crowds, and low hotel rates.

Temperatures in Egypt are generally high, especially during the summer (May to August).

This is when the sun can be very strong, but the heat is more dry than humid . When in Egypt always have and apply sunscreen .

If you visit during wintertime (October to February) make sure to have a jacket with you .

Furthermore, regardless of the season, especially in Cairo and along the Nile Delta, it can get cold in the evening and during the night .

4. How to best travel in Egypt / How to get around Egypt

Egypt is a country where you can travel on any kind of budget.

For a low budget, you can choose to stay in hostels and travel by train and local buses.

Moreover, you can find some good accommodation in Boutique Hotels. They have decent prices and quality services.

Make sure you check our Cairo Guide for accommodation ideas while in Cairo.

Best Egypt Travel Guide – by Train

This can be a good alternative. Since most trains are running at night it can be a good choice to save one night’s accommodation budget.

If you wish to book your train online you can do it here .

Best Egypt Travel Guide – by Bus

When it comes to buses and if you are on a budget this is the one we recommend: Go Bus .

They are decent, pretty comfortable and cheap. In addition, it is easy to make a reservation either on their web page or through their Phone app.

Best Egypt Travel Guide – by Plane

The main airline companies that operate domestic flights in Egypt are Egypt Air and Nile Air .

Best Egypt Travel Guide – by Boat (Nile Trips and Cruises)

There are many Nile trips and Cruises that start from the main cities, especially in the Luxor – Aswan area. Here you get to visit all the main Temples that either are on the water or nearby.

They stop at the most famous places in that area of Egypt and it is an option that you could take. However, life on the boat may not be suitable for everyone in which case you have the other options.

Best Egypt Travel Guide – by car (rent a car)

If you go for this option, always make sure you take full car insurance . We learned that most of the Egyptians pay no insurance for their cars. In fact, if you pay attention, most of the cars on the streets are scratched or damaged . 

We rented via Easyrentcars.com . We usually rent the cars through  Easyrentcars.com (and we recommend them) due to their awesome fares, discounts, worldwide network , and the customer service .

↠ Check their fares and rent your next cars 😊. You can unlock signup discounts and a lot of various deals.

If you drive around Egypt here is some important advice:

•  The majority of the roads are not in good condition .
•  Where possible, always opt for the highway , since is less crowded and will take you faster to where you want to go. The tolls are, in fact, quite cheap (Cairo to Hurghada was around 10 euro for 500 Km).
• Be careful if you drive at night , many Egyptians don’t use the headlights .
• Blinkers are also rarely used , most common is to show your intention by using the horn.
• If you park in a crowded area , it is customed to leave your car on neutral and with the hand break off . This serves the purpose of someone to be able to move them in case of emergency.
• The traffic in Cairo is very chaotic , it is best to try not to drive inside the city. Especially in particular, the speed limit is frequently exceeded. Here, the drivers are crossing the lanes in a chaotic manner, without using the blinkers. Also, the traffic jams are high.

It sounds like an adventure and believe us it is. But, once you get used to the style, you will manage to drive with no problems. We rented a car while in Egypt and it was something new for us. 

We had a totally different experience than any other country we have rented cars so far. Luckily, we got used very fast to the driving style and did not have any incidents 😊.

Best Egypt Travel Guide – Uber or taxies

We recommend that you use Uber inside the big cities. Especially in Cairo ( Uber or Careem ) they have the best prices.

With Uber what you see is what you get. The price is transparent and you do not have to negotiate anything. Because negotiating in Egypt can become annoying if you dislike it 😊.

But for using Uber, you will need an internet connection , which is very poor in Cairo. For getting fully prepared for your magical trip to Egypt, check more travel tips and tricks here .

Dealing with taxis

We did not use a taxi as much since we walked a lot. Generally, in all the cities you will find taxis and in the airports as well.

In fact, a lot of taxi drivers will invite you to take their cabs. To convince you, they will say that Uber is more expensive, which is not true .

As a piece of advice, you should always use a marked taxi (with some relevant taxi signs).

And even more important, always be aware and ask about the prices from the start, even before you get in the car. Tell the driver your destination and ask for the price. We recommend you also to negotiate it!

Best Egypt Travel Guide – by Tour Operators

If you feel like wandering by yourself around Egypt is not the trip you want, a tour is always an option . There are many tour operators in Egypt.

When you book a tour, make sure you pay attention to extra costs that are not all the time covered, explained or listed in the main offers . These are for instance the entrance fe es , the tips for the tour guides, and for the bus drivers, the local taxes .

Also, check the extra activities and lunches or dinners.

Last but not least, ask for all these details before booking the tour , so you make sure you are fully informed about the costs!

If you are searching for a tour, the one that we tried while in Egypt is Travel Talk Tours . They offer a wide range of tours from Egypt to Jordan, Morocco, Europe, Asia and Australia.

Book your tour online ↠

5. Food in Egypt / What can you eat and drink in Egypt?

The food in Egypt is diverse. Egyptian main traditional dishes are koshary, falafel, foul, hummus, baba ganoush and tahina. They are easy to find in most of the restaurants and are not expensive.

Koshary , also called kushari, is the Egyptian national dish. It contains various types of noodles, rice, lentils, tomato sauce, fried onions, and chickpeas.

Falafel , also called ta’amiya is on every corner of the street. In Egypt, they do not make it with chickpeas, but with fava beans instead. You will find many fresh made falafels on the streets. They come in a flatbread with salad and sesame sauce ( tahina ).

Foul , also called full, foul medammas, foul medammes or ful mudammas is most of the time served in pita bread as well. It contains cooked beans crushed together with oil. Many Egyptian dishes use fava beans as the main ingredient.

Shorba ads is a delicious lentil soup.

Hummus , the chickpea puree you must already know and it is very good in Egypt.

Baba ganoush , the eggplant puree is also delicious, you should try it.

Tahina , also called Tahini is a sweet sesame sauce. It goes well with almost all the dishes, from Falafel to Hummus.

Dolma contains vine leaves filled with rice, onions, nuts and sometimes meat.

Maamoul cookies are typical Egyptian date cookies.

There are many good restaurants in Egypt. We are gonna leave some of them here, but explore on your own, wherever you travel. 

Here are some of our favorite places to eat in Egypt:

Cairo : We reviewed in details our favorite places to eat in our Cairo Guide .

Luxor : Sofra Restaurant & Café.

Aswan : Ad-Dukka Restaurant, Panorama Restaurant, Al-Makka Restaurant, Abeer Restaurant, Al-Masry Restaurant.

6. Best Egypt Travel Guide without Tour – the perfect 14 Days Itinerary

So what to see in Egypt?

Most of the Temples and historical landmarks in Egypt stand along the Nile. Here is where the ancient Egyptians used to live.

Our Travel Guide and Egypt itinerary will take you to the most important Egypt landmarks.

Day 1-3 – Cairo

Start your journey in the capital of the country. This is the most crowded city in Egypt. And the place that hosts the world’s ancients wonders: The Great Pyramids of Giza & The Sphinx .

We recommend that you reserve a full day to walk around the Pyramids. Here you can even visit one inside, but you have to buy an extra ticket.

Also, get to the spot where you see them all aligned. Or walk around the Sphinx and look at the city from the sand next to the Pyramids.

In the second day , pay a visit to the Khan El-Khalili market . This is a big tourist attraction and the most known Souk in Cairo.

Head then to the Egyptian Museum . Here is where you will discover the Tutankhamun exhibit. You can even visit the mummy room and stare at the sarcophagi. Or you can admire the amazing statues or ancient artifacts. If you are into ancient Egypt, you can stay here all day, otherwise, book at least 4 hours .

After that, you can visit the Citadel and the Mosque of Muhammad Ali to get the best view over the city. Close to them, you will also find the Hanging Church .

Start day 3 in Tahrir square , this is the major public town square in downtown Cairo. After visiting the market, head to Gezira Island to spend the rest of the day. Read our Cairo Guide to find out more about the places to see , where to eat and where to stay .

Day 4 – Saqqara

It does not compare to the Great Pyramid, but here you will see the first Pyramid ever buil t.

The Step Pyramid of Djose r in Saqqara started as a standard burial house (Mastaba). It was later enlarged and ended up being a gigantic step pyramid.

You can find 1 day tours at all the hotels in Cairo, or you can hire a driver to take you there. There is also the shorter option of a half-day trip, then return to Cairo, and enjoy the rest of the day.

Day 5-6 – Aswan

Aswan is mostly known for its breathtaking views of the desert dunes. But also for the epic cruises with the felucca on the blue Nile River and the colorful Nubian villages.

It is also one of our favorite places in Egypt.

To get to Aswan you have 3 options :

• If you are adventurous like us, you can rent a car for the rest of the trip.
• Otherwise, the best way to go to Aswan is by train . There are night trains, so you get to sleep and save money for one-night accommodation.
• The 3rd option is also a more expensive way: you can fly there with an early plane.

What we recommend to do next is to split the following sites in 2 days according to your wish.

Nubian Village, Elephantine Island, and Felucca

When in Aswan you should take a traditional Felucca boat . Sail on the Nile as the ancient Egyptians did thousands of years ago. Enjoy the Nile’s breeze and get a different perspective of Aswan and its surrounding sand dunes.

Do not spend too much time on the Felucca because there are so many to see next. Therefore, our advice is to arrange in advance a motorboat to cross the Nile to Elephantine Island and afterwards to the Nubian Villages .

Keep in mind that there are 2 ways to get into the Nubian Villages. The epic one is by the motorboat .

You can also get there by car it is just 30 minutes drive. However, this is not as exciting as sailing on the Nile to get there.

As for the motorboat, you should know this is the only way to sail upstream the Nile to the Nubian Villages. Because the currents are too powerful for the Feluccas to get there.

You will find plenty of motorboats in the port of Aswan. Negotiate the price as low as you can!

The whole boat should cost around 15-25 USD maximum. So, if you can find other tourists, merge your efforts and book the motorboat all together.

Some cool facts about the beautiful Nubian Villages

Nubia was an ancient region situated in northeastern Africa. Most Nubians lived along the Nile in what is now the South of Egypt and the North of Sudan.

The villages are keeping alive the old Nubian traditions and style. Furthermore, the locals are welcoming tourists who want to experience moments of ancient times.

There are many Nubian villages near Aswan. We visited this one .

The bright colors of the Nubian Villages

Visiting the village is a unique experience. You will be surprised by the colorful houses that you can spot already from the water. For sure, you will notice them even before reaching the village.

However, also expect a small village, with dusty roads. Many people opened small shops in front of their houses. Once you are in the village, the main road is full of merchants trying to sell you something. Not all the village is full of colorful houses. Only the ones on the main road and the accommodation facilities are colorful.

Moreover, one of the local attractions, that we do not resonate with, is keeping crocodiles locked in cages as an attraction for tourists.

Overall, the village seemed very peaceful, and the people were friendly. This is a place where you can try a henna tattoo . If you didn’t have the chance to try one before and want to experiment something new here is your chance to do so.

In conclusion , put it on your list because this place is worth visiting. You can even find some nice accommodation places if you plan to spend a night in the village.

Going further with our itinerary, while in Aswan you must visit the next landmark. This is one of the top things to do in Egypt and its location is very close to Aswan.

