I did not anticipate loving my trip to Egypt as much as I did. Smack dab in the middle of Covid, I traveled to Egypt with one of my adventurous friends. I wondered if we were crazy to go, but it ended up being one of the best travel experiences for both of us.
No TV show or photo book prepared us for the sheer massiveness of the pyramids and temples. As a short person, I am used to looking up, but this was on a whole new scale. We started the trip in Cairo, a must stop to see the pyramid complex, visit museums and tour Coptic Cairo. Fantastic days. A personal highlight was the camel ride around the pyramids. I love camels, I can’t explain it.
Next up was Aswan. This is a beautiful small city worthy of at least one night, preferably two. Beautiful Nile setting. From here, we drove to Abu Simbel. The Temple of Ramses is not to be missed. Giant, spectacular and awesome in the true sense of the word. Aswan is also the starting (or ending) point of Nile Cruises. Cruising the Nile was like stepping back in history. Watching the water float by, seeing the people farming as they have for centuries, wondering if that was Joseph riding on the white donkey, was magical.
Luxor is a must, and if possible, a two night stay. The Valley of the Kings and Queens, Temple of Hatshepsut and Temple of Karnak keep us fascinated. We were lucky to have the Valley of the Kings to ourselves. Entering the tombs alone, enveloped in silence as we viewed the vibrant murals, was an unforgettable experience.
We had fabulous guides and felt safe traveling. I would recommend this trip for 12+. Pro tip – carry small change and bring compact packages of tissue paper.