EXPLORE ANCIENT EGYPT

If you’ve ever dreamed of stepping into the world of ancient queens, golden treasures, and stories that shaped civilisation, Egypt is a journey unlike ANYTHING I have ever seen. The landscapes are breathtaking, the temples awe-inspiring, and the mythology is what inspired the Morgan & Äya brand today. 

Between bustling Cairo, golden temples in Aswan, and drifting nights on the Nile, every day feels like stepping into another world. I want to share with you my 10-day journey, looping from Cairo back to Cairo, filled with temples, tombs, queens, and stories. 

This guide not only shares the route, but also some personal notes and tips to make the most of your own adventure.

Day 1–2: Cairo – Pyramids, Sphinx & City Life

Cairo is a city of contrasts. Downtown Cairo is chaotic, noisy, and alive at all hours and this is where I stayed to feel the “real” city. Then there’s Zamalek, an island in the Nile, leafy and trendy with cool cafés. The city sprawls endlessly, and Uber is by far the easiest way to get around. It’s shockingly cheap, our ride from the airport to downtown Cairo was about €3.

Of course, you start with the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx. These are the icons of Egypt, and no matter how many photos you’ve seen, standing at their base is spine-tingling. Adventurous travellers can crawl inside the Great Pyramid of Khufu, but be prepared, it’s tight, steep, and hot.

 

 

Camel rides here are a once-in-a-lifetime photo opportunity, but here’s my advice: pay upfront, in full. Some tourists pay for “one way” and then get told it’s extra to come back. You don’t want to be left in the desert negotiating with a camel handler. Keep small notes for tips too, because the local kids will pop up offering to snap photos for you. It’s worth it. Let’s be honest, when are you next going to be on a camel in front of the pyramids again!?!

 

✨ Food tip: Try Molokhia soup: a green soup made from jute leaves, dating back to Ancient Egypt where it was considered food for pharaohs. Another Cairo specialty is Hawawshi (stuffed flatbread with spiced meat) which is hearty, flavourful and a little oily. This is another traditional Egyptian street food.

✨ Shopping tip: The Khan el-Khalili Bazaar is pure Aladdin vibes. Think lamps, spices, oils, perfumes, jewellery. I loved Perfumes Palace, where I stocked up on pure jojoba, argan, and avocado oil (I even make my own lightweight makeup remover now). Plan at least 3–4 hours if you like shopping, and save it for the end of your trip. Otherwise, you’ll be carrying treasures across Egypt.

And for my four-eyed friends: Cairo is full of optometrists. I got designer frames plus lenses for €40 - I wish I’d bought more, even sunglasses!

✨ Perfume obsession: I also fell in love with Hamasat Fragrances. Egypt has a deep history with perfumes and essential oils. Cleopatra herself was known to bathe in rose and jasmine oils. At Hamasat, you can mix your own scent or choose blends inspired by Dior, Hermes, or Gucci. Choose the rich oil version, or the alcohol-based spritz. Prices aren’t “cheap,” but they’re far below European department stores, and the scent lasts all day!

 

Night 2: Sleeper Train to Aswan

That night, we boarded the sleeper train to Aswan. It’s literally the opposite of luxurious. It's bumpy, noisy, and the food (yes, they serve dinner and breakfast) is basic. Pack snacks and water. 

And a memory I’ll never forget: porters casually carrying 20 suitcases across the train tracks instead of using the overhead bridge. Watching that as a Dutch resident (where safety rules are gospel) was surreal.

Other options: you can fly (quick but pricier) or take a coach. But the sleeper train feels like part of the adventure.

 

Day 3: Abu Simbel

From Aswan, we woke at 4 am for the drive to Abu Simbel. And honestly? Holy schmokes.

Ramses II had these temples carved into a cliff face in the 13th century BC. He wasn’t shy, he considered himself semi-divine, and these statues were built to show his god-like status (his "ascendance"). The smaller temple next to it is dedicated to Queen Nefertari, his most beloved wife. She’s shown standing equal in height to Ramses, which you have to realise is actually very rare in Ancient Egypt. Women were always depicted as smaller or shorter than the men, but since she was constructed in equal height, it's likely the bond between them was strong, and represented an equal partnership. Nefertari was celebrated for her diplomacy and wisdom, often credited with restoring harmony in times of chaos. Nefertari is different to Nefertiti - the famous elegant bust statue (now in Berlin) with her chiseled jawline and blue crown. 

✨ Tip: Tour buses start arriving around 8–9 am. Aim to get there earlier to snap some shots without the crowds.

 

Day 4: Aswan & the Nubian Village

Back in Aswan, we visited Philae Temple, dedicated to Goddess Isis, goddess of motherhood and magic. The carvings show her power and influence. She’s one of the great inspirations behind Morgan & Äya.

