There are many ways to experience Egypt, from ancient pharaonic monuments to Grand Egyptian Museum visits. Some tours of Egypt include a cruise on the Nile or a trip to the Red Sea. Whether you’re an ancient history buff, a Christian or an adventurer, there are plenty of options for tours of Egypt. The following article discusses some of the most popular choices. Read on to learn about how to plan your own Egypt tour.
Ancient pharaonic monuments
The surviving remains of ancient pharaonic monuments in Egypt are awe-inspiring. The Sphinx monolith, the largest of these statues, is made of limestone and is located in a man-dug quarry. The monolith’s design is of a pharaoh with a head and body of a lion. It is believed that ancient architects chipped away the limestone piece by piece and subsequently cut out huge rectangular slabs for the Sphinx Temple.
Despite being less well-known, many of the pharaonic monuments in Egypt have interesting stories to tell. These stories imply that the ancient Egyptians lived in a time when religion and art were linked. The Egyptian religion teaches that, at the beginning of time, the universe was a swirling chaos of darkness. One day, the god Atum arose from the darkness and lit the ben-ben. In the darkness, he felt lonely and mated with himself, which subsequently created the gods.
Visits to the Grand Egyptian Museum
Located in the city of Cairo, the Grand Egyptian Museum features artifacts from the Old Kingdom, Middle Kingdom, New Kingdom, and Late and Roman Periods. A 140-foot-long solar boat will be one of the highlights of the Grand Egyptian Museum. You can even enjoy a 3D movie in a museum cinema. There are also plenty of free time to wander the Egyptian Museum. If you’re a first-time visitor, you can learn more about Egypt’s history and artifacts by attending a guided tour.
The Grand Egyptian Museum will feature a variety of exhibits across several floors. Plan on spending at least half a day visiting this museum. Some exhibits may require additional fees. You’ll have to pay to enter the mummy room, and you’ll also need to pay to take photos of the displays. While there are many free exhibits in the museum, you might not want to take photos of the mummy rooms unless you’re planning on bringing a camera.
Cruises on the Nile
There are many advantages to choosing a cruise ship on the Nile. While the cruise ship itself is a tourist attraction, you’ll have the opportunity to see and interact with the local culture. The ships range in size from a couple of cabins to several hundred. Each cabin offers private space, daily entertainment, and all the amenities you would expect from a luxury cruise. You can even take advantage of the facilities on board, which include a restaurant, cabin, and even a small library of Egyptian history.
In addition to the luxurious amenities offered by the big cruise ships, you’ll have the opportunity to tour several ancient temples and other sites along the way. Many of these cruises offer sightseeing tours at embarkation and disembarkation points. A guided tour of the Giza Pyramids or the Egyptian Museum is also included. While there’s a lot to see on these cruises, don’t forget to plan enough time for the sights!
Travel to the Red Sea
A typical tour of Egypt would begin in Cairo and rush you around its most famous sights before heading to the Red Sea. But Egypt is not like that. Its time moves slowly, reflecting the country’s Saharan location. In fact, you will feel more relaxed and refreshed when you travel to the Red Sea, where private beaches stretch for miles, palm trees shade your suite, and exotic colors blend into a vast panorama.
After an invigorating tour of the Egyptian museums, your tour would continue to the Red Sea resort town of Hurghada. Here, you can spend a relaxing day basking in the sun, while you enjoy a glass-bottomed boat trip or visit the old town of Hurghada. A traditional show would conclude your tour, and you would probably want to extend your stay in the area.