From Cairo to Abu Simbel to the Red Sea, the wonders of Egypt have fascinated visitors for centuries and continue to do so. This is where history comes alive with some of the best vestiges in the world. The Pyramids, the Great Sphinx of Giza, the world’s oldest pyramid at Saqqara, the Valley of the Kings and the colossal temples dotting the riverbank of the Nile River are only a few of the must-see attractions in Egypt, Land of the Pharaohs and Pyramids.
Most journeys in Egypt start in Cairo and include a Nile River cruise. Our itinerary included a visit of Cairo’s highlights, a road trip to Abu Simbel, a Nile River cruise from Aswan to Luxor, and ended in Hurghada by the Red Sea.
Must-See Attractions in Cairo
We started our journey in Cairo where we visited the Pyramids of Giza, the Necropolis of Saqqara, the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities and the Khan el-Khalili souk. All must-see attractions in Cairo.
Pyramids and Sphinx of Giza
This is by far the top thing to do in Cairo. No visit to Egypt would be complete without a visit to the last wonder of the ancient world that’s still standing to this day, the Great Pyramid of Giza. Built 4,500 years ago as a tomb for Pharaoh Khufu it’s the oldest and largest of the pyramids at Giza. It’s also known as the Pyramid of Khufu or the Pyramid of Cheops.
Once upon a time the Great Pyramid was covered with white limestone, but the limestone was repurposed to build mosques and other buildings in Cairo. I wonder how beautiful it must have looked with this coat of limestone!
The other two pyramids at Giza are the Pyramid of Khafre (the second largest) and the Pyramid of Menkaure. Each of the pyramids has an associated complex made up of smaller pyramids and structures housing the tombs and burial chambers of family members.
At the necropolis of Giza, you will also see the Great Sphinx which was built about 4,500 years ago. The Sphinx is a limestone sculpture representing a mythical creature with the head of a man and the body of a lion. And to me it looks like the guardian of this ancient site. It is believed that the head was carved to resemble Pharaoh Khafre.
One regret I have about our visit to Giza is that we didn’t have time to visit the interior that leads to the burial chamber inside the Great Pyramid. However, we did have the chance to go inside a smaller pyramid in Saqqara.
Saqqara and Pyramid of Djoser
Saqqara’s necropolis is where you’ll see the world’s oldest step pyramid, the Pyramid of Djoser. It was built as a burial site for Pharaoh Djoser and dates back to the 27th century BC. It’s amazing that it’s still standing after thousands of years.
There are plenty of other step pyramids in the area, all in different states of preservation. We even had the chance to go inside one of them. The interior was pitch black and we could feel the darkness enveloping us. We were in total darkness until we reached the inner chamber where a light had been installed for the benefit of visitors. Every wall was covered with hieroglyphics and the ceiling was decorated with little painted stars. Amazing!
Our guide pointed out that the most incredible thing about these frescoes was how they were painted in almost complete darkness. He explained how a long line of people holding reflective surfaces would use these to channel the light down the corridor to illuminate a small portion of the wall so the artist could paint. That in itself is brilliant!
In nearby Memphis we saw the 3,200-year-old colossal Statue of Ramses II. Made of red granite, the statue is about 33 ft long (10 m) and weighs 83 tons. Very impressive and a definite must-see. (It will eventually be moved to the Grand Egyptian Museum.)
Mosque of Muhammad Ali
The Great Mosque of Muhammad Ali Pasha is located inside the Citadel of Saladin (another highlight). The citadel dates back to the 12th century but the mosque was built between 1830 and 1838. It has two distinctive minarets and an impressive dome measuring 69 ft (21 m) in diameter with a height of 135 ft (41 m).
The ornate clock in the courtyard was a gift from King Louis-Philippe of France as a thank you for the obelisk that stand in the center of Place de la Concorde in Paris. The interior is stunning and made of limestone, alabaster and marble.
Museum of Egyptian Antiquities
Of course, a visit of the Egyptian Museum is a must as this is where you’ll see some of the treasures that were discovered over the years in Egypt. The museum houses the largest and most remarkable collection of Egyptian antiquities in the world. This is where you can see the many treasures found inside Tutankhamun’s tomb. The museum’s collection will be moved to the Grand Egyptian Museum when it opens.
