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Egypt is a land of wonder. From the epic pyramids, the mystic Nile, and endless layers of stories, this is the kind of trip that will literally blow your mind at every turn. The scale of everything you see will blow you away. The fact that this all happened thousands of years ago will blow you away. The waves of heat will also blow you away. This is simply put the best way to put together a 10 day itinerary for Egypt of your dreams.
Follow along below to find out what the journey looked like from start to end including what to see, do, eat, and where to stay. This classic 10 day Egypt itinerary will contain detailed information that you need to know before you go and is also highlighted by the Nile cruise for those that are trying to figure out which experience to book. Let’s jump right in!
10 Day Itinerary for Egypt Highlights
These 10 days in Egypt are what many consider to be the “Classic Egypt” trip but it’s anything but boring. It is such a unique experience all around but it’s a select few things that really made this itinerary special.
Here are my top 5 highlights of Egypt that will make your trip unforgettable!
The Great Pyramids of Giza
Dahabiya Nile Cruise
Valley of the Kings
Sofra Restaurant
Abu Simbel
Curious where we stayed to get those epic views of the Pyramids? There are a number of boutique hotels in Giza that have rooftop views like this one called Comfort Pyramids Inn which is relatively new.
Egypt is on many bucket lists but is often one destination that’s harder to plan because of so many different factors that can include safety, price, complexity, and timing. I’m here to at least make at least one of those excuses go away with this 10 day itinerary that includes an Egypt cruise along the Nile, and seeing certifiably the most impressive ancient monuments you’ll see anywhere in the world.
As I do with all of my other itineraries, this is information packed with how you should plan your vacation to Egypt if you have a limited number of days. This closely follows how we did our trip with Djed Egypt Travel including places to visit in Egypt, where to stay, what to do, and insider tips that you can only learn by being on the ground.
Trip Planning Map
If you’ve seen my 7 Days in Austria Itinerary, 14 Day Greek Islands Itinerary, or Best Ramen in Tokyo, you’ll know that I’m a big fan of trip planning maps especially for when I’m on the road. I always have one prepared before I travel so that I can quickly pull them up for reference. With this map, you’ll be able to take this to go and have it ready for you on your phone or use it as part of your itinerary planning.
Tip: View the Egypt 10 Day trip planning map in full screen and create a copy (this step is key) for yourself. Make tweaks for your own trip and in Google Maps, you’ll be able to view it by going into the menu, selecting “My Places” and the “Maps” tab.
You need to read the companion Egypt travel guide that has literally everything that I learned from this trip and will answer all of your deepest and possibly dark questions. I totally get planning a trip to Egypt is hard so click below to get all the insider scoop.
Getting to Cairo may be easy for some but a long journey for others so for your first day of this 10 day itinerary for Egypt, you shouldn’t have too much planned because you’ll want to settle in and try to get over the jet lag quickly.
The introduction to the capital starts immediately upon descent as if you’re lucky enough to have a window seat and the approach is the same as ours was, you’ll have the most incredible aerial view of the pyramids. It’s almost like the landing path is specifically designed to give you this perfect view of Giza.
Travelling with Djed Egypt Travel
While you can try to do Egypt solo, my personal experience with the country is one where I found that travel is much easier and smoother if you go with a local tour company. You’ll have to read the piece to get the full picture but trust me, you’ll need it especially if you only have a certain number of days to work with.
Djed Egypt Travel is the tour operator we chose for this trip and one thing you’ll find with them is that 1) all their trips are private and 2) it’s end-to-end service.
This is immediately apparent when you land in Cairo. Their guides have special access to wait for passengers before you even get to customs. It may sound strange but surprisingly helpful because it’s not obvious how to purchase Egypt’s visa-on-arrival. All you have to do is hand the $25 USD per person over to the guide and they find the shortest line and get you sorted. Another benefit is that one your way out of the airport, the sea of people asking if you want a ride, magically part ways as you make your way out to the van. You’ll understand why this matters later.
Looking for an alternative to Djed Egypt Travel? This tour by G Adventures is pretty close to what we did but across 12 days. If you can afford the extra 2 days, this is a great choice because you get to go to Alexandria as well! G Adventures Egypt Upgraded Plus
If you are on your own and need private transfer service to your hotel, you can check this out.
Most likely, your hotel will be in Giza. This is recommended because this neighbourhood is actually a long drive from the city because of insane traffic and for your Day 2, you’re going to want an early start.
For the rest of your day, feel free to walk along the main street in Giza, explore your resort, or just hang out on your rooftop while watching the sunset. Like I said, Day 1 is a nice chill day before the pace picks up dramatically.
Before your guide leaves, make sure you ask your guide where a recommended place to eat is because they’ll know the spots that are cleaner and safer to eat. If you’re staying at the Comfort Pyramids Inn like we did, have dinner at the Egyptian restaurant, Abu Shakra.
Plan to withdraw Egyptian Pounds (EGP) on your first day as well since you’ll need some to get you started if you don’t have any. In Giza, there’s an exchange shop along the main drag called Roxy Exchange. There are also ATM’s that can exchange USD but we found that these machines were quite finicky in recognizing notes and the rate was a little worse. Tips on how much to exchange and money matters at in the quick Egypt travel guide below.
Another activity you can consider is the Sound and Light Show at the Pyramids especially if you don’t have rooftop views in Giza. I’ll be straight up with you that from our rooftop the light show seemed to be quite slow. I was expecting more laser projections or more changing of colours but it was mostly big flood lights shining up at the pyramids while listening to someone like David Attenborough going through a full episode of Planet Earth. Mind you, we could barely hear the audio and we couldn’t see what was projected at the base of the Sphinx but that’s what we saw and heard.
Day 1 Summary
What you’ll see:
Giza
Where you’ll eat:
Dinner – Abu Shakra – Egyptian restaurant serving traditional dishes at an affordable price. Located right in the heart of Giza and is easy to get to.
Where to stay:
As with my all of my trips, I was able to find everything I needed through Booking.com because of their massive inventory and variety in terms of types of accommodations. Another thing to consider is that they have way better cancellation policies compared to Airbnb. Here, I share with you where I personally stayed but also recommended alternatives that I think you’ll like based on different budgets.
New property in the area that was just too cheap to pass up. At just over $20 USD a night, you get free breakfast, wifi and rooftop views like this. They are still fixing up a few things but for the price, I’d book this place again.
Similar to the property above and only a tad more experience. The equally have really epic views from their rooftop and similar amenities and style of rooms. Rooftop may not be as high but you do get full view of the Sphinx.
For an affordable resort that is much more polished than the above two, this is one of the top properties in Giza. Cash, points, or both work well here for those with Marriott and you get the benefit of much larger grounds, pool, and a space that’s more children friendly.
This used to be a lodge for the Khedive (viceroy) of Egypt and also has a significant amount of history, and has now been converted to one of the top properties in the city including 40 acres of green gardens and has a spa, fitness centre, pool, luxurious decor, and excellent service.
Your second day in Egypt is going to be packed! It’s going to be exciting, education but also exhausting, and extended so get ready. This portion is identical to the 3 day Cairo itinerary if you’re looking to just do the capital.
TIP: Start as early as possible even if your guide doesn’t offer this up initially. The pyramids open at 8AM so ideally you’re one of the first ones there before or as the giant tour busses roll in. With that, pick up at 7AM or 7:30AM (depending on where your hotel is) is what I’d recommend. Even though you might be looking at the Sphinx and the south entrance to the pyramids, there’s actually a bit of a drive around Giza to get to the entrance for The Great Pyramid so that time needs to be accounted for.
To see the the pyramids and the whole of the Giza Necropolis for the first time from your rooftop is jaw-dropping but then to be right at its base and see all the huge blocks of granite is something else.
When you get dropped off at the entrance that is closest to The Great Pyramid itself, you’ll first need to wait for your guide to purchase and pick up the tickets and then also pass through the standard x-ray machines. There are some tidbits about pricing, cameras, tripods, and microphones that are critical need to knows so make sure you read the box below.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Address: Al Haram, Nazlet El-Semman, Al Giza Desert, Giza Governorate, Egypt
Hours: Daily 8AM-5PM (October to March), 7AM-7PM (April to September)
Price: Prices have been updated as of November 2019 and the below reflects the current state. The Ministry of Antiquities has a terrible under-construction website but I managed to find the PDF of the prices. Check the updated 2019-2020 Egyptian Archeological Sites and Museum Prices. Note that these are prices for foreigners. If you’re local Egyptian, there’s a significant discount.
