EGYPT
FIRST-TIMER’S TRAVEL GUIDE ISSUE №1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Ancient Egypt’s 3 Most Jaw-Dropping Discoveries
5 Things To Do in Cairo, Egypt
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Mask of Tutankhamun
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5 Tips to know Before Traveling to Egypt
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Visit the Colorful Nubian Villages in Egypt
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6-Day Egypt Travel Guide Best places to visit
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ANCIENT EGYPT’S 3 MOST JAW-DROPPING DISCOVERIES Khufu’s Ship The Giza pyramid complex, located on the outskirts of modern Cairo. In 1954, archaeologists stumbled on a nearly intact ship, measuring 140 feet long, buried in pieces at the base of the Great Pyramid. Inscribed with the name of the pharaoh Khufu, it was apparently buried along with other grave goods; it was later excavated and went on display at the specially constructed Solar Boat Museum, just a few meters from where it was found.
Temples at Abu Simbel
King Tut’s Tomb
Khufu’s Ship
Temples at Abu Simbel
The long-lost tomb of the 18th-dynasty boy pharaoh, Tutankhamen was rediscovered by archaeologist Howard Carter in 1922. Located in the Valley of the Kings on the west bank of the Nile, Tuts tomb had been covered by debris for some 3,000 years, protecting it from looters. Braving rumors of a curse, Carter’s team opened a tomb filled with treasures notably Tut’s mummy, wearing a splendid gold death mask that provided evidence of the most lavish period of Egyptian history
By far the most ambitious building project undertaken during the reign of Ramses II were these two stone temples carved into a mountainside near what is now the Egyptian-Sudanese border circa 1244 B.C. At the entrance to the larger temple sat four huge statues of the pharaoh, inside, chambers were built in such a way that on two days each year, the sunlight could illuminate another statue of Ramses inside. The temple remained buried in sand until 1817. In the 1960s, the entire temple complex was dismantled and rebuilt on higher ground, to make way for the construction of the Aswan High Dam. King Tut’s Tomb
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MASK OF TUTANKHAMUN Nearly lost to history Tutankhamun was only the age of nine when he became king of Egypt during the 18th dynasty of the New Kingdom (c. 1332–1323 B.C.E.). His tomb was discovered in 1922 by the archaeologist Howard Carter in the Valley of the Kings. His nearly intact tomb held a wealth of objects that give us unique insights into this period of ancient Egyptian history. Tutankhamun ruled after the Amarna age, when the pharaoh Akhenaten, Tutankhamun’s probable father, turned the religious attention of the kingdom to the worship of the god Aten. Akhenaten moved his capital city to the site of Akhetaten, in Middle Egypt—far from the previous pharaoh’s capital. After Akhenaton’s death and the rule of a short-lived pharaoh, Smenkhkare, Tutankhamen shifted the focus of the country’s worship back to the god Amun and returned the religious center back to Thebes.
The death mask of Tutankhamun The death mask is considered one of the masterpieces of Egyptian art. It originally rested directly on the shoulders of the mummy inside the innermost gold coffin. It is constructed of two sheets of gold that were hammered together and weighs 22.5 pounds. Tutankhamen is depicted wearing the striped nemes headdress with the goddesses Nekhbet and Wadjet depicted again protecting his brow. He also wears a false beard that further connects him to the image of a god as with the inner coffin. The back of the mask is covered with Spell 151b from the Book of the Dead, which the Egyptians used as a road map for the afterlife. 5
Khan El-Khalili Souk
5 TIPS TO KNOW BEFORE TRAVELING TO EGYPT What to wear while traveling in Egypt?
Egypt by tour or not?
Egypt is a modern country where they wear modern clothes. It’s best to wear breathable fabrics such as cotton, linen, and silk. During the winter time, take a sweater and long jeans as the temperatures in the evening will drop.
