10 Reasons to visit Egypt
Egypt was one of my favourite destinations for its beauty, history and chaos… in a good way! The vast amount of tourists see Egypt as an all-inclusive beach destination and rarely venture outside of that! But we definitely feel Egypt has a lot more to offer. Here are 10 reasons to visit Egypt!
# 1. The Pyramids… but on Quad Bikes!
Obviously everyone going to Egypt will expect to see the Pyramids… and while taking a camel trip around the giant golden spectacles is amazing, I found quad bikes to be a bit more exciting and definitely ranks first on my top 10 reasons to visit Egypt. With the pyramids as a backdrop and a rugged course of mounts and jumps, it may not be for the faint heart, but true thrill seekers won’t want to miss this.
#2. Sandboarding in Al-Fayoum Oasis
There’s something truly amazing about sand dunes, and Al-Fayoum doesn’t disappoint. We didn’t book a traditional “tour” instead it was 2 local lads around the same age as us who were looking to make some money. Our day included a boat trip, visit to a waterfall, an intense joy ride through the desert and sandboarding while dinner is prepared in a hut in the middle of no where. This scores highly on the Nomadical factor! – Read the full blog here!
# 3. Stay 5* for the price of a Travelodge
Egypt is home to some incredible hotels at fantastic prices! As a seasoned backpacker, I wasn’t used to such luxury, I’ve even stayed in hostels that are more expensive! Sharm el Sheik & Hurghada have some stunning hotels starting from just £50 a night and some even have their own onsite waterpark! I think for most people, this will be the most appealing of the 10 reasons to visit Egypt. Check out where I stayed – Coral Sea Waterworld – Sharm El Sheik
#4. climb mount sinai to watch the sunrise
If you’re like me, a backpacker who can’t sit still and relax for too long, an overnight climb to the summit of Mount Sinai is just what you need! This isn’t for the faint hearted or unfit (I learnt the hard way), prepare for a night trip into the desert and a long overnight slog, but definitely a highlight of Egypt and one of the 10 reasons to visit Egypt! Personally, out of the 10 reasons to visit Egypt, this was my highlight, however be prepared for a long night. Check out my full blog post here!
# 5. Tomb raid the Pyramids of Dahshur
Not top far away from Cairo lies the remains of the two oldest Pyramids. The geezers in giza tend to get all the attention, but these Pyramids you can actually go inside to explore. Not ideal if you are claustrophobic as tight steep tunnels as just part of the adventure along with the Indian Jones style chambers. Very thrilling activity off the beaten track! This is very often missed and is definitely one of the top 10 reasons to visit Egypt.
# 6. Temple hopping
If you enjoy ancient temples and dramatic landscape, Egypt provides an abundance of stone carved synagogues to explore. Some of the best are mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut, Ramesses III at Medinet Habu, Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, Abydos & Dendera, Temple of Horus in Edfu, Temple of Kom Ombo, the twin temples of Abu Simbel and The Philae Temple.. just to name a few!
# 7. Red Sea Scuba Diving
Something that cannot be missed, the red sea has some of the best diving areas in the world. It is full of beautiful coral reefs, turtles and ship wrecks. If scuba diving isn’t for you, most of the hotels offer snorkelling and boat trips from resort hotels in Sharm El Sheik or Hurghada.
# 8. Nile River Cruise
This can almost be a holiday in itself! Cruise down the world’s longest river in luxury for a couple days or a whole week! Rather something a bit cheaper and shorter? There are always DIY options which can be great fun! Just remember, in Egypt, it’s generally best to avoid the very cheapest option.
# 9. Day Trip To Alexandria
If you have a spare day whilst in Cairo and feel like escaping the chaos, Alexandria is just a couple hours away and provides a nice beach haven getaway. Tourists flock to Sharm El Sheik or Hurghada for a beach trip, but Alexandria offers the mix of city life and the beach making it a perfect day trip!
#10. cairo siteseeing
Whilst the Pyramids & Sphinx get most of the attention, Cairo has a lot to offer away from the typical tourist hot spots. Navigate the local markets or sample some fresh seafood in the New El Nile Fish restaurants. Gold can be purchased slightly cheaper here than a lot of places in the world so it is a great place to buy jewellery and some parts of the city near the Pyramids are great to explore as they seem to be slowly overtaken by the desert. We enjoyed walking around the city (not in mid-day however) and just exploring the wonderful chaos around us.
So there we have the top 10 reasons to visit Egypt! Definitely a stunning country to visit in North Africa! If you liked this and want to find out more exciting places to go in North Africa, don’t forget to read about The Top 10 Things To Do in Morocco – Here!
