A bucket list trip years in the making! A few years ago my mom and I decided to plan a total bucket list trip: Egypt and Jordan! A world pandemic got in our way but this Christmas we finally made it happen. We packed our bags and headed to the Middle East.

This trip look a LOT of planning. First up, being two female travelers, safety was our number one concern. If you have been reading my blog for awhile, you know that my mom Wendy is a total rockstar when planning trips! This trip was a little different however. We ended up opting to use a tour group to help plan this trip. Except we had strict rules. We wanted everything to be private (hello corona!), all of our guides to be vaxxed, and we wanted to plan the itinerary. We ended up planning our trip with Kensington Tours. Morgan was our travel agent and she was a joy to work with. She made all of our crazy requests happen and made sure we had a seamless time overseas!

If you want to check out more details and our whole trip itinerary click here!

This post is solely dedicated to the country Egypt.

Egypt at a glance | What to expect

Egypt is one of the most mysterious destinations on the planet, and it had been on my bucket list for years! Between the Nile, the Red Sea, Alexandria, Cairo, and pyramids that date back to 2500 BC, there’s so much history and culture to experience.

Egypt is home to one of the world’s oldest civilizations, and thus holds such great history and ancient stories to discover. It is a land of pharaohs, pyramids, sphinxes, mummies, and sacred traditions.

The people of Egypt are warm and friendly and the country is suitable to be visited at any time of the year. Egyptians welcome tourists and take pride in showing the the great treasures that lie within their homeland- like the Great Pyramids of Giza, one of the largest bazaars in the world in Cairo, the longer river in the world, and of course its abundant history.

WEATHER | As you may know, Egypt is a desert so it can get quite toasty. You’ll likely want to plan your trip around the weather, meaning the best time to visit is from October to April. When we went in December the weather ranged from low 70’s during the day to 50’s at night. It was very pleasant.

FOOD AND DRINK | Egyptian cuisine is very typical Middle Eastern cuisine. Lots of hummus, rice, grilled meats, and Middle Eastern spices. Honestly the food wasn’t my favorite, but we tried everything! Remember you cannot drink the tap water in Egypt due to bacteria. We also stayed away from vegetables and fruit that could not be peeled. We heard horror stories of people getting ill so we steered clear and thankfully neither of us got sick! *I will not be sharing restaurant recommendations because they were all included with our tour package.

CURRENCY | The official currency of Egypt is the Egyptian Pound (EGP). It is about 16 USD to 1 EGP.

LANGUAGE | There are several languages spoken in Egypt, but the primary language is Egyptian Arabic, however most people speak English as well. We had no language barrier issues.

SAFETY | After the revolution of 2011, tourism drastically dropped in Egypt. However, In recent years, the political situation in Egypt has stabilized, bringing higher tourism rates. Overall, it is a safe country, but there are a few things to keep in mind. If visiting the pyramids or other large tourist attractions, play it safe by taking a tour or hiring a private guide as I did.

CUSTOMS | 80% of Egypt is Muslim, so it is important to be respectful of their religion/culture. Women must be careful to cover themselves appropriately (knees/shoulders/no cleavage) as modest clothing is the norm. If you are visiting religious sights be sure to pack a scarf to cover your head as well.

Insider Tips

Eat and Drink

Egyptians like to eat, rice, bread, and meat remain staples in an Egyptian diet. Here are some traditional menu items that you should try while traveling in Egypt.

Ful Medammes– A traditional breakfast food. Consists of fava beans with eggs, cheese and pita bread.

Falafel – Made of chickpeas mixed with cilantro, parsley, onion, garlic, and leek rolled into a ball and fried. One of my favorite things we tried!

Kushari – Egypt’s national dish – their very own version of fast food. Layering of rice, macaroni, lentils and chickpeas topped with caramelized onions, thick red sauce, and a garlic/chili sauce.

Shawarma – A popular street food. Made with chicken or beef, marinated with Middle Eastern spices and cooked all day on a spit. The meat is shaved off in thin slices, and served in a wrap with tahini.

Molokhia– Served with rice and bread, this stew is made up of leafy greens and prepared in broth mixed with ground coriander and fried garlic.

Roz del laban – Egyptian rice pudding. Rice cooked in milk or cream with sugar, and typically topped with pistachio pieces.

Umm ali – Dating back to the 13 century, Egypt’s bread pudding is topped with raisins, nuts, coconut pieces, and served hot.

