EGYPT

Egypt, a transcontinental nation, straddles the northeast corner of Africa and the Sinai Peninsula in southwest Asia. Bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Israel and the Red Sea to the east, Sudan to the south, and Libya to the west, it boasts a rich tapestry of history dating back to the Pharaonic era. Witness the grandeur of the Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms, each leaving behind remarkable feats of architecture and innovation.

Stand in awe before the Great Pyramid of Giza, a marvel of engineering and the sole surviving wonder of the ancient world. Decipher the mysteries of the Sphinx, explore the majestic temples of Luxor and Karnak, and delve into the royal tombs of the Valley of the Kings.

Embark on an unforgettable 9-day, 8-night adventure and discover the magic of Egypt. Immerse yourself in the timeless allure of the Pyramids of Giza, bask in the sun-kissed shores of the Red Sea, and cruise the legendary Nile River in Luxor

Day 1: Arrival in Cairo

We arrived at Cairo International Airport and got transferred to the hotel. We used the first day to rest and get used to the time difference. We got some additional free time in the evening to explore the light and sound show at the Pyramids of Giza.

(Light and Sound show)

Day 2: Trip to Alexandria

Day 2 was a trip to Alexandria. Founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BCE, Alexandria became a major center of Hellenistic civilization and trade in the ancient world. It was the capital of Ptolemaic Egypt and later served as a key city under Roman and Byzantine rule. Alexandria is about 200km from Cairo and it takes about 3 hours to reach.

The first stop here was the Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa. This is a necropolis consisting of a series of Alexandrian tombs, statues and archaeological objects of the Pharaonic funerary cult with Hellenistic and early Imperial Roman influences. The catacombs were named Kom El Shoqafa, meaning Mound of Shards, because the area used to contain a mound of shards of terra cotta which mostly consisted of jars and objects made of clay. These objects were broken and left by those visiting the tombs.

(Catacomb of Kom el Shoqafa)

(Alexander the great)

The next stop was the Bibliotheca Alexandrina. The Bibliotheca Alexandrina, commonly known as the Library of Alexandria, is a modern library and cultural center located in Alexandria. This is one of the largest libraries in the world. The library complex includes the Tarek El-Araby Planetarium, equipped with advanced technology for astronomical and scientific presentations.

(Bibliotheca Alexandrina)

(Planetarium)

(Mediterranean Sea)

Moving on to the Citadel of Qaitbay, often referred to as the Qaitbay Citadel, is a historic fortress located on the Mediterranean coast in Alexandria. The Citadel of Qaitbay was built in the 15th century, specifically between 1477 and 1480, during the reign of Sultan Al-Ashraf Qaitbay of the Mamluk Sultanate. The Citadel of Qaitbay was constructed on the site where the ancient Pharos Lighthouse, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, once stood.

We also visited the Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi Mosque, the biggest mosque in Alexandria. We then bade goodbye and returned to our hotel in Cairo.

(Citadel of Qaitbay)

(Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi Mosque)

Day 3: Pyramids

Our day 3 started with a visit to Giza, for the world-famous pyramids. The Pyramids are among the most iconic and well-preserved ancient monuments in the world. There are 3 main pyramids in Giza, Great Pyramid of Khufu - the largest among the three, Pyramid of Khafre - second biggest, built by the son of Khufu and Pyramid of Menkaure - the smallest of them and built by Menkaure, son of Khafre. The Great Sphinx is a massive limestone statue with the body of a lion and the head of a pharaoh. It is believed to be a guardian to the pyramids. The purpose of the pyramids was primarily as elaborate tombs for the pharaohs, housing their bodies and treasures for the afterlife. The construction techniques used in building the pyramids remain a subject of scholarly debate.

(The Pyramids)

(The Sphinx)

From the Pyramids, we moved to downtown Cairo for the Egyptian Museum. All the artefacts from the excavation in the deserts of Egypt are placed here. Mummies and artefacts from the three major kingdom eras Old Kingdom, Middle Kingdom, and New Kingdom can be found here.

We also visited the Papyrus Museum to learn about the ancient form of paper.

The last stop was the Khan El-Khalili Bazaar for a bit of shopping. This marketplace is known for its spices, jewellery and souvenirs.

We returned to our hotel for the night.

