Before I kick off this post, I need to clarify something. Egypt has suffered a lot in recent years and has a bad rap for being a really unsafe country. Well, I call bull shit on that. Egypt is like any other country. I won’t claim that it’s the safest country in the world but I also never felt like I was in any danger while I was here.

It’s like any place you visit. Do some research and know what to do and not do. But don’t let yourself be sucked in by media and fear and not go to a place because of it. Egypt was an amazing experience and a place everyone should visit.

As I said, Egypt has been on the bucket list for a long time now. I’ve always wanted to come here as a kid and even wanted to be an Egyptologist (yeah i am a nerd). So landing to this desert country I couldn’t be more excited.

As I said above I never felt in danger but I will say driving from the airport through Cairo was an eye-opener to road rules of Egypt. If you’ve ever played GTA you’ll understand. Was a bit crazy. Also showed me the reality of a country that has suffered in recent years with economic collapse and revolution. When you look at the unfinished buildings you think it’s because of this. Part of it is that but mainly it’s by design. Seems the government charges a higher taxes if you have a finished building so most are left “incomplete” to avoid the tax man.

One bit of advice. Make sure you get your money out at the airport. The ATM’s don’t always work and can be stuck for cash. Also, they accept American dollar so have some American cash on the side for emergencies.

It looked liked I had actually missed the first day due to my flight. So I met up with the group the next morning and come to find its a massive group of 36 but we were split into two groups one that was sailing the Nile by felucca group’ and the group trading by the steamboat ‘softies’ so knew I made the right choice and group straight off the bat.

The first stop and something I’ve always wanted to do was the Great Pyramids! To stand in front and touch an Ancient wonder of the world and to go inside and touch 3000-year-old hieroglyphs is something I can’t describe.

It’s a shame you couldn’t take photos in the Pyramids but it’s worth going here to just see it and experience this. I also got to have my first camel ride and get a great view.

Also seeing the Sphinx was brilliant. It is a big kitty for sure. Amazingly it’s the last of three great sphinx’s.

Then we saw the first and oldest Pyramid and the first recorded in history. Seriously, the architecture and thinking of these people back in the day was absolutely mind blowing. Also learning a few misconceptions such as the Pyramids weren’t built by slaves but by volunteer workers that were then given individual tombs when they died.

After Cairo we took a 14-hour train to Aswan. It was my first time on an overnight train. Though was basic, I actually slept like a log and was a way better way to go than say by bus.

Aswan was a lovely place to visit and a great hotel that overlooked the Nile. We went to Abu Simbel and to see not only a massive temple but one that was moved in the 1900’s was something to be impressed by.


To finish the day off we went to the market. Try a shisha pipe and some amazing Turkish coffee. Can you spot the difference in what I’m wearing?

The next day was one of my favorite parts of the whole tour sailing down the Nile on a Felucca. Just to sail the Nile for two days on an open deck boat and just lay back have a “few” drinks some food and enjoy the sun is a great way to travel. Then when it gets too hot just jump in for a swim!




We even finished off staying at a because on a small island in the middle of the Nile.

We next headed to Luxor and see the last of the temples. By this stage wed had done allot of temples and bus travel and add in the great but hot weather.  Everyone one was tired. But the last ones were worth being last just by the view and the share size and magnitude of them.

Before that though we had an early morning as we were going to do something I’d been keen to do since I landed. Hot air ballooning! This was an amazing experience and to see temple as and to cross the Nile.

Next was Hatshepsut temple.

Luxor temple by night is the best way to see it. Everything looks so detailed and stunning.

Then the granddaddy of all temples. Karnack temples. This place is so hard to describe the magnitude of this place if 45 acres with one part of the temple alone holding 134 columns each 13 meters high. Let alone the fact it took 2000 years to build. All the walls decorated and painted. It ls have been something to truly behold.

Next after all the running around it was time to go to Haugata and relax. What better way than a resort by the Red sea. Go do some scuba diving and look at the reefs and sea life. The views of the fish and the reef were amazing and an experience can never forget if you go to the red Sea snorkelling is well and good but go diving if you really want to see the magic.


It as an early night and said good bye to most of the group as some of us head to Jordan. So a nasty two am wake up and six hour bus ride. Straight into the Egyptian museum to see the mummies of old from the tombs and the artefacts even in an exhausted state I can still appreciate it.

Now it’s time to make my way to the airport and off to my next destination… Jordan!