Egypt is perhaps the most beautiful nation in the world to visit for anyone interested in human history. For starters, the nation is quite vast, so you can really consider it more like a voyage than a quick one- or two-day excursion. The best part, though, is that there’s a really simple structure of extremely old sites to view as you travel around the nation.
Specific paths will vary, of course, but we’ll outline one such route below. It is recommended that you begin in Alexandria, as it has an international airport, and you may hire a motorcycle for cross-country travel if needed. Let’s begin at the first location you might want to visit. My itinerary of sights to see.
Pompey’s Pillar
This amazing building doesn’t get nearly as much attention as some other Egyptian monuments maybe because it is relatively recent. The pillar, which stands 20 meters tall and weighs up to 285 tons, was built in honor of the Roman emperor Diocletian’s triumph in the third century A.D. The Middle Ages crusaders thought that the ancient general’s ashes were in a pot at the top of the column, which is why it was given the incorrect name of Pompey. Before moving on to Cairo’s main attractions, stopping by this freestanding column for a closer look is an excellent place to start. (220 kilometers southeast of Cairo on Route 75M)
The Giza Pyramids and Great Sphinx
Legends naturally abound around the ancient sites of Giza, which are located across the Nile from Cairo. A legendary figure that has surfaced in stories and imaginations even outside of Egyptian culture is the Sphinx. For example, in the well-known Harry Potter books, there was a mention of a living Sphinx, an enigmatic creature who offered individuals attempting to navigate a magical labyrinth clues.
Interpretations like this make it easy to overlook that the Great Sphinx is an actual construction. One of the most remarkable man made structures in the world this limestone monolithic structure dates back to around 2,000 B.C. It also seems to be keeping an eye on the enormous pyramids that are located beyond possibly the most famous buildings on Earth.
Because there are so many myths surrounding the pyramids, it is easy to forget about the truth of their creation and continued existence. We have seen several video games honoring the pyramids, such as in 2017 with the release of “Assassin’s Creed: Origins,” a wild adventure game set in a beautifully portrayed version of the ancient civilization, and “Pyramid: Quest For Immortality,” a slot reel with symbols made up of marvels of ancient Egypt.
The fact that people are still creating these types of fictitious interpretations of the structures testifies to their mystery. However, nothing beats actually viewing the pyramids. Most tourists are unaware of how much bigger, more exquisite, and more astounding they will be in person. After touring Giza’s historical treasures, it’s time to explore Hatshepsut and the Valley of the Kings. (620 kilometers on Cairo Road/Route 75M toward Qus in the Asyuit Desert)
Hatshepsut’s Temple and The Valley of the Kings
If you wish to take a break from your travels, Qus is a good place to stay. It’s also a good starting point to explore the Hatshepsut Mortuary Temple, which is located just south of Qus along Route 75M. Though it has undergone several reconstructions throughout the years, this spectacular burial temple is situated close to the well-known Valley of the Kings on the West Bank of the Nile. The ancient shrine, which was carved out of the foot of the massive Deir el Bahari cliffs, is regarded as one of the most advanced examples of Egyptian architecture, akin to certain classical Greek and Roman structures.
You may visit the Valley of the Kings in the vicinity. In actuality, traveling down Kings Valley Road in a sort of northwest circle takes only a few minutes. You’ll discover that there’s as much to learn as there is to truly see when you visit the Valley of the Kings. This is a relatively modest collection of rolling burial mounds and concealed tombs rather than grand structures. Here, you will be in the vicinity of what is arguably the most well-known archeological discovery in Egypt: King Tut’s tomb.
After spending a full day seeing the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut’s temple, you might choose to spend the night in nearby Luxor, a city with a similar historical significance to Cairo or Giza. It’s somewhat south of the Valley and directly across the Nile to the east. (30 kilometers toward Luxor on the Aswan-Giza/Aswan Western Agricultural Road)
Luxor
If you would like to stay there for a day or simply a morning, there are a number of magnificent sites to see in Luxor and the surrounding area. Some of the most striking sites in the entire nation are the Colossi of Memnon, two enormous sandstone sculptures at the outskirts of town; Luxor Temple, a place of worship dating back to 1500 B.C.; and Medinet Habu, a temple dedicated to the emperor Ramesses III. It might be difficult to leave Luxor, it’s true. But there’s still a drive south to the hamlet of Abu Simbel and the Abu Simbel temples to finish the trip. (Route 75M toward Abu Simbel, and 488 kilometers on the Luxor-Aswan and Aswan – Abu Simbel Road)
Temples of Abu Simbel
These two temples are located near the Sudanese border and on the shore of Lake Nasser; they are quite a distance south of the other notable Egyptian sites, but the trip is definitely worth it. Ramesses II, the pharaoh, had these temples constructed neither as a celebration of the gods nor as a posthumous homage to a king (who lived in the 1200s B.C.). Though the temples themselves, including the enormous, amazing statues and temples, have not changed much from thousands of years ago, they were actually disassembled and moved in 1968 when a new dam was constructed in the region. It’s a wonderful location to end your motorcycle tour of ancient Egypt.