General admission to the Necropolis: 200 EGP
Entering The Great Pyramid aka Cheops aka Khufu: 400 EGP
Entering Khafre’s Pyramid: 100 EGP (closed at the time)
Entering Menakaure’s Pyramid: 100 EGP (closed at the time)
Entering Mers Ankh Tomb: 50 EGP
Combo ticket for all extra admissions: 500 EGP
Students with ID are half price
Photography:
Bad news – The general rule of thumb is that any of the extra paid entrances don’t allow cameras.
Good news – When they say no cameras are allowed, it really means anything that isn’t a smartphone or I suppose something that fits on your pocket. Smartphones can be used inside the tombs/pyramids. Videos are technically not allowed but it’s not enforced.
Enforcement – Cameras are strictly enforced at the entrance but for Giza specifically there weren’t any guards inside for us.
Khufu Sun Boat Museum – No cameras are allowed but they do have storage cubbies for bags at x-ray security that our guide trusted them with so my assumption is that this area is more dependable. Photo passes can be purchased but is 50 EGP and don’t think it’s worth it especially when you really just want a few snaps from your phone.
Tripods – Tripods require an additional cost of 20 EGP which I paid. In retrospect, it’s honestly not needed and I should’ve just left it in the van since there was never an opportunity to use it.
Microphones – Do not bring microphones. I had mine in my backpack because I bring it everywhere but it showed up on the x-ray. They wanted to confiscate it and have us pick up later but our guide said that I would never see it again so he had to pay them off. We learned the hard way that microphones are seen as videographer gear and that requires a whole other level of government approvals.
Someone to watch your bags – Another reason why you want a guide is because you can’t nor want to enter any of the pyramids with your backpacks. Our guide patiently waited outside as we entered The Great Pyramid and a few others. This means your bags are safe and you won’t need to take turns or anything like that.
Tips:
Most tourist buses arrive around 9AM and is at its peak crowds until 11AM, you can try to avoid this by coming at a different time.
If you’re with a guided tour like we were, general admission to the site is included but any of the extra add-ons are out-of-pocket unless you negotiated it in your tour price.
Our guide was adamant about not showing our tickets to anyone that asks since there’s a scam out there where someone will claim your tickets are false and confiscate them. As a result, we were instructed to only show our tickets when he told us to.
Thinking about camels? I get to that in a bit.
After a number of repeated incidents, climbing of the pyramids is fully not allowed.
Getting to the King’s Chamber in The Great Pyramid is not for everyone. You have to be physically able, have good footwear, not be claustrophobic, can wiggle through tight spaces, and okay with intense heat built up from all the bodies inside.
Once you’re in, you’ll freeze up from the awe of what you’re looking at. I for one was thinking about how I’ve been reading about the pyramids since elementary school and now I was standing on the same sand and stone and looking at all the imperfections of each step that rises to an unbelievable height. You almost won’t know what to do – do you get closer, do you snap photos, do you take a selfie, or actually listen to what your guide is saying?
You snap back to reality and if you have a great guide like ours, Mohamed, he’ll draw you in by telling you the story of Pharaoh Khufu (also known as Cheops), the building of the pyramids, the choosing of the plateau, its relationship with the Nile, and much more.
While you’ll find that you’ll want to spend a lot of time here, the experience will feel a little rushed. As the crowds start mounting from the tour busses, you’ll make your way to the literal steps up the pyramid that lead to the now not-so-secret entrance.
Some might tell you that it’s not worth it to go inside but honestly when else are you going to be able to climb into the largest pyramid and get another wave of bewilderment of how the heck they built these structures.
The walk in starts off easy as if walking into a cave but that soon changes as you have to walk down and then back up a narrow shaft that’s not wide enough for the two-way traffic and not tall enough either so you’re side stepping and crouching as you walk. You finally get to the Grand Gallery where it opens up and what’s truly impressive are size, angle, and layering of the stone. There’s a bit more air here before you have to duck down into a smaller chamber (connected to an air shaft) and then another that finally puts you in the King’s Chamber.
I’m not going to lie, it’s a tough one because of the intense heat, awkward walking position, two-way squeezes, and being behind people that really shouldn’t be in there. That said, if you stop and take in the marvel of the engineering and think about what you’re actually in, you can’t help but just say “Wow!”
The King’s Chamber doesn’t have much. Blackened stone surround all sides, there’s a sarcophagus with nothing inside, and a ceiling that consists of the some of the largest slabs of granite that weigh easily up to 80 tonnes. You also might find people meditating inside the chamber.
Emerging from the pyramid, your guide will take you around the corner to see a few of the Queens’ Pyramids (including Queen Hetepheres) where you can also go inside.
Continue around and you’ll learn about the Khufu Sun Boat (also Solar Boat) which was discovered in a sealed pit at the foot of The Great Pyramid. Right at the site of the discovery is a large enveloping museum that has a fully reconstructed ship that was used in the time of the Old Kingdom.
Next up is the camel experience. It’s not something for everyone and having done it, I hesitate to recommend it but here’s what to expect.
Getting picked up by the Djed Egypt Travel van near the road that cuts between Khufu and Khafre’s pyramid, you’ll get a ride up and around to a point called Panorama. This spot is 1) great for panoramic views of the pyramids and 2) where all the camels were it seemed like.
Our guide made a phone call and there was already a few men waiting for us to get on. I can’t say that they were really custom-hired but simply we were slotted in the rotation of people herded like sheep through panorama. The benefit of going through Mohamed was that the prices were all pre-negotiated and since he was there with us, there was no chance of any bait-and-switch.
The ride was lacklustre but it did give us a little bit of riding time along a very specific path in the desert. For the photos, we just abruptly stopped somewhere and all of our shots had a bunch of other tourists in the background doing the same thing in the area.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Back Story: Once we landed in Cairo, we were asked whether we wanted to do camel riding at the pyramids and if so for how long. It came down to not being sure whether there’d be another opportunity for it so we said yes. The heads up was needed because our guide told us that there are way too many scammers in the area where they tell you that it’s 100 EGP to ride a camel but then tell you when you’re done that this doesn’t include getting of the camel and then extort you for $50 USD or more. Admittedly, our guide said it’s a serious problem and not the right way but unfortunately there’s no enforcement.
Price:
Camel Ride: 15 USD per person for 30 minutes.
Tipping: Recommended 100 EGP per person.
Tips:
There is no possibility to get off the camel during the ride so you have to rely on your camel guide for photos (keep your standards real low and expect the tacky poses).
While we had booked for 30 minutes, I feel like we got something closer to 20. That said, I’m not sure if any longer of an experience would’ve been any better.
Honestly if you want more serious riding experience, I’d look elsewhere. You really do this for the photo op and even then you’re not guaranteed to get great photos because you won’t really be able to direct them to go to a very specific area or to do an extensive shoot. If you do, you will need to spell this out to your guide so they can look for another vendor.
There will be intense pressure from your guide to tip more. Don’t succumb to the pressure because you can easily walk away. You’ll hear a lot of “You happy? Ok make me happy!”
For those that are on their own, you can consider a few of these alternatives:
The last part of your tour of the this incredible UNESCO world heritage site is The Great Sphinx at its base. You’ll be driven down and dropped off at the southern entrance. One thing I should mention is that at this point you’ll be feeling the heat exhaustion so make sure to take advantage of the time in the van by re-organizing any gear in your bag, dropping unnecessary weight in the van, and chugging water. Again, the huge benefit of having your own private tour is that there’s more or less an unlimited supply of water and the security of leaving things in the van that’s exclusive to you.
You won’t have too much time here but enough to take a few clean shots at the front, learn from your guide about its purpose and the temples that stand in front of the iconic guardian, and finally you can get up close to the one side of the Sphinx to see the details of the paws, tail, and do your cringe-worthy kiss photo. I won’t judge if you do because Chantelle did it ;)
Okay at this point it should be about noon but it’ll feel like you just spent a full day here. This should dispel the myth that it only takes 1 to 1.5 hours to see all of the pyramids here. With what’s been laid out here, you can see that we’ve barely scratched the surface and it was incredibly rushed.
It’s time to bust out of Giza and head on down to the town of Dahshur (also referred to as Dashur). It’s about an hour to get down there and along the way you’ll encounter a few security checkpoints which we learned is pretty normal in Egypt. There’s also a military base right adjacent to the ancient site so you might also see a giant line up of trucks bringing supplies in.
The two main pyramids to visit here are the Bent Pyramid and Red Pyramid. You’re in for a treat here because this archeological site is magnificent and has only 5% of the kind of crowds that Giza gets. I’m serious. While we were here, we only saw 10 people?
