Egypt is a place that I get a lot of questions about, and recently I received one that led me to prepare this post. It made me realize that I had guides on safety and how to plan a trip, but didn’t share a guide on the best things to do when you visit Egypt. Now, of course, this isn’t the be all end all of what you can do. It’s a big place with plenty more on offer. But I hope it gives you some ideas and starting points for planning your trip when you are organizing it with your guide. If you’d like even more suggestions, the guides I listed in the post are the ones I hired and they’ll be able to help you.
The Best Things To Do When You Visit Egypt For An Epic Vacation
Disclaimer
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My Tour guides
Before we get started, here are the details for my tour guides who will be able to help you plan any of these things.
Both of these guides can plan your trip from start to finish whether you’re traveling solo or in a group. They can travel to each city with you or arrange for a guide to meet you in each city.
They can do as much or as little as you need – it’s a matter of what you prefer.
Ahmed Mido
Ahmed planned the overall details of my trip (I just booked my flights to and from Egypt) and he was my guide in Cairo and Giza.
Visit his Facebook page here to contact him.
Ahmed Mido
Amr Ali
Amr was my fantastic and knowledgable guide in Luxor who took me to all the best sites there.
Visit his Facebook page here to contact him.
Amr Ali
Places I visited
I visited Cairo, Giza, Luxor, and Sharm El Sheikh during my visit.
To get between each place I flew by plane on Egypt Air which was convenient and helped me make the most of my time there.
The only exception is between Cairo and Giza because it’s only a short drive.
Food on an Egypt Air flight
Where I stayed
If you’re booking your own accommodation, here’s where I stayed.
Cairo
I stayed in the Sun Hostel which was in the city center. It was a basic hostel but I had my own room and bathroom. The staff were super friendly and helpful and I especially liked sitting in the common area in the evening to chat to them.
If you’d prefer a view of the Pyramids, check out New Pyramids Eyes Hotel or Marvel Stone Hotel.
Luxor
I stayed at Aracan Eatabe Luxor Hotel which made for a great base while I was in Luxor.
Djorff Palace also looks epic!
Sharm El Sheikh
I stayed at the Tropitel Naama Bay which was a huge resort.
It was a great location because I could walk all around town easily and it was close to the snorkeling and glass bottom boat tours I did.
View from Sun Hostel in Cairo
Things to do in Egypt
The Pyramids of Giza
Of course, you can’t go to Egypt and not see the great Pyramids.
They’re simply incredible.
It’s one of those places that are just as amazing in person even though you’ve seen them a million times on TV or in photos.
When you go there you can go around them to get all the best views (make sure you get a super touristy photo!) and you can even go inside if you want. You’ll be able to see the Sphinx as well.
Artisanal shopping in Giza
This is one of the real treats of visiting Giza.
I highly recommend checking out a perfume store for a collection of oil perfumes. You can get a demonstration where they will serve up some hibiscus tea and go through the different perfumes before you choose the ones you want. It is a great experience and I still have my oils to this day because they last so long.
I also recommend:
- Jewelry store for handmade jewelry – great time to pick up a custom cartouche necklace with your name in Hieroglyphic
- Papyrus factory to take home authentic Papyrus art and demonstrations on how it is made
- Egyptian cotton store
Oil perfume shopping in Giza
Custom necklace being made in Giza
Nile sunset cruise
Being on the water is always a great way to see a beautiful sunset.
On a Nile sunset cruise, you’ll also get a nice dinner, music, and a show with cultural dance performances. It’s a super fun experience.
I did my Nile cruise while I was staying in Cairo.
Sunset views from the Nile dinner cruise
Egyptian Museum in Cairo
This is an epic museum that will transport you into the world of Ancient Egypt.
Ahmed was a wonderful guide for this museum because he was a wealth of information as we went through each exhibit.
Here you’ll see an extensive range of exhibits with everything from huge statues to small artifacts. It houses the world’s largest collection of Pharaonic antiquities so there’s plenty to see.
Egyptian Museum in Cairo
Valley of the Kings in Luxor
This was my favorite thing to see in Egypt. In this area you can see a series of tombs built into the mountains.
It’s hard to put into words how incredible it is to walk into the side of the mountain and see a whole world unfold as you walk through the tunnels.
You can still see painting on the walls and ceilings, you see the tomb from the inside, you get a feel for the enormity of what it would’ve been to create them without modern machinery. It’s mind-blowing and a must see in my opinion.
The incredible tombs
Temples in Luxor
There are also many amazing temples in Luxor.
Some include the Temple of Hatshepsut, Temple of Amenhotep III, Karnak Temple, or the Luxor Temple. This is just to name a few.
As you’re standing next to them, the size, scale, and detail will amaze you.
For the temples and tombs, Amr will bring it all to life because he is incredibly knowledgable on Egyptology. He has even worked on some excavations.
Hot air balloon ride in Luxor
It’s an early morning wake up call, but well worth it.
Taking a hot air balloon ride over Luxor is the best way to see just how beautiful the landscape it.
You see the nile cutting through it, the lush green areas around it, and into the dry mountains with views of places like the Valley of the Queens.
All as the light begins hitting it in such a magnificent way.
I have a full guide with tips for taking a hot air balloon ride in Luxor here.
View from the hot air balloon
Stone craft shopping in Luxor
Save some room in your suitcase because while you’re in Luxor you can also pick up some hand carved stone craft items.
You can also see a demonstration and get to practice some of the tools used to get the stone which is pretty fun.
Whether you’re looking for something big or small, Basalt or Alabaster, you’ll be able to pick up a unique souvenir for your home.
Visit the Siwa Desert
If you’d like to visit the desert, add on a stop to the Siwa Desert.
I didn’t get to see this one but Amr speaks very highly of it and I’d add it to my list if I was going again.
Visit a local cafe
Another fun thing to do is visit a local cafe. I visited one with Amr and our driver and it was really fun to experience the cafe culture and try some of the different baked foods there.
I also recommend trying some local food while you’re in Cairo and Ahmed will be able to take you to some of the best spots in amongst the hustle and bustle.
Snorkel in Sharm El Sheikh
Once you see the water, you’ll want to jump in.
It’s a beautiful place to snorkel and there’s a lot to see under the water.
If you don’t enjoy snorkeling, you could also take a glass bottom boat tour or any number of water sports there.
There are plenty of different tours for just about every water based activity there.
Walk around Sharm El Sheikh
Sharm El Sheikh is filled with resorts and has a real touristy vibe.
As you walk around the strip, the streets are lined with cafes and restaurants with outdoor seating areas, and lots of souvenir shops.
After you get your historical fix at the other cities, it’s a nice place to be a tourist and enjoy the vibes.
Don’t forget to watch a sunset in Sharm El Sheikh!
Sharm El Sheikh
Drink Hibiscus tea
Please don’t leave Egypt without trying some Hibiscus tea. It’s soooooo good!
When you order it, they will ask if you want it sweetened – say yes. It’s much better when it’s sweetened.
Other Egypt travel guides:
Is Luxor Worth Visiting? 6 Reasons To Add It To Your Egypt Itinerary
What To Wear In Conservative Countries If You Are A Female Traveler
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