With so much to see in Egypt, there are some places that just don’t make cut when tours are curated. These are 12 must see places in Egypt the organized tours skip. Why? Because they are either too far off the beaten track or deemed not important enough for a visit. But what are you missing? Where don’t these organized tours take you?
Whatever brought you to take on Egypt, make sure you go in informed. You may have heard about the amazing sites, the history, or the cheap food and accommodations. But is it better to explore Egypt on your own or with a group tour?
A group tour means that you don’t have to worry about the stress of planning. You will have a guide most of the time who speaks the language. A guide who provides tips along the way for haggling, where to eat, and the best spots for photos. Your inside man to an unknown country. Egypt is hectic, chaotic, and fast paced. So, this is a big plus.
But there are some downsides to an organized tour. You are often rushed through sites. This means you don’t get to spend enough time on a visit. Especially people like us who like to read everything in museums. Your limited time isn’t just at sites, but within each city, especially Cairo. Cairo is the group trip starting point with only 2 stops here, the Egyptian Museum, and the Pyramids of Giza. If your lucky, your trip has a ½ day of free time for you to explore on your own. Its very rare to spend more than 2 days in Cairo, including free time. Cairo is a city that leaves you with sensory overload and its often a lot for foreigners to handle. As a result, group trips move on quickly after seeing the top sites.
Many cities or remote activities are also skipped because of time or group interests. In Egypt. These tend to be Siwa Oaisis, White Desert Camping, Dahab, Hurgahada and Sharm el Shiek. All places we wanted to see. So, these group trips looked less appealing. Are these places you want to see?
Organized tours can be very costly. A tour of Egypt is on par with many cross-country European trips for the same duration. $3100-$3400 per person for about 15 days. Food and accommodations were cheep in Egypt, so we weren’t sure what had the price so high for group tours. We didn’t see the connection. These are not all-inclusive trips. We knew that extra food and attraction costs would increase the overall price. We didn’t see the value.
We were ready to spend 30 Days in Egypt. So, this would have double the cost of an Egypt visit. 30 days is the length of time the Entry Visa for Canadians permit. Our goal was to see all these places and do it for a good price. So, a tour was off the table.
We opted to take the harder route and do Egypt on our own. This enabled us to see and do what we wanted at our own pace. But we then wouldn’t receive any group discounts. We would need to hire a private guide if we wanted to learn about the sites. We were up for the challenge, as we were determined to keep costs low, see what we wanted, and travel at our own pace. The joy of a location is ruined for us when were rushed. So, we were game to eliminate the chances of being rushed along. This would enable us to see much more than if we opted for a group tour.
Here are 12 things we would have missed if we were on a group tour.
1. Siwa Oaisis
It is not part of group tours because of its remote location. We took a 10–12-hour bus ride to get here. Getting here requires dedication. Its an overnight long bus journey from Alexandria or form Cairo. No flights are available, and driving requires military check points. The safest way is via public bus. We don’t recommend driving.
Why go here? We first became aware of Siwa when it was the backdrop for the Assassins Creed Origins video game. We were ecstatic to see that this place existed. A city made of mud with a fortress, oracle temple, salt pools, sand dunes and more was unlike anything we had ever seen. It was our favorite stop of the entire trip.
They had the nicest people and the best tasting chicken. We loved to swim in salt pools for the first time. Seeing the location of Alexander the Greats coronation was historical. While staying in a traditional mud fortress was a blast but cold experience. This should be your top choice of what to do when in Egypt.
2. The Bent, Red, and Step Pyramids
These are often skipped because of the time needed to explore them. They are about 40 km from Cairo and have a separate entrance fee per site. A full day is needed to see all three and most tours don’t have a full day to spare. Which is why they are skipped.
I am so glad we took the time for a visit. There are less crowds here than at the great pyramids which makes it more of an enjoyable experience. There will only be a handful of visitors there at the same time as you. Sometimes you will even get it to yourself.
