My 2025 Fun Week in Egypt Review & Guide
You know, the idea of spending a full week in Egypt had been floating around in my head for a long time. So, finally doing it felt, well, a little bit unreal, to be honest. It’s this place you see in books and movies, but actually standing there is, in a way, a totally different thing. As I was saying, there’s a certain feeling you get when you know you’re about to walk through thousands of years of history. The trip was, pretty much, a perfect mix of absolute wonder and just pure enjoyment. My time there gave me a lot of thoughts, and I wanted to share a sort of play-by-play for anyone thinking about their own 2025 trip. Honestly, it was a week packed with sights that were just completely unforgettable.
First Stop: Cairo’s Absolutely Unforgettable Sights
Okay, so arriving in Cairo is, in some respects, a full-on experience for all your senses. The city is alive with a kind of energy that, frankly, is pretty infectious. The constant hum of traffic and people talking is, like, the city’s own special music. You will just spend your first hours with your head on a swivel, trying to take it all in. Of course, the main event here is Giza, which is just a short drive from the main city areas. People will tell you the pyramids are large, but you know, that’s an understatement. Standing at the base of the Great Pyramid of Khufu is honestly humbling. You just can’t really get your head around how they built it so long ago. It’s so, so massive. Seemingly, the whole structure just scrapes the sky.
Then, just a little walk away, you have the Sphinx. Obviously, it’s another one of those moments that feels a bit strange and wonderful. You’ve seen this face in pictures your whole life, and there it is, just sort of chilling. It’s definitely smaller than you might think compared to the pyramids behind it, yet it has this quiet, watchful presence that is, at the end of the day, completely captivating. We spent a good amount of time just walking around the Giza plateau, which is pretty much the best way to do it. After Giza, we went to the Khan el-Khalili bazaar. Frankly, getting lost in its little alleyways, smelling all the different spices and perfumes, and seeing all the shiny lamps and crafts was, kind of, the perfect way to finish the day.
Down South to Aswan for a Bit of Calm
Anyway, after a couple of days in Cairo’s high-speed environment, the short flight down to Aswan was, like, a really welcome change. Aswan has a much slower, more relaxed feeling, which is pretty much defined by the Nile River flowing right through it. The air just feels a bit cleaner, and the pace of life seems to be more or less set by the gentle current of the water. Our hotel, for instance, had a view straight over the river, with feluccas—those classic sailboats—drifting past. It was seriously peaceful to just sit and watch the sun go down over the water. The whole atmosphere is very different from the capital city.
A big highlight in Aswan is, of course, a trip to the Philae Temple. You have to take a little motorboat to get there, which is a really fun experience on its own, honestly. The temple is on an island, so you see it appearing out of the water as you get closer. As a matter of fact, the whole structure was moved piece by piece to save it from the rising waters of the Aswan High Dam. When you’re there, it’s just sort of mind-boggling to think about that. The temple itself feels like it’s in a perfect setting, with the water all around it and stories carved into every single wall. It’s a spot that, you know, has a really special and tranquil quality.
Floating Down the Nile Is, Honestly, the Best Part
Basically, getting on a Nile cruise ship is where the holiday shifts into a new gear of relaxation. For a few days, your main job is to just sit back and watch Egypt drift by from a comfy lounge chair on the sun deck. Honestly, it’s pretty hard to beat. You pass by these strips of bright green farmland that look like ribbons next to the golden desert sand. You see local farmers working their fields and kids waving from the riverbanks. It’s like, a very peaceful procession of daily life that you get to witness. I mean, the boat itself has everything you need—good food, a little swimming pool, and a place to rest.
The cruise isn’t just about sitting around, by the way. The boat stops at a couple of incredible sites along the way to Luxor. For example, we stopped at the Temple of Kom Ombo. This one is really unique because it’s a double temple, dedicated to two different gods, the crocodile god Sobek and the falcon god Horus. It sits right on a bend in the river, so the view from the top is, frankly, amazing. Then you have the Temple of Edfu, which is, like, almost perfectly whole. You can really get a feel for what these places would have looked like thousands of years ago. It’s an awesome and pretty immersive part of the trip, you know.
Luxor: An Open-Air Museum That’s Mind-Blowing
So, you finally pull into Luxor, and the city just immediately feels huge and historically significant. It’s built on the site of the ancient city of Thebes, and there are, literally, massive monuments everywhere you look. Unlike Cairo, it feels more like a city built around its history. You can be walking down a modern street and then, right there, is an avenue of sphinxes or the entrance to a gigantic temple complex. It’s pretty wild, to be honest.
On the East Bank, you have Karnak Temple. Seriously, you could spend a whole day here and still not see everything. It’s a huge, sprawling complex of sanctuaries, pylons, and obelisks that were built over hundreds of years. The Great Hypostyle Hall, with its 134 massive columns, is just one of those places that makes you feel really, really small. Walking through it is, like, being in a forest of stone. Then there’s Luxor Temple, which is particularly amazing to see at night when it’s all lit up. It’s located right in the center of the city, and it’s got this awesome, living feeling to it.
Across the river, on the West Bank, is where things get even more mysterious. This is, of course, home to the Valley of the Kings. This is where pharaohs like Tutankhamun were buried in secret tombs cut deep into the rock. Going down into one of these tombs is an experience that you will not forget. You walk down a long passageway, and suddenly you’re in a chamber where the walls are covered in paintings and hieroglyphs that are, pretty much, as bright and colorful as they were the day they were painted. The air feels cool and still, and you just sort of stand there in awe. It is a completely different sort of historical encounter, more personal and enclosed than the big temples.
Some Final Tips Before Your Egyptian Adventure
Before you go, there are a few little things to know that can, like, make your trip a lot smoother. When it comes to the food, you should honestly be adventurous. Street food stalls and small local restaurants, for instance, often have the most authentic-tasting stuff. A dish called koshari—a mix of rice, lentils, and pasta with a tomato sauce—is, you know, absolutely everywhere and is really filling. Likewise, you will find lots of grilled meats, fresh bread, and delicious dips like hummus and baba ghanoush pretty much everywhere.
Just a little tip, you know: always carry some small bills with you. You’ll often use them for small tips, what’s called ‘baksheesh’, for people who help you out, for example, by taking a photo or showing you something in a temple. It’s just a part of the local culture, basically.
Figuring out what to pack is pretty straightforward. You definitely want lightweight, breathable clothing. Think cotton or linen. It’s a good idea to bring clothes that cover your shoulders and knees, mainly out of respect when you are visiting religious sites. This also helps with sun protection, frankly. A good sun hat, sunglasses, and strong sunscreen are, obviously, not optional. At the end of the day, just be open to the experience. Things might not always go exactly to plan, but that’s kind of part of the fun of it, right? It’s a place that will definitely leave a big mark on you.
- Definitely drink only bottled water, even for brushing your teeth, okay.
- Bargaining in the markets, or souks, is, more or less, a normal and expected activity.
- Comfortable walking shoes are, you know, maybe the most important thing you can pack.
- Getting a local SIM card at the airport is pretty easy and helps a lot with maps and stuff.
Read our full review: [2025 Egypt Itinerary Full Review and Details]
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