Customs and Cultural Norms

These are great tips to know before traveling to Egypt!

Beverages upon meeting

It is customary to be offered a beverage such as coffee or tea whenever you meet someone, as a way to show hospitality. You should always accept the drink, even if you cannot finish it. Declining can be viewed as an insult.

Eye Contact

Egyptians believe direct eye contact is a sign of honesty and sincerity, and will often hold a gaze for longer than you might expect.

Table Manners

When dining you should always hold your utensils with your right hand. I am left handed, but no one really looked at me twice. It is considered a sincere compliment to take a second helping, while adding salt to your dish is an extreme faux pas.

Dress for females

It is respectful for women to cover themselves appropriately, as modest clothing is the norm. Skirts and dresses should cover the knees, shoulders should be covered and cleavage should be a minimum. If visiting religious sites, women may also want to bring a shawl or scarf to cover their hair.

Souvenirs, Textiles, and Local Crafts

Bringing home special souvenirs is a great way to take some memories home from your trip. Here are some great local souvenirs that are special to Egypt.

Papyrus – This paper was used during ancient Egyptian times and is made from the pith of the papyrus plant.

Cartouche – In ancient times, a cartouche was a carving with Kings or Queens names using Egyptian script. Today they are made in silver and gold and can be personalized right on the spot. I got “BRITT” on mine and loved learning the meanings of each letter/symbol.

Perfume – Egypt produces many of the scents used by international perfumeries. Pick up some essential oils too!

Shisha Pipes– Also know as hookah.

Egyptian Cotton – You will be able to find quality Egyptian cotton towels, sheets, garments at many high-end shops.

Alabaster – Egyptian alabaster is a thick carbonate stone that has been mined since the first century. It can make a beautiful souvenir with shops selling tea lights, vases, and other souvenirs. I got wine glasses, and I cannot wait to use them!

Where To Go

During our 5 days in Egypt we visited 2 cities: Cairo and Luxor. Both of these are must visits when traveling the the country. You only need about 2 days in each if you just want to hit the big ticket items each city has to offer.

Cairo

Cairo is the capital of Egypt with a whopping 40 million people. It is a total sensory overload. Just the traffic itself is INSANE! Try to imagine 10 lanes of traffic, with cars, pick up trucks with 10 people loaded in the back, scooters, buses, tuktuks, donkeys, and people crossing the street all at once. People communicate with their horns, it was a very bizarre situation, one I will never forget.

Where To Stay in Cairo

We stayed at two different hotels in Cairo because we did 2 days in Cairo flew to Luxor, and then came back for 2 more days in Cairo. Our first 2 nights we stayed at Marriott Mena House and our last 2 nights we stayed at Ritz-Carlton Cairo. If you are looking for the most amazing views/breakfast views of the Pyramids – try to book a night at Mena House!

Other hotels in Cairo:

What To Do In Cairo

99.9% of people travel to Cairo to see the Great Pyramids of Giza. This is the number 1 thing you should do when visiting Cairo.

Hire a guide! If you are not using a tour group like we did, it is so so important to hire a guide. It truly made our whole experience. Not only did we feel safer being with a local, we learned so much information that we wouldn’t have learned about if we didn’t have a guide.

Pyramids of Giza

In photos, the Giza Pyramids tend to look like they are endless miles down a dusty path but they are actually quite central. In fact, they’re only about 15 miles outside of downtown Cairo.

Top things to see and do:

Great Pyramid
Take a Photo with the Sphynx
Panoramic Viewpoint
Camel ride – we opted for the 15 minute ride, and it was PLENTY!

You have the option to buy a ticket to go inside one of the pyramids. If you are claustrophobic, you might want to think twice about going deep into the Great Pyramid of Giza. The Great Gallery is ultra-narrow and you will feel like the walls are closing in. That said, if you’re comfortable in closed spaces, it’s totally worth it.

Visit a Perfumery

We wanted to visit a perfumery because Egypt produces many of the scents used my international perfumeries. The nicest man show us his store, explain the different scents, oils and what each are used for. We got to sample lots and ended up coming up with pure Aragon oil for hair and body, Watercrest (arugula) oil for healthy, shiny, and fast growing hair, Sandalwood oil for warming, hydrating, and anti-inflammatory healing, and I left with one bottle of perfume called “Desert Secret” and it is supposed to lure all the men to me, so hopefully it works! LOL

Khan Khalili Bazaar

A maze of shops lined with souvenirs and antiques, restaurants and coffee shops, workshops, mosques, and food vendors. The sights and sounds are a true sensory overload. There are quite a lot of hagglers, so this is when having a guide is key. They will help with the hagglers and get them to leave you alone, mostly.