The Step Pyramid has a grand well light interior. Once in, the walk is short. The Red Pyramid is filled with bats and the smell that comes with them. After you climb the tall staircase, you will be hit with the smell. The area is spacious in comparison to the great pyramids. While the Bent Pyramid has a narrow path to its interior. It has the smallest passageway of the 3 pyramids. This is not a pyramid you want to go into if small spaces worry you.
You will need to start your day early to ensure you have enough time for all 3 visits. We didn’t stop for lunch, and we still ran out of time near the end.
3. Valley of the Nobels
The Valley of the Nobels is a tomb complex that has been carved in the side of the rock on the west bank of the Nile. The tombs are dedicated to Egyptian nobles. This includes priests, governors, and other people of influence. There are over 500 tombs here and there are more still being uncovered to this day.
Here was where we got to speak to an Egyptian archaeologist and see some of the prettiest tombs. Active digs still happen in this area but not all tombs are open to visitors. You will most likely have these tombs that depict everyday life, to yourself.
This area is often overlooked by tourists and organized trips alike. That is because its has less historical importance than the royal tombs. Don’t let this be a reason to skip this place that will make a memorable impression. Sennofer tomb 96 is my favorite with its many ceiling designs. Especially the section that looks like vines of grapes. Ramose tomb 55 is though the most popular with its raised relief hieroglyphs.
4. Deir el-Medina (Valley of the Workers)
Deir el-Medina is also known as the Valley of the Workers. Or the Tombs of the Artisans.
This is where you can find the tombs of those who built and protected the Valley of the Kings and Queens. The site also contains the only village ever found on the west side of the Nile. However, in ruins, it was the only inhabited area of the west bank. It was located here to better protect the royal tombs. These villagers were isolated, and they couldn’t speak to people on the east bank of the river. This was to protect the secret location of the royal tombs.
Inside the tombs is small and you must crawl through most passageways to get around. The walls here are colourful and in great condition. But the glare from the poorly placed lights can be annoying. These tombs get few visitors because they are of lower importance than the royal tombs. The small space inside also makes a visit of more than a few people impossible. Which has led to it being kept of the itinerary for organized tours. This visit was a memorable stop that we would have been upset to miss. Make sure to make time for a visit. So you can see the history of who created some of the most elaborate and important tombs in human history. See the photo above.
5. Hurghada, Egypt
Hurghada is a beach resort town along the western coast of the red sea. You can get here by a bus from Luxor or by flight from all major Egyptian cities. It’s known for its red sea diving. Its also a departure point for muli-day dive tours.
We spent 2 nights here. We had an entire day on a boat, snorkeling with water activities, beach time and lunch. All for $25, it was totally worth it. We also checked out the aquarium and spent some time on the beach. Keep in mind that most of the beaches are private and will need you to rent a lounger for access. To avoid this rent a place that has beach access included. Hurghada is well priced and is the best place to access to the red sea in western Egypt.
This area is considered out of the way for many visitors who are limited to a one or two week stay. Tours don’t include this stop and will often miss a visit to the red sea all together. By skipping the tours, you can get here and enjoy the colourful fish that call the red sea home. The further you can get from the coast the clearer the water is and the better it is to spot fish. A stop here is worth your time.
6. Dahab, Egypt
Dahab is Egypt’s hipster town on the northeast side of the Red Sea. Its where you can dive, snorkel, or wind surf. Where you can hike canyons and mountains. Where you can take camel, horse, or jeep safaris along the coast or through the desert. Most organized trips skip Dahab, meaning you don’t get to swim at the Blue Hole or hike Mount Sinai. Both must do things. This stop was the furthest east in Egypt we went in 30 days. We were grateful that we decided to take the longer trek and the added internal flight to get here.
Make sure to give yourself enough time to see all the good snorkeling spots and do some hiking. We were disappointed that we had not given ourselves enough time. So, a return visit was needed before we even left.
