© 2035 by The Clinic. Powered and secured by Wix
CAIRO
SOMMAIRE
Egypt is a country where history has played a significant role in shaping the world and its evolution. The Egyptian civilization is well-known and recognized for its scientific, cultural, architectural, and linguistic expertise, which continue to radiate across the world. The remnants of all this knowledge are a treasure for humanity.
94% of the country is covered by desert, so nearly all of its 110 million inhabitants are concentrated along the banks of the Nile, from the Mediterranean Sea down to Sudan
The river and its cities can be divided into three segments: paradoxically, "Lower Egypt" in the north of the country up to Cairo, "Middle Egypt" in the center, and "Upper Egypt" in the south, starting from Luxor
Egypt is a magnificent country offering endless opportunities for exploration, whether you enjoy adventurous desert trips, comfortable cruises on the Nile, urban exploration of cities, or simply relaxing on the beaches of the Red Sea.
Before you go ....
Language : Arabic
Currency : Egyptian Pound
Flight time (from Paris) : approx. 4 hours
Time difference (from Paris) : +1 hour
Documents (from France) : A valid passport for travel and a visa, which can be purchased on arrival (approx. €25)
Basic vocabulary:
-
Hello ...................... Salam aleykoum
-
Thank you .............. Chukran
-
Yes ................. Yes
-
No ................ No
-
Good bye........ Good bye
ITINERARY
Egypt is wide, with many cities worth visiting. The itinerary can range from 5 days to 3 weeks, depending on your pace, interests, and budget. At minimum:
LUXOR (2 days): the most historical
ABOU SIMBEL (1 day): the most spectacular
CAIRO (2 days): the most authentic
Luxor and Cairo are classics. Abou Simbel is difficult to access and almost exclusively focused on the Temple of Ramses II. If you're less interested in ancient monuments, the day trip from Luxor to Abou Simbel could be replaced with a visit to Alexandria from Cairo.
CAIRO
In northern Egypt, the city of Cairo, the country’s capital, contains in its heart some of the oldest Islamic cities, once again listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Around 20 million inhabitants enjoy a vibrant and organized chaos where the souks bustle with life, minarets resonate, traffic is intense, and culture shines brightly.
Cairo, Al Qahira, the victorious, takes root on the banks of the Nile and spread over 3,700 km².
Downtown Cairo, the city center district, is characterized by wide boulevards, green public parks, and Haussmann-style architecture, kind of like Paris.
To the west, in the ancient necropolis of Memphis, the Giza Plateau is world famous for carrying the last visible wonder of the ancient world : the Pyramid of Khufu.
THE SOUK KHAN AL KHALILI
In the heart of the city next to Al Azhar Mosque, this old souk wind through small stone alleys. Here you can find everything, from made in China items to Egyptian handcrafts. Early morning, the crowd fills the commercial streets in a lively, buzzing atmosphere. Many small cafés and restaurants line the bazaar, offering a well-deserved break after your shopping.
THE KINGS VALLEY (West Bank)
Although the museum displays treasures of Egyptian civilization, it is a little neglected (display cases aren’t cleaned, papyri are pinned, etc.). It has suffered from the construction of the new Cairo museum, which is gradually absorbing its collections.
However, the museum’s richness and history make it well worth a visit, especially for Tutankhamun’s treasure and his famous funerary mask, which remains forbidden to photograph. (Entrance: 550 LE, approx. €11)
Since 2012, the government began building the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), inaugurated on July 3rd, 2025 after a long wait and many delays. It will be the largest museum in the world dedicated to Egyptian civilization and likely the most beautiful in the country. Eventually, the entire Tutankhamun collection will be moved there.
THE CITADEL SALADIN AND
THE MOSQUE MOHAMMED ALI PACHA
The mosque was ordered by Muhammad Ali Pasha in 1830, inspired by Istanbul’s Blue Mosque.
This esplanade of the Saladin Citadel offers a wide and beautiful view over Cairo. The cascade of domes and the two minarets, reaching 85 meters high, are visible from everywhere in the city. The walls are entirely covered in Egyptian marble, alabaster. Inside the courtyard stands the ablution fountain, surrounded by colonnaded galleries carved in marble.
The architectural style is very organic, suggesting the shapes of Aphrodite’s shell, bundles of papyrus, and lotus flowers, all inspired by nature.
