Looking for an all-year destination to add to your (ever-growing) bucket list? With culture, a warm welcome and the chance of a bargain? Look no further than Egypt, where history, hospitality, heat, and the opportunity to haggle collide, offering you the adventure of a lifetime.
For over 7000 years, Egypt has been a source of wonder and delight. With one of the oldest recorded written languages and home to two of the seven Wonders of the Ancient World, it is the perfect destination for anyone passionate about history.
Start your adventure in Cairo, a cosmopolitan city straddling the Nile where the ancient and modern worlds jostle. Though the streets are busy, transport is cheap, and you can catch tantalising glimpses of the pyramids while travelling through the city.
Cairo is every bit the vibrant, excellent, breathtaking destination you have ever dreamed it to be. What bucket list was made for!
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Massive and imposing, the Pyramid complex at Giza is a must-see whether your passion is history or art, or simply a love of all things wonderful. Take the opportunity to climb high inside the Great Pyramid of Khufu to the burial chamber, and marvel at the night sky carved into the stone. (It is quite a climb, and is enclosed and hot – be mindful if you are not comfortable in enclosed spaces) Take a camel ride across the dunes, marvel at the views and then head over to the enigmatic Sphinx.
Don’t miss out the Necropolis at Saqqara, where you will see even older monuments, such as the Stepped Pyramid built by Djoser over 5000 years ago.
You cannot leave Cairo without spending time at the famous Cairo Museum. Permanent home of the Tutankhamun exhibition, his golden sarcophagus is just one of the many treasures on display. The museum is rich in priceless papyri and filled with room after room of gold and precious jewels. You can even come face to face with some ancient mummies. We love this half-day, private tour of the museum.
Take the overnight train from Cairo to Aswan, an adventure not to be missed, and be woken to breakfast and the contrasting views from either side of the train—Desert, sand and mountains on one side, and fertile floodland on the other.
Whether you take a cruise or a local felucca, a cruise on the Nile is exhilarating. Relax with a drink as ancient monuments, palm trees and beautiful scenery glide by.
Another adventure awaits in Luxor and The Valley of the Kings. Nothing can prepare you for the astonishing vividness of the colours inside the tombs. As your eyes accustomed to the light, brilliant gold, blue and red jump out at you as the paintings bring the glory of ancient Egypt to life.
Since ancient times, Egyptians have organised feasts to honour their guests, and warm and welcoming hospitality has always been a part of Egyptian culture. Local guides can take you to the best places to find a bowl of the national dish, Kushari (rice, macaroni, and lentils mixed, topped with a spiced tomato sauce, garlic vinegar, and garnished with chickpeas and crispy fried onions ). This may sound strange, but it’s fantastic (and filling – I managed just one plate). There are also spiced sauces on the table so that you can add as much, or as little, spice as you want. Be careful! or a cup of sweet sahlab (made with vanilla and milk).
Whether it is your first visit or your 100th, Egyptian hospitality never wavers.
You are in Northern Africa. Africa! So you are pretty much guaranteed sun all year round with the bonus of beautiful sunrises and sunsets to mark the passing of the days. The summer months, June to August, can be very hot, with temperatures often rising to a melting 40 degrees. If you like it hot, then that is the time to go. For the best experience, we recommend planning your visits between October and April, when the weather is cooler. Although it may be cooler, the temperature can still rise to 30 degrees during the day.
If you love markets and shopping for a bargain, Egypt is your ideal destination, as every town and village has its marketplace. In Cairo, you will find the famous Khan El Khalili Market, a 500-year-old bazaar selling everything from spices to handmade jewellery. A first step into the market may be overwhelming, but with the right attitude and some top-level bargaining skills, it is a fantastic place to pick up some beautiful souvenirs and meet some notable locals. Be prepared for some fantastic sights, from donkey carts stacked with vegetables to motorbikes piled high with merchandise. You will come for the bargains, but we know you will stay for the experience.
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We hope you are still full of inspiration and wanderlust for your next adventure – after all planning is all…
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