10 Days in Egypt Itinerary
They call Egypt the ‘World Capital of Tourism’
and I can completely understand as to why. From the Pyramids, to the Valley of the Kings, to crystal clear waters in the Red Sea, to modern night life in major cities, Egypt is a place where ancient history meets a country and people emerging into the modern world. At the time of this writing, despite past political instability, the country has regained a sense of calm which has allowed the tourism industry to thrive. After 10 days in Egypt, any traveler will leave with a new found sense of appreciation for history, art and human achievement.
10 days was not enough to experience everything that the country has to offer, but for me it was the perfect amount of time to allow for a balanced vacation between activity, adventure, rest and transportation.
I started my trip in Hurghada, a coastal town located on the shores of the Red Sea. The highlight was doing the day tour for snorkelling where the colours of the coral and fish were brilliant. The Hurghada Marina was a nice place to find vibrant restaurants of all different cuisine. At night, the city comes alive with bright lights, friends meeting, store owners opening, and families doing their shopping together. I also went to Orange Beach during this day tour, which allowed me some down time to relax. Especially if you are jetlagged, Hurghada is a good place to start your journey and ease your way into Egyptian culture. I was there for 3 nights, but you could get away with 2 if you were really crunched for time. If you are into scuba diving, then you will probably need more time.
After Hurghada, I travelled by ground to Luxor - one of the capitals of Ancient Egypt. Luxor is known as the world’s “largest outdoor museum”, due to the temples, statues, tombs, and ruins that remain scattered around the city. The activity I enjoyed most was the hot air balloon ride at sunrise, which gifted us breathtaking views of the city and sites. Luxor is nestled along the shores of the Nile River, and I highly recommend any traveler to partake on a sailboat dinner tour at sunset. The Winter Palace is a hotel boasting history, culture, and world class cuisine. My recommendation is not to rush Luxor. I was there for 4 days, 3 nights, but could have easily spent 1-2 more days.
The last leg of my journey was Cairo, and more specifically, Giza, to see the Pyramids. Cairo is a city with a population of 20 million people, and if that sounds chaotic, well, that’s because it is. The main attractions in Cairo include The Khan el-Khalili Market, the Egyptian Museum, and the Coptic neighbourhood. This can all be achieved in 1 day. This all being said, I don’t recommend you stay in Cairo, rather, stay in Giza - ideally at a hotel with a rooftop and view of the Pyramids. Most people think that the Pyramids are in the middle of the desert because of all the photos we see, but actually that couldn’t be further from reality; they are located right beside a commercial sector, meaning you can see the Pyramids and a Pizza Hut in the same view. If you decide to enter the Pyramids, be prepared with an extra clean shirt, because it can get extremely hot in there. Outside of the Pyramids, there are camel trainers in certain areas where tourists can go for a ride and take photos. All in all, 2 days and 1 night can be enough for Cairo and Giza.
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