Egypt
Standing in front of the Great Pyramid of Giza is one of those travel experiences that stops time. These structures are 4,500 years old. They were already ancient when the Roman Empire was at its peak. And yet there they are, still standing at the edge of Cairo, as massive and mysterious as ever. No photograph prepares you for the scale. No description captures the feeling of placing your hand on a stone block that was cut and moved into place before the invention of the wheel.
Egypt is the original travel destination. People have been coming here to see the Pyramids, sail the Nile, and explore the temples of Luxor for thousands of years. And the experience today, while more accessible than ever, is no less awe inspiring. The country offers a concentration of ancient monuments and archaeological sites that no other place on Earth can match.
Where to Go
Cairo is the chaotic, fascinating capital. The Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx sit on the city’s western edge, technically in the suburban town of Giza. The Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square houses the world’s largest collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts, including the treasures of Tutankhamun. The new Grand Egyptian Museum near the Pyramids is one of the most ambitious museum projects in the world and is a must visit.
Islamic Cairo and the Khan el Khalili bazaar offer a completely different experience: narrow medieval streets, ornate mosques, and a bustling market that has been in continuous operation since the 14th century. Old Cairo has the Coptic churches and the Ben Ezra Synagogue, layering yet more history onto an already impossibly layered city.
A Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan is the classic Egyptian experience. Over three to four days, you sail between the two cities, stopping at temples along the way. In Luxor, the Valley of the Kings contains the tombs of pharaohs including Tutankhamun, and the Temple of Karnak is the largest ancient religious complex in the world. Aswan is smaller and more relaxed, with the beautiful Philae Temple on an island in the Nile.
Abu Simbel, near the Sudanese border, is a pair of massive rock temples carved into a mountainside by Ramesses II. They were moved in their entirety in the 1960s to save them from the rising waters of Lake Nasser, an engineering feat almost as impressive as the original construction. A day trip by flight from Aswan is the most common way to visit.
For travelers who want beach time, the Red Sea coast around Hurghada and Sharm el Sheikh offers excellent diving, snorkeling, and resort relaxation. The coral reefs of the Red Sea are among the healthiest and most colorful in the world.
Let Us Plan Your Egypt Trip
Egypt is a destination that benefits enormously from a good guide and careful planning. We will arrange private Egyptologist guides at the major sites, book the right Nile cruise, handle the domestic flights, and make sure you experience Egypt at its best without the hassle. This is a trip you will remember for the rest of your life.
