Last Updated on tenth March 2023 by Sophie Nadeau
Who hasn’t dreamed a few journey to fascinating Egypt? I wager you will have… This unbelievable nation within the northern a part of Africa is an ideal place to go to for a protracted journey. Here’s the proper 10 days in Egypt itinerary to encourage your subsequent journey.
Is 10 days sufficient time in Egypt?
Egypt is a reasonably huge nation with a lot to see and do, particularly for first timers. With that being stated, 10 days is greater than sufficient time to get a quick overview of the nation and see a few of its fundamental points of interest.
As Egypt is straightforward to achieve touring from any nation in Europe, it can be a super quick escape vacation spot as nicely. In this 10-day Egypt itinerary, we provide a well-planned define across the nation that features key landmarks that everybody needs to see and a few tremendous enjoyable actions to do.
You can simply copy our proposal or adapt this itinerary to your style and journey fashion. Are you prepared? Let’s see the very best of Egypt in 10 days!
Getting round Egypt
This 10-day in Egypt itinerary begins and ends in El Cairo, Egypt. Moving across the nation is straightforward with low-cost flights, buses, and even reasonably priced group excursions.
It can also be very handy to rent a driver and a information to take you round. You can focus on your route with them through the planning section to make the very best of the time there and to be sure to go to the precise place you plan to find.
Best Things to Do in Egypt in 10 Days
Days 1-3: Cairo and extra
Devote the primary two (and even three) days in Egypt to discover the capital. El Cairo has rather a lot to see and uncover, particularly if you’re within the mysterious historical past of the civilization that thrived on each banks of the Nile centuries in the past.
Once in Cairo, it will likely be not possible to resolve which of the various native museums to discover. For that cause, and given that each traveler is totally different, we depart you down the 2 finest museums to find in Cairo, be at liberty to resolve if you wish to discover each of them or only one.
Egyptian Museum of El Cairo
It could be a pity to get to Cairo and never make a while to discover the Egyptian Museum. Spare not less than 2-3 hours in your first day on the town to go to probably the most exceptional museum within the nation, the place a very powerful items of Ancient Egypt are exhibited.
This unbelievable museum stands in Milan Tahrir, within the heart of Cairo. The very first thing that can catch your eye would be the unmistakable pink facade giving life to the superb neoclassical-style constructing designed by a French architect.
The museum, which opened its doorways again in 1902, maintains a standard ornamental fashion that can definitely transport you again in time.
Home to the world’s largest archaeological assortment of proof courting again to the assorted pharaonic eras, you can be amazed on the greater than 120,000 findings and monuments together with the contents of the tomb of Tutankhamen, and a lot of the mummies found throughout totally different excavations.
Spanning two large flooring, the museum explores features of Egypt from the Ancient Kingdom to the Greco-Roman interval.
However, it’s a very historical exhibition that has not been reordered or reorganized for greater than a century. Unfortunately, this leads to some sections missing sufficient content material or data, so it’s at all times advisable to guide a tour led by an expert information.
National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC)
The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization is likely one of the most essential landmarks within the nation and one of many largest worldwide museums for the exhibition, conservation, analysis, and dissemination of Egyptian historical past.
Besides, that is the primary museum devoted to probably the most historical and prehistoric civilizations that includes displays which were transferred from different museums in Egypt such because the Cairo Museum, the Museum of Islamic Art, the Coptic Museum, and the Museum of the Royal Jewels in Alexandria.
- This incredible tour features a go to to each the Egyptian Museum of El Cairo and the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization with an Egyptologist as your information. Check costs and availability right here.
Coptic Quarter
During the afternoon, head to the spectacular Christian quarter of Cairo the place apart from exploring the streets and previous homes, you possibly can spend a while visiting the spectacular Church of Santa Barbara also called the Hanging Church.
Located within the coronary heart of Old Cairo, the church stands on prime of one of many entrances of the Babylon Fortress and its fundamental nave stands suspended above a hall giving the impression of an imposing constructing suspended in midair.
