Egypt tours provide an insightful look at the country’s fascinating past and take you around spots such as Giza and Luxor. Alternatively, if you're looking for adventure, there are many tours to suit your adrenaline needs. You can head to the Sahara sand dunes and drift down the Nile by boat to name a few, so what are you waiting for? Get booking!
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Exploring the historical sights of Luxor is a must when you visit Egypt. Tour operators in Luxor organise full-day tours combining Abydos and Dendera. Alternatively, hire a private taxi from Luxor and go at your own pace. However, it’s a long day; expect about 10 hours to explore both sites and the driving.Tour groups based in Luxor hit the west bank at around 8am, and from 10am, bus tours from the Red Sea resorts arrive. Your best bet for the least crowds is to come here in the afternoon, or if you’re an early riser, at 6am when the tombs open. All sites are open daily 6am–5pm, unless otherwise stated.
Best for: Exploring fascinating tombs
Top tip: Note that photography is not permitted in any tombs.
To the west of the Delta, just off the Cairo–Alexandria desert road, the Wadi El Natrun, or Valley of Natron, snuggles below sea level. It was once home to over 50 monasteries; the best two are open to the public. Deir Aba Maqar, also known as the Monastery of St Macarius the Great, is the largest and best restored, and the monks give tours of the complex. Searching for Egypt holiday packages? Our fantastic options have got you covered.
Best for: A unique monastery tour
Mount Sinai is a fantastic tourist attraction in Egypt. There are two principal routes to the top and it takes about two-and- a-half-hours each way. The longer and less steep route, Siket El Bashait, can also be scaled by camels (for hire in the village). The steeper, more direct route, Siket Sayidna Musa, is up the 3,750 “steps of penitence” - rough stone steps that were likely constructed in the 6th or 7th century. The climb is fairly easy, but coming down is trickier, and care should be taken. The view from the top is magnificent, particularly at dawn or sunset. Many visitors book onto tours that arrive at approximately 1am at the foot of the mountain in order to climb to the top to watch sunrise. Little café stalls on the path up serve hot coffee and tea and snacks. Abraham Tours are a good option for a tour to Mount Sinai.
Best for: Exploring Egypt’s mountains
Top tip: After dark, ensure you have a torch and certainly bring a jacket because the wind really blows at the top.
If you are travelling independently, it is worth hiring a taxi for a day to take you on a tour of Giza, Memphis and Saqqara. This can be arranged at the reception of your hotel. It is also worth spending some time trying to understand the importance of the locations before seeing the sites themselves. Even if you are on an organised tour, the speed of these tours can make it hard to grasp the history of the sites. The top historic sights in these areas include the Pyramids of Giza, Alabaster Sphinx and the Pyramid of Unas.
Best for: A history tour
Top tip: Each evening the Pyramids host two one-hour sound and light shows, held in front of the Sphinx.
Bir Wahid or the “Great Sand Sea” is the section of the Saharan sand dunes that stretches westward more than 300km (187 miles) into eastern Libya. This area around Siwa features spectacular dunes and hot-and cold-water pools and lakes. To get here you need to use local transport; plenty of tuk-tuk and 4x4 drivers wait around for tourists to offer them tours. Egypt Excursion Tours are also a good bet to see this incredible place.
Best for: A look at the Saharan sand dunes
Top tip: Sandboarding is also on offer in the area.
A traditional Egyptian wooden boat with a canvas sail, a felucca trip is the best way to get a feel of the Nile. Feluccas can be hired for a few hours to watch the sunset, or for two–four-day cruises with visits to temples along the way. They usually carry six to eight passengers and two to three crew, and the boatmen will also cook local meals (like falafel, hummus and pita bread) and advise where it is safe to swim. They have shade from the sun, but there are no cabins or enclosed areas, and passengers sleep in the open air on a communal mattress, which also triples up as dining and relaxing space. You’ll be provided with a blanket. To find a felucca, ask your hotel for a recommendation. The tourist office in Aswan can also recommend good captains and has a list of fixed prices.
Best for: A boat tour
Top tip: Note that insect repellent, a hat, sunscreen and plenty of bottled water are essential.
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