Egypt
A 5-Day Egypt Itinerary
By Yara ELhemely
Although it is not much time, exploring Egypt in 5 days is not impossible. The following itinerary can get you to know the core of Egypt within this limited period of time.
The First Day
This day would be a culture tour. Being based in Cairo, you can’t miss a visit to the last surviving wonder of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Pyramids of Giza, as well as the Sphinx. Afterwards, you can head to Saqqara, the Ancient Egyptian capital of Memphis, where you can find even more pyramids to see. Up next is the Egyptian Museum which is a must-see
for the rare treasures it has. You’ll be amazed when you see the museum’s collection of more than 250,000 one-of-a-kind artefacts that are about 5000 years old. In the evening, a shopping
round in Khan El-Khalili, which is always lively with people all through the day, would be perfect as it is a huge marketplace, where you can get your unique souvenirs. Additionally, you can end the day with a beautiful view of the city from the Cairo Tower.
The Second Day
This day would be devoted to a trip to Alexandria, where you can enjoy a great sea view with an atmosphere that is more relaxing than the capital’s. In this great Mediterranean city, there are
also a lot of places to visit, such as the Citadel of Qaitbay which was built by the use of the ruins of the old Lighthouse, Alexandria National Museum, and the recently-renovated Library of Alexandria known as the Bibliotheca Alexandrina which is one of the best libraries in the region.
Moreover, in Alexandria, you can visit several religious sites, such as the architectural building of the Mosque of Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi, St. Mina Monastery, and Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral. There are also a number of Greco-Roman monuments in Alexandria that you wouldn’t want to miss.
The Third Day
You can’t be in Egypt without visiting one of the most touristic places worldwide, Upper Egypt and specifically Luxor and Aswan. On day three, a train trip to the unmissable Aswan will make
you experience a whole different mood from that of Cairo and Alexandria. In Aswan, you can either relax and explore the Elephantine Island and sail on a Felucca enjoying the surrounding views, you can discover the historical city by visiting Abu Simbel and Philae Temples where you can watch the sound and light show in the evening or the Temple of Kalabsha on the shore of Lake Nasser. You can also head to Aswan’s Botanical Garden in Kitchener’s Island where you can find rare and beautiful plants or you can head to the Nubian Village where you enjoy the colours of the Nubian houses and maybe dance to the Nubian drum rhythms and sing along.
The Fourth and Fifth Days
The fourth and the fifth days would be for a cruise down the Nile River from Aswan to Luxor that includes stops at the temples of Luxor and Karnak. In Luxor, you can also enjoy an authentic delicious Egyptian meal before crossing the Nile to visit more outstanding places, such as the Valley of the Kings, which is the final resting place of Ancient Egypt’s rulers from the
18th to the 20th dynasty having several exquisite tombs including those of the great Pharaoh Ramses II and Pharaoh Tutankhamun. You can also visit the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut and then end your day with some shopping at the bazaars.
