Few mountains in the world, are more symbolic than Egypt’s iconic Mount Sinai. Proudly towering high into the skies over Egypt’s Eastern peninsula, the wondrous Sinai is an extremely important place for a number of religions. It is believed that Mount Sinai is the location in which God revealed the Ten Commandments to Moses. The mountain and its surroundings are also heavily described and written about in different sections of both the Bible and the Quran.

In order to climb Mount Sinai, you’ll need to book through an accredited tour company. The mountain has a number of regulations and restrictions in place, as well as the requirement for visitors to only climb the mountain alongside a local Bedouin guide. The hike itself is fairly straightforward and can be completed by a variety of fitness levels, due to the trail’s slow and steady incline. The overall return hiking distance is a little over seven miles, with most climbers reaching the summit within two hours. Most travellers opt to climb Mount Sinai during sunrise or sunset in order to take advantage of the incredible views. But no matter what time of day you choose to hit the trail, Mount Sinai will undoubtedly reward you with some of the most spectacular views you’ve ever seen.

The ancient city of Alexandria, located on Egypt’s Northern coastline, dates all the way back to the year 331 BC. There’s plenty of options and activities to keep you entertained across Alexandria, from museums and ruins to souks and palaces, the city is totally overflowing with a huge amount of immense culture and fascinating history. Head deep underground into the city’s enchanting catacombs, uncover Egypt’s compelling legacy across a range of museums or simply explore Alexandria’s exquisite waterfront corniche.

The city was originally founded by Alexander the Great (hence the name), and therefore has always held an important spot amongst the history books. As the centuries have passed by, Alexandria has continued to grow into a majestic melting pot of enticing culture and hypnotic heritage. Just by simply roaming through the streets and alleyways, visitors are able to absorb Alexandria’s addictive atmosphere, whilst also exciting and stimulating their senses.

The Sahara Desert is the largest hot desert in the world, spanning across ten countries and covering a mindboggling area of 3.6 million square miles, that’s 8% of the planet’s entire land surface! Egypt is almost entirely consumed by the mighty Sahara Desert, with approximately 95% of the country’s entire landscape being part of the desert. Therefore, it’s no surprise that one of the best things to do in Egypt, is to tear up the Sahara in a thrilling, purpose built, action ready 4×4.

This was one of my personal favourite experiences in Egypt, I’m a sucker for a bit of adrenaline and this activity certainly didn’t disappoint. You’ll weave through monolithic sandstone formations, hurtle up and over steep sand dunes and dart across vast, open plains. Many of the desert tours also give visitors the option to drive along in their very own sand buggy, as part of a guided convoy. This is something I’d also highly recommend, as it gives you the chance to personally drive around in the Sahara Desert, how many people can say that eh! (Just be careful you don’t bump into any rogue camels or Bedouins haha.)

There are street bazaars, and then there are Cairo’s street bazaars. These intoxicating and flamboyant marketplaces are a beautiful concoction of vibrant Egyptian culture and traditional lifestyle. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to slowly roam between the never ending alleyways of stalls and truly soak up the area’s electrifying atmosphere.

Stall vendors have been operating in Cairo’s bazaars for centuries, selling everything from exquisite antiques and intricate carpets to aromatic spices and elegant jewellery. Don’t forget your haggling skills though, it’s customary in Egypt for individuals to barter and bargain over the price of goods, something that you’ll find is heavily integrated into Egypt’s local etiquette. (I hope you’ve left some space in your backpack!)

The majestic Abu Simbel Temples are located in Southern Egypt, close to the country’s border with neighbouring Sudan. Where do I even begin with this utterly phenomenal complex. The two temples of Abu Simbel are intricately carved into the imposing sandstone cliffs on the West bank of the Nile River. Constructed in 1200 BC, the mammoth stone temples took an astonishing two decades to build. Incredibly, the Abu Simbel Temples are still in impeccable condition to this day, appearing as though they were constructed only yesterday. Which is even more baffling, when you learn of the fact that these temples were actually dismantled and reassembled at a new location, as there were fears they were going to be severely damaged by flooding of the Nile.

It’s not just about the temple’s marvellous exterior though, visitors are also able to roam freely through the many chambers located inside the Abu Simbel temple complex. These chambers are equally as impressive as the outside, boasting a vast array of detailed statues and ancient inscriptions. I’d highly recommend exploring the temples alongside a local guide, as this way you’ll be able to get a much better insight into the temples, as well as receiving a ton of valuable knowledge and information relating to the complex.

