What followed was the most extraordinary journey I have ever taken: three intense nights in Cairo, a luxury Nile cruise on board Alexander the Great, and a blissful beach finale in Hurghada. It was equal parts history lesson, fitness challenge, foodie adventure and digital detox.

Here is my story, along with some honest tips I wish I had known before I went.

Cairo: Meeting the Legends of Giza

We began with three nights in Cairo, and from the very first day I felt as if I had walked straight into a childhood daydream.

Our first full excursion took us out to the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx. I had seen them in a thousand photographs, but nothing prepares you for the moment they appear on the horizon, rising out of the desert haze. Up close, they are immense, ancient and strangely moving.

Just standing in front of them was not enough for us. We decided to go inside.

Descending Into the Pyramids

To reach the inner chambers, you do not glide down some grand staircase; you crawl.

Inside the Red Pyramid, we descended around 65 metres down a narrow, sloping passageway with low headroom. For what felt like 20 minutes, we shuffled and “crab walked” in a crouched position, bent almost double, slowly making our way into the heart of the structure.

By the time we reached the bottom, my quads, hamstrings and glutes were on fire. It took me straight back to the days when Leanne used to make us do those sideways crab walks in class. After two days of this, plus endless steps around the sites, we could barely walk.

It was exhausting and slightly claustrophobic, but also unforgettable. How often do you literally climb inside a 4,000‑plus‑year‑old wonder of the world?

The Grand Egyptian Museum, Saqqara & Memphis: Overwhelmed in the Best Way

Cairo was not just about Giza. Our itinerary also included the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) and the older pyramids at Saqqara and Memphis.

The GEM was one of the most impressive museums I have ever visited. Because we were there during Ramadan, everything closed early and we only had two hours inside. At first I was disappointed, but I quickly realised it was probably for the best.

Room after room of incredible artefacts, statues, sarcophagi and jewellery: it was almost too much beauty and history to absorb. After a while my brain simply could not take in any more.

I left feeling two things at once: completely overwhelmed and absolutely certain I need to go back for a longer visit. It is stunning, and two hours was just a tantalising first taste.

At Saqqara and Memphis, away from the main crowds, I started to see the evolution of pyramid building: earlier stepped forms, smaller structures and hints of the engineering genius that would later produce the giants at Giza. It added an extra layer of understanding to everything I had seen.

By the time we left Cairo to join our cruise, I was physically tired, mentally buzzing and completely in love with Egypt already.

Afloat on History: Cruising the Nile on Alexander the Great

Boarding our Nile cruise ship, Alexander the Great, felt like a deep exhale after the intensity of Cairo. One moment we were in traffic and dust, the next we were gliding along a ribbon of water lined with palm trees and tiny villages.

The Nile has a quiet, timeless magic. As we sailed, I watched small boats drift past, children playing on the banks, and the desert shimmering just beyond the green strip of fertile land. It was like watching a moving painting.

My Floating Home

Our cabin on Alexander the Great exceeded every expectation I had of a river cruise room:

• It was spacious rather than merely “compact”
• The furnishings felt high‑end, comfortable and well maintained
• The housekeeping was immaculate, with a different piece of towel art on the bed each evening

Those little towel animals still make me smile when I think about them. After long, hot days exploring temples and tombs, coming back to that calm, cool space felt like such a treat.

Life on Deck

Days on board quickly developed a rhythm:

• Mornings and afternoons spent ashore on guided excursions
• Lounging by the pool on the top deck between trips
• Sundowner drinks as the sky deepened into shades of rose and gold
• Conversations with other guests, most in the 50 to 60 age range, all just as thrilled to be there as we were

The staff were wonderful: warm, attentive and genuinely keen to make sure everyone was comfortable. I found people throughout Egypt to be very kind and friendly, and on the ship this was especially true. I always felt safe, looked after and listened to.

Dining as a Daily Highlight

Food on board Alexander the Great was outstanding. As vegetarians who also eat fish, we can sometimes feel like an afterthought, but this was not the case here.

We were really spoilt with:

• Beautifully prepared dishes with plenty of variety
• Specially created vegetarian and fish options tailored to us
• Staff who checked in to make sure we were happy and satisfied

It felt less like being “catered for” and more like being genuinely looked after.

Evenings brought a mix of entertainment, laughter and relaxed socialising. It never felt forced or cheesy, just good‑natured fun and a lovely way to round off each day.

Luxor, Aswan & Abu Simbel: Walking Through a Living Museum

Our cruise took us along one of the most remarkable stretches of river anywhere in the world, from Luxor to Aswan, with some of ancient Egypt’s biggest stars en route.

The Valley of the Kings

Luxor greeted us with sunnier skies and slightly higher temperatures. The real showstopper there was the Valley of the Kings.

Nothing quite compares to stepping down into those tombs, surrounded by vivid colours and intricate carvings that have survived for thousands of years. The atmosphere is powerful: part sacred, part surreal, and entirely awe‑inspiring.

Our guide made all the difference. He did not just recite dates and names; he told stories. By the end, I felt as if I had actually met some of the pharaohs he described.

Aswan & The Magic of Abu Simbel

Further south, Aswan had a softer, more languid feel. The light seemed warmer, the river a little wider, and the pace more relaxed. We visited impressive riverside temples and watched traditional feluccas gliding across the water.

But our small‑plane day trip to Abu Simbel was the moment I had secretly been waiting for.