Philae Temple

This is a Temple you do not want to miss .

Firstly , because it is one of the most well preserved Temples in all Egypt.

Secondly , the word goes by that this is the place where the last hieroglyphs were written.

Thirdly and the most impressive of it all , the whole Temple complex was moved entirely to another location. To be more exact, on an island situated 500 m away from its original location. This happened when the Aswan High Dam was built and the water inundated the Temple. As a result, most of the colors of the murals are gone.

The Temple is fascinating and the whole complex is so beautiful. It was  Egypt’s ancient center for the cult of Isis.

Tip for  Philae Temple :

The best time to visit Philae is in the morning when it is not so busy. Typically, the tourists are starting to come here at noon, and it gets crowded until 2 PM. That happens because most trips to Philae are connected to a day trip to Abu Simbel. And this trip usually starts early in the morning.

Day 7 – Abu Simbel

Abu Simbel is in our top 3 Egypt landmarks .

The Temple of Ramses II is located right on the bank of Lake Nasser. It has a fascinating story and it leaves you breathless when standing in front of it.

Right next to it, you will find another beautiful Temple, the one of his wife, Nefertari .

Abu Simbel – one of its kind

The beautiful Statues of Ramses II are about 20 meters high .

Now imagine that UNESCO also moved this Temple. This happened also when the High Dam was built in order for the Temple not to be completely inundated by the water. Cool right? When you get to stand in front of it, you can imagine what a great work and huge effort that was.

Abu Simbel lies at 280 km from Aswan and you have 2 options to get there:

• The fastest, easiest but also expensive way to travel from Aswan to Abu Simbel would be by plane . If you take a plane, you will need 45 min to get from Aswan to Abu Simbel.
• If haven’t rented a car, option 2 is to take a bus . There are many companies that organize tours from Aswan (ask your hotel and they will find plenty of option for you). It will be less expensive but it will take you roughly 5 hours to get there.

We recommend you to stay in Abu Simbel overnight, especially if you want to ditch the crowd from the Temple.

Tip for Abu Simbel: 

Most of the tours come from Aswan and get to Abu Simbel around 8 – 9:00 AM. It will be very crowded until 10:30 when they are all heading back to Aswan and to the Philae Temple. Best time to visit the Temple is either at 6 AM when almost nobody is there, or after 10:30-11:00. Or you can choose to visit in the afternoon.

Day 8-10 Luxor

After visiting Abu Simbel and Aswan, your next destination will be Luxor .

From Aswan to Luxor, you can:

• Option 1  is to take a train .
• Or, option 2 and the one we recommend: take a bus or hire a taxi if you prefer. This way you can stop to some other great landmarks.

On your way to Luxor stop and visit the next Temples:

Kom Ombo Temple

This Temple is at 1-hour drive from Aswan and it is somehow special . The left side of the Temple is dedicated to God Hathor while the right side is dedicated to the crocodile God, Sobek .

While at Kom Ombo, you should also consider visiting the Crocodile Museum, which is right next to the Temple. Here you get the chance to see a huge collection of ancient crocodile mummies.

Edfu Temple

Next on the list and on your way to Luxor is the Temple of Horus, in Edfu . This Temple, dedicated to the falcon God Horus, is so well preserved and beautiful .

The inscriptions on its walls date from ancient Egypt. They reveal information on language, myths, and religion during the Greco-Roman period.

It is very close to Kom Ombo, so you can stop and visit it on your way to Luxor. After visiting these two Temples, you should arrive at Luxor and enjoy a nice evening in the city.

Day 9 – Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple & Colossi of Memnon

Valley of the kings.

Next morning (day 9) it is best to start the day as early as possible, to book a tour and go explore the amazing The Valley of the Kings . This is the place where the ancient Pharaohs of Egypt were buried.

You will have the chance to see the famous tomb of Tutankhamun , where the original Mummy is. And also other burial chambers, some of them very well preserved.

The most impressive for us were the tombs of Ramses IV, V, and VI, or the one of Seti I. You will want to get here as early (in the morning) as possible before it gets crowded and hot , especially in summer.

Tip for the Valley of the Kings: 

If you want to take pictures inside, be aware that it is not possible inside the Tomb of Tutankhamun. For the other ones, you will need to buy a special photography pass. In fact, buying an extra photo pass is valid for most of the historical sites if you want to have some inside shots.

Temple of Hatshepsut

Next, head to the Temple of Hatshepsut. This one venerates one of the few female Pharaohs from the long history of ancient Egypt.

It is such a beautiful Temple. You will love how it stands so imposing on the West Bank of the Nile. Imagine it is right on the other side of the mountain where you just visited the Valley of the Kings.

The Colossi of Memnon

After visiting the fascinating Valley of the Kings, head along to see the famous Colossi.

The Colossi of Memnon are two faceless seated stone statues that represented King Amenhotep III.

They are also known as the singing statues or “The Vocal Memnon” . All because of the whistle sound, they used to make when the wind was blowing over the Valley.

Their purpose was to be the guardians for Amenhotep III’s mortuary complex that once stood behind them. You will find them west of the modern city of Luxor.

What is really impressive about these two statues is the fact that they are 18 meters high and 1000 tons each . Both were carved from single blocks of sandstone .

Day 10 – Karnak Temple Complex & Luxor Temple (these are by far our top favorite places in Luxor.)

The karnak temple.

The Karnak Temple Complex is one of the major tourist attractions in Luxor. This is one of the most important Temples in ancient Egypt and it is so big and amazing. Take time to visit it, because it is worth it.

Karnak is the largest religious building ever constructed and it covers 100 ha. The Great Temple in the middle of it is so big that St Peter’s, Milan, and Notre Dame Cathedrals would fit within its walls. Now take a second and imagine that. Awesome, right?

Best time to visit is early in the morning. Many tourist buses come here from Aswan and Hurghada and arrive around 10-11 AM.

The Luxor Temple

The Luxor Temple is almost as beautiful as the Karnak and so impressive.

The most emblematic is the famous obelisk that stands in front of it. They were two of a kind in ancient times, the other one is now in Paris.

Luxor  Temple is beautifully illuminated in the evening , so plan to get a chance to see it.

If you manage to visit all this and still have some time left, the Luxor Museum is another great place to visit. It is not as big as the one in Cairo, but it competes with it.

This ends a beautiful 10 days adventure in Egypt. If you finish your trip here, then on your last day you should catch a domestic flight to Cairo.

In case you will follow our perfect 14 days itinerary , it is now time to relax on the seaside.

Day 11-13 Hurghada

From Luxor, the best option to get to Hurghada is to take a bus. Once again, we recommend the  Go Bus . The bus leaves from a small parking lot next to the train station.

Hurghada is one of the best vacation spots in Egypt especially when it comes to the seaside areas. Feel free to search for a place that suits your needs.

Always look with great attention at all the facilities a hotel offers. Make sure to read the accommodation-dedicated chapter.

We wanted to relax in our last days in Egypt in a quiet place, so we looked over for an adult-only hotel. But we also wanted a hotel with a direct access to the beach and a cool view.

Therefore, after a lot of searching, we ended up with this hotel: Sunrise Romance Resort Sahl Hasheesh , where we enjoyed some amazing days at the beach. The location is near Hurghada, in the holiday village of Sahl Hasheesh.

Hurghada area – the ideal place for scuba diving and snorkeling

From there, we went snorkeling and scuba diving since the water in Egypt is perfect for that.

The Red Sea is one of the best scuba places on the planet.  Here, the water is warm and the visibility is high. Therefore, you can see the beautiful reef and the awesome marine life.

In this area, you can find a lot of scuba diving companies where you also can register for scuba diving lessons. You can even get your PADI certificate quite cheap in Egypt (if you have enough time).

1 day trip to Giftun Island

A popular sea tour is a 1 day trip to Giftun Island , where you can enjoy the beautiful beaches of the island, the awesome reef and a good food on a boat.

There are 3 types of tour services for visiting Giftun Island. And all because the Giftun Island is separated into 3 sections: Giftun, Paradise and Mahmya Island . You cannot pass from one beach to the other. Therefore, there are these 3 ranges of prices.

The cheapest ones are the Giftun Island tours and it grants you access only on the public beach of the island.

Visiting the other two is more expensive because they offer you shade, toilets, as well as little cafes selling food and drinks. The most expensive are the Mahmya Island tours .

Best Egypt Travel Guide: Tips for the seaside vacations:

In the hotels and on the beach people will come directly to you selling different offers for scuba diving, snorkeling and sea tours. From our experience, the prices they offer are quite high, almost double than the price you will get when you go to a travel office .

Therefore, the best and cheapest option for you is to visit directly the scuba centers, ask them for an offer and try to negotiate the price. Remember, in Egypt, it all stands in the negotiation!

If you are interested, you should search for a tour in the first day you arrive. This way, you will probably be able to find better prices and availabilities.

If you do not have a Go-Pro and you want to take, underwater photos…ask for the price when you book the tour. Insist if the first answer is “I do not know, you have to talk to the photo guy” (which is one of the divers).

Most probably, they will ask for a big price, but if you are determined 😊 you will be able to get the pics for the half of it.

When you are in the boat ask the other tourists how much were they asked for  😊 . It is always fun to get a sense of that and might even notice differences in the “pricing system”.

Day 14 – Goodbye Egypt

It is now time to say goodbye to Egypt and head home or to your next destination.

Depending on where your home is, on your last day you should get a flight back home either from Hurghada or Cairo. If possible, catch a later flight so you can enjoy more time at the sea.

We hope you enjoyed our itinerary. Make sure you continue reading more about the essential things to know when planning your trip to Egypt.

7. What to wear while traveling in Egypt

What to wear in Egypt as a tourist?

Being a Muslim country, the dress code is normally conservative , especially for women . As a woman, you need to cover your hair, arms, and ankles inside the religious sites .

However, not necessarily outside . You should avoid though tight or transparent clothes. Go for light fabrics, especially because of the heat .

You will notice in general that Egyptians wear modern clothes.

Most of the man wear normal long trousers, sleeved shirts and T-shirts. In fact, in the resorts or beach areas, it is normal to wear shorts and sleeveless tops.

In conclusio n , try to dress as simple as possible and respect the culture.

8. Booking accommodation in Egypt.

When it comes to accommodation in Egypt, there are some important facts to take into consideration:

• Most important, always book a 5 stars hotel. The hotel standards in Egypt are not like in Europe. In a 5 star hotel, you are sure that you will find decent conditions.
• Some offers are only valid for Egyptians or people with Egyptian residence.
• There are often extra taxes that are not transparent at a first look (like 14% VAT, 12% service charge and 1% city tax). Always check on the booking site if you pay a price with all the taxes included. Otherwise, you might get a bad surprise of paying 27% extra when you get to the hotel. Which is a lot.
• Always pay attention to all the listed facilities and double-check them. For example, if a hotel says that they have a beachfront, double check that on google maps. They might not have the direct access to the beach, but instead they provide you transportation to a nearby beach.
• Do your research and read the guest’s recommendations before you book a place , it is crucial to do so.
• The Wi-Fi is not always available , or is limited to some accommodation area, like the lobby. In some places, you even need to pay for access.
• The internet is not working so well in general in Egypt.
• In all the facilities, the staff will wait for a tip and most of the times they will ask for it . It is your call if or how much you want to give.