The constructing was constructed someday through the third century and it was initially utilized by troopers who lived contained in the so-called Babylon (or additionally Roman) Fortress.
If you have an interest within the historical past of the Coptic Christians of El Cairo, you possibly can mix the go to to the church with a cease on the Coptic Museum, simply two minutes from the church.
The Pyramids
The complete second day in Cairo will definitely be one of many highlights of your journey, you’ll uncover the spectacular Pyramids, the primary cause to go to Egypt within the first place, proper?
The finest option to do the Giza Pyramids Tour is to guide a web-based expertise earlier than arriving in Cairo, that approach you’ll make sure that you just get what you paid for, there’s sufficient availability, and – in case of a last-minute cancellation – you can be both given your a reimbursement or an alternate tour shall be supplied.
You can’t depend on that for those who guide last-minute on-site. Unfortunately, vacationer scams are tremendous frequent within the pyramid space and this is likely one of the finest methods to keep away from them. So guide every little thing beforehand and keep away from disagreeable surprises and disappointment!
No matter what tour you select, you’ll begin by visiting the Saqqara space and the Djoser Pyramid as it’s believed to have been the primary mannequin for all of the pyramids that had been constructed after this one.
Tours often proceed with a cease at Memphis to take a look at the statue of Ramses II after which go to the weird Dashur Pyramids with their curious oval cuspids. The finest a part of the expertise comes subsequent if you head to Gaza to take a look at the three most well-known pyramids, Keops, Kefren, and Mankaure.
This is a non-public but tremendous reasonably priced tour that covers all these stops and consists of transport, lodge pickup and drop-off, and a non-public tour information. Check costs and availability right here.
Khan el-Khalili Bazaar
Have some enjoyable in your final morning on the town exploring some of the superb markets within the continent, situated on the entrance of an essential mosque, this road market has a number of alleys of conventional stands the place bartering for a greater worth is the way in which to go, it doesn’t matter what you want to purchase!
The bazaar can also be the oldest and largest bazaar in Africa and it most likely dates again to the early Middle Ages spreading over an space larger than 5000 sq. meters.
Other than being the appropriate place for memento searching, over the centuries, the bazaar has been the place the place locals meet and socialize, focus on politics and the newest information… and finally store too!
The full of life place is protected and pleasant, and getting misplaced is nothing however a part of the journey. This fashionable spot on the town can also be among the many locals who nonetheless do a few of their buying in most of those colourful stands.
Al Muizz Street
Al Muizz Street is one other well-known nook in Cairo fairly near the bazaar. You can go for a stroll alongside this picturesque road and go to some of the lovely mosques and monuments in Islamic Cairo.
The road is among the many oldest within the nation and the most effective open-air museums and Islamic medieval buildings that you’ll find in Egypt.
One of them is the spectacular Al-Azhar Mosque and the middle of Sunni Islamic schooling. The unbelievable mosque dated again to the yr 972 B.C. and it shelters one of many oldest universities on the planet.
Citadel of Saladin
Finally, take a look at the curious Citadel of Saladin, initially in-built 1176. The place is likely one of the world’s biggest medieval points of interest which homes a mosque, in addition to quite a few museums and websites.
The well-known citadel was as soon as the town’s seat of energy, the place sultans, ministers, and pashas lived and dominated later in historical past, through the nineteenth century.
The citadel options unbelievable protecting options, together with a fortress and defensive partitions, towers, and three spectacular gates.
Days 4-5: Luxor
Today you’ll take a flight from Cairo to Luxor to take a look at locations that you’d in any other case miss on a Nile cruise. Luxor is famed for being the world’s greatest open-air museum and boasts treasures such because the Karnak complicated of temple ruins and the Valley of the Kings
Valley of the Nobles
In Luxor, you’ll spend the primary day admiring the Temple of Ramses II, the Temple of Seti I, and the Valley of the Nobles. These funerary complexes had been excavated inside a rocky slope and used to honor governors, different figures of the noble class, and senior officers of historical Egypt.
