Check out this expedition through Egypt, visiting the timeless wonders of Cairo and Luxor, where ancient civilizations thrived, offering an exciting blend of history and culture along the Nile River.
Practicalities for Egypt
Currency: Egyptian pound
Recommended length of stay: minimum of 1 week, allow 2-3 if wanting to do a cruise down the Nile
Month of our visit: July (Note: this is one of the hottest times to visit Egypt, but it worked best with our world trip itinerary. It was also EXTREMELY hot during our visit, so we recommend trying to go during a cooler month!)
Languages: Arabic
CDC’s Recommended Vaccinations: Click here!
Packing List for Egypt
- Light, loose tee shirts
- Light, loose long pants
- Lightweight dress
- Cotton overshirt or wrap to protect from the sun
- Sunglasses
- Large sun hat
- Bathing suit
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Sandals
- Adaptor
- Passport and cash
- Water bottle
Cairo
When traveling through Egypt we ran into several pitfalls which we will try t share with you so that you can avoid them. Upon arriving in Egypt we landed in Cairo, and had quite a bit of difficulty with our pre-booked transport. Basically, we waited over an hour, couldn’t find them, and had to book an Uber (which was super easy and affordable, and what we should have done in the first place!). Upon arriving at the hotel, Best View Pyramids Hotel, we were told our room type (the room that is viral on Instagram for having a jacuzzi in-room and view over the pyramids) was unavailable because the “city is cutting off our electricity”. They offered us an alternative room without a pyramid view, and a free dinner at their rooftop restaurant which we accepted. Once we got to the room we discovered a sparsely decorated dirty tiny room with cockroach roomies and on and off electricity, so we ended up bailing and called an Uber to head directly to Marriott Mena House Hotel.
This is one of the best hotels we have stayed at and offers a 5 star luxury experience. It is expensive but we felt it was worth the cost. The views of the historic hotel directly overlook the pyramids, and the sparkling blue pool is a much needed break from the heat of the Egyptian sun. The food options are diverse and delicious, and the staff is very welcoming and will try to make sure you have the best stay possible. We also indulged in the spa which we thoroughly enjoyed!
Since we were staying at Mena House we did not really explore the rooftops of Cairo, since we felt that we already had the best view. However, the views from Akemi sushi are supposed to be very good. The cheapest way to soak in the views while having a bite is at the Giza KFC + Pizza Hut rooftop – grab your food and head to the top!
Pyramids of Giza + Sphinx
To enjoy the pyramids of Giza, we booked a private guide through Viator who purchased our tickets and walked us through the Pyramid complex. This is one of the occasions that we thought it was worthwhile to hire a guide, because he provided a lot of history and was able to answer lots of our questions. We also visited the Sphinx which was amazing as well.
We had also read online about various scams that go on in the pyramids, such as fake government employees wanting to see your ticket then offering their services as a guide. You need to agree upon a price before committing to any services, and do not accept “free gifts”. FYI, anyone who takes your photo expects a tip, or “baksheesh”. In fact, the idea of baksheesh is extremely prevalent through the entire country, so you should always be prepared with change so you can use toilets, etc.
Outside of the pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, there are several other highlights of Cairo. One experience that we really enjoyed was a felucca ride on the Nile River, booked through Get Your Guide. We had a private romantic dinner on a boat while the moon rose over the Nile, which is an unforgettable moment from our travels. Also consider checking out the world famous Egyptian Museum where you can find numerous artifacts from Ancient Egypt, the Khan el Khalili Market which is a massive and traditional souk, and the Hanging Church of the Virgin Mary which was built on the ancient ruins of Babylon.
Luxor
We enjoyed Luxor even more than Cairo! It’s definitely worth making the journey from Cairo if you’re in Egypt. It’s a quick one hour flight from Cairo so technically you *can* go as a day trip, but we do recommend spending a little more time there to really experience it. Plus, the Sofitel Winter Palace is a beautiful historic hotel that royalty has frequented for decades in the cooler months for a warm getaway! The staircase leading to the lobby is truly iconic. P.S. There is also a overnight sleeper train from Cairo to Luxor which looks awesome! We just didn’t have time for it.
One of the must-dos in Luxor is a hot air balloon flight over the countryside and temples of Luxor. The best time of day to do this is sunrise – partly to beat the heat, partly because it’s the most spectacular. Be sure to double check that you’ve booked a SUNRISE balloon flight – just because it’s early, doesn’t mean its necessarily sunrise (we were fooled by this when booking our flight through Viator…). However, we still got to enjoy a beautiful boat ride across the Nile at sunrise, and got to see all the other balloons rising across the horizon which was pretty stunning regardless! It’s probably best to visit the East and West Bank temples and tombs before doing the hot air balloon ride, to help you navigate the layout of Luxor.
There is an East Bank and a West Bank to Luxor, and both have various historic landmarks to see. The highlight of visiting Luxor is really the Valley of the Kings, located on the West Bank. You are able to walk through the tombs of famous pharaohs which is truly a surreal experience. Upon entry, you have the option to add on entry to additional tombs including the tomb of Tutankhamun. The Temple of Hatshepsut is also an iconic architectural area to visit (you’ll be able to see this from your hot air balloon flight really easily!). We also really enjoyed the Colossi of Memnon and the Valley of the Queens.
As far as the East Bank goes, try to visit Karnak Temple which is the largest complex of temples in the country featuring beautiful stone columns studded with heiroglyphics as well as obelisks and statues. The Avenue of Sphinxes connects Karnak Temple to Luxor Temple, which also features beautiful statues and heiroglyphics from Ancient Egypt. Both of these are fairly close to the Sofitel Winter Palace (walking distance!). We’ve also heard good things about the Luxor Museum and the Mummification Museum on the East Bank, but we did not have time to visit.
Add-ons
One thing we really wish we had time for but didn’t was a cruise down the River Nile. One of the shorter cruises departs from Aswan and arrives at Luxor but takes around 4 days – we found that the minimum length of time needed for a cruise was 3 nights.
During a future trip, we would also love to check out the beach resorts of Egypt such as Sharm El-Sheikh along the Red Sea, and the library of Alexandria which is a car ride away from Cairo.