Our recommendations: 

We advise you to search for Boutique Hotels, where possible . This way you get a cozier environment, better prices and the conditions are not bad.

Use our Booking.com link for 10% Cashback on your reservation!

Here are some hotel recommendations from the main areas we visited:

Cairo: check our Cairo guide , we found some cool places to stay there.

Aswan : Pyramisa Isis Island Aswan Resort, Sofitel Legend Old Cataract, Mövenpick Resort Aswan.

Luxor : Sofitel Winter Palace Luxor, Steigenberger Nile Palace, Home Sweet Home Luxor.

Hurghada: Sunrise Romance Resort Sahl Hasheesh, Lilly Apartments.

9. Our Egypt top tips

• Get your Visa online , it is faster and easier.
• Buy a local internet sim card . You can get one straight from the Airport it is the best option. The quality of the internet is not that good in general.
• Tap water in Egypt is safe to drink . But as it is very chlorinated, we do not recommend that you drink it as it can cause you stomach upsets. It is safe to brush your teeth and shower with it. For bottled water, try supermarkets like Carrefour, where the bottle is 2-3 time cheaper than the street price.
• Don’t wear stuff that might draw attention on you , like large pieces of jewelry , don’t keep money in plain sight .
• To take pictures at the historical landmarks you need to buy an extra Photo pass in most visiting sites.
• Be aware that tipping is very common here . So get used to hearing the word “backsheesh” a lot while in Egypt. Tips are expected everywhere. Even for the smallest things (like asking for directions). You can expect to come from a waiter, or drivers, or even a security guard or police officer.

• Most of the ATMs, have a daily withdrawal limit (e.g. 3000 EGP, 8000 EGP). And a maximum amount per operation (e.g. 1000 EGP). So if you want to withdraw 3000 EGP and the ATM does not allow it, try to get 3 times 1000 EGP. In addition, if you reached the daily limit with one ATM and you need more cash, just search for another ATM and get your money from there.
• Be careful when you receive change or exchange money . The official currency is the EGP or LE (Egyptian pound). The amounts are also written in English on one side of the bills. One Egyptian pound is made up of 100 piastres. Some of the bills might look the same, especially the 50 pounds with the 50 piastres. Always look at them with attention.

Shopping and booking

• Most of the prices are without all the taxes , so always check if extra costs apply.
• NEGOTIATE! , especially if you are at the market, or if sellers approach you on the street. Or even when visiting the main landmarks.
• Learn to say "NO" and don’t get stressed if people insist that you buy all kind of stuff. Try to understand that they are trying to make a living.
• Take a boat to cross the Nile to see the Nubian Village . Negotiate for a boat in Aswan (we paid 250 EGP, @15 USD, for the whole boat, half a day).
• Buy condiments, dried fruits; tea leaves from a supermarket, instead of the souk . It is much cheaper and you find the same quality.
• Try the hibiscus drink , we enjoyed the cold one the most.

Driving in Egypt

• If you are renting a car, take full insurance , most of the locals have no insurance for their cars. Our diving instructor told us that in case of a traffic incident, we should take photos of the other car so we would have a proof. The custom among the Egyptians is to solve their incidents by fixing the damages on their own costs without involving the police or insurances. However, this would not be the case of a rental car, isn’t it?
• When driving in Egypt be extra careful at night, since most of the locals do not turn on their lights when it is getting dark. They also don’t usually use the blinker. Instead, they use the horn a lot in order to signalize their intentions. In addition, when parking your car in crowded areas leave the hand brake on. This is a local habit so that they can move your car a couple of inches if needed.

Make your trip to Egypt one to remember

Also, go ahead and check our Best Travel Tips to help you travel like a Pro no matter where you go. In this blog post, we gathered all our Best Travel Tips from traveling the world in the last 15 years. We are sure they will come handy.

This is our best Egypt Travel Guide for 2 weeks. We enjoyed our time in Egypt so much and we would like to return to Egypt and visit more.

We are sure it will help you plan your Egypt vacation. Whether you are visiting Egypt on your honeymoon or you want to plan the best things to do in Egypt on your own. This is the perfect Egypt Travel Guide.

Your feedback is important to us. We are convinced you enjoyed our itinerary and tips.

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34 Best Travel Tips For Egypt: Things to Know Before You Go

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Egypt has something for every traveller, from awe-inspiring ancient sites to vibrant markets. However, navigating this historically rich and culturally diverse country can be daunting for even the most seasoned globetrotter.

That’s why I’m sharing my best travel tips for Egypt, drawn from months of exploring this fascinating (and sometimes frustrating) country.

Whether you’re interested in exploring the iconic Pyramids of Giza, delving into Egyptian history in the Valley of the Kings, learning about the ancient Egyptians in Luxor, or relaxing on a Nile River cruise, these tips will help you make the most of your Egyptian adventure.

After visiting Egypt for nearly 30 years, the  34 helpful travel tips for Egypt travel in this article are the ones I wish I’d known before I visited Egypt for the first time.

You’ll find everything in this Egypt travel guide, from Egypt travel safety tips to what not to do in Egypt, packing tips for Egypt, and everything you need to know when travelling to Egypt, including what to do about tips in Egypt and how to deal with harassment.

Ready to get started? Let’s dive straight into these essential Egypt travel tips!

Practical Travel Tips For Egypt

Let’s get started with the absolute basics 🙂

1. Never (Ever) Drink The Water In Egypt!

Of all the travel tips for Egypt, this is the top one – and you need to be very clear about it. Tap water in Egypt  is unsafe for human consumption everywhere – on swanky cruise ships, in posh hotels or anywhere else.

No one drinks it, and it will likely make you as sick as a dog if you do – even if you only use it to brush your teeth in your hotel room.

Of course, you could rely on buying bottled water while visiting Egypt. But, I must tell you that the quality (and taste) of the bottled water brands available in Egypt is variable – while some are palatable, some are pretty horrid. And then there’s the environmental cost of plastic bottles!

Because of this, you’ll want to include a  Water-To-Go Filterable Water Bottle  on your  packing list for Egypt  (see below).

💦 FILTERABLE WATER BOTTLE

The Water-To-Go Bottle will keep you hydrated and filter out the nasties that often make people sick in Egypt.

The built-in, three-stage filter in  Water-To-Go Bottles  filters out 99.99999% of water-borne contaminants, including bacteria, parasites, toxins, chemicals, microplastics and heavy metals. It’s your best defence against getting sick in Egypt from the water. I carried mine everywhere 🙂

🤮 Need tips on what to do if you do get sick while visiting Egypt? Head to  How to Deal With Delhi Belly

2. Get Travel Insurance for Egypt

Egypt is a fantastic country to visit, but it’s not a great place to be if something doesn’t go according to plan or you get sick! I don’t mean to scare you —  just to make you think about these crucial things .

One of the most important travel tips for Egypt is to protect yourself from potential pitfalls on your vacation with  travel insurance .

Just as you insure your car, home and health, you can also insure your luggage, belongings and health while travelling – and you absolutely should do this when travelling to Egypt!

🏆 Best Egypt Travel Insurance

What is the best travel insurance for Egypt? I only ever recommend Travel Insurance Master because they have outstanding customer service.

3. Check Your Passport

To visit Egypt, your passport must be valid for at least six months from when you arrive in Egypt. If you need to renew your passport before your trip, be sure to apply for a new passport in good time.

4. Pre-Book Your Tours in Egypt

UK Government  travel tips for Egypt warn of a risk that “tourists at high-profile sites like the Giza Pyramids may be confronted aggressively for money or business, even while travelling by car or taxi.”

They also say that “visitors  using a pre-booked guide or taking an organised tour to visit the Giza Pyramids  are likely to face fewer difficulties.”

➡️ The best places to book your Nile cruise or tour of the great pyramids are Viator and GetYourGuide . Each tour carries a user rating, so it’s easy to see which ones other visitors have enjoyed the most – and you can read all the reviews before making your booking.

5. Sort Out Your Egyptian Visa Before You Travel

You need a visa to enter Egypt if you’re a citizen of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and many more countries.

How to get your visa for Egypt

• Apply before you travel using the official  Visa2Egypt e-visa system . Your Egypt visa will be valid for a maximum of 3 months and will cost US$25 for a single entry to the country as a tourist.
• If you love standing in a queue after a long flight, you can get a visa on arrival in Egypt from one of the approved bank kiosks in the airport arrivals hall just before immigration. These visas cost US$25 (payable in US dollars) and are valid for 30 days.

⛔️ Do not buy a visa from an agent at the airport!!  They will sting you with an additional fee of more than US$25 for your visa. YOU DO NOT NEED TO PAY THIS. If you feel harassed, it’s easy to report any agent’s behaviour to the tourist police officers at the airport.

Travel to Egypt requirements for visitors to South Sinai resorts

👀 If you’re visiting the Red Sea resorts of Dahab , Nuweiba , Sharm el Sheikh , or Taba for up to 15 days, you receive a free entry permission stamp when you arrive. However,  you will need a visa if you plan to stay longer than 15 days or travel out of these areas .

👀 If you change your plans mid-trip and want to travel beyond one of the South Sinai resorts,  you can usually buy a visa at Sharm el Sheikh airport , allowing you to travel beyond the Sinai Peninsula.

⚠️Leaving Egypt with an out-of-date visa is problematic, to say the least, and you’ll likely have to pay a fine if your visa is more than 14 days out of date.

➡️ Contact the Egyptian Consulate in your home country for further information and enquiries.

Safe Travel Tips For Egypt

6. pre-book your transport from cairo international airport.

One of the most important things to book before you arrive in Egypt is your airport transfer from Cairo Airport .

It’s the best way to avoid the masses of scammy taxi drivers badgering you for the chance to drive you to your hotel and the safest way to travel as a female traveller. 

7. Stay Safe Online & Protect Your Data With a VPN

Whenever you use an open network to access your information on the web, you’re sending out an invitation for others to steal your data – from any device you use to connect to the web. This includes passwords, debit card and credit card info, and many other things you need to keep private.

This is why you need a VPN!

👀 What is a VPN?

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is essential in preventing cyber criminals from stealing your online and personal information.  NordVPN  is a trusted name in VPNs.

👀 How does a VPN work?

With a VPN, you create a secure (private) connection when you use a shared connection, for example, when you use a coffee shop WiFi. Without a VPN, you’re digitally connected to everyone else on the same shared network! And that’s risky!

⚠️  As you’ll likely need to use free, shared WiFi more when you’re travelling than at home,  the risk of your information being accessed by criminals is higher – unless you use a trusted VPN .

I recommend purchasing  NordVPN , one of the biggest and most-used VPNs, to keep your data safe while travelling.

▶︎ Get started now and protect your data with  NordVPN – it’s easy to set up 🙂

8. Take Care On Microbuses

Egypt generally has a low crime rate; however, some visitors have been victims of crime – especially petty crimes. Be cautious if travelling alone to reduce the risk of unwanted attention or harassment.

✔️ Don’t be the last passenger left on a bus or microbus.

✔️ Be vigilant when travelling alone in  taxis  and microbuses, particularly at night.

✔️  Report any crimes to the tourist police immediately .

