Cairo
The Grand Egyptian Museum, Islamic Cairo, the Coptic quarter and the bazaar at Khan el-Khalili. We base travelers in Zamalek or Garden City — quieter, leafier, walking distance from the Nile.
Destinations
The places we keep coming back to.
A short guide to the cities, deserts and stretches of river that show up most often in our itineraries — and why.
Giza & Memphis
The three great pyramids, the Sphinx, Saqqara's step pyramid and the open-air ruins of Memphis. Best visited at first light or in the late afternoon.
Luxor
Karnak, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's funerary temple and the Theban necropolis. Four nights here is the minimum we recommend.
Aswan & Nubia
Quieter, slower, with a different feel. Philae temple, the Nubian villages on Elephantine Island, the unfinished obelisk and the dahabiya cruises north.
Abu Simbel
A long but unforgettable side trip. The colossi of Ramesses II at sunrise are one of the few sights that genuinely live up to their reputation.
Red Sea Coast
Sharm el Sheikh, Dahab, Hurghada and Marsa Alam. Some of the best coral reef diving in the world, and a needed change of pace after the temples.
White Desert
Chalk and limestone formations five hours west of Cairo. Camping under the stars at Bahariya is one of those rare experiences that nothing prepares you for.
Nile River
Not so much a destination as the thread that holds every itinerary together. By dahabiya, felucca or river cruiser — the way Egypt is meant to be seen.