Egypt is a rustic with hundreds of years of historical past and most well-known for its Pharaohs and pyramids at Giza. It’s a part of the Center East however lies on the African continent. It’s a kind of international locations I wished to go to for a very long time however by no means had the prospect to go and everyone knows there was a yr or two of some turmoil which didn’t enable straightforward journey. As we speak, vacationers nonetheless keep away however when the Intercontinental Cairo Metropolis Stars was on the IHG Pointbreaks listing I didn’t hesitate to e book 10 nights in Cairo. It was a discount (simply 5000 factors which I calculate at about 25 euro per night time) and there was no precise security menace anymore, so no motive to not go. To effectively see Cairo, I employed an Egyptian Sidekick for a lot of the days. They’re college students and attempt to change the best way tourism works in Egypt: truthful costs no hidden charges or extraordinary ideas. I had a good time with them and I’ll present you the Egypt itinerary I made along with them. All day journeys are based mostly out of Cairo and canopy all of the vital locations in northern Egypt. Someday I must return for southern Egypt.
Issues to bear in mind when planning an Egypt itinerary
Let me begin with a couple of issues to bear in mind if you’re planning an Egypt itinerary plus a couple of common ideas when visiting Egypt.
- Once I first visited Egypt, I needed to queue for a visa on arrival however for 45+ international locations that’s not wanted anymore. Now you can get your Egypt visa on-line! I used E-Visums for my second and third go to to Egypt. They dealt with my request fast, skilled and with none errors. Good service and that’s why I take advantage of E-Visums now for extra e-visa world wide and I’m certain once more for Egypt too. As you would possibly know, it’s low cost to start out enterprise class flights in Cairo and even with the price of an e-visa I’ll first fly to Cairo.
- Egypt is completely secure however use frequent sense for some areas on the borders with neighboring international locations. I walked by means of again alleys in Cairo at night time with out drawback.
- Respect the Muslim guidelines, though Egypt is a reasonably free nation take into accout guidelines are a bit completely different. Don’t {photograph}, particularly ladies, with out permission. Costume reasonable in mosques and different spiritual buildings.
- Visitors is chaotic which may make journey instances longer as you’ll anticipate. Depart some house for delays in an Egypt itinerary.
- I used to be suggested to be fastidiously with meals and water to keep away from the Pharaohs curse. That’s simply heavy abdomen issues and bathroom go to all through the day. It relies on what you might be used to however I brushed tooth with faucet water, had dinner in again alleys and didn’t get sick. It could be luck however hold it in thoughts and purchase drugs regionally because the Western drugs don’t work.
- See my high 6 hotspots to go for lunch and dinner to learn how to keep away from the Pharaohs curse! All these locations are clear!
I feel that’s a very powerful issues to bear in mind; for the remainder simply benefit from the nation! I’ll share with you the 7 day journeys I did in and round Cairo which cowl principally all locations of curiosity. The opposite 2-3 days I stayed on the lodge to benefit from the pool and the others have been principally journey days.
Egypt Itinerary day journey #1: Coptic Cairo
In Cairo the largest half is Muslim however there’s a lovely Coptic space too. All locations of curiosity are concentrated round one road and it takes nearly a full day to see every little thing. I counsel to start out on the Coptic Museum to be taught in regards to the historical past of the world. From there you possibly can stroll up and down the road to see the completely different church buildings and a cemetery. There are additionally varied stays of a lot older buildings partly built-in into the newer buildings. On the street there are eating places the place you possibly can take a snack for lunch. For dinner see the 6 hotspots to go for dinner and lunch in Cairo which I wrote earlier.
For an in depth day journey report please see:
EGYPT – A day in Coptic Cairo, the Cairo Tower and Tahrir Sq. with the Egyptian Museum
Egypt Itinerary day journey #2: Wadi Al-Hitan
Wadi Al-Hitan is a protected UNESCO World Heritage Web site about 3 hours south of Cairo. It’s principally a dry ocean flooring the place plenty of prehistoric fossils and skeletons are completely preserved. It’s an extended drive however properly price it as you possibly can see right here thousands and thousands of years of historical past. There’s a well-marked observe which guides you thru the desert and at a number of factors skeletons and different fossils are on show on the spot the place they have been discovered. Go early in order that on the best way again you will have time to cease at some close by waterfalls and drive by means of some rural areas to see the native life in Egypt. Relying on the day you go, you would possibly be capable of go to an area farmers market which is one thing it’s essential to have seen as soon as in your life. It’s an extended day journey and there aren’t many choices for lunch so take some snacks and drinks with you.
For an in depth day journey report please see:
EGYPT – A stroll by means of million years of historical past at Wadi Al-Hitan Whale Valley
Egypt Itinerary day journey #3: Rubbish Metropolis, Cave Church & Dahab’s Nile Island
I wished to see additionally the opposite facet of Cairo: Rubbish Metropolis and Dahab’s Island within the Nile. This present day journey might be not on everybody’s precedence listing however if you wish to see native life I do counsel to do that journey. It’s solely half a day so the remainder of the day I counsel to go see the Cairo Museum, Tahir Sq. and the Cairo Tower. I truly went there on the day of arrival as I arrived early morning however it may be completely mixed on today. Rubbish Metropolis is a neighborhood in Cairo the place, because the identify says, a lot of the rubbish goes for recycling. You will notice plenty of individuals sorting rubbish by hand, taking electronics aside and bundling all for transport. It’s fascinating to see how the individuals reside there because it’s a giant distinction to Western European international locations. Numerous poverty there. Close by is a cave church which can also be properly price a go to. The Dahab’s Nile Island is a big island in the course of the Nile which isn’t developed. You may witness right here farmers working the land and youngsters play. I at all times prefer to see how the native’s reside once I journey and the world’s I visited today match completely this aim.
