An Amazing Escape to Egypt from Doha with My Mother

- By: Saba Salim

I am a travel enthusiast and love visiting new places every year with my one and only companion, my mother. Yes, you heard it right! We both, mother and daughter, are fond of traveling and exploring iconic destinations and have already visited many parts of the world. However, for a few months, we were not able to visit anywhere due to many reasons. So, I decided this time to take my mother to her favorite place. She had once told me to explore the Great Pyramid of Giza, so I shortlisted Egypt for our next vacation.

As soon as I finalized our travel destination, the biggest task for me was to choose the best Egypt tour packages from Qatar for a hassle-free and convenient journey. I started browsing through various online travel agencies (OTA) but none of them fit my budget and preferences. Suddenly, I remembered one of my childhood friends had recently visited Egypt, so I contacted her and shared my problem with her. She suggested me to contact Myholidays, one of the leading online travel agencies in the market, for our flight and hotel bookings. I contacted the customer support team of Myholidays and conveyed my travel plans to them. They offered various Egypt tour packages us that included a well-planned itinerary, luxurious accommodations, and major sightseeing tours with selected meals. After discussing with my mother, I finalized the deal with 4 nights, 5 days Cairo tour package that included a city tour of Cairo, exploring the Great Pyramid of Giza, visiting Alexandria, and more.

Me and my mother truly liked their services, and I must tell you that the package was under our budget and met all our requirements. I fulfilled the dream of my mother of visiting The Great Pyramids by taking her to Egypt and it became possible only because of Myholidays team. Now, you must be curious to know about our travel story. Let's not wait anymore! Here is the perfect Egypt itinerary for our mother-daughter duo:

Day 1: Arrival in Cairo, the Capital City of Egypt and the Cradle of Civilization

We took our direct flight from Doha to Cairo which took around 3 hours and 50 minutes. It was a smooth and comfortable journey, and we landed at Cairo International Airport (CAI) at our scheduled time. Our exciting holiday in Egypt began the moment we landed at the airport and my mother was very happy, and it was clearly visible in her eyes. We collected all our luggage from the airport.

Our tour representative was waiting for us at the airport, and we received a warm welcome from him. We enjoyed a private and convenient transfer to our 4-star hotel in Cairo. After completing all the necessary formalities at the hotel, we checked into our room and took some time to settle into the hotel accommodation.

We both were so tired after our long journey that we decided to take a power nap in our hotel room for at least one to two hours. Afterward, I insisted to my mother that we must explore nearby areas of our hotel at our own pace. My mother couldn’t resist as she was eagerly waiting for this.

We stepped out of the hotel and visited Al-Muizz Street, which is one of the best places to visit in Cairo at night. Al-Muizz Street (also known as Sharia Al-Muizz Li Din Allah) is a historic street in the walled city of Old Cairo, within the walled city. It is also considered an open-air museum with numerous monuments. As it was nighttime, many monuments were closed, so we wandered through the street markets, experienced the local culture, and tasted local street foods like Koshary and Falafel. My mother really liked these two dishes and we both had our favorite vanilla ice cream after trying these delicious local dishes. This is how our first-day tour ended in Cairo, and we returned to our hotel. After returning, we slept early, as we had to start the next day on an early note.

Day 2: Exploring The Great Pyramids and Enjoying Nile Dinner Cruise in Cairo

Our Day 2 in Cairo started with an appetizing Egyptian breakfast which was already booked with our Egypt tour packages. Our breakfast included traditional dishes like Ful Medames, Shakshouka, and Aish Baladi, and we both liked these items.

Post our breakfast, we packed all essential stuff before moving forward to explore the city of Cairo. The tour representative was waiting for us in the lobby of the hotel. As soon as we came near to him, he greeted us and guided us on our visit to the Great Pyramids. As soon as my mother heard it, she became overwhelmed as it was her dream destination. After giving a brief about our Cairo day trip, our tour guide took us with him in a private AC vehicle.

We arrived at The Great Pyramids in Giza with our tour operator. Specifically, known as the Great Pyramid of Giza, are a group of three enormous Egyptian structures (or pyramids), which was built in ancient Egypt, the largest of which is the Great Pyramid of Khufu. These pyramids served as tombs for pharaohs and were a part of the Old Kingdom period. The Giza pyramids are one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and the only one still standing. There, my mother and I explored the interiors of the pyramids (Great Pyramid, Queen's Pyramid, Step Pyramid of Saqqara). Then, we took a camel ride around the pyramids that offered a unique perspective of the landscape. If you're ever visiting this place, you must try this camel ride for the best experience. As it was my mother's dream destination, she chose her favorite spot and witnessed the panoramic views of all three pyramids. We stopped there for two hours and watched breathtaking views of all three pyramids.