Traveling Egypt with a tour company is a great decision. Getting from A to B isn’t that easy and in Egypt, every little thing comes with a hassle. By joining a tour, you learn a lot about Egypt’s history, it makes traveling easier, safer, and you will meet a lot of like-minded people.
Best time to visit Egypt Travel to Egypt in their winter which runs from October until April. Temperatures will be much more comfortable but the attractions will be busier. Try to avoid December and January as these are known as the peak months.
Cost of traveling in Egypt Egypt can be traveled on any kind of budget. Go on a low-budget by staying in hostels and travel by train and local buses. Or choose for a little more comfort by joining a tour in Egypt. 6
Visa in Egypt Entering Egypt requires a visa. A Visa on Arrival can be purchased for 25 USD at the airport in Cairo. Make sure to have the exact amount with you in US dollars.
5 THINGS TO DO IN CAIRO, EGYPT Cairo, the chaotic capital of Egypt, rich in worldfamous history, a city that feels stuck between timelines. Donkey carts are driving down a dusty road where on the other side honking cars are polluting the city. Accept Cairo’s fascinating chaos, and you suddenly hear a friendly Egyptian shout “Welcome to Egypt!”. This guide explains the best things to do in Cairo.
The Pyramids and Great Sphinx of Giza
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Wander at the world’s oldest open-air market Experience the sounds and smells at one of the world’s oldest open-air markets. The Khan El-Khalili Souk is a maze filled with spices, food, clothing, leather bags, jewelry, and antiques. This Souk is the place to go souvenir shopping but get ready to bargain. You should pay around 50% of the original price. Do not follow a vendor to the back of his shop; this usually is a trick. Several restaurants, street food vendors and coffeehouses around the market serve Arabic coffee and shisha.
The Pyramids and Great Sphinx of Giza The Giza Pyramid complex is located at the outskirts of Cairo. With a height of 139 meters, the Great Pyramid can easily be spotted from the city. Pyramids are royal tombs, and Egypt counts 138 of them! Discoveries, like mummies, are still done in this area. The Great Sphinx of Giza is a giant limestone statue showing a mythical creature with the head of a human and body of a lion. The iconic symbol of Egypt and a real must-see while visiting Egypt. 8
Back in time at the Egyptian Museum The Egyptian Museum is home to the world’s greatest collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts. You can even see real preserved mummies in the mummy. It is a highly recommended thing to do in Cairo. Plan about spending 2 – 4 hours in the museum. An entrance tickets cost 120 EL (~ $6 USD). Get your tickets here. To visit the mummy rooms, a separate ticket can be purchased inside at the mummy rooms.
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The Hanging Church Built on top of an ancient Roman fortress is the reason why it is named ‘The Hanging Church’. The Roman church with beautiful ornaments and mosaic paintings is still in use. In fact, 10% of the population in Egypt is Christian. Cairo has a Roman quarter where churches are mixed with mosques.
Get a real Egyptian meal on Gezira Island Gezira island is the coolest neighborhood in Cairo. Young, creative Egyptians occupy the area. The authentic buildings with galleries surrounded by the water of the Nile River is a calm escape from the busy city life on the mainland. Visiting Gezira is one of the best things to do in Cairo. Abou El Sid Restaurant is a fantastic spot to have a delicious Egyptian meal. We highly recommend the Lentil soup, Baba Ganoush, Hummus and if you’re interested: try the delicacy ‘Stuffed Pigeon’.
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Nubian Village in Aswan
VISIT THE COLORFUL NUBIAN VILLAGES IN EGYPT Deep down south in Egypt on the West Bank of the Nile near the city of Aswan are the most colorful and feel good villages of the entire country. The Nubian Villages painted in all the colors of the rainbow. To start farming around the Nile, the friendly Nubians moved from Sudan over 8000 years ago, which is why they have a darker skin tone. They have their own unique language that they never teach to an outsider.