(Egyptian museum)

(A mummy in the museum)

(A sarcophagus used to carry a mummy) 

Day 4: Arrival at Aswan and Philae temple

We took an early morning flight to reach Aswan, a city in the southern part of the country on the bank of the river Nile. The city serves as the gateway to Upper Egypt. Aswan is notable for the Aswan High Dam, a massive dam built across the Nile River. Completed in 1970, the dam controls flooding, generates hydroelectric power, and provides water for irrigation. This was our first stop once we landed in Aswan. 

We moved from the dam to the Philae temple. Located on Agilkia Island in the reservoir created by the Aswan High Dam, the Philae Temple is dedicated to the goddess Isis. It was relocated to its current location to avoid submersion by the rising waters of Lake Nasser, which is the largest artificial lake in the world. 

(Aswan airport)

(High Dam, Aswan)

(Nasser Lake)

(Philae temple)

Following this, we checked in to our next activity, a cruise trip. It is another popular activity - a cruise journey from Aswan to Luxor. We also had a quick walk tour of Aswan and returned to our cruise for a good rest.

(Lady Carol Cruise)

(Aswan town)

Day 5: Abu Simbel and Kom Ombo temple

Another early morning start to visit the Abu Simbel temple. About 300kms from Aswan, a 3.5-hour drive along the desert, on the border of Egypt and Sudan, takes to the other side of Lake Nasser, Abu Simbel. There are two rock temples, built during the reign of Pharaoh Ramesses II and are among the most iconic and impressive monuments of ancient Egypt. The temples were originally located closer to the Nile River but were relocated to their current site during the construction of the Aswan High Dam. The main temple is dedicated to the gods Ra-Harakhty, Ptah, and Amun, while the smaller temple is dedicated to Nefertari, Ramesses II's favorite queen. The Great Temple is the larger and more famous of the two. It features four colossal statues of Ramesses II seated on thrones at the entrance, each reaching a height of approximately 20 meters. One of the remarkable features of Abu Simbel is the solar alignment during certain times of the year. On two specific dates (February 22 and October 22), the rising sun illuminates the inner sanctum of the Great Temple, reaching the statues at the back of the sanctuary. With a lot of photos, we were back to our cruise ship for the lunch.

(Abu Simbel temple)

(Boats on the Nile)

The rest of the day was at leisure until evening, when the ship stopped for a visit to the Kom Ombo temple. The Kom Ombo Temple was built during the Ptolemaic dynasty. It is about 40kms north of Aswan. Kom Ombo is a dual temple, with each side dedicated to a different set of deities. The southern half is dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek, associated with fertility and protection, while the northern half is dedicated to the falcon-headed god Horus, the elder son of Osiris and Isis. Kom Ombo is known for its historical connection to crocodiles, and a small museum on the temple grounds houses mummified crocodiles. We were back in the ship for a sumptuous meal and a good rest. 

(Kom Ombo temple)

(Crocodile mummy)

Day 6: Edfu and Luxor East Bank

Day 6 again was an early start. A horse carriage ride from the cruise ship brought us to the Edfu temple. The Edfu Temple, also known as the Temple of Horus, is an ancient Egyptian temple located on the west bank of the Nile River. The temple is dedicated to the god Horus, the falcon-headed deity associated with protection, kingship, and the sky. The construction of the Edfu Temple was initiated by Ptolemy III in the 23rd century BCE but was completed during the reign of subsequent Ptolemaic rulers and even the Roman emperor Augustus.

After the temple visit, again the rest of the day was spent in leisure until evening. We reached Luxor and set off for the Luxor temple.

(Edfu temple)

(Horse carriage at Edfu)

(Cruise on the Nile)

Luxor Temple is an ancient Egyptian temple complex located on the east bank of the Nile River. The east bank comprises of some amazing temples. It is believed that since the sun rises in the east, temples here would give the Gods and the Kings more power and protection. Luxor Temple was constructed over several centuries, with different pharaohs contributing to its development. Amenhotep III, Ramses II, Tutankhamun, and Horemheb are among the pharaohs associated with its construction. The temple was dedicated to the rejuvenation of kingship and primarily served as the focus for the annual Opet Festival. The temple was originally connected to the Karnak Temple complex by a long processional avenue lined with sphinx statues. Luxor Temple once featured a pair of colossal obelisks at its entrance, both of which were erected by Ramses II. One of these obelisks still stands, while the other was transported to the Place de la Concorde in Paris. We checked back to our cruise for the night.

