Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

When most people picture a trip to Egypt, they picture the pyramids. And honestly, I did too. Until recently.

I recently spent several hours learning from a family-run destination management company based in Egypt, and I walked away looking at the destination very differently.

Of course, the pyramids are extraordinary and some of the most popular sites in the world, let alone Egypt. But what surprised me most was just how much there is to experience beyond them: ancient temples and tombs, cruising the Nile, beautiful coastlines, luxury resorts, incredible food, and thousands of years of history layered into one trip.

Egypt went from being a destination I understood primarily through its most famous landmarks to one I could see as a much more varied travel experience. And that’s exactly why I keep learning.

Egypt’s History Is Almost Hard to Comprehend

Here’s the fact I haven’t been able to stop thinking about: Cleopatra lived closer in time to the moon landing than she did to the construction of the Great Pyramid of Giza.

Think about that for a minute. The Great Pyramid was already ancient history during Cleopatra’s lifetime.

It’s difficult to understand the scale of Egypt’s history until you start putting it into context like that. The pyramids are just one chapter in a story that stretches across thousands of years.

That also means planning a trip to Egypt isn’t simply about checking the pyramids off a bucket list. There are layers upon layers of history to experience throughout the country.

There’s So Much More to Egypt Than Cairo and the Pyramids

Cairo and Giza may be the images that initially inspire a trip, but they aren’t where the experience ends. Travel farther south and you have places like Luxor, home to the Valley of the Kings, Valley of the Queens, Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple.

Then there’s Aswan, Abu Simbel and the temples that line the Nile. For someone who loves history, you could easily spend an entire trip exploring Egypt’s archaeological sites.

But what really changed my perception was discovering how easily those experiences can be combined with completely different sides of the country.

Cruising the Nile Can (and should) Be Part of the Experience

One of the experiences that immediately caught my attention was cruising the Nile. There are larger Nile cruise ships, but travelers looking for something more intimate can also travel aboard a dahabiya, a traditional sailing vessel with far fewer guests.

Rather than treating transportation between Luxor and Aswan as simply a way to get from one historic site to another, the journey itself becomes part of the trip.

Days can combine temple visits and archaeological sites with quieter stretches along the Nile, giving you time to actually absorb everything you’re seeing.

For the right traveler, I love the contrast. History and sightseeing followed by a slower pace on the water.

Then There’s the Side of Egypt I Wasn’t Expecting

This was probably my biggest surprise. Egypt can also be a beach destination. The Red Sea is known for clear water, coral reefs, diving and resorts in areas such as Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada. Egypt’s Mediterranean North Coast offers another completely different coastal experience.

That opens up some really interesting itinerary possibilities. Imagine starting with Cairo and the pyramids, traveling south to explore Luxor and the Valley of the Kings, cruising the Nile, and then ending your trip at a beautiful resort on the Red Sea.

That’s a very different vacation from the version of Egypt many travelers have in their heads. And it’s exactly the type of itinerary contrast I love.

The Best Egypt Itinerary Depends on Why You’re Going

The more I learn about Egypt, the clearer this becomes: there isn’t one itinerary I’d recommend to everyone.

• A history lover may want to spend considerably more time exploring temples and archaeological sites.
• Someone celebrating a honeymoon or anniversary may want history paired with a more intimate Nile experience and several relaxing days at the coast.
• An adventurous traveler might prioritize diving or snorkeling in the Red Sea.
• Another traveler may care most about accommodations, private guides and having the logistics handled seamlessly.

The question isn’t simply, “What should I see in Egypt?” It’s: What do I want my experience of Egypt to be?

That’s the same question I come back to when designing almost any trip.

Why I Spend So Much Time Learning From People On the Ground

This is also why relationships with local destination partners matter so much to me. Google can tell me where the Valley of the Kings is. It can’t replace a conversation with someone who lives in the destination, understands how the experience works on the ground, knows which properties are changing, and can explain the details that don’t necessarily show up in a search result.

Those conversations help me understand not just what clients can do, but how the pieces can fit together to create a better trip. That’s what I took away from my recent Egypt meetings.

I went in expecting to deepen my knowledge of the destination. I came out seeing far more possibilities for how I could design it. And Egypt moved considerably higher on my own travel list in the process.

Is Egypt on Your Bucket List?

If Egypt has been sitting on your “someday” list because you’ve always thought of it primarily as pyramids and ancient ruins, it may be worth another look.

There’s an incredible amount of history, yes. But there’s also the Nile, beautiful coastlines, luxury accommodations, adventure, relaxation and the opportunity to experience several completely different sides of one country.

I’m continuing to learn more about Egypt and the experiences available there, and I’ll be sharing some of what I discover along the way. And if you’re thinking about planning an Egypt trip of your own, I’d love to help you explore what it could look like.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Traveling to Egypt

About Tahryn Nicastro

Tahryn Nicastro is the owner of Shore to Sea Vacations, a boutique travel agency specializing in honeymoons, destination weddings, luxury vacations, and bucket-list travel around the world. She combines firsthand destination knowledge, trusted global partnerships, and more than a decade of experience to design thoughtfully planned trips around how her clients actually want to travel.