Welcome to Egypt, one of the world’s greatest ancient civilizations. The country’s two most famous locations are its bustling capital, Cairo, and the historic Nile River. Cairo is the largest city in the Mediterranean and North Africa; it is in Northern Egypt. In relation to the city, the Nile River flows through it. The Nile is the longest river in the world, resulting in a total of 4,132 miles. Travelers can explore both iconic locations on Gate 1’s guided tour, the 9 Day Classic Egypt with 4 Day Nile Cruise.
Uncovering the Treasures of Cairo
When visiting Cairo, be ready to explore, there are so many historical things to see. On Gate 1’s guided tour, 9 Day Tastes of Cairo, travelers will have the opportunity to experience numerous ancient sights. You can take a walking tour of Cairo’s historic center and visit the famed El Khalili Bazaar, or marvel at the oldest structure of the “Seven Wonders of the Ancient Word,” the Great Pyramid of Giza. And that’s not all, view the famous Step Pyramid of Djoser, built by architect Imhotep and explore the Egyptian Museum. This museum houses the world’s most extensive collection of Pharaonic antiquities.
Cruising the Legendary Nile
No trip to Egypt is complete without a journey along the legendary Nile. Travelers who book with Gate 1 can embark on a week-long cruise on the Nile; this guided Egypt tour is the 15 Day Crown of Egypt with Hurghada & 7 Day Nile Cruise. The first morning of the cruise provides travelers with a sightseeing tour of the East Bank of Luxor. Then visit the magnificent Temples of Karnak, these date back over 3,000 years. You also will get to walk along the avenue of the Sphinxes and marvel at the Hypostyle Hall with its 134 massive sandstone columns. The next day, you will be taken on a tour of the imposing Greco-Roman Temple of Kom Ombo, that is dedicated to Horus, the Sky God, and Sobek, the Crocodile God. This is a must-see for those who love Egyptian mythology and architecture.
When to Go and What to Expect
If you’re wondering when to visit Egypt, the ideal time is between October to April when temperatures are milder. Thankfully, a majority of Gate 1’sEgypt guided tours start in September and end in May.
Tips for Travelers:
Dress modestly and comfortably. Light layers and breathable fabrics are ideal.
Bring sun protection, including hats and sunscreen.
English is widely spoken in tourist areas.
Conclusion
If you’re looking to explore ancient artifacts, a lively city in Cairo, or just relax on a beautiful cruise of the Nile River, then Egypt is the place for you.
Interested in exploring Egypt with Gate 1? Click here to discover all our travel packages and start planning your trip today!
Egyptian temples stand as timeless monuments, embodying the grandeur and mystique of ancient worlds. Each stone tells a story of devotion, power, and architectural brilliance, inviting modern travelers to embark on a journey through history. Here are some of the most iconic and inspiring temples open to visitors in Egypt today.
Luxor Temple: Amun, Mut, and Khonsu
The Luxor Temple is located at the heart of ancient Thebes. Dedicated to the Theban Triad of Amun, Mut, and Khonsu, it mesmerizes visitors with its colossal statues, imposing pylons, and intricately carved reliefs. Many visitors feel that Luxor Temple exudes a surreal aura, transporting you to a bygone era of divine worship and royal ceremonies.
Edfu Temple: Horus the Avenger
Nestled on the west bank of the Nile, the Edfu Temple stands as one of the best-preserved shrines in Egypt, dedicated to the falcon-headed god Horus. Built during the Ptolemaic period, this temple is a masterpiece of Greco-Egyptian architecture, adorned with elaborate inscriptions that narrate the mythic struggle between Horus and his nemesis, Seth.
Philae Temple: The Goddess Isis
Philae Temple enchants visitors with its sublime beauty. Dedicated to the goddess Isis, this island sanctuary served as a center of pilgrimage and worship for millennia. The 1960’s construction of the Aswan Dam prompted an effort to preserve Philae Temple, seeing it relocated to a new island one piece at a time. Today it still stands as a testament to the importance of preserving heritage.
Abu Simbel Temples: Rameses II and Nefertari
In the desolate sands of Nubia rise the colossal Abu Simbel Temples, commissioned by the mighty pharaoh Ramses II to immortalize his reign and deify his glory. Carved into the cliffs overlooking Lake Nasser, the twin temples of Abu Simbel are dedicated to Ramses II himself and his beloved queen, Nefertari. This is just one of the many awe-inspiring stops on our 13 Day Crown of Egypt with 7 Day First Class Nile Cruise.
Temple of Kom Ombo: Sobek and Horus the Elder
The Temple of Kom Ombo is a unique architectural marvel dedicated to two gods: Sobek, the crocodile deity, and Horus the Elder. It features symmetrical design elements, twin entrances, courts, and sanctuaries dedicated to each deity. The walls of Kom Ombo Temple are adorned with exquisite reliefs offering insights into ancient Egyptian medicine and religious beliefs.
Temple of Karnak: Amun
No exploration of Egyptian temples would be complete without a visit to Karnak. Dedicated to the god Amun, Karnak Temple is a vast ensemble of sanctuaries, pylons, obelisks, and hypostyle halls that reflect the contributions of pharaohs spanning over a millennium. Visitors can’t help but be awestruck by the scale and ambition of ancient Egyptian architecture and religious devotion.
In conclusion, Egyptian temples are not merely architectural wonders but living testimonies to the spiritual, artistic, and cultural legacy of an extraordinary civilization. You can experience all of this wonder and so much more for yourself on a Gate 1 Escorted Tour of Egypt. Whether you’re marveling at the grandeur of Luxor Temple or contemplating the mysteries of Abu Simbel, Gate 1 escorted tours offer impactful experiences with the timeless allure of ancient Egypt that are sure to stay with you for a lifetime.
