Five ideas for guided tours in Egypt

• Cairo

  The legendary Giza site is located only seven kilometers from the Egyptian capital. The majestic pyramids of Mikerinos, Cheops and Chephren are located here. Impossible to miss these legendary places and especially come to admire them along with an Egyptian tourist guide. Be sure not to miss the visit of the brand new Great Egyptian Museum inaugurated in the summer of 2021, with its masterpiece, the tomb of Tutankhamen. The rest of the city is worth a stop, like the Coptic quarter, the oldest in the city. Near the fortress of Saladin, you will go to lose yourself in the narrow streets of the Fatimids’ district which will lead you straight to the souk of Khan Al Kalili. To escape the heat or simply to get some fresh air, go to the Al-Azhar gardens and walk in the alleys lined with lawns, bougainvilleas, acacias or mango trees.

• Alexandria

  Alexandria, the most innovative city in Egypt, combines tradition and modernity.
  Here are a few must-sees:
  – The Bibliotheca Alexandrina: a futuristic-looking center, inaugurated in 2002. It houses millions of books, as well as museums, temporary exhibitions and various cultural activities throughout the year.
  – The Corniche: runs from Silsila Point through the Ras et-Tin Palace to Qaitbay Fort. This is a 15 kilometers long promenade lined with beautiful buildings, terraces and restaurants. At the end of the walk, you will find the Marine Museum, where the famous Alexandria lighthouse once stood, destroyed by an earthquake in 1303. Early in the morning, make sure to go and watch the fishermen return from the fish market in Anfushi.
  – Lovers of ancient history will discover the amphitheater or the Greco-Roman funerary site of Kom-El-Chouqafa.
  The city is worth a stop to spend some time on the beaches of El-Mandara or Al-Mamurah.

• Saqqarah

  The , necropolis of Saqqara is the oldest in Egypt. We discovered the tombs of the most ancient pharaohs, but also the oldest monument, the step pyramid of Djeser measuring 66 meters high was reopened in 2020 after 14 years of restoration. Not far away, we find the smallest pyramid of Ounas, as well as several mastabas (tombs of quadrangular form). The one of Mereruka contains 30 rooms and is provided with rich interior decorations. You can also explore the Imhotep museum, named after a prominent scholar and architect, who built the complex 4,000 years ago. This museum is endowed with a great number of objects of the time.

• Fayoum Oasis

  From Cairo, you will have to drive 130 kilometers to reach the valley. This wadi is famous because here, at the location of Wadi El-Hetan, archaeological excavations have uncovered whale fossils dating back tens of millions of years. The Oasis of Fayoum is nearby. Excursions are numerous around the Magic and Qaroun lakes, with the small waterfall of Wadi El Rayan connecting them. The dunes surrounding them offer magnificent views. The more sporty ones will have fun riding a sandboard. One can board boats and sail the waters to observe the comings and goings of fishermen, or the many species of migratory birds that come to drink from the autumn. The region is well known for its historical treasures from the Greco-Roman era, such as the Pyramid of Meïdoum and a site with 200 old hydraulic mills installed on the canals. Some of them are still active.

• Luxor

  Luxor is located on the bank of the Nile. It is one of the most important places of the ancient time of the pharaohs. The construction dates back to the reign of Amenhotep III, around the fourteenth century BC and further additions were made by Ramses II.
  Within the center of the city itself is the open-air temple of Luxor. Called Temple of Amun. It has very well preserved statues and carved reliefs, as well as a pink granite obelisk. There were originally two obelisks, the second of which can be found on the Place de la Concorde in Paris. From there begins a dromos, an alley connecting two buildings. It will lead you three kilometers further, on the site of Karnak. Originally it was 700 sphinxes which followed one another. There are now only at the beginning and at the end. The temple contains large statues in standing and sitting positions, surrounded by 134 pillars decorated with hieroglyphs. The other must-see in the area is the Valley of the Kings, which faces Luxor on its western bank. There you can see, nestled in the mountain, the tombs and burial chambers of the illustrious nobles of antiquity. There are among others the tombs of the pharaohs Ramses II, Akhenaten, Amenhotep III and Tutankhamun. Not far away, one can see the valley of the queens where the mummies of the wives of the nobles had been deposited. The galleries of these two places have been very well maintained and the colored painted walls are of a rare beauty.