When I was presented with the opportunity of joining my friend in Egypt, I was met with lots of fear from friends and family. Isn’t it dangerous there? Be careful. I don’t think that’s a good idea. I decided to determine all this for myself and purchase my flight to Cairo anyway. I’m now eternally grateful that I took that chance to see Egypt for myself – I almost missed out on a trip of a lifetime.
I felt completely secure in Egypt. Many places have higher security – such as armed guards at check points, or metal detectors at the entrance of any museum or hotel – due to past terrorist attacks, but this shows that the country is taking care to be aware and prevent further attacks. When it came to Egyptian people, everyone was very kind and accommodating. When ordering an Uber and receiving a phone call from a driver who didn’t speak English, I only needed to pass the phone to someone who did speak English (and often someone came up and offered to help), who would then show me how to find my driver, followed by a, “Welcome to Egypt!” The same help was readily given when navigating the Cairo metro, or looking for my train. Some people would even give me or my friend their phone number and say, “Call me if you ever need help. Welcome to Egypt!” Amazing. We met friends of friends in Egypt, who would treat us like we were old family friends, inviting us into their home and feeding us. The kindness we received was something I will never forget.
The only thing you should be wary of is the crazy driving, which is just a part of the culture, like in South America and Asia. It’s nothing to be too concerned of other than the fact that it may be a culture shock. Crossing the street is possible, but take care when crossing because cars may not stop.
So now, the fun part. What should you see in Egypt?
Aswan
Aswan is located in the Southern region of Egypt, but it was considered the North in Ancient Egypt, since the Nile runs up from South to North. The city sits along the Nile, and is full of history.
For a quieter, more cultural experience, I suggest staying in the Nubian Village. I stayed in Nubian Dream, which is a cute and very comfortable place to stay, with a view of the Nile river. They serve food all day (just be sure to order with an hour’s notice), and the dishes are amazing. You will be given an array of Egyptian dishes to share, family-style. The Nubian Village is lined with a small dirt-road, which is more often trafficked with camels than with cars. There is a small local market within walking distance where you may purchase unique souvenirs. Be sure to try some dates! As a plus, this area is also very safe. The market stalls are just covered with blankets at night, since there is no need to worry about theft.
One of the must-see’s of Aswan is Abu Simbel, the gates of Egypt. This will entail about a 3-hour bus ride south along the Nile. You’ll find that the Nile will become wider at this point – I honestly thought I had hit an ocean or sea. The Abu Simbel temples are decorated with impressive statues at the entrance, which was meant to demonstrate a strong Egyptian reign for nearby neighbors to see. You’ll find several battles scenes in the inside of The Great Temple, which perhaps was meant to intimidate any outsiders entering Egypt. Luckily, my friend studied Ancient Egypt in university and was able to explain to me the various symbolism on the walls. I suggest either researching ahead of time, or hiring someone who can explain the significance of what you’re seeing. It honestly makes these already incredible temples much more fascinating.
The Philae Temple is another beautiful historical site to see. It’s only about a thirty-minute drive from the Nubian Village, followed by a short boat ride. The Philae Temple rests on a rocky island in the Nile River, and is commemorated to Isis, who is the goddess of love, fertility, music, and beauty. There are several men who protect the temple walking around the grounds, who will readily guide you through the temple. Just be prepared to give them a tip. It’s a pretty temple with beautiful views of the Nile, so highly suggest paying a visit.
Since the Nile begins its flow in the south, you’ll find that it’s the cleanest and most beautiful in Aswan. You should definitely make time to enjoy the Nile while in Aswan, such as taking a nice, cool swim. Just be mindful of the current. Another way to enjoy the Nile is taking a boat ride at sunset. You may even arrange with Nubian Dream to have dinner taken aboard at the dock across the dirt road.
If you have time, and have an appreciation for beautiful hotels, pay a visit to the Cataract Hotel. The Old Cataract was once the king’s palace, and has now been converted to a luxury 5-star hotel. The grounds are gorgeous, as well as the historic hallways and the views of the Nile.
