The Ultimate Egypt Bucket List: Incredible Things to Do
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There are many amazing bucket list experiences in Egypt that are worth experiencing. From the obvious classics like visiting the pyramids to experiencing the incredible underwater world of the Red Sea, Egypt has so much more to offer.
After visiting Egypt numerous times over the years, I have listed all my favourite bucket list experiences in this blog post to help you plan your perfect trip full of unforgettable memories!
5. Take a boat tour or cruise on the Nile
6. Visit a colorful Nubian village
7. Take a hot air balloon flight in Luxor
1. Visit the pyramids (my personal #1 bucket list experience in Egypt)
Visiting this Wonder of the World, should be veeeery high on your list of bucket list experiences in Egypt. Pictures of the pyramids of Giza just don’t do it justice…You’ve got to see it for yourself – therefor it’s also a must stop on your Egypt itinerary.
Around the pyramid complex there are many restaurants, airbnbs & hotels with direct pyramid views but you should also go inside the complex, trust me.
If you want this experience to be even more unique, you can buy an additional ticket to go inside one of the pyramids or also do paragliding above the pyramids. You shouldn’t be claustrophobic if you do though!
It totally makes sense to hire a driver for your visit, as the complex is HUGE and most roads are uphill. Also, if you don’t have a guide or driver, unfortunately vendors and tour guides there can be quite pushy trying to make money off of you. I was very glad I hired a driver.
Here are some tours I would recommend:
How much does it cost to visit the pyramids?
The entrance fee to visit the pyramids currently is 700 EGP, as of 2026. If you would like to visit the inside of a pyramid or hire a guide, there’s an additional fee.
Where to stay around the pyramids of Giza?
If you are planning on staying around the pyramids for a night or two (as you should), you definitely should select a stay with direct pyramid views. Here are some options for all budgets:
Low budget stays & hostels:
Mid range stays & hotels:
Luxury stays & hotels:
I personally stayed at this airbnb with stunning pyramid views in Giza: The Great Pyramid Duo Highly recommend, even though it’s a bit on the pricier side as well. It’s got a stunning rooftop terrace with stunning views of the pyramids!
2. Float in the salt lakes of the Siwa Oasis
Floating like in the salty water like in the Dead Sea but in Egypt?! Yes please! The salt lakes in Siwa are not only super instagrammable but the Siwa Oasis is also quite underrated and totally worth visiting!
This experience alone is worth the quite long journey to Siwa, which is a MUST on your Egypt itinerary.
For more info about best things to do in Siwa, where to Siwa etc., check my Ultimate Siwa Oasis Guide.
How much is this bucket list experience in Egypt?
To swim or float in the salt lakes themselves is free, but you will need to arrange a transport there or rent a bicycle to get there.
Where to stay in the Siwa Oasis?
Even though the Siwa Oasis does not have as many accommodation options as other destinations in Egypt, there is still something for every budget.
Budget-friendly stays & hostels:
Mid-Range hotels:
Luxury lodges & stays:
I personally stayed at Seliyaa Siwa Inn Hotel, which is a great and unique place to stay at an affordable rate.
3. Explore the Red Sea
I have been snorkeling & scuba diving in many, many countries around the world but the Red Sea is still one of my favourite places to see colourful corals and fish, turtles and even dolphins. The diversity is wild and the visibility some of the best.
Some of the best places to snorkel & scuba dive in Egypt are Marsa Alam and Sharm El Sheik. In Hurghada the reef is unfortunately not as great as it used to be anymore. Check out my ultimate Egypt itinerary for more destinations you can’t miss.
How much does it cost?
Depends of course, how exactly you would like to experience the Red Sea. Snorkeling can be free, if your hotel got a house reef, alternatively there are very affordable boat tours available.
I went on a few different affordable boat tours during my lasts visit to Hurghada to swim with dolphins (I got lucky and was able to swim with them!) and visit different islands:
Scuba diving is also great in Egypt and there are many dive schools. Prices are still a lot lower than in most places around the world, so I would also recommend diving in Egypt, if you get the chance.
Where to stay along the Red Sea?
The most popular destinations are Hurghada, Sharm El Sheikh & Marsa Alam. El Gouna is a nice option as well, even though not specifically for Red Sea Activities but for hotels and surroundings.
Obviously there are manyyy options at each of these destinations, you can use the search bar below to check them out.
Here are also some personal recommendations of hotels in Hurghada & El Gouna I have recently stayed at or visited and loved:
- White Beach Resort, Hurghada (especially for families)
- Serry Beach Resort, Hurghada (boho vibes and very high standard)
- Steigenberger Golf Resort, El Gouna (very high standard and insanely good food)
4. Visit an ancient temple
One of the most unique bucket list experiences in Egypt is to visit an ancient temple. There is so much incredible history and amazingly beautiful temples to be found in this country, it’s actually pretty crazy.
