Reflections on Egypt 2025
We want to see the new museum! But bummer, the new shimmering Grand Egyptian Museum will likely not be 100% open when we visit. Originally scheduled to fully open in early July 2025, authorities announced just days before a delay likely lasting several months. Oh well. It’s been 80% open for a while, and reviews have been glowing and exuberant! Can’t wait!
After our whirlwind Egyptian Grand Tour in 2023 we decided to come back to just Cairo and Luxor and spend some more time to linger around the Sphinx, revisit ALL the museums, walk the Alley of the Sphinxes between Karnak and Luxor, take a day each to soak up and listen to the majesty of Abydos, Dendera and Mortuary Temple of Seti I near the Valley of the Kings.
We’ll visit ALL the pyramids on the Giza Plateau, not just the Great Phyramid, but Khafre, Menkaure and (what remains of) Abu Rawash too — and, of course, journey once again to the Bent, Black and Red pyramids on the southern plateau.
Bring on the falafel, tabouli and baklava! We’re ready!
We’ll be here November 3, 2025 (Superior Double room, $155/night, more info). We’re coming from Luxor on November 3rd and decided to leisurely fly from there in the afternoon (instead of the first flight of the day) and spend the night at the Cairo airport to better position ourselves for the long flight on the 4th to Singapore. We could have pushed it on the 3rd and not stayed over but just being more cautious and making travel easier. More soon.
We’ll be here one night Friday, October 31, 2025 (double room, $205 per night including breakfast and dinner, hotel website). More soon.
ITINERARY ABYDOS
Saturday, November 1
Abydos Temple
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Pics below are from our visit in 2023. This hotel is a “one of a kind” and we are returning for one night. We’ll be stepping away from our apartment in Karnak to come here and spend the night, returning to Karnak the following day, rather than making it a long day trip.
We’ll be here October 27 - November 3, 2025. We’re staying in a two bedroom apartment ($207 /week, more info) just a 20 minute walk to the Karnak Temple Complex. More soon.
ITINERARY LUXOR
Monday, October 27
Arrive from Cairo about 4 pm, Luxor Museum (evening hours 5-8 pm), Pharaoh’s Sanctuary Spa (Star Spa)
Tuesday, October 28
Luxor Temple, Karnak Temple, Alley of the Sphinxes, Temple of Ptah, Sekhmet and Nefertom
Wednesday, October 29
Mortuary Temple of Seti I, Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, Valley of the Kings, Colossi of Memnon
Thursday, October 30
Nile Cruise to Dendera Temple of Hathor, Pharaoh’s Sanctuary Spa (Star Spa)
Friday, October 31
To Abydos Temple, Stay overnight House of Life Hotel
Saturday, November 1
Vist Abydos Temple, Return to Luxor, Sound and Light Show
Sunday, November 2
Return to Luxor Temple, Return to Karnak Temple, Return to Luxor Museum, Pharaoh’s Sanctuary Spa (Star Spa)
Monday, November 3
Sunrise Hot Air Balloon, Fly to Cairo 1:30 PM
From our visit in 2023
We’ll be here October 20-27, 2025 (king room with balcony $338/week, more info, hotel website). On our first visit we stayed in the 5-star Marriott Mena House, on our packaged tour, but couldn’t bring ourselves to shell out the $650 per night to stay there again. Instead, we found this little Inn for less than $50 per night. More soon.
ITINERARY CAIRO
Monday, October 20
Arrive Cairo airport 5 pm
Tuesday, October 21
Giza Plateau — Sphinx, Great Pyramid, Kahfre, Menkaure, Osiris Shaft
Wednesday, October 22
GEM - Grand Egyptian Museum
Nile River Cruise
Thursday, October 23
Driver - 10 hours $40 Mo Ismail Tel +20 01017820133
Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square
National Museum of Egyptian Civilization
Abdeen Palace Museum
Gayer-Anderson Museum
Al-Azhar Park
Khan El Khalili Bazaar
Khan El Khalili Restaurant & Naguib Mahfouz Cafe
Friday, October 24
Pyramid of Sahure
Saqqara Necropolis
Black (Amenemhat III), Red, Bent, Step (Djoser) Pyramids
Serapeum
Imhotep Museum
Saturday, October 25
GEM - Grand Egyptian Museum
Cairo Opera House - https://www.cairoopera.org/en/calendar/
Sunday, October 26
Giza Plateau
TBA
Monday, October 27
Fly to Luxor 3 pm
From our visit in 2023
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