“Egypt is not a country we live in but a country that lives within us.”
Egypt, country located in the northeastern corner of Africa. Egypt’s heartland, the Nile River valley and delta, was the home of one of the principal civilisations of the ancient Middle East and, was the site of one of the world’s earliest urban and literate societies. Pharaonic Egypt thrived for some 3,000 years through a series of native dynasties that were interspersed with brief periods of foreign rule.
Cairo, 4 day itinerary:-
Cairo, the capital city of Egypt, is steeped in the ancient past, making for a wide array of cultural attractions to take in on a present day visit. Many people travel to the Egyptian capital to witness its historical marvels , and to experience some of its modern vibrancy too. If you’re planning a trip to this multifaceted city, you must check out these things to see and do there.
Day 1- Giza and Sahara Desert
- Giza Pyramids: The Giza Pyramids are among the most popular landmarks in the world and they lie just outside Cairo. As one the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World,these pyramids attract tourists from all over the planet. The pyramids are among the most recognisable symbols of Egypt and attest to its remarkable past.
- Desert Riding: Hire a camel or a horse and go into the wilds of the Sahara Desert. You can get beautiful photos of the pyramids from the desert.
- The Sphinx: The Sphinx is a riddled monument near the Pyramids of Giza. This ancient marvel is a must see if you visit Cairo. The enormous Sphinx features the body of a lion with a human head , all carved out of a single ridge of limestone.This remarkable emblem of Egypt is an essential photo -op when in the Egyptian capital.
- The Hanging Church: Popularly known as the Hanging Church , Saint Virgin Mary’s Coptic Orthodox Church is Cairo’s most famous Coptic church.It is named for its location in Cairo’s Old City where it sits above a gate house of an Roman fortress. The church is invariably an important stop on historic tours of the city.
- Nile River: The Nile River is the longest in the world. Many visitors are excited to view this fabled river, which has sustained civilisations for thousands of years. You must enjoy a dinner cruise or take a fellucca down the river to experience this vital waterway up close. You can also take a nine day Nile river cruise to view Egypt through its sacred waters. The cruise starts from Cairo and ends in Aswan.
Day 2- Alexandria
- Pompey’s Pillar (column): It is the name given to a Roman triumphal column in Alexandria, Egypt. The erroneous name and association with Pompey stems from historical misreading of the Greek dedicatory inscription on the base.
- Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa: This means “Mound of Shards” which is a historical archeological site located in Alexandria, Egypt and is considered one of the wonders of the Middle Ages. Here one can find how a dead body could be preserved for a long time and that is very scientific way which is considered to be amazing.
- Alexandria National Museum: It is a museum in Alexandria, Egypt which was inaugurated the December 31, 2003 by Hosni Mubarak and it is located in a renovated Italian style palace. The building used to be home to the United States Consulate.
- Citadel of Qaitbay: It is a 15th century defensive fortress located on the Mediterranean Sea coast, in Alexandria, Egypt. It was established in 1477 AD and is situated on the eastern side of the northern tip of Pharos Island at the mouth of the Eastern Harbour. It’s a must visit place here.
- Bibliotheca Alexandria (library of Alexandria) : It is a major library and cultural centre located on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea in the Egyptian city of Alexandria.In 2010 , the library received a donation of 500,000 books from the Bibliothéque nationale de France .The gift makes this library the sixth largest library in the world. It’s a must visit place for those who borrow library with their thoughts.
Day 3- Saqqara, Red and Memphis Pyramids:-
- Saqqara: With it’s pyramids and tombs, Saqqara served as an important burial place for the ancient capital of Memphis. The archeological site , which includes the famed Pyramid of Djoser, is situated 19 miles from Cairo. Present excavations are still uncovering mummies and the other important artefacts.
- Red Pyramid: The Red Pyramid, also called the North Pyramid, is the largest of the three Pyramids located at the Dahshur necropolis in Cairo, Egypt.
- Memphis, ancient city, Egypt: Memphis, city and capital of Ancient Egypt and an important centre during much of Egyptian history .Memphis is located south of the Nile River Delta, on the West Bank of the river, and about 15 miles south of modern Cairo.
Day 4- Pharaonic village and Egyptian Museum:-
Pharaonic Village: It is the living museum of Egyptian history, with replicas of an ancient village and the tomb of Tutankhamen. It gives the ideas of ancient lives of the people of Egypt.
