Egypt is the jewel in North Africa’s crown. From the sand-covered tombs, ruins of lost civilizations and the dusty barren desert of the Sahara, the land of Egypt has it all! Egyptian culture has few equals in the beauty of its art, the accomplishment of its architecture or the richness of its religious traditions.
The country is home to one of the world’s most iconic sights, the Great Pyramid at Giza, a surviving member of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Boasting of a stunningly beautiful landscape with the gushing Nile, ancient monuments, vast deserts, and world-famous coral reefs, Egypt is among the favourite tourist destinations. It is also much loved among history buffs, nature lovers and thrill-seekers all over the world!
Go for a vacation to Egypt with Flying Squirrel Holidays’ tailormade Egypt tour packages from India.
The ancient Egyptian culture has captivated and mesmerised travellers for centuries. The first image that pops to your mind when you hear the word Egypt is of the legendary pyramids, one of the ‘Seven Wonders of the Ancient World’.
It also has one of the largest bazaars in the Middle East, the Khan-el-Khalili. Some other iconic landmarks Egypt boasts of are the Luxor temple, Egyptian Museum, The Valley of the Kings, and famous cities, like Cairo, Hurghada, Aswan, Luxor, Sharm-El-Sheikh among many more.
Egypt offers some of the best beaches in the world where you can relax in a serene environment. A paradise for water sports lovers, check out Agiba Beach, Cleopatra’s Beach, Gharam Beach or Hurghada Beach and indulge in some adrenaline rush. The coastal resorts of Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh are ideal for family holidays and are jam-packed with beach resorts.
A camel ride across the Western desert in Egypt is an experience of a lifetime and a reason in itself for a trip to Egypt. Deserts of Egypt, like the Great Sand Sea, Sinai Desert, Blue Desert, Eastern Desert, or the Libyan Desert are the ultimate places for a thrilling adventure. A camel ride across the dunes during the sunset, with the marvellous pyramids as the backdrop, is a dreamy experience!
Egypt should definitely be visited with a local guide. Though many tourists prefer to travel independently, you get a lot more out of the experience when you have someone with you. The guides here are extremely knowledgeable about the history, the religion, and the culture of the country, and will enrich your experience.
Traditional Middle-Eastern foods, like falafel, shawarma and kofta, are very popular in Egypt. Ifyou’re looking to try a unique Egyptian dish you must have a bowl of Koshary! It is the national dish of Egypt. It’s a mixture of rice, pasta, lentils, and chickpeas and is topped with onion and tomato sauce.
There were shrines to Osiris, the god of the dead, all over Egypt. Though each one was the resting place of a part of his body, the main cult centre of Osiris was Abydos.
Seti I raised the glorious temple dedicated to the Egyptian god. Abydos was Ancient Egypt's most important burial centre. The unique temple is the beautiful central point of the necropolis.
30 km north of Cairo is the vast necropolis site of Saqqara. Saqqara was the cemetery area of ancient Memphis. The nearby sites of Dahshur and Abu Sir are where pyramid building in Egypt first began.
Here, the Step Pyramid, the Bent Pyramid, and the Red Pyramid are magnificent relics of the early architecture of the pharaohs and some of the Old Kingdom's most dazzling treasures. Covering an area of almost 7 km from north to south, it contains tombs from almost every period of Egyptian history.
Blessed with warm, clear water and abundant marine life, Egypt’s Red Sea has long been considered one of the world’s top scuba diving destinations. The sea life and corals of the Red Sea are one of the world’s finest, attracting thousands of divers and snorkelers each year.
It offers scuba divers some of the world's most beautiful coral reefs, plentiful marine life, and a wide variety of diverse dive sites.
Located just 365 km away from Cairo, Bahariya is blessed with ample groundwater and lots of natural springs, acting like the Garden of Eden. Olive and date plantations are also done here and the greenery creates a wild contrast with the surrounding landscape of rocky hills and sandy dunes.
Pharaoh Ramses II, ruler of Egypt for 67 years in the 19th Dynasty, built his mortuary temple, the Ramesseum, as a monument of his eternal greatness and to impress his subjects. He called his massive memorial ‘the Temple of Millions of Years of User-Maat-
Ra.’
The huge complex took more than 20 years to complete. Now lies largely in ruins, it once boasted of an 18-m high, 1,000-tonne colossus of Ramses, parts of which lie scattered around the site.
Aswan has plenty of things to see. The Nile is wide and beautiful here, flowing gently down from Lake Nasser around dramatic black-granite boulders and palm-studded islands. Colourful Nubian villages along the water stand out against the backdrop of the west bank's desert escarpment.
Visit famous cities, like Cairo, Hurghada, Aswan, and Luxor.
