23 Places to Visit in Egypt

People are beginning to flock to Egypt and it's not hard to see why. Egypt is a land of enchantment - with millions of years of history and religious sites scattered throughout the country. The hardest part will be deciding where to visit. Central Holidays makes this easier by offering package tours with different itineraries and number of days, depending on your availability and budget. Regardless of how long you stay, here's my list of hotspots you can't afford to miss.

Have you ever felt small? Like really small? The Abu Simbel temples located on the western bank of Lake Nasser in southern Egypt are sure to give you this feeling. There are two massive rock temples carved into the solid rock cliff at this site. The temples were constructed during the reign of Ramses II, around the mid-twelfth century BCE. Outside the main temple sit four massive statues of Ramses, exemplifying the awe-inspiring art of Ancient Egypt - and the ego of the pharaoh. It's best to visit this temple in the early morning when the sun illuminates the structures.

The Aswan High Dam is a magnificent structure completed in 1970. The dam is 364 feet high and stretches 12,562 feet across - creating Lake Nasser. The Nile River used to flood once a year, thus creating the fertile soil of the area, but it also meant that structures near the river also flooded. Now the annual flooding can be controlled and enormous amounts of electric power are created by the dam's 12 turbines.

The Temple of Isis - also referred to as the Temple of Philae - is located on Agilkia Island outside of Aswan, just north of the Aswan High Dam. The entire temple was actually relocated - almost 50,000 blocks - from the island of Philae, which is now underwater because of the High Dam.

Visitors must take a ferry boat to the island, giving spectators beautiful views of the temple from the Nile River. The temple is considered one of the last monuments built in the classic ancient Egyptian style by Ptolemy II and is dedicated to the god Isis.

The Unfinished Obelisk outside of Aswan gives visitors a look into the construction of these ancient Egyptian monuments. The immense structure is partially carved out of the quarry, but has a crack running down the middle of the would-be edifice. If finished, this would have been the largest obelisk, but it was most likely abandoned once the crack appeared during excavation.

The Nile River is the true heart of Egypt - offering an oasis in an otherwise arid climate. It's best to experience this on a multi-day river cruise which normally travels between Aswan and Luxor. You'll be able to enjoy stops on the way like the Temple of Kom Ombo and the Temple of Edfu. While traveling along the river, you'll be able to relax on the top deck while getting a glimpse of what life is like for those living nearby.

The Nile has been known to be home to crocodiles since ancient times, so it would only make sense that there would be a temple dedicated to the reptile, right? The Temple of Kom Ombo is actually dedicated to two gods - Sobek, the crocodile god, and Horus, the falcon god.

The Ancient Egyptians feared the crocodile, who infested the local waters, so they decided to worship them, hoping it would lead to less attacks. There is even an area where visitors can see mummified crocodiles that were uncovered in the area.

The Temple of Edfu is the third largest remaining temple from the Ancient Egyptians and one of the most well preserved. The reason why? It "was buried under centuries of sand and silt until the nineteenth century, when French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette rediscovered the site," according to the Egyptian Museum. Because the structure was hidden for so long, most of the temple remains intact. You can even see some of the paint that was used to decorate the temple!

There used to be roughly a 3 km pathway linking Luxor Temple and the Temple of Karnak in the town of modern-day Luxor, where the ancient ruins of Thebes lie. These are the second and first largest remaining temples respectively. Although the Luxor Temple is beautiful and a gem to see during the day, I loved being able to view this temple at night. The columns and statues seemed all the larger by the lighting. Though a mosque was built on top of the temple unknowingly since the temple was buried for a portion of time by the flooding Nile, there are also remains of a Christian fresco of the apostles.

If there's only one temple you visit in all of Egypt, I would highly encourage it to be the Temple of Karnak. A massive compound of obelisks, columns a hundred people high, statues and even a sacred lake. The Karnak Temple Complex is undergoing restoration with more artifacts being uncovered and revitalized with every passing year. There are even hopes to reestablish the path linking the Temple of Karnak with the Luxor Temple.

Located on the western bank of the Nile rests the Valley of the Kings. A mesmerizing tour of the ancient crypts of Egyptian royalty. Because the tunnels were not exposed to the elements, much of the paint remains on the walls. This is definitely a place you'll want to pay extra to take pictures. You won't be allowed to use your flash, but the pictures still turn out great! Tombs are still being discovered, so don't be surprised if you see workers digging in the area to uncover new finds. Be sure to get here as soon as it opens because the area fills up fast.