(Luxor temple)

Day 7: Luxor West Bank and travel to Hurghada

We started the morning early again for the hot air balloon activity. We were picked from our cruise and we reached the west bank for the activity. We climbed onto the balloon and we saw mesmerizing views of sunrise along the Nile.

(Hot Air Balloon)

(Sunrise on the Nile)

After this, we visited other places on the west bank. If the east bank has all the temples, the west bank has a lot of tombs of the kings and queens. The first stop here was the Valley of the Kings. It served as a burial ground for numerous pharaohs and high-ranking officials during the New Kingdom period of ancient Egypt. The valley is surrounded by rugged cliffs, providing a natural barrier and contributing to the secrecy and security of the tombs. The valley contains over 60 known tombs, though not all of them belong to pharaohs. Notable pharaohs buried in the Valley of the Kings include Tutankhamun, Ramses II, Seti I, and Tuthmosis III. Tutankhamun's tomb, discovered in 1922 by Howard Carter, is particularly famous for its intact treasures. 

(Valley of Kings)

(Mummy of Tutan Khamun)

From here, we moved to the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut. The temple was commissioned by Queen Hatshepsut's royal architect Senenmut and built during the 15th century BCE, in the New Kingdom period. The Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut served as a funerary monument and was designed to honor and commemorate Queen Hatshepsut, who ruled as pharaoh for around 22 years. The temple is a masterpiece of ancient Egyptian architecture and is characterized by its unique design. It consists of three terraced levels connected by ramps and features colonnades, statues, and reliefs.

The third stop was the Colossi of Memnon. The Colossi of Memnon are two massive stone statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III, situated on the west bank of the Nile River near Luxor. The Colossi of Memnon were erected to stand guard at the entrance of Amenhotep III's mortuary temple, serving both a religious and monumental purpose.

(Queen Hatshepsut temple)

(Colossi of Memnon)

The last stop was on the east bank, the Karnak temple. The Karnak Temple Complex is one of the largest and most significant religious sites of ancient Egypt. Construction at Karnak began around the Middle Kingdom (circa 2000 BCE) and continued for over 2,000 years, with each pharaoh adding structures or making modifications. The Great Hypostyle Hall is one of the most iconic features of Karnak. It is a vast hall with 134 massive columns, some reaching over 20 meters in height. The hall was constructed during the reign of Seti I and completed by his son Ramses II. Karnak includes a large artificial lake known as the Sacred Lake. It was likely used for ritual purification and symbolic representations of creation and rebirth. The complex is primarily dedicated to the Theban Triad: the god Amun, his consort Mut, and their son Khonsu.

(Karnak temple)

(Sacred lake at the temple)

After the Karnak temple, we started on our journey to Hurghada. Hurghada is a beach-resort city along the Red sea. It is about 320km from Luxor, nearly a 4-hour drive. We reached Hurghada late evening and we checked it to our resort. After a tiring day, we had no energy to explore more and tucked into our beds.

Day 8: Trip to Paradise island

We woke up fresh the next day and were ready for the day. The penultimate day was a trip to the Paradise Island, Giftun. We were picked in a cab and reached the Hurghada Marina. From here, a lot of boats ply to Paradise Island. There are specialized boats for the ride, which also have a submarine. The boat stopped in the middle of the sea, where we could see lot of aquatic life from the submarine. We then stopped at the Paradise Island. We basked in the sun and played in the beach before a delicious lunch awaited us. After lunch, we took part in the snorkelling activity and a banana boat ride as well. A surprise awaited us as we could spot dolphins and orcas in the sea. We returned to our resort in the evening after a fun-filled day.

(Hurghada Marina)

(Paradise Island)

Day 9: Departure from Egypt

We had an early morning flight to Cairo and from there on our journey back home.

Egypt was amazing and will remain memorable. In this trip, we not only visited historical structures but also other experienced activities like the hot air balloon, the Nile cruise, snorkelling among others. We thoroughly enjoyed our vacation here.

NOTES:

1. Egypt gets too cold during winters. Pack your thermal wear.

2. October to April is the best time to visit and this is the winter season here

3. Tipping is mandatory. Please keep a good amount of local currency.

4. Buy bottled water at supermarkets wherever possible.

5. Vegetarian food is minimal. Local vegetarian food includes Koshary and Falafel. These are good.

6. Buffet meals include vegetarian food but options are minimum.

7. Be careful about scamsters in the country.