Chapter 02
History
5 chapters
02·01 · 15 min
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
Read the chapter → 02·02 · 12 min
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
02·03 · 12 min
Islamic Cairo: the city of a thousand minarets
Fatimids, Mamluks, and Ottomans: how Cairo became the capital of the Islamic world
02·04 · 10 min
Modern Egypt: from the Suez Canal to Tahrir
Muhammad Ali, the British occupation, Nasser, Camp David, and the 2011 revolution
02·05 · 14 min
The temples: how to read them
The cosmic machine of pharaonic Egypt: why temples are where they are and what every part means
Chapter 04
The Nile
4 chapters
04·01 · 18 min
Luxor & Thebes
Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon: the capital of pharaonic Egypt
Read the chapter →
04·02 · 14 min
Nile cruise
From Luxor to Aswan (or vice versa): the inland temples, life on board and practical advice
04·03 · 12 min
Aswan
Philae, the dam, the Nubian villages and the gateway to Egypt's south
04·04 · 10 min
Abu Simbel
The temples of Ramesses II and Nefertari: the greatest archaeological rescue operation in history
Chapter 05
Coast & desert
3 chapters
05·01 · 12 min
Alexandria
The city of Alexander and Cleopatra: the Library, the catacombs and Egypt's Mediterranean face
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Chapter 06
Culture & daily life
6 chapters
06·01 · 8 min
Culture & daily life
How Egypt really works: the table, the language, the rhythms of the day, and what no temple will tell you
Read the chapter → 06·02 · 12 min
Egyptian food: koshari and beyond
Street food, Coptic cuisine, tea rituals and why Egypt is far more than falafel and hummus
06·03 · 8 min
The rhythm of the day
Schedules, customs and the tempo of a country where the clock measures something else
06·04 · 6 min
Essential phrasebook
35 phrases in Egyptian Arabic with pronunciation to get you beyond shukran and inshallah
06·05 · 8 min
What to skip (and what to do instead)
Tourist traps, common scams and where it is actually worth spending your time in Egypt
06·06 · 6 min
Books & films
Books, films and documentaries to understand Egypt before you see the pyramids
Chapter 07
Practical information
6 chapters
07·01 · 3 min
Visa & insurance
E-visa, visa on arrival and travel insurance for Egypt
Read the chapter → 07·02 · 3 min
Money & baksheesh
Currency, exchange, ATMs, cards and the tipping system in Egypt
07·03 · 3 min
Transport
Flights, trains, buses, Uber and microbuses for getting around Egypt
07·04 · 3 min
Safety & dress code
Safety, common scams, women travelling alone and dress code in Egypt
07·05 · 2 min
Best time & Ramadan
When to travel to Egypt and what to expect if your trip coincides with Ramadan
07·06 · 3 min
Health, connectivity & language
Health, water, pharmacies, SIM cards, WiFi and useful Egyptian Arabic phrases
Chapter 08
Itineraries
4 chapters
08·01 · 8 min
Classic route · 10 days
Cairo, the pyramids, a Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan and Abu Simbel
Read the chapter → 08·02 · 9 min
Classic + Red Sea · 12 days
The classic itinerary (Cairo, Nile, Abu Simbel) closed off with two nights of diving or beach on the Red Sea
08·03 · 8 min
Complete route · 14 days
Cairo, the pyramids, Alexandria, a Nile cruise, Abu Simbel and the Western Desert
08·04 · 6 min
Cairo & Luxor · 7 days
The essence of Egypt in one week: pyramids, museums and the most important temples