With careful steps, I follow my daughter, Keri, through the dimly lit tunnels of the Great Pyramid of Giza.
We’ve purchased a separate ticket that allows us to climb the narrow, steep passageway to the King’s Chamber—now empty but still magnificent. The air grows hot and stifling as the walls close in around us.
I can’t help but think of the thousands of souls who built this massive structure for Khufu, the second king of Egypt’s 4th dynasty, more than 4,600 years ago. As we continue deeper, the passageway shrinks. Soon we’re bending at the waist, ducking as we navigate narrow steps while others descend in a single line to our left.
The experience isn’t for the faint of heart—or the claustrophobic. But Keri and I both grin, savoring every moment. Years from now, I know we’ll still remember this. “Hey, Mom,” she’ll say, “Remember that time we climbed inside the Great Pyramid?”
Video: View My Reel of the Great Pyramid
Egypt: Making a Bucket List Dream Reality
Egypt sits on everyone’s bucket list, but getting there can feel overwhelming. I’ve traveled to more than 60 countries, yet I was unsure how to approach this trip. Cairo alone has 22 million people, and getting around presents real challenges. Visitors are discouraged from renting cars, with local advice pointing toward hiring drivers or, better yet, local guides.
I was excited to discover Expat Explore’s 9-Day Egypt Nile Jewel with Boat Cruise trip. The UK-based travel company specializes in group tours led by local experts and is known for offering affordable experiences, which proved true for our adventure.
At $1,245 per person, the trip includes three nights at Pyramids Resort by Jaz, three nights on a Nile River cruise ship, and two nights at an all-inclusive Red Sea beach resort, plus most meals, all in-country transportation, and our expert guide. (Entrance fees to museums and historical sites are additional, as are flights to and from Cairo.)
You can use my code GOWORLDTRAVEL at ExpatExplore.com for an additional 5 percent off.
I’d never traveled on a large group tour before, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. Our group of 37 turned out to be tremendous fun—an international mix of travelers from South Africa, Australia, the UK, and the USA. There was a mix of people of all ages and several multi-generational families.
Traveling with my daughter made the trip even more meaningful. Travel has always been central to our family life, allowing us to step out of daily routines and focus on each other.
Since my three kids were little, I’ve enjoyed taking them on individual trips. Now that they’re young adults, I treasure this time even more. When we travel together, we become more than family—we’re fellow adventurers building memories.
Keri proved an ideal companion for this trip. She’s a curious traveler who always wants to learn more. She was fascinated by ancient Egyptian history, and we enjoyed experiencing new places together.
Read Keri’s Helpful Egypt Tips: 21 Things I Wish I Knew Before Visiting Egypt: Lessons from Traveling with My Mom
An Egyptian Tour Packed with Wonders
Reading reviews before our trip, I noticed Expat Explore consistently earned high ratings with one recurring theme: you’re going to see and do a lot. That advice was spot on. If you want a relaxing trip with time to unwind, this isn’t for you. But it’s perfect if you want to experience many of Egypt’s ancient wonders and don’t mind a packed schedule.
Our expert Egyptologist guide, Peter, explained their strategy: reach each site early before crowds and heat arrive. We experienced this firsthand during our early morning trip to the Pyramid Complex.
After exploring the Great Pyramid, we saw the Pyramid of Khafre, the Pyramid of Menkaure, and the Great Sphinx, with a quick stop at the unique Step Pyramid of Djoser.
Traveling to Aswan
The next morning, our group took an early commercial flight on Egypt Air to Aswan, where we boarded a Nile river cruise ship, our home for the next three nights. Nile River cruises are an excellent way to travel in Egypt.
After dropping luggage in our cabin, we took a small boat to Agilkia Island to explore the Temple of Isis at Philae. Built between 305 BC and 30 BC, the temple honors the goddess Isis. We returned to the ship for a good meal and local entertainment by a belly dancer.
A Visit to Abu Simbel
Abu Simbel is a must-visit in Egypt but requires getting up early. We groaned when Peter announced our 2:30 AM departure for Abu Simbel, the site of two temples built by the Egyptian king Ramses II. We joined a caravan of tour buses for the 3+ hour drive through the vast Nubian desert.
The comfortable bus had us all asleep within minutes. When we arrived, the sun was just rising, and we understood Peter’s reasoning—no crowds awaited us.
As he did at every site we visited, Peter shared knowledge and insights, helping us fully understand what we were seeing. Then he gave us plenty of time to explore independently.
Standing before the giant statues of Ramses II at Abu Simbel is an incredible experience. This 3,000-year-old temple complex in southern Egypt was commissioned by Ramses II not just as a temple to the gods but also as a monument to himself. The four massive seated figures at the entrance depict Ramses at different ages.
Keri and I wandered through temples with massive statues designed to make anyone feel tiny. Scripts on the walls detailed Ramses II’s military victories and personal life alongside portrayals of ancient Egyptian gods.
Video: View My Reel of Abu Simbel
The solar alignment over the Grand Temple represents one of ancient Egypt’s most remarkable phenomena. Sun rays penetrate the temple and illuminate three statues of Ramses II and Amun twice yearly—February 22nd, which celebrates the agriculture and cultivation season, and October 22nd, which celebrates the flooding season. Both dates also reflect Ramses II’s birth and coronation dates.
The second, smaller temple was built for Egyptian Queen Nefertari, Ramses II’s most beloved wife. It’s equally stunning.
What makes Abu Simbel extraordinary is its incredible rescue story. In the 1960s, rising waters of Lake Nasser threatened Abu Simbel. After careful engineering planning, the entire monument was cut into blocks and relocated 200 feet higher. The temples were so carefully reconstructed that the solar alignment in the Grand Temple is only off by one day.