Enjoy water sports on the Agiba Beach, Cleopatra’s Beach, Gharam Beach, or Hurghada Beach.
A camel ride across the Western desert in Egypt is a must.
Taste the traditional Middle-Eastern foods, like falafel, shawarma and kofta.
Visit Great Sphinx of Giza.
Enjoy Hot Air Balloon Ride over the Nile River.
Take in the beauty of the Valley of the Kings.
A defining symbol of Egypt, the Great Pyramid of Giza is located on the Giza plateau near the modern city of Cairo. It was built over twenty years during the reign of the King Khufu of the 4th Dynasty.
Until the Eiffel Tower was completed in Paris, the Great Pyramid was the tallest structure made by human hands in the world; a record which it held for over 3,000 years.
The pyramid rises to a height of 479 feet, with a base of 754 feet. The epic monument comprises over two million blocks of stone. Some of these stones are of such immense size and weight, like the granite slabs in the King's Chamber, that the idea of raising and positioning them so precisely seems an impossibility by modern standards.
The Great Sphinx of Giza is an enormous 4,500year-old limestone statue situated near the Great Pyramid in Giza. It measures 240 feet in length and 66 feet in height and is one of the world’s largest monuments.
It is also one of the most famous relics of the ancient Egyptians, though the origins and history of the colossal structure are still in question.
A sphynx is a mythological creature with the body of a lion and the head of a human. In ancient Egypt, the sphinx was a spiritual guardian and most often depicted as a male with a pharaoh headdress—as is the Great Sphynx. Figures of the creatures were often placed in tomb and temple complexes. Like the Sphinx Alley that connects the temples of Luxor and Karnak and is lined with sphinx statues.
The Karnak Temples is a vast mix of ruined temples, chapels, pylons, and other buildings near Luxor, in Egypt. It is one of the most well-known temples in Luxor and is believed to be the second-largest ancient religious site in the world.
Valley of the Kings, located on the west bank of the River Nile, was the principal burial place of Pharaohs from the 16th to the 11th century BC. It contains about 63 Egyptian decorated tombs and chambers.
In 1979, the valley became a UNESCO World Heritage Site, drawing wider attention to its unexplored treasures. The place continues to enchant thousands of tourists who explore the valley each day.
This refers to the historic core of Cairo, and remains a living reminder of the city’s past. When the Fatimid dynasty conquered Egypt in 969 AD, they constructed a new capital north of the existing city to serve as their administrative centre. This new city, named Al-Qahira, gave Cairo its name.
Today, this part of the city contains many important sites including the Mosque of Sultan Hassan, Mosque of al-Azhar and the Khan al-Khalili market, the heart of this area.
The greatest concentration of attractions in Medieval Cairo is on Al-Muizz Al-Deen Street, built in the 11th century. This street was the main street through the city and many mausoleums and palaces were built here.
The northern section of the street is one of the most picturesque parts of Cairo. The Qala’un Complex here is one of the most impressive sights in the city.
Citadel of Saladin, commonly known as the Cairo Citadel, was built by Salah al-Din in the early in the 12th century. Its purpose was to protect the cities of Cairo and Fustat from the Crusaders.
It is also known as Mohamed Ali Citadel as it contains his mosque. With its amazing Islamic architect, museums, and history, the Citadel is one of the must-see places for tourists in Egypt.
Abu Simbel is an ancient temple complex, which was cut into a solid rock cliff, in southern Egypt. It is located at the second cataract of the Nile River. The two temples which comprise the site were created during the reign of Ramesses II in 13th century BCE.
Carved out of the mountainside, the temples are dedicated to the gods Ra-Horakty, Ptah, and the deified Ramesses II, the goddess Hathor and Queen Nefertari, Ramesses' favourite wife.
One of the world’s most important collections of ancient artefacts, the Egyptian Museum is in Downtown Cairo, and contains the largest collection of Pharaonic antiquities in the world.
Also known as the Museum of Cairo, it houses glittering treasures of Tutankhamun and other great pharaohs, mummies, jewellery, eating bowls and toys of Egyptians whose names are lost to history.
Formed by centuries of erosion and sandstorms, one of the country's most spectacular landscapes is the White Desert. These unique calcium rock formations pop up across the landscape like beautiful abstract statues.
Often overlooked this desert is just a few hours from the bursting metropolis of Cairo. It makes you feel like you’ve landed on the surface of the moon.
Cruise along with the world’s longest river and experience the extraordinary monuments, the stunningly fertile valley, and the barren beauty of the surrounding desert. The joy of travelling slowly along the serene waters will be one of the highlights of your trip to Egypt.
The stretch between Luxor and Aswan is the most popular route and as a result the busiest part of the river – you might find yourself in a long line of boats. There are different types of cruises available. While a felucca is an open-top sailing boat without cabins or facilities, Dahabeeyahs are romantic large and luxurious sailing boats.