9. Don’t Swim in the Nile!

“ Can you swim in the Nile ?” is one of the questions I’m most often asked about visiting Egypt! The simple answer is a resounding NO! The Nile River is contaminated with industrial, animal and human (!) waste. It’s also home to more than a few deadly snakes.

Read More: How Safe is Swimming in the Nile River?

10. Wear a Hat/Headscarf and Sunglasses

Most Egyptian women cover their hair, so you’ll attract less attention if you wear a long, lightweight scarf that covers your hair and neck. I forgot to pack a scarf on my first visit to Egypt, but I found it easy and cheap to buy one from a local market.

😎  Top Tip:  Sunglasses will help to disguise the colour of your eyes (not many Egyptians have blue or green eyes), and, like a mask, they can help you avoid eye contact.

11. Wear a Wedding Ring

Whether you’re married or not, wearing a simple gold band (or an inexpensive “ fake wedding ring  “) is a simple, inexpensive deterrent against unwanted male attention. I wore one on every trip to Egypt!

12. Respect Local Customs and Laws

I managed to get arrested in  Siwa Oasis  for swimming at the wrong time of day! It was a pretty scary time.

Fortunately, it was sorted out very quickly. Still, it was frightening at the time, and it made me realise how important it is to  be aware of local customs and laws to stay safe .

Egyptians can’t share a room with someone of a different gender (other than a spouse), as sex outside marriage is illegal! Don’t be surprised if your host(s) conduct room checks in rural areas!

13. Look After Your Valuables

Leave valuable jewellery at home and be careful with your camera, phone and other valuables. I use an ancient  Kipling cross-body bag  and an anti-theft  Pacsafe backpack  with a zip closure and a clip to keep my valuables safe.

Top Tip:  In crowded places, I wear my backpack on my front and my cross-body bag with the strap across my body. I also have an  RFID travel belt  to stash my cards, cash, passports, and important documents.

14. Be Careful with Your Cash

One way to  keep your cash safe while travelling  is to hide it in an  RFID bra   wallet ! Remember you’ll need somewhere discreet, like a public loo or changing room, to extract your secret stash.

❌ Never put valuables in your pockets, even ones with a zip! It’s much too tempting (and easy) for pickpockets and thieves. You don’t want to attract that sort of attention!

15. Security Before and On Your Trip

Security has been a problem for tourists in Egypt; however, there is a robust and visible police presence. You’ll also see special “tourist police” hired to protect tourists. Bag checks and scans at tourist sites and hotels are also there to keep you safe, although these can be a bit haphazard.

Egypt is still a volatile country, with some areas unsafe to visit. Other sites are safe, and almost 320,000 British tourists visited the country in 2017, mostly without any problems.

Check the latest travel advic e for Egypt here  and  purchase comprehensive travel and medical insurance before you travel . I always use  Travel Insurance Master  because their rates are competitive; you can extend coverage if you travel longer,  and making claims online is easy.

Egypt Travel Fit Tips

16. check whether your medications are legal in egypt.

Egypt’s rules about prescribed and over-the-counter medicines differ from those of many other countries.

Some widely used medications are considered controlled substances in Egypt and you can’t take them to Egypt without permission from Egypt’s Ministry of Health.  You risk prosecution under Egyptian law if you arrive in Egypt without the necessary documentation.

⚠️  Travelling with prescription medications?  Get an official letter from your physician confirming that the medicine is for a medical condition.

This should include details of your condition and how much medication you will be carrying. The letter should also state that the medicine is for personal use only.

➡️ Contact the Egyptian Embassy in your home country for more information and to find out which medicines are not permitted in Egypt.

17. Pack Plenty of Bug Spray

The mosquitoes in Egypt mean business and will soon make your life miserable if you’re not prepared for them!

I’ve always used Jungle Formula spray combined with this plug-in mosquito killer for my room. And if those nasty, itchy bites do happen, this inexpensive cream has been my go-to relief for decades!

18. Stock Up On Sun Protection Cream

Egypt is a hot country, where temperatures often soar well above 40 ° C (104 ° F) in the summer months. In addition to covering up and making sure to stay out of the sun, you’ll want lashings of high-SPF sun cream.

Cultural Travel Tips For Egypt

19. pack culturally appropriate clothes.

With my pale Northern European skin, blue eyes, and light coloured hair, I was a magnet for unwanted attention in Egypt.

From the irritating (constant offers of taxi rides, to change money or to buy things, and never-ending catcalls) to the offensive (blatant staring and leering, creepy handshakes, touching, and “accidental” brushing up against your breasts or bottom), there are lots of things to watch out for.

RELATED POST:  Travel Packing List for Egypt

I remember looking at handmade rugs in a crowded souk, only to realise that the man behind me was rubbing his erection against my bum! Many people saw what he was doing, but no one did anything…

⚠️ You need to  rethink your wardrobe for Egypt  to avoid being harassed. Dressing modestly is important if you’re going anywhere outside the main tourist areas.

✔️ Leave tight, revealing, or form-fitting clothes at home. Forget the strappy tank tops and shorts for anywhere outside of the main tourist resorts

✔️ Think conservative, loose, and floating, with  everything  covered up from your neck to below your knees.

✔️ Covering up shows respect for the local culture and will help you avoid attracting unwanted attention.

❌  Don’t flash any bare flesh or “show off” the shape of your body.

While I found the unwanted attention annoying,  I never felt unsafe , and most of the local people I met were delightful, welcoming, and kind.

20. Learn a Few Words in Arabic

Learn a few essential words in Arabic  as a courtesy and to summon help.

✔️  Google Translate usually helps ; however, I always feel safer when I have a few local words imprinted in my brain for emergencies.

21. Carry Small Bills For Tipping in the Local Currency

The custom of tipping or “baksheesh” is firmly embedded in Egyptian culture, and you should expect to tip a few Egyptian pounds in small change for most services.

While tipping is not mandatory in Egypt, it is customary as a way to thank an individual for great service. As a rough guide, here’s what to consider leaving when tipping in Egypt:

• Restaurants : leave a 10-15% tip
• Tour guides : Leave 10-15% of the tour price for the tour guide and 5-10% for the driver
• Hotels: Leave 10-15 Egyptian pounds per day for housekeeping staff, 5-10 Egyptian pounds per bag for porters and bellhops, and 10-15% of the bill for room service.

Practical Egypt Travel Tips

22. copy important documents before you travel.

Before any trip, make copies of all essential travel documents.

✔️ Save a scanned copy of the documents online to access them while travelling if necessary. Just in case! Leave copies with trusted contacts at home and take one copy in your carry-on bag.

✔️ If your hotel has a safe space, consider using it for important documents.

✔️ Save a scanned copy of the documents online to access them while travelling if necessary. Just in case!

23. Make a Contacts List

What would you do if your phone got lost or stolen? I’d be pretty lost! Making a copy of your key contacts is an excellent way to protect yourself if your phone does get broken or goes AWOL.

✔️ Save all your complete contact list online, including the contact details for your Embassy.

✔️ Carry a paper copy of your contacts list in your hand luggage.

Hopefully, you’ll never need it, but being prepared is good.

24. Watch Out If You’re Offered Egyptian Bananas

Watch out if anyone offers you “Egyptian bananas”. While bananas are grown in Egypt, they may not be talking about the fruit but being suggestive!

25. Bring Earplugs (Egypt is Noisy)

Egypt is a fantastically vibrant Muslim country, which means it can be loud! You’ll likely hear muezzins calling the faithful to prayer from the minarets of multiple mosques – five times a day, from early morning until late.

Then there are the street vendors touting their wares, the incessant blaring of horns and general traffic noise! You get the idea, but if (like me) you like a good night’s sleep, you’ll need good noise-cancelling earbuds to cope with the cacophony of Egypt!

🎧 These noise-cancelling earbuds have thousands of positive reviews on Amazon and work perfectly! If you don’t have wireless headphones, travelling is the best time to treat yourself and upgrade.

26. Always Carry Toilet Paper

It’s a massive understatement to say that public conveniences in Egypt are not up to Western standards.

Restrooms/loos in museums, on coaches and on trains range from the tolerable to the downright grim, so be sure to have TP and wipes with you whenever you leave your hotel!

27. Camel and/or Donkey Rides

Animal welfare is not the same in Egypt as it is in most Western countries . You simply cannot be sure that any animals you’re offered a ride on are well-treated . In a horrifying number of cases, they are not.

Better and more ethical ways exist to get out and explore this amazing country. This incredible tour includes a hot air balloon ride and a felucca sailing boat adventure , while you could also have a magical ATV adventure into the desert on this tour .

28. Snake Charming

I don’t love snakes (I’m scared of them), but there is nothing charming about this barbaric practice. And it’s almost entirely driven by tourist interest.

Some (not all) snake charmers make their living by capturing wild cobras, ripping out their venomous fangs and then sewing their mouths closed. The snakes suffer horribly for months before dying of starvation – only to be replaced by newly caught victims.

Please don’t support this animal cruelty on your trip to Egypt. There are much better things to post on Instagram.

29. Don’t Take a Minibus Tour to Abu Simbel

Seriously, this was one of my worst travel mistakes in Egypt! Lured in by a cheap ticket, I handed over my cash. I spent over four miserable hours (each way) travelling through the baking desert from Aswan to Abu Simbel in a bone-shaker minibus without air conditioning.

While the Temple of Abu Simbel is one of the best tourist landmarks in Egypt , I was too dehydrated when I arrived to really appreciate it!

Here are the three best ways to visit Abu Simbel:

• Fly to Abu Simbel and join this 3-night/4-day cruise from Lake Nasser to Aswan for a more comfortable and relaxing trip. [ Highly recommended ]
• Pick a private tour, including direct flights from Aswan to Abu Simbel and mercifully short transfers from the airport [ Likely to sell out ]
• Choose this highly-rated tour and make the road trip from Aswan to Abu Simbel in a private, air-conditioned car. [ Best budget option ]

30. Egypt Swelters in the Summer – Other Times Are More Pleasant

To help you plan your dream trip to Egypt, here’s a quick look at what the weather is like for each season:

Spring (March – May)

Spring in Egypt is a delightful time for exploration as temperatures are moderate and pleasant. With warm days that average around 25-30°C (77-86°F), you can comfortably discover attractions like the Pyramids of Giza, and Luxor’s temples or cruise along the Nile without enduring extreme heat. Additionally, blooming flowers add splashes of colour to various regions across Egypt.

Summer (June – August)

Egypt’s summer brings scorching temperatures that might be challenging for some visitors but there will be fewer crowds and lower prices. Daytime temperatures soar above 35°C (95°F) in most parts of the country; however, coastal cities like Alexandria or Hurghada provide respite with slightly milder conditions due to sea breezes.

If you choose to visit Egypt during the summer, you’ll need to stock up on sun protection essentials such as hats and sunscreen.

Autumn (September – November)

Autumn is an ideal time to explore Egypt’s wonders, with more comfortable temperatures returning after summer’s blistering heat subsides.

Average daytime temperatures range between 25-30°C (77-86°F), making it an excellent season for sightseeing at popular destinations like Cairo or Aswan without feeling overwhelmed by crowds.

Winter (December – February)

Winter in Egypt provides ample warmth for outdoor activities. Daytime temperatures hover around 15-20°C (59-68°F) in most regions, making exploring sites like the Valley of the Kings or Abu Simbel pleasant.

