The Ultimate Guide to Exploring Ancient Egypt

Egypt is most popular for its historical image; for many tourists, the only thing that can be interesting in this country is the pyramids, temples, and tombs. If you have ever been interested in one of the first civilizations or want to feel like a historian, Egypt’s exciting ruins should not be missed.
Our travel guide to Egypt’s most iconic historic sites will help you plan a visit and decide why these landmarks should be your first choice.

The Pyramids of Giza: This sphere is known as: ‘The Last Wonder of the Ancient World’.

Overview: Egypt is one of the oldest travel destinations with almost all of the people in the world knowing about the Great Pyramids of Gizah. Of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, these two huge stones are the only remains that still exist to this day.

Why Visit: The Pyramids are the most iconic architectural marvel which is easily associated with the whole of Egypt and going farther, with Africa as well; The Pyramids were tombs for Pharaohs which were to help them in their quest for eternity. Pyramids are considered to be one of the major Egyptian boasts; the Great Pyramid Of Khufu is the largest of the three, though earlier the Pyramids were the highest structure made by man.

Tips for Visiting:
1- Go early in the morning to avoid the crowds and heat.2- Don’t miss the Sphinx, located near the pyramids, which is another must-see monument.

3- As an all-encompassing experience, and because the dromedaries are perfect for photo moments, visitors are encouraged to take the camel-riding alternative.

Luxor: Here Is the World’s Largest Open-Air Museum

Overview: If you are the ancient Egyptian rulers specifically the pharaohs, then Luxor is the right place for you. This center of the old world was originally called Thebes, and it is perhaps the richest in terms of historical and archaeological monuments in Egypt.

Key Sites to Visit:

1- Karnak Temple Complex: Located on the south bank of the River Nile it is one of the largest religious structures in the world; it is a city of temples, chapels, pylons, and other structures built to honor the deities of ancient Egypt, most particularly Amun.

2- Luxor Temple: Situated in the middle of the city, this temple is well known for its splendid obelisks and great statues of Ramses II.

3- Valley of the Kings: This is for example where you can pay your respects to such Kings as Tutankhamun, the Boy King. It is also beautiful for lovers of history because the valley has well-preserved colorful wall paintings.

Tips for Visiting:

1- For the best experience ever, hire a knowledgeable guide to help explain the history of the civilization of these landmarks.

2- Cut through the night rush only to catch the lighting and sound experience at Karnak Temple.

The Temple of Karnak: The Magnificent Heart of Thebes

Overview: Karnak Temple is a large area for worshiping Amun, the king of the gods among Egyptian ancient gods. The temple was constructed and added throughout generations of pharaohs and is one of the grandest temple grounds in Egypt.

Why Visit: It has a hypostyle hall which is one of the largest halls with 134 huge columns, the guide said. Karnak was the focus of worship and an important shrine of at least nine city temples in the Theban region.

Tips for Visiting:

1- Spend more time at the temples because even though there is only one large temple, there are many smaller temples, obelisks, and statues that surround the area.

2- As for sculpture lovers, the last recommendation would be to visit the lake that is believed to be sacred for reflections.

The Sphinx and The Valley of the Queens

Overview: The Great Sphinx of Giza is among the most famous symbols of the Old World. The giant human-sized compound figure of a lion with an integrated Pharaoh head thought to be that of King Khafre is quite a marvel.

Why Visit: The Sphinx symbolizes its powerful and wise King or Pharaoh. For centuries it has been featuring an intriguing expression to the visitors.

The Valley of the Queens: Rather less known compared to the Valet of the Kings, the Valet of the Queens contains the tombs of many queens and that of Nefetari is reported to be one of the most ornately painted burials in the entire Egypt.

Tips for Visiting:

1- There are many things to see, but the spectacular Sphinx Panorama should not be missed to take photos.

2- Make it a point to take a two-in-one tour at the site and engage the Sphinx as well as the Valley of the Queens.

Saqqara with step pyramid of Djoser

Overview: Saqqara is a vast necropolis and contains the oldest state pyramid of King Djoser of Egypt. The Pyramid or Step Pyramid is the first pyramid built in Egypt and was designed by an architect named Imhotep.

Why Visit: This is not a very popular tourist destination as is the Pyramids of Giza, however Saqqara is a fantastic site. The Step Pyramid is very interesting and introduces great changes in Egyptian architectural development.

Tips for Visiting:

1- Saqqara is also slightly less popular than Giza and this makes the area perfect for visiting if you don’t like crowds.

2- Do not forget to see the ‘Tomb of Ti’, it is one of the oldest well-preserved tombs around.

The Egyptian historical legacy is vast and varied and the sight of monuments gives an idea of one of the historic civilizations. If you are following the path of thousands of years of civilizations by standing in front of the Pyramids of Giza, sailing in the temples of Luxor, or admiring the engineering excellence of Abu Simbel, these places will be indelible.
When travelling to Egypt it is always important to allow enough time to go through these sites and make sure one gets a grasp of the history of the world. You can get in touch with us for your personalized touring needs if you are set to start your journey here and beyond, to these exciting locations.

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