Egypt Guide
From the Pyramids to the Valley of the Kings
Introduction
History
Ancient Egypt: three thousand years of pharaohs
From the Old Kingdom to the New: the dynasties that built the pyramids, the temples, and the Valley of the Kings
The Greco-Roman era: from Alexander to Cleopatra
How the Ptolemies and Rome transformed Egypt and left their mark on the temples of the Nile
Islamic Cairo: the city of a thousand minarets
Fatimids, Mamluks, and Ottomans: how Cairo became the capital of the Islamic world
Modern Egypt: from the Suez Canal to Tahrir
Muhammad Ali, the British occupation, Nasser, Camp David, and the 2011 revolution
The temples: how to read them
The cosmic machine of pharaonic Egypt: why temples are where they are and what every part means
Cairo & surroundings
The Nile
Luxor & Thebes
Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon: the capital of pharaonic Egypt
Nile cruise
From Luxor to Aswan (or vice versa): the inland temples, life on board and practical advice
Aswan
Philae, the dam, the Nubian villages and the gateway to Egypt's south
Abu Simbel
The temples of Ramesses II and Nefertari: the greatest archaeological rescue operation in history
Coast & desert
Culture & daily life
Culture & daily life
How Egypt really works: the table, the language, the rhythms of the day, and what no temple will tell you
Egyptian food: koshari and beyond
Street food, Coptic cuisine, tea rituals and why Egypt is far more than falafel and hummus
The rhythm of the day
Schedules, customs and the tempo of a country where the clock measures something else
Essential phrasebook
35 phrases in Egyptian Arabic with pronunciation to get you beyond shukran and inshallah
What to skip (and what to do instead)
Tourist traps, common scams and where it is actually worth spending your time in Egypt
Books & films
Books, films and documentaries to understand Egypt before you see the pyramids
Practical information
Visa & insurance
E-visa, visa on arrival and travel insurance for Egypt
Money & baksheesh
Currency, exchange, ATMs, cards and the tipping system in Egypt
Transport
Flights, trains, buses, Uber and microbuses for getting around Egypt
Safety & dress code
Safety, common scams, women travelling alone and dress code in Egypt
Best time & Ramadan
When to travel to Egypt and what to expect if your trip coincides with Ramadan
Health, connectivity & language
Health, water, pharmacies, SIM cards, WiFi and useful Egyptian Arabic phrases
Itineraries
Classic route · 10 days
Cairo, the pyramids, a Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan and Abu Simbel
Complete route · 14 days
Cairo, the pyramids, Alexandria, a Nile cruise, Abu Simbel and the Western Desert
Cairo & Luxor · 7 days
The essence of Egypt in one week: pyramids, museums and the most important temples