Egypt 101: Navigating the Land of the Pharaohs
We’ve been getting a surge of inquiries lately about one of the most bucket-list-worthy destinations on the planet: Egypt. Trust us, it’s as amazing in person as the pictures and museum exhibits suggest. Visiting Egypt truly feels like stepping into a living history book.
We first visited about 10 years ago, and to be honest, before we started researching, we had no clue what a trip there actually entailed. But after planning our own journey then and now planning it for our Jetsettery clients, we’ve realized that while the itinerary is often standard, there is a big difference in the experience based on your choice of hotels, tours and cruise lines.
If you’ve been dreaming of ancient ruins, bustling markets, and sunsets on the Nile, here is your Egypt 101 guide to how it all works.
The Classic Itinerary Overview
Most travelers follow a standard flow that hits the major sites at a reasonable pace. It usually looks like this:
Giza Pyramid and the Sphinx
Cairo (3 Nights): Start in the capital to see the Giza Pyramids and the Sphinx. You’ll also want to explore the new Grand Egyptian Museum, as well as the ancient capital of Memphis and the Saqqara step pyramids.
The Nile Cruise (4 Nights): This is the heart of the trip. You’ll fly south to Luxor to board your boat and sail toward Aswan (or vice versa).
Back to Cairo (2 Nights): From Aswan, fly back to Cairo for your final two nights. This gives you time to explore "Old Cairo" (Coptic Cairo), the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities, and beautiful historic mosques. Finally, you can get lost in the chaotic, colorful stalls of the Khan el-Khalili market for some last-minute treasures before heading home.
A Typical 5-Day Cruise Breakdown (Luxor to Aswan)
Kom Ombo
Wondering what you actually do on the boat? Each day you will disembark with a local guide to see the sites for at least a half-day, typically starting in the morning to avoid the heat. Afternoons are spent cruising - so grab a chair on the top deck, or a spot in the pool, and watch life on the Nile pass by.
Here’s a snapshot of a standard southbound itinerary:
Day 1 Luxor’s East Bank: Start your journey at Karnak, a massive complex of sanctuaries and giant columns that was the main place of worship for the New Kingdom. From there, visit Luxor Temple, which is particularly stunning at sunset, and stroll along the newly restored Avenue of Sphinxes - a 1.7-mile path lined with statues that once connected the two temples.
Day 2 Luxor’s West Bank: Cross the Nile to the Valley of the Kings, the hidden burial ground of the Pharaohs, where you can enter the famous Tomb of Tutankhamun. You’ll also visit the Temple of Hatshepsut (pronounced “hot cheap suit” as the guides like to say!), a unique terraced monument dedicated to one of Egypt’s few female Pharaohs, and the Valley of the Queens, where royal wives and children were laid to rest.
Ramesses II statue at Luxor Temple
Day 3 Edfu and Kom Ombo: Sail south to the Temple of Horus at Edfu, widely considered the best-preserved cult temple in all of Egypt. Later, explore the unique "Double Temple" of Kom Ombo. It is perfectly symmetrical, with one half dedicated to Sobek (the crocodile god) and the other to Horus (the falcon god).
Day 4 Aswan & The High Dam: In Aswan, visit the High Dam, a feat of modern engineering that created Lake Nasser, the world’s largest man-made lake. You’ll also take a short boat ride to the beautiful Philae Temple, dedicated to the goddess Isis and located on a picturesque island.
Day 5 Abu Simbel: The grand finale is an early morning excursion (by air or road) to Abu Simbel. These two massive temples were carved directly into a mountainside by Ramses II and are famous for being moved, stone by stone, in the 1960s to save them from the rising waters of the Nile.
Three Keys for a Successful Trip
Temple at Edfu
While the sites are ancient, your experience depends on the modern details. We believe these are the essential "keys" to finding the right Egyptian holiday:
The Right Cairo Hotel: You will most likely eat dinners and spend any free time at your hotel. Choosing a property that matches your vibe—whether it’s a historic palace or a modern oasis—is crucial. In order to be close to sightseeing and minimalize time in Cairo’s crazy traffic, you’ll stay at one hotel at the beginning of your trip (most likely near Giza) and a different one post-cruise (most likely downtown). When staying near Giza many hotels offer rooms with views of the pyramids!!
The Right Cruise: The standard is river cruise ships with about 50 cabins, a pool and plenty of common spaces. An alternative is a dahabiya - a smaller, traditional wooden sailing boat usually with about 10 cabins that has more of a boutique hotel feel. There are numerous cruise operators with different price points and levels of amenities. Since you’ll be spending the majority of your time on the cruise, this is a big decision.
The Right Guide: History comes alive through the person telling the stories. Having a top-tier Egyptologist makes the difference between just looking at old rocks versus understanding that ten European cathedrals could easily fit inside the Karnak Temple.
Pro Tips & Insider Advice
Life on the Nile
When to Go: We recommend October through April, avoiding the peak December and early January holidays, if you can. However if you are on a budget, and can stand the heat, May to September offers lower prices.
Old Cataract Hotel: If your schedule allows, we highly recommend adding on a night (or two) at Aswan’s gorgeous Old Cataract Hotel. It’s an historic colonial-era hotel where Agatha Christie famously wrote Death on the Nile.
Intra-Egypt Flights: Intra-Egypt flights are in the early morning to avoid the heat. Be prepared for some early wake up calls, but don’t worry, you will have time in the afternoons to relax. Also, we always include transfers to/from the airports so you don’t have to worry about a thing!
Extra day in Cairo: Consider arriving a day before your tour begins and spend an extra day relaxing at your Cairo hotel. You’ll be more refreshed and can fully focus on the amazing things you will see on your tour the next day
Safety & Security: Demand for Egypt is at an all-time high, and for good reason. To ensure the best experience, we suggest a structured approach: stick to guided tours (private or group) and stay in established international hotels. We’re here to educate so you can make the right choice for you and your travel companions.
Ready to Walk Like an Egyptian?
If you’re feeling inspired to go on your own Nile adventure, reach out to us at Jetsettery. We’d love to help you build your perfect itinerary! It truly is a magical, bucket-list adventure. Months after you return, you’ll still be pinching yourself that you were actually standing among the pyramids and sphinxes!
Sunset at Kom Ombo