7. Alexandria Catacombs
The catacombs in Alexandria are an underground labyrinth. Made up of subterranean passageways that housed the dead. The interior decorations show influence of Egyptian, Greek and Roman empires.
You can see huge stone sarcophagi, burial chambers cut into the rock, Ornate Tomb chambers and a spiral atrium ramp on a visit. The spiral ramp is the path that leads visitors to explore the 3 underground levels.
A visit here is still possible if you get free time in Alexandria with any group tour. It is only a short uber ride to get here from the city center.
Why do so many tours skip the Alexandria Catacombs? Stops in Alexandria will focus on visits to 3 places. The Citadel of Qaitbay, Alexandria National Museum and the Alexandria Bibliotheca. Tours usually last 1-2 days here and don’t provide visitors free time to explore more of the city.
We enjoyed our first-time seeing catacombs. We were impressed by the unexpected interior decoration and large sarcophagi. To see how bodies were once stored was eye opening. If you are in Alexandria, make sure to stop here and get a bit off the beaten path.
8. Marriott Mena House
Organized group tours include low priced boutique hotels or low-priced basic chain hotels. Staying at the Mena House isn’t in the budget for such tours. This hotel is one of the best in Egypt and it is reasonably priced for what you get. The grounds are expansive, the pool large and most rooms have the best view in the country. I loved the historical photos around the property of the site being built. This is a place to stay that is full of history.
We took some time to relax at the iconic hotel overlooking the Pyramids. We used Marriott Bonvoy points to make this stay free for us. We didn’t leave the resort for 2 days. We toured the grounds and swam all day in their pool. We had an amazing breakfast buffet in their gardens with the same view. There is an included snack time with a membership. It wasn’t great but we managed to have enough for dinner each night. The pyramid ticket office is a short walk from the hotel entrance. Being this close to a world wonder won’t be forgotten. Don’t forget to take many pictures, this place is so photogenic. We don’t often splurge on things, but this was an affordable splurge that I would recommend. Even at full price. Yet free was better.
9. Esna Temple
Why is this temple skipped? No one asks about it. Most people don’t even know it exists. This temple is unheard of by most English-speaking tourists. Its along the Nile River and tucked inside of a small village. Most people float down the Nile not knowing that it’s there. Even passing the Esna lock. So organized tours as a result haven’t added it to tour itineraries.
This temple is skipped unless you are on a German targeted Nile cruise. The Germans always ask for this temple so cruises who cater to Germans make sure to stop here. The Germans know what’s up. This place is a gem. Any visit here will have your cruise dock just before passing through the Esna lock. If you pass through the lock this stop is not included in your cruise.
The excavated section you can visit is small. That’s because the rest of the temple is under the city, excavating it would mean the destruction of the city. Once docked the temple is quite easy to get to with a short walk. The temple pillars have so much colour. During our visit restoration work to restore colours was happening. So, we can’t wait to see how much better it becomes after all the work is complete.
The Hypostyle Hall is the most striking part of the temple. It has 24 pillars, each with different colourful designs. The temple is dedicated to many gods which include Khnum, Neith, Heka, Menhet and more. Try to find the posted images of when the temple was not fully excavated. Then you can see the pillar tops sticking out of the ground. How cool it must have been to stand next to the pillar tops.
10. Ramesseum (Mortuary Temple of Ramses II)
Ramesseum temple is the mortuary temple of Ramses II located on the west bank near Luxor. It was created shortly after Ramses II became pharaoh. It served as a religious, political, and administrative office. The temple is not in great shape. Large chunks have fallen off and cracked over the years. This is because the annual flooding of the Nile weakened the temples foundation. The temple’s location was not hidden as it was designed for grandeur. Christians later moved in to the abandoned space. It was used as a church which added to the deterioration of the temple.
The biggest draw to this temple is the Colossus of Ramses II. It is said to have been the largest colossus in the world if it were to still be standing today. Walking through this temple you can really feel how grand it must have been at the time of its completion.