After this, we continued our journey to the Valley Temple of Khafre, part of the pyramid complex at Giza, the place where the dead Body of King Chephren (also called Khafre or Khephren by the Greeks) was mummified. There, we explored the ancient Egyptian temple, walked through the T-shaped hall, and admired the alabaster flooring. My mother was interested in learning about the mummification process and the "Opening of the Mouth" rituals. Overall, she enjoyed visiting this place in Cairo.

After learning about Egypt’s old civilization, we continued our day tour to the Step Pyramid of Djoser, which is located in Saqqara. Basically, it is an ancient Egyptian pyramid that was built for Pharaoh Djoser during the 27th century BC. Our tour guide talked about its architectural innovation and historical significance. The complex consists of a mortuary temple on its easter side, so we both visited that side and appreciated the marvelous architecture of this pyramid. We both learned about ancient Egyptian life and beliefs and visited the large courtyard that surrounded the pyramid.

Moving forward, we got transferred back to our hotel in Cairo at around 4 PM. We rested in our hotel room for a while.

Afterwards, the tour guide again took us for a two-hour Nile River night dinner cruise, featuring Belly Dance & Tanoura musical show with international buffet dinner. Me and my mother enjoyed the Cairo dinner cruise on the Nile, the longest river in the world, while having delicious food with live music, belly dancing, and a traditional Tanoura show (a form of whirling Sufi dance). Moving forward, we returned our hotel back and went straight to sleep. This is how we spent our second day in Cairo.

Day 3: Exciting City Tour of Cairo

3rd day of our Egypt trip started with a delicious breakfast at the hotel and an excitement to explore our next destination. As soon as we finished our breakfast, our tour guide picked us up from our hotel for an exciting city tour of Cairo.

He first took us to The National Museum of Egyptian civilization, built in 1901. This museum houses precious objects from across Egypt's long history and is one of the best places to visit in Egypt for history buffs. The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC) is a fantastic place to explore a vast collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts (more than 120,000 items on display) and learn about the Egyptian history, culture, and architecture. There, we saw the mummies of pharaohs and royal figures, including those of Yuya and Thuya, the grandparents of Tutankhamun at the royal mummies hall. Even, I clicked a few good pictures of my mother at the main floor, that tells the story of Egyptian civilization.

Moving next, we reached the Citadel of Cairo or Citadel of Saladin on Mokatam Hill, one of the most iconic monuments in Islamic Cairo. Visiting the Citadel of Cairo is one of the best things to do in Egypt, Cairo. On its premises, we visited the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, which is also known as the Alabaster Mosque, found within the walls of the Citadel. Basically, The Mohammed Ali Mosque was built in Turkish style, very similar to the Blue Mosque in Turkey. We both admired its intricate design and majestic domes. Then, we explored Al-Gawhara Castle, which was built by Mohammed Ali Pasha, and admired its Islamic architecture. We relaxed for a while enjoying the stunning views of Cairo along with taking a glimpse of the Giza Pyramids due to clear blue skies.

In the evening, we arrived at Khan el-Khalili, the famous open-air bazaar in the historic center of Cairo. This market is one of the best markets in Cairo to shop for a wide array of souvenirs, from traditional crafts like jewelry, ceramics, and textiles to spices and other local items. My mother bought some exotic spices, intricate jewelry for me, and a few traditional Egyptian crafts. I was feeling hungry and wanted to eat some delicious street foods which are quite famous in this Khan el-Khalili Bazaar. So, we both mother and daughter satisfied our taste buds by enjoying an ample traditional Egyptian street food like koshari and falafel. Then, we had some baklava as a dessert in the end. After having all these things, I wandered through the maze-like alleys and explored that place thoroughly. At the end of the day, our tour guide transferred us back to our hotel.