Egypt’s Red Sea boasts some of the clearest water on the planet, making it the ideal location for visitors to try out a spot of diving. Whether you’re a certified diver or simply wanting to head underwater for the first time, the Red Sea is the perfect destination for all ability levels. You won’t need to look far in order to find yourself a reputable diving company, every resort town dotted along Egypt’s Red Sea coastline boasts a selection of companies offering a wide range of excursions. From short, half day tours to advanced, week long diving courses, you’re guaranteed to find the ideal match for your plans.

The experience itself will definitely be one to remember, few diving spots around the world are able to go head to head with this spectacular location. The Red Sea’s unusually warm water also attracts a huge multitude of tropical fish, in every colour you can possibly imagine. Trust me, you’ll feel as though you’re taking a swim through an underwater rainbow. I’d definitely recommend trying to bring a waterproof camera onboard the boat with you!

The Egyptian city of Luxor is home to some of the most exquisite temples on the planet, including the Valley of the Kings, Valley of the Queens, Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple. You’ll be truly blown away by the astonishing detail and sophistication on display across these marvellous temples. From magnificent inscriptions and paintings to staggering statues and monuments, these distinguished archaeological sites are known across every corner of the globe.

Travellers can easily spend a great number of hours slowly wandering and roaming around Luxor’s extensive collection of temples. But I’d definitely suggest grabbing yourself a local guide for the one’s you’re really interested in, that way you’ll get a much better grasp and understanding of the sites and areas you’re exploring.

Ahh the river Nile, stretching a colossal 4130 miles and flowing through eleven African nations, this incredible natural phenomenon is the longest waterway on planet Earth! The Nile also flows from the very bottom, to the very top of Egypt, therefore it’s no surprise that cruising along the Nile is one of the absolute best things to do in Egypt! The majority of Egypt’s infrastructure is actually based around the Nile, due to the river being such a predominant source for the country’s transportation and energy needs.

Without question, the best way to travel along the river Nile is aboard a traditional Felucca sailing boat. These authentic wooden sailing boats are the same vessels that would have transported the ancient Pharaoh’s of Egypt up and down the Nile. When people have an image of Egypt in their mind, it’s often of one of these beautiful single sail crafts meandering slowly down the Nile.

There are heaps of Felucca trips and tours for travellers to choose from. Ranging from single half day tours to weeklong liveaboard adventures. Those that choose the option to spend multiple days cruising along the Nile, will get the opportunity to sleep out in the open, on top of a felucca’s wooden deck. Now that’s some real bucket list shit!

Without a doubt, sleeping under the stars in the Sahara Desert is one of the best things you can possibly do whilst travelling in Egypt. The local Bedouin people have called the desert their home for centuries, so there’s no need to worry, you’re certainly in safe hands throughout your epic overnight desert stay. You’ll be given an incredible opportunity to learn and discover so much about the local culture and traditions of the Bedouin people, something that I was so grateful for during my own personal trip to Egypt.

The desert camps boast a wide range of activities to keep visitors entertained. From camel rides and campfires to star gazing and dance performances, you’ll truly get a real sense of what it feels like to live out in the vast plains of the Sahara Desert. It’s definitely hard to beat an evening of storytelling around a handmade campfire in the middle of the desert, believe me, you’ll wish the night could never end.

Of course, the number one spot undoubtedly had to go to the Great Pyramid of Giza. This utterly perplexing and mindboggling engineering marvel is an incredible piece of ancient history, that still remains a scientific mystery to this day. The structure is believed to have been constructed almost 4000 years ago, making it one of the oldest structures on planet Earth. Yet its sensational design and creation is incomprehensible. The Great Pyramid of Giza is made up of over 2 million stone blocks, with some of those stones weighing up to 80 tonnes! That might not seem too impossible nowadays, but the Pyramids were constructed long before any form of heavy machinery ever made an appearance. This means everything was done by hand, making it practically impossible to understand how the highest blocks were lifted into place. Not only that, but the Great Pyramid of Giza is also perfectly aligned to the stars of the night sky! Therefore, it’s no wonder the last remaining ancient wonder of the world still attracts millions of visitors each and every year.

There’s plenty of options to keep visitors entertained at the Giza Pyramid Complex. Choose to explore the surrounding area by foot and camelback or fly high over the pyramids, as part of an unforgettable paragliding experience. Not to mention, the nearby area is also home to the Great Sphinx, as well as a large collection of intricate tombs and temples. Just don’t forget to bring your camera along!