My personal favourites are:
- Medinet Habou (one of the best hidden gems in Egpyt)
- Karnak temple
Here’s a list of more temples at different locations around Egypt:
- Mortuary temple of Hatshepsut, Luxor
- Luxor temple, Luxor
- Rameses III temple, Luxor
- First Pylon Luxor temple, Luxor
- Mut temple, Luxor
- Mortuary Temple of Seti I, Luxor
- Philae temple, Aswan
- Abu Simbel, South of Aswan
- Kom Ombo temple, Aswan
- Edfu temple, Aswan
- Dendera Temple, Qena
- Serapeaum of Saqqara, Cairo
And many more. One of the best ways to see multiple of these temples is a Nile Cruise from Luxor to Aswan which is also one of my best bucket list experiences in Egypt further down in this article. Many of the temples are located between the two and can be visited while on the cruise.
How much is it to visit an ancient temple?
Prices of course depend on each temple individually, but generally speaking they are quite expensive to visit. Most of the ones I visited were about 400 EGP in January 2024.
5. Take a boat tour or cruise on the Nil
As mentioned in the last paragraph, taking a boat tour or river cruise on the Nile is definitely a unique bucket list experience in Egypt and can’t be missed on your trip.
One of the most popular options is to take a Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan. I personally did not have enough time to do one, but heard very good things about it and definitely will do one in the future. The journey from Luxor to Aswan by river cruise takes about 5 days, the other way around “only” 3-4 days.
Alternatively, if you don’t have enough time, you can just take a boat tour on the Nile with one of the traditional Felucca. It’s not the same but also gives you an idea of the amazing tranquility of being on the Nile. I specifically recommend doing one in Aswan, as the area with it’s many islands and sand dunes is simply magical.
How much is it to take a boat tour or river cruise on the Nile?
River cruises on the Nile are actually not very affordable. On a high quality ship, rates are often as high as 300 USD per person, per night. Less luxury, more basic ships can be cheaper but are still relatively expensive. A boat tour will, of course, be much cheaper, as it typically only lasts for 1-2 hours.
6. Visit a colourful Nubian village in Aswan
Something you might not expect in Egypt is the next bucket list experience on my list: Visit a colourful Nubian village. The typical style of Nubian houses is very colourful, beautifully decorated and mostly the roof has a round shape, not the typical architecture in Egypt. If you like taking photos and creating content, this is bucket list experience in Egypt should be high priority for you.
I personally visited the Nubian village across the river from Aswan and LOVED it. Hundreds of photos taken and impressive memories created.
One of my favourite places was the Kato Dool Resort. It’s a quite luxury hotel on top of the dunes with amazing views and beautiful colours and views. I did not stay there, but went for dinner and enjoyed the stunning setting! Highly recommend a coffee at the Nubian Palace as well. If I were to return to Aswan, I would definitely stay here!
How much is it to visit the Nubian village in Aswan?
A visit to the village itself, is free. Getting here either by boat or car will cost a bit, but not too much.
If you want to visit some specific places/ hotels, you might have to invest some money on a coffee, lunch or dinner there.
Where to stay in Aswan?
I personally stayed at a small family-run guest house on Elephantine island, called Nile View Guest House. I enjoyed my stay there a lot, especially the Nile views from the porch.
If I would visit again, I would probably stay at the Kato Dool hotel, with its colourful vibes and unique views of the Nile. Went there for dinner and was blown away by its views and design. Here are some others to consider for every budget:
Budget-friendly stays & hostels:
Mid-Range hotels:
Luxury lodges & stays:
7. Take a hot air balloon flight in Luxor
This is definitely a MUST DO bucket list experience in Egypt – easily one of my favourites!
Visiting the Valley of the Kings and exploring some of the impressive temples in the area is great, but taking a hot air balloon flight and seeing all the beautiful sights from above is next level.
The flights take place every day (weather permitting) for sunrise with the perfect light on a clear day!
You will be able to see the Valley of the Kings, Mortuary temple of Hatshepsut, Colossi de Memnon and more places from above with the perfect golden light of the sunrise. Highly recommend this bucketlist experience when in Egypt!
How much does it cost to take a hot air balloon flight in Luxor?
Prices vary a bit on different companies and timing of the flight (often there is a second round, which is cheaper than the first). The tour I recommend is just below 100€, totally worth it in my opinion.
Where to stay in Luxor?
You might either visit Luxor as part of your Nile cruise or just stay a couple of nights in the area – I recommend at least 2-3 nights for the best bucket list experiences.
Here are some hotel options for every budget:
Budget-friendly stays & hostels:
Mid-range stays & hotels:
- Bedouin Lodge (this is where I stayed and i LOVED IT – it’s also one of my favourite hidden gems in Egypt)
- Casa Loko Guest House
Luxury stays & hotels:
And that’s the end of my article to my favourite bucket list experiences in Egypt! I hope this blog post was helpful for planning your next trip to Egypt.
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