An Epic Journey Across the Sands of Egypt

Dreaming of Egypt’s Allure? You’ve heard the whispers of ancient wonders and romantic Nile cruises, and now it’s your turn to embark on this captivating journey. But where to begin? Fret not! Whether the pyramids have been calling your name or the idea of vibrant bazaars entices you, I’ve curated the perfect guide for couples in their twenties and thirties. Let’s unravel the mysteries, create unforgettable moments, and savor local flavors – all while ensuring your Egyptian escapade is as enchanting as the tales you’ve heard.

AI side story (jump to itinerary)

ChatGPT has certainly made AI useable to the common person. Take for example this interaction…

Prompt: You are a travel agent with 20 years of experience. List 3 main reasons couples in their twenties and thirties without kids from the US should visit Egypt.

ChatGPT: Certainly! Egypt is a captivating destination with a rich history, stunning landscapes, and unique experiences to offer. Here are three main reasons why couples in their twenties and thirties without kids from the US should consider visiting Egypt:
1. Ancient Wonders and Historical Sites: Egypt is home to some of the world's most iconic ancient wonders, including the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Sphinx, and the temples of Luxor and Karnak. Exploring these awe-inspiring structures allows couples to immerse themselves in the mysteries of ancient civilizations. Walking through the millennia-old tombs in the Valley of the Kings and the elaborate hieroglyphics on temple walls provides an unforgettable glimpse into Egypt's historical heritage.
2. Romantic Nile Cruises: A cruise along the Nile River is a truly romantic experience that offers couples the chance to relax while taking in the picturesque landscapes that have inspired artists and travelers for centuries. Many cruises include stops at various historical sites and temples, allowing couples to combine relaxation with cultural exploration. Watching the sunset over the Nile from the deck of a cruise ship creates lasting memories.
3. Vibrant Bazaars and Local Culture: Egypt's bustling bazaars, such as Cairo's Khan El Khalili market, offer a vibrant atmosphere where couples can immerse themselves in local culture. Exploring these markets provides an opportunity to discover unique handicrafts, spices, textiles, and jewelry. Interacting with local vendors and trying traditional Egyptian cuisine adds a flavorful dimension to the trip, making it a memorable cultural experience.

Overall, Egypt's blend of historical intrigue, romantic settings, and vibrant local culture makes it an excellent choice for couples looking to create unforgettable memories together. As an experienced travel agent, I can help you plan a tailored itinerary that caters to your specific interests and ensures you make the most of your time in this captivating destination.

Prompt: You are now a travel blogger with over 20 years of experience. Using the 3 main reasons above to travel to Egypt given the twenties to thirties demographic, write a hook for a blog post that lists an itinerary. Keep the hook to 100 words.

ChatGPT: "Unlock the Mysteries of Ancient Egypt: A Romantic Journey for Couples in Their Twenties and Thirties! Embark on a Nile odyssey, tracing the footsteps of pharaohs and exploring the iconic Great Pyramid. Sail into the sunset hand in hand on a luxurious cruise, drifting past ancient wonders and lush landscapes. Immerse yourselves in vibrant bazaars, savor exotic flavors, and weave through bustling markets. Let me guide you through a meticulously crafted itinerary that merges history, romance, and local culture – a once-in-a-lifetime adventure that promises to ignite your wanderlust and leave you enchanted by Egypt's timeless allure."

Prompt: Re-write the hook with the tone of this example introduction from one of my other blog posts: "[insert introduction from my other posts]"

ChatGPT: Dreaming of Egypt's Allure? You've heard the whispers of ancient wonders and romantic Nile cruises, and now it's your turn to embark on this captivating journey. But where to begin? Fret not! Whether the pyramids have been calling your name or the idea of vibrant bazaars entices you, I've curated the perfect guide for couples in their twenties and thirties. Let's unravel the mysteries, create unforgettable moments, and savor local flavors – all while ensuring your Egyptian escapade is as enchanting as the tales you've heard."

Hot dang. That’s pretty good.

Let the fun begin.

Now, why does it matter that I share my interaction with chatGPT? Why does it matter how I’m approaching this post? It matters, reader, because you are here to copy and paste this itinerary for you and your travel partner(s). This itinerary is ideal for a group of 4 people and under, eager-to-explore individuals with a higher budget and a penchant for food and experience-based luxuries in life. I don’t recommend bringing kids on this specific itinerary, although there’s still valuable information about tour companies for all you parents.

Top 3 takeaways from traveling this itinerary:

1. Egypt is expansive and there’s more to do than can fit in one 5-day trip. We skipped the Nile cruise and opted to fly. One day we’ll go back for the Nile cruise.
2. Contact an Egypt tour company early in your planning. After 3 back-and-forth emails, we had a fully customized and private tour package. I put in an hour’s worth of research on things me and Grace had to do and things that were optional.
3. Cash is king. You’ll be making several trips to the ATM so have a debit card with no ATM fees. I recommend Charles Schwab, they credit ATM fees within a few days. Carry cash, particularly small bills, for things like the restroom and porters. More. onthis later.

