One Week in Egypt: The Ultimate Itinerary

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Discover Amazing Egypt: The Complete Itinerary

Home to vast stretches of pristine desert, fertile deltas, abundant coral reefs, and the largest city in the Arab world, Egypt is a land of extremes.

Seeing everything in a week is impossible; And yet seven days are enough to begin to understand the ancient magic that has been attracting tourists to this corner of North Africa for hundreds of years.

The detailed itinerary below focuses on Cairo and the ancient temples that stretch from Aswan to Luxor along the banks of the Nile River.

It's a great place to start for first-time visitors to Egypt, but it also leaves many reasons behind. to return.

Next time, consider going north to the Nile Delta and cosmopolitan Alexandria; or spend a whole week diving and enjoying the beaches of the Red Sea coast.

Day 1: Cairo

After landing at Cairo International Airport, proceed to your hotel in the city center. Uber is one of the easiest, cheapest and safest ways to navigate the city.

Favorable exchange rates mean that 5-star hotels are relatively affordable in Cairo, so make the most of checking into the Kempinski Nile Hotel Garden City.

It is conveniently located within walking distance of the city's top attractions and features a gorgeous rooftop pool overlooking the waters of the Nile River.

After checking in, unpacking, and cooling off, it's time to get out there and explore the City of the Thousand Minarets.

Your first stop should be the Egyptian Museum, which houses around 120,000 artifacts excavated from the tombs and temples of the ancient pharaohs, including mummies, sarcophagi, and fabulous gold jewelry.

The main attraction is the death mask of Tutankhamun, although this and other relics of Tutankhamun will be transferred to the Great Egyptian Museum on the Giza Plateau when it opens in late 2020.

After admiring the treasures of the ancient world, spend the rest of the late. exploring the fascinating medieval monuments of Cairo.

These include the Al-Azhar Mosque (the city's first mosque) and the Hanging Church (one of the oldest Christian places of worship in Egypt).

In the evening, cross the river to Gezira Island to explore the cultural spaces and first-class restaurants in the exclusive Zamalek district of contemporary Cairo. Le Pacha 1901 is a vintage ship with no less than nine gourmet restaurants on board.

Day 2: Giza and Saqqara

After breakfast at your hotel, take a private guided tour of the ancient monuments of Giza and Saqqara. Air-conditioned transportation and driver included, as well as the services of a professional Egyptologist guide.

Your first stop will be at the world famous Pyramids of Giza, located just outside Cairo, on the west bank of the River Nile.

The necropolis comprises three separate pyramidal complexes and the Great Sphinx of Giza; an image you will recognize in all pre-printed Egyptian travel brochures.

The largest and oldest of the pyramids, the Great Pyramid of Giza, is more than 4,500 years old and is the only one of the Seven Wonders of the World that still stands.

Spend several hours exploring the temple complexes before returning to your vehicle for the hour-long drive to the ancient city of Memphis.

What remains of the ancient first-name capital of Lower Egypt can be explored with a tour of the Mit Rahina Museum, where a colossal statue of Ramses II offers an impressive example of the detail and precision with which ancient sculptors were able to to portray. human anatomy.

The next stop on the itinerary is Saqqara, the Memphis necropolis. Don't miss the Step Pyramid of Djoser, built in the 27th century BC. As the oldest stone-carved monumental structure in the world, it is believed to have been the design of the smooth-sided pyramids of Giza.

Lunch in a traditional Egyptian restaurant is included in the tour, which lasts approximately eight hours. Since you will likely be tired when you return to the hotel, choose to dine at Osmanly Ottoman Restaurant, followed by an early evening.

Day 3: Aswan

Day 3 starts early and an Uber ride back to the airport in time to catch an EgyptAir flight south to Aswan.

The flight lasts approximately 1.5 hours, after which you will proceed to disembark, where a representative will be waiting to transport you to Oberoi Philae.

This luxury cruise will be your home for the next four nights, during which you will travel in style along the River Nile to Luxor.

Nile cruises are a great way to see Egypt's most iconic sights in a short amount of time, and Oberoi Philae is a particularly decadent transportation option with a pool, spa, and great restaurants on board.

You will experience the latter during lunch, after settling into your cabin.

The ship remains moored in Aswan for the remainder of the day, giving you the opportunity to take a shore excursion to the Nubian Museum.

This excellent attraction documents the culture of the Nubian region, which stretches from Aswan to Khartoum in central Sudan.

Clearly identified exhibitors will take you on a journey through 6,500 years of history, with artifacts from the Kingdom of Kush and early Coptic and Islamic places of worship.

Perhaps most interesting is the description of the international project led by UNESCO to relocate the most important temples in the region before the floods caused by the construction of the Great Dam of Aswan. Return to the ship for cocktails and dinner overlooking the Nile.