Then, again he picked us up from our hotel for an amazing Sound & Light Laser Show at the Pyramids of Giza. For those who are not aware of this show, let me tell you in brief. The Pyramids of Giza feature a popular "Sound and Light" show, narrating the history of the pyramids and their construction using a combination of audio, visual projections, and laser effects. The show uses a recorded narrative, often in multiple languages, and the pyramids and the Sphinx are illuminated with a variety of colors and laser projections. The show started at 7 PM and ended around 8 PM. As soon as the show ended, our tour operator transferred both of us to our hotel in Cairo. This is how we spent our third day in Egypt.

Day 4: City Tour of Alexandria, the Second Largest City in Egypt

On the fourth day of our Egypt trip, we enjoyed an early morning breakfast at our hotel in Cairo as we had to proceed for a full-day trip to Alexandria. Our tour guide was waiting for us downstairs. He picked us from our hotel to explore Alexandria City at its best.

Talking about Alexandria, it is one of Egypt's largest cities and is mostly famous for its rich history, Greco-Egyptian culture, and iconic landmarks like the ancient Library of Alexandria.

In Alexandira, our tour started with Roman Amphitheatre or Roman Theatre, situated in its central region at Kom el-Dikka. Built during the 2nd century AD, this theatre is made of marble that showcases Roman architectural splendor. There, we wandered through the marble seating, that once accommodated nearly 800 spectators. The theater's semi-circular marble seating was giving an epic look, and I ended up clicking on a perfect picture of my mother. Afterwards, our tour guide guided us about the history and significance of the Roman theater.

Then, we moved towards The Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa, another historical archaeological site in Alexandria. There, we explored a fascinating subterranean burial complex through a spiral staircase carved into the rock. Then, we wandered through its various chambers and marveled at the blend of ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Roman architectural styles. Our tour guide was telling about the funerary practices of the Greco-Roman period in Egypt and my mother was carefully listening to him. She was quite interested in learning about Egyptian history and culture.

Afterwards, we headed towards the ancient Alexandria Library. Also known as the Great Library of Alexandria, which was one of the world's largest ancient libraries with a vast collection of scrolls and manuscripts, making it a hub of intellectual activity. Our tour guide made us learn about its rich history, its role in preserving knowledge, and its modern offerings. As it was becoming dark and we were running out of time, so we watched Citadel of Qaitbay and Morsi Abu El Abbas Mosque from outside.

After visiting all these places, it was high time to return to our hotel. Our guide transferred us to our hotel in Cairo for an overnight stay. We had our dinner at the hotel and slept early as we were tired after a city exploration of Alexandria.

Day 5: Departure Day

Today was the last day of our Egypt trip. Hence, I was a little bit sad as I didn't want to end my Egypt trip very soon. I really spent good moments with my mother with the help of Myholidays, and I really don't remember when the last time was when my mother was so happy after visiting any place. I was thinking about these things, and all of a sudden, my mom came to me and told me it was one of her best trips ever. I became emotional and we both hugged each other. My aim, that was to make her Egypt trip memorable and special one, became successful and I was thanking Myholidays for the same in my mind. Afterwards, we had a mouth-watering breakfast at our hotel in Cairo. Then, I helped my mother pack all of our stuff.

We reached the reception area of our hotel and completed all the checkout formalities. After checking out, we thanked all hotel staff and took an exit from the hotel. Our professional driver was waiting for us outside. He collected all our luggage and kept it in the car. We enjoyed a private transfer to Cairo International Airport (CAI). After reaching the airport, we boarded our flight to Doha and bid adieu to Egypt while cherishing good memories of this trip on our way back home. This is how we spent five days in Egypt with the help of top-class tour agency, Myholidays.

I must say, throughout our Egypt trip, our tour representative made us in understanding about Egypt's history with modern advancements. We learned about the rich history, culture, and scientific advancements of ancient Egypt.

If you're also thinking of visiting Egypt, do not forget to read our below-mentioned tips for a hassle-free journey.

Some Useful Travel Tips to Follow Before Visiting Egypt

Always choose reliable travel agency to book the best Egypt tour packages
Carry comfortable clothes and walking shoes
Be respectful of local customs and traditions
Check your passport's validity and ensure to have a visa if required
Dress modestly and cover your shoulders and knees, especially when visiting religious sites
If travelling with family, it's better to book your hotels and taxis in advance
Learn some basic Arabic phrases to interacting with locals
Opt for purchasing travel insurance to cover unexpected events
Stay hydrated amidst Egypt's hot and dry climate

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