While the pyramids are iconic, other histories are buried even deeper.
The Whale Valley (Wadi Al-Hitan): In the middle of the Western Desert lies a prehistoric ocean bed. Here, you don’t find pharaonic statues, but the fossilized skeletons of archaeoceti—ancient whales with vestigial hind legs. Walking among them is a humbling journey 40 million years back in time, to when Egypt was the Tethys Sea.
The Necropolis of the Sacred Animals at Saqqara: Beyond the Step Pyramid, this vast burial complex contains millions of mummified animals—ibises, baboons, falcons, and even a dedicated tomb for the sacred bulls (the Serapeum). It’s a testament to an ancient and complex belief system where the divine could inhabit any form.
The Roman Fortress of Babylon in Old Cairo: The foundation of Coptic Cairo is a massive Roman fortress, built by Emperor Trajan. Within its walls, you’ll find the “Hanging Church,” the Ben Ezra Synagogue (believed to be where Moses was found), and ancient cobblestone streets, creating a tangible timeline of conquest and faith.
The River of Time – A Nile Journey Beyond the Cruise
Instead of a large cruise, re-imagine the Nile experience.
The Felucca Odyssey: Sailing Like an Ancient Trader: Forgo the motorized cruise for a multi-day felucca journey from Aswan. This isn’t just a day trip; it’s camping on secluded riverbanks, cooking with the crew under the stars, visiting riverside villages untouched by tourism, and experiencing the timeless rhythm of the river. The silence, broken only by the wind and water, is a luxury in itself.
The Source of Civilization: A Nile Valley Farm Stay: Arrange a visit to a working farm in the Nile Valley. Learn how the annual flood (now controlled by the dam) still dictates agricultural life. Plow a field with a water buffalo, harvest dates, and share a meal with a farming family. This is a profound way to understand why Egypt existed in the first place.
Nilotica: A Fragrance & Perfume Tour: Ancient Egypt was the birthplace of perfumery. In Cairo and Luxor, visit traditional perfume houses that have existed for generations. Learn about the sacred scents of the Pharaohs like kyphi, create your own custom fragrance using essential oils like lotus, papyrus, and desert rose, and understand how scent was a direct link to the gods.
The Empty Quarter – Deserts of Fire and Ice
The desert covers 95% of Egypt. It’s a place of extreme beauty and profound solitude.
The White Desert National Park: A Lunar Camping Trip: Travel from Bahariya Oasis into the surreal landscape of the White Desert. Here, wind-sculpted chalk formations resemble giant mushrooms, icebergs, and creatures. Camping here is otherworldly; the silence is absolute, and the night sky is a blanket of stars unseen in the modern world.
The Siwa Oasis: Isolation and Ancient Oracle: Tucked near the Libyan border, Siwa feels like another country. It’s a world of salt lakes, thousands of palm trees, and unique Berber culture. Visit the Temple of the Oracle (where Alexander the Great was confirmed as a god), swim in Cleopatra’s Spring, and sleep in an eco-lodge built from salt and mud-brick (karsheef).
The Dakhla Oasis: Prehistoric Art & Hot Springs: Go further afield to Dakhla. Here, you can find the “Prehistoric Rock Art Gallery” with carvings of animals that roamed a green Sahara. Afterwards, soak in the natural Bir Regwa hot springs in the middle of the desert, a sublime experience of contrast.
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relocated by your company, it can seem daunting to visit a new country for the first time. Looking for some tips and tricks to mastering international travel? We have them, courtesy of Travel + Leisure
PENNSYLVANIA, USA — The difference between a tourist and a traveler is getting to know a culture, according to Karen Gershowitz, writer and travel addict. Since boarding a plane to Europe when she was 17, Gershowitz has visited over 90 countries and “gained friends.
I’ve been a traveler my whole life — and was lucky enough to have a family that prioritized experiencing new destinations throughout my childhood. Now, it’s my nephew’s turn. At two years old, with seven countries down, he’s on his way to becoming a citizen of the world.
In this week’s interview, Ole ter Wey talks to climate activist Grace Fong about the importance of climate education. Drawing on her very personal experiences with the impacts of climate change in her home country of Fiji
In this interview, correspondent Polly Nash talks to fire fighter Cami Schafer about one of the many frightening effects of climate change; the ever-growing threat of wildfires around the world. Last year California was hit by the Dixie Fire, the largest single forest fire in the state’s history.
Thousands of migrants – of whom, many are children – suffer from deadly heat conditions at the US-Mexico border. As the effects of climate change worsen day by day, extreme weather conditions are causing a high risk of dehydration and death amongst migrants who try to enter the States.
This article is part of Earth Refuge’s Spotlight Series on Philadelphia. During the summer of 2021, cities across the United States (‘US’) have seen record breaking temperatures to an extent that scientists say would have been “virtually impossible” to reach without anthropogenic climate change.
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