Where to go in Egypt

The world’s longest river, the Nile River stretches for 4,100 miles, flowing about 600 miles in Egypt. One of the world’s most important waterways, the ancient Egyptians built many of the main settlements along its banks and many of the most famous temples are within walking distance. The best way to see them is on a tour or a river cruise which starts in Aswan and continues north to one of the country’s premier archaeological sites, Luxor. On the river’s west bank not far from Thebes (modern-day Luxor), is the site of the Valley of the Kings.  Over 60 different tombs have been uncovered here, including the Boy King Tutankhamun, discovered in 1922. The Valley of the Queens is equally impressive and within close range, featuring more than 80 tombs, including queen Nefatari’s.

Sail along the Nile on our 9-Night Egypt in Style Tour.

Luxor is an ancient city that sits along the east bank of the Nile River on the site that was the pharaoh’s capital of Thebes from the 16th through the 11th centuries BC. Dating from 1392, it’s a treasure trove of ancient statues, buildings, and temples, with the feel of an open-air museum. The modern-day city surrounds two massive surviving monuments, that sit a mile north, Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple. Karnak Temple is the world’s second-largest temple complex with four main sections, including the Precinct of Amu-Ra which is open to the public. It also includes a museum with reconstructed shrines and blocks from other parts of the complex. Highlights include the numerous blocks with intricate carvings, statues of the goddess Sekhmet and the calcite shrine of Amenhotep II. The Luxor Temple is believed to be the place many kings of ancient Egypt were crowned, built in 1400 BC.

Discover Luxor on our 7-Night Highlights of Egypt Tour.

Located along the Red Sea coast, Hurghada is a beach resort town and one of the most popular tourist destinations in Egypt, with beautiful, long stretches of sand and crystal-clear water for diving and snorkeling. It includes the city of Hurghada and the surrounding resort towns of El Gouna, Sah Hasheesh, Makadi Bay, and Soma Bay, which are all sandwiched between the sea and Egypt’s eastern desert and mountains. Many dive schools are found here as well, catering to divers that arrive from across the globe, and boat trips to snorkel in some of the best spots can be arranged as well. A wide range of other watersports, including sailing, fishing, parasailing, windsurfing, and kitesurfing are available and desert activities like dirt biking, horseback riding, and ATV excursions are possible too. The 5-star all-inclusive beach resorts are a popular pick for accommodations, many of which include their own waterparks.

Visit Alexandria and Hurghada on our 10-Night Egyptian Discovery Tour.