Simplified map of a visit to Egypt. A journey to discover ancient Egyptian monuments means travelling from Cairo to Abu Simbel. Satellite image courtesy of Nasa.
The Itinerary: 900 Miles at the Pace of Dreams
Three millennia of history over nearly 900 miles cannot be crammed into 5 or 7 days. For a journey to Egypt to deliver on the expectations of a lifetime, one must first grasp the physical scale of the challenge: traveling from the pyramids to Abu Simbel is a 900-mile journey.
The Road Less Traveled: 900 Miles vs. the 130-Mile Cruise
Egypt is a desert cut by the Nile. One way to discover its ancient monuments is to venture on the less traveled road on a private tour. Photo © Art Journey egypt.
Most visitors are unaware that the majority of Nile cruises only cover 130 miles, the distance between Luxor and Aswan. Because of lock schedules and slow speeds, it takes a cruise ship an entire day to cover what takes just one hour by private car.
Constantly waiting in line, or avoiding the crowd?
What brochures fail to say is that a standard cruise means continually waiting in line. The boats queue for hours at the lock; then, they all arrive at the same sites at the same time, making overcrowding a certainty.
Consider the scale: a standard cruise allows just one day to visit Luxor, an archaeological site nearly seven times the size of Rome.
If visiting Rome in 8 hours is not feasible, then attempting to see the Valley of the Kings, Luxor Temple, and Karnak in one day is a tragedy. It means missing out on the expectations of a lifetime.
Instead, the itinerary at the Pace of Dreams includes all the major temples, tombs, and pyramids of ancient Egypt.
Driven by a Private Chauffeur along the Nile
Our journey covers nearly 900 miles over 14 days. We use a private van and local knowledge and experience to get around the crowds.
This freedom allows the Dream Team to time our arrivals perfectly; it is the secret to the Pace of Dreams, entering temples and tombs alone, or nearly alone. It includes the jewel of Egypt, missed by the majority of tours, Abydos' temple, one of Egypt's most beautiful temples. We can also include Amarna, the Fayum lake, Alexandria, the White Desert, or a diving trip to the Red Sea.
It is still possible to arrange a dahabiya cruise
If you have the luxury of time, three weeks, then we can certainly arrange to include the journey from Luxor to Aswan by boat. Sailing the Nile on a dahabiya is a welcome rest and a beautiful way to travel, provided it doesn't come at the expense of the 900-mile discovery.
Seasons Considerations
Luxor's sunset. Photo © Art Journey Egypt.
To help make sense of the seasons and heat in Egypt, below is a summary of the usual temperatures in Luxor. Whatever the season, considering that in Luxor the average yearly rainfall is zero, there is no doubt it will be sunny.
Winter - December average temperatures
| Day temperature | Night temperature | Sunlight |
|---|---|---|
| 22 °C / 72 °F | 6 °C / 43 °F | 6.30 am to 5 pm (10 ½ hours of daylight) |
Advantage
For those who dread the heat, there won't even be the need for air conditioning, but warm clothing. If you aren't in tip-top physical condition, visiting in winter is a better bet. Note that there often is no heating or insulation in Egypt.
Trade-off
It is the busiest season of the year. Furthermore, it is dark at 5 pm, so sites close earlier in the day than in summer. When the sun is out the temperature is agreeable, but as soon as it disappears spring turns into winter. Mornings are often too cold for breakfast outside. Hotel prices are at their highest.
Summer - July average temperatures
| Day temperature | Night temperature | Sunlight |
|---|---|---|
| 41 °C / 106 °F | 24 °C / 75 °F | 6 am to 7.45 pm (nearly 14 hours of daylight) |
Advantage
The least visited period of the year. Nearly all the photos you see here of empty temples were taken in summer, at lunchtime. There is more than 3 hours of daylight compared to winter. Hotel prices at their lowest.
Trade-off
It can be scorching hot, meaning one must be covered from head to toe and drink water like a camel. Pyramids and tombs, which of course have no ventilation, can be overwhelming. (Of course, there always will be fresh water in the van. If you stay in a hotel with a pool, the end-of-the-day swim will feel particularly sweet!).
Hotels
One of the best views of Egypt, from one of the nicest hotels of the country, the Cataract hotel in Aswan. Photo © Art Journey Egypt.
As discussed in the expertise section, it takes time to prepare for the trip of a lifetime and to decide on the best season and timing of the visit, so we should discuss and plan months in advance, including exploring the best hotels choices.