It’s winter; temperature degrees are low, sunshine barely exists, and you want to feel warm. Who says this is not the right time for traveling and having a good time!
In this article, you will find the answer to all your questions about the best destination in Egypt where you can spend a special winter vacation.
Winter is the optimal season when you can travel to Luxor and Aswan as these areas enjoy a charming nature and a warm atmosphere, and you will feel the warmth of ancient history in these two places.
people living in Luxor and Aswan enjoy the kindness and hospitality that you might not find elsewhere.
Aswan
Aswan is one of Egypt’s warmest governorates during winter. It’s a natural piece of art, and it’s one of creating cities that are recorded as one of UNISCO Cites of crafts and folk art.
It’s located at the banks of the Nile. It was named as ( City of Gold); as it was a great treasure and a tomb for Nuba Kings who lived in the city for thousands of years.
Remarkable tourist destinations in Aswan
1- Elephantine Island
It’s one of the islands that are located in the middle of the Nile, and it used to include Elephantine Temple before being transferred to Agilkia Island in Aswan.The island hugs other temples rooted in the era of King Thutmose III.
2- Abu Simbel
Abu Simbel is one of the remarkable touristic landmarks of Aswan and Egypt too. Temples are now located in western Aswan. These temples were built by Rameses ii in 1244 B.C.
3- The High Dam
When you go to Aswan, you should visit the High Dam. It tells the story of the Egyptians who have struggled to build it. It’s also evidence of Egyptians progress in architecture.
4- The Nubian Village
When you see the Nubian Village, you are going to be charmed by the beautiful colors and joyful buildings. Moreover, you shall feel a deep warmth among village people.
5- The Lost Obelisks
It is one of the tallest Egyptian obelisks ever.
6- Temple of Kom Ombo
The temple consists of two floors and contains many halls that have many columns filled with drawings and decorations.
7- Temple of Kalabsha
It is one of the most important temples in Aswan, as it has a distinctive design because it was built in the Roman era and is located on an island in the middle of Lake Nasser.
8- Monastery of St. Simeon
It is one of the important monasteries that played an important role in social terms between Muslims and Christians, therefore, it is considered one of the most important visits for Christians and Muslims alone.
9- The Nile Museum
The museum includes many traces of the ancient life of the Nile Basin countries, with indicative signs that tell a lot about the immortal river trip from its source in the plateau of the lakes and the Abyssinian Plateau.
Most important attractions in Aswan
1- Island of Plants
It is a nature reserve for plants set on about 17 acres and divided into 7 regions of different plants. It contains many rare and perennial plants. It has many greenhouses to help the growth of these plants and includes 380 different types of plants.
2- Aswan Corniche
You can enjoy the time of sunrise or sunset when the sun touches the Nile and all the historical demonstrations around this area. This is considered as is one of the best entertainment for lovers of walking and if you are not one of these you can enjoy the view also by sitting in restaurants and cafes that overlook the Corniche.
3- Market Street
Here you can buy souvenirs and many products from the market at very cheap prices such as perfumes, peanuts, henna powder, dried hibiscus flowers, spices, various types of dates that Aswan is famous for.
Luxor
Moreover, you can spend a day in Luxor, and enjoy the scenery of unprecedented Pharaoh monuments. As Luxor is only about 300 km far from Marsa Alam.
You should not forget visiting Wadi El Gemal, where you can see rare animals and plants. In addition, you can see the stars in the clear sky, and spend a special Bedouin day. No doubt your vacation is going to be fantastic!
Whether you love winter or summer, you need to read this article. We are going to get you acquainted with some places where you can go during winter.
1. Temple of Karnak
Of all Luxor’s many monuments, the Temple Complex of Karnak has to be its most astonishing and beautiful feat. It is not built to a single unified plan but represents the building activity of many successive rulers of Egypt, who vied with one another in adding to and adorning this great national sanctuary, which became the most important of Egypt’s temples during the New Kingdom.
2. Deir el-Medina
Deir el-Medina is home to a small temple, the remnants of a workers’ village (where the artisans of the royal tombs lived) and the tombs of the workers themselves. It’s well worth a visit for the wall paintings adorning the tombs, which are a vibrant depiction of daily Egyptian life.
3. Mummification Museum
This small but fascinating museum explains the processes behind the ancient Egyptian practice of mummification in a series of well-set-out and informative displays. The exhibits include actual mummies (both human and animal) and the tools (including the spatulas used to scrape the dead person’s brains out) used in the mummification process.
4. Luxor Museum
One of Egypt’s best museums, Luxor Museum holds a beautifully exhibited collection from the local area, which tells the story of ancient Thebes from the Old Kingdom right up to the Islamic Period. The museum’s prize possessions are the two Royal Mummies of Ahmose I and what is believed to be Ramses I in two rooms on the ground floor, which are worth a visit here alone.