Evenings can be cooler, especially in desert areas and Upper Egypt, so you’ll want to pack a light jacket or sweater.

31. Expect to Pay To Take Photographs at Key Tourist Destinations

Whether you’re visiting the Egyptian Museum , the Pyramids of Giza or the vast temple of Abu Simbel, be prepared to pay a small fee for the right to photograph at or on the site.

Camel drivers and others will likely also demand a fee if you want to take their photograph.

Best Food in Egypt Tips

32. try the incredible street food.

Egyptian food is sublimely tasty. It’s well worth venturing out from your hotel to see what’s on offer from the local s treet stall street vendors and local restaurants. Kushari, baba ghanoush and hummus are all delicious!

In addition to the well-known sweet mint tea, why not sip some karkadeh (hibiscus juice)? It’s a very refreshing alternative!

33. Cover Up When Visiting Religious Sites

While some of Egypt’s ancient mosques allow tourist visits, it’s important to be respectful if you do visit.

When can I visit an Egyptian mosque?

Muslims pray five times a day, so it’s not appropriate to visit mosques during these times or to take photographs. 

How should I dress to visit a mosque in Egypt?

All visitors should remove their shoes before entering, and women should cover their hair with a scarf. A long-sleeved shirt is useful to cover up shoulders and arms, and you should wear a modest skirt or trousers.

What about visiting a Coptic monastery in Egypt?

The rules for entering an Egyptian Coptic monastery are similar in that you should dress conservatively and remove your shoes before entering. In addition, it’s not appropriate to visit during the period of Lent .

34. Always Pay in Local Currency When Making Digital Payments

Whether you’re using debit or credit cards to make payments when visiting Egypt, it’s important to make sure you always choose the option to pay in the local currency , not in your home currency.

If you choose to pay in the local currency, eg in Egyptian pounds, you will likely be stung with a worse currency exchange rate than your bank would charge you,

TRAVEL TIPS & RESOURCES

Here’s a quick look at all my favourite travel resources – the ones I use to plan every trip. Find more information on my  travel resources page .

🏠 Need a place to stay? Browse  Booking  or  VRBO 💃 How about fun experiences?  Get Your Guide  and  Viator  have it all 🚗 Considering renting a car? Use  Rentalcars 🚂 If you need transfers, bus or train tickets, check  Omio 🔒 Don’t forget about travel insurance from  Travel Insurance Master

• Your Ultimate Packing List for Travel to Egypt
• Visiting Siwa Oasis in the Western Desert – An Off-the-Beaten Path Adventure
• How to Avoid Holiday Tummy When Travelling

Final Thoughts on Travel Tips for Egypt

Whether this is your first trip to Egypt or you’ve been before, these are my best travel in Egypt tips: I hope they help you when you visit Egypt.

Egypt is a remarkable destination offering travellers rich historical and cultural experiences. By following these travel tips, you can ensure a smooth and enjoyable trip to this fascinating country.

From planning your itinerary to respecting local customs and traditions, being aware of safety precautions, and embracing Egypt’s unique sights and sounds, you can make the most of your journey.

So pack your bags, immerse yourself in the wonders of ancient Egypt, explore bustling markets and tranquil oases, indulge in delicious cuisine, and create memories that will last a lifetime. Happy travels!

Pin this post for later!

Related Posts

• Visiting Siwa Oasis in the Western Desert – An Off-the-Beaten Path Adventure

Coralie Thornton, the owner and author of Grey Globetrotters, has been a traveller for more than four decades. Today, she helps others experience the UK, Europe and bucketlist destinations with meticulously crafted guides and affordable luxury itineraries, Her passion for adventure has led her through over 40 countries, seeking cultural experiences, delicious foods, and hidden gems.

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Traveling Through Egypt: The Ultimate Guide

I magine stepping into a world where  ancient pyramids  tower against the backdrop of a clear blue sky, traversing through the bustling streets of Cairo, and cruising down the tranquil waters of the Nile. Traveling through Egypt offers an unforgettable journey through time, where each corner holds a story waiting to be discovered. From the majestic ruins of Luxor and Aswan to the serene beauty of Abu Simbel, there’s a lot to explore.

This guide aims to be your trusty companion as you plan your  Egyptian adventure , providing all the necessary  information  and  travel tips  to make your trip as smooth and enjoyable as possible. Whether you’re a history buff, an adventure seeker, or someone looking to  visit  some of the  world ‘s most iconic  sites , traveling through Egypt will undoubtedly leave you with memories that last a lifetime.

Preparing for Your Egyptian Adventure

Embarking on a trip to  Egypt requires some preparation  to ensure a hassle-free experience. This section will cover  essential travel documents, the best time to visit, and cultural norms , equipping you with the knowledge needed to navigate this ancient land gracefully.

Essential Travel Documents and Visa Requirements

For most  travelers  looking to unlock the mysteries of Egypt, a  passport  valid for at least six months beyond the period of their intended stay and a  visa  are the  gateways  to this ancient civilization.  U.S. citizens , among others, can apply for a tourist visa through the  Egyptian embassy or consulate  in their country or obtain one upon arrival at major entry points. Here are some quick points to remember:

• Passport : Must be valid for 6 months beyond your stay
• Tourist Visa : Obtainable through the embassy or on arrival
• Visit Visa : For those intending a longer stay

Always check the U.S. Department of State’s  website  for the latest  travel advisories  and  visa  information.

Best Time to Visit Egypt

Deciding when to  visit  Egypt is crucial for enjoying your trip to the fullest. The country experiences a desert climate, with hot summers and mild winters. Here’s a quick guide to help you plan:

Aim for the shoulder months like October and April for the  best travel  experience.

Cultural Norms and Etiquette in Egypt

Navigating the rich  cultural landscape  of Egypt with respect is key to  a memorable visit . Egyptians are welcoming to  travelers , but being mindful of  local customs  and  etiquette  enriches the experience. Dress conservatively, especially when visiting  religious sites , and  tipping  (baksheesh) is a common practice for services rendered, enhancing the  cultural immersion . It’s these small gestures that open the doors to the  warmth and hospitality  of the Egyptian people.

Navigating Egypt: Tips and Tricks

Once you’ve got all your  preparations  out of the way, it’s time to  explore  Egypt! This section is chock-full of  travel tips  and insights to help you navigate the country efficiently, from  getting around  to staying  safe , and even diving into the awe-inspiring  Egyptian mythology . You’ll be well-equipped to make the  most out of your trip .

Transportation Options in Egypt

Exploring Egypt  is an adventure of its own, and having a grasp of the various  transportation options  can significantly enhance your trip. From the bustling streets of Cairo to the serene banks of the Nile in Luxor, Egypt offers a spectrum of travel methods tailored to every traveler’s preferences.

• Domestic Flights : Ideal for covering long distances quickly.
• Trains : A scenic way to travel, especially between Cairo, Luxor, and Aswan.
• Metro : Efficient and inexpensive, but only available in Cairo.
• Buses : Connects most major cities, with options ranging from budget to luxury.
• Taxis and Ridesharing Apps : Flexible but agree on a fare beforehand.
• Feluccas and Nile Cruises : For a leisurely journey along the Nile.

Given the array of options, selecting the  best mode of transportation  depends largely on your itinerary, budget, and how deeply you wish to immerse in the local culture. Whether it’s the efficiency of a flight to Luxor or the charm of a Nile cruise to Aswan, each mode of transport presents a unique perspective of Egypt.

Travelers often find the train rides  particularly enchanting. As you traverse from Cairo to Aswan, you’re not just moving through space, but you’re also journeying through time, passing by ancient landmarks and the ever-changing landscapes of the Nile valley. It’s a reminder that in Egypt, the journey is just as mesmerizing as the destination.

Safety Tips for Travelers

When  traveling through Egypt , prioritizing your safety is essential. Egypt is a land of warmth and history, but like any popular tourist destination, it comes with its own set of challenges.  Always keep an eye on travel advisories  from reliable sources such as the U.S. Department of State’s website, especially for U.S. citizens planning their journey.

Carrying a copy of your passport  and keeping emergency contacts handy are practical steps you can take to ensure a smoother trip. Moreover,  engaging with local culture respectfully  and understanding basic Arabic phrases can go a long way in enhancing mutual respect and ensuring your safety as a traveler.

Egyptian Mythology

The tapestry of  Egyptian mythology  is as rich and vibrant as the country’s history itself. The pantheon of gods and goddesses, each with their unique stories and powers, adds a mystical dimension to Egypt’s cultural heritage. To dive deeper into the intriguing mythology of ancient Egypt, consider exploring the legend of the  egyptian god khonsu .

Connecting with Egyptian mythology  enhances the travel experience , making visits to ancient temples and sites even more meaningful. Whether it’s marveling at the grandeur of Karnak Temple or wandering through the Valley of the Kings, understanding the myths behind these wonders adds a layer of depth to your travel that is truly unforgettable.

Must-Visit Destinations and Hidden Gems

Egypt is brimming with destinations  that are a testament to its ancient civilizations and breathtaking landscapes. Planning your visit around some of these iconic sites and hidden gems can make your trip truly memorable.

• Cairo : The pulsating heart of Egypt, home to the Pyramids of Giza.
• Luxor : Known as the world’s greatest open-air museum.
• Aswan : The gateway to Abu Simbel and a haven of tranquility.
• Abu Simbel : A testament to ancient architectural prowess.
• Siwa Oasis : A hidden gem offering an escape into serenity.

While  Cairo, Luxor, and Aswan  are often on every traveler’s list, it’s the hidden gems like the Siwa Oasis that offer a unique glimpse into Egypt’s diverse beauty. Imagine riding a quad bike across the Sahara or bathing in a natural hot spring amidst the desert – these are the experiences that turn a trip into an adventure.

Luxor, with its endless treasures , continues to fascinate travelers. As you walk through the Valley of the Kings or marvel at the Colossi of Memnon, you’re treading the same ground as pharaohs and legends. Let these ancient stones tell you their stories, and you’ll find that every corner of Egypt has a tale waiting to be discovered.

1. Is it safe to travel to Egypt right now?

Regarding the  safety of traveling  to Egypt, it is generally considered safe for tourists, with the government and local businesses taking  substantial measures  to ensure the safety of visitors. However, like traveling anywhere in the world, it’s important to stay updated with travel advisories and exercise  common sense  and caution, especially in crowded places and tourist destinations.

2. Can I drink the tap water in Egypt?

Drinking tap water in Egypt is not recommended for visitors. While it  might be safe  for locals who are accustomed to the water, tourists might find it  difficult to digest , leading to possible stomach upsets. It’s advisable to stick to  bottled water  to stay hydrated and safe during your trip.

3. What are the tipping customs in Egypt?

Tipping customs in Egypt , known locally as ‘baksheesh’, play a significant part in the everyday life and  economic practices . While not mandatory, tipping for services is  commonly expected , ranging from a few Egyptian pounds in smaller establishments to more substantial amounts in high-end restaurants or hotels. It’s a way to  show appreciation  for good service.

4. How do I get a visa for Egypt?

Securing a visa for Egypt  has become more accessible over the years, with options to apply online before your visit or to obtain one upon arrival for  many nationalities . However, it’s crucial to check the most current requirements for your specific nationality by visiting the official  Egyptian government’s website  or contacting the  nearest Egyptian embassy .

