Discover Egypt - 10 top tips | Travel articles, news & videos

Sail over Luxor in a hot air-balloon or watch life on the West Bank from a hammock - read our 10 top tips for Egypt holidays.

1/ Have breakfast overlooking the Pyramids

The Mena House Oberoi is a fascinating historic hotel that has seen kings, emperors and celebrities pass through its doors. The hotel is right by the Pyramids and near the Sphinx - and its best selling point? Enjoy breakfast overlooking the Pyramids and beat the crowds for a more intimate experience.

2/ Stay low-key by the Red Sea

You don't have to tag along with the masses in Egypt. Stay in the lesser-known Red Sea resort of Ain Soukhna. It's just two hours from the Pyramids, so you can still catch Egypt's most famous sights as well as relaxing on the beach. The four-star Stella Grand has a massive spa if you want to indulge in some 'me time' on holiday.

Read more about our Ain Soukhna holidays

3/ Book a hot air balloon flight

As dawn breaks and the rays of sun filter across the horizon, drift over Luxor's West Bank during a serene hot-air balloon flight. With a bird's-eye-view of the river Nile and spectacular ruins, this is an experience not to miss. Look down and spot the monuments, temples and tombs of Necropolis, and soar over the Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens.

4/ Discover Alexandria's charm

Often overlooked is the Mediterranean coast of Alexandria. Once the capital of Greco-Roman Egypt, Alexandria is a charming city with golden beaches and fascinating museums. Visit Bibliotheca Alexandria, which houses a museum of antiquities, and make a beeline for Montazah Palace, the last residence of King Farouk I.

5/ Watch life on the West Bank

Chill-out in a hammock overlooking the Nile while staying at the Hilton Luxor. You can spend hours watching the world go by along the West Bank - one of the most important archaeological sites in the world and the home to the Valley of Kings and Queens.

6/ Sail down the Nile

Grab the chance to stay aboard a boat and cruise down the Nile. Many Kuoni cruises are escorted by an Egyptologist, so you can learn about Egypt's incredible sights en route. Sailing choices include the luxurious Oberoi Zahra, or a traditional sail-powered Lazuli - an intimate and beautifully-crafted wooden boat.

7/ Get active

Dive among vivid coral in the Red Sea - one of the world's finest psychedelic underwater worlds, or head out into the desert on a dune buggy experience from Sharm el Sheikh. There's plenty to keep the adrenalin pumping.

8/ Be tempted by the temples

Book a three-night Lake Nasser cruise and visit the amazing temples that had to be moved when the Aswan Dam was built. Approach the magnificent temples of Rameses II at Abu Simbel from the lake, it will be unforgettable.

9/ Learn from the experts

Our Egyptian Classic escorted tour is a fascinating insight into some of the world's most outstanding sightseeing. The tour includes Siwa oasis, where the Oracle advised Alexander the Great that he was going to be the next pharaoh of Egypt; a tour of the Pyramids and a Nile cruise from Cairo to Aswan.

Read more about our Egypt escorted tours

10 / Make your holiday last longer

You can easily extend a holiday in Egypt. Choose Jordan and visit the capturing sights of Petra, or book Libya so you can go and explore Leptis Magna, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Read more about our Multi-centre holidays