Timing is everything and another bonus you’ll get coming here is that as of 2019, they’ve opened the Bent Pyramid to the public for the first time since 1965. Before you could only see the pyramid from the outside but now you can actually get inside to the King’s Chamber. What’s unique about this pyramid is that it almost seems impossible how they found a way to the chamber. To get there, you’ll need to crouch/walk down and up a narrow tunnel from a raised entrance, climb a number of flight of stairs, and then walk through more rock carved tunnels to eventually a multi-level chamber where bats have made it their home. While you’re here, you’ll be lucky to encounter anyone inside.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Address: Al Giza Desert, Giza Governorate, Egypt
Hours: Daily 8AM-5PM
Price: This price was included with our tour and was a quick process at the entrance
General admission to Dahshur archeological site: 60 EGP
Students with ID are half price
Photography:
Bad news – Technically no cameras inside.
Good news – Smartphones are fine.
Enforcement – There’s one “guard” at the entrance but he honestly is more focused on taking photos for you so he can ask for tips.
Tips:
No backpacks or any bags inside. Leave everything other than what you need in the car.
Compared to The Great Pyramid, this is a way better experience because there’s nobody or very few people inside but it is also much more physically challenging because you have to take the stairs to get to the entrance followed by a much longer and more narrow tunnel, flies buzzing around, and the extra staircase inside. The good thing is that there’s a very nice breeze flowing through. Only attempt if you’re physically able.
Account for roughly 40-50 minutes just to do the Bent Pyramid.
You have the option of doing the same at the Red Pyramid but if you’re like us, you’ll be too tired to do it all over again. The van’ll be parked near it so you can snap a few quick photos before moving to the next spot.
What’s different about the two pyramids is that the Bent Pyramid was built by pharaoh Sneferu in 2600 BC and the second of 3 he built. The Red Pyramid, named for the rusty hues of the red limestone, was Sneferu’s third pyramid and often thought as Egypt’s first successful attempt and construction a true smooth-sided pyramid.
At this point, lunch will be on your mind but the challenge with archeological sites in Egypt are that they all close by 5PM. We were given the option to eat lunch or power through and we opted to head straight to Saqqara’s sites.
The Step Pyramid or Pyramid of Djoser is where it all began when the pharaoh wanted a mortuary complex and had a mastaba or flat-roofed ancient tomb built. You’ll learn how his vizier and architect Imhotep had a vision for something grander and it eventually became what you see today.
While you can’t go inside, you’ll walk through a roofed colonnade passageway, giant courtyard, enclosure walls, and temple.
Not far off are satellite pyramids and additional tombs. The two that you’ll get to hurry through if you have time is the Pyramid of Teti and the Mastaba of Kagemni. Neither are large but you’ll see plenty of carvings, reliefs, and well-preserved colours whether it be inside the pyramid’s tomb or in the tomb of the 6th Dynasty’s early vizier to King Teti I.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Address: Al Giza Desert, Giza Governorate, Egypt
Hours: Daily 8AM-5PM
Price:
General admission to Saqqara and the Bent Pyramid site including the Imhotep Museum: 180 EGP
Tomb of Mereruka: 80 EGP
All inclusive ticket for Saqqara: 440 EGP
Students with ID are half price
Photography:
Bad news – The general rule of thumb is that any of the extra paid entrances including the special tombs and Pyramid of Teti don’t allow cameras.
Good news – The Step Pyramid site itself is all fair game since it’s all outdoors.
Enforcement – Pyramid of Teti had an extremely hands-on guard that followed us in trying to show us things but we completely ignored him.
Tips:
Worth it? The Step Pyramid is a must-see of course. I thought the Pyramid of Teti was a quick one to look at that was easy to walk down compared to the others of the day and it was really nice that Mohamed was able to squeeze in the Mastaba of Kagemni which was beautifully decorated with many stories, well-preserved with colour, and free.
You’ll be ready to collapse at this point from hydration and exhaustion which means it’s perfect time for that lunch/dinner. Nearby is the Blue Lotus Guesthouse where they also have a special farmhouse lunch. This buffet-style meal was exactly what we needed with plenty of food for all of us, tea after our meal, and a place to wash up as well after such a long day.
On your way back, you’ll have the option of visiting a papyrus shop. Again, we knew it was primarily a shopping stop but YOLO right? In Giza is Golden Eagle Papyrus and there, like what you’ll have with the Alabaster in Luxor, is a demonstration of how papyrus paper is made, a free drink, and the awkward walking around to pretend you’re interested.
Breakfast – Basically skipped but we did bring our own granola bars and snacks from back home.
Lunch – Skipped.
Dinner – Saqqara Farmhouse at Blue Lotus Guesthouse – This is a bit of a hidden experience but this guesthouse also runs special home cooked Egyptian meals for lunch. We completely blew by our time slot but they were kind enough to cook for us for what really became dinner for us.
What a second day in Egypt right? Well for your third day of this 10 day itinerary of Eypt, things will slow down a bit but only a little bit.
Everything the previous day is all about pyramids but you still haven’t seen Cairo at all so it’s time to dive right in.
After zig-zagging through traffic and all of the crazy honking that comes with it, start your day off having breakfast in an older part of town. This is the kind of thing that your tour operator will need to help organize because these are hyper-local spots. The restaurant we went to didn’t even have an English name but does show up on the planning map above as (مطعم حمادة).
Our guide ordered everything and the food just kept piling including traditional dishes like ful, falafel, eggplant, additional dips, and other fried goodness.
For the main event of the day you’ll be spending a good amount of time at the original Museum of Egyptian Antiquities or simply the Egyptian Museum. This will soon be outdated because a brand new Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) is opening in early 2021 where all the collections will be moving to but for the time being, this is still the de-facto museum for everything Ancient Egypt.
As with all museums, this one is massive, taking up two floors and packed with hallways, side rooms, special exhibitions, and more artifacts than you can take in. You’ll be extremely thankful to come here with an egyptologist because Mohamed really showed his worth here by being able to use the 4 hours allocated here to tell a complete story that was easy to digest and not overwhelming. By all means we didn’t see every corner of the Egyptian Museum but we got to see all the important bits.
What you’ll find with the Egyptian Museum is that the collections are incredible but the way they are housed and protected is quite outdated and the overall condition is deteriorating. That’s why I can’t wait to see what the new GEM will be like when it opens. Also, if you go between now and its opening, you’ll notice that many pieces are missing because they’ve already been transported over. More and more will be missing leading up to GEM’s opening.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Address: Tahrir Square Rd, Tahrir Square, Egypt
Hours: Saturday to Thursday 9AM -5PM, Friday 9AM -7:45PM with Sunday and Thursday having extended hours from 5:30PM – 9PM
Price:
General admission: 200 EGP
Mummies Halls: 180 EGP
Combo ticket (general + Mummies Hall): 300 EGP
Photography: 50 EGP
Night visits (Sunday and Thursday) are more expensive
FAQ:
Is photography allowed? Yes but only if you purchase a special photography pass. Smartphones are fine (again a trend you’ll see throughout Egypt). Exception is Tutankhamun’s room and the Mummies Halls.
Are bags allowed? Yes. There’s no coat check like in art galleries and they don’t prevent you from wearing big backpacks. You do have to go through the standard x-ray machine but nothing else beyond that. If you don’t plan to buy the photography pass, don’t bring your camera.
Is the photography pass worth it? I guess this depends on what you want to capture. I managed to shoot stills and videos here. What I did notice is that the glass panes were either scratched up, extremely reflective, or dirty so you have to work a bit to find the right angles.
Is the Mummies Halls worth it? Personally, I did come away with it feeling that these weren’t just a bunch of dusty mummies but instead incredibly interesting insight into just how good the mummification process was for pharaohs, their life, and how they died.
How much time do I need? You should plan for 4 hours at a minimum.
Tips:
If you have a camera with you and you can’t put it away in a car before entering the museum, just buy the photography pass because otherwise you’ll have to leave it at the front entrance in questionably safe cubbies.
There’s one primary mummy room where famous pharaohs like Ramses II are housed. This is where all the large tours go to but often overlooked is the second mummy room which is on the other side of the second floor so don’t miss that.
The special room for Tutankhamun’s artifacts does not allow photography. That said, nobody’s stoping you from taking photos of the mask from outside of the room!
Guides aren’t allowed in Tutankhamun’s room or the Mummies Halls.
Get picked up by the Djed Egypt Travel van and you’ll make your way into one of the oldest parts of Cairo. With your guide, you’ll start off at Bab al-Futuh, one of the three remaining gates in the walls of the Old City of Cairo, built in 1087.
From the gates and down Muizz street, you’ll feel the pulse of Cairo through the streets that act as arteries for all of the bustling activity that you’ll see, hear, and small. This is your chance to see locals going about their day, shops selling their wares, and the fascinating architecture of mosques and maze of the neighbourhood.
