Egypt

Egypt had been a bucket list trip of mine for many years. Visiting the Great Pyramids, which were built between 2589 BC and 2504 BC, was a dream. In reality, a visit to Egypt is full of history beyond the pyramids, so don’t hesitate to visit.

I recommend a combined land and Nile River cruise. This provides the best opportunity to explore many of the well-known locations in Egypt without having to pack/unpack several times throughout the trip. I traveled with AmaWaterways and it was amazing. You travel with an Egyptologist throughout the entire trip. His knowledge was astounding and it really added that extra depth to the experience. AmaWaterways takes care of all the logistics, so you just have to show up. I was even escorted throughout the Cairo airport and through customs by one of their representatives. The entire experience from start to finish was seamless.

The first stop on any trip to Egypt will usually be Cairo. Treat yourself to a room at the Four Seasons Cairo.

Cairo:

A visit to Egypt is not complete without a stop at the Egyptian Museum. The Grand Museum was not yet open during my trip, but the classic museum was still quite interesting and provided a teaser for the relics and sights to come later in the trip. A visit to the ancient capital of Memphis is also recommended. Here you’ll see several monuments, including a huge statue of Ramses II and King Djoser’s step pyramid.

The Giza complex in Cairo is the pinnacle of any visit to Egypt. Here you’ll see the three Great Pyramids and the Great Sphinx. Pictures don’t do them justice….you have to witness them in person to appreciate the ingenuity and historical significance. Riding a camel here with the pyramids in the background is a thrill. You don’t realize how tall they are until you are sitting on them! A bit scary (and camels are smelly), but worth it.

After leaving the Giza complex, treat yourself to lunch at Mena House, a beautiful Marriott hotel in the shadow of the great pyramids.

Honestly, the trip could have ended after Cairo and I would have been fully satisfied. I recall talking with several of the other guests on the tour and we said “OK, we can leave now and be happy” given the spectacular images that we witnessed in Giza. But little did I know that there were so many other magnificent sights to witness throughout the duration of the trip.

Luxor:

I flew from Cairo to Luxor to embark on the AmaDahlia and the Nile Cruise. Great ship, delicious food, and amazing service. The sunrises from the ship were remarkable.

While in Luxor, you absolutely have to visit the Valley of the Kings and Queens. These were my favorite excursions of the entire trip. Valley of the Kings are rock-cut tombs located on the west bank of Luxor that include the tomb of King Tutankhamun. Valley of the Queens is home to the mummified remains of more than 30 queens and princesses, including Queen Nefertari’s tomb. Queen Nefertari, whose name means “the most beautiful of them all,” was the wife of the great pharaoh, Ramses II. Her tomb is the most beautiful in the entire Vally of the Queens with unusual and vividly colored scenes on the walls. The preservation of the colors is incredible and I was taken aback by the majesty of it.

In the evening, visit the Temple of Luxor, which was constructed over several hundred years by various pharaohs. A night visit is special given the way the lighting hits the structures.

The Temple of Karnak, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, should not be missed. It was built over the course of 1,300 years. I especially liked the sphynx-lined entrance with lion bodies and ram heads.

Edfu and Aswan:

The city of Edfu is best known for the temple of Horus, the falcon-headed god. Built in 230 BC, it is the second largest temple in Egypt. Abu Simbel, which is 3,000 years old, is located in Aswan along Lake Nasser. It consists of 2 huge temples….the Great Temple and the Small Temple. The Great Temple is divided into 4 main parts with a striking facade of four massive statues of King Ramses II. The facade of the Small Temple has 6 statues of Ramses II and Nefertari, along with their children. There are so many interesting stories about the Abu Simbel temples, including the rediscovery of them in the early 1800’s after being covered by sand.

When in Aswan, I also recommend high tea at the Old Cataract Hotel. This is a British Colonial hotel that dates back to 1899 with a gorgeous location by the Nile River, an amazing sunset view, and the muse for Agatha Christie’s book “Death on the Nile”. Being a mystery book lover, I couldn’t miss out on this opportunity. The hotel and views were beautiful.

Cruising the Nile between Edfu and Aswan offers some lovely views.

Qena:

The most well preserved temple in Egypt is the Temple of Hathor, the Goddess of Love. The temple was built to portray her powers of joy, feminine love and motherhood. The blue colors and intricate carvings in this temple seemed unreal. It definitely should be included in your itinerary.

Even if you’re not a history buff (and I’m definitely not), a visit to Egypt’s incredible sights is uplifting and rewarding. The architectural marvels alone make it worth the trip. It’s hard to imagine that these structures were built thousands and thousands of years ago, and you become completely immersed in history. I sure did, as evidenced by the pic below.