Standing in front of those colossal statues carved into the rock, with their calm, inscrutable faces and towering presence, I felt very small and very lucky. You read about Abu Simbel for years, but seeing it in person, and learning how the entire complex was moved to save it from the waters of Lake Nasser, is something else entirely.

By this point in the journey, my camera roll was overflowing, my legs were tired every evening, and my mind was full of new stories and impressions. It was exactly what I had hoped Egypt would be.

Hurghada: The Beachside Exhale

After all the early starts, walking, climbing and absorbing layer upon layer of history, our final stop was Hurghada on the Red Sea.

This was the perfect ending:

• Warm sunshine and glittering water
• Time to sit with a book and a cool drink and do very little
• Space to reflect on everything we had experienced along the Nile and in Cairo

It felt less like “just a beach stay” and more like a necessary exhale after such an intense and enriching trip.

My Honest Tips for Travelling in Egypt

I would do this trip again in a heartbeat and recommend it to anyone, but there are a few things I wish I had known in advance. Here are my real‑world tips for fellow Egypt travellers.

1. Wi‑Fi: Expect a Digital Detox

Let me be honest: Wi‑Fi in Egypt can be a nightmare.

At our hotel, it was intermittent. On the cruise, it was limited. The airport was actually where I had the strongest connection.

If you are used to being constantly online, this can be a shock, so I would recommend:

• Downloading books, music, podcasts and maps before you travel
• Letting family and friends know you might go quiet for stretches of time
• Reframing it as a digital detox rather than a frustration

Once I stopped fighting it, the lack of constant connectivity became one of the unexpected gifts of the trip.

2. Safety & The People

I know some people are nervous about travelling to Egypt. Personally, I felt safe throughout.

People were:

• Very kind and welcoming
• Knowledgeable and professional, especially our guides
• Happy to share their history and culture

Of course, you should use common sense as you would anywhere, but I never felt uneasy or unsafe.

3. Tipping Culture: Be Prepared

The area that took the most getting used to was tipping. It is a big part of daily life and can feel relentless if you are not expecting it.

You may be asked or expected to tip when:

• Someone opens or holds a door
• Someone takes your shoes in a mosque
• You show interest in a camel, even from a distance

If you do not give what is considered enough, you might find a hand held out a little longer.

My advice:

• Carry plenty of small notes every day
• Accept tipping as part of the cultural fabric rather than taking it personally
• Decide on a rough daily tipping budget so you do not feel constantly caught off guard

Once I adjusted my mindset and came prepared, it felt much easier to navigate.

4. Dress Code: Respectful & Practical

For women, I recommend:

• Avoiding shorts and low‑cut tops on sightseeing days
• Covering shoulders and knees, especially in religious and more conservative areas

For both men and women:

• A floppy, wide‑brimmed hat is essential. The sun is strong even when the temperature feels comfortable.
• Soft trainers are your best friend. The ground is often uneven and sandy, with lots of steps and slopes, so leave delicate shoes at home.

Comfortable, respectful clothing made a big difference to how relaxed I felt.

5. Weather: Layer Up

When we travelled, the weather was:

• Chilly in the mornings and evenings, so I was very glad of a jumper or light jacket
• Around 22–23 degrees in the daytime, which was ideal for sightseeing
• A few degrees hotter in Luxor than in Cairo

The sun is bright and it is easy to burn even when it does not feel particularly hot, so sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses are non‑negotiable.

6. Food & Avoiding Tummy Troubles

The food in Egypt was good, and we were looked after extremely well on the cruise, but you do need to be careful if you are prone to an upset stomach.

A few things I noticed:

• Ice is often added automatically to drinks, so ask specifically for no ice if you are worried about water quality
• Salads can look very tempting, but you might want to focus on hot, freshly cooked dishes instead
• Stick to bottled water, even for brushing your teeth if you are sensitive

I would absolutely recommend packing some tried‑and‑tested stomach medication. It is much better to have it and not need it than the other way around.

7. Fitness & Mobility: Egypt Is Active

Even if you are reasonably fit, Egypt at this level is more physical than you might expect:

• Lots of walking on uneven ground
• Many steps, ramps and slopes
• Tight, low‑ceilinged passages inside pyramids

After descending 65 metres inside the Red Pyramid and climbing up and down countless stairs at various sites, my muscles were burning.

If you have any mobility, knee or back issues, I would strongly suggest discussing the level of activity before you go and choosing your excursions carefully. This is a trip that rewards a bit of stamina.

A Journey I Would Recommend to Anyone

Looking back, this trip was everything I had hoped Egypt would be and more:

• The legendary sights of Cairo, Giza, Saqqara and Memphis
• The overwhelming beauty of the Grand Egyptian Museum
• A luxurious, friendly Nile cruise on Alexander the Great, with wonderful staff, superb food and a spacious cabin I genuinely loved returning to each day
• The spellbinding Valley of the Kings, the serene beauty of Aswan and the unforgettable majesty of Abu Simbel
• A peaceful, sun‑drenched finale by the Red Sea in Hurghada

It was a beautifully planned, deeply enriching journey that turned a long‑held dream into reality. My legs may have ached and my Wi‑Fi may have vanished, but my heart was full and my mind was blown, in the very best possible way.

If Egypt has ever been on your bucket list, I can say this with confidence: go.

Uli has been invaluable in helping us create our bespoke Egypt bucket list adventure, with back up throughout our holiday.