Egypt, The Gift of the Nile, home to windswept dunes and wonders of the ancient world. Growing up abroad and traveling the world has allowed me to create a long list of favorite destinations, but Egypt holds a special place in my heart. In December I got to return to my old stomping grounds after 15 years. It was just as magical as I remembered. While there are countless places to visit in this beautiful country, this trip we decided to focus on three locations.
Luxor
We spent two days exploring the tombs and temples of the West and East Banks of Luxor. We basked in the awe-inspiring walk-up to the Temple of Hatshepsut, meandered through the beautifully painted tombs in the Valley of the Kings, the underrated temple of Medinet Habu, and around the massive Temple of Karnak, and explored the stunning Luxor Temple at sunset. We enjoyed an afternoon in the quaint Luxor Museum and a little time shopping in the souk (bazaar or market). There is so much amazing and well-preserved Pharaonic history to soak up in this city!
Sharm El Sheikh
This Egyptian beach town on the southern side of the Sinai never disappoints. It’s covered in empty sandy beaches and surrounded by coral reefs. We spent three glorious days there, cramming in as much diving and snorkeling as possible. I’ve had the opportunity to dive and snorkel in the Caribbean, Hawaii, South East Asia, and Central America, but I still deem Sharm El Sheikh the best in the world. We dove at Ras Umm Sid, Marsa Breka, Ras Katy and saved the best for last with Ras Muhammad National Park. Ras Muhammad has a coral reef that will take your breath away!
Cairo
We finished off the trip in the capital, the bustling City of a Thousand Minarets. It is full of history and culture and will overwhelm your senses—every one of them! We re-lived our favorite activities including a camel ride through the desert surrounding the Giza Pyramids, shopping in the bustling Khan El-Khalili, relaxing on a faluka ride down the Nile River, watching the Whirling Dervishes’ mesmerizing performance, examining Tutankhamun’s treasures at the Egyptian Museum, and eating way too much delicious koshari at Zooba.
Hitting these three locations was the perfect combination of awe-inspiring history, stunning sand and snorkeling, and the frenetic energy of one of the world’s most vibrant ancient capitals. Here’s to not letting another 15 years pass before returning to Egypt again!
