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The 7 Wonders of Egypt: What’s Actually Worth Seeing

Photo by 8moments on Pixabay

The Great Pyramid of Giza, the temples of Karnak, the Valley of the Kings and the stunning New7 Wonders of The World-listed Abu Simbel – these are just some of the many sights you’ll find when exploring Egypt. All of these places are filled with history, and they’re great to see if you have a passion for ancient civilisations. But if you only have time to see 7 wonders in Egypt, which ones should they be? Fortunately

The Pyramids of Giza

The Pyramids of Giza, standing at 146m tall, are the most famous of all the 7 wonders of Egypt. There are actually more than a few pyramids in this area; in fact, there are 86 pyramids in total. But the Great Pyramid of Giza is the only one that retains its original look. The others have been damaged by natural disaster, and looting over the years. However, if you’re hoping to catch a glimpse of the other pyramids, it’s not unheard of to see the Great Pyramid from a distance. The best time to visit the Pyramids of Giza is when the sun is rising. This is when it’s at its least crowded, and when you’ll be able to take in the full beauty of these wonders of the world.

The Sphinx

The Sphinx is an incredible piece of history, carved out of a single rock. This wonder of the world is believed to be the body of a lion with a human head, and it has been standing guard over the pyramids since 2500 BC. Archaeologists have found that the Sphinx and the pyramids around it have been renovated many times over the years. In fact, the Great Sphinx of Giza (as it’s now known) is a result of renovations done in the New Kingdom period, when it was recarved to resemble a pharaoh: Khafra. The Sphinx is also a delicate piece of history, and is extremely easy to chip or damage if you’re not careful. So, if you want to take a selfie in front of it, make sure to use a wide-angle lens with your camera, or you risk getting in trouble with the guards.

Temples of Karnak

The Temple of Karnak is one of the most spectacular sights in all of Cairo. This wonder of the world is a complex of temples and palaces that have been standing for thousands of years. The complex is so large that, if you were to walk from one end to the other, you’d need to do it 10 times. There are so many temples here that a visit of even a day is not nearly enough time to see everything properly. The most impressive sight here is the Temple of Amun (which is actually a collection of temples), which is the largest religious building in the world. This temple is so vast that its columns stretch to a height of 60m.

The Temple of Abu Simbel

The Temple of Abu Simbel is a shining example of how the Egyptians were able to build on their existing architectural knowledge and skills to create even more spectacular structures. The Temple of Abu Simbel, in particular, was built as a tribute to the Pharaoh Ramses II’s victories over the Hittites. For many years, this temple was hidden beneath the waters of Lake Nasser, but in the 1960s, before its waters were released, it was moved to higher ground. Today, it stands as one of the 7 wonders of Egypt, and it’s a spectacular sight to behold. It’s definitely worth a visit if you’re in the area.

The Egyptian Museum

The Egyptian Museum holds an incredible collection of artefacts from the ancient Egyptian civilisation. This is one of the oldest museums in the world; it was first opened in 1902. It was closed for renovations for a long time, and it was only reopened in 2006. The museum contains a great variety of items, including sculptures, mummies, and other treasures. Many of the items date back to the Pre-dynastic period, as well as the period of the Pharaonic rule. The items on display include the famous mask of Tutankhamun, as well as many other pieces that are incredibly rare and valuable. Besides these beautiful pieces of art, the museum also has a large collection of ancient weapons and tools that were used by the ancient Egyptians. The museum is definitely worth a visit, especially for those who’re interested in ancient history.

Ruins at Tanis

The ruins of Tanis are an interesting sight to see. The city of Tanis has been abandoned for centuries but many of its temples and pyramids are still standing. This place definitely looks like something straight out of an Indiana Jones movie. If you have an interest in archaeology, this is a great place to explore and see things like the Temple of Amun and the Great Temple of Ramses II. You can also see some of the ruins of the ancient city of Pi-Ramesses, which was built by the same pharaoh. This place has great potential for excavation because many of the structures are still intact. It’s also one of the most affordable 7 wonders of Egypt to visit.

Diversion: Egyptian Scenery & the Nile Boat Ride

Egypt is a land of incredible natural beauty, with stunning views of the desert, mountains and the Nile river. While it’s true that you can’t visit all the wonders of Egypt without seeing the Nile, a ride on the Nile, however, will not give you a glimpse of any of the wonders of Egypt. Sure, the Nile is a beautiful place, but it’s nowhere near as impressive as the other 7 wonders of Egypt. The Nile is a great place to visit if you want to go on a relaxing boat ride and see some wildlife, but it’s not really worth visiting if you’re only in Egypt for the 7 wonders of Egypt.

Conclusion

The Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx, and the temples of Karnak are definitely worth a visit on your trip to Egypt. They’re the most famous sights, and they’re the ones you see in the pictures. The other sights listed above are also worth seeing, but they’re not as well-known, so they don’t make it onto every traveller’s itinerary. If you only have time to see 7 wonders in Egypt, these are the ones you should see.

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Moy Vera

LocalAdventures co-founder and CTO. I really love to run, climb, scuba dive and reach some summits. Generally speaking, I like to hack life.

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