For an in depth day journey report please see:
EGYPT – The opposite facet: Cairo Rubbish Metropolis, Cave Church, Dahab’s Nile Island
Egypt Itinerary day journey #4: Islamic Cairo half 1
Islamic Cairo has too many locations of to see in at some point so I did it in two. Someday I counsel to go to the outdated citadel to see the mosques, museums and historical fortifications. It doesn’t take a full day to discover the Cairo Citadel so after lunch there may be time to go to the Al-Azhar Park to loosen up within the sunshine. In case the climate isn’t in your favor for the park then you might additionally go to Rubbish Metropolis this afternoon. Within the afternoon make a cease on the Bab Zuweila Gate which is on the far finish of Muizz Road however to far to stroll all the best way the opposite day.
For an in depth day journey report please see:
EGYPT – Islamic Cairo: the Citadel, Al-Azhar Park and Bab Zuweila Gate
Egypt Itinerary day journey #5: Islamic Cairo half 2
The second a part of Islamic Cairo include the Al-Rifai and Sultan Hassan mosques and all types of buildings round Muizz Road. Go to the 2 mosques first, then go to the Muizz Road. Stroll by means of the Muizz Road and discover all of the protected buildings that are a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Web site of outdated Cairo. There are fairly some buildings which give a very good understanding how individuals lived in previous time; it’s not simply mosques. When you end, stroll again to have a tea on the Om Kalthoum Cafe. It’s a well-known place so be sure you don’t pay the vacationer costs however the native costs. There are a number of souks within the space to purchase souvenirs. Be certain to discount! You need to be capable of get the worth down by 50-65% simply. Throughout today you’ll go to a number of mosques so gown reasonable though clothes can also be supplied for vacationer at most of them.
For an in depth day journey report please see:
EGYPT – Islamic Cairo: The historic Muizz Road and Al-Rifai & Sultan Hassan Mosque
Egypt Itinerary day journey #6: Abu Mena & Alexandria
Abu Mena is a UNESCO World Heritage Web site a couple of kilometers outdoors of Alexandria. As I need to see the entire UNESCO Websites I merely needed to drive up there. There’s a new Abu Mena and an outdated archeological website which is the UNESCO Web site. I visited each as the brand new church is a bit of artwork. Abu Mena has been for hundreds of years a Christian pilgrims place. Annually hundreds come to Abu Mena the place Menas of Alexandria was burried centuries in the past. The archeological website is a couple of lots of meters away and a bit tough to search out. Simply put the positioning into Google Maps and you’re going to get there someway as a couple of roads go there. It’s not a vacationer website and there was no entrance payment and never that a lot info. A guard watched me whereas I explored the positioning. It relies on your curiosity in case you ought to go there to be trustworthy. Alexandria was my second cease today the place I explored the fort and the palace. In case Abu Mena just isn’t your attraction I counsel to spend a full day in Alexandria. It’s simply crammed with actions.
For an in depth day journey report please see:
EGYPT – An Alexandria day journey from Cairo with a go to to Abu Mena
Egypt Itinerary day journey #7: Pyramids & Pharaohs
One optimistic factor of getting much less vacationers in Egypt is that you would be able to make footage of the Giza Pyramids with out individuals. A novel alternative. This present day journey will take you first to the southern pyramids: the Dahshur Pyramid area, the step pyramid at Saqqara, outdated royal metropolis of Memphis and finish on the three pyramids at Giza and the Sphinx. Every of the pyramids is completely different so I extremely suggest to not simply go to these at Giza but in addition the opposite ones. You may enter the pyramids at Giza however I like to recommend to do this on the ones at Dahshur because it’s much less crowded and cheaper. Particularly at Giza there will probably be touts providing excursions and extra. If this annoys you then give them a agency no and usually they need to cease bothering you. This present day journey is probably the most well-known day journey in Cairo and one to not skip. Every part you will notice as we speak is a part of the UNESCO World Heritage. I used to be actually impressed by the dimensions of the pyramids and the very fact these have been constructed hundreds of years in the past.
For an in depth day journey report please see:
EGYPT – The traditional pyramids day tour from Cairo
The above day journeys collectively go by all the main locations in northern Egypt and depart sufficient time to loosen up. I hope these strategies provide help to to plan an Egypt itinerary and that you’ll benefit from the journey as a lot as I did. If you wish to know the place to eat native specialties, then make sure that to take a look at my high 6 restaurant hotspots for lunch and dinner in Cairo. I had for instance cow eyes, sheep balls and plenty of different road meals and well-known Egyptian dishes. Quickly I hope to go to Egypt once more, however then the southern half as there may be a lot extra to see and to do there.
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