Exploring Egypt’s Ancient Wonders
Exclusive Travel Experiences: The Best Things To Do in Cairo, Luxor and beyond.
For millennia, a visit to Egypt has ranked among the world’s most sought-after experiences. A journey to Egypt allows you to set foot in one of the world’s most ancient civilizations and to immerse yourself in a desert landscape. The opportunity to stand among the towering pyramids of Giza as visitors have done since their construction more than 4,000 years ago, to observe the cryptic face of the Sphinx as the morning sun washes over it or to stand in the shadow of the imposing edifices of Ramses II at Abu Simbel are not only among the most popular things to do in Egypt, but across the globe.
Curated experiences to Egypt add depth to a visit. They allow you to travel beyond the typical itinerary and to take in the wonder of this land at your own pace. A personalized visit to Egypt can include dining in the central courtyard of the Luxor Temple accompanied by a traditional music quartet or meditating in the solitude of the Queen’s Chamber of the Great Pyramid of Khufu, are examples of bespoke experiences beyond the average mold.
More than 10 million travelers arrive in Egypt each year, many of them queuing up to board the next motor coach or tourist bus to visit the next ancient site. But there is a better way to do this; away from the crowds, at your own pace and traveling where your interests compel you.
Expert planners at Xplorearth plan custom itineraries with renowned Egyptologists so you can linger over ancient friezes, colorful hieroglyphics instead of being rushed through. You’ll sail the world’s longest river aboard a luxury dahabiya, with time to relax by a campfire within an ancient granite quarry.
Top 10 Things to do in Egypt
1. Ride a Camel in Giza. overlooking the Pyramids
The last remaining wonder of the ancient world, the Pyramids of Giza is the most popular thing in Egypt. The Pyramids of Giza are tombs built for three of Egypt’s pharaohs, their immense size, precise geometry and the enigma of why and how the pyramids were constructed makes this a must-see. Elevate your adventure by exploring this site astride a camel, as visitors have done 4,000 years ago. Accompanied by an expert Egyptologist guide you will gain new perspectives of this true wonder of the world.
2. Take a Docent-Guided Walk through Cairo’s GEM Museum
The Middle East’s oldest archaeological museum, the Egyptian Museum has displayed tens of thousands of ancient Egyptian artifacts since its opening in 1902, offering visitors a wide lens on one of the world’s greatest empires. View these precious items with a private docent, who will lead you to the most important chambers, religious objects, elaborate sarcophagi and the museum’s most prized possessions including King Tut’s glittering mask and throne, all of which make this museum visit one of the best stops in Cairo, Egypt. You’ll enjoy exclusive access to Tutankhamun’s relics as well as 22 mummies and a monumental 36-foot-tall statue of Ramses II when Cairo unveils its new GEM Museum, expected to open in late 2024.
3. Marvel at the Imposing Statues of Ramses at Abu Simbel
The four colossal, 65-foot-tall statues of Ramses II sit regally at the entrance to Abu Simbel, carved directly into the rock and serving as imposing temple guards. The grandeur of these ancient sculptures and their sheer size makes the Abu Simbel Temple among the top things to see in Egypt. For more than 3,000 years Abu Simbel has projected the power of this ancient pharaoh. To gain additional insight into the people that built these magnificent edifices, book a personalized visit to a Nubian village, with its vibrant woven goods and labyrinthine spice-scented souks.
4. Walk through Ancient Burial Chambers in Luxor’s Valley of the Kings and Queens
Luxor’s Valley of the Kings served as the final resting place for Egypt’s ancient royalty from around 2100 BCE, but it is the elaborate tomb of Seti I that best highlights this pharaoh’s stature and the golden era of art during which he ruled. Marvel at the most elaborate tomb in the Valley of the Kings, the intricate wall carvings and vivid paintings depicting the life of Seti I, the Book of the Dead and other stories, considered the finest art ever created in Egypt. A stop at the nearby Valley of the Queens with 75 known tombs is a must. One of these burial chambers was reserved for Queen Nefertari, its ceiling offering the promise of heaven with its rich blue hues and hand-painted gold stars. These two royal tombs, comprising some of the most dazzling art displays ever created, require a special ticket.
5. Capture glorious sunsets at the Sphinx
Standing watch over the ever-popular Pyramids of Giza, the stoic figure of the Sphinx ranks as one of the most Instagramable spots in Cairo! The oldest monumental sculpture in Egypt, the Sphinx measures 66 feet tall and 240 feet long and was carved out of solid bedrock some 4,500 years ago. The mysterious mythological figure bears the body of a lion and the head of King Khafre, his face eroded by millennia of wind and blowing sand. Mesmerized thousands gather beneath the imposing statue. Visitors can also book an exclusive visit at sunrise, when crowds are thin and photographs of the bearded figure are even more impressive.
