Philae Temple
Egypt's Philae Temple is one of the most picturesque in the country and the complex is one of the most fascinating ancient sights in the world.
For a small group tour of Egypt home of the great pyramid of giza , pharaoh and ancient temples, and the legendary river Nile, Egypt needs no introduction.
And its fame is richly deserved: where else can you visit monuments as iconic as the Great Giza Pyramids , the Sphinx, and the 3000-year-old Abu Simbel? But it’s not all ancient history and a museum on guided small group tours with Odyssey Traveller. Cairo – then known as Al Qahira – was the capital of a medieval Islamic empire, with the soaring minarets and mosques to prove it, while Egypt‘s rich Coptic Christian tradition is manifest in the churches of Old Cairosuch as St Catherine’s monastery . Things do change, with a new capital city being built and from 2021 we will be visiting the new museum in Cairo with its first class collection of Egyptian antiquities .
And, lucky for hungry travellers, the food is reliably excellent, fusing Middle East staples with culinary traditions dating back to Ancient Egypt.
Our small group program for senior and mature couples and solo travelers takes us to contemporary feats such as the Aswan Dam and also to current crucibles of the Egyptian experience such as Tahrir Square. Proof, were it needed, that Egypt’s role as the pivot of civilisation is far from ended. There is the opportunity to visit our Morocco, Jordan or Iran tours before embarking on this tour of Egypt.
A trip to Egypt on Odyssey’s Egypt tours from Australia or anywhewre else in the world are classic tour packages that include in our Egypt tour package the icons such as the Giza Pyramid , Egyptian museum , valley of the King and Queen where we examine the archaeological sites, we also visit the Luxor temple with its statues of Ramses and Karnak. Travelling from Luxor Aswan on a nile cruise along the river nile to see the Aswan high dam, we visit various sites for their ancient temples and antiquities to extend your knowledge of Egyptian history in this amazing country. Odyssey’s Egypt tours also include the fascinating ancient city of Alexandria including the famous Lighthouse of Alexandria .
If you choose to visit Egypt it can be paired with a trip to Egypt and Jordan tour with Odyssey’s small group tourprograms for travelers. These tours to Egypt include destinations that share our knowledge with you and include all entrance fees ,including museum (s) majority of meals , breakfast lunch dinner allowing you to enjoy the sights .
Egypt's Philae Temple is one of the most picturesque in the country and the complex is one of the most fascinating ancient sights in the world.
The Nile River is the longest river in the world at 6695 kilometres long. Flowing from Uganda, through eleven countries, through to Egypt, it empties into the Mediterranean Sea.
Egypt is home to one of the only remaining wonder of the Ancient World: The Great Pyramids of Egypt. The pyramids are monumental tombs for pharaohs from the 4th dynasty and relics of Egypt's Old…
The word "mosque" often brings to mind not this simple prayer space, but the ornately decorated monuments built by powerful Islamic rulers.
In this article, we will discover some of the pioneers of Egyptology, the great archaeologists, excavators and linguists who have helped us explore, understand and protect Ancient Egypt and its heritage.
From Cairo to the NAC: Egypt Builds a New Capital City On July 11, 2018 Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi laid the first stone of what was to become Egypt’s new capital. The city is…
A small group tour to explore what remains of ancient Egypt. Visit Cairo, Luxor and the valley of the King and Queen plus Alexandria. A tour for senior and mature travellers.
Exploring Ancient Cities What can we learn from exploring the ancient world? What do we take away from the wealth of knowledge uncovered as archaeologists investigate the ruins of past societies, while social scientists speculate…
Egyptian linen treasures Egypt has long held a place in the imagination of curious travellers. Many of us were introduced to the stories of pyramids, pharaohs and buried treasure as children, and since then, books…
Discover Egypt with ten great books Egypt captures the imagination and heart of us all. It is often our introduction to ancient history, and the mysteries of the pyramids and myths of pharaohs remain alive…
The Time to Visit Egypt is Now Valley of the Kings in Luxor, Egypt Egypt, the travel and tourism industry is doing it tough. Not only has inflation bitten hard into the earnings in Egyptian…
Odyssey travels by coach and occasionally uses local transport, including trains, ferries and planes. Specifics are always outlined in your tour itinerary. Odyssey’s Egypt tour requires two short internal flights – one from Cairo to Luxor and another from Aswan to Cairo.
In major cities in Egypt, Odyssey stays in centrally located 4 -5 star hotels, with easy access to public transport. In smaller towns or rural areas, we usually stay in family-run hotels or guesthouses. On our long stay tours, during which we spend the length of the tour in a single location, we use serviced apartments.