Inside the mosque, the emerald-green domes are carved from wood. A breathtaking masterpiece that will leave you with a stiff neck from looking up. (Entrance: 550 LE, approx. €11)
THE SAQQARAH COMPLEX
The site of Saqqara is a major complex for understanding Egyptian civilization. Tombs of pharaohs and princesses stand side by side, offering valuable insight into daily life in ancient Egypt. It is part of the larger Memphite necropolis, stretching from northern Giza to the borders of Fayoum.
Saqqara contains numerous mastabas and pyramids, some even older than those of Giza. This history-rich site is constantly studied and excavated by archaeologist teams who make new discoveries daily.
The Step Pyramid is the main monument of the site, built by the architect Imhotep for Pharaoh Djoser. He is believed to be the first to construct a funerary building of this kind.
The mastaba of Iddut, an Egyptian princess, contains beautifully preserved paintings depicting daily scenes of fishing and hunting.
This beautiful site is well worth visiting, far less crowded than Giza but just as impressive and well preserved. The complex is accessible by car; entrance is 600 LE (approx. €12).
A mastaba is a rectangular, flat-roofed structure, while a pyramid has a generally square base with triangular faces converging at a summit. Simply put: one is built like a cone, the other is a stack of flat stones. For some, the pyramid represents an evolution of the mastaba, symbolizing the pharaoh’s spiritual and divine ascension.
Just a few minutes away by car lies the open-air museum of Memphis, former capital of the Old Kingdom. The site notably includes a 9-meter-long statue of Ramses II.
THE GIZEH COMPLEX
Historically, the complex was built as a burial site for pharaohs. Today, it is a world-famous archaeological site—probably the most famous of all—attracting millions of tourists from across the globe. These immense monuments still testify to the ingenuity and architectural mastery of the ancient Egyptians, 4,500 years before our era.
The site, steeped in mystery and legends, is composed of three pyramids: Khufu, the best-known; Khafre; and Menkaure. Their size and construction follow a genealogical order: Khufu the grandfather, Khafre the son, and Menkaure the grandson.
Khufu is the most famous because it is the last of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World still standing. In archival images, it appears dazzling white with a golden capstone. Today, that casing has entirely disappeared, and only the raw blocks remain, reducing its original height from about 146 meters to 138 meters.
Access to the site, without entering the pyramids, costs 600 LE (approx. €11).
Many things are said about the mysterious Khufu pyramid: 122,000 men may have been needed to build it; it may point to the North Star; it is said to be closely linked to the number Pi, a symbol of mathematical perfection; the construction may have lasted 22 years, etc. A true marvel of mystery and grandeur. Following my guide’s advice, I didn’t find it worthwhile to visit the interior, and personally found the site more beautiful from afar than at the bottom of the pyramids—but it remains an unmissable experience.
THE NILE
The Nile is Egypt’s emblematic river; it was a guiding force in the country’s development. Its floods fertilized the land with nutrient-rich silt, crucial for nurturing a prosperous civilization in the middle of the desert. The river was also an essential transportation route, linking the cities of Upper and Lower Egypt. It also connected several African countries and ultimately flowed into the Mediterranean, allowing Egyptian civilization to shine globally for millennia.
Stretching over 6,650 km, it crosses diverse landscapes—from dense cities to desert to lush countryside. Cruises along the Nile are very popular and offer magnificent, varied scenery.
In Cairo, a ride on the Nile offers views of the monuments, often aboard a felucca or a dahabiya, the traditional Egyptian boats that are among the few allowed to sail on the river.
Our boat tour was included in our package; generally, it is possible to find one from around €12.
All these visits took place over two days with our guide Ali, a passionate Egyptologist and French speaker. He taught us everything and helped us discover the capital in total peace of mind. I highly recommend him—don’t hesitate to contact him to discover his offers: +20 112 258 0058 / his Tripadvisor page.
To go further ...
-
The city of LOUXOR : To explore valley of the kings
-
Red Sea coast : To dive among coral reefs
-
The city of Alexandria : To hear the sirens of the port
-
Nile cruise : To sail on a dahabiya
-
Aswan : To visit its colorful village
TO SLEEP
This hotel is conveniently located near the airport. Its main strength lies in the views it offers: from the restaurant overlooking the pyramids and from the rooftop over the city and the Nile. Its rooftop pool is also very pleasant.