2. Medinet Habu
Medinet Habu often gets overlooked on a West Bank trip, but this is one of Egypt’s most beautifully decorated temples and should be on everyone’s West Bank hit list. The complex consists of a small, older temple built during the 18th dynasty and enlarged in the Late Period, and the great Temple of Ramses III, associated with a royal palace, which was surrounded by a battlemented enclosure wall four meters high.
The main temple area was built exactly on the model of the Ramesseum and, like the Ramesseum, was dedicated to Amun. The reliefs here are some of the best you’ll see on the West Bank.
5. Valley of the Kings
The famed Valley of the Kings, hidden between rocky escarpments, was the final resting place for the kings of the 18th, 19th, and 20th dynasties. Their main attraction is their wonderfully vivid wall paintings. Since it was believed that the dead man, accompanied by the sun god.
6. Valley of the Queens
The tombs in the Valley of the Queens mostly belong to the 19th and 20th dynasties. A total of almost 80 tombs are now known, most of them excavated by an Italian expedition led by E. Schiaparelli between 1903 and 1905. Many of the tombs are unfinished and without decoration, resembling mere caves in the rocks. There are few incised inscriptions or reliefs, with much of the decoration consisting of paintings on stucco.
Only four tombs are open for public viewing, but one of the group is the famed Tomb of Queen Nefertari, only reopened in 2016, making a trip here well worth it. The Tomb of Queen Nefertari, Wife to Ramses II, is regarded as the finest of the West Bank’s glut of tombs. The walls and ceilings of the chambers here are covered with dazzling, highly detailed and richly colored scenes, which celebrate Nefertari’s legendary beauty.
Instead of lying on your warm bed, and having your hot drink, travel and enjoy glorious weather that is not available any other time during the year. Moreover, you can have special offers which are higher during summer.
Most important recreational attractions in Luxor
1- Luxor Corniche
One of the best places to enjoy a picnic, strolling or have a walk by night or day alongside recreational trips, boats and ships that take individuals on very wonderful Nile cruises.
2- Luxor markets
Luxor tourist market is very similar to Khan Al-Khalili located in Cairo in terms of tourist attractions, shops selling antiques, antiques, crafts, handicrafts, papyrus, and accessories of the Pharaonic character, in addition to perfumery stores, and clothing stores Ancient Pharaonic style.
3- Banana Island
Away from the museums, you will find the picturesque nature calling you, just like in Banana Island, which is located to the west of Luxor, and you can reach it on a Nile cruise.
Siwa
Wahet Siwa, or Wahet Al Ghroub, is the best place for recreation, and also treatment; as it’s the place where physiotherapy for back pain is available.
Siwa is a part of Matrouh Governorate, and it’s 300 km away from Marsa Matrouh City. Siwa is a tourist center that attracts tourists from around the world.
If you decided to travel to Siwa, be sure that it is going to be a different adventure from any other journey you have ever made before. Most of hotels in the city has the Baduian simple style; as you wake up on a view of palm trees, and pure and clean air.
To reach Siwa, you may need to go to Marsa Matrouh first, and then take a transport from there. Or you can take the bus directly to Sewa from Cairo.
Most important tourist attractions in Siwa
1- Siwa Lakes
It consists of four main lakes such as Lake Olive, Lake Agurmie or Al-Maasar, Lake Siwa and Lake El Maraqi, along with a number of other lakes and tribute.
2- Siwa Springs
Siwa, despite its presence in the middle of the desert, contains fresh water, wells, and salty and sulfur water. Among the most famous of these springs are Cleopatra’s spring, and Kegar spring.
3- Medical tourism
Siwa is famous for its medical treatment because it contains soft and clean yellow sand from natural elements that help in healing, as it is an alternative medicine for treating rheumatic diseases, arthritis, and others.
4- Siwa Reserve
It contains many reptiles, mammals, invertebrates, birds and insects, the most important of which is the slender horned deer deer threatened with extinction.
5- Mountain of the Dead
It is a mountain that includes many ancient tombs that date back to the third and fourth century BC and were reused during the Roman and Greek era.
Most significant activities in Siwa
Fossil Area, located in Great Sand Sea, has many fossils from millions of years.
Don’t miss the visit of Shali Fortress, or Mountain of The Dead, which belongs to Mamluk period. It has a unique architectural style given by the Karshif stone by which it was built.
Desert safari with barbeque dinner should be scheduled on your trip. As you can spend an unforgettable night in Dakrour Mountain, especially in full moon times, seeing the stars twinkling in the clear sky.