As you delve deeper, you’ll eventually make it to the Khan el-Khalili bazaar with its dazzling array of trinkets, souvenirs, artwork, antiques, and of course, lots of tourists. Meander through the grid stalls, and make sure you check out the entry-way that is flanked with vibrant lanterns on both sides (marked on the Egypt itinerary map).
Finish your guided walk at Al-Hussain Mosque and get picked up by your driver to finally have dinner (or late lunch). If your guide doesn’t recommend it, I’d definitely ask to go to a local spot like Koshary Abou Tarek to try a type of street food dish called koshary. Something of a Frankenstein college-dorm creation of spaghetti, rice, ditalini pasta, tomato sauce, lots of garlic, fried onions, lentils, and more. This dish was invented by Abou Tarek which started off as a street cart and eventually became so big that they now have their own restaurants and copy cats all over.
After your meal, take some time to walk the streets of Cairo and get a feel for what it’s like. From Koshary Abou Tarek, you’re not far from the main shopping street of the city. Do a little window shopping and people watching before picking up a cup of ice cream at Abdel Rahim Koueider.
If you’re lucky like we were with our local guide at Djed Egypt Travel, you can ask to hang out at a local street bar for fresh juice, mint tea, and/or shisha (this spot also marked on the planning map).
Before you head out, make sure to check out all of the current travel deals that we have curated. You never know, you might find some good ones to save you heaps of money. Current Travel Deals
It’s time to put Cairo behind and catch an early morning flight to Luxor because there is so much more of Ancient Egypt to explore and learn about.
The flight to Luxor only takes 1 hour so you’ll be there in the blink of the eye.
Upon landing in Luxor, you’ll be picked up by the Djed Egypt Travel team and you’ll hit the ground running since it doesn’t make sense to head to the hotel only to drop off the bags since your room won’t be ready.
The first site you’ll head to is Luxor Temple right in the middle of the city. Choose this over Karnak Temple because our guide, Hamdi, told us that the crowds would be insane in the morning with all the tour buses heading there.
Luxor Temple was started by Amenhotep III but continued to completed and added on by proceeding pharaohs. Its function was primarily for the annual Opet celebration where special statues were triumphantly carried from Karnak, along the Avenue of the Sphinxes.
When you arrive you’ll be greeted by a massive 24m-high pylon built by Ramses II and the remains of one obelisk. The deeper you go, more secrets of what the temple was used for and its builders and occupants are uncovered.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Address: Luxor City, Luxor, Luxor Governorate, Egypt
Hours: 6AM – 10PM
Price:
General admission: 160 EGP
Student tickets are half price
FAQ:
Is photography allowed? Yes photography is allowed everywhere. You will need to go through the standard x-ray machines that you’ll find at all ancient sites.
Are bags allowed? No limitations or issues with this.
Tips:
Come here early in the morning while all the other buses do Karnak Temple first.
If you can, return here at night because it is one of the few temples in Egypt that are open late and lit up to create beautiful plays of light and shadow on the columns and carvings.
When it comes to going through temple sites, it makes sense to let your guide explain everything first and then give you free time to take photos at your own pace instead of stressing out taking photos and listening at the same time.
With the large crowds gone, now’s the perfect time to switch over to one of my favourite ancient Egyptian sites, Karnak Temple. Also located on the East Bank of Luxor, you’ll get here in a matter of minutes.
This is a massive complex that will take time to explore. From sanctuaries, temples, kiosks, obelisks, and pylons, you’ll only see a fraction of them but through your visit you’ll learn more about how tightly connected this was with Luxor Temple and how the Thebans put so much of their focus on paying tribute to the gods Amun, Mut, and Khonsu during the New Kingdom.
Your guide will walk you through all the different sections built, added, dismantled, restored, and enlarged through various pharaohs.
The part where you’ll be immediately drawn to is the hypostyle hall which is literally a forest of giant papyrus-shaped columns below remains of what was a roof. Here you’ll find reliefs all around and the light bounces in so perfectly any time of day that you’ll want to take a ton of photos.
What continuously amazed me in Egypt and also at Karnak Temple is just how much of it still needs to be excavated and re-built. There are whole other sections that aren’t completed yet and perhaps in 50 years you’ll be able to come back and see even more.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Address: Karnak, Luxor, Luxor Governorate, Egypt
Hours: 6AM – 5:30PM
Price:
General admission: 200 EGP
Student tickets are half price
FAQ:
Is photography allowed? Yes photography is allowed everywhere. You will need to go through the standard x-ray machines that you’ll find at all ancient sites.
Are bags allowed? No limitations or issues with this.
Tips:
The crowds die off mid-day but the disadvantage is that it’s also insanely hot. Near-closing is also a good time to come because of the lighting.
There are security guards in traditional galabeya galore here whether it be at the hypostyles hall or near the Temple of Amun-Ra. They will aggressively approach you to take photos of you, show you “the best spot”, or get you to take photos of them. All of these will result in them asking for tips. If you need their help, this is fine but just know what you’re getting into. 10-20 EGP should be sufficient.
There are also police that roam here with guns and they behave like the security guards. We did get called out for not sitting on the columns so be careful there but ironically its the security guards that tell people to sit down for tips.
To be able to see the ruins at night, you have to go to the Sound and Light Show.
For your late lunch/dinner, you’ll head over to Sofra Restaurant & Café. This was highly recommended to us and boy did they not disappoint. On top of the traditional Egyptian decor and ambiance, the aromas from the kitchen and menu will surely make you want to order everything on the menu.
Start with the fresh juices. Depending on the season, they’ll have incredibly sweet mangos and guava. Another popular Egyptian drink is the lemon with fresh mint. To start, their 6 dish combo of hot and cold appetizer (called mézzes) is great to share where you have your choice of dippable spreads, grilled vegetables, meatballs, samosas, and others. For the mains, our server, Ragab, recommended the lamb, duck, veal, and mixed grill. To top it all off, we a fine selection of Egyptian pastries, and tea with fresh mint.
Dinner – Sofra Restaurant & Café – One of the best restaurants in Luxor that serves delicious traditional Egyptian meals with the perfect ambiance whether you’re upstairs or on the downstairs terrace.
Located on the West Bank of Luxor, this B&B type of hotel boasts an outdoor pool, sun terraces, garden, free wifi, and free breakfast. They are 400m from the boat ramp and in a much quieter part of the city which is an advantage.
For those looking for budget accommodations, this is a hotel/hostel where dorms and private rooms are available. Located in the centre of the city, it’s convenient to walk to Luxor Temple, super cheap and they include breakfast as well.
This is a great resort by Hilton on the Nile and close to Karnak Temple. Here you get the benefit of the high quality and standards Hilton sets while being able to collect/redeem points and also being out of the chaos of Luxor’s downtown streets.
This is Luxor’s penultimate hotel, stunning example of Victorian architecture, and a short walk to Luxor Temple. With grand staircases, high ceilings, and regal decor, you’ll be pampered with the pool, palm trees, and incredible service.
Get ready for a big day because for your fifth day, you’ll be tackling all of the biggest and most impressive sites on the West Bank of Luxor. It’ll be a step back in time that’ll leave you completely amazed.
You’ll be picked up at your hotel on day 5 of your Egypt itinerary and if you’re living already on the West Bank like we were at the Villa Nile House, you might capture the perfect glimmer of sunrise over Luxor Temple before going to a hyper-local falafel shop on the road.
I need to mention this falafel shop because I’ve had some pretty good ones around the world but this was by far the most delicious deep fried, flavour packed and fresh. Hamdi asked us the day before whether this would be okay to add to the itinerary and we all said a resounding “YES!” If you’re with Djed Egypt Travel, make sure you ask for it and your local guide will make it happen.
The first ancient Egyptian site you’ll visit is the famous Valley of the Kings. After going through a dynasty of building pyramids dedicated to the afterlife of pharaohs, they realized that this was too much work and so with Thebes playing a more central role in the religious importance, the kings moved to the idea of building rock cut tombs in a central valley in the New Kingdom (19th – 20th Dynasties). While they weren’t going to build pyramids anymore, they still made sure that there was the symbol of one and that is the triangular mountain peak that overlooks the valley.
Your visit to the royal necropolis starts off with a diorama of the area similar to what you saw at Karnak except this one allow you to see underground to give you a perspective of how they cut into the rock.
From there, there’s a short 5 minute trolley ride to the start of where the tombs are located.
Once you’re here, your guide will put together a plan of attack as he explains the general information about the site, excavation works, tomb robberies during the time of antiquity, and modern-day discovery.
Here are the tombs that we visited and in this particular order. I will also mark the tombs that I used the photography pass on in red.