6. Saqqara Necropolis and the Pyramid of Djoser - Egypt’s First Pyramid
7. Marvel at the magnificence of the Karnak Temple
The Karnak Temple contains an extraordinary array of carved and painted pylons and sphinxes, colonnaded sanctuaries and towering obelisks meant to showcase the immense power of ancient Egypt. The monumental temple of Amun-Ra includes dozens of soaring papyrus-shaped columns and sits at the heart of Karnak, a temple complex covering an area the size of several football fields. Alongside the temple, paved walkways are lined with human and ram-headed sphinxes, all built over the course of 1,500 years. It’s impossible to guage the immense power of the Pharaohs of Lower Egypt while walking through the colonnades. The best time to visit is the early morning when temperatures are cooler, giving you ample opportunity to explore at length.
8. Sail down the Nile River aboard a Dahabiya
Since the time of Tutankhamun, the best way to travel through Egypt has been aboard a boat, sailing up and down the legendary Nile River. Book a luxury excursion aboard a dahabiya, the traditional sailing vessel that takes you back in time to the Pharaonic Era. Soak in Egyptian culture, crumbling ruins, hard to access temples as the countryside floats by. A perfect anecdote for a hard driving modern lifestyle.
The traditional boats of the past were basic, shallow-bottomed craft, but modern-day comforts make this journey a luxurious must-do. Relax in spacious baths furnished with marble and mother-of-pearl inlaid mirrors. Snuggle beneath rich Egyptian textiles with handcrafted embroidered pillows. Spend your afternoons on deck, sipping chilled cocktails as ever attentive staff fulfills every need. An added bonus: a dahabiya allows access to places like Gebel-el-Silsila and El Kaab, inaccessible by large cruise boats or by road.
9. Marine Adventures in the Sparkling Red Sea
Travelers do not typically associate Egypt as a snorkeling or a scuba diving destination. Brilliant red corals and shimmering lionfish, cute bottlenose dolphins and century-old shipwrecks, their cargo and sailors lost to history. Egypt’s Red Sea diving ranks among the best in the world for its sheer color, diversity and accessibility and is among the most popular things to do in Sharm El Sheikh. Head to diving sites like Ras Mohammed or Jackson Reef for exceptional underwater life or remain in shallower waters near Hurghada, where swimmers and snorkelers alike get their fill of live coral and tropical fish rich waters. At day’s end, you can enjoy a sunset cruise or dine overlooking the water in the shade of bougainvillea and palm tree groves.
10. Learn from Renowned Archaeologists and Egyptologists
Seeing the most mesmerizing sites in Egypt—the Pyramids of Giza, the soaring stone sculptures of Ramses and the hand-carved and painted tombs of the pharaohs—is on every traveler’s wish list. Those experiences become even more rewarding when accompanied by famous Egyptologists. Imagine strolling through Luxor’s Karnak Temple with Zahi Hawaas, a celebrated authority and Egypt’s first Minister of State for Antiquities Affairs. Imagine touring Cairo’s Egyptian Museum or the Valley of the Queens with Salima Ikram, Professor of Archaeology and Egyptology at the American University in Cairo. These privileged experiences can be yours when booking a luxury journey with Xplorearth.us.
Add Unique, Highly Curated Experiences to Your Egypt Itinerary
The mystery and splendor of ancient Egypt is elevated when combined with personalized experiences. Private, after-hours entry into the main burial chamber of the Khufu Pyramid enhances the impact of the tomb’s hand-crafted passageways. A solemn meditation session deep within the pyramids of Giza connects you to the ancient world in a surreal experience that no words can describe. As icing on the cake a private catered dinner in the shadows of the illuminated Luxor Temple adds panache to your Luxor stay. Allow Xplorearth.us to curate an experience beyond imagination.
Xplorearth has built a reputation for guiding travelers to the world’s most fascinating destinations and doing so with the utmost exclusivity in mind. Egypt is such a place so come xplorearth with us.
Glorious adventure awaits!
Author: Amy S. Eckert
Amy S. Eckert is an award-winning writer from Michigan. Her work has taken her to more than 60 countries, including South Africa and half a dozen other African nations. Amy’s work has been published in National Geographic Traveler, Condé Nast Traveler, Hemispheres, AFAR, The Saturday Evening Post, and Fodors.com, among others. You can learn more about her on her website.
