A country shrouded in mysteries of sorts, Egypt is more than its majestic pyramids and mystique mummies. Indeed a bucket-list destination, Egypt whispers a myriad of stories. So, this Eid we headed out to get enticed by the alluring stories of Egypt. And, what ensued was a surreal seven days in the land of pharaohs and ancient wonders.

Living in the middle east has its perks: friends and travel. We have been fortunate that way to have travelled with the same friends since 2017 except this time the kids doubled! After, Jordan this was a country we all deeply desired to explore together. And, just like that the trip officially made it out of whats app on the 21^st of April 2023 to explore Egypt’s Cairo, Aswan and Luxor!

(So, here is a quick read on our first-ever travel together as a group – Jordan – the land of golden sand and mysteries )

Cairo – blending history and warmth

The capital of Egypt – Cairo – is chic and historic allowing you to have a spectrum of experiences! As we had a tight schedule of travel, we decided to relax on the first day of arrival at the Swiss Inn hotel. Early the next morning we met our Egyptologist at the lobby and headed out to visit the Giza  Pyramid complex, Khan el-Khalil market and the Egyptian Museum. Each of these places was unique and splendid beyond words.

Our first stop was the obvious – The great Pyramids of Giza. This colossal monument whose engineering still baffles historians and architects, is symbolic of death and the afterlife. As enigmatic as it gets, Pyramids are indeed a breathtaking architectural marvel in the History of the world.

As we walked towards the Pyramid, I couldn’t help but be amused at its majesty. Towering their way into the sky, the great pyramids created a canvas in hues of brown. As I stood there with eyes wide open, I couldn’t help but thank the universe for making a childhood dream come true!

Snapping out of my moment of gratitude, we headed out to explore the Giza necropolis on the camel and click a few panoramic pictures. The Pyramid complex assures you plenty of gram-worthy clicks and sufficient stories for your social media feeds! Mind you, as exciting as it sounds be wary of the camels as they have a mind of their own! Nevertheless, the ride was a journey to remember and forever be etched in the sanctum of my memory!

The next stop was the sphinx – that cool dude with a body of a lion, remember? Well, the sphinx’s face takes after the pharaoh and the body of a lion. The great sphinx is regarded as the guardian and has a monumental legacy of being placed as an entrance before a few Egyptian temples.

Post, the sphinx there was a brief visit to the papyrus shops where they showed us the process of papyrus being made into paper. Later, we meandered through the vibrant streets of Khan el Khalili – Egypt’s bustling marketplace.

Khan el Khalil, nestled in the heart of Cairo overlooking the famous Tahrir Square, is a thousand-year-old market which stands as a testimony to medieval Egypt’s cultural-economic activities. The streets are laced with several souvenir shops, lantern shops, cafes, mosques, and buildings whose windows murmur a thousand stories. The market is beautiful even during the night and teems with an inexplicable verve.

Lunch was at La Riad Hotel de Charm’s rooftop restaurant. This oriental beauty was also our lodging on our last day in Cairo. This is a must-visit place if you are in Cairo. A typical case of never-judge a-book-by-its-cover kind of hotel. The rooms are all themed and very spacious. Our suite was the Arabian Nights and boy she was a beauty!

The last stop for the day was the much-awaited Museum of Egypt. We were quite sloshed by then and honestly; we did not see the whole of it. Just a few things, here and there, guided by our Egyptologist. The museum is a treasure trove of the past, hence if you have a penchant for history never miss the Museum.

In a nutshell, Cairo is a city that has stood solid throughout testing times and changes, yet it brims with kindness welcoming strangers to witness the sweet and sour of time!

Cruising along the Nile – Aswan and Luxor

After an eventful day, we caught the early morning flight to Aswan and embarked on the Nile. Aswan, a quieter town on the banks of the river Nile, is popular for its unfinished obelisk, Great Dam, Philae Temple, Nubian village, and the like. Checking into our cruise and a sumptuous lunch afterwards, we toured the places mentioned above. The journey to Philae temple (dedicated to Goddess Isis) was idyllic as it is located on an island and we were ferried to reach the temple.