KV11 – Ramses III
KV8 – Merenptah
KV9 – Ramses V/VI (paid)
KV62 – Tutankhamun (paid)
KV2 – Ramses IV
What will blow you away in these tombs is just how spiritually dedicated they were to the afterlife and how meticulous they were with the carvings, reliefs, and paintings that fill the corridors, side rooms, ante-chambers, final burial chamber and on the sarcophaguses themselves. You then start thinking about the work required to dig out all the stone.
It’s incredibly that archeologists like Howard Carter were able to find these amongst all of the sand and mounds of stone sitting above. Add to that the fact that there are probably more tombs yet to be discovered makes you appreciate the scale of the civilization.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Address: Luxor, Luxor Governorate, Egypt
Hours: 6AM – 5PM
Price:
General admission: 240 EGP
Tram (round trip): 4 EGP
Tutankhamun Tomb: 300 EGP
Ramses V/VI Tomb: 100 EGP
Seti I Tomb: 1000 EGP
Photography ticket: 300 EGP (as of late 2019)
Student tickets are half price
FAQ:
Are bags allowed? Yes.
Are cameras allowed? You’re allowed to bring anything to the site itself as the entrance x-ray machine will let cameras in even if you don’t have a camera ticket but they do check for photography tickets at the entrance of each tomb.
What about video? If there’s anything I learned in Giza, I wouldn’t come in with any microphones or tripods as they’re a magnet for trouble. Mic automatically means video and that’s something way above the guards’ pay grades so they’ll confiscate it or worse. Something like the Olympus EM1 that takes photo and video is the ideal set up if you plan on taking video.
Are smartphones allowed? Yes. I guess they haven’t found a way to police people from using their phones as cameras so they’ve given up. Go nuts seems to be the direction.
How does the general admission ticket work? Most people will go in buying one ticket. Each ticket gives you access to 3 tombs. As you enter each tomb, a guard will punch a hole in it.
How does the photography ticket work? The photography ticket allows you to take photos in 3 tombs only. Similar to the general admission, the guard will punch a hole for each tomb you use your camera in. Once you have 3 holes, that’s it so choose wisely and ask your guide for suggestions.
Is there a place to sit? Inside the tombs no but in the central gathering area there’s a waiting area that’s shaded for visitors.
Which tombs are open? This honestly changes day to day and year to year because of restoration works or whatever the government feels like. In October 2019, only 9 were open including the 5 that I visited.
How much time do I need here? 3 hours is safe to budget as this is roughly how long we took.
Tips:
If you look at the photos, these tombs are completely different from the pyramids and much easier to see. That said, I’d still recommend that you go to Valley of the Kings with a relatively light set up if you are bringing a backpack because you’ll be going to a bunch of different places and it will get very hot outside.
Do your research ahead of time and if you have a specific request of what you want to see, let your guide know. Otherwise, they will choose for you. If you want to see more tombs than the 3 in the one general admission ticket, buy a second one so you can see 6.
Most tour buses start streaming in after 9AM and are full force by 10AM (especially from the ones coming in from Hurghada) so you want to get here early in the morning. The other side benefit to this is that while the sun is still behind the valley, you’ll won’t have to contend with the insane heat.
Your guide is not allowed inside tombs so make sure you remember questions you want to ask after you come out. Your guide will also be helpful in holding onto your camera for the tombs you’re not shooting in.
For those that are on their own, you can consider a few of these alternatives:
While you can’t see it, just behind the mountain is another famous temple, the mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut. With very few female pharaohs in the Ancient Egyptian books, Queen Hatshepsut’s story is one that feels like it was lifted from the pages of Game of Thrones.
The story goes that Queen Hatshepsut grabbed power from her step-son, Thutmose III by sending him away to but then gets usurped by him later on and mysteriously disappearing from the history books.
Your guide will walk you through the impressive temple that’s cut into the mountain to blend organically with the towering cliffs of Deir el Bahri and in perfect alignment with winter solstice sunrise. You’ll learn more about this famous queen and how she also gained her power by getting the priests to tell the story of her divine birth.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Address: Kings Valley Rd, قسم الواحات الخارجة، New Valley Governorate, Egypt
Hours: 6AM – 5PM
Price:
General admission: 140 EGP
Student tickets are half price
FAQ:
Are bags allowed? Yes.
Are cameras allowed? There is an x-ray machine but cameras are allowed here with no restrictions.
How much time do I need here? 1 hour.
Tips:
Almost impossible to get clean photos here unless you come first thing in the morning.
For those that are on their own, you can consider a few of these alternatives:
You’ll feel like you’ve done a full day’s worth of things at this point so make sure you refuel in the van.
For a drastically different perspective of tombs from this time, head over to the Valley of the Nobles. With much less of a spotlight on this site, this is your chance to see where high-ranking officials were buried. Looking out into the vast open space, you’ll see hundreds of tombs embedded in rock. With the handful of them that are actually open, you’ll visit 3 of them as you hike into an unending maze of openings.
While you’re here, there’s a small house occupied by the artist and just so happens to be the uncle of our guide. There’s no pressure to buy here but this is your chance to see how the talented Ahmed Abdelfattah carves sandstone using the same techniques as the ancients.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Address: قسم الواحات الخارجة، New Valley Governorate, Egypt
Hours: 8AM – 6PM
Price: The pricing here is a little different as it seems to be based on the cluster of tombs you want to visit. The below is what we did since Ramose’s tomb is the largest and most impressive of the lot.
Valley of the Nobles (Ramose, Userhet and Khaemhet Tombs): 60 EGP
FAQ:
Are bags allowed? Yes.
Are cameras allowed? There are no x-ray machines here so you can bring your camera with you but you’re not allowed to use it.
Are smartphones allowed? Yes.
How much time do I need here? 30 minutes.
Tips:
Awkwardly, there’ll be a few guards that follow you around as you visit the tombs and this is normal. We saw our guide tip them. If you are coming here on your own, I imagine you’d have to tip them yourself which is again another good reason to use a local guide.
Cool down in the shade at the nearby Sekhmet Alabaster Shop where you’ll get to see a demonstration of how alabaster is carved into vases and bowls before being escorted into the store where you’ll serve you a drink similar to papyrus store in Cairo. If you’re not interested in buying anything, just be straight up with them so they don’t follow you around.
The next Ancient site you’ll head to is the Medinet Habu Temple. This is an important archeological site in the West Bank because its incredibly detailed reliefs of the war against the Libyans and the Sea Peoples during Ramses III’s reign.
Hamdi showed us how there are reliefs depicting the counting of severed male parts to tally how many kills were made on the battlefield.
Finally, you’ll make a quick stop at Colossi of Memnon where only the remains of two massive statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III sit. Unfortunately, there’s not much else to see in the surrounding area even though it is said a massive mortuary temple for Amenhotep to stand behind.
It should be around 3PM at this point. You can either head back to your hotel to freshen up or you can ask your guide to recommend a spot nearby. If you’re about to break down into a fit of hangry then maybe it’s best you get that late lunch/early dinner.
Since Sofra Restaurant & Café is that good, I’d recommend that you just head back because you’ll know what you’re getting. Try some of the dishes you didn’t get to the first time around and if you sat upstairs, try the downstairs terrace.
If you need to take the ferry to cross back and forth between West and East Bank, Djed Egypt Travel can help you arrange it or you can walk up to the port and grab a private boat ride for less than 10 EGP.
It’s worth noting that if you’re interested in a hot air balloon ride, don’t hesitate to reach out to your tour operator to see how you might be able to fit it in as Luxor is the place to do it. If there’s anything that I would say you can swap out could be Medinet Habu Temple and the alabaster shop.
I’ll be the first to admit that the first 5 days in this 10 day itinerary of Egypt are a crazy whirlwind. It’s the heat exhaustion, unending thirst, the sheer number of places to visit, and the skipping of meals. That’s why you will be looking forward to start off this day when the pace of things finally screech to a gentle rolling instead constantly going full steam ahead.
Want to know more details about the dahabiya?
If you want an in-depth guide into what it’s like to cruise the Nile in a dahabiya, make sure to read our review.
Start off with your complimentary breakfast at the Villa Nile House and get your luggage read to go for the 1 hour ride from Luxor to the city of Esna. This is where your dahabiya experience begins.
Several Djed Egypt Travel vans will converge at this point and your group will also meet your Egyptologist for the duration of your Nile river cruise.
If you’re lucky, you’ll be with Abdulla Yosef, an incredibly skilled guide with unparalleled knowledge of Ancient Egypt and a knack for making stories come alive.
