Our Travel Content includes mainstream tourist destinations to lesser-known gems. Here is our recent Blog about Egypt!
…..EGYPT: In ancient times Egypt once ruled the world and created a civilization of innovation, creativity and written language, which has transcended history. So let’s check out the land of Mummies, Museums, Mystery and crisp cotton sheets!
…….Arriving into Cairo airport is relatively easy. A quick stop to acquire travel visas and you are all set. The traffic…beyond!! So sit back and relax and be prepared for a long drive to your hotel.
There are many excellent hotels in Cairo, and most offer 24 hour concierge service, excellent dining options, pools, spas and luxurious amenities. If you are not traveling with a scheduled tour, the concierge can easily arrange an Egyptologist Guide as well as a private driver, to help you navigate all that there is to see in this large, crowded city.
Arriving in Cairo after a long trip can be exhausting, but you don’t want to waste a minute. Check in to your hotel, refresh and regroup, and head out to one of the great cruising restaurants on the Nile, which offer a broad array of Egyptian specialties. Many locals celebrate birthdays and special events at these floating restaurants, and the entertainment always includes an exotic Belly Dancer, followed by a Whirling Dervish.
Cairo requires several days to see everything. Whether you are with a tour, on your own or with a private guide, the Egyptian Museum should be the first stop. The oldest archaeological museum in the Middle East, it has the largest collection of Egyptian antiquities in the world, most notably the gold, mask of King Tutankhamon, along with many other incredible artifacts, statues and mummies. Pace yourself, and take your time, but touring this spectacular museum provides an excellent orientation to the history and culture of Egypt and prepares you for the rest of your trip. There is also an excellent gift shop; so be sure to shop for souvenirs.
The ideal next stop, before traveling south, should be the Giza Plateau, with its three famed Pyramids, including the Great Pyramid (also known as the Pyramid of Cheops). We all have seen pictures and movies of these grand edifices, and believe me…. they do not disappoint! Suddenly your car (or motorcoach) arrives, and voilà….there they are, rising out of the desert, in all their magnitude and mystery. To this day no one really knows how the Pyramids were constructed. There are options to enter the tomb to view the empty sarcophagus, by climbing inside through long, dark, low hallways. So if you are claustrophobic, it is best to remain outside and admire the structure from a distance. Just in front of these pyramids you will find the imposing statue of the Sphinx, which was actually carved out of one single stone. This is a great place for a “selfie” or group photo, with the Pyramids in the background. Also worth visiting is the nearby Step Pyramid at Sakkara. This structure pre-dates the Giza pyramids and offers clues as to the funerary practices of the ancient Egyptians over 3000 years ago. Don’t leave before you experience a camel ride. There are many camels, accompanied by their Bedouin owners, sprinkled around the area; so choose your favorite animal carefully, negotiate a price in advance, and enjoy the ride of a lifetime.
Back in Cairo, it’s time to prepare for the next phase of your Egyptian tour. For a first time visitor, an itinerary that includes cities of Abu Simbel, Aswan and Luxor will provide an excellent overview of the country. A short flight to Aswan, followed by a long ride, via motor coach, through the Sahara desert to Abu Simbel, orients you to a different time and culture from that of Cairo. Surrounded by Nubian villages, the main attractions are the two temples, originally carved on the side of a mountain in honor of Ramses II, (Pharoah from the 19th Dynasty; c. 1303-1213 BC), and his wife, Nefertari. Watching the sun rise over this massive complex is an experience of a lifetime. The four iconic, colossal statues of Ramses II, placed at the entrance to the temple, are beyond imagination. The interior walls are equally impressive with their beautifully preserved murals depicting various scenes from the life of Ramses II, and his favorite wife. Ramses II is considered one of the most influential and powerful leaders of Ancient Egypt, and visitors will find evidence of his architecture throughout the region. Even more remarkable is the fact that this entire property was moved, stone by heavy stone, from its original location, to save it from the rising waters – the result of the Aswan Dam, built in the 1960’s, and lake Nasser. If you spend the night in Abu Simbel, it is definitely worthwhile to attend a “Sound and Light” performance, which provides a brief history of this Pharoah’s story and amplifies his importance.
Leaving Abu Simbel, you can either fly or take a cruise on Lake Nasser to return to Aswan. On the cruise, you will have the opportunity to visit smaller archaeological sites along the way, many of which were also built by Ramses II, to establish his “brand” in this Nubian region. The boat will pass by the last known Nubian settlement of Kasr Ibrim, on its way to the Temple of Amada. Later in the day, the boat will deliver you to Wadi el-Seboua where you will want to visit the Valley of the Lions and its extraordinary Avenue of Sphinxes. There are many Lake Nasser luxury boat cruises, resembling river boats from an earlier time, that offer delicious Egyptian food, excellent service and an opportunity to relax and visit some of the most important smaller areas in Egypt. However, if time is an issue, it is just as easy to take a quick flight to Aswan, from Abu Simbel.
