Egypt – photo report from the trip

Many people looking for an exotic destination for their dream vacation hear the offer trip to Egypt at best he reacts with a smile of pity, others have a grimace of pain on their faces, caused by the image of overcrowded hotels in the middle of nowhere, offering a mediocre all-inclusive package that guarantees the so-called pharaoh's curse, and a horde of loud children and even louder parents intoxicated by questionable quality alcohol from the hotel bar.

Eager for escape and a bit of travel normality, I decided to spend Easter in Egypt and gather arguments that would allow me to convince the unconvinced to this country, and after a week's stay, I can without a doubt recommend Egypt as an excellent holiday destination for (almost) everyone. It is a great option for people looking for blissful relaxation on a sandy beach washed by the crystal clear waters of the Red Sea, where I definitely recommend a vacation in the luxurious Movenpick El Quiser hotel, as well as for kitesurfing enthusiasts who should go to El Gouna. This city built by an Egyptian billionaire on artificial islands, in addition to its specific architecture reminiscent of old European ports, provides great conditions and numerous kite bases located along the coast. On the other hand, people looking for monuments, history and wanting to explore the secrets of culture will certainly not need to be persuaded to visit Luxor and other places whose history counts for millennia - the cradle of the ancient world is located on the territory of the country of the pharaohs.

I arrived on a charter flight late in the evening to Hurghada. Despite the required PCR tests, the entire procedure at the airport went very smoothly, thanks to which I quickly met my driver, with whom I went to El Gouna. The journey from Hurghada airport took us 40 minutes, so despite the late arrival time, it is a great option for the first night during holidays in Egypt.

El Gouna – state of mind!

El Gouna it is a city that is only thirty years old, founded on artificial islands by an Egyptian millionaire. It is worth visiting and getting to know this unknown side of Egypt: of course it is unique and the only place of its kind in the country, definitely a "State Of Mind". The creators' intention was for the city to resemble the Italian Venice, but I approach such comparisons with a pinch of salt and I believe that Venice is Venice, and El Gouna is El Gouna and has nothing to do with Venice.

El Gouna – the Egyptian Venice?

El Gouna Marina

The city has an impressive marina, where you can dock your yacht and have lunch in one of the many restaurants nearby (most of which offer more international cuisine than traditional Arabic). El Gouna is a place I recommend mainly to people looking for the perfect place for kitesurfing – someone who doesn’t play with kites should spend just two nights there, like I did, and then continue on their journey. My next stop was Luxor, where it is worth planning a stay of at least three nights, thanks to which we will be able to slowly discover all the biggest attractions, as well as get to know the local color of this extraordinary city.

I spent my first night at the Hilton. Beautifully situated on the Nile, it offers comfortable rooms, two swimming pools and a spa.

The seaside attractions of El Gouna and El Quseir – Egypt from a lesser-known side

El Gouna and El Quseir Seaside Attractions – Egypt from a Lesser Known Side | El Gouna, El Quseir
Cities that are several decades and several millennia old, a coral reef that dazzles with its entire spectrum of colors, artificial islands and an ancient port, fantastic conditions for practicing all kinds of water sports - a far from average holiday in Egypt awaits you! On Egyptian soil, you will be welcomed by the refined, chic El Gouna, a luxurious and elegant oriental resort, where you will fly like the wind on the wings of a kite, giving yourself over to the pleasure of kitesurfing. Then we invite you to the ancient port of El Quseir, famous for its fabulous coral reef and the best diving spots in the world.

Hilton This is definitely one of the most luxury hotels in egypt. Its location allows you to get to the Karnak temple complex in just a few minutes, once a separate town, and now one of the biggest attractions of Luxor. Visiting the complex of buildings dedicated to Egyptian deities made a huge impression on me and aroused admiration for the ancient Egyptians, who in ancient times were able to build such huge and complex structures in terms of engineering. An additional benefit that I gained by deciding to go during the pandemic was the opportunity to discover these fascinating places in peace, without crowds of tourists. Regardless of everything, I recommend everyone to set off to explore this place first thing in the morning, before the numerous tour groups arriving by coach from large resorts by the sea appear.

The temple complex is dedicated to the deities Amun Re, Montu and Mut

Temples of Karnak

Each of the deities worshipped here – Amun Re, Montu and Mut – has a separate temple dedicated to them. They are connected by a series of processional alleys, which together are about 1,5 km long and 700 m wide. The temples were built over a period of about 1500 years, during the reigns of several pharaohs. After visiting the temples, I caught a bus back (on the main road, for which I paid 0,35 cents in conversion). I went for a walk along the promenade along the Nile, visited the Luxor Museum (personally, I consider this the weakest point of the visit) and the Luxor Temple.

In the afternoon I swapped the Hilton for a cozy guesthouse located in western Luxor, because the next day I had planned to explore the other side of the city from the early morning hours. Located in the desert in the immediate vicinity of the Valley of the Kings, Guest House-El Bustan, run by a nice old lady from Great Britain, is a delight! The charming, green garden is a place where I could relax in peace after a whole day of exploring western Luxor. I spent my time talking to the hostess, who also treated me to delicious cookies of her own baking, which was an unforgettable taste experience that will remain in my memory for a long time. From the balcony you could admire the raw Egyptian desert landscape.