Day 4: Aswan to Edfu

After breakfast, the fourth day of your vacation begins with an excursion to Aswan High Dam and Philae Temple.

Built between 1960 and 1970 to control the annual flooding of the Nile, the dam is an incredible feat of engineering measuring 364 feet high and 12,562 feet wide.

You can learn more about its construction (and the controversies that surrounded it) at the Aswan High Dam Visitor's Pavilion.

One of the effects of the construction of the dam was the creation of Lake Nasser and the flooding of a vast area of ​​land, including several important ancient temples.

Among them was the Temple of Philae, which was relocated block by block to higher ground on nearby Agilkia Island.

During his visit to Philae, his guide will explain his connections to the goddess Isis and how Pharaoh Nectanebo I of the 30th Dynasty was the first to begin work on the temple complex.

Today, he brings evidence of additions by rulers from the Greek, Roman, and Byzantine periods. Then, return to the ship for an afternoon cruise to Edfu.

Lunch will be served en route before a stop at the Kom Ombo Temple. The temple dates back to the time of King Ptolemy VI Philometor, who ruled during the 2nd century BC.

It is unique among Egyptian temples due to its double design, with two identical sides dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek and the falcon god Horus the Elder, respectively.

Day 5: Edfu to Luxor

Wake up in Edfu, a city famous for the Temple of Horus. The center of your morning excursion, the temple was built between 237 and 57 BC. in honor of the son of Isis and Osiris and then he was buried in the sands of the desert after the abandonment of pagan religions with the arrival of Christianity in Egypt.

The hot, dry sand kept the temple immaculately preserved until it was excavated in the mid-19th century, and it remains one of the most intact monuments in all of Egypt.

Notice the blackened ceiling of the hypostyle hall, evidence of early Christian attempts to eradicate their heretical images with fire. Your guide will explain the symbolism behind the temple's magnificent reliefs and statues.

The rest of the afternoon will be spent on a river cruise to Luxor. On the way, you will pass the Esna lock.

Make sure you are on deck to watch as you enter the gates and the water levels are manipulated to allow the ship to continue its journey downstream.

Lunch, afternoon tea and dinner are enjoyed on board while observing the passing scenery and the traditional falches that undulate the river as they have done for thousands of years.

Day 6: Luxor

Today starts early and will be one of the highlights of your trip. The morning is dedicated to exploring the West Bank, also known as the necropolis of ancient Thebes.

This extremely powerful and influential city was the capital of Egypt during the Middle and New Kingdoms periods and the most famous area of ​​its necropolis is the Valley of the Kings.

More than 60 royal tombs have been discovered in the valley. Her guided tour includes a tour of two of the most famous: that of Ramses VI and the boy King Tutankhamun, whose tomb represents one of the most important archaeological discoveries ever made.

She will also learn about the artisans responsible for the tombs in the nearby workers' village, Dier el-Medina.

Later, she recharges her batteries as she escapes the heat of the day with lunch and a swim back aboard the Oberoi Philae.

The afternoon will be dedicated to exploring the temples of Luxor and Karnak, both located on the east bank of the Nile River.

These are among the most popular tourist spots in the country, so don't miss the opportunity to take a photo standing among the colossal statues of Ramses II in Luxor or in the Great Hypostyle Hall at Karnak.

Karnak is considered the second largest temple complex in the world after Cambodia's Angkor Wat, with literally hundreds of kiosks, poles, and obelisks to explore. To see it lit up at night, ask about participating in the Karnak sound and light show.

Day 7: Luxor to Cairo

On your last day, enjoy a final breakfast on the ship before being transferred back to Luxor International Airport for your flight back to Cairo.

If spending most of your vacation on a cruise ship left you feeling like you've missed the authentic Egyptian experience, this is your chance to immerse yourself in the local culture.

Spend the afternoon at Khan El-Khalili, a winding souk dating from the 14th century that houses stalls filled with handicrafts and handmade goods.

The cobbled streets run between silver shops and spice merchants, cloth shops and leather workshops. Remember to negotiate the best price when shopping for souvenirs and stop by the iconic Fishawi Cafe for a cup of mint tea when you need a break.

If you have one more night in Cairo before embarking on your international flight the next day, enjoy a stay at the spectacular The Nile Ritz-Carlton Cairo.

Its elegant Bab El-Sharq restaurant is rated one of the best Egyptian restaurants in the capital, with a romantic open-air atmosphere, live music and belly dancing performances.

Share a traditional plate of mezze and take a moment to reflect on the wonders you've seen over the past week.

We hope you enjoy watching this video about the best places to visit in one week in Egypt

Source: Going Awesome Places

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