Egyptian Adventure

When most people think of Egypt, they think of the Great Pyramids and mummies. However, Egypt is so much more. From the lush riverbanks of the Nile to their rich, unique culture and the remarkable monuments, architecture and landmarks around every corner, Egypt should be on everyone’s bucket list.

Seeing my childhood textbooks come to life was breath taking. Learning of how advanced the ancient civilization was while walking through and touching history is a humbling experience. Egypt has some sort of magic to it, making it hard to put into words or showcase pictures.

I traveled via a tour company for young adults called EF Ultimate Break. EF Tours holds a special place in my heart. Having traveled with them throughout all of high school and a few trips in college, I was excited to join again. Flying to a new country alone, meeting a group of travelers all in their twenties and being immediately immersed into the culture is one of the coolest ways to explore the world. You land as strangers, depart as new friends with memories that last a lifetime! (P.S. Interested in booking an EF Ultimate Break trip?! Use my code UASierra100 for $100 off your first trip!!)

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March 5-6: Overnight Flight to Cairo

Traveling through EF Ultimate Break, I was extremely fortunate that my flights were booked for me. I just had to show up to the airport on time with a negative Covid test and my vaccine card ready! I flew on Emirates with a 14-hour flight to Dubai then a 3-hour flight to Cairo. Upon arriving to Cairo, I was greeted at the airport by a local travel assistant to help with luggage and private transportation to the hotel! Most tour companies will have this arranged for you. However, if you are not traveling with a company, I highly recommend arranging transportation in advance if you are not comfortable grabbing a taxi.

Our hotel for this first leg of our journey was The Oasis Hotel. If you only view a hotel as a place to rest at night, it does the job. If you are the type who enjoys spending some time at the hotel, I would recommend the Marriott Mena House!

March 7: Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx, and Saqqarah

Seeing the only remaining Wonder of the Ancient World as our first stop was jaw dropping. The Pyramids of Giza are truly a spectacle. To consider the pyramids were built, give or take, 4,500 years ago and to observe the sheer size of each block is hard to fully comprehend.

Travel Tip: Go to the pyramids early and on a weekday. Not only will it be cooler for walking around but the crowds are substantially less.

As any other tourist, we were all determined to ride a camel. I’m here to share the truth behind the camel ride to keep your expectations at bay. No - it is not a ride around the entire pyramids. No - it does not last longer than 5 minutes. Yes - it is a cool photo opt. You are essentially paying for a dream photo. Do not pay more than $15 / 240 EGP. If you are with a tour guide, let them coordinate for you.

The Sphinx is right in front of the pyramids. It is currently undergoing restoration which was neat to see a small portion of the intricacy that goes into such a large undertaking.

Heading south, we visited the archaeological site at Saqqara, a vast ancient burial ground. Saqqara has a number of pyramids, but the main feature is the world-famous Pyramid of Djoser. This is the OLDEST complete stone building complex in ALL OF HISTORY. If that doesn’t wow you, I don’t know what will.

After a stop for a traditional lunch and a visit to an Egyptian artisan rug studio and cotton store, we headed back to our hotel for a Welcome Dinner!

Drinking Tip: Most Egyptians are of Muslim faith and do not drink. This means alcohol is pretty much nonexistent outside of the hotels. It also means the selection is limited as well. As a wine lover, I’ll never turn down a glass. For the most part, we discovered their wine is a little… funky. The red wine reminded a few of us of “church wine” with a light carbonation and the white just had a strange after taste. Granted, this was not the case everywhere but, 9 times out of 10 it was. There are two main beers: Stella (not Stella Artois) and Sakara. Both are like a regular Coors Lite or Budweiser!

March 8: Fly to Aswan & Felucca Sailboat Ride

After sleeping in a bit, we boarded a flight to Aswan!

Random Tip: Egyptian airports (and Dubai International) have a third security scanner right before you board the plane. Don’t buy a bottle of water for the flight because they will make you throw it out.

Straight from the airport, we boarded a traditional Felucca and sailed along the Nile for sunset. I highly recommend doing this at least once. It was so peaceful along the river and beautiful to take in all the sites. For any of my fellow book lovers, we even saw the hotel balcony where Agatha Christie wrote “Death on the Nile”!

After the Felucca ride, we traveled by boat to an incredible restaurant, Solaih Nubian, overlooking the Temple of Philae. With traditionally prepared Nubian food, candle lit tables, and the view of the Temple highlighted in lights, it was a romantic evening. Even though I got eaten alive by bugs, it was one of my favorite dinners.

To close the day, we checked into the Basma Hotel Aswan for only one night. I highly recommend this hotel. It was clean, had breathtaking sunrise views, and very attentive staff!

March 9: Nile River Cruise: Aswan & Temple of Philae

With an early rise, we headed straight to the Temple of Philae. After seeing it at night, it was exciting to actually get to explore. Built more than 2000 years ago, the Temple of Philae has a rich history as it is one of the last places the ancient Egyptian religion survived after the arrival of Christianity. Again, I recommend going in the morning as it does get crowded as the day progresses.

On our way to the cruise docks, we stopped at a Perfumery! We experienced a glass blowing demonstration and learned about the different oil combinations and aromatherapy.

