7 UNESCO sites. The Pyramids of Giza at sunrise, Karnak's hypostyle hall by torchlight, a felucca down the Nile at Aswan, and the Red Sea reefs at Sharm.
The last surviving wonder of the ancient world. Khufu, Khafre, Menkaure plus the Sphinx, all on the Giza plateau. Sunrise camel rides skip the crowds.
"The world's greatest open-air museum." Karnak's hypostyle hall, Valley of the Kings (Tut's tomb), Hatshepsut's temple. Hot-air balloon at dawn over the West Bank.
The southern gateway. Sail a felucca around Elephantine Island, visit the relocated temple at Philae, day-trip to Abu Simbel's colossi at dawn.
22 million people. The Citadel of Saladin, the Khan el-Khalili bazaar, Coptic Cairo, the brand-new Grand Egyptian Museum at Giza. Loud, chaotic, addictive.
The best diving in Africa. Ras Mohammed National Park, SS Thistlegorm wreck, Tiran reefs. Year-round warm water, all-inclusive resorts ring the bay.
Cairo and Luxor walkable, Nile cruises ideal, Red Sea pleasant. The smart traveler window.
European holidays push prices 1.8×. Book by August. Nile cruises sell out earliest.
Warm but not hot. Best mix of low rates and good weather.
Luxor hits 45°C+, Cairo unbearable. Only Red Sea is workable.
Vodafone Cash dominates mobile money in Egypt. Fawry is everywhere for in-person payments and bill settlement. Cards accepted in hotels, less so in baladi neighbourhoods — carry some EGP cash.
Full payment architecture →Dominant mobile wallet.
National acceptance.
Cards + alt pay.
Souks, taxis, tips.
Pyramids only? Nile cruise + Cairo + Luxor? Red Sea diving add-on? A Cairo-based planner replies on WhatsApp in 12 hours.