2010-03-04 11:47:32 by SMARTBRIDE
Honeymoon Series: Exotic Egypt
I don't know about you, but I've always wanted to go to Egypt…the history of this place absolutely blows my mind. My husband and I decided to head off to exotic Egypt for our honeymoon. We travel quite a bit and wanted our honeymoon to be really special, so Egypt it was!
Depending on the amount of time you have you should definitely venture out of Cairo, after seeing the Giza pyramids of course, and head down to the Luxor area. Here, the Valley of the Kings and many other dramatic and spectacular temples await.
Read on for more information on where to stay and what to do in the Luxor Valley.
Where to Stay
Al Moudira hotel is a magical and unique place to stay. Away from the hype of Luxor, this is one of a few places on the west bank of the Nile and is well worth it. This boutique hotel is a bit pricier, at more than $200 US a night, but you can find reasonable accommodation in the rest of Egypt. If you can't splurge on your honeymoon then when can you?
The Luxor Valley is a story of extremes and the Al Moudira hits a happy balance. The city itself is full of hotels of all classes and enough Egyptian kitsch to ruin a honeymoon, not make it. Al Moudira has created its own oasis across the river from the main town. And the best part is that you aren't actually missing anything by staying there. It is closer to almost all the ruins which is why you are there in the first place. Its location allows easy access to get out first thing to see the Valley of the Kings, Valley of the Queens, or the local temples before it gets too hot or crowded. Then, as the crowds pour in it is right there for you to hop back to for lunch, a swim and some relaxing in the gorgeous outdoor pool.
What to do
It’s not so much a question of what to do, but how to do it properly. The valley is chocked full of the best of the best historical sites including Karnak Temple, the centre of life for Egyptian pharaohs for millennia, the Valley of the Kings containing all the pharaonic tombs and the Temple of Hatshepsut built by the only female pharaoh. None of these highlights can be missed.
To hit them properly it's only important to remember two words: GO EARLY. The difference if you get there late is night and day. As the number one site in the area, this is particularly important at Karnak Temple. We got there not long after it opened and spent 2 hours. For the first 45 minutes the sun was rising, the light was amazing and we felt like we were discovering it ourselves with hardly a soul around. By the time we walked out it was as if a football stadium had just been let out, with all the tour buses pouring through the gates. We couldn't walk away fast enough.
For the other sites, getting there early isn't quite as big a priority, but can still make a difference, especially in terms of your comfort level (read: the later you get there, the more HOT and CROWDED it gets!). This is particularly true for the most popular locations which include the Valley of the Kings and the Temple of Hatshepsut. Some of the other sites will still be relatively empty later in the day.
Plus, the beauty of staying at the Al Moudira hotel is that you can head back out late in the afternoon to see some of the lesser known sites and, again, have them to yourselves. If you are a photographer, this is perfect as the setting desert sun casts wonderful light.
Piece de la resistance
To take it over the top, how about a balloon ride? This is a honeymoon after all!
Balloon rides go at sunrise and float over the Valley of the Kings. We were lucky enough to have this experience given to us as a gift by my husband's sister. It was an unbelievable way to gain perspective on the valley and start a memorable day. And the best part is that if you are staying at Al Moudira you may be able to walk back for breakfast (it will land in the adjacent fields) while everyone else traipses back over the East bank.
Where to Eat
Egypt is not a land known for its culinary treasures, so eating out was not really one of the highlights of the trip. Al Moudira has a good restaurant, albeit a bit pricey, and there are other generic restaurants on the West bank. Wine alert! Be warned if you are a wine lover. Egypt is not known for its wine and the few times we ventured out to try it, we were disappointed. You'll either have to drink beer for the duration of your stay, or be prepared to spend extra to have European wines.
Would like to win a trip to Cairo, Egypt? Enter here for your chance to win!
More Honeymoon Series Posts:
