A Magical Tour Through Egypt

Egypt’s tourism is on the rise and it will only continue to grow.

Many travelers have a strong desire to see the pyramids, but Egypt is so much more than those ancient wonders. The beautiful sights and sounds throughout the country make it worthy of an in-depth exploration, and the best way to experience Egypt is through a group tour.

Whether it’s with your friends and family or joining in on a group and making new friends along the way, Central Holidays’ new Egypt offerings make for a special and safe journey.

I recently ventured on a week-long tour with Central Holidays and discovered the many ways to experience the magic of Egypt. And I know what you might be thinking – is it safe?

At no point did I feel unsafe during the tour and that was largely due to the security Central Holidays sets up. There was always a known guard with us and normally more guards shadowing us. Bad things can happen at any time, anywhere around the world. Having the security blanket from Central Holidays made me feel at ease.

The tour operator is a member of SGI (Sakkara Group International), which began as an Egyptian family business in 1972. Having their footprint firmly placed Egypt, they provide travelers a high-quality, affordable and safe experience for all. The starting rate for a hosted program is $899.

Here’s what our tour entailed, but keep in mind Central Holidays can customize a tour just for you and your group. They work directly with travel agents to “deliver the ultimate, in-depth look into Egypt,” says Adam Greis, Manager, Group Travel Experiences at Central Holidays.

Cairo and Giza

It’s no secret the Sphinx and Pyramids of Giza are the most popular site in Egypt. And yes, it really is as remarkable as you can imagine. Pictures only do so much. Seeing it up close and personal truly is extraordinary.

We arrived after lunch and it felt like the perfect time because it was only somewhat crowded. November is the start of the high season for Egypt tourism, but no matter when you show up there will be crowds waiting to see the famous pyramids. Personally, I enjoyed being there while the sun was setting, as it gave the pyramids a golden shine.

You’ll enter near Khufu Pyramid, the largest of the three most famous pyramids. Walking up to and on the base of the pyramid, I’ve never felt so small. It was a dream come true moment, and honestly, I didn’t care about all the other tourists or the pushy vendors trying to sell gifts. It’s important to put that aside and actually soak in the moment of the magnificent structure in front of you.

Next, we made our way to the panorama zone for the best view of all three pyramids and to ride a camel before finishing at the Sphinx. It was only $10 to ride the camel and while the ride only lasted a few minutes, it was well worth it. Be prepared to tip the guys assisting with your camel ride. There will also be vendors here trying to sell you stuff, but if they’re too aggressive the security guard provided by Central Holidays will help deter them away from you.

Of course, the pyramids aren’t the only thing of worth in this region of Egypt. The Egyptian Museum of Antiquities holds the world’s largest collection of Pharaonic artifacts and the treasures of Tutankhamen’s tomb. This is a must visit for history lovers, and the Grand Museum of Egypt will be as well once it opens in 2020. Construction is underway on this massive space that is sure to wow all visitors once completed. Even if museums aren’t your cup of tea, I’d be shocked if you didn’t walk out mesmerized by the ancient artifacts and the sheer amount of gold throughout the building. Pharaoh’s sure loved their gold.

Visiting Al Moallaka Church (the Hanging Church) and Ben Ezra Synagogue made for a great religious experience. Seeing where Moses was picked out of the Nile and walking through the cavern where the Holy family stayed for three months, along with the original well they drank from is something I’ll never forget. It was an emotional morning and even moved some of our group members to tears.

And for those who love to shop for a good bargain, wander your way through Khan El Khalili, the world’s largest 13th-century covered oriental bazaar. I did manage to find a shop that took credit cards, but it’s best to have cash here.

Highlights of a Nile River Cruise

Central Holidays has a variety of Nile River cruises to experience. Ours began in Aswan and sailed up to Kom Ombo, Edfu and Luxor.

Along the way, we made our way through the High Dam, the Granite Alexandria Quarries for the Unfinished Obelisk, the Temple of Isis at Philae, Ptolemiac Temple of Sobek and Haeroris, Edfu Temple, Temple of Luxor, Temple of Karnak, the Funerary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir El Bahari the Valley of the Kings and rode on horse-drawn carriages around Edfu and Luxor.

The Temple of Luxor, Temple of Karnak and the Valley of the Kings stood out the most for many. Walking through these magnificently preserved ancient structures felt like going back in time. While you only get a glimpse of how glorious things might have been at the enormous temples, it truly makes you appreciate all the work that went into creating these. Everyone in the group wished they could time travel to that moment to see the true beauty these temples no doubt had in their heyday.

The Valley of the Kings is a gorgeous walk, and that’s before you ever step foot inside a tomb.

In order to take pictures while in the tombs you will need to get an extra ticket that costs 300 Egyptian pounds. That’s around $17 and it is 100 percent worth it.

This valley is only going to get better too as they’re still uncovering new tombs. In fact, they had just discovered two new tombs in the last few months and thanks to new technology it’s only a matter of time before they find more.

Throughout all of these temples there will be some aggressive vendors trying to sell you shirts, scarves, hats, trinkets and more souvenir items. If you wish to buy something, you’ll be able to negotiate prices. I’d recommend taking out one-dollar bills to have handy on you if you’re going to buy things.

A good rule of thumb to avoid the vendors if you don’t want to buy anything is to just not make eye contact and keep walking. They may walk with you but if you never look their way and say nothing they’ll give up and go onto the next tourist.

Quality Accommodations

Our tour had us set aboard the M/S Mojito for the Nile River Cruise. Rooms were spread out among the four levels and relaxing on the top deck was a perfect way to the spend the afternoon thanks to smooth sailing.

It’s going to be hard to top watching the sunset over the Nile River from the top deck. Make sure to have your camera ready for some amazing pictures – no filter needed. If you’re able to, book the river cruise around the full moon for a superb view of the night’s sky.

Central Holidays also operates the M/S Sonesta Moon Goddess and M/S Sonesta Nile Goddess, both of which are their most luxurious ships.

In Cairo, we stayed at the JW Marriott Cairo one night and the Renaissance Cairo Mirage City Hotel. You really get the most bang for your buck at these lavish properties that feature stunning rooms, numerous restaurants full of flavor, swanky pools, and so much more.

The Renaissance Cairo was definitely more modern, and we were told it’s the go-to spot for some famous soccer players when in town, whereas the JW Marriott Cairo was quite posh and even featured an 18-hole golf course.

Egypt is a magical destination with many wonders to discover. Contact your travel agent to experience it first hand with Central Holidays at terrific rates.