After boarding our cruise for our 3-night, 4-day adventure down the Nile River, a few of us embarked on an extra afternoon excursion to the Nubian Village. Traveling by boat, we arrived at a colorfully painted village. Originating from Sudan over 8,000 years ago, coming to the Nile to farm, the Nubians have their own spoken (not written) language and a unique culture special to the village. If you are in Aswan, the Nubian Village is a must see. Many in my group shared at the end of the trip that it was their favorite experience!

In the evening, myself and a few of my new friends took to the streets to experience our first Egyptian market. In our eyes, the energy of the market was infectious, and it was exciting to see a part of the world so foreign to us in America. Have fun with it and embrace the environment!

Market Tips: Don’t make eye contact or respond to the peddlers and storekeepers, you will regret it. If you want to buy something, haggle with them and be willing to walk away if it’s not half the price they originally say. Trust me, you’ll find the same exact souvenir 100 more times before the end of your trip. This is easier said than done for some, but don’t get overwhelmed. There will be a ton coming at you from all angles. Just have fun!

March 10: Sailing to Kom Ombo & Sailing to Luxor

Shortly after waking up we docked at the ancient Temple of Kom Ombo, built during the Greco-Roman period. The temple is of double design and divided into two identical sectors dedicated to two gods, one of which being the crocodile god! After a quick explore and guided tour, we hopped back on the cruise for a day of sailing to Luxor. We took to the cruise’s roof for a day of relaxing in the sun and spending some quality time getting to know each other better!

March 11: Luxor West Bank - Valley of the King's, Temple of Hatshepsut

With an early rise, we left the boat to head to the Valley of the King’s. Used for a period of 500 years, ancient Egyptians built tombs and shrines to royalty including Queen Hatshepsut and King Tut. Exploring multiple tombs, I continued to be amazed by the color preservation on the hieroglyphics and the pristine details bringing them to life. For an extra cost, we were able to enter King Tuts tomb and see his mummy. As creepy as it was, this will be something I will remember forever.

Just southeast of the valley, we headed to the Temple of Hatshepsut. Aka, the most badass woman in history. Ruling for 20 years, she had the longest female reign and was considered one of the most successful Pharaohs. I would be okay if my house resembled her temple one day.

Upon arriving back to the boat, we immediately left to explore Luxor. Walking the markets, wondering through the residential areas, and trying some local cuisine was the best way to spend the afternoon. We dined at the Jamboree Restaurant right in the middle of the market overlooking the street. The owner showed us incredible hospitality and served some of the best food we had the entire trip! If you are in Luxor, you must eat here. For sunset, we found a hookah bar overlooking the water.

Random Tip: Looking to mail a postcard home? Add the stamps before writing the message. Postcards require about 14 stamps so it will cover the majority of the traditional spot to write a message.

March 12: Karnak Temple & Luxor Temple

After breakfast we headed to the Karnak Temple. Out of all the temples experienced, this one left me in complete awe. Between the largest pillars I have ever seen to the massive obelisk monuments, the Karnak Temple leaves you speechless. How in the world where they able to build this?!

Heading back to the boat, we stopped at a local Papyrus shop to learn how the ancient civilization created papyrus and utilized it in their daily lives. This was a great place to shop for some artwork as it had the largest selection, and I was able to haggle the price down about 70%.

We ended touring for the day with a dusk tour of the Luxor Temple. Located on the bank of the Nile, right across from our dock, we walked the Avenue of Sphinxes and saw the Mosque of Abu Al Haggag. As pretty as it was at dusk, the temple was packed. Basically, I recommend going at any other time.

On one of our bus rides in Luxor, we happened to notice an Irish Pub. So of course, without a question, my friends and I ended our night by piling into a taxi and heading to the pub! After a few rounds of drinks and hookah in this (surprisingly) authentic pub, we hurried back to the boat to get our belongings for a midnight flight back to Cairo!

March 13: Sightseeing Tour of Cairo + Farewell Dinner

Exhausted from the few hours of sleep, we powered through as it was our last day in Egypt! Starting with a tour of the Egyptian Museum, we saw endless rooms of over 5,000 years of ancient history right in hands reach. (Literally though, you can touch basically anything LOL). Sadly, the new Grand Egyptian Museum is not open yet. Honestly, I would wait to book your trip until it is open. You may think that’s drastic just for a museum, but it will be worth it. I promise.

After stopping for lunch, we hit our very last tour destination, the Muhammed Ali Mosque within the Salah El-Din Citadel. The mosque was a site to be seen – overlooking the entire city of Cairo. Remember to cover your shoulders and knees! You will also be barefoot, so I recommend bringing or wearing socks.

March 14: Fly Home

At 12:40am, I left Egypt with tears in my eyes hugging my new friends. Instead of saying goodbye, we talked about our next adventure together.

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Egypt was nothing like any other destination I’ve seen before. There is a magic to history and an excitement in the culture. I never thought I would have so much enthusiasm to continue exploring the Middle East! On a personal note, this trip was freeing. When I originally clicked “book”, I needed an escape. 6 months later, I had one of the best experiences in my life so far! Sometimes you need to go across the world to fully get the refresh and spark you need. Never underestimate the power of travel!