What to see in Egypt from the sights is a must and what excursions to take on vacation in Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh? Consider the most popular places for tourists to visit, find out the cost of excursion programs for one, two or several days, study the map and draw up a trip plan for the Arab state on our own.
Egypt is a country of contrasts. On the one hand, this is an amazingly beautiful world of reefs, filled with life, bright colors and movement. On the other, there is a desert, a whisper of sand and an incinerating heat. The modest life of today's Egyptians and the remains of ancient civilizations in stone, striking in their power and grandeur. It is worth seeing, feeling the atmosphere, taste and smell of the country. And thank its residents who are trying to preserve this beauty.
What to see in Egypt?
Egypt is very different and not so small. To see even the main attractions, you need to come more than once. The country can be conditionally divided into 4 tourist zones. What to see in Egypt from the sights depends on which part of the state you will be resting in.
- Cairo... The city itself with museums and markets. Giza plateau, pyramids and Sphinx. Nile Valley.
- Sinai peninsula. Sharm El Sheikh... Coastal rift zone. Desert and mountainous part.
- Hurghada... Luxor Temples, Desert and Nile Valley.
- Nuweiba or Taba. Gulf of Aqaba and its inhabitants. Excursions to Israel and the Dead Sea. Excursions to Jordan.
The cost of an excursion in Egypt varies depending on the season and the influx of tourists. In the 2021 season, the average cost of excursions to the place is 15-25 dollars. On individual excursions, you can bargain and drop the price up to $ 10. For example, on a quad biking tour in the desert.
Expensive excursions, with a flight by plane, can cost $ 200-350. In the event that you settled in Sharm el-Sheikh, but want to fly to Cairo and see the pyramids or visit Petra.
Also, the cost depends on the place where you buy the tour. The hotel will offer you excursions much more expensive than neighboring travel agencies. Large groups are gathered for hotel programs, and the local travel agency organizes trips for 5-10 people. Agree, sailing on a yacht with five people is much more pleasant than in a group of 50 people.
The excursions can be even more expensive if you purchase them in advance, along with the voucher. In addition, we will reveal a little secret on planning routes, all hotel guides from tour operators who tell you about exciting trips to the sights of Egypt and its environs in the first days of your vacation, use the services of local agencies and provide you with information under their own brands.
Another plus from local travel agencies - you can order an individual route or combine several excursions. If you plan your vacation in advance, you can book the tour you need to anywhere via the Internet, the best offers with prices can be found below.
Map of attractions in Egypt and surroundings
Sharm el-Sheikh landmarks
The resort is located in the south of the Sinai Peninsula. This part is occupied by several national parks. The coastal zone to Dahab is occupied by the Ras Mohamed National Park. Further - the Abu Galum reserve. The mountainous area in the center is also reserved.
From Sharm el-Sheikh (inexpensive resort hotels) it is convenient to make day excursions, and in the evening return to your hotel.
Top attractions in Sharm El Sheikh worth visiting:
- Sightseeing tour of the city with a visit Coptic temple with magnificent paintings, Soho (the best hotels near Soho Square) and the Naama Bay area.
- Ras Mohamed... Full day bus excursion. The guides will tell you about the history of these places. The entire excursion takes place along the coast with diving in several places of the bay. Amazingly beautiful reefs filled with life. The excursion includes a visit to a small mangrove and a Bedouin lunch.
- Mount Moses... Travel to the mountainous part of Sinai. The excursion starts at 22.00, the whole night continues to climb the mountains on foot or on camels. Meeting the dawn at an altitude of 2285 meters near the temple. According to the Bible, in this place Moses received 10 commandments. The place is very unusual and beautiful. The excursion ends at the monastery of St. Catherine. In the monastery itself there is an additional excursion and breakfast. You can stay in the monastery for a few days, there is a hotel for pilgrims.
- Abu Galum... Full day excursion. It starts with a desert jeep safari, followed by a camel ride along the sea. Sometimes the excursion includes a visit to the Colored Canyon or a walk on the rocks. The most important part is the Blue Lagoon dive. This place resembles a crater in a reef with a depth of 110 meters with steep walls. After snorkeling or diving, enjoy a good lunch at the diving center.
- Excursion on a yacht to Tiran Island or separate reefs with diving.
What to see in Hurghada?
There are several water parks and an oceanarium for entertainment lovers in Hurghada. If you stay in a hotel with a water park, for example, in Jungle Aqua Park (on the territory of 21 swimming pools), then visiting the latter will be free.
Places where you can go on excursions in Hurghada:
- City tour with a visit to the old town El Dahar and the Marina embankment.
- Excursion to Luxor with a visit to the temple of Queen Hatshepsut, the valley of the kings and the temple of Karnak. Next, you will be offered a boat ride down the Nile and a Bedouin-style lunch. Full day excursion.
- Cairo... Visit to the National Museum of the city, the pyramids and the Sphinx in Giza, the handicraft bazaar of Khan el-Khalili, the papyrus factory. Next - lunch on a cruise ship on the banks of the Nile.
- Cruise on a comfortable motor ship on the Nile... From Luxor to Aswan and back. Visiting local attractions.
- Excursion on a yacht to paradise Giftun Island with swimming and lunch.
- Excursion on a yacht with fishing or watching and swimming with dolphins.
- El Gouna... A resort town on numerous islands. There is an oceanarium here.
- Monasteries St. Anthony and St. Paul. Located in the desert 200 km from Hurghada (the best hotels). Ancient Coptic temples.
Where to go in Egypt is a must?
Places to visit in Egypt are a must:
- Reefs of Ras Mohamed National Park and Blue Lagoon.
- Cairo, pyramids of Giza and Sphinx.
- Luxor. Temples and the Nile Valley.
- Monasteries in the desert. For example, the monastery of St. Catherine.
- Mount Moses.
- Temple of Peter in Jordan.
- Jerusalem, Dead Sea and Bethlehem in Israel
- Colored canyon near Dahab.
- Camel or jeep safari.
- Bedouin settlement where you can try Bedouin cuisine.
What excursions to take in Egypt with children?
Children will be interested in riding a camel or on horseback, perhaps on an ATV or buggy in the desert. If a child is a teenager, then they can be taken on a mystical night trip to Mount Moses. Just dress warmly. It can get very chilly in the mountains at night. Depending on the season, but the temperature can drop to zero degrees.
For the little ones, an excursion on a boat with a transparent bottom or the so-called "submarine" will be interesting. It is underwater only in the lower part, but it is very convenient to observe the inhabitants of the reef from it. The guide will comment on what is happening in Russian, prices for the entertainment program can be found in the selection of offers above.
Water parks with slides, a dolphinarium and an aquarium in El Gouna are open for children in various resorts in Egypt.
What can you see in Egypt in 3 days on your own?
Each excursion lasts from several hours to a day.For 3 days, it is optimal to book 2 excursions and spend one day on recuperation, enjoying your vacation in one of the hotels in Egypt.
All hotels are comfortable enough, in many in the evenings there is an entertainment program or a disco. Hotels have their own beaches, provide spa services. First line hotels are located right on the beach. For fans of extreme sports, there is not only buggy and jeep races in the desert. You will be offered snorkeling or scuba diving in Shark Bay and Blue Lagoon, parachuting or night climbing in the mountains.
We devote one day to a trip to the best sights on the outskirts, the second day we rest at the sea and on the third day we go to see popular tourist places nearby.
With this approach, it will be more profitable to rent a car. The cheapest way to find a car is through Economybokings, the search engine searches among all rental companies for the best options for the price. We read about all the nuances of a trip to Egypt in a separate article.