Yes, this is a rather difficult name to pronounce, but our guide kept referring to it as the Temple of 'Hot Chicken Soup' to make things easier for us. This temple is located near the Valley of the Kings and carved directly into the cliff-face. It's worth the hike up the multitude of steps to see the huge status lining the entrance to the temple. Hatsheput herself was not actually buried within the temple but in the neighboring Valley of the Kings.

Saints Sergius and Bacchus Church, sometimes referred to as Abu Serga, dates back to the 4^th century and is one of the oldest churches in Cairo. The church itself is dedicated to two Christian martyrs, and later saints, Sergius and Bacchus, who were killed in the 4^th century for practicing the Christian faith. But the real gem to this church is the site it is built on. When you take a tour of the inside of the Church, you'll be permitted to walk down into the cellar area where the Holy Family - Mary, Joseph, and infant Jesus - stayed for three months when they fled to Egypt.

Also located in Old Cairo is Ben Ezra Synagogue. You will not be permitted to take pictures inside the synagogue. Just outside the building sits a well-shaped memorial. It is believed that this is the spot that baby Moses was pulled from the Nile. You'll be able to take pictures of this through the surrounding fence.

If you're a shopper, then you can't miss the Khan el-Khalili which is in the bazaar district of Islamic Cairo. Just be prepared to haggle with the shop owners - everything in Egypt seems to be negotiable. Even if you don't normally like to shop while on vacation, this a great place to peruse and people watch.

If you're driving around Old Cairo - or better yet, taking Uber - you're sure to see the beautiful Mosque of Muhammad Ali sitting on a hill. The mosque was built between 1830 and 1848 and dedicated to Muhammad Ali's oldest son, Tusun Pasha, who died in 1816. Built in the Ottoman style and with twin minarets, this mosque is truly a site to behold. Just be sure to dress appropriately or you may be turned away.

The Egyptian Museum houses a wealth of information, relics, and antiquities. It's not surprising that you may feel a little overwhelmed here. If you're traveling with a group, the museum provides audio guides to make it easier to hear your guide while admiring all the artifacts.

A new museum, The Grand Egyptian Museum, is already being built and is expected to open in 2020. Located near the Pyramids of Giza, this museum will have ample space and include the latest technology to engage visitors.

For some the Pyramids of Giza are probably the main reason people want to travel to Egypt. If that's the case for you, don't worry - they live up to the hype. Driving up, you begin to see the sheer size of these ancient wonders, but you really get to appreciate their magnitude standing at the base of The Great Pyramid of Giza, also known as the Pyramid of Khufu. You'll even be allowed to climb up on the pyramid a little bit. Be sure to drive around the complex to get a better view of all three pyramids.

The Sphinx, or The Great Sphinx of Giza, with the Pyramids of Giza in the background, is a must see for anyone visiting the area. Built out of limestone the Sphinx has the body of a lion and the head of a human. It's thought the nose was destroyed by either Muhammad Sa'im al-Dahr in 1378 AD or a cannonball from one of Napoleon's soldiers. Residual color pigment suggests the statue was once painted.

Just note there is a closing time to the Sphinx and the pyramids and security will make you leave by a certain time.

The largest Roman triumphal column constructed outside of Rome and Constantinople sits in Alexandria and is known as Pompey's Pillar. Built of Aswan granite and 20.46 meters tall, the monument was erected in 297 AD by the Romans to mark the victory over a revolt in Alexandria.

If you're visiting Alexandria, you need to make your way over to Montaza Palace located on the eastern side of the city. A beautiful palace built in 1892, it is encircled by acres of gardens and multiple beaches. This is a great spot to relax and enjoy a picnic, and it's easy to spend hours walking around the complex enjoying the surrounding nature.

This is a must for anyone wanting to make a pilgrimage through locations of the Bible. There are no exact indicators left for where Moses spoke to the Lord and acquired the Ten Commandments, but there is an ancient Orthodox sanctuary that is said to sit atop the area that Moses spoke to the Burning Bush. Visitors can also explore St. Catherine's Monastery at the base of the mountain.

Egypt has so many sites to see and thousands of years of history to learn. But it can sometimes be exhausting hiking through so many historic sites. Resorts along the Red Sea offer the perfect reprieve with beautiful beaches and luxury accommodations. Be sure to talk with your travel agent about with spot would fit in best with your travel plans.

Connecting the Red Sea with the Mediterranean, the Suez Canal is a major thoroughfare for commerce. Variety Cruises recently announced their return to the area, presenting cruise options through Israel, Egypt, and Jordan. Or you can pass through the area on Crystal Cruises' 105-day "Epic Empires and Idyllic Isles" which visits 47 cities in 23 countries.