Egypt's Ancient Wonders: An Overland Adventure Along the Nile

Khan El-Khalili is the largest bazaar in the Middle East. With a guide, you’ll dive right into the open-air market or souk. Every inch of this maze of alleyways is filled with crafts and souvenirs made by Egyptian artisans. Browse, and maybe haggle to buy, hand-thrown pottery, ornate lanterns and leather goods like slippers in every colour imaginable. You’ll also find woodwork, glassware and typical Pharaonic souvenirs. And follow your nose for intoxicating perfumes.

Just one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World – the Great Pyramid of Giza – remains today. You’ll visit this colossal marvel of engineering, along with its two smaller counterparts, on an immersive tour. See the three elaborate tombs, built for pharaohs some 4,500 years ago, from a panoramic viewpoint. You’ll have the opportunity to climb inside one of the structures. Then, visit the Great Sphinx, where your guide will help to unravel mysteries behind this part man, part lion.

The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC) is thought by many to be one of the world’s greatest museums. Interactive, high-tech exhibits combine with a collection of more than 50,000 artifacts to tell the country’s fascinating story, from prehistoric eras to the modern day. The contemporary, minimalist structure overlooks the water in the suburb of Fustat, Egypt’s old capital. Millennia-old exhibits include the ‘Cairo Toe’, a leather and wood prosthetic, while the Royal Mummies Hall houses 22 tombs.

Downtown Cairo comes alive after dusk. Your local guide will take you deep into the characterful district and dig out the best things to eat and drink. Stroll broad promenades with shops, indie cinemas and elegant belle-époque cafes. Join the after-work crowds, feasting on street food and ice cream and discover one of the best places to sample the national dish, koshary: a mix of rice, pasta and lentils topped with spicy tomato and crispy onions – finishing at a rooftop bar.

Kom Ombo Temple is dedicated to the falcon god, Horus – and to Sobek, the universally feared crocodile god. On an in-depth tour, explore the temple’s dual, symmetrical structure, representing the twin deities. Learn about the site’s role as a fertility and medical hub. And hear how crocodiles lived in the temple and were mummified after death, to appease Sobek.

Believed to have been constructed during Ptolemaic times around 200 BC, Edfu is among ancient Egypt’s most intact temples. It’s known as ‘Temple of Horus’ due to its dedication to the falcon god, representing good and fertility. View its well-preserved structure and see inscriptions depicting the battle between Horus and Seth, god of chaos and disorder.

The best way to appreciate Aswan’s ethereal beauty is from the water. Board a felucca sailboat and settle in for a slow, peaceful cruise taking in views of the Nile and the desert dunes that loom beyond rows of palm trees. This part of the river is home to temple complexes and oval-shaped Kitchener’s Island, entirely planted with botanical gardens.

Luxor’s West Bank is home to the necropolis of Thebes, positioned where the sun disappears each night. Enter Queen Nefertari’s burial chambers, known as the ‘Sistine Chapel of Ancient Egypt’ for its vivid frescoes and hieroglyphs. And see Tutankhamun’s tomb. The boy king’s burial site is adorned with treasures.

The temple complex of Karnak, constructed two millennia ago, remains the largest religious structure ever created. Gaze up at the soaring sandstone columns of the Great Hypostyle Hall, some more than 70 feet tall. And trace the edges of the Sacred Lake. The largest of its kind, the reservoir was used by priests for ritual washing.

Pharaohs were crowned at Luxor Temple, founded in 1400 BC. The temple complex is especially lovely after dark. Arrive via the Avenue of the Sphinxes, whose ram-headed figures glow in a soft light. Spotlights and lantern-lit paths also cast dramatic shadows on its huge statues, and the mysterious granite obelisk that guards the entrance.

Though many of Alexandria’s monuments have long disappeared, the city offers a fascinating glimpse into Hellenic and Egyptian history. On this immersive city tour, explore catacombs and the Roman amphitheatre of Kom El Dekkato. Visit the seafront citadel, now a museum. And tour Bibliotheca Alexandrina, a modern testament to the Great Library believed to have been partly destroyed by Julius Caesar.

The Eliyahu Havavi Synagogue was destroyed in the Napoleonic attack of 1798. Later reconstructed, it fell into disrepair when Egypt’s Jewish population was forced out of the country. Now, a recent rebuilding project has thoughtfully restored this important place of worship. View pink marble columns, chandeliers and historical name plaques, returned to the correct seats. And peek at sections of the original, 14th-century structure.