Another interesting museum to visit in Cairo is the Coptic Museum which houses a large collection of Egyptian Christian artifacts.
Khan el-Khalili Souk
Khan el-Khalili is a famous bazaar in the historical center of Cairo where you can buy souvenirs. But here the art of haggling comes in handy and bartering is expected. It’s all part of the fun!
See our post: The Art of Haggling: 10 Tips for Getting the Best Price and Enjoying Doing It!
Aswan
After visiting Cairo, we flew to Aswan to catch a convoy south to Abu Simbel. But before we did, we stopped for a photo op at the Aswan High Dam. When the dam was built it flooded a large area which created Lake Nassar. To preserve the antiquities some temples had to be dismantled, moved and rebuilt. This was the case for the temples of Philae and Abu Simbel.
Temple of Philae
The Temple Complex of Philae is dedicated to Isis, the Egyptian goddess of fertility, wife of Osiris and mother of Horus. It’s pretty amazing that this entire complex was moved to save it from the flood waters.
Abu Simbel
Abu Simbel is located about 3 hours south of Aswan by road. Some might prefer to fly, as the drive must be done as part of a convoy for security purposes. No stopping anywhere for any reason. However, we enjoyed the desert scenery along the way. We even saw a mirage, an optical illusion where we could see water on the horizon.
Abu Simbel Temples
In Abu Simbel you will see two massive 3,000-year-old temples, the temples of Ramses II and Nefertari. In the 1960s the temples were raised by about 200 ft (61 m) and moved further inland to protect them from the waters of Lake Nassar.
In front of the Temple of Ramses II you will see four huge statues of the Pharaoh Ramses II. There are also many other sculptures representing his wife Nefertari as well as his mother and children. Above the entrance you’ll see a carving of the Egyptian sun god, Ra. The interior consists of a series of rooms with statues, carvings, and hieroglyphs. The temple was built in such a way that the sun illuminates the statues on the back wall on Ramses II birthday and coronation day. Due to the move, the timing has changed slightly.
The Temple of Nefertari, also carved out of sandstone, is smaller but just as impressive. The façade is adorned with carved hieroglyphs and six large statues, two of Ramses II and four of Nefertari. The interior was built in a similar way as the Temple of Ramses II.
In the evening we revisited this iconic site to watch a sound and light show projected onto the temple’s façade for a journey back in time.
The next morning, we returned to Aswan to board our ship for an epic cruise along the Nile.
Nile River Cruise
Cruising along the Nile is the ideal way to explore some of Egypt’s best attractions such as the Valley of the Kings and some of the country’s most important and best-preserved temples. It also makes it easy to visit sites on both sides of the Nile in one day. On top of that it’s a fun way to travel.
In some places, I could (almost) imagine that I was seeing the Nile as it looked at the time of the pharaohs. I loved how the blue sky contrasted with the colors of the Sahara Desert and greenery the riverbank.
These are some of the most impressive sites that we visited during our Nile River cruise:
Kom Ombo Temple
Kom Ombo (also known as the Temple of Sobek and Horus) dates back to the 2nd century BC and is divided into two sections. One section is dedicated to Sobek, the crocodile god, and the other to Horus, the falcon god. The nearby Crocodile Museum houses some of the crocodile mummies that were found at the site.
Temple of Horus at Edfu
The Temple of Horus is one of the best-preserved temples of Egypt with numerous bas-relief engravings telling stories about religious and mythological events. Built between 237 BC and 57 BC, the temple was a shrine to the Egyptian god Horus.
Valley of the Kings
For more than 500 years, the Valley of the Kings was the final resting place of the pharaohs and powerful nobles of the New Kingdom of Egypt. More than 60 tombs and chambers have been discovered to date. There is ongoing excavation, and quite possibly more will be revealed.
Instead of building pyramids for their burials, the rulers of the 16th to 11th centuries BC, opted to have their tombs carved into the mountains directly. Possibly in the hopes of preventing thieves from stealing their treasure. However, like our guide pointed out, the workers knew exactly where the entrances to the tombs were and many tombs were robbed regardless. One exception was the tomb of Tutankhamun which remained intact until 1922 when it was discovered by Howard Carter.