Instead of boarding right away, you will start off with the Esna Temple or Temple of Khnum as it’s locally known. Built during the reign of Ptolomy VI, you’ll descend 9 meters from the level of today’s streets into an excavated pit area surrounding the only part that’s can be visited today which is the hypostyle hall built by the Romans. Your guide will show you well-reserved examples of colours, and relief carvings on the walls.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Address: Esna City, Esna, Luxor Governorate, Egypt
Hours: 8AM – 5:15PM
Price:
General Admission: 80 EGP
Student tickets are half price.
Tips:
Once you get to Esna, you’ll be exploring the city and the temple so make sure you’ve organized your bag in a way that you won’t need anything in your luggage. I’m glad I had my Peak Design 5L Sling with me because it allowed me to travel light with my camera and essentials while leaving all the big heavy gear in the van.
The pulse of modern day Esna beats in the winding streets and markets of the city where tuk tuks honk, and food and goods are sold from shops and temporary stalls. Walk amongst the locals to see what daily life is like. This is also your chance to buy local fruits that are in-season. I highly recommend mangoes and figs. Your guide can help with making the purchase – just ask!
Life on the dahabiya is tranquil and peaceful.
It’s finally time to make your long-awaited boarding of the Egypt Nile cruise with the Dahabiya Loulia.
Good to know: A dahabiya is not the same as a felucca. While there are a number of sailing opportunities within Luxor as a day trip, a dahabiya is a much larger traditional sail boat that has cabins, kitchen, and multiple galleys. A felucca on the other hand is normally for day excursions but for those that are used for overnight, it’s one large shared sleeping space.
When you board with the group, you’ll be welcome with open arms by the crew and treated with a refreshing drink to start.
First order of business is settling into your home for the next 4 nights. All of your bags will be waiting in the library of the ground floor as everyone makes their way to the cabins to pick their rooms. There’s a mix of queen-size and single-bed cabins so just call dibs on the one you want once you see it since there’s no real advantage of cabin location (unless you have a suite of course, in which case you’ll be assigned a room). Bring your luggage into your room and make yourself at home.
You’ll feel the itch to go-go-go but you’ll need to remind yourself that life on the dahabiya will be completely different. Life on the dahabiya is tranquil and peaceful.
Your first day on your Nile cruise in Egypt will be a chance for you to meet some of the crew and your Egyptologist/guide to give you a quick orientation of your boat. Lunch will also be served at this time. You’ll get a feel for what the daily routines will be like, how things like power and wifi work, and also things that you can order from the kitchen at any time during the day.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Routes, boats and sailings:
4 night upriver (Esna to Aswan)
Every Saturday on board Dahabiya The Orient– 4 cabins and 1 suite
Every Monday on board Dahabiya Zekrayaat – 4 cabins and 2 suites
Every Thursday on board DahabiyaLoulia – 4 cabins and 2 suites
3 night downriver (Aswan to Esna)
Every Wednesday on board Dahabiya The Orient – 4 cabins and 1 suite
Every Friday on board Dahabiya Zekrayaat – 4 cabins and 2 suites
Every Monday on board Dahabiya Loulia – 4 cabins and 2 suites
Price: Upriver starting at 760 EUR per person, downriver starting at 570 EUR per person.
One thing that you’ll quickly learn is that the Dahabiya has two modes of moving. In most cases, it’s actually pulled by a tugboat for speed but if you get to go upriver (counter-intuitively the direction that the wind blows), you’ll get an opportunity to sail and let wind power the Nile cruise.
Right before afternoon tea (yes, you heard me right!), you’ll head out on an expedition with your new family out to the El-Kab Tombs.
These are the type of off-the-beaten-path archeological sites that you can expect to see thanks to where the Dahabiya can sail to.
While this isn’t at the scale of what you’ve seen so far, it gives you glimpse into how a provincial necropolis was built for dignitaries of the local town.
Pay attention to just how different these rock cut tombs are decorated – celebrating personal achievements as opposed to large and grand offerings and instructions for the afterlife.
Along the way you’ll also see remnants of mud-brick walls for the ancient town of Nekheb.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Hours: Unknown
Price:
General admission: 60 EGP
Student tickets are half price.
Tips:
Compared to Luxor and Cairo, security is much more relaxed here as you get tickets at the booth and two guards escort the group up and open the tomb doors. Photography is allowed.
There are basic plaques outside each tomb but this is the kind of site where you really need an Egyptologist to tell you what you’re looking at and translate the hieroglyphs to understand their lives.
You’ll walk back to the boat and at this point the sun will be on its way down.
Enjoy coffee, tea, and biscuits for afternoon tea once you’re back on board. Chat with your other cruise-mates, grab a book from the library, relax on one of the sun loungers, or take a nap on the hammock. The choice is yours!
For dinner, your guide will let you know when it is served. All the meals on board are incredibly delicious and expertly prepared by the exclusive chef onboard. Every meal features traditional Egyptian dishes with tons of variety to make sure there’s something for everyone.
Dinner is always a great time to get to know everyone else, chat about the day, and fill your belly.
The Nile is the lifeblood of Egypt and being on its waters and seeing a full day’s cycle gives you a true appreciation of how it important it is for everything.
This will be your first full day on your Nile cruise and just like the Nile beats to its own rhythms, you too will begin to get accustomed to the rhythms of the Dahabiya.
If I may make a suggestion, something you have to do at least once is to wake up early enough for sunrise. It’s a truly magical experience to watch the calm of the silky smooth Nile shimmering with the orange glow and watching life waking up all around it.
No expenses are spared for breakfast with jugs filled with freshly blended mango juice, traditional ful, the sweetest fig jam, Turkish coffee, and more!
Soon, your boat will dock and your adventure to the most impressive temple along this stretch of the Nile – Edfu Temple. Private horse carriages will be waiting for you at the wharf, eagerly ready to whisk you to temple’s entrance.
Dedicated to Horus, the son of Osiris and Isis, this is a Ptolemaic temple completed around 57 BC. It is an impressive site because of how well it was preserved for centuries by the desert sand.
Exploring the temple from its massive 36m high pylon at its entrance, to the outer hypostyle hall, and delving deeper to the offering chamber, and sanctuary of Horus, your guide will tell you many fascinating stories and show you reliefs on the wall depicting the rituals of the priests that worked here.
One of the most memorable of stories from Abdulla was how Napoleon’s soldiers used the pylon as barracks and pushed out blocks of stone to create defensive gun positions. The enormous stone emblem in the outer hypostyle hall is riddled with bullet holes because it was used as target practice. When you look up, you start getting a sense of how high the sand was up to hide the rest of the temple below and why it’s mostly all intact.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Address: Adfo, Edfo, Aswan Governorate, Egypt
Hours: 8AM – 5PM
Price:
General admission: 180 EGP
Student tickets are half price.
FAQ:
Is photography allowed? – Yes. Similar to Temple of Khnum, there are no restrictions here.
Tips:
The previous night, your Dahabiya guide will collect 20 EGP per person for the horse carriage ride. This cost is not included in the tour price.
Back on your Dahabiya, you’ll have ample time to hang out in your cabin or chill on the top deck. Along the banks of the Nile, you’ll catch glimpses of farmers tilling the land, fishermen setting their lines, kids waving from the small villages, and white egret birds wading in shallow water.
If you’re lucky, the winds will be strong enough to fill the sails to carry the boat upriver. Deploying the sails is quite the task but there’s something majestic and calming about replacing the chugging of the tugboat with the flapping of the sails.
After a hearty lunch and an early afternoon tea, you’ll feel like the food just keeps coming which nobody will complain about.
For your second excursion of the day, you will be dropped off in an area that will seem completely in the middle of nowhere but your Egyptologist will guide you through the brush of fig trees and tall grass to eventually these innocent looking rocks that hold back the desert sand. Up close, you’ll see 16,000 year old petroglyphs in Wadi el Shat that incredibly depict safari animals such as rhinos, lions, and giraffe that used to roam the fertile lands.
The rocky landscape will lend to flat road and your group will hike towards El Hamam Village while passing by fields of hand-picked figs drying in the sun and a boneyard grave of farm animals.
Walk through the village to see local architecture, way of life, and say hello to curious children and adults alike.
At the end of the village, there’s an arranged “taxi” ride which was really the backside of a pick up truck. Abdulla told us that the typical taxi transportation to the boat wasn’t available but I wasn’t complaining because it was quite the thrilling ride with all of us holding on to each other as the truck zipped through the desert path.
And just like that you’ll be back on your Nile cruise boat and getting ready for a delicious dinner with the stars twinkling above the docked Dahabiya.
Spending the night docked right beside the sandstone quarry is a smart move because once you finish breakfast, you’ll be able to walk right off the boat and be one of the only groups at Gebel el Silsila and the Temple of Horemheb.