Temple of Karnak
On the East Bank of Luxor, you possibly can take a look at priceless archaeological websites of the traditional metropolis of Thebes, such because the Temple of Karnak, some of the valuable gems within the nation.
The Karnak temple is a fancy that includes a former fortified village with a large number of temples, chapels, columns, and different buildings made between 1971 BC and round 30 BC.
The complicated is an unlimited open website the place you possibly can take a look at the Karnak Open Air Museum, the second-most visited archaeological website within the nation after the pyramids in Giza.
Important tip: If you will have additional time to find the nation, it’s a good suggestion to embark on a 4 or 5 Nilo cruise that from Luxor takes you to Aswan.
Or, for those who desire to keep away from visiting the seaside cities going through the Read Sea we suggest under, these Nile cruises is usually a good choice for a soothing journey stuffed with sightseeing and onboard actions.
Days 6-10: The Red Sea and again to Cairo
It is a good suggestion to spend the final days discovering the Red Sea coast. And Hurghada is a superb vacation spot.
You can get to Hurghada by aircraft from Luxor (the journey is a little more than an hour) or by bus (about 4 hours). Once on the vacation spot, it is possible for you to to spend time by the ocean and revel in scuba diving, some of the fashionable actions within the space.
Where to remain in Hurghada
These are a few of the finest seaside lodges and resorts on this essential Egyptian city.
– Arabella Azur Resort: This lovely complicated includes a lagoon-style pool, a non-public seashore space, and a spa. The rooms are vibrant and open onto a balcony overlooking Hurghada or the Red Sea. Check costs and availability right here.
– Bel Air Azur Resort (Adults Only): Check out this beautiful, all-inclusive seashore lodge with unbelievable freshwater swimming pools, and rooms with a balcony and free minibar. Check costs and availability right here.
During these three full days in Hurghada, actions are fewer. The concept is to chill out from the a number of museums and archaeological websites visits that crammed your first days in Egypt.
However, we have now listed under a few of the finest issues to do in Hurghada to find the incredible coast of the Red Sea and chill out whereas having fun with incredible adventures and experiences.
Best issues to do in Hurghada
- Giftun Islands: One of the most well-liked boat journeys in Hurghada takes you to discover the spectacular white sand seashores in Giftun Islands, a paradise for snorkeling lovers and followers of scuba diving. In the world, you’ll discover quick access to cal reefs colourful fish, and crystal-clear waters.
- Jeep Safari to the Desert: Another fashionable factor to do in Hurghada is to spend a day of adventurous drives by means of the desert, touring off-road to find the curious acacia tree valleys within the space surrounding Hurghada.
- Visit the Marina: Hurghada Marina is situated within the central district of Sigala and it’s the good place to go for a stroll after sundown or to take pleasure in a cup of tea and even dinner in one of many many native and worldwide eating places.
- Hurghada Aquarium: Located within the Ad-Dahar district of Hurghada, this spectacular aquarium gives you one of the simplest ways to study and establish the identical number of fish that you’ve got already admired whereas snorkeling within the Red Sea.
- Sindbad Submarine: Probably among the many hottest points of interest in Hurghada, providing the possibility to take a look at the worldwide well-known underwater surroundings of the Red Sea. This vacationer submarine expertise takes you greater than 20 meters beneath the Red Sea’s floor to see the plentiful reef fish and colourful corals for about an hour. This is the very best exercise for individuals who don’t swim or for small children, nonetheless too little to go on a scuba journey.
On the tenth and final day of your Egypt journey, you possibly can take an early flight from Hurghada again to Cairo to board your connecting flight again house.
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Gabi Ancarola is a journalist and journey author who has lived over 20 years in Italy, and has been dwelling in Crete for the final 5 years. She hosts culinary excursions, interprets and writes for her Crete journey weblog The Tiny Book. She’s written for Greek Reporter and revealed a number of journey guides about Greece.