Egyptian Museum: The Egyptian Museum contains more than 120,000 artefacts from Egypt’s ancient past. No trip to Cairo is complete without pursuing the extraordinary artefacts, many of which came from Valley of the Kings. As one of the most revered museums in the world, you’ll its extensive collection of antiquities fascinating.
Luxor: 2 day itinerary:-
After visiting Cairo, we must fly to Luxor which is one of the very beautiful city situated at the West Bank of river Nile. If we reach there by afternoon then we must visit the Karnak Temple first.
Day 1- Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple:-
- Karnak Temple: The Karnak Temple Complex commonly known as Karnak, comprises a vast mix of decayed temples, chapels, pylons and other buildings near Luxor, in Egypt.Construction at the complex began during the reign of Senusret l in the Middle Kingdom and continued into the Ptolemaic period, although most of the eighteenth dynasty Theban Triad with the God Amun as it’s head. It is part of the monumental city of Thebes.
Luxor Temple: Luxor Temple is a large Ancient Egyptian temple complex located on the east bank of the Nile River in the city today known as Luxor and was constructed approximately 1400BC. In the Egyptian language it is known as ipet resyt, “the southern sanctuary ”. Luxor temple is dedicated to the rejuvenation of kingship; it may have been where many of the pharaohs of Egypt were crowned in reality or conceptually (as in the case of Alexander the Great, who claimed he was crowned at Luxor but may never have travelled south of Memphis, near modern Cairo.)
Day 2- The Valley of kings and queens and associate places:-
The valley of the Kings: It is also known as the Valley of the Gates of the kings is a valley in Egypt where a period of nearly 500 years from the 16th to 11th century BC, rock cut tombs were excavated for the pharaohs and powerful nobles of the New Kingdom (the 18th to the 20th Dynasties of Ancient Egypt). The valley stands of the West Bank of the Nile, opposite Thebes (modern Luxor), within the heart of the Theban Necropolis. The wadi consists of two valleys (where majority of the royal tombs are situated) and west valley.
Colossi of Memnon: It is a 18 m historical statue of two massive stones of the Pharaoh Amenhotep 3, who reigned in Egypt during the 18th Dynasty of Egypt. Since 1350 BCE, they have stood in the Theban Necropolis, located west of the River Nile from the modern city of Luxor.
Mortuary temple of Hatshepsut: It is also known as the Djeser – Djeseru (ancient Egyptian “Holy of Holies”) and is a mortuary temple of Ancient Egypt located in Upper Egypt. Built for the 18th Dynasty pharaoh Hatshepsut, who died in 1458 BC, the temple is located beneath the cliffs at Deir el – Bahrai on the West Bank of the Nile near the Valley of the Kings. This mortuary temple is dedicated to Amun and Hatshepsut and is situated next to the mortuary temple of Mentuhotep 2, which is served both as an inspiration and a quarry. It is considered one of the incomparable monuments of ancient Egypt.
The Valley of Queens: It is a site in Egypt, where the wives of pharaohs were buried in ancient times. It was known then as Ta -Set -Neferu, meaning “the place of Beaty”. It was the most famous for being the burial site of many wives of Pharaohs. The main wadi contains 91 tombs and the subsidiary valleys add another 19 tombs. The burials of subsidiary valleys all date to the 18th Dynasty.
Medinet Habu: The Mortuary Temple of Ramesses 3 at Medinet Habu was an important New Kingdom period temple structure in the West Bank of Luxor in Egypt. Aside from its size and architectural and artistic importance, the Temple is probably best known as the source of inscribed reliefs depicting the advent and defeat of the Sea Peoples during the reign of Ramesses 3.
Luxor Museum: It is the museum of Ancient Egyptian artefacts, from everyday items of artwork, sculptures and mummies.
Egyptian Cuisine:-
Egyptian cuisine makes heavy use of legumes, vegetables,and fruits from Egypt’s rich Nile Valley and Delta. It shares similarities with the food of the Eastern Mediterranean region, such as rice stuffed vegetables, grape leaves, shawerma, kebab and kofta. There are various dishes you can try like Ful medames, mashed fava leaves, kushari, lentils & pasta, molokhiya, pita bread locally known as eish baladi. Common meats in Egyptian cuisine are pigeon, chicken and lamb. Lamb and beef are frequently used for grilling. Fish and seafood are common in Egypt’s coastal region.
Get your bags ready after this pandemic ends. The first place in your mind should be Egypt. Keep travelling!