On the 8th day of your itinerary of Egypt, you’ll visit my favourite spot on the Nile. Yes, you’ll see the small Temple of Horemheb dedicated to seven deities but what I love about Gebel el Silsila is that this is one of the primary quarries where sandstone was cut to build many of the grand temples that you’ve seen already including Karnak, Luxor, Medinet Habu, and the upcoming Kom Ombo.
Your Djed Egypt Travel guide will show you evidence of how workers were divided into groups and the techniques they used to cut blocks of stone. You’ll also discover several tombs and carvings by pharaohs that ruled over this quarry.
Stand at the base of the wall of stone and just imagine how much stone was shipped along the Nile to build all the incredible sites that we see today.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Address: Al Kagoug, Markaz Kom Ombo, Aswan Governorate, Egypt
Hours: 8AM – 4:30PM
Price:
General admission: 40 EGP
Student tickets are half price.
FAQ:
Is photography allowed? – No issues with photography here.
Tips:
There didn’t seem to be any fuss with climbing some of the sandstone steps that have been naturally cut but definitely be mindful of the area that you’re not supposed to cross on the back side of the quarry.
While you’ll like have a completely different lunch than we did, I remember this one particularly well because I got a chance to spend some time in the kitchen with Chef Mohamed. Watching him cook was a real treat and I remember being so impressed with what he could do in the small kitchen and on a sail boat no less. Simultaneously frying cauliflower, cooking fresh tomato sauce, stir-frying chicken, and kneading dough, he cooked a storm while I intrusively filmed.
His masterpiece that meal was no-doubt the fateer or Egyptian pizza as Abdulla jokingly called it.
With favourable winds, the sails were let loose again and we leisurely cruised up the Nile while doing not much more than reading a few books, chatting about our new-found knowledge of Ancient Egypt, and drinking fresh mango juice.
By the afternoon, you’ll make it to Kom Ombo Temple dedicated to the god Sobek, the local crocodile god, and Haroeris, Horus the Elder. In this way, this is a unique double-temple with a perfect symmetrical main axis with twin entrances, linked hypostyle halls, and matching sanctuaries.
Inside, your guide will show you examples of an Ancient calendar with all 12 months and depictions of medical devices that closely resemble tools that we use today.
On your way out, you’ll also visit a Crocodile Museum. It’s dark and air conditioned which is quite welcome. Inside you’ll find a large collection of mummified crocodiles from the area, excavated discoveries, and explanations of why Sobek and crocodiles were so important.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Address: Nagoa Ash Shatb, Markaz Kom Ombo, Aswan Governorate, Egypt
Hours: 9AM – 5PM
Price:
General admission: 140 EGP
Student tickets are half price.
FAQ:
Is photography allowed? – Photography is allowed throughout the temple but is not allowed in the Crocodile Museum. Smartphones are allowed in the Crocodile Museum.
Is there a bathroom? – Right next to the Crocodile Museum is a public bathroom but make sure to bring your own toilet paper.
Tips:
Many guards here asking for tips here so just be aware.
Enjoy the rest of the afternoon and evening with coffee, tea and biscuits before another glorious meal on the Dahabiya – this time with tasty meat fresh from the grill!
One of the great things about this itinerary of Egypt that you don’t often get in others is that through the Nile cruise, you get a behind the scenes look at what life is like beyond the big city and beyond the tourist areas. The ability to moor practically anywhere along the river is a huge advantage especially over the large cruise ships.
Docked right by Kom Ombo Temple, you’ll start off your final day with a visit to the nearby town of Daraw. From the boat you’ll get on an enclosed pickup truck taxi.
What most people don’t know is that the Daraw Camel Market is the largest market in the world. It’s unfortunately an uncomfortable sight for most people because we learned that many of the camels sold here are meant for the slaughterhouse. We spent a little bit of time here to see the space but I felt uneasy watch the mistreatment of the camels as the handlers aggressively packed them into a pick up truck.
Hop on the taxi again and you’ll be dropped into the middle of the Daraw Market. Like in Esna, you’ll be surrounded by chaos as the group winds through the streets. You’ll pass by butcher shops, clothing shops, cafes, shops for odds and ends, fruit stalls, and of course falafel stands.
Back on the Dahabiya, you’ll quickly cross over to the other side of the river where you’ll get to visit another rural village. There won’t be too many people out and a bit mid-day but you’ll pass by a number of dwellings, animals, farming fields, women working on dried hibiscus, and children coming from school.
You’ll make your way back to a sandy beach where the Dahabiya will be waiting for you.
This is your one and only chance to swim in the Nile. While we were all a bit shocked when we heard about this, Abdulla busted the myth that there are crocodiles in the Nile. Ever since the building of the modern dams, they’ve all but disappeared on this side of north Aswan. Once you’re in the cool waters, you’ll understand how strong the current is because my front stroke was barely enough to keep me moving upriver.
The rest of the afternoon is yours to enjoy as you please. It’s your last day aboard so make it count!
After dinner, you’ll be treated with a farewell performance by the crew and this is also your opportunity to say goodbye to all of the incredible friends you’ve made with your fellow travellers on the Dahabiya.
This isn’t quite the end of your 10 day itinerary of Egypt! There’s still another huge monument that awaits.
It’s sadly time to say goodbye to your Dahabiya and so begins the last segment of your 10 day itinerary for Egypt.
At 6AM your luggage will be picked up by your new Aswan guide and the crew will bid you farewell. You’ll also be given your breakfast boxes. After 4 days on the river, it’ll feel a bit strange to be back on a van.
The ride to Abu Simbel is a long 3 hours which is why you’re starting so early. On the car ride, you’ll have more than enough food in your box. This is also your chance to catch up on some sleep because there won’t be much to look at outside with desert passing by. Mid-way through the drive there’ll be a bathroom pitstop.
Like a shimmering oasis, civilization will suddenly come into view with palm-tree lined roads and lush greenery.
The Abu Simbel Temple Complex consists of the Great Temple of Ramses II and the Temple of Hathor and is easily one of the most impressive monuments in Egypt next to the pyramids.
It’s impressive because of a number of reasons.
1) The original construction 3000 years ago was incredibly audacious being this far south in the kingdom, lined up perfectly for sun to shine on two specific days a year which are believed to be the pharaoh’s birthday and coronation day.
2) With the rising water from the building of the High Dam, the entire complex had to be cut, moved, and reconstructed above the original site on an artificial hill and above the new Lake Nasser.
Your guide will walk you in from behind the new artificial hill and the first thing you’ll remark is how massive Lake Nasser is and how you never knew it was there from all the photos you’ve ever seen of Abu Simbel.
As you wrap around the path, you’ll walk right up to the edge and when you look below, you have to imagine the original location of the temples below the water.
Turn around and you’ll be hit with the grandeur of both temples. In the great temple you have the 4 statues of Rameses in seated position and stoically staring out Sudan where the border is only 40km away.
From the benches that are used for the night sound and light show, your guide will tell you what you need to know, starting with the Temple of Hathor to the right which was dedicated to King Ramses II’s wife, Nefertari. After this first part of the explanation, you’ll get a chance to walk inside.
Come back outside to meet your guide and you’ll learn about the construction of the temple, small monkey carvings above, the stories depicted on the walls, side chambers, and the significance of the inner chamber with respect to the gods. The remaining time will be yours to explore the main temple of Abu Simbel.
On your way out, visit the museum at the entrance which tells a more complete story of the modern marvel of an engineering feat of relocating the temple complex.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Address: Abu Simbel, Aswan Governorate, Egypt
Hours: 5AM – 6PM
Price:
General admission: 240 EGP
Photography: 300 EGP
Tripod: 20 EGP
Student tickets are half price
FAQ:
Is photography allowed? You can take photos anywhere outside but no cameras are allowed inside the temples unless you have a photography ticket.
Are smartphones allowed? Yes. I did get called out for filming video here which was a first so just know that they’re looking out for that.
Are bags allowed? No limitations or issues with this.
How much time do I need? Most can zip through the site in 2 hours but it took us 3 hours because we took our time and we weren’t in a rush.
Are there bathrooms? There are none around the monument but there are public ones just outside of the entrance.
Tips:
We originally had the opportunity to come here for the sun festival which happens on October 22 and February 22. We did research and asked the folks at Djed Egypt Travel as well. The consensus was that it wasn’t worth it. On top of needing to stay the night in Abu Simbel and paying inflated prices (admission and accommodations) but you also have to deal with a zoo of people (locals, tourists, and media) to see the sun shine through to the inner chamber. It’s not worth it.
There’s a long street of souvenir shops that you have to walk through. At this point in the trip, you already know what to expect here – $1 isn’t really $1 and “no hassle” means lots of hassling.