(Please note that this is a sample itinerary. Our Egypt tour packages from India are customisable to suit your preferences.)
Day 1
On arrival at the airport in Cairo, you will board a flight to Aswan. From there you will visit the Aswan Dam, which was constructed between 1960 and 1970 to separate Lake Nasser from the Nile. Next up is the Philae Temple, dedicated to the Goddess Isis. Witness treasures like the Chapel of Isis, Chapel of Osiris and Temple of Horus while walking through this vast site. After lunch, make your way to the Cruise Terminal to board the Nile Cruise. Your cruise journey begins now. After dinner, relax and watch the sweeping river views from the deck.Day 2
Wake up to a beautiful morning and see the sun rising above the horizon from the deck. After having breakfast, get ready for an excursion to Kom Ombo Temple, which is divided between the two gods Sobek, the crocodile God and Horus, the falcon headed god. There were 300 mummified crocodiles found here during the restoration process, some of which are now exhibited in the Crocodile Museum in the Temple complex. After discovering surprisingly well preserved structures, head back to the cruise for dinner and then unwind in your room.Day 3
Enjoy your breakfast and get ready for the day. Disembark at Edfu Temple and explore one of the best-preserved temples on land. Admire the imposing sand structures, which were built in the honour of Horus - the God of war. Once you are done for the day head back to the cruise for dinner and then unwind in your comfortable room.Day 4
Start your day with an adventure as you disembark at the Valley of Kings, located at the base of colossal cliffs. It features magnificent tombs and monuments carved from the rock. Continue towards the Hatshepsut Temple and admire its beauty against the jagged cliff-face. Queen Hatshepsut was the famous female ruler of Egypt who used to dress like a man. After lunch, visit the Karnak Temple, a historic temple complex of sanctuaries, kiosks, pylons, and obelisks dedicated to the Theban triad. Next head over to the impressive Luxor Temple, amongst the most beautiful temples in Egypt. Built in the 1400 BC, the temple is popular for its columns, courts, and statues. Head back to the cruise for dinner, and your cruise journey ends here. After dinner, you will be taken to the airport to board a flight to Cairo.Day 5
After breakfast, get ready for sightseeing in Cairo. Start with an excursion to the Pyramids of Giza, the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Marvel at the epic architecture. Located on the edge of the desert, it has held the title of being the world's tallest man-made structure for more than 3,500 years. Head to the Great Sphinx, a limestone statue of a mythological creature with a body of a lion and the head of a human. Visit Papyrus Institute next to see how ancient Egyptians used to make their papyrus. Learn about the essential oils with a visit to a Perfume Factory. Observe how perfumes are crafted using only the highest-quality raw ingredients. Have lunch at a local restaurant and in the evening watch the Sound & Light Show at the Pyramids of Giza. See the three majestic pyramids lit up in a variety of colours delivering a dramatic display.Day 6
On your last day head over to the Egyptian Museum. Behold the famous Tutankhamun collection and sarcophagus and take a walk through varied sections of Egyptian history to study the vast collection of 120,000 Egyptian antiquities. Next up is the Saladin Citadel, constructed in 1183 AD. Visit the Mohamed Ali Mosque, which is built inside a 19th-century castle. Visit Coptic Churches and head to Khan el-Khalili Bazaar. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and then spend the rest of the day at leisure. You can explore Zamalek to shop for stylish outfits and gorgeous jewellery.Please email me a copy of the sample itinerary
Egypt attracts travellers from all walks of life and hence has every form and style of accommodation- with prestigious hotels and boat cruises. The price range will vary according to the category of accommodation. Other factors like sightseeing, transport, guides will affect the overall cost.
A trip to Egypt can be customised by Flying Squirrel Holidays. Enquire about our Egypt holiday packages or Egypt honeymoon packages and we will plan one for you according to your budget and preferences.
How to go to Egypt from India?
Flying is the best way to reach Egypt from India. There are many daily flights to Egypt from several Indian cities like Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi, and Kolkata to name a few. Egypt has two international airports one in Cairo and another in Luxor
What is the best time to visit Egypt?
The ideal time to visit Egypt would be between October and April when temperatures are cooler, but still, pleasantly warm across the country. The temperature makes exploring the busy streets of Cairo, visiting the Pyramids in the desert, and exploring ancient Pharaonic tombs more comfortable and enjoyable.
Egypt is the land of mysteries. Witness the world-famous Pyramids, get lost in ancient temples, relax on the sandy white beaches, and dive into the beautiful reefs of the Red Sea. Egypt is an enormous country, spending at least one week in Egypt will allow you to truly experience it.
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