Honorable mention: the tap water is not safe to drink for tourists; we are not used to the chlorine levels there. Help reduce the amount of plastic waste and buy a portable water filter – product plug Grayl GeoPress.

Step 1: Put together a list of must-do activities and must-see sights

Time required: ~1 hour

We used Google and looked up things like “things to do and see in Egypt” and “first-time in Egypt”, read through a few results and watched a handful of YouTube videos, and finally narrowed down our list of must-dos and optional items.

Must-dos

• Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx
• Grand Egypt Museum (GEM)* or the older Egyptian Antiquities Museum.
• Valley of the Kings
• Abu Simbel
• Library of Alexandria and the city of Alexandria

*The GEM will be the newest and most modern museum housing Egypt’s antiquities but as of October 2023, the GEM is not yet open. Displays from the Egyptian Antiquities Museum have been moved to the GEM. The opening date for the GEM keeps getting pushed back and is currently scheduled for late-2023.

Optional

• Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut
• Ride a camel
• Sail on the Nile

Step 2: Reach out to a tour provider

How do we get around? What can we realistically fit in 5 days? What order do we do those activities? The tour company took our list of “must-do” and “optional” activities and sights and planned what we would do on each day, how we would travel, and booked our flights within Egypt that worked for our time frame.

First, I emailed Memphis Tours, a large tour provider.

Dear Memphis Tours, 

We are two young adults, one man and one woman (a couple), looking forward to an amazing trip. Both of us are physically fit and can endure more strenuous itineraries.
Level of accommodation - 4 to 5 stars if the lodging is part of an experience (for example, a view overlooking the Nile). Can do 2 or 3 stars if it's a stopover/single night. In addition, we both love food and find that it's a great gateway to the culture.

Here are some of the sites we'd like to visit. Would you be able to build an itinerary with lodging and in-country flights?

Must-dos
- Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx
- Grand Egypt Museum (GEM) or the older Egyptian Antiquities Museum
- Valley of the Kings
- Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut
- Abu Simbel
- Library of Alexandria and the city of Alexandria

Things we'd like to do if there's time
- Ride a camel
- Sail on the Nile

Step 3: Perfecting the itinerary (and price)

In less than a day, Memphis Tours got back to me with a decent itinerary (left) that was missing Alexandria, $1,290 per person. After some back and forth emails, we finalized an itinerary that included a day in the city of Alexandria and a Nile dinner cruise, for $1,690 per person.

Final step: Shop around

We saved $191 a person shopping around. I took the curated itinerary and emailed three other tour providers. I contacted YourEgyptTours, LookAtEgyptTours, and Osiris Tours. I simplified the itinerary and sent the following message:

Dear [name of tour provider],

We are two young adults, one man and one woman (a couple), looking forward to an amazing trip. Both of us are physically fit and can endure more strenuous itineraries.
Level of accommodation - 4 to 5 stars if the lodging is part of an experience (for example, a view overlooking the Nile). Can do 2 or 3 stars if it's a stopover/single night. In addition, we both love food and find that it's a great gateway to the culture.

This is the itinerary we've put together, please let me know if you're able to accomodate and provide a quote.

Travel dates: [start date] to [end date]. Our flights into and out of Egypt are already booked.

Day 1: Arrival in Cairo. Land at 13:00 Egypt time from Amman. 
Afternoon exploration of Cairo - bazaars or other outdoor venues. Overnight in Cairo

Day 2: Cairo Sightseeing + Dinner cruise
Great Pyramids Giza 
Sphinx and Valley Temple
Mohamed Ali Alabaster Mosque & Citadel of Salah El Din
GEM (if opened) 
Dinner cruise on the Nile Overnight in Cairo

Day 3: Fly from Cairo to Luxor - Luxor day tour - transportation to Aswan
Cairo flight to Luxor
Valley of the Kings
The Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut  
Nefertari tomb during the tour
Transport to Aswan Overnight in Aswan

Day 4: Abu Simbel day tour & Flight to Alexandria 
Abu Simbel
There are two evening flights from Aswan to Alexandria via Cairo, one at 20:40  and another at 23:15
Overnight in Alexandria

Day 5:  Alexandria day tour + flight out of Egypt
Library of Alexandria
The Catacombs 
Qaitbay Citadel 
Flight out of HBE (our flight is already booked and departs 22:30.

• LookAtEgyptTours – did not respond
• Osiris Tours told me Alexandria was not do-able in our timeframe
• YourEgyptTours – $1,499 per person

We went with YourEgyptTours.