This temple is well located on the west bank, so why is it still skipped by so many tourists? Because its not in great shape. The statues are cracked or missing heads and most of the colour no longer exists on the temple walls. Yet we saw past that and were amazed at not only the size of the site but the size of the broken statues and pillars.
Ramses II is known for representing himself as powerful and almighty. Nothing is different here as he is depicted as a powerful military leader. Try to find the statues of his wife and son at the foot of the 4 large entrance statues.
This place deserves more visitors, but the good news is that there will be very few here on your visit. You may need an extra day to visit all the sites of the west bank, but you should add a visit here to Ramesseum Temple. Some of my favorite pictures are from here. That’s because with very little visitors, I could sit on the steps and take some wide shots with no one in sight. You need to go yourself.
11. Mortuary Temple of Ramesses III at Medinet Habu
This Temple is part of a larger complex. It includes the mortuary temples for Hatshepsut and Tuthmosis III. The grandeur here comes from the tall well-preserved walls that surround the temple.
Within the temple you can find some of the deepest sunken reliefs hieroglyphs in the country. This was a method used to ensure a pharaoh would not be forgotten. The deeper the relief, the harder it would be to erase their existence or rewrite over the walls. In some areas you can fit your whole hand deep inside the carvings. Some go even as deep as your elbow.
The depth was chosen after he saw the destruction of his grandfathers’ hieroglyphs in other temples. This way he would always be known. To have them removed would weaken the structural integrity of the walls and pillars. Thus, destroying them completely. This is a gorgeous temple that we very much enjoyed.
This is the most popular site on this list which means you will be sharing it with more tourists. It is still less crowded in comparison to the major site of Egypt, and you still won’t see any lines or a lot of large groups. This is the nearest site to the valley of the kings, making it an easy addition to any visit. This has increased its visitation rate because of proximity. But that hasn’t made it an important enough to be added to many organized tour itineraries.
Visitors often believe that the entire complex is only one temple. They underestimate the time needed to see it all. It is more than the Mortuary Temple of Ramesses III so give yourself 2-4 hours to explore it fully. Exploring a temple created for someone who wanted to be immortalized becomes evident. Make sure not to miss it yourself.
12. White Desert Camping
This is still one of our favorite experiences we have ever done. You will not only see the White Desert, but you will see the Black Desert, Crystal Mountain, go sand boarding and visit a hot spring. Keep in mind that this does not look like a spring you will want to take a dip into. All food and transportation are included, all blankets and water. We were told to bring drinks. But, the guide did have enough for our group.
What should you expect?
This was easier than I had imagined. You are picked up from your accommodations in Cairo, driven to the company’s hotel in Baharia Oasis. Then given lunch and your out on your adventure with a driver to show you around. They hold your large luggage in the office. He cooks all your meals and ensures you have a great time. Waking up in the white desert of Egypt was an unforgettable experience, even though I was so cold. Our visit was in February. There are no toilet options at the camp, you must bring toilet paper and find a spot that you are comfortable using. Behind a rock is best.
Crystal Mountain, the rock formations of the White Desert and the evening fire were my favorite experiences of the trip.
Camping in the white desert use to be illegal. It no longer is, yet some in law enforcement frown upon it and hassle those that continue to offer these tours. Due to this, some operators will ask to meet you in locations that are not surrounded by police or military. This is normal. Our driver also picked up some locals who were heading in our same direction. This isn’t ideal but a way for the driver to get some extra cash for the same trip. This happened to us both ways, so don’t expect free seats on your journey.
Why do so many people still skip this experience? Most major tour operators don’t offer the tour because of the hassle they get from law enforcement. There have been reports of people being stopped and turned away which led them to miss their trip. The drive from Cairo is 5-6 hours which is a large deterrent as well. We did the 1 night 2-day trip. We would recommend 2 nights, so you are not as rushed as we were to see it all in a short amount of time. Don’t miss this, you wont regret it.
