Egypt was one place that I was in sheer awe of, since childhood. With the pharaohs and their mysterious lives, the tombs and ruins, the royal pyramids, the mummies, the dunes, and the powerful queens, this land has a lot of secrets in its underbelly and visiting it was a lavish dream I cherished for years. Until in 2017, when I celebrated my birthday with a morning coffee overlooking the pyramids! Wow, the memories are all fresh and came gushing in!
And now that overseas travel plans are off the table for quite some time, thanks to the pandemic, I decided to revisit my offbeat Egyptian sojourn and share it with those of you who have Egypt on their bucket list.
While the MUST SEE famous tourist spots are a must-see, there are few other offbeat things to do/places you could include in your itinerary if you too, like me, are more fond of experientialism than only hopping from one place to another and taking photo stops.
Here are some of the highlights of my trip that you too could do/experience while in Egypt:
1) Morning coffee with a panoramic view of the Giza Pyramids
My idea of travel doesn't end at visiting the spots and clicking pictures. It encompasses the entire experience of living the place and vibing with it. And that being said, I knew I wasn't going to be satisfied by only visiting the Giza pyramids and the Sphinx. I had to see it through the day and feel it's majestic presence in the air, which is why I stayed at a luxury hotel in Cairo, exactly overlooking the pyramids. As you can imagine, my morning coffee with a view of Sunbathing pyramids and late-night hibiscus tea was about the moonlit sky, cool breeze and shimmering silver triangles set in golden sand.
2) Adorn the traditional Egyptian jewellery at the Al-Khalili Bazaar
Make sure you take some time out from your sightseeing and visit the bustling Cairo market, -Khan el-Khalili Bazaar. Walk around the market, purchase only those things that are local specialities, interact with shopkeepers (They love India and everyone is a Shah Rukh Khan and Big B fan) and try some traditional Egyptian jewellery to soak in the cultural flavour!
3) Papyrus and Ancient Egyptian perfumes: Who doesn't like it?
Cairo museum and mummies are of course the highlight of the trip, but there's also the papyrus factory that teaches you to make the traditional papyrus paper and a perfume factory where you can see the techniques their skilled workmen use to craft delicate perfume bottles! Not just that, you can also buy the very very traditional and ancient flower extracts that Queen Cleopatra and Queen Nefertiti used!
3) Spend your afternoon at the Alexandria library
Once you finish visiting the Egyptian museum and the popular Catacomb of Kom El-Shokafa, an archaeological site in Alexandria and one of the Seven Wonders of the Middle Ages, dedicate your afternoon to one of the largest and most significant libraries of ancient times, the Great Library of Alexandria! Explore, roam around and marvel, you'll know the vibe, instantly!
4) The memorable train ride to Aswan
I have heard many people suggest taking a direct flight from Cairo to Aswan because the train ride is uncomfortable, but, in my experience, the train ride is, in fact, the best decision you can make because:
1. The train station is so ancient and dreamy and otherworldly
2. The train compartments are super compact and designed very intelligently
3. It is different and comfortable from your regular train rides plus when will you get to catch a train in Egypt again?
PS: The food is Okayish, but then that's not the criteria here.
5) The very dreamy and picturesque Nile Cruise
A must-do activity in Egypt! Book a two/three nights Nile Cruise, sail on the holy Nile, watch the big beautiful moon, resting on the deck whilst cutting through the river, or snuggle in bed and watch the water ripples dancing through the window! Also, cruise dinners have their unique grace!
6) Visit the secluded Banana Island
After walking through the mesmerizing temples of Sobek and Horus, get on to a local boat and visit the lesser-known, Banana Island to get a glimpse of village life in Egypt. Stroll through dense banana gardens, visit the tiny animal zoo that houses aged crocodiles, turkey, hyena and few other animals, get a slice of the slow village life and come back by sunset. Our boatmen offered us fresh hibiscus tea and freshly plucked dates too!
7) Alabaster workshop and Horse carriage ride to the spice market
After your day-long journey to the magnificent Valley of Kings, the Hatshepsut temple, the Karnak and Luxor temples (which are a must-see), take a pit stop at the Alabaster factory to see how the local craftsmen carve intricate designs on the Alabaster, an ancient Egyptian stone, and also buy some souvenirs on your way back! Before boarding the cruise again, spend your evening exploring the spice market in Luxor in an old-fashioned horse carriage! Trust me it is the best way to mingle in Egyptian culture. Their spices are unique and lovely, so make sure you get some!
8) Chill at the Hurghada beaches
Let the last leg of the trip be a relaxed beach-side stay. We stayed at the lovely Hilton Property in Hurghada which had its private beach, and it was worth it! Travel from Luxor to Hurghada by road because it's a beautiful butter-smooth route with sands and rocky hills on both the sides. Hurghada has a very hip, classy vibe with a promenade where you can stroll all night long, kissing the beach-side breeze and rejuvenating before you head back home!
So when are you planning your Egyptian endeavour? Whenever it is, count me in, again!