As our Cruise was as tranquil as the river Nile, and with the exhaustion of travelling with kids (read Satans) hitting us hard, we skipped a couple of places and decided to chill the next day on our ship.

Between the sail from Aswan and Luxor lies another magnificent temple along the banks of the Nile – Temples of Kom Ombu and Edfu. This temple is dedicated to Horus and Sobek ( falcon and Crocodile, respectively). The temple complex has an intriguing structure with its walls decorated with hieroglyphics. Adjacent to the temple is also a crocodile museum where you get to see mummified crocs in all their glory.

As our cruise was behind schedule, we disembarked the cruise and did a road trip to visit the Valley of Kings and the temple of Hatshepsut. Later that day, we toured the temples of Luxor and rejoined the cruise at night.

Regardless of the hectic travel, The Valley of Kings and Queen Hatshepsut’s temple were worth every struggle. The Valley of Kings is the burial place of some of Egypt’s famous Kings. This is where King Tutankhamun’s tomb(Tut) was discovered by Howard Carter untouched by the test of times. Excavations are still going on however, our pass allowed us to visit 4 tombs for free and Tut’s required an extra fee.

The tombs are all exquisite with chambers and ante chambers festooned with paintings of the afterlife. But, it was Tut’s tomb that stole my heart. The unfinished paintings in his tomb along with his mummified body, emanated a mystical aura of the bygone era. And, lucky is Mr Tut with visitors being awed by his mummified body 3000 years post his death.

Next, was the Temple of Hatshepsut, a monumental temple complex dedicated to the lady pharaoh of Egypt. This multi-storied temple with a grand entrance sits gracefully at the foot of the cliffs of the West Bank and blends well into the brown landscape of Luxor.

Post the temple visit, we went for a quick lunch and readied ourselves for the last two destinations in Luxor – the temples of Karnak and Luxor. Running parallel with the river Nile, the temples of Luxor are nothing short of grandeur and elegance.

The Karnak temple was built by a triad of Kings, and it proudly stands as a place of worship despite the varied religious tides that swept Egypt. You can see one of the temple’s halls which served as a church during the Christian era and a functional Sufi Mosque at the entrance of the temple.  Karnak, thus. proved to be an epicentre of worship regardless of varied faiths over time.

The temple of Luxor, unlike Karnak, is a peaceful one with fewer crowds. The varied statues and Colonnaded Street welcomes you into the inner chambers of the temple. Walking past the soaring pillars, you enter the inner sanctuary of the temple greeted by Obelisks with various inscriptions. Walking further is the temple pond whose source origins from the river Nile – another ancient engineering marvel, I would say!

Ruminating over the numerous mysteries of this land of ancient civilization, we knew we had made memories enough for a lifetime. The travel was so packed that we didn’t realize how fast a week had gone by – a week filled with fine historic indulgence.

Egypt – that oriental enchantress

Regardless of the conjectures around this bewitching country, we had a good and safe time here. Here are a few things to keep in mind if you plan your trip to Egypt.

• Egypt is safe to travel and book your trip with a reliable tour agency as this will ease your vacation.
• Tipping is a culture, revere it as your religion so that you don’t end up with the wrath of the locals.
• During the summer, the weather in Aswan and Luxor is extremely hot, carry sunscreen and wear breathable clothes.
• Haggling is a skill, and if you possess it, well it is easy for you to bargain your way through street vendors. Otherwise, beware of getting scammed.
• The food is amazing – flavourful and wholesome.
• Dressing for women is quite liberal, however, carry a shawl when in doubt.
• Souvenir shopping is cheaper in Aswan and Luxor than Cairo. Don’t limit it to just Khan el Khalili.
• The queue to see the inside of the Pyramids is insane, better enjoy the Valley of Kings at ease rather than wait at the Pyramids of Giza.