Have you ever been to a country where drivers turn on their lights at night only when another car is approaching? No? Then you should go to Egypt.
I have been a couple of times to Egypt and I probably won’t go there anymore, unless on a kitesurfing trip. Cairo is interesting to see once, making sure you get to see the pyramids and the national museum. The area around the Giza pyramids is incredibly touristic and while the pyramids are amazing, it is so busy most of the times that you just want to leave. For a more relaxed time try and visit the old pyramids at Sakkara. The Step Pyramid is believed to be the first pyramid built in Egypt. This area is a lot less busy and you can take your time appreciating how old everything is. Other than that, Cairo is a busy, dirty down that doesn’t have a huge amount to offer. Maybe a couple of trips to the souqs, but that’s about it.
After Cairo, my next stop was Luxor, the famous town on the banks of the Nile where the Valley of the Kings resides. Luxor has a much more relaxed pace of life and although it receives many visitors, it doesn’t feel so crowded. In the actual town, one of the things to do is go to the light show at the Karnak temple complex. The light show is very well done and it takes you on a walking tour of the temple, highlighting its features and its history. From the main town you can take a local boat to the West Bank of the Nile where you can find most of the archaeological sites like the Valley of the Kings, Valley of the Queens or the beautiful Deir El-Bahri (a complex of temples and tombs).
Saving the best for last, in my final morning in Luxor I took a balloon ride at sunrise, flying over the Nile and most of the archaeological attractions on the West Bank.
For more pictures head to Momentary Awe.