Egypt is the valley of the Nile: a green strip in the desert lined with the temples of Luxor and Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae. To the north, Cairo, with the pyramids of Giza and the new Grand Egyptian Museum. The easiest way to see it is a river cruise, with the ship as your hotel.
When to go
The best time is from October to April. From November to February the days are mild and the evenings cool, ideal for sightseeing; in December and January early mornings in the desert are cold. From May to September Aswan and Luxor often go above 40 degrees. Month by month: when to go to Egypt.
Documents and entry
Italian citizens enter with a passport valid for at least six months or, for tourism, with an identity card valid for travel abroad and two passport photos. A tourist visa is required, obtained online or on arrival; it is included in our trip. FCDO entry requirements for Egypt. Full details: visa and documents for Egypt.
Health
No vaccinations are compulsory for travellers from Europe. Tap water is not drinkable: drink bottled water. Take sun and heat seriously even in winter, with a hat and sunscreen. Cairo has good private clinics; health insurance is essential all the same.
What to see
Luxor: Karnak, Luxor temple, the Valley of the Kings and the temple of Hatshepsut. Along the Nile: Edfu and Kom Ombo. Aswan: the temple of Isis at Philae, the High Dam and, 280 kilometres away, Abu Simbel. Cairo: the pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, Saqqara and Memphis, the Grand Egyptian Museum, the Citadel and the Khan el-Khalili bazaar.
The Nile cruise
Between Luxor and Aswan the Nile is travelled in four nights on cruise ships: you sleep on board and the temples are a few minutes from the mooring. It is the easiest way to see Upper Egypt without changing hotel every night.
Our trip: Egypt: Nile cruise and Cairo, 8 days, in a group with an Italian-speaking Egyptologist guide, with the direct flight, the domestic flight Aswan–Cairo and the visa included.
