Inspiring Family Escapes: Discover Your Next Adventure
The highlights of ancient Egypt – A two week itinerary
Our two week tour of amazing Egypt took us from Cairo, down the river Nile via Aswan all the way to Abu Simbel. From there we travelled back to Luxor and finally across the desert to the coast at Hurghada.
The political and societal landscape of Egypt has changed dramatically since our visit. Sadly, I’m not sure to what extent these incredible treasures we were fortunate enough to see are still open to visitors.
Travelling with TopDeck
For the majority of our trip, we joined a TopDeck organised tour “for young people”. TopDeck arranged the itinerary, all transport and accommodation, and most importantly provided excellent guides along the way.
Our Egypt itinerary in pictures
Hazy views over Cairo – the starting point of our tour.
The Great Pyramid of Giza, just outside Cairo, is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and the defining symbol of Egypt.
These enormous tombs were built as a gateway to the afterlife for the Pharaohs and you can’t help but wonder how on earth they managed to construct these some 4500 years ago.
Next to the pyramid complex sits the Great Sphinx, an enormous sculpture of a human head on a lion’s body, famously missing its nose.
Boarding the felucca for the next two days of our journey, sailing South on the Nile to Aswan.
A nubian dinner on board the Felucca while sailing on the river Nile.
Stop off at the ‘double-temple’ of Kom Ombo, near Aswan, Upper Egypt.
Travelling the Nile on a Felucca must be the most relaxing mode of transport out there.
Sunset over the Nile
Having boarded an early morning coach at Aswan, we headed to Abu Simbel, in Nubia, where we visited the mighty rock temples on the Western bank of Lake Nasser, Southern Egypt.
From Aswan we headed to the treasure trove of Luxor, where a great obelisk marks the entrance to Luxor Temple.
Nighttime visit to the Temple of Luxor.
On the East bank of Luxor lies the vast Karnak Temple Complex.
Karnak, the city of temples, was built and added to over 2000 years.
One of the many statues of Ramses II at Karnak.
One of the many incredibly preserved Pharaoh depictions at Karnak.
The Entrance to the famous Valley of the Kings (where cameras are not allowed), on the West bank of the river Nile, most famous for the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun.
The Tombs of the Nobles, carved into the rock, lie just behind the Valley of the Kings.
The Temple of Hatshepsut, one of Egypt’s first female Pharaohs, who reigned in the 15th century BC. It’s built into the cliffs at Deir al Bahari, near the Valley of the Kings.
Tutmoses III, Hatshepsut’s stepson who became pharaoh after her death, removed all mentions of her reign as pharaoh, had images erased and statues destroyed.
The two Colossi of Memnon – two massive sandstone statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III, who have stood near Luxor since 1350 BC.
Final sunset over Luxor, before catching a private car across the desert the next morning.
Final stop – Time to relax at the beaches of Hurghada
