March is the best time of year to visit
ALEXANDER
Recommended sites by Ottawa Uber driver:
- Alexandria Bibliotheca
- Alexandria Underwater Archaeological Museum
- Greco-Roman Museum, Al Mesallah Sharq, Al Attarin, Alexandria Governorate 5372053
- Citadel of Qaitbay
AL HARAM
The Grand Egyptian Museum, Cairo - Alexandria Desert Rd, Kafr Nassar, Al Haram, Giza Governorate 3513204
- The Grand Egyptian Museum’s Astonishing Arrival by A.J. Goldmann, WSJ, November 5, 2025
EL ALAMEIN
- 106 km west of Alexander
LUXOR
- Ancient Thebes
- Luxor Temple
- Karnak
- Avenue of Sphinxes
- Located 105 kilometers west of Alexandria
- Sail from Aswan to Luxor over 6 days
- Seen on Globetrekker "Tough Boats of Egypt"
- Seen on "Cooks Abroad"
- The model for the ship used in the 2022 movie "Death on the Nile"
- Recommended Uniworld cruise
- Sail from Cairo to Cairo over 12 days
- From Exodus Travels
- Includes El Alamein
- 13 days
- Smithsonian Journeys
- Jordan is a possible extension
It’s almost here: After more than a decade of construction — to say nothing of the hype — the Grand Egyptian Museum may finally open, just a stone’s throw from the Great Pyramids of Giza, this spring. What to expect? More than 1 million square feet of exhibition space, treasures including a 40-foot-high statue of Ramses II, outdoor gardens, and an expansive plaza from which visitors can take in the desert surroundings. Meanwhile, a number of new and luxurious ships have started sailing the Nile: Among the best choices are the Viking Osiris, an all-veranda vessel carrying 82 passengers, and the opulent Sphinx from Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, which has 42 cabins swathed in marble and hand-carved wood, with beds dressed in fine Egyptian cotton sheets. The hotel scene is also, thankfully, getting a refresh with a new Mandarin Oriental slated for downtown Cairo in 2024; the forthcoming 200-room Four Seasons Hotel Luxor is scheduled to debut in 2025 — not that you should wait that long to see the ancient Valley of the Kings. — John Wogan, Travel & Leisure, January 2023
- Recommended by someone I met in Israel
Samarah
- Used by Bettany Hughes in "The Nile"
- 8-day Nile cruise
- Used by Joanna Lumley's in "Nile"
- Near Valley of the Kings
- Visited by Bettany Hughes in "The Nile"
A Nile Journey Guided by 19th-Century Women by Michelle Green
- Uses Real Egypt
Cairo and the Nile
It’s almost here: After more than a decade of construction — to say nothing of the hype — the Grand Egyptian Museum may finally open, just a stone’s throw from the Great Pyramids of Giza, this spring. What to expect? More than 1 million square feet of exhibition space, treasures including a 40-foot-high statue of Ramses II, outdoor gardens, and an expansive plaza from which visitors can take in the desert surroundings. Meanwhile, a number of new and luxurious ships have started sailing the Nile: Among the best choices are the Viking Osiris, an all-veranda vessel carrying 82 passengers, and the opulent Sphinx from Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, which has 42 cabins swathed in marble and hand-carved wood, with beds dressed in fine Egyptian cotton sheets. The hotel scene is also, thankfully, getting a refresh with a new Mandarin Oriental slated for downtown Cairo in 2024; the forthcoming 200-room Four Seasons Hotel Luxor is scheduled to debut in 2025 — not that you should wait that long to see the ancient Valley of the Kings. — John Wogan, Travel & Liesure, 2023
GOLF
Contact the club in advance: Gezira Sporting Club opened in 1882 and while it’s not fancy or heavily manicured like most of Egypt’s modern residential/resort courses, it is situated on an island in the Nile which makes it a way cooler story for the intrepid golfer. Also try the Tim Lobb-designed NEWGIZA Golf Club, about five miles from the Pyramids.
Go online or just show up: Greg Norman built a highly thought of course at The Allegria Golf Club, about 20 miles due west of Cairo, but it’s part of a huge residential development and there are just too many houses about for our liking. Try Katameya Dunes instead. Opened in 2010, it was designed by Nick Faldo together with Lee Schmidt and Brian Curley who took a leaf out of Shadow Creek’s book by transforming a largely flat, rocky desert into a lush golf course.
From Alexa on March 10, 2026:
Here's a list of fascinating ancient Egyptian sites you might want to explore:
- Pyramids of Giza - The iconic Great Pyramid, Khafre's Pyramid, and Menkaure's Pyramid
- Valley of the Kings - Royal tombs including Tutankhamun's
- Karnak Temple Complex - Massive temple dedicated to Amun-Ra
- Luxor Temple - Stunning temple with colossal statues
- Abu Simbel - Remote temples carved into rock
- Saqqara - Step Pyramid and Serapeum
- Abydos - Temple of Seti I and Osireion
- Edfu - Well-preserved Temple of Horus
- Kom Ombo - Unique double temple
- Philae Temple - Island temple dedicated to Isis
These sites span Egypt's rich history from the Old Kingdom through the Ptolemaic period. Each offers unique insights into ancient Egyptian culture, religion, and architecture.
