Egypt 6 Experiences That Every Traveler Should Have
If Egypt tours have always been on your travel wish list, there has never been a better time to visit this incredible country. Egypt is a culinary traveler’s dream destination, with amazing food, welcoming hospitality, and unforgettable experiences, offering so much more than ancient pyramids in the desert. Do you need some itinerary ideas? Make a note of these experiences on your “to-do” list.
Indulge in Egyptian cuisine
Simply put, Egyptian cuisine is delicious. It’s hearty and full of flavorful spices, and there are always tasty options available, even if you’re vegetarian or vegan. Spend your days sipping lemon and mint teas while weighing all of the delicious food options. Try koshari, a traditional dish made up of rice, pasta, tomato, onion, lentils, and chickpeas. This inexpensive snack can be found everywhere in Egypt, from restaurants to street vendors, try Fiteer it is often referred to by Egyptians as “Egyptian pizza” by foreigners, which is a close enough comparison. This stone-fired bread is made with layers upon layers of filo dough and butter and is not for the faint of heart. Fiteer is frequently stuffed (rather than topped) with virtually anything and is available in both savory and sweet varieties. Also must try Tamiya, Fattah, and delicious Molokhia.
Navigate as if you were a local
If you have time in your itinerary, spend a day living like a local and visiting local markets and eateries. Before you do, keep in mind that there are few to no traffic lights (especially in Cairo). You won’t be able to cross in one go, so navigate each lane separately. Use the lane markers (they’re like little pedestrian safety islands) to get in between lanes, and you’ll get there if you hop (like Frogger) from one to the other. Crossing in groups is also safer because cars can see you and maneuver around you more easily.
Go for Giza Pyramids Tour
You can’t visit Egypt without seeing the Pyramids. It’s a full day of sightseeing, but it well worth it. Travel in by camel and take in the sights of the Sphinx, the sand dunes, and, of course, the Pyramids. Exploring the narrow pathways of these systems, which are 4,500 years old (and counting), is unforgettable.
Take an overnight train
Overnight trains from Giza Station to Aswan or Luxor to Cairo are popular options for visitors. It’s convenient, affordable, and safe, and it takes about 10-13 hours to get there (depending on the destination). Settle in, grab a bite to eat on board, and enjoy the adventure of train travel while taking in the scenery. It’s the ideal way to unwind, and the thrill of waking up in a new city is a pretty special way to start the day.
Visit King Tut’s tomb and get a cartouche
Visit Luxor to see King Tutankhamun’s mummified remains, which are still housed in his tomb in the Valley of the Kings. The teenaged linen-wrapped pharaoh was displayed in an underground tomb in Luxor on the 85th anniversary of their discovery. While in Luxor, why not commemorate the occasion with a souvenir cartouche? It’s an oval-shaped necklace with your name written in hieroglyphs on it. The price will vary depending on the material used – gold, white gold, or silver – and it is best to negotiate the price before it is made. The general consensus is that Luxor is the most affordable place to purchase high-quality ones
Take a Tour to Abu Simbel
Abu Simbel is located in Egypt’s extreme south and is only accessible by a short flight from Aswan, but this out-of-the-way tomb is breathtaking. Rising water levels meant that Ramses II’s sun temple, built-in 1264 BC, had to be relocated. It was cut into huge 20-30 tons blocks and moved 65 meters higher and roughly 200 meters back with the help of UNESCO at a cost of $40 million. The relocation was so precise that the rising sun still penetrates the temple’s interior, illuminating it in tribute to the Sun God in the way it was always meant to. To say it’s a massive attraction would be an understatement, but it’s not to be missed.