Luxor
Luxor is home to the most of Egypt’s historic landmarks. It rests along the Nile river, which once divided the city into the land of the dead and the land of the living. Once the tombs in the land of dead became populated with archeologists, the living began populating the west bank. There are sites to see on both the once “living” and “dead” sides of the Nile.
The Luxor Temple has perhaps one of the perplexing images on one of it’s walls, which absolutely fascinated me. In a time when microscopes hadn’t even been invented yet, Egyptian artists carved a scene of fertility, with an image of a sperm coming from a man’s genitals. How did Egyptian’s know about something that is too small for the human eye to see? I have yet to hear a theory. But this is definitely something you should see. There are sometimes guides at the entrance if you would like to have a greater understanding of the history and symbolism behind the temple.
Something I highly suggest is taking a hot air balloon over the land of the dead. This is a beautiful way to watch the sunrise, soak in the views of Luxor, and explore the temples and tombs of the west bank. At one point, the hot air balloon dipped low enough that we could have a close-up aerial shot of a temple. What a beautiful ride. The price is about $100, which is great for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
On the west bank of Luxor is the Valley of the Kings, which is an underground tomb system that was once inhabited by various mummied kings. The grounds are pretty large, so if you’re not up for a full day in and out of hot tombs, I suggest paying for the 3-tomb ticket and ask the cashier which tombs are the best to visit.
If need you a break from the sun, or are looking at good evening activity, the Luxor Museum is a great place to visit, with plenty of interesting exhibitions and descriptive plaques. The museum is open from 9am to 4pm, and then reopens from 5pm to 10pm.
I didn’t have a chance to visit the Karnak temple, but I heard it’s another important site on the list. I heard there is a lot of ground to cover, so give yourself time for your visit.
Cairo
You’re probably thinking, “What about the pyramids?” Yes, of course that’s on your list! The Pyramids of Giza is the most popular tourist site, and is definitely worth the visit. Most excursions are going to offer a horse or camel for you to ride. The one I took divided two camels and one horse between me and my two friends so we could switch off. Both a horse and camel are equally uncomfortable over a long period of time, so I’d go with the camel for the novelty of it. Give yourself time to research different tours and their rates. My friends didn’t research ahead of time, but we managed to bargain a full tour of the site for $50 each. You may choose to only see specific parts of the site if you want to spend less time or pay a smaller price. Be prepared for boys to offer to take various silly pictures of you kissing the sphinx or stepping on the pyramids. You can choose to have a fun photoshoot, just be prepared to tip.
There are a couple of museums in Cairo, which can be confusing when choosing which one to visit. I was told that the Egyptian Museum was the most important. The museum is huge, so be sure you make time to see the mummies (which is an extra ticket price) and King Tutankhamun’s golden coffins. He was the only king whose tomb was still in tact with luxuries, such as his throne, jewelry, golden mask, and more, all of which is exhibited at the museum. I began my visit without a guide, but there aren’t very many descriptive plaques, so you may want to hire a guide. That way you may understand what you’re seeing and learn more about Egyptian history and culture. I ended up finding a guide near the end of my visit and was glad I hired him. Usually a guide is about $15-20 an hour.
If you want to kill two birds with one stone, buying souvenirs at good prices while also visiting the most historic part of Cairo, make time for Al Moez Street (also known as Muizz Street). You’ll walk along old city walls, mosques, medieval mansions, and markets filled with Egyptian perfumes, light fixtures, teas, and more. In my opinion, it was the prettiest part of the city.
Egypt has much more to offer than just these three cities. I found myself constantly fascinated by this country and am looking forward to visiting it again to explore more. I was pleasantly surprised by the kindness of Egyptian people, and the freshness of their cuisine. Egyptians eat eggs, cheese, and meat, but you can easily find plenty of vegan and vegetarian-friendly options. If you’d like extra guidance for your travels in Egypt, I highly suggest contacting my friend Sherif, who is a tour guide and can put together an awesome travel itinerary. He definitely helped create a trip of a lifetime during my stay in Egypt. You may contact him at +20-100-110-4100, or at sherif.elhayawan@gmail.com.
