A family holiday in Egypt is an adventure through time. More than once during our ten-day tour I had to pause and remind myself of the centuries that had passed since the first stone was cut for the iconic tombs and temples we visited.
But, the most mind-boggling thought was how many more years had rolled by as the desert sands consumed these architectural marvels, that were once the seats of power for royal dynasties that experienced more twists and turns than a Hollywood blockbuster.
Most of the ancient sites that draw visitors to Egypt today - including the mighty temple at Edfu, Ramses II’s iconic Abu Simbel, and the wonder that's the Pyramids of Giza - were only rediscovered in the past 250 years.
It’s nothing less than magic, and that’s why I think Egypt is such an incredible place to visit. It feels very special to set foot in locations that were lost for centuries, yet still have so much to reveal.
Our Families Worldwide Seven Wonders of Egypt holiday began with a visit to the Grand Egyptian Museum in modern Cairo, where our guide gave us a crash course in decoding hieroglyphics - the language and symbology of Ancient Egypt.
This set the foundations for the rest of our trip, with plenty of fun and suitably gruesome details to bring the experience alive for our ten and eight-year-old girls, as we later walked between the massive columns of Karnak Temple and entered the Valley of the Kings.
Everywhere we went they were keen to spot the first letters of their names in the hieroglyphics, or use their newly acquired knowledge of Egyptian statues to pose as dead or alive pharaohs. Handy fact: living pharaohs were depicted stepping forward with their left foot.
As for the highlight of our trip, I couldn’t pick just one alone. Our kids instantly recognised the pyramids from school projects, but I know they were more excited to see the collection of mummified crocodiles at Kom Ombo.
My husband and I were blown away by the labyrinth of extraordinarily decorated tombs in Valley of the Kings and the incredible stories about Egypt’s people and rulers that our guide shared with us at each location.
It wasn’t just the sightseeing that we enjoyed. We also loved the food, and I’m not talking about dining at our hotels, as delicious as it was. Our tour included eating in authentic Egyptian restaurants away from the tourist trail and, even more unique, at a Nubian family home in Aswan.
A visit to Egypt is about much more than its built history. It’s about the people - past and present. Having a full-time Egyptian guide and being able to build a relationship with him over ten days is what made this trip so special.
After a full on week of seeing Egypt’s wonders, we welcomed the change of pace at a family-friendly resort on the Red Sea where we were able to relax and reflect on an incredible experience.
The best advice I can give anyone thinking of taking a family holiday to Egypt is ‘buckle up’. You're in for one incredible ride through 5,000 years of history, from the reign of the first pharaohs to the Greco-Roman period, all while immersed in the bustle of modern Egypt. It’s an experience we'll never forget.
Find out more about our tailor-made Egypt’s Seven Wonders trip or contact our friendly team to book.