Later that day, we visited the Temple of Kom-Ombo, a unique “double” temple dedicated to crocodile god Sobek and falcon god Haroeris.
Karnak Temple: Mind-Blowing Magnificence
After a refreshing night on the ship, we arrived early at Karnak Temple. I knew immediately this would be one of my favorite places on the trip.
Walking through Karnak’s columns is seriously mind-blowing. The massive Great Hypostyle Hall with 134 giant stone columns makes you feel tiny standing among them.
The tallest reach about 70 feet high, and when sunlight filters through, it creates an awesome play of light and shadow across carvings of pharaohs and gods.
These columns don’t just support the ceiling—they tell stories. Each one features intricate carvings once painted in bright colors. The Egyptians built this entire complex without modern technology, using pure human ingenuity and muscle power.
When you wander through these stone giants today, you’re walking the same paths that priests and pharaohs traveled over 3,000 years ago.
Valley of the Kings and King Tut’s Tomb
Our next morning’s outing took us to the world-famous Valley of the Kings, a limestone valley on the Nile’s west bank that served as the royal burial ground for Egypt’s New Kingdom pharaohs.
The valley holds ancient burial chambers of more than 60 Egyptian pharaohs, hidden in the barren hills during Egypt’s New Kingdom era (1550-1069 BCE) to protect them from grave robbers. Each chamber is ornately decorated with colorful artwork and hieroglyphs that tell the stories of that king.
Keri and I visited four ancient burial chambers, including King Tut’s tomb. King Tutankhamun’s tomb remains the valley’s most famous resident, though ironically one of its smallest burial chambers.
Here, Howard Carter made his earth-shaking discovery in 1922, finding over 5,000 artifacts in the only royal tomb to escape ancient tomb robbers virtually intact.
Video: View My Reel of Valley of the Kings
Today, most artifacts are housed in the Egyptian Museum or the new Grand Egyptian Museum, but we saw King Tut’s mummy. He was only 19 when he died.
We also visited the nearby Temple of Hatshepsut, the temple of Egypt’s only Pharaoh Queen.
Beach Time: All-Inclusive Resort on the Red Sea
Our Egypt tour included two nights at Sunrise Alora, an all-inclusive, family-friendly resort on the Red Sea. After days exploring ancient Egypt, we enjoyed the lighter vibes of golden sand beaches, huge pools, and a laid-back atmosphere.
The resort has a large water park and attracts families from across the Middle East. We lounged on the beach, enjoyed spa massages, and savored delicious meals at the all-inclusive restaurants.
The Egyptian Museum and Khan El Khalili Bazaar
On our tour’s last day, we took the six-hour bus ride back to Cairo. The trip passed quickly—our group knew each other well now, and it was filled with joking and good conversation.
In Cairo, we visited the Egyptian Museum, built in 1902. It houses a treasure trove of ancient Egyptian artifacts—over 120,000 items spanning 5,000 years, telling the story of pharaonic civilization.
We saw Tutankhamun’s iconic golden mask and burial treasures alongside preserved mummies of great pharaohs like Ramesses II and Hatshepsut, ancient papyrus scrolls, intricate jewelry, massive sarcophagi, and countless statues and reliefs.
Though the building shows its age with dim lighting and packed display cases, there’s something wonderfully overwhelming about the sheer density of wonders, where every corner holds another masterpiece and every artifact whispers stories of gods, kings, and ordinary people who lived along the Nile thousands of years ago.
Our last stop was shopping at Khan El Khalili, a bazaar crammed with souvenir shops, cafés, and shisha bars. The bazaar created a sensory overload, and it took us a few minutes to master the art of bargaining. But by the time we left, we’d purchased beautiful cashmere shawls, locally made pottery, and a set of earrings for me.
Extended Egyptian Adventure
Though our 9-day group tour had ended, Keri and I wanted to see more of Egypt. Expat Explore offers many pre- and post-tour options. We stayed three additional nights at the Pyramids Resort by Jaz.
Samar, another excellent Expat Explore guide, took us to the seaside city of Alexandria to visit its citadel and world-class library. When we mentioned wanting to see a mosque, she arranged a visit to one of the area’s oldest. When we hoped to find Egyptian vegan candy to take home, she took us to a local shop, where we found the perfect treats.
We also took a sunset dinner river cruise on the Nile, and visited the Cave Church of Saint Simon. Having a local guide who knows the area makes all the difference.
The Grand Egyptian Museum
Keri and I took an Uber from our hotel to the brand new Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo for our final adventure. While the famous King Tut gallery wasn’t yet open, what we saw was impressive.
This modern architectural masterpiece sits on the Giza plateau, offering stunning pyramid views through its massive glass façade. Inside, the atrium houses the relocated 3,200-year-old statue of Ramses II, which stands 36 feet tall.
What makes the museum truly unique is its scale—at 5.2 million square feet, it’s the world’s largest archaeological museum dedicated to a single civilization. The chronological journey through Egypt’s 5,000+ year history feels immersive, with over 100,000 artifacts spanning 7,000 years.
Treasured Memories in Egypt
As we packed to head home, my mind buzzed with all we’d experienced. Traveling to Egypt with my daughter was uniquely meaningful—like sharing one of the world’s greatest classrooms with someone who could truly appreciate the journey’s historical and personal significance.
Egypt gave us a rare opportunity to step completely outside our daily lives. Here, we were both pilgrims of sorts, connecting with something ancient and profound that puts modern life in perspective. Those shared moments have already become treasured family memories.
Want to visit Egypt? Book your own tour at Expat Explore with discount code GOWORLDTRAVEL to get 5% off.
