Do you dream of finding yourself in the time of the pharaohs? We have selected for you the most beautiful places on your trips to Egypt! We are all in search of our roots and the study of ancient civilizations upon entering university often awakens a passion that drives us to explore the countries that formed the cradle of modern times.
The use of writing in Egypt, more than 5000 years ago was the main element of its development and allows us to understand today the messages that they left a long time ago. In Egypt, the testimonies of the greatness of these first civilizations are still particularly numerous and they continue to amaze us with their majesty. We invite you to discover the most beautiful of them and the environment in which they are found
The Top Places to Visit in Egypt in 2021:
Abu Simbel
In the 1960s, when the Egyptian government decided to build the Aswan Dam to regulate the devastating floods of the Nile, the problem of the disappearance of a large number of temples arose. A great international movement was born, whose main objective was to save Abu Simbel and the royal colossi from him.
As we are in Egypt, it was a pharaonic job to cut the 2 temples into multi-ton blocks and reinstall them 100m higher. The result is spectacular, especially because we have taken the precaution of respecting the same orientation, which allows the sun to penetrate to the bottom of the temple, twice a year. Located in the extreme south, the site of Abu Simbel should definitely be included when you want to visit Egypt. It is much easier since an airport has been built next to it.
Alexandria
The city created by Alexander in 300 BC. Later enlarged and magnified by Ptolemy it is the most European of the Egyptian cities. Even if it lost the lighthouse that was its emblem, and whose scale and sophistication earned it to be among the 7 wonders of the world, Alexandria still preserves many ancient monuments.
Converted into an influential port in the 19th century, it has seen very elegant buildings flourish, which can be admired along the unmissable Corniche promenade, which runs from Pointe Silsila to Fort Qaïtbay. Do not miss the visit of the new library, inaugurated in 2002, worthy of its disappeared ancestor, which shone in the ancient world.
Al Quseir
If you are looking for an authentic village, away from the tourist crowds, make a stop at Qoseir, on the edge of the Red Sea. Formerly an important port, when the Suez Canal was not yet drilled. It has retained its charm, with its pretty Ottoman houses by the sea.
You can also visit an old fortress and a mosque from the 18th century. Here, you will have real contacts with the villagers, without them approaching you in search of possible alms. You can make it your home port and then radiate out to Luxor and the Valley of the Kings.
Aswan and its islands
The rocky dimensions of the Nile from the falls, which are six in number. The first is in Aswan, at the gates of Nubia. The scenery here is particularly striking: the blue waters of the Nile wind between the green islands that overlook the city.
These are Kitchener and its botanical garden, Elephantine, and the temple of the god Khnum, Séhel, and its stelae. There are so many invitations to join them aboard a felucca, this sailboat that you have to borrow during any visit to Egypt.
Cruise on the Nile
The highlight of any visit to Egypt is, without a doubt, the Nile cruise vacation, the discovery of the main places from a boat gliding down the Nile. From one day to more than 3 weeks, the cruises by the Nile are an opportunity to admire and visit the most beautiful places in Egypt.
You can depart from Cairo or more likely Luxor, to discover Karnak, the Valleys of Kings and Queens, Aswan, Abu Simbel, and sleep aboard a comfortable cabin.
White desert
Most of the places to visit in Egypt are along the Nile or the Red Sea, but the desert has also been wondered. The most spectacular is probably the white desert.
Seeing these gleaming white limestone concretions appear amid a sea of ocher sand is an unforgettable scene. Make sure you have enough space on your photo card, as you will want to immortalize these rocks taking fantastic shapes.
Karnak
More than a temple, Karnak is a huge religious complex, the construction of which has taken place over 2000 years. The city contained all the buildings necessary for the life of the servants of the supreme divinity.
The visit goes back to the past because over the centuries buildings have been destroyed to build new ones. At the entrance, the first pylon is already imposing with its 113 m of façade. Plan to visit at least 2.5 hours to admire the temples, colonnades, obelisks, and shrines, each more imposing than the other.
