Wander From Home: Ancient Egypt Beckons with These Virtual Tours from Cairo and Aswan
PUBLISHED June 9th, 2020 06:00 am | UPDATED June 16th, 2020 10:52 am
When you think of Egypt, the iconic pyramids of Giza and the majestic Sphinx come to mind. But Egypt is more than that. A country with a rich legacy and equally promising future, Egypt has lured adventurous explorers and curious archaeologists for aeons. Join us as we take you back in time with this virtual journey and explore the mysterious remnants of the ancient world through historical sites, monuments and archaeological digs.
Cairo
Known as The City of a Thousand Minarets, Cairo is not just the capital of Egypt but also the second most populous city in Africa. Teeming with iconic landmarks, bustling traffic and ornate temples, there’s plenty to see and experience.
Get Up-Close With The Great Pyramid and Sphinx of Giza
Erected 5000 years ago by the people of ancient Memphis as tombs for their kings, these pyramids are the last remaining wonder of the ancient world. Witness the magnificence of these towering structures with your own eyes as you walk through the Giza Necropolis here. There’s more to this than meets the eye. Uncover the secrets of these great pyramids by stepping into The Great Pyramid of Giza with this 360-degree video. Got some time to spare? This virtual tour lets you explore King Khufu’s grandaughter, Queen Meresankh III‘s ornate tomb adorned with breathtaking wall art and rock-cut statues.
Geek Out at The Egyptian Museum
This one’s for the history buffs and amateur archaeologists. The Egyptian Museum in Cairo houses an unbelievable exhibit of over 120, 000 artefacts that depict ancient Egypt’s glorious reign. Mummies of pharaohs, sarcophagi, jewellery and King Tut’s treasures – all preserved perfectly in their natural splendour. Take this two-part walking tour of the museum where you will come across pharaonic antiquities like the Gold Death Mask of Tutankhamun crafted with 11kg of solid gold precious gems and even an Animal Mummies Hall. This museum will soon be superseded by the one billion dollars state-of-the-art Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) located on the Giza plateau. Once construction wraps up in 2021, it will also be the largest archaeological museum in the world.
Take a Trip to Cairo’s Flavourtown
There’s no better way to immerse yourself in a country’s culture than through its food. And when it comes to Cairo, whether you want a restaurant-quality meal or fuss-free street food, culinary options are hearty and aplenty. Walk into any restaurant in Cairo – or Egypt, as a matter of fact – and you are bound to find Koshary on their menu. Crowned as the national dish of Egypt, Koshary is a flavourful medley of rice, lentils, pasta and onions tossed in copious amounts of tomato sauce. Hungry yet? Have a go at recreating the Egyptian staple with this recipe.
Another street food classic you have to try is the sinful Shawarma – thin slices of meat are carved from a rotating spit and wrapped with a fluffy pita. For a truly immersive experience, watch how these Egyptian delights are made in this street food tour as you chow down your homemade renditions.
Aswan
From mesmerising temples to serene boat rides, Aswan is peppered with historical treasures, quaint Nubian villages and stunning Nile views. Here are the unmissable sights of the trade centre of Southern Egypt.
Explore The Nubian Village
One of the oldest civilisations of Africa, Nubia is a stark contrast to the rest of Egypt, bursting with an abundance of hues. The Nubian villages lie on the Western Bank of the Nile river, around 30 minutes by boat from Aswan – wherein lies the fun. Hop aboard a traditional felucca boat and sail down the longest river in the world in this video as you take in panoramic views of the never-ending stretch of azure blue water. Once you have arrived, wander through the brightly-coloured village and interact with friendly locals at the lively market here.
Temple of Philae
Next stop, the sacred site of the Temple of Philae. Interestingly enough, this temple was relocated block by block from Philae Island to Agilikia Island during the construction of the Aswan High Dam as part of UNESCO’s rescue project. Embark on a 360-degree virtual tour of this venerated sanctuary dedicated to the goddess of Isis with this video. Enter through the First Pylon, an 18-meter-high grand entrance guarded by granite lions. Explore the temple’s main courtyard and inner sanctums before finally making your way to the Gateway of Hadrian. Keep an eye out for the hieroglyphic reliefs engraved on the walls of the complex that are still being studied to this day.
Luxor
Luxor is where new meets old – this modern-day Egyptian city lies atop what was once the ancient city of Thebes, the capital of unified Egypt. Here’s how you can explore the world’s greatest open-air museum.
Valley of The Kings
On one hand, you have the behemoth pyramids and on the other, hidden underground mausoleums. Standing on the west bank of Nile, the Valley of The Kings was a royal burial ground for the pharaohs and powerful nobles of the New Kingdom. While almost all the tombs have been looted in antiquity, the murals and hieroglyphs that decorate the walls give us invaluable insight into the funerary rituals and beliefs of the Ancient Egyptians. To this day, this UNESCO World Heritage site is still the subject of archaeological exploration. Unveil the mysteries of this historical site here.
Bask in The Divinity of Karnak Temple
A vast complex of temples spanning a massive 200 acres, the Karnak Temple is known to be the second most popular spot in Egypt after the Giza pyramids. This maze-like precinct is devoted to the Theban triad of Amun, Muta and Khonsu of which only the sacred enclosure of Amun is open to the public. In this virtual 3D tour, navigate your way through the temple taking time to marvel at the procession of ram-headed sphinxes, granite obelisks and most importantly the heart of Karnak – the grand Hypostyle Hall held together by 134 columns that is the largest religious space in the world.
Top Image: Photo by Spencer Davis on Unsplash