Traveling through Egypt offers an unparalleled exploration of history, culture, and breathtaking landscapes. Whether you are visiting the majestic pyramids of Giza, floating down the Nile on a  luxurious cruise , or wandering through the vibrant  streets of Cairo and Luxor , Egypt promises an adventure like no other. This guide aims to equip you with all the essential  information and tips  needed to navigate your journey smoothly and enjoyably.

In closing, as we look towards the horizon,  traveling through Egypt  remains a bucket-list adventure that continues to enchant and inspire travelers from around the globe. May your  trip be filled with discovery , wonder, and the timeless magic that Egypt uniquely offers. Safe travels, and  may your journey be as rich and fulfilling as the history of the land you’re about to explore.

The post Traveling Through Egypt: The Ultimate Guide appeared first on Malorie's Adventures .

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A roaring metropolis of nearly 20 million people, Cairo is the cultural capital of the Arab world. Most visitors to Egypt spend at least a few days here, exploring its medieval mosques, sampling its fine museums and shopping in the labyrinthine Khan El Khalili bazaar. It remains one of the earth’s greatest metropolises, still larger in both population and extent than any city west of China . Enriched by the spice trade and the traffic in luxury goods, its sultans and emirs adorned the city over centuries with extravagant architecture.

The best travel tips for visiting Cairo

Best things to do in cairo, where to stay in cairo and around, best restaurants and bars, how to get here, how many days do you need in cairo, tips for getting around, best time to visit cairo, tailor-made travel itineraries for egypt, created by local experts.

8 days  / from 1999 USD

The Best of Egypt

Explore the history and culture of Egypt and its ancient rulers on this trip throughout the country. Start and end in Cairo and make your way down to Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel. Instead of domestic flights, you will hop on luxurious sleeper trains for your journey.

13 days  / from 5499 USD

Cairo & a luxurious Dahabieh sailing cruise

Explore Egypt at a leisurely pace on board a dahabieh, a traditional sailing ship. In Cairo, visit the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities, and in Giza, the pyramids; cruise to world-renowned sites alongside lesser-known treasures, such as Luxor’s tombs, el Kab and Gebel Silsileh’s Temple of Horemheb.

8 days  / from 2200 USD

A Nile Cruise in Egypt

Experience Cairo with the pyramids of Giza and the Egyptian museum before flying to Luxor to board your Nile cruise. Highlights include Karnak temple, Valley of Kings, Hatshepsut temple and an optional visit to Abu Simbel. Spend your last night in fascinating Cairo.

Tailor-made trips for   Egypt

Modern Cairo spins on Midan at-Tahrir (Tahrir Square), a huge square on the east bank from which all distances in Egypt are measured. It was originally named Midan al- Isma‘iliyyah, after 19th-century ruler Khedive Ismail, and was a focal point for the Egyptian Revolution of 2011.

Running northeast from the Egyptian Museum is Shari Qasr El Nil, once the city’s main shopping street and still displaying a few vestiges of the architecture and vintage glamour from when this part of downtown Cairo was planned in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

East of Shari Qasr El Nil, Shari Mohammed Sabri Abou Alam indicates the overlapping of Ismail’s new quarter with old Misr as it was before the French marched in, and leads to Azbakeya, which was founded as a pleasure zone in the 15th century but had evolved into an upper-class residential area by the time Napoleon established his headquarters here in 1798.

The newer districts of Cairo are not without appeal. On Gezira Island, joined to the mainland by three bridges, two of them near Midan at-Tahrir, you’ll find Gezira in the south and Zamalek in the north. These adjoining suburbs are both popular with wealthy Cairenes and European residents and have several cultural attractions.

Want to visit Cairo? Let our local experts craft the perfect trip for you.

Pyramids in Giza and Cairo © Shutterstock

As the Egyptian capital, there are lots of things to do in Cairo from major architecture to cultural gems. There are the best things to do.

#1 Explore the Egyptian Museum

On the north side of Midan at-Tahrir stands the Egyptian Museum The museum was first commissioned in 1835 by the government, which were desperate to stop widespread plundering and looting of the country’s many archaeological sites. It moved between several locations until this present building was built in 1902 under Pasha Abbas Hilmi.

It now holds more than 100,000 of the world’s greatest collection of Egyptian artefacts, from statues to mummies, jewellery and mosaics. Unfortunately, it is now far too small to house this massive collection; some of the exhibits are cramped and dusty, not to mention badly lit and labelled, and many objects within the storerooms have never been on public display.

There’s much to see at the Egyptian Museum, including wonderful objects from the lesser-known Royal Tombs, discovered un-plundered at Tanis in the northern Delta in 1939. The golden objects are simply stunning, dating to the 21st and 22nd dynasties (around 1000 BC) when Tanis was the capital of kings who originated in Libya to the west.

RoughGuides Tip: make sure to read our article about how to spend 24 hours in Cairo.

Museum of Egyptian Antiquities © Shutterstock

#2 See the museums of Rawdah Island

Rawdah (or Roda) Island is dominated by the huge Grand Nile Tower Hotel (formerly the Grand Hyatt Cairo) on the northern tip. There are still some gems to be found on the island. Once belonging to the Muhammad Ali family is Manial Palace built between 1901 and 1929.

It was left to the Egyptian nation in 1955 by Prince Muhammad Ali, the younger brother of Khedive Abbas Hilmi Pasha and a first cousin of King Farouk. It includes a museum exhibiting Farouk’s game-shooting trophies; the prince’s own beautiful residence with its furnishings; and a 14-room museum housing family memorabilia.

On the southern tip of Rawdah Island is the smaller Monastirli Palace. This contains the Umm Kulthum Museum, dedicated to the life and work of Egypt’s best-loved singer, songwriter and actress.

On show are her iconic sunglasses, good-luck handkerchiefs, photos and video clips of her performances, as well as her correspondence with previous leaders and politicians.

In the same compound, at the southern tip of the island, is the Nilometer, clearly visible from across the river (it is distinguished by a conical cap). This is a reconstruction made in 1893 of a 17th-century Ottoman dome destroyed by the French in 1800; its interior is covered with fine Turkish tiles.

RoughGuides Tip: make sure to read our article about the best day trips from Cairo

Nilometer building, an Umayyad era structure for measuring the Nile Rivers clarity and water level during the annual flood season, located at Roda Island, Cairo © Shutterstock

#3 Visit the Mosque of Ibn Tulun

When the Abbasids repossessed Misr for the caliphate in 905, the Mosque of Ibn Tulun, rightly considered one of the architectural glories of the Muslim world, was the only building left standing in Al-Qata’i. It is the oldest mosque in the city surviving in its original form and is the largest in Cairo in terms of land area.

It has undergone several restorations, the first in 1297 and the latest within the decade. Built in the imperial style of the Abbasid court at Samarra in Iraq, where Ubn Tulun had lived as a young man, the mosque is built of red brick and stucco – original materials, rather than granite, limestone and marble borrowed from other sites, as is often the case in later mosques.

The mosque is impressive both for its simplicity and its grand scale – its courtyard alone covers 2.5 hectares (6.5 acres) and the sycamore-wood frieze of Qur’anic verses around the court is more than 2km (1.25 miles) long. The unusual spiral minaret was probably inspired by the minaret in Samarra, Iraq, although legend has it that a distracted Ibn Tulun rolled up a piece of paper and told the architect to use that as the design.

#4 Be wowed by the objets d’art in the Gayer-Anderson Museum

Adjoining the mosque’s northeast corner is the Gayer-Anderson Museum. Two restored houses, Beit el-Kiridiliya (1632) and Beit Amna Bent Salim (1540), have been joined together to create a delightful larger dwelling with a salamlik (reception suite) and haramlik (harem suite).

Both are filled with objets d’art, antique furniture, carpets, silks and embroidered Arabian costumes from all over the Middle East, the collection of Gayer- Anderson, a British major and army doctor, who restored the houses and lived here in the 1930s and 40s. The entrance to the museum leads from the Mosque of Ibn Tulun.

#5 Compare the Mosque-Madrasa of Sultan Hassan with its copycat Al-Rifa’i Mosque

At the northwestern corner of Midan Salah ad-Din square loom two colossal religious buildings: the Mosque-Madrasa of Sultan Hassan, built between 1356 and 1363; and the Al-Rifa’i Mosque, which was built to complement it architecturally between 1869 and 1912.

Visitors sometimes fail to understand that these two buildings were constructed more than five centuries apart, since the modern mosque shows perfect respect for its older neighbour across the street in fabric, scale and style.

The Mosque-Madrasa of Sultan Hassan Madrasa provided a daunting model since it is probably the greatest of the Bahri architectural monuments, and second only to the Mosque of Ibn Tulun in the grandeur of conception among all the historic buildings in Cairo. The walls are 36 metres (117ft) high and so solidly built that the mosque was twice used as a fortress – first in 1381 during a Mamluk revolt and then again in 1517 during the Ottoman invasion. Plan to visit both.

Mosque of Al Rifai and Madrasa of Sultan Hassan - panoramic view of old town in Cairo © Shutterstock

#6 See the historic Citadel

The Citadel, entered from Bab al-Gabal (also known as Bab al-Muqattam) reached from the Salah Salim highway, was begun by Saladin in 1176 as part of a grand scheme to enclose all of Misr within walls. In 1182, by which time he had gone north to fight his last campaigns against the crusaders, it was complete, and though it was later modified it was never without a military garrison.

In 1218 Sultan al-Kamil, Saladin’s nephew, took up residence in the Citadel, and from that time until the construction of Abdeen Palace in the mid-19th century it was also the home and seat of government of all but one of Egypt’s rulers, including Ottoman viceroys.

The Lower Enclosure contains the famous gate-passage where Muhammad Ali conducted a massacre of Mamluks in 1811. It can be approached by an 18th-century gateway, restored in 1988, but it is best seen from the terrace of the Police Museum on the upper level, which contains the Southern and Northern enclosures, nearly two-thirds of the Citadel’s entire area.

Cairo's Citadel © Shutterstock

#7 Gawp at the art in the Museum of Islamic Art

Relocated along Darb al-Ahmar in 1903 from its original home at the Fatimid Mosque of Al-Hakim, The Museum of Islamic Art recently reopened after three years of extensive renovation and reorganisation in 2017.

This museum has more than 1,700 items on display (and thousands more in storage) and is considered one of the world’s finest collections of Islamic applied arts. The ceramics, woodwork, carpets, textiles, manuscripts, calligraphy, metalwork, stonework and arms date from the 7th to 19th centuries, exhibited chronologically beginning with the Umayyad era, before continuing with the Abbasid/ Tulunid, Fatimid, Ayyubid, Mamluk and Ottoman periods.

The entrance on Shari Port Said features a facade with decorations and recesses inspired by Egyptian Islamic architecture from these various periods.

#8 Geek up at the Al-Azhar Mosque and University

Lying a short distance down Shari Al-Azhar to the east, the Al-Azhar Mosque and University were built in AD 970 as the first mosque of Fatimid Cairo; a madrasa was added in 988. Finally, in 1961, Al-Azhar was re-established as a university under Nasser’s government when a wide range of secular faculties were added.