Guest House-El Bustan

The next day involved waking up at 4:30, a quick coffee and a drive in a rented Nissan through the sleepy area to the meeting point, where the balloon flight began. When in Luxor, you definitely have to take advantage of this attraction, which is much cheaper here than in Cappadocia or during a safari in the Serengeti, but guarantees an equally impressive experience. The flight lasts about 45 minutes, and since after it ends, at 7 a.m., we are already wide awake and full of positive energy, it is worth continuing the day actively and setting off for further sightseeing.

Waiting for the balloon flight

During the approximately 45-minute flight, we admire the sunrise over the majestic Nile.

Spectacular views will definitely make up for an early wake-up call.

Beautiful panorama and sunrise – a balloon flight over Luxor and the Nile is an extraordinary attraction!

Beaches and Luxor – two faces of Egypt

Beaches and Luxor – two faces of Egypt | El Gouna, Luxor, El Quseir
A combination of extraordinary towns, golden, sandy beaches free from crowds and monuments, in which a history of several millennia is enchanted - all this makes for an ideal holiday in Egypt! You will start your holiday in the elegant, European El Gouna, reminiscent of the Venice of the Orient, then get to know the ancient buildings of Luxor, remembering the times of the greatest power of the pharaohs. Finally, you will relax in the ancient port of El Quseir, enticing with a beautiful coral reef and the transparency of the Red Sea waters, one of the best places in the world for diving.

We start with the Valley of the Kings – this is the place where pharaohs were buried for about 500 years. From the outside, rocks, sand and rubble. Nothing special, nothing to draw attention to. And yet, what is hidden beneath the surface of the earth is absolutely mystical and sometimes difficult to describe. After visiting the Valley of the Kings, it is worth continuing the tour of the area and visiting the famous Temple of Hatshepsut, also known as the "Temple of Millions of Years". The spectacular structure blends perfectly into the rock formations. It is worth noting that numerous archaeological teams from Poland participated in the research work on the Temple of Hatshepsut and other ancient Egyptian sites, and in the vicinity of the temple there is the "Polish House", inhabited by Polish researchers.

Valley of the Kings

Tomb of Ramesses I

Temple of Hatshepsut

After an intensive morning and afternoon sightseeing in the Valley of the Kings and the neighboring temples, it is worth having a meal at one of the local eateries, getting in touch with the local community, and in the evening going for a relaxing walk. felucca cruise on the Nile.

While walking around the western part of Luxor (considered much less touristy), you can easily meet interesting people who will be happy to offer you local delicacies

I ended the long and eventful day at the guesthouse, and the next day I set off on a four-hour journey to the coast, where a beautiful coral reef, sandy beach and sunny, hot weather awaited me. After the intensive first part of my travel to Egypt I spent the last few days resting. The ideal place to relax is the hotel Movenpick El Quiser, which is located on the coast in the town The Quisher. The hotel has access to a beautiful, sandy beach, washed by the crystal clear waters of the Red Sea, and is built in a way that refers to traditional Egyptian architecture, so it is very different from the chaotic resort behemoths that many people associate with holiday in Egypt. Anyone looking for a place to spend their vacation where they can enjoy privacy and elegance will feel good and special at Movenpick. Excellent service will take care of the comfort of even the most demanding customers. It is a great place for a romantic getaway for two, as well as for a family trip.

Movenpick El Quiser

El Quiser Beach

the quseir

As a break from your blissful laziness, I suggest you set aside an afternoon to visit the old port city of El Quseir. Here you can buy souvenirs from your trip, visit the mosque and wander the narrow, old streets of the city, which is a great way to observe local life.

To sum up: I think my weekly stay in Egypt was a great compilation of different travel styles: a bit of adventure, getting to know the ancient culture, visiting monuments, tasting fantastic cuisine and blissful laziness with a break for diving and admiring the beautiful coral reef. I have never been one of those people who was hungry to discover this part of the world, and today I encourage everyone with full responsibility and strongly promote Egypt as a holiday destination for everyone: single travelers, couples or families with children - everyone will find something for themselves here, it is safe and exotic. Personally, I feel a certain dissatisfaction, so I will want to go back there soon and discover more places that I did not have time for during this first visit. I encourage all interested parties to contact me, ask questions and plan travel with Planet Escape.

Movenpick Resort El Quseir 5*

Movenpick Resort El Quseir 5* | El Quseir
The five-star Movenpick Resort El Quseir, located right on one of the most beautiful coral reefs in the area, a little outside the most popular resorts of the Egyptian Riviera, offers access to a private beach, many additional attractions on site and as many as 7 restaurants and bars that will surely please even the most demanding guests. It is a great place to relax in a traditional Nubian atmosphere with the possibility of diving and snorkeling right off the shore.