Aswan was our final destination on our Nile River cruise; it borders Sudan and its civil war was just beginning when we got there. It contains significant archaeological sites like the Philae temple complex, on Agilkia Island near the landmark Aswan Dam. Philae’s ruins include the columned Temple of Isis, dating to the 4th century B.C. Downriver, Elephantine Island holds the Temple of Khnum, from the Third Dynasty. Our takeaway from our brief visit to Aswan is that it is a colorful city, with...

T he  Temple of Edfu  is an  Egyptian temple  located on the west bank of the  Nile  in  Edfu ,  Upper Egypt . The city was known in the  Hellenistic period  in  Koine Greek after the chief god  Horus , who was identified as  Apollo .  It is one of the best preserved shrines in Egypt. The temple was built in the  Ptolemaic Kingdom  between 237 and 57 BC. The inscriptions on its walls provide important information on language, myth and religion during the  Hellenistic period  in Egypt. In...

The Valley of the Kings, located just outside the modern city of Luxor in Egypt, is a remarkable archaeological complex that serves as a significant tribute to the Pharaohs and their Queens of ancient Egypt. I really did not know what to expect when we toured the Valley of the Kings. I did not expect vast tunnels which are intricately decorated with elaborate hieroglyphs and stunning frescoes. These artistic representations not only highlight the grandeur of the Pharaohs but also provide...

Box checked, we visited the pyramid and sphinx, which were literally just around the corner from our accommodation at The Minna House in Giza. Giza is about 30-45 minutes south of down town Cairo. Having grown up watching Raiders of the Lost Ark, we had an idea of the pyramids' grandeur. However, while they were indeed very large, they didn't seem as impressive as expected, especially since we're accustomed to massive skyscrapers. Some of us even ventured inside the Great Pyramid, which was...

Gebel al-Silsila is a mountainous region with sandstone quarries on both sides of the Nile. The sandstone quarries of Gebel al-Silsila have been used from the Middle Kingdom (c. 2034–1650 BC) until the 20 th  century. More than a hundred quarries were exploited to extract the sandstone blocks needed to construct many of ancient Egypt’s famous temples. The quarries have preserved tool marks and workers’ inscriptions that can be seen today. The close up picture below is the quarry wall covered...

When approaching the temple, the first thing you notice is that the temple still stands on the original ground level, whereas the modern town rises 9 meters higher, on top of the remnants of the ancient town and its descendants, which have grown up around the temple over the last 2,000 years. There is no proof of the village of Esna and its temple prior to the Middle Kingdom, but from this point on, there are source materials up to the end of ancient Egyptian history. In Graeco-Roman times,...

The Temple of Dendera is undeniably one of the most beautiful and remarkably well-preserved temples in Egypt, standing as a testament to the architectural and artistic achievements of ancient Egyptian civilization. Located in the small town of Dendera, the temple is dedicated to the goddess Hathor, who is revered as the goddess of love, beauty, music, and motherhood. The Dendera temple is very close to Luxor, which is often considered the heart of ancient Egypt due to its proximity to the...

We strolled around to visit the Coptic section of Cairo, a vibrant area rich in history and culture that reflects the deep roots of Christianity in Egypt. As we wandered through the narrow, winding streets, we were immediately captivated by the unique architecture that characterized this part of the city. And unfortunately, we were also surrounded by piles of trash and a city that is more slum than oasis. The buildings, many of which date back to the early centuries of Christianity, showcased...

Hatshepsut ( c. 1473–1458 BC), the queen who became pharaoh, built a magnificent temple at Deir al-Bahari, on the west back of Luxor. It lies directly across the Nile from Karnak Temple, the main sanctuary of the god Amun. Hatshepsut’s temple,  Djeser-djeseru  “the Holy of Holies” was designed by the chief steward of Amun, Senenmut. The temple consists of three levels each of which has a colonnade at its far end. On the uppermost level, an open courtyard lies just beyond the portico....

We spent five days on the Nile with a group of 16 friends celebrating a milestone birthday. The ship we took was on one of the Nour El Nil beautiful boats. You choose to take these boats because they are just that much more authentic. Our room and bed were comfortable, but the bathroom took a bit of getting used to because the space is multipurpose as it is your shower, toilet and sink all in a tight space, but the water was hot and that is really all we needed. The crew was excellent crew,...

Visiting the great pyramids and the Sphinx of Giza easily met my expectations, but I was surprised it was Luxor that left me speechless. We boarded an early morning flight from Cairo to Luxor, eager to explore the treasures that awaited us in this historic city. The differences between the two destinations were striking from the beginning: where Cairo was loud and distractingly busy with its constant honking horns, piles of garbage and air pollution, Luxor welcomed us with empty streets and...

We visited Egypt with a group of 16 friends to celebrate a milestone birthday. Our itinerary first started in Cairo and Giza, we then flew down to Luxor, took a boat down the Nile and ended in Aswan. It was an epic adventure. On our first full day in Cairo, we visited the Old Egyptian Museum , a historical landmark that has captivated visitors for generations. Although the Old Egyptian Museum is in the process of being replaced by the Grand Egyptian Museum, which promises to showcase Egypt's...