Odyssey always engages local guides with regional knowledge to ensure an authentic experience during which you can learn as much as possible about the history and culture of places you visit.
Egypt is situated at the meeting place of North Africa and Southwest Asia. It extends into Asia by virtue of holding the Sinai Peninsula. Egypt is bordered by Israel and the Gaza Strip to the north-east, by Sudan to the south and by Libya to the west. The Mediterranean and Red Seas (to the north and east respectively) bound the nation. It is geographically
dominated both by the Nile River and its fertile well-watered valley, and by the Eastern and Western deserts. It is predominantly desert, and only 3.5% of the total land area is permanently settled. Almost 99% of the population live along the valleys and delta of the Nile.
The climate is variable, but generally defined by hot and dry summers, and moderate winters. There is almost no rain in the Nile valley, but the North coast receives some of the country’s heaviest rains.
Egypt contains seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites. You can view the official list of the sites here (http://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/EG). While every site has something of value, here are a few highlights:
The early Christian holy city of Abu Mena
Ancient Thebes, the pinnacle of Egyptian civilisation, including the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens
The Pyramid Fields in Memphis, the capital of the Old Kingdom of Egypt, once considered one of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World
Egypt celebrates an amazing variety of religious, secular and ancient cultural festivals.
During the month of Ramadan, Muslims refrain from eating and drinking during daylight hours. The end of Ramadan is celebrated with a fast-breaking festival known as Eid-al-Fitr. The festival follows the lunar calendar so is on a different date each year.
Leylet en Nuktah is the ancient Egyptian celebration of the rise of the Nile River. On June 17 each year, modern Egyptians picnic and camp along the shores of the river or spend the night with family and friends.
Most Egyptians, regardless of religion, join in the festivities of Coptic Christmas on January 7. In the week prior, homes and businesses are decked out in colourful lights and decorations.
Sham al-Naseem, or ‘sniffing the breeze’, is an ancient holiday celebrating the coming of spring on March 21.
Egyptian food reflects its place at the crossroads of three continents, often combining aspects of Lebanese, Greek, Syrian, French and Turkish cooking. There are also regional differences: northern cities like Alexandria are more Mediterranean in style, while food can be much spicier in the south.
Egyptian staples are bread (usually pita), fuul (fava beans) and taamiya (deep-fried green bean patties). Many more flavoursome local delights can be enjoyed in the cafés, street stalls and restaurants of Egyptian cities and towns.
As a mostly Muslim country, most Egyptians give alcohol a wide berth. Alcohol cannot be sold during Ramadan. Egyptians instead usually prefer tea, Turkish coffee or a refreshing scented beverage known as Karkaday.
Prior to making the decision to travel you should check, smarttraveller.gov or the equivalent. It’s always best to check the latest details before setting out on a trip. Certain parts of Egypt should be avoided for the time being, particularly the border with Libya. There are risks associated with certain areas, and it is important to take these into consideration when planning your trip. But countries like Egypt rely heavily on tourism, and refusing travel can be detrimental to a struggling economy. Stay apprised of government recommendations for Egypt in order to be best prepared for your trip.
Typically you should only consume bottled water and avoid foods such as salads that have been prepared with local water.
Whenever you travel overseas, it’s always wise to take an appropriate travel adaptor. Plugs in Egypt are type C and F, so make sure to pick up the right adaptor before your trip.
Egypt has a single time zone, Egypt Standard Time, which is exactly the same as Eastern European Time. That is Egypt is two hours ahead of GMT.
If you’re on an Odyssey tour, we take care of tipping so you don’t need to give it a second thought. However, in your free time, or if travelling independently, it’s essential that you make sure you tip an appropriate amount for services, as is the case throughout much of Egypt.
Generally tipping around 10% is good etiquette at a restaurant in Egypt. However, you will more than likely see a “service charge” on your bill. This service charge goes to the restaurant, not the waiter so be sure to tip the waiter or waitress in addition.
Internet access is quite good in Egypt, with even the smallest villages boasting at least basic internet access. In Cairo, most cafes and fast food outlets provide free wireless internet. A word of caution: always read the fine print before browsing on a free wifi network.
If you have a 3G or higher phone with global roaming capability, your phone will work in Egypt, as long as you are in an area with phone service. You will be charged international roaming rates.
Only drink bottled water. If the water doesn’t taste right, even if it was unsealed in front of you, send it back and get another.
For more FAQs, click here to read our article on Egypt. The following articles may also be of interest:
Learn more about Egypt before you travel with these articles and links to external sites.
Hey, I'm Mark
CEO of Odyssey Traveller
I send out a weekly Odyssey Traveller newsletter.