Even if the outside of the tomb is modest, every square inch of the interior is decorated with frescoes and hieroglyphs. The interior consists of a series of corridors and antechambers leading to the funeral chamber where the Pharaoh’s sarcophagus and treasure was placed.
The tombs are open on a rotating basis in order to preserve them. We visited the tombs of Ramses I, IV and IX. You can also visit the tombs of the wives of the pharaohs in the Valley of the Queens which is located nearby.
Note: We don’t have any pictures from the interior of the tombs simply because it wasn’t allowed to take photos inside and in the spirit of preserving frescos and artifacts, we always respect this policy.
Medinet Habu
The Temple of Ramses III at Medinet Habu is another must-see in Egypt. This impressive temple is more than 3,000 years old and is very well preserved. Spectacular carvings and frescoes are still visible on the columns and walls. This temple is dedicated to Amun.
Nearby, you will see the Colossi of Memnon which are the last vestiges of the ancient temple of Pharaoh Amenhotep III.
Karnak Temple
Karnak is recognizable by its row of ram-headed sphinxes leading to the temple’s main entrance. The temple complex of Karnak is monumental and even if much of the site is crumbling, it remains very impressive. Many great pharaohs contributed to the expansion of the site with embellishments and add-ons spanning over 2,000 years. The temple is dedicated to the Egyptian gods Amun, Mut and Khonsu.
At its pinnacle the complex was an agglomeration of chapels, giant columns, obelisks, statues and sanctuaries. The Great Hypostyle Hall features 134 massive columns with intricate carvings and is unmissable.
Luxor Temple
This ancient temple complex dates back to approximately 1400 BC and it was mainly built under the reigns of Amenhotep III, Ramesses II and Tutankhamun. This temple was also dedicated to Amun, Mut and Khonsu and was once upon a time linked to Karnak by the Allée des Sphinx.
Highlights include the colonnade of soaring columns, colossal statues, and the remaining obelisk (the other one stands on Place de la Concorde in Paris).
Our river cruise ship was conveniently docked only a few steps away from the temple giving us the chance to see it illuminated in the evening. The light gave it a mystical aura.
Of course, visiting ancient temples and pyramids is by far the top thing to do in Egypt. But be sure to sail along the Nile in a felucca, which is a traditional sailboat!
See our post: What You Need to Know About River Cruises
Nubia
The Nubian village we stopped at was unique and really different from any other place we had visited. We were invited into someone’s home for tea and some delicious sweets. This family kept crocodiles in a basin inside their house and we got to hold one of the little ones. Nile crocodiles are feisty, and if you’re not careful you can easily get bitten. I was surprised at how flexible they can be, twisting at almost a 90-degree angle to try and take a nip. Best to hold grasp then close to their head to avoid any mishaps!
The Red Sea
After our cruise we headed to Hurghada by the Red Sea for a few days of rest and relaxation before returning home. This was the perfect end for our fascinating journey to the Land of the Pharaohs and Pyramids. One thing you must do in Hurghada is to go snorkeling or scuba diving on the pristine reefs of the Red Sea. Aside from that you can relax on the beach, browse around the many souvenir shops and perfumeries.
Conclusion
We were fortunate enough to visit Egypt at a more peaceful time, but we do hope that it remains accessible for all to see. Our experience was truly awe-inspiring, and it left a huge impression on us!
The state of preservation of the Egyptian vestiges is remarkable considering they are over 4,000 years old. This phenomenon is likely due to the fact that most of the pyramids and temples were buried in the sand for centuries and therefore protected from the elements.
In some places, the frescos are still vivid with vibrant colors and clearly defined hieroglyphics. This is especially true of the frescoes covering the walls inside the tombs in the Valley of the Kings.
The Egyptian temples and pyramids are so impressive and monumental and the sheer size of them was incomparable to anything we had ever seen before in Greece, Italy or Mexico!
How about you, have you been to Egypt and what are some of your most memorable memories? Let us know in the comments.