You've decided that your next travel destination is Egypt. You’re pumped and excited to visit all the things you’ve seen on TV or read in book for years. But how do you fit this all in, in just 14 days? Trust me, it’s totally doable! Don’t get me wrong, you can go to Egypt for months and years and never visit absolutely every archeological site, however, you can visit all the main attractions and still have some time for rest and relaxation in just two weeks. There’s lots to prepare before you leave, so make sure you check out the article Canadians In Egypt to find some great tips for tourists going to this Middle East Country.

Cairo

Most people are going to start their journey in Cairo because this is where the major international airport is. The great thing about this, is that you will get quickly emerged into this fast paced culture! Everyone is hustling and bustling around, the driving is loud and intense and if you’ve never been to a country in the Middle East, it’s a bit of an eye opener. There’s no need to be scared to visit here, you just need to be prepared that standards are different then out west. The unfortunate thing about traveling far way is always jet leg. We were fortunate enough to have a very flexible schedule when we landed in Cairo, so we could take a couple of days to rest and getting our bodies on track for our adventures. I highly recommend trying to add at least 1 day to your travels for this.

When in Cairo there are many things to see and do. You can however condense it into two days. Starting early in the day is always better because of the heat. When booking your hotels, a safe area and central location is Maadi. There are lots of expats in this part of town, and most people speak some English. When it’s time to start touring, I recommend visiting Saqqara and Giza in the same day because both of these sites are about a 30-45 drive from downtown or Maadi. You won't need as much time at Saqqara. The grounds are not as big for you to explore, so go here first. It will also give you a greater appreciation for the first pyramid in Egypt. There won’t be as many tourists there either, so your visit won’t be as long as Giza. Arriving at the Giza plateau is AMAZING!!! Standing in front of these great pyramids is really breath taking. We walked around and soaked in all in for about 4 hours, and to be honest, for me, that wasn’t enough! For my husband though, I’m sure he felt like he got a really good sense of all the architecture. Do plan to pay the extra admission to visit inside the great pyramid. Be prepared though - it’s a long, steep, low corridor that you will have to hunch down to walk up. Beware, it’s HOT!!! (the Egyptians were advanced, but didn’t have air conditioning in those days!). It’s really remarkable to see how much effort went into these well though out tombs.

Your second day in Cairo will be much more relaxed, however, expect more people. A visit to the Cairo museum is a must, but beware - NO AIR CONDITIONING IN HERE! They are in the process of building a new museum, which I’m assuming will have A/C and I’m hoping it will be taken better care of. We were both surprised at the lack of attention at the museum. Artifacts piled in corners, display cases dirty and the grounds are in disrepair. After visiting the museum, it’s nice to visit Coptic Cairo and The Hanging Church of St. Mary. Here you will see the first Christian Church in the area and walk the same steps that the Holy Family once walked.

There are some great areas for food and drink, so I suggest going out in the evenings to Street Nine and walking around to find a restaurant and also The Platform on the Nile River. Everywhere you go in Cairo, expect lot’s of people and plan for extra travel time. Whenever I asked how long it will take to get somewhere, it always took double what I was told. Three or four days maximum is all you need to spend in Cairo. It is very polluted and busy, therefor your vacation could feel hectic if you stayed much longer.

Please find more information on Arriving in Egypt and Packing for the Middle East in my other articles.

Alexandria

It’s well worth while taking a two night trip up to Alexandria. The architecture in this area of the country is a little more Mediterranean and after being in Cairo, it’s beautiful to see the ocean. If you’re a female traveller, please note that this area is a little more conservative when it comes to how you dress in public. Try to wear clothing that covers your knees and shoulders to prevent lots of starring, and maybe a few cat calls.

Why do you want to visit Alexandria? There are so many amazing Greek and Roman archeological sites to see - the Amphitheatre, the Citadel and the Library. We spent most of our time at the Library looking at the great artifacts and learning more about the ancient history. They give free guided tours with very educated English speaking guides.

Alexandria is also a very busy city, with lots of cars and people. If you can handle all the people, take some time to walk down the market streets by the Amphitheatre and along the sea wall. Stop in at one of the local restaurants and enjoy some fresh sea food on the beach! If you’re a Starbucks lover, take your chance now, and go to the Starbucks at the Four Seasons Hotel. Once you leave Alex, you’re not going to enjoy your designer coffee for awhile!