I recently took my first trip to amazing and colorful Egypt, the land of Civilizations. This fascinating country has plenty to offer, including jaw dropping 5,000 year old temples and ruins, fantastic museums, beautiful natural scenery, ancient and modern cities, delicious food and friendly warm people.
Our trip consisted of two key components, including spending time in the capital and largest city, Cairo, and spending four days on a river boat along the Nile River between Luxor and Aswan. An overview of each is provided in the following separate posts.
I would recommend that any traveler to Egypt use a good tour group at this time, rather than traveling on their own. Tour groups in Egypt are required to use security personnel. In addition, a tour group takes care of all transportation, hotels, meals, entry fees at attractions (thereby allowing you to bypass long lines) and use tour guides who are experts at providing information about all of the historic sites as well as managing daily logistics. We used Gate1, a tour company that I have used on several other trips. Gate1 offers a wide variety of air and land tours throughout the world at a reasonable price. Their tours include international and domestic transportation, varied and interesting itineraries, optional excursions and good to excellent lodging and dining. In Cairo, we stayed at the Marriott hotel, one of the best hotels in the city, located on Zamalek Island.
Our tour manager and guide, Rania, was excellent. She took care of all 30 of us from the beginning to the end of the trip, especially when some of us became ill from food poisoning. With her degree in archaeology, Rania was an expert Egyptologist, providing an in-depth history of each of the sites we visited, including a description of the hieroglyphics. She also provided information on modern Egypt, including the recent and current politics, social issues, and overall logistics.
Entry and Exit Requirements – American visitors to Egypt are required to have a valid passport with one or more blank pages, and a Visa. Visas can be purchased upon arrival at Cairo International Airport for $25 or can be purchased online ahead of time. All tourist visas are valid for 30 days.
The People
The population of Egypt is approximately 100 million people, and most of the population is concentrated in Cairo, Alexandria and along the fertile Nile Valley. Egypt has a long history of being invaded by various cultures over thousands of years, including the Romans, Greeks, Persians, Arabs, British, French and other groups, resulting in a multi-cultural modern Egyptian society. The vast majority of the population are Sunni Muslim, while about ten to twenty percent are Coptic Christians who adhere to the Coptic Orthodox Church. Copts speak the Coptic language, a direct descendant of the ancient Egyptian language. They are said to be the closest blood line to the ancient Egyptians because they did not marry outside the religion after the Muslim conquest of Egypt in the 7th century. Nubians are an ethnic group mostly concentrated in southern Egypt near Sudan, who speak Nubian languages. Nubian villages are characterized by their brightly painted stucco walls, decorated with colorful symbols and patterns.
People in Egypt are generally friendly, hospitable, and helpful. Most people speak varying dialects of Arabic, however English is widely spoken since Egypt was formerly a British colony.
A group of Nubian women
Food and Drink
Egypt has delicious food, including excellent breads, kofta (spiced minced beef), kebabs, falafel, dips including hummus, labneh and ful nabed, and middle eastern style pastries. One of my favorite dishes is Kushari, a filling platter of rice, macaroni, and lentils and topped with tomato sauce, chickpeas and fried onions. It’s pure Egyptian comfort food. Most hotels also offer western style dishes, including the breakfast buffet. Egyptian coffee is prepared with a mixture of sugar, finely ground coffee and hot water. The grounds are not filtered, but rather allowed to settle prior to serving. Hibiscus tea, also known as Karkadéh, was the preferred drink of the pharaohs, and the beverage is still popular today. We were greeted at many restaurants and shops with this delicious drink. The tea is made by boiling the hibiscus flower, and the drink has a bright pink color.
It is paramount that you don’t drink tap water during your stay in Egypt. Hotels and tour bus operators will provide bottled water daily, which should be used for drinking and when brushing teeth. Food that is cooked is generally fine, but avoid street food, and raw food items such as lettuce, and fruits and vegetables that have been washed or not peeled. Even when taking precautions, out of our tour group of thirty, about six of us still became mildly ill for a few days.
Lunch at a Nubian restaurant
Money and Tipping
In Egypt, both dollars and Egyptian pounds are accepted. However, because of the current heavy fluctuation of the Egyptian pound, many people prefer dollars. As of January 2023, one Egyptian dollar equaled .033 US dollars. Before arriving in Egypt, make sure to bring enough single US dollars for tipping. Tips are generally provided to bus tour drivers ($2 per day), tour guides ($8-$10 per day), baggage attendants and public restroom attendants ($1 for two to three people). At restaurants, tipping is generally about 10 to 15 percent of the bill. If you take photographs of people, such as camel owners, expect them to ask for a tip.
Souvenirs
Some of the best locally made items to buy include perfumes, oils and scents, cotton scarves, galabeya (loose gowns worn by both men and women), papyrus, spices, dates, alabaster, silver and gold jewelry and carpets. Adjacent most of the temples and ruins are tourist markets where aggressive vendors will try to sell souvenirs. Souvenirs can also be purchased in the main markets, and at stores. In the markets, if you are not interested in purchasing, it is best to avoid eye contact with or respond to vendors. Once you speak to them, they will harass you, walking with you along the way. If you are interested, make sure to haggle with them – it is expected. Many souvenirs are not actually made in Egypt, but are rather cheap knock offs, so make sure to examine them carefully.
