What to do in Cairo, Luxor and Aswan?

Cairo & Giza

You almost always begin with the capital, between din and wonders. Allow at least two days to breathe between the sites.

• The pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, ideally at sunrise.
• The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) and the Tutankhamun treasure finally reunited.
• The Citadel of Saladin and the alabaster Mosque of Mohamed Ali.
• The maze of the Khan El-Khalili bazaar, mint tea in hand.

Luxor, the greatest open-air museum

Ancient Thebes packs a density of monuments found nowhere else, on both banks of the Nile.

• The temples of Karnak and Luxor, linked by the avenue of sphinxes.
• The Valley of the Kings and its painted tombs, including Tutankhamun's.
• The Temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon, on the west bank.
• The hot-air balloon flight at sunrise, unforgettable.

Aswan & Abu Simbel

Further south, the Nile slows between the islands. Aswan is the gentlest of Egypt's big cities, and the gateway to Nubia.

• The Temple of Philae, set on its island, dedicated to Isis.
• A felucca ride at sunset between the islands.
• The colourful Nubian village and the Aga Khan mausoleum.
• The trip to the colossi of Abu Simbel, on the shore of Lake Nasser.

And to unwind: the Red Sea

After the temples, many travellers extend with a few days of downtime and snorkelling. Hurghada is just a three-hour drive from Luxor: the perfect transition for a gentle finish.