As an alternative to driving, you can take a flight into Abu Simbel. This is operated by Egypt Air and gives you the option to fly in super early morning and out by the afternoon.
Getting a clean photograph of either temple will be a challenge but we did find that the crowds substantially subsided towards the end of our visit (11:30AM-12:30PM) since anyone flying in for the day trip and big tours will have left.
When you leave Abu Simbel, don’t double back on the same path that you took to come in. Instead go around the other way that wraps around the artificial hill to get a different perspective.
If there’s time, you might be able to rush back in time for Philae Temple but if you’re like us and don’t leave the site until 12:30PM, you won’t make it.
Instead, we asked our guide, Mustafa, for recommendations of where we can try local food. This is when we learned about this seafood spot that he and the driver all frequent and to make sure the food was ready when we got there he also ordered the food for us on the phone on our way back.
We ended up with fresh fish off the grill, and plates of flavor packed calamari and shrimp to share.
After our early dinner, we got dropped off at our hotel, the Basma Hotel which is a welcome switch to western hotel comforts.
Since we were too full to eat any more, we wanted to make the most of our evening by walking into the city and wandering the local market of Aswan known as the Old Souk.
And just like that, your 10 days in this itinerary for Egypt are over.
There’s another day accounted for transit time but I decided it wasn’t worth fitting it in since it’ll very quite drastically from person to person. If you’re looking to tighten up the itinerary, you could look at taking an afternoon flight out from Aswan back to Luxor and then connect with your international flight out of Egypt. Otherwise, enjoy the night and start making your way home on your own day 11.
Dinner – Seafood Restaurant جمبرى أفندى للمأكولات البحرية والنيلية (Gemberi Afandi) – A local spot highly recommended by our guide and it was pretty amazing.
Where you’ll stay:
There are many properties you can stay at in Aswan ranging from budget to luxury. Here’s where we stayed and other places we highly considered.
A great balance for those looking for a quality western hotel in the city that’s also affordable. I was really impressed with their pool, lounge areas inside and out, and the included breakfast which had a ton of food options. You can also request breakfast boxes if you don’t have enough time in the morning. Great value!
For something a little different, this guesthouse is located on Elephantine Island and is set in a Nubian village. Free breakfast and wifi is included. “Loved the location, loved the guest house, loved my room and the breakfast was very good. Only stayed 2 nights but I hope to return to Aswan and will definitely stay here again.”
This is an great option for those looking for a hotel but on a budget. ““Really surprised how upscale it was for the price. Had room with Nile view, and it was worth it! Great, big room and bathroom. Modern a/c unit … Staff was friendly – excellent all around.”
The #1 hotel in Aswan and for good reason. This is the most luxurious and historic Victorian property in the city with pink granite facade with a modernized interior. It’s opposite to the Nubian Museum and meets its luxury status in every way.
This is a condensed version of the full guide that you’ll find in the Comprehensive Egypt Trip Planning Guide which includes topics like trip to Egypt cost, common scams, “is Egypt safe?” and more. Here are basic topics and questions that I want to cover.
Money – This is perhaps the most underserved topic when it comes to planning for a trip to Egypt. Let me break this down into a few things:
Do not exchange for Egyptian Pounds (EGP) in your home country. It’s not a common currency and our guides told us beforehand to do this locally in Cairo instead.
There are money changers all over the main cities and they are regulated by the government so there is not much deviation in the rate.
Some ATMs are capable of exchanging as well but the rate is a tad worse. It is still fine to use in a pinch.
If you’re on a guided tour, you’ll need to factor in spending money (extra admission costs, meals, market, and tipping), and tour tips.
Spending money is mostly all cash in EGP except for the bigger restaurants where credit card is accepted.
Tipping for your tour operator can be paid in any currency but suggested amounts are given in EUR or USD. To make sure you have enough cash on your trip, make your life easier by calculating all of this beforehand based on your operator’s guideline on tipping whether it be for the city guide, Egyptologist, Dahabiya crew etc. Paying by USD for this part is better because you don’t have to worry as much about over-exchanging or needing a last minute exchange.
When is the best time? – Essentially the rule of thumb for Egypt is anytime that isn’t summer. July to September are the hottest months in the country and should be avoided with temperatures hitting 40-50 C (104-122 F). As a result, the best time to come are in the Fall to Spring. The height of the season is around Christmas time so try to avoid that if you can. This means that the best time is going to be around late Fall (October – November) or early Spring (March – April) before the searing heat picks up again.
Getting here – The primary international airport for Egypt is in Cairo (CAI) and depending on where you live you’ll either be able to fly directly here or transfer through somewhere in Africa, Europe, or the Middle East most likely.
How do I get around? – When it comes to travel within Egypt, I highly recommend going through a local operator like Djed Egypt Tour because this isn’t the type of country where you can just rent a car and explore on your own. We discovered quite quickly that you need a local on the ground to make sure you’re kept safe, to know the local rules, scams to look out for, and to be able to get through all the security checkpoints without issue. Within the city, taking the taxi is your best bet and for the stress-free option use Uber which does operate in Cairo. From Cairo, there are overnight trains down to Luxor and Aswan but the most efficient way is to fly. Low-cast carrier, Nile Air, and Egypt Air have frequent flights that you can find with Skyscanner.
Where should I stay? – I’ve listed all of the recommended accommodations above but in general when it comes to where to stay in Egypt, Booking.com is going to be your best bet to find not only the main players but also the smaller mom & pop inns and B&Bs with the benefit of a great cancellation policy and also Genius level discounts whether for Cairo, Luxor, or Aswan. As an alternative, there’s also Expedia and Airbnb.
Do I need travel insurance? – As always, travel insurance is highly recommended and even more so for this 10 day itinerary for Egypt. While I believe Egypt is safe, it’s still the kind of country where you need to be smart and if shit happens, you’ll want to make sure you have insurance to back you up. Make sure to read our guide on choosing the right travel insurance for you. Overall, World Nomads has the best balance of price and coverage.
This is my second time to Egypt and it was just as special as the first. I was a little hesitant at the beginning because I had done the Dahabiya before and quickly breezed through Luxor last time around but with additions to the itinerary and being able to travel with my wife and two of my close friends, I never once felt disappointed.
We were honestly in the best of hands with Djed Egypt Travel. They’re really the ones that made the experience so amazing. 1) All the people they hire are quality and hand-picked, 2) The Dahabiya is an unfair advantage and 3) I appreciated all of the local off-the-beaten-path experiences. Sometimes I felt like the service was over-the-top but they really do make sure you have the best time and that you don’t get affected by any unexpected bumps in the road.
If there was anything that I would change, it’d probably be the pacing of Cairo and Luxor. I jokingly call it Ancient Egyptian Boot Camp because we packed so much in. This was mostly our fault because of the limitations of only having 10 days but definitely would have liked more time at each monument, temple, or tomb to really take it all in.
Lastly, I’m convinced that any trip to Egypt that doesn’t include a Djed Dahabiya Nile cruise is not a complete itinerary. It was my second time doing it and for the second time straight it’s still my favourite experience.
What you need to prepare before you go:
Book your full experience with Djed Egypt Travel including the Dahabiya.
On average, it will cost $2,000 USD per person. This is broken down in our Egypt Travel Guide
What are the extra costs to consider when travelling to Egypt?
The primary additional cost to factor in are the tips, purchases at markets, extra activities, and meals that aren’t included by the tour.
What is the optimal number of days in Egypt if it’s your first time?
This really depends on how much you want to see and whether you’re also looking for a beach holiday by the Red Sea as part of it. If you want to see the primary Ancient Egyptian sites and also do a Nile river cruise, 10 days is a great starting point.
Is 10 days in Egypt enough?
Yes, 10 days is absolutely enough to see the pyramids in Giza, explore Cairo, see the famous Ancient Egyptian sites in Luxor, cruise the Nile, and also Abu Simbel.
Is Egypt safe?
Overall, Egypt is safe especially when accompanied by reputable local travel guides that walk you through local customs, etiquette, and common scams. It is highly recommended to read this article on whether Egypt is safe or not.
Who is a reputable local tour operator in Egypt?
Djed Egypt Travel is a great local operator to work with that’s owned and run by Egyptians so you cut out any middle people.
Got questions for your own classic trip to Egypt? Let me help by simply dropping a comment down below!
William is the Chief of Awesome at Going Awesome Places which is focused on off-the-beaten-path, outdoor adventure, and experiential travel. His true passion lies in telling stories, inspiring others to travel, writing detailed trip itineraries to help others plan their own trips, and providing helpful tips and tricks to guide readers to travel better. He is based in Toronto, Canada but you'll find him on the road more often than not. Make sure to learn more about William to find out his story and how Going Awesome Places started.