As such it is considered the world’s second-oldest continuous educational institution (after the University of Al Kairaouine in Fez, Morocco), and is still Egypt’s supreme religious authority attracting Islamic scholars from around the world.

It is believed that university black graduation gowns originated from here, inspired by the flowing robes of Al- Azhar’s students. The entrance to the mosque is the splendid 15th-century Bab al-Muzainin (“barbers’ gates”).

Al Azhar mosque in Cairo, Egypt © Shutterstock

#9 Explore Shari Al-Muizz li-Din Allah al-Fatimi

On the other side of Shari Al-Azhar, the Qasabah, or Muizz, continues north until, just beyond a 15th-century madrasa, it is interrupted by another modern street, Shari al-Muski. Traditionally associated with old Christian and European quarters, by the end of the 19th century it was lined with European-owned shops.

Al-Muski is now a chaotic and busy pedestrian street, where wholesale traders offer their wares to small merchants from all over Egypt. The great north–south thoroughfare called the Qasabah is medieval Cairo’s main street and can still be followed on foot from Ibn Tulun northward for more than 5km (3 miles). However, the best place to take a stroll is the 1km (0.6- mile) stretch along Al-Muizz li-Din Allah al-Fatimi between the two gates – Bab Zuwaylah and Bab al-Futuh – which is a pedestrian-only zone.

#10 Wander along Khan El Khalili

Back on Muizz, the first major street to the right (east) leads to the warren of alleyways at Khan El Khalili, famous formerly for Turkish goods and now the tourists’ bazaar, although many traditional workshops continue to operate in the surrounding area, and the adjoining goldsmiths’ souq, for example, is still popular with locals.

There is a variety of goods for sale designed for the tourist trade including silverware, stained-glass lamps, incense, carpets, spices, gold jewellery, perfume, papyrus, gallabiyahs and belly dancing costumes. Naturally, haggling is expected, and some might find it annoying to be badgered by the vendors, but it’s a colourful place where visitors can get any kind of Egyptian souvenir all under one roof.

Khan el Khalili market in Cairo © Shutterstock

Cairo has hundreds upon hundreds of hotels that range from cheap and barely cheerful to gargantuan, gold-plated super-lux hotels that stand over the River Nile. The best areas to stay are downtown, Doqqi and Zamalek, all of them offering accommodation for all budgets.

Make sure to read our article about the best areas to stay in Cairo .

Downtown, Doqqi and Zamalek

Sharia Talaat Harb, the road that connects Talaat Harb Square with Tahrir Square, has oodles of budget places to stay . A short metro ride from Downtown, there are a handful of midrange hotels in this suburb. Expect to pay more for your hotel in Zamalek, but have a little less chaos outside your window.

For the best rooms and views in the city - but the biggest bills as well, look at accommodation around the Nile River.

Browse the best hotels in Cairo .

From street stalls to fine dining, big-name chains to tiny independent cafes, you’ll never go hungry in Cario. This is where to eat and drink.

If you’re on a budget, Downtown is the place to stretch it. Think: street food, cheap Middle Eastern restaurants, shawarma and cafes selling falafels. There are fewer restaurants in Doqqi but still plenty of places to sate your hunger.

Zamalek is home to the best restaurants in the city and some high-class joints. Along the River Nile a lot of the high-end hotels have decent restaurants attached. Book ahead.

Cairo national museum in Cairo, Egypt © Shutterstock

Most visitors will arrive via Cairo International Airport, though you can get to Cairo by bus and train as well.

For internal flights, EgyptAir and their subsidiary EgyptAir Express has the most regular network and flies daily from Cairo International Airport to Abu Simbel, Aswan, Borg El Arab (Alexandria), Hurghada , Luxor , Marsa Alam, Marsa Matruh and Sharm El Sheikh.

Nile Air is the largest airline after EgyptAir and flies to similar domestic destinations as well as several airports in Saudi Arabia and Iraq, among other places in the Middle East.

FlyEgypt is a low-cost carrier that flies from Cairo to Asyut, Borg El Arab (Alexandria), Hurghada, Luxor, Sharm El Sheikh and Sohag.

The government-owned Egyptian National Railways serves the Nile Valley to Aswan, the Red Sea cities of Suez and Port Said, and the Delta and North Coast cities of Alexandria and Marsa Mutrah.

Air-conditioned passenger trains usually have 1st and 2nd classes, while non-air-conditioned trains have 2nd and 3rd classes. There are at least six through trains a day, and fares are inexpensive, but unless one is travelling on an organised tour, tickets are purchased at railway stations (in Cairo inside Ramses Station at Midan Ramses); alternatively, you can book 1st and 2nd-class tickets on the website.

The most popular route for tourists is the twice-nightly air-conditioned sleeper train between Cairo and Luxor (journey time 10 hours) and Aswan (15 hours), which is operated by privately run Watania. This service must be paid for in foreign currency (US dollars, euros or pounds sterling) at the separate Watania sleeper office/counter at the stations.

Air-conditioned buses link most parts of Egypt to Cairo and Alexandria , and beyond the Nile Valley , it’s often the only option. Seats may be reserved up to two days in advance. There is also a fleet of cheaper non-air-conditioned buses, but they can be crowded and stop frequently.

Although bus times change without notice, departures are so frequent that this is rarely a problem. The Cairo Gateway Bus Station (Torgoman) on Shari Al Gisr in Bulaq, close to the Orabi metro station and 1km (0.6 miles) northwest of Midan Ramses and the train station, handles most of the long-distance buses.

There are numerous companies, and tickets can be bought here from different windows depending on the destination; those for airconditioned buses should always be booked in advance. Increasingly, tickets can be booked online.

Find out the best ways to get to Egypt .

Generally, 3-4 days should be enough to cover the major Cairo attractions and get a good sense of the capital. This is enough time to visit the Giza Pyramids and the Sphinx, explore the Egyptian Museum, take a stroll in Islamic Cairo, visit the Citadel of Salah El Din and the Alabaster Mosque, and explore the Khan El Khalili market.

Additionally, you can take a day trip to Memphis, Saqqara, or the Dahshur pyramids. If you have more time, you can also explore other attractions such as the Coptic Cairo, the Hanging Church, or take a Nile cruise to see the city from a different perspective.

Keep in mind that Cairo is a bustling city with a lot of traffic, so plan your time wisely to make the most of your stay.

Looking for inspiration for your trip? Talk to our Egypt travel experts .

Detail of a wall, Khan el-Khalili souk, Cairo, Egypt © Shutterstock

Cairo is a bustling and busy city with many transportation options available to get around. Here are some of the best ways to get around Cairo:

Cairo has a reliable metro system that runs from early morning until late at night. It's a fast and inexpensive way to travel around the city.

Taxis are plentiful in Cairo and can be flagged down on the street. They are usually metered, but it's always a good idea to negotiate the fare before getting in.

Uber is also available in Cairo. It can be more convenient than taxis as you can book and pay for them through the app.

By microbus

Microbuses are small vans that operate along set routes. They are often crowded and can be a bit tricky to navigate, but they are an inexpensive way to get around.

If you want to explore the Nile, taking a felucca (traditional sailboat) is a great way to do so. You can hire a felucca for a few hours or a full day and enjoy the beautiful views of the city from the river.

The best time to visit Cairo is during the cooler months of November to February when the weather is mild and pleasant. During this time, temperatures are typically between 15-20°C (59-68°F) and there is little to no rainfall.

This makes it an ideal time to explore the city's historic sites such as the Great Pyramids of Giza , the Egyptian Museum, and the Citadel.

However, if you don't mind the heat, the summer months of June to August can also be a good time to visit Cairo. While temperatures can soar to over 40°C (104°F), this is also the low season for tourists, which means you'll have a chance to experience the city's attractions without the crowds.

Additionally, the evenings can be pleasantly cool, allowing for enjoyable outdoor activities. It's worth noting that Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting, can affect your trip to Cairo, as many restaurants and cafes may be closed during the day. However, this can also be a unique cultural experience if you are interested in learning more about Islamic traditions.

Find out more about the best time to visit Egypt .

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updated 30.03.2023

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Resorts & Hotels in Dahab, Egypt

Explore the best resorts and hotels in Dahab, Egypt. This selection showcases the top seven establishments, each offering unique luxury and unmatched hospitality. These accommodations promise a memorable stay with their blend of modern amenities and traditional charm.

By: ETP Team Published: 14 April, 2024 Updated: 15 April, 2024

Awards & Recognitions

Table of Content

1. jaz dahabeya, 2. swiss inn resort dahab, 3. ecotel dahab bay view resort.

• 4. Dahab Lagoon Club & Resort Ex Tirana

5. Retac Qunay Dahab Resort

6. safir dahab resort, 7. tropitel dahab oasis, egypt red sea holidays: dive, relax, and explore, related articles.

• Diversity in Dining and Accommodations: Dahab offers a rich mix of traditional Egyptian eateries and chic international restaurants, alongside a range of hotels from luxurious resorts to charming boutique hotels, each reflecting the area's unique charm and warm hospitality.
• Jaz Dahabeya: This luxurious 4-star hotel offers a variety of amenities, including a lagoon-style pool, sauna, and various dining options. It is ideally located near natural attractions like Abu Gallom National Park.
• Swiss Inn Resort Dahab: Known for its private beach and a range of facilities, such as a dedicated diving center and various dining venues, this resort offers luxury and convenience for visitors seeking a comprehensive vacation experience.
• Ecotel Dahab Bay View Resort: With options for outdoor recreation and a focus on family-friendly services, including a kids' club and playground, this resort is well-equipped to cater to both relaxation and activity needs.
• Expansive Range of Facilities and Activities: The hotels and resorts in Dahab, such as Dahab Lagoon Club and Retac Qunay Dahab Resort, provide extensive facilities, including multiple pools, fitness centers, and special services like VIP border crossing assistance, enhancing convenience and enjoyment for their guests.

Dahab , once a quaint Bedouin fishing village, has evolved into a premier destination for travelers seeking distinctive and luxurious accommodation experiences. Set against the dramatic landscape of the Sinai Peninsula, this enchanting town offers an impressive selection of accommodations, from opulent resorts to quaint boutique hotels.

Each establishment encapsulates the essence of Dahab's renowned hospitality and the area's natural beauty. This comprehensive guide delves into the best resorts and hotels in Dahab, providing you with an insider’s look at the most memorable places to stay, where modern amenities blend seamlessly with traditional charm, ensuring every visit is as enchanting as the picturesque surroundings.

Jaz Dahabeya is a luxurious 4-star hotel situated by the Red Sea and Sinai Mountains, offering breathtaking views. It is located 3 km from Dahab's center; the hotel offers easy access to Abu Gallom National Park (One of the Most  Famous National Parks in Egypt ) and provides free private parking for guests. Its amenities include a lagoon-style pool, sauna, and massage treatments. Surrounded by a scenic garden, the hotel provides elegant rooms with satellite TV and balconies, some overlooking the pool and garden.

Fitness enthusiasts can utilize the well-equipped gym, while water activities like windsurfing, diving, and snorkeling are available at an additional cost. The spa offers rejuvenating treatments, massages, and beauty services for an extra fee. Families can enjoy the children's playground. Dining options include Mediterranean and international cuisine at Le Palmier Restaurant and regional specialties at Sea Pearl Restaurant. All-inclusive rates cover meals and non-alcoholic beverages.

