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Egypt

Ancient Egyptians believed that upon death they would be asked two questions and their answers would determine whether they could continue their journey in the afterlife. The first question was “Did you bring joy?” the second was “Did you find joy?”

Leo Buscaglia

I expected to hate Egypt. It’s not that I can’t handle a crowded chaotic city or a few difficult travel days. I was told the country was hard to love. That it was choked with tourists on double-decker buses shuttling them from the cruise ship docks to the temple steps. I was told that Egypt was expensive & that everyone I meet would try thier damndest to rip me off.

And while some of this was undoubtedly true, I also uncovered a spectacular country filled with ancient wonders and friendly people. I drank endless cups of tea, hiked in the desert through my history books, and fell in love with Egypt. It may not be an easy place to travel, but it’s worthy of your time and a place on your Bucketlist.

Egypt Travel Guide

Recommended Cities: Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Dahab, Siwa, Abu Simbel.

One Bucketlist Item You Cannot Miss: The most underrated destination in all of Egypt is its Red Sea coastline. Snorkeling the crystal clear waters near the Blue Hole in Dahab is worthy of any Bucketlist.

Things to Consider Before You Go: Scams are rampant in Egypt. It’s actually a very difficult place to independently travel. That being said– don’t join one of the carefully orchestrated group tours that plague the country. Just read my blog post on avoiding scams in Egypt instead.

Bring Your Student ID. Or get a fake one. It will save you 50% on all entrance fees in the country. AKA hundreds of dollars.

Recommended Minimum Trip Length: 3 weeks. If you only plan to visit the Nile Cities (Cairo, Luxor, & Aswan) you can easily get away with 10 days to 2 weeks.  

Expected Backpacker Budget

On a Shoestring: $30/day 

Flashpacker: $40/day 

Backpacker Luxury: $60/day

Keep in mind these are backpacker budgets. On a shoestring expect to be eating street food, sleeping in hostel beds, & using student cards to get into the tourist attractions. Backpacker Luxury opts for private rooms, eats mostly in restaurants, and splurges on activities. Flashpackers are the middle ground & often do a mixture of both.  

Egypt is perfect for travelers looking for ancient temples, desert scenery, & idyllic beaches.

Egypt Blog Posts