Cairo
Difficult to visit Egypt without spending at least a day visiting its capital, Cairo. You can start by going up to the Cairo Tower, to have a panoramic view of the city. Stroll through the old city, get lost in the labyrinth of the Khan al-Khalili souk. And spend a good part of the day in the fantastic Cairo Museum, where you can hone your knowledge of the ancient world. And it is from Cairo where you can discover the pyramids of the Giza plateau.
Luxor
Temple is still so imposing. The Alley of the Sphinx already makes you dizzy, and you really feel small at the foot of the immense columns of the court of Ramses II and the monumental statues of the famous sovereign.
This completes the site traced by his predecessor Aménophis III, whose courtyard, the temple, and the chambers of births and offerings, as well as the Chapel of Signs, are also visited. A must-see during any visit to Egypt!
Hurghada and the Red Sea
Between two visits to the temple, it is good to go relax by the sea. If you also want to enjoy great diving spots, Hurghada is the place to go. The fishing port converted into a tourist area with numerous hotels. This city enjoys a long sandy beach and offers a sublime landscape of islands surrounded by perfectly transparent waters.
The coral reefs, which are under protection, are all opportunities for diving. are you a beginner Don’t worry, here you will find many schools that can get you started. And if you’re not tempted, try diving. You will be surprised by the spectacle of fish of all colors.
Sinai
A visit to Egypt cannot be complete without discovering the Sinai Peninsula. It is the desert and its extraordinary geology. Landscapes of dunes and palm groves coexist with high pointed peaks, such as Mount Sinai, also known as Mount Moses.
In this high place of Catholicism, you can visit the Monastery of Santa Catalina. Along the way, it is not uncommon to meet nomadic goat breeders or dromedaries, who jealously guard their ancestral culture. Admire the magnificent women’s clothing, the colors of which indicate status.
Dakhla Oasis
Sinking into the desert, towards Libya, the road is dotted with Oases, relatively distant from each other. Dakhla, in the south, is the largest of them. Many small villages have been created on their edges, including Dakhla, which has 4,000 inhabitants, most of the Bedouin.
Here, the aridity of the desert stops and gives way to greenery and varied crops: olive groves, palm groves, cereal fields, orange and apricot trees, to name just a few.
Philae
After the rescue of the Abu Simbel temple, the world began to dream of a similar operation to rehabilitate the island of Philæ and its temple of Isis. In fact, this was regularly underwater due to the first Aswan Dam, erected in the early 20th century.
Therefore, the temple was moved to a neighboring island, with greater relief, during the 1970s. Therefore, we can return to stroll through the temple complex and its annexes.
Saqqara
What would a visit to Egypt be like without visiting some of its pyramids? There are about a hundred, whose construction lasted from 2,700 to 1,550 BC, with the evolution of architecture over time. The oldest was erected in Saqqara, near the ancient capital, Memphis.
Designed by the architect Imhotep. It was intended for the sovereign Djoser, founder of the Old Empire. It is a stepped pyramid, in the center of a complex that includes many mastabas (graves of individuals). open to visitors and allowing you to imagine the life of the time.
Giza
The Giza plateau, not far from Cairo, includes the 3 pyramids of Khufu, Khephren, and Mykerinos. These were built around 200 years after Saqqara and are of the smooth type. This is where you can see the famous and imposing Sphinx.
It is possible to enter the interior of the pyramids to go to the burial chamber. You will have to walk hunched into the gallery leading to it, but the impression is eye-catching, you shouldn’t miss this!
Valley of the Kings
Surrounding Luxor is the vast complex of the Thebaine necropolis. The kings gradually abandoned the construction of pyramids for tombs dug out of the mountain. The Valley of the Kings contains a set of 63 burials, the last of which was discovered in 2006.
It was there that the tomb of Tutankhamun was discovered, most of whose objects are in the Cairo Museum. Better to dedicate the visit to the most richly decorated tombs, such as that of Ramses III. The entrance ticket gives access to 3 of them, each with its own specificity.
