Bonjour my beauties 🤍
I’m so thrilled to finally share my latest trip: Egypt.
What can I say… this country is simply magical, filled with history, culture, and mystery. Let me start with the question many of you asked me before going: Is it safe?
I completely understand the concern, but trust me, it felt very safe. Tourism has picked up again, and if Egypt is on your bucket list, I truly recommend going now, before mass tourism fully returns.
We decided to go as a family. Egypt had been on our list for a very long time, but years ago it wasn’t advised to travel there, so we waited. 2019 was finally the year.
We traveled with Abercrombie & Kent, choosing the itinerary “Egypt & the Nile: Cruising on the Sanctuary Nile Adventurer,” with private tours for each excursion, honestly, one of the best decisions we made. Everything was perfectly organized, allowing us to focus entirely on discovering the country while they handled all logistics.
We were also incredibly lucky to have the most amazing guides.
In Cairo, we had the wonderful Gazibia Hussien, and during the Nile cruise, the fabulous Mohammed El Rehim, so sweet, knowledgeable, and warm, he truly felt like a family member. If you decide to use A&K, I highly recommend them (I’ve also shared Mohammed’s email below as he does private tours).
The service throughout the trip was absolutely exceptional, so a big thank you to Abercrombie & Kent for their hospitality.
Our Itinerary
Many of you asked for it, so here it is, every stop was worth it.
Cairo – First 4 Nights
We stayed at Marriott Mena House (we added an extra night to rest and adjust).
Visits included:
- Egyptian Museum of Antiquities & the Mummies Room
- Giza Pyramids & the Solar Boat Museum
- Workmen’s Tombs
Luxor & Nile Cruise – 5 Nights
We flew to Luxor and boarded the Sanctuary Nile Adventurer.
Day 1: Luxor Temple, Valley of the Kings, Temple of Queen Hatshepsut
Day 2: Karnak Temple (my favorite), Esna Temple
Day 3: Edfu Temple, Kom Ombo Temple
Day 4: Philae Temple, Unfinished Obelisk, Felucca ride on the Nile
Abu Simbel
We flew from Aswan to Abu Simbel to visit the breathtaking temple with its four massive statues of Ramses II overlooking Lake Nasser, then flew back to Cairo the same day.
Cairo – Last 2 Nights
We stayed at the Four Seasons Cairo Nile Plaza , such an amazing hotel with great restaurants.
On our final day, we visited:
- Mosque of Sultan Hassan
- A walking tour through the old walled city of Cairo
- Lunch at Naguib Mahfouz, which I highly recommend
Voilà. I truly left a piece of my heart there. I was so sad to leave, but I already know I’ll return one day.
Practical Notes
Dress Code:
Dress conservatively and respectfully. The less you wear, the more attention you’ll get, I’ll leave it at that. I once wore a slit maxi dress and definitely felt the difference compared to wearing pants.
Weather:
We traveled from January 24 to February 3. Mornings and evenings were quite chilly, while daytime was slightly warmer. I layered most days. Pack a light jacket, a scarf, and comfortable closed-toe shoes, especially for places like the Valley of the Kings where terrain can be uneven.
Food:
We ate a lot of traditional Egyptian food, delicious, but Egypt also offers many international options (Indian, Chinese, etc.), all very good. None of us got sick. We were careful to drink only bottled water and avoid raw foods.
You should definitely try shisha, especially at the Marriott Mena House overlooking the pyramids, such a cool experience.
One thing to note: alcohol is generally only available in international hotels.
Tips:
Bring cash, tipping is very common in Egypt and often expected.
Visa:
We obtained our visa upon arrival at the airport. Make sure to carry $25 in cash, as they only accept cash.
Final Thoughts
I highly recommend planning your trip in advance with a travel agent so you’re not confused or wasting time on logistics. Just make sure your itinerary isn’t overloaded, you want time to truly enjoy each place without feeling rushed.
Thank you so much for all your beautiful messages. This was easily one of my top three trips ever. Seeing historical places over 4,600 years old, filled with such powerful stories, was simply unbelievable and deeply mystical. The sounds, the scents, the wind, Egypt truly transports you somewhere else.
I strongly suggest experiencing it at least once in your lifetime.
If you want to see the story version of this trip, you can find it here: @alpa.rama
✉️ My amazing guide’s email: mohamedrehim@hotmail.com