Egyptian Museum

The Egyptian Museum, also known as the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities or Museum of Cairo is a must. There you will see treasures from King Tutankhamun, also known as the ‘Boy King.’

You don’t want to miss the museum. It has the largest collection of Pharaonic antiquities in the world!

There is a brand new, state of the art museum that should be opening this year (2022) that is supposed to be one of the top museums of the WORLD! We didn’t get to see the new museum, but it sounds amazing!

National Museum of Egyptian Civilization

This is known for their Royal Mummy Hall, where some of the world’s most powerful people are now resting. There are about 20 mummies you can see. It was surreal to see the teeth, hair, eyes still intact from all of those years ago!

Nile River cruise aboard the “Nile Maxim“

The Nile river is the world’s longest waterway, and where Moses was found floating in a basket. It was very touristy, but still a good time! We enjoyed entertainment from the Whirling Dervish as well as a Belly Dancer. We opted for the 2 hour dinner cruise rather a 3 day river cruise.

Luxor

Wandering the vibrant streets of Cairo is an essential and expected stop on every tourist’s agenda. As much as I adore the Egyptian capital, however, it’s far from the only place worth exploring in Egypt. From the shores of the Mediterranean to the sun-soaked desert towns, this North African gem has so much to offer. Definitely make plans to fly down to Luxor for 2 days (only an hour flight).

Luxor is a whole lot quieter than Cairo. Luxor is home to the temples and tombs of the Pharaohs and their queens. There are so many amazing things to see and experience in Luxor. Definitely do not skip out on this city!

Disclaimer about the Nile Crusies: we heard of so many horror stories, and people getting sick (not just corona) from the Nile cruises. We decided to not take our chances.

Where To Stay in Luxor

We stayed at the Sofitel Old Winter Palace. This is a very grand and very old hotel. The grounds were so pretty, and the history of this old hotel is just incredible. Agatha Christie wrote her book Death On The Nile while staying at this hotel. Also many presidents like Jimmy Carter stayed here as well.

What To Do In Luxor

Valley of the Kings

Who hasn’t heard of Tutankhamun (King Tut) – the famous boy king who left us an unimaginable hoard of gold in its grave. Howard Carter discovered the lost tomb in November 1922 and unsealed it only a couple of months later in February 1923. The unbelievable findings within forever changed our view of the Ancient Egyptians. The colors, and conditions of these tombs are unbelievable. To think how old they are and to be able to walk around in them was such a cool experience. We also did Valley of the Queens, but it was less impressive, so if you are between the two, go with Kings.

Hot Air Balloon Ride

Going on a sunrise hot air balloon ride was a trip highlight for me. It was spectacular! We heard some horror stories of people on the balloon ride, but our take off and landing was so smooth! Watching the sunrise and seeing temples, mountains, and the vast landscape of Luxor was just beautiful. Definitely do not miss out on this opportunity, it is worth the 4am wake up call!

Temple of Hatshepsut

Word’s cannot describe the beauty of the temple of Hatshepsut on the Westbank of the Nile. In my opinion, it is one of the most beautiful sights in Egypt, and certainly in Luxor. Hatshepsut gained fame as one of the few female Pharaohs in the long history of the ancient Egyptian time. She was a total badass!

Karnak Temple

Karnak Temple complex is certainly one of the top tourist attractions in Luxor you really cannot miss. It’s so huge! It also happens to be one of the most important temples in ancient Egypt. The gigantic Hypostyle Hall with its forest of ancient columns should convince you to visit. They are unbelievable I was at a lost for words!

Luxor Temple

Another grand temple to visit is Luxor Temple. The grand temple in Luxor sometimes called the “southern sanctuary”, is a must visit while you are in town. My favorite part of this temple was the avenue of sphinxes. It is so cool to see so many of them lined up!

Egypt is a beautiful country and has such rich history and culture, I think it should be on everyone’s travel bucket list! If you are planning a trip to Egypt and have any questions or want more details please feel free to comment below or message me on Instagram!

Egypt Travel Guide

Egypt at a glance | What to expect

Insider Tips

Eat and Drink