Most of you probably first heard about Egypt at school, when you learnt about the pyramids, their Gods, their temples and even mummification methods. There’s no doubt that this country has long been considered one of the most important and interesting civilisations in history.
Cairo, Egypt’s mesmerizing capital, is the home of The Great Pyramids of Giza and The Sphinx, the only remaining survivor of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. So when in Egypt, you WILL have to visit this vibrant city for at least 3 to 4 days. But Egypt has definitely a lot more to offer! Here we will tell you everything you need to know about exploring this stunning country in ten days.
OUR TRIP
We arrived in Cairo early in the morning and spent the first two days of this adventure exploring the capital.
Day 1: CAIRO
Because our flight landed at four in the morning we decided to have a nap before breakfast and then enjoyed the pool and facilities of the gorgeous Four Season’s Nile Plaza, the hotel we chose to stay in the old part of the city. Fore more information about our stay with FS click here.
Later in the afternoon we visited the Egyptian Museum. We highly recommend to either visit late in the afternoon or even better at night. The crowds at night are pretty much non-existent! Don’t be disappointed with the looks of the building, it is run down but the amount of history you will see inside is crazy and is worth going.
Opening hours: Mon-Wed: 9am-7pm, Sun & Thu: 9am to 9pm, Fri & Sat: 9am to 4pm.
Ticket price: after 5.30pm Sun & Thu: 220 EGP for adults
Royal Mummies Room 150 EGP normal hours and 225 at night for adults - camera: 50 EGP.
After exploring the museum we decided to wander around the city at night to see a bit of the local life before enjoying a nice Egyptian dinner.
Day 2:
We ventured ourselves into the TRUE Egyptian culture and visited the Mosque of Muhammad Ali located in the Citadel of Cairo. Not only will you enjoy this great piece of architecture but you will also enjoy amazing views of the city from up there.
Opening hours: 8am to 5pm (check prayer times)
Ticket price for tourists: 140 EGP
By mid morning we took a short car ride to one of the world’s oldest open markets: Khan El-Khalili. This market will blow your mind with its smells, spices, food, clothes and beautiful antiques. The key if you want to shop: always walk around with a smile and be ready to bargain!
In the afternoon, we wanted to enjoy sunset from a felucca, which is a small sailing boat used on the Nile River. Prices are very accessible even if you want the felucca for yourself, approximately 250 EGP for one hour.
Day 3: ASWAN TO ABU SIMBEL
We arrived in Aswan by plane early in the morning and hired a private car to get to Abu Simbel. We paid approximately £200 GBP and the trip included: private driver, 3 hours Aswan to Abu Simbel, 8 hours Abu Simbel to Luxor. The distances are quite far between these places, hence the price. We spent more time on the road but we were able to see parts of the desert and villages in between cities.
Day 4:
Abu Simbel Temples
Opening hours: Mon to Sun 5am to 6pm
Ticket Prices: this will be the most expensive temple you will see in Egypt. General admission 200 EGP, Council Fee 200 EGP, Tourist Syndicate Fee 13 EGP, Photography 300 EGP, Tripod 20 EGP
The only way to beat the crowds is by sleeping in Abu Simbel town, so you can get up early and enjoy sunrise in the stunning location.