Nile Cruise

After spending some busy days in the northern part of Egypt a great way to experience the southern part of the country is by enjoying a River Cruise up the Nile. You can catch a flight from Alexandria to Aswan in the morning, and in the same day board a small cruise ship that will sail for three or four nights up the Nile. I have to admit that I was pretty sceptical about boarding the cruise for four days, and I almost convinced myself that I wasn’t going to enjoy it. I was completely wrong. This was one of the highlights of our visit to Egypt. Make sure you choose a higher end line (we used Radamis, which is 5 Stars) and if you can spring for a suite - do it! Although, if you can’t, it won’t make your trip any less enjoyable. The first day will be a relaxing day that’s full of free time to explore Aswan. You’ll then spend the next few days with a guide travelling to some of the major Ancient Temples along the Nile. It’s an all inclusive trip, so you won’t have to worry about extra money for food, and it’s a great mix of sight seeing, swimming on the sun deck and taking part in extra activities if you like.

During the trip you’ll get a guided tour of the Aswan High Dam, Philae Temple, Kom Ombo Temple, Edfu Temple, Luxor Temple, Karnak Temple, Queen Hatshepsut’s Temple and The Valley of the Kings. Your trip will finish in Luxor, and I think it’s worthwhile to spend a night or two more in this city. It’s one of the cleaner cities in Egypt and there’s extra activities to take part in if you’d like. You could go hot air ballooning, enjoy a sail boat ride, visit the museum, or take some extra time and go the the Valley of the Queens.

The Red Sea

After all of the sightseeing in the heat, you will deserve some much needed rest. What better way to do this than visit the Red Sea. We choose to take the GoBus to Hurghada from Luxor for a few reasons: it’s cheap and a great way to see the country side. The first part of the ride was very slow, slowing down every few minutes for a speed bump or check point, but once you get to the open highway there’s beautiful desert mountains and scenery to look at.

You have many options when it comes to accommodations at the Red Sea. Hurghada is a popular destination for Europeans, and it was very busy. We stayed at a resort for five days, and there were pros and cons about this destination. The pro was the location and view of the sea. Beautiful blues colours as far as the eyes could see, with many corals and fish to snorkel around right at the bay. However, I found that there were more cons. The hotel was packed with stressed out families pushing and shoving everywhere! I’ve never encountered so many rude people in one spot! The other con was how many merchants were hassling us on the beach to purchase extra excursions and drink. They even called our room late one evening trying to sell us excursions! Not to mention the food wasn’t enjoyable and made both of us sick.

I was glad that we choose to split our stay at the sea and stay 5 nights in El Gouna area. This area is much newer and there are a lot of different hotel areas to choose from. We choose to stay at a resort full of bungalows on the beach. It was awesome! So much more laid back. The water is still beautiful and the sun was amazing. There’s lots to do as far as snorkelling, swimming with dolphins, boat rides, etc. The downtown area that they have created is small and quaint without hassle. Many restaurants to choose from and a great way to unwind at the end of your trip. If you only have 5 days, I would choose to go to this area, hands down.

For many people, getting away for two weeks is hard, but you can experience a lot of Egypt without being completely exhausted at the end. Something that is important to take note is how different the areas of Egypt are. The northern areas are busy with lots of local people, and you will probably see few tourists along the way. As soon as you get to Aswan and start your travels along the Nile and to the Red Sea, you’ll find the presence of tourism more noticeable. Of course that comes with the local merchants! There will be a lot more hassle for your dollar to be spent at their shop. I want you to remember that most of these people have never left Egypt or maybe even their own village, so for them, they aren’t aware of the different ways to go about getting your business. Most of the people are very nice and EXTRA willing to engage in a conversation. Just beware, some of the kindness is motivated by what you might pull out of your wallet.

We had a great time in Egypt and I would come back in a heart beat. We made many friends being invited to meals and homes. It has been a lifelong dream of mine to finally see the ancient monuments, walk where the ancients once had and explore the lands that many have before us. If you’ve been holding back on traveling to this amazing country - there’s no need. It’s a very welcoming atmosphere, with lots of potential in the horizon.

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