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Seeing the most colorful village of Egypt After passing a few corners by boat, the picturesque, arty village appears. The friendly Nubian people welcome you to their village, and you can start wandering around. From beautiful souvenirs, local spices to great food and accommodation. Yes, we highly recommend you spending the night here if you have time.
Food and drinks Colorful villages are not the only thing Nubians are well known for. Nubian cuisine is popular throughout the entire country. Have a delicious meal at Kato Dool Restaurant and drink an afternoon coffee or tea at the well-decorated AnaKato Restaurant. Which is also a popular hotel to spend the night.
Hotels in a Nubian Village Have a memorable and special stay in Egypt by spending the night in a Nubian Village. There are a lot of colorful guest houses and hotels overlooking the Nile. One even more picturesque than the other. Spend at least one night here if you have the time.
Visit a Nubian Village Visiting the Nubian Village is a fantastic half day trip. There are a lot of colorful Nubian villages in Egypt. The one that has been popular among locals and foreign tourists and is 45 minutes by boat from Aswan. Plan to spend about 2 hours in the village walking around and 3.5 including lunch. Visiting a Nubian village has to be on your Egypt Travel Itinerary.
How to get to a Nubian Village? Cross the beautiful Nile river towards the colorful villages. Arrange a motorboat to cruise up the Nile. A relaxing boat ride through shallow waters passing some stunning sceneries. The price for a round trip should be around 400 for an entire boat. We highly recommend arranging an afternoon trip as you can catch a stunning sunset on your boat ride back to Aswan. This is the exact location of the Nubian Village on Google Maps.
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6-DAY EGYPT TRAVEL GUIDE – BEST PLACES TO VISIT Egypt, the land of mysteries. Explore the world-famous Pyramids, ancient temples, incredible landscapes, white beaches, and the beautiful reefs of the Red Sea. Egypt is an enormous country that can be traveled on every kind of budget. It is time-consuming to travel around Egypt, so we recommend spending at least one week in Egypt. Use our 10-day Egypt travel guide to visit the best places in Egypt.
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Day 5: Aswan
Day 1 – 2: Cairo Your journey starts in Egypt’s capital: Cairo. It is the gateway to the Pyramids and Sphinx of Giza. Cairo itself is chaotic but in a fascinating way. Visit the mummy room in the museum, the mosque and plan to spend two days with the things to do in Cairo. Cairo to Luxor: 10 hours
Day 3 – 4: Luxor Welcome to the world’s largest open-air museum. Luxor is the city where would need at least 4 days to visit all the well-preserved temples and tombs. The city has a relaxed vibe, very different from Cairo. You will find yourself in some ‘jaw-dropping’ moments, for example when wandering around in Valley of the Kings. This is where the tomb of the Tutankhamun is located. Spend two days in Luxor and visit the Luxor Temple, Valley of the Kings, Karnak Temple and Temple of Queen Hatshepsut. Luxor is one of the highlights when you travel to Egypt. Luxor to Aswan: 4 hours 14
Aswan is another great stop on the Egypt Travel Guide. Like Luxor, Aswan is located on the Nile. Therefore, sailing the Nile with a felucca from Aswan to Luxor is a popular way to travel Egypt. While in Aswan, visit the Kom Ombo and Philae Temple and plan a trip to the temple of Edfu, one of the best-preserved ancient monuments in Egypt. Aswan to Nubian Village: 4 hours
Day 6: Abu Simbel & Nubian village Rise and shine early and prepare for a 3-hour trip down south Egypt to visit Abu Simbel. The temple complex near the border with Sudan is completely carved out of the side of a rock. Between 1964 and 1968 the entire temple has been moved to higher ground because it was threatened to be flooded. An unbelievable story when you are standing in front of the massive temple. Get back to Aswan, arrange a motorboat and cruise the Nile to the Nubian village. The Nubians are known for their kindness and colorful building. Wander around in the village for 2 hours, have lunch at Kato Dool restaurant and jump back on the boat the Aswan.
Marena Yaacoub