Aswan, located on the Nile, has been an important southern location for Egypt since ancient times. Known for its beautiful scenery and important archaeological sites, the day trips to various ruins continue to impress, such as the Temple of Isis, at the Philae complex. It is also worth noting that the old Aswan Souk is considered one of the best shopping bazaars in Egypt, and has a broad range of Egyptian and African products and souvenirs. So definitely spend some shopping time in Aswan, and enjoy a late-afternoon sail on a traditional felucca at sunset – with a glass of wine. Don’t leave town without visiting the Old Cataract Aswan Hotel, a 19th century Victorian palace. Not only is it famous for hosting VIP’s, royals and dignitaries, but Agatha Christie also stayed here and mentions it in her book, Death on the Nile. At this gorgeous hotel you can enjoy a meal, a cocktail or high tea and prepare to be overwhelmed by the beautiful interior and lush grounds surrounding the complex.
From Aswan, many people enjoy continuing their journey along the river up to Luxor, on one of the many Nile cruise ships. Differing from the river cruise boats, the Nile cruise boats offer beautifully appointed cabins and excellent gourmet cuisine. It is not a cruise on the Nile without a traditional Galabeya party, where guests and staff dress in local attire and enjoy an evening of music, and a local show with Belly Dancers and Whirling Dervishes. There is also excellent, reliable shopping on board for gold, souvenirs and Egyptian attire; and you can actually purchase an 18k gold Cartouche, personalized with your name in hieroglyphics. Cruising the Nile offers time to regroup, as well as an opportunity to get to know the other passengers. This is a great interlude as the boat heads toward Luxor, another southern port on the Nile, formerly known as ancient Thebes. Here, you will spend long days visiting the largest concentration of archaeological sites in the Nile Valley. Centering around the great Luxor Temple and the Temple of Karnak, connected by a 1.5 mile avenue of Sphinxes, there is so much to see and do. The Temple of Ramses III, the Valley of the Kings, the Valley of the Queens and the Temple of Hatshepsut, are just a short list of the ruins and tombs available to visit. In the valley of the Kings, you can tour the actual tomb of Tutenkhamon, although his remains are in Cairo. In the Valley of the Queens, the tomb of Nefertari, is one of the most spectacular examples of wall painting to be seen in Egypt. With its vibrant walls of colorful, detailed inscriptions, it’s hard to believe they were painted 3000 years ago.
For early risers, there is no better way to experience the magnitude of Luxor than from a hot air balloon. Weather permitting, balloon trips are generally available to most visitors and definitely worth the price. There are many lovely hotels in Luxor, which overlook the Nile. However, the Winter Palace, built in 1886, is definitely worth a visit. Having also hosted many dignitaries and celebrities throughout the years, this hotel exudes elegance and style from another era. Each hotel has reputable boutiques selling anything from gold jewelry, leather goods and upscale souvenirs; and they both provide superior amenities and service. In Luxor, you will have the opportunity to buy beautiful alabaster vases, as well as original paintings on Papyrus.
A short flight back to Cairo, you will want to spend your last days visiting other sites, especially Old Cairo, where there are many Christian churches dating as far back as the 5th c. AD. And, of course, there’s a lot more shopping! A well-known local Egyptologist guide in Cairo, Andrew Nabil, is one of the many professionals available to personally take you to some of the best shops in town. As an Egyptologist, he also offers private tours of any museum or site, in and around Cairo. But the Khan el-Khalili bazaar, which is right in the center of Islamic Cairo, is where you will find all the action…on steroids! With its rows and rows of exotic items, souvenirs, perfumes, t-shirts, jewelry and scarves, there is no way you can leave empty handed. But be prepared to bargain…a lot! Although the vendors start with very high prices, they will end up negotiating at one-third the original price.
As you prepare to depart, you will no doubt think about returning to Egypt to continue your exploration of this mysterious, magical country. There are so many more places to visit. Scuba diving or snorkeling on the Red Sea, or a weekend in Alexandria are side trips definitely worth considering. There is always more to learn in Egypt because they continue to excavate new sites and discover more artifacts, tombs and hieroglyphics, providing new insight into their ancient civilization. In Egypt, history is ever-changing.
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