Swiss Inn Resort Dahab is a prestigious 4-star retreat nestled along the Red Sea coastline, featuring a secluded private beach. The resort provides convenient shuttle services to Dahab's town center and facilitates airport transfers to Sharm El Sheikh International Airport. Among its offerings are outdoor pools catering to both adults and children, a diverse selection of dining venues, and a dedicated diving center.

The contemporary rooms and suites are appointed with private balconies, generously sized seating areas equipped with satellite TV, and select accommodations that afford stunning sea or garden vistas. Culinary delights around the resort include El Khaima Restaurant and Terrace and Locanda Sports. Guests can indulge in leisure activities at the gym, unwind at the spa with indulgent massage therapies, or entrust their little ones to the supervised kids club.

Ecotel Dahab Bay View Resort in Dahab provides 4-star accommodation with an outdoor swimming pool, fitness center, and garden. Guests can enjoy amenities such as a restaurant, kids' club, shared lounge, and free WiFi. Rooms feature air conditioning, flat-screen TVs, private bathrooms, and terraces with sea or mountain views. Some rooms also include balconies.

The resort offers buffet or halal breakfast options and recreational activities like table tennis, darts, tennis, and snorkeling. The resort offers a children's playground and a paid airport shuttle service to Sharm el-Sheikh International Airport, which is located 96 km away. Multilingual staff are available 24/7 at the front desk and will assist you in every way possible.

4. Dahab Lagoon Club & Resort Ex Tirana

Dahab Lagoon Club & Resort Ex Tirana is a luxurious 4-star retreat boasting a serene lagoon-style pool and contemporary guest rooms adorned with charmingly furnished balconies. It is 3 km from Dahab's central hub and just 88 km from Sharm El Sheikh International Airport. Each room is adorned in inviting warm tones and is equipped with satellite TV and a minibar for added convenience.

The resort is embraced by the stunning Sinai Peninsula mountains and a sprawling 650-meter sandy beach. It offers a delightful array of culinary experiences with three restaurants, where guests can savor traditional delicacies and drinks and enjoy live entertainment both indoors and on the terrace. For relaxation and rejuvenation, guests can indulge in massage treatments or maintain their fitness regimen at the on-site fitness center.

Retac Qunay Dahab Resort in Sinai is a magical wonder that overlooks the Gulf of Aqaba and is known to hold five pools and a picturesque manmade lagoon. The resort's convenient location makes it just a 45-minute drive from Sharm El Sheikh. Each room is equipped with a private balcony or terrace, a flat-screen TV offering satellite channels, and modern conveniences. Exclusive VIP services are provided at the Taba Eilat and Taba Aqaba borders, ensuring a smooth border crossing experience for guests at an extra cost.

The resort's contemporary rooms are adorned in warm, earthy tones. They provide plush beds, inviting seating areas, and luxurious bathroom amenities for ultimate comfort. Guests will enjoy international cuisine at the resort's four restaurants. The resort also has a fitness center, outdoor beach massage services, and entertainment for children organized by the animation team.

Safir Dahab Resort is just a 1-hour drive from Sharm el Sheikh and offers a private beach and a beautifully landscaped pool area. The spacious rooms feature luxury bedding, minibars, and private marble bathrooms, along with balconies offering garden views. The resort provides diverse international dining options, including Flavors Restaurant for breakfast and themed buffet dinners, Catch Seafood Restaurant, and Portofino Italian Restaurant. There are beaches with Wi-Fi available throughout the rooms and outlets.

Guests can enjoy tennis or relax by the pool, and the hotel's tour desk assists with car hire and local attractions. Nearby activities include windsurfing, snorkeling, and diving. The resort is 87 km from Sharm el-Sheikh International Airport and offers 24-hour front desk service and complimentary on-site private parking.

Tropitel Dahab Oasis is a marvelous 4-star hotel found on the coast of Aqaba Gulf that features a private beach, heated outdoor swimming pool, and a diving center overlooking the Blue Hole diving spot. The air-conditioned rooms offer satellite TV and balconies with views of the Gulf or the desert. The hotel provides a sauna, steam room, a health club, massage services, a shopping arcade, and currency exchange.

Guests can enjoy drinks at the beach or poolside bar, and meals are served in the dining room and terrace with changing international themes for dinner. The hotel is conveniently located 8 km from Dahab city center and a 70-minute drive from Sharm El-Sheikh International Airport. It's just a 5-minute walk from the renowned diving spot, the Blue Hole, which is known for offering breathtaking views of the Red Sea shoreline and Sinai mountains.

Experience Egypt's Red Sea holidays and immerse yourself in its crystal-clear waters and vibrant marine life. Offering top-notch diving, snorkeling, and luxurious beach resorts, our Egypt Read Sea holidays cater to families, couples, and solo travelers. Explore historic sites in Cairo , Luxor , and Aswan , relax on the sandy beaches of Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh, and enjoy a variety of water sports. Start planning your perfect seaside getaway to the Red Sea now!

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the finest destinations to visit in egypt.

The entire country of Egypt deserve to be explored with its every heavenly detail but there are places that must be seen before any other such as the breathtaking Hurghada's red sea, The wonders of Cairo the pyramids of Giza, the great sphinx, the Egyptian Museum, Khan El Khalili Bazaar, the wonders of Luxor like Valley of the Kings, Karnak & Hatshepsut temple and the wonders of Aswan such as Abu Simbel temples, Philea temple, Unfinished obelisk and The Wonders of Alexandria like Qaitbat Citadel, Pompey's Pillar and Alexandria Library. Read more about the best places to visit in Egypt .

What Are Egypt's Visa Requirements?

If you want to apply for a Visa On Arrival that lasts for 30 days then you should be one of the eligible countries, have a valid passport with at least 6 months remaining and pay 25$ USD in cash, as for the E-Visa for 30 day you should have a valid passport for at least 8 months, complete the online application, pay the e-visa fee then print the e-visa to later be presented to the airport border guard. You could also be one of the lucky ones who can obtain a free visa for 90 days. Read more about Egypt travel visa .

What Is the Top Traditional Egyptian Food?

Egypt has a variety of delicious cuisines but we recommend “Ful & Ta’meya (Fava Beans and Falafel)”, Mulukhiya, “Koshary”, a traditional Egyptian pasta dish, and Kebab & Kofta, the Egyptian traditional meat dish.

What is the Best Time to Visit Egypt?

The best time to travel to Egypt is during the winter from September to April as the climate becomes a little tropical accompanied by a magical atmosphere of warm weather with a winter breeze. You will be notified in the week of your trip if the Climate is unsafe and if any changes have been made.

What to Pack for Your Egypt Tour?

You should pack everything you could ever need in a small bag so you could move easily between your destinations.

Why Book With "Egypt Tours Portal"?

We have been creating the finest vacations for more than 20 years around the most majestic destinations in Egypt. Our staff consists of the best operators, guides and drivers who dedicate all of their time & effort to make you have the perfect vacation. All of our tours are customized by Travel, Financial & Time consultants to fit your every possible need during your vacation. It doesn't go without saying that your safety and comfort are our main priority and all of our resources will be directed to provide the finest atmosphere until you return home.

Is it Safe to Travel to Egypt?

You will feel safe in Egypt as the current atmosphere of the country is quite peaceful after the government took powerful measures like restructuring the entire tourist police to include all the important and tourist attractions in Egypt. Read more about is it safe to travel to Egypt .

What to Wear While in Egypt?

Wear whatever feels right and comfortable. It is advised to wear something light and comfortable footwear like a closed-toe shoe to sustain the terrain of Egypt. Put on sun block during your time in Egypt in the summer to protect yourself from the sun.

What are the Best Activities to Do in Egypt?

The best activity is by far boarding a Nile Cruise between Luxor and Aswan or Vise Versa. Witness the beauty of Egypt from a hot balloon or a plane and try all the delicious Egyptian cuisines and drinks plus shopping in old Cairo. Explore the allure and wonders of the red sea in the magical city resorts of Egypt like Hurghada and many more by diving and snorkeling in the marine life or Hurghada. Behold the mesmerizing western desert by a safari trip under the heavenly Egyptian skies.

What are Egypt Festival and Public Holidays?

There are a lot of public holidays in Egypt too many to count either religious or nation, the most important festivals are the holy month of Ramadan which ends with Eid Al Fitr, Christmas and new years eve. Read more about festivals & publich holidays in Egypt .

What are Special Advice for Foreign Women in Egypt?

Egypt is considered to be one of the most liberal Islamic countries but it has become a little bit conservative in the last couple of decades so it is advised to avoid showing your chest, shoulders or legs below the knees.

What are the Official Languages of Egypt?

Arabic is the official language and Most Egyptians, who live in the cities, speak or understand English or at least some English words or phrases. Fewer Egyptians can speak French, Italian, Spanish, and German. Professional tour guides, who work in the tourism sector, are equipped to handle visitors who cannot speak Arabic and they will speak enough English and other languages to fulfill the needs of all our clients.

What is the Transportation in Egypt?

The fastest way is a car, of course, a taxi. If you are in Cairo ride a white taxi to move faster or you could board the fastest way of transportation in Egypt metro if the roads are in rush hour.

What is the Weather is Like?

The temperature in Egypt ranges from 37c to 14 c. Summer in Egypt is somehow hot but sometimes it becomes cold at night and winter is cool and mild. The average of low temperatures vary from 9.5 °C in the wintertime to 23 °C in the summertime and the average high temperatures vary from 17 °C in the wintertime to 32 °C in the summertime. The temperature is moderate all along the coasts.

What are the Reasons That Make You Visit Egypt?

It is the home of everything a traveler might be looking for from amazing historical sites dating to more than 4000 years to enchanting city resorts & beaches. You will live the vacation you deserve as Egypt has everything you could possibly imagine.

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About the Author: ETP Team

Egypt Tours Portal team dedicates its time and energy to preserving and showcasing the vast history and mysteries of the ancient Egyptians that trace back more than 5000 years across their most famous destinations that hold an incredible number of monuments and attractions. The team’s main purpose is to shed light on the infinite wealth of natural, historical, cultural, and mythological knowledge for everyone who wished to learn something new and prepare for their journey across the magical destinations of Egypt.

All the team members of the Egypt tours portal are a highly knowledgeable and qualified group of Egyptologists, Archaeologists, historians, world travelers, content creators, digital marketers, consultants, and explorers who have a vast experience in each of their fields, stretching from 5 to 20 years where everyone gained an unfathomable understanding of their craft that provide all the visitors and clients to gain priceless information and all the means needed to have the most entertaining travel experience in Egypt.

The information mentioned on the website was created over a long period of time by a number of the most qualified experts in each of their fields which was updated regularly on a monthly basis and depends on a number of highly trusted sources with confirmed facts to ensure the safest delivery and consumption of each information in the most useful and positive manner.

All our sources and resources of the Egypt tours portal which was cultivated for over 35 years that were made to provide the most incredible Egypt tours & vacation packages, Egypt Nile cruises, Egypt day tours & excursions, and Egypt shore excursions that have won the praise of all our clients as shown by own clients on TripAdvisor, won a number of awards, and mentioned by a number of renowned news agencies and travel blogs plus provides an enriching educational and entertaining travel experience for everyone.

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