But the Nubian Village was what truly stunned me. The Nubians are an ancient people with their own language, culture, and cuisine, distinct from Egyptians. Their houses are painted in vivid blues and oranges, almost like a rainbow rising from the desert. Why so colourful? It reflects Nubian identity and joy, and their closeness to the Nile. Some families even keep crocodiles in their homes! This is a tradition rooted in local heritage. Their spices are renowned: fragrant, rich, and unlike anything you find in Cairo. 

✨ Tip: Even in October, Aswan can reach 42°C. Ideally keep yourself covered from head to toe, but in something lightweight, such as cotton or linen. 

 

 

Day 5–6: Felucca Sailing on the Nile

One of the highlights of Egypt is sailing on a felucca. This is a traditional wooden sailboat that has been used on the Nile for millennia. The design dates back to Ancient Egypt, when feluccas carried people and goods up and down the river. To think that we were drifting on the same kind of boat that Egyptians used thousands of years ago gave me chills.

At night, we docked by the Nile riverbank, gathered around a fire and shared food. Local villagers joined us, with children selling trinkets and singing songs. The language barrier was big - but we all understood laughter and good music. When they laughed, we laughed. It was one of the purest, most human nights of my life.

 

 

✨ Tip: I know it's tempting, but avoid swimming in the Nile, as the water isn’t clean. We did extensive google research to come to this conclusion!

It was during this journey that I asked our guide about the Nile goddesses. Two in particular stood out for me (and of course, I later created jewellery inspired by them):

• Hapi – The Nile Goddess
  Hapi was not only the goddess of the Nile, but also the embodiment of its fertility and abundance. She was often depicted as an androgynous figure with a rounded belly, wearing papyrus plants from the north or lotus plants from the south. The Ancient Egyptians believed she was the source of the Nile’s annual floods, which brought the silt and water that made the land fertile. Without Hapi, Egypt’s crops — and civilisation itself — would not have thrived. She symbolised nourishment, renewal, and life.

• Sopdet – Goddess of the Brightest Star
  Sopdet was the goddess personifying the star Sirius, the brightest star in the sky. The heliacal rising of Sirius each year coincided with the Nile flood, marking the start of the Egyptian New Year. She was often shown as a woman wearing a five-pointed star on her head, sometimes accompanied by a dog (linking her to the constellation Canis Major). For the Ancient Egyptians, Sopdet represented guidance, cosmic order, and the rhythm of the seasons.

 

 

Day 7: Kom Ombo & Edfu

We stopped at Kom Ombo, temple of Sobek, the crocodile god. Crocodiles once filled this stretch of the Nile, and the temple’s dual dedication (to Sobek and Horus) is unique. Typically temples were built to honour only one god or goddess at a time. 

Then Edfu Temple, dedicated to Horus, the falcon god. Horus is central to Egyptian mythology. He is the son of Goddess Isis, god of kingship and the sky, and often depicted with the Eye of Horus, symbolising protection.

At Edfu Temple, I remember just standing in awe at how perfectly symmetrical everything was - especially the temple doors. At first I thought, okay, that’s just beautiful architecture. But then our guide explained why.

The inner sanctuary was the home of the gods, and the doors were designed so that from the very heart of the temple you could see out into the world, flooded with light. But from outside, looking inward, all you saw was darkness.

That idea stopped me in my tracks. From the gods’ perspective, your light is always visible. Even when you feel hidden, even when you doubt yourself, even when you think nobody sees you - they do. You shine.

I got completely caught up in that symbolism of “inner light,” and when I came home, I knew I had to create pieces around it. The Edfu Temple Earrings and Edfu Temple Necklace are my little ode to that concept: jewellery as a reminder that your light is forever seen, even on days when you can’t see it yourself.

Day 8-9: Luxor

Luxor really is the beating heart of Ancient Egypt. Once called Thebes, it was the capital of the New Kingdom, a place where pharaohs ruled and gods were worshipped with giant temples. We spent two full days here, and honestly, you could spend a week and still feel like you’d only scratched the surface.

We started with Luxor Temple at sunset. The timing matters — as the sun drops, the columns glow gold, and suddenly you’re not just looking at ruins, you’re inside a living memory. I couldn’t stop staring at the columns themselves: some are shaped like lotus flowers, others like papyrus leaves. The symbolism is beautiful — lotus representing Upper Egypt, papyrus for Lower Egypt. Together, they show the unification of the kingdom, a reminder that Egypt was strongest when it was whole. What’s also fascinating about Luxor Temple is that it isn’t just purely “Egyptian.” Over centuries, parts of it were adapted for different religions — pharaonic, Greco-Roman, Christian, and even Islamic influences layered into the same site. Standing there, you feel the weight of multiple civilisations pressing into one place.

 

 

 

Then came Karnak Temple, and nothing prepares you for its scale. It’s not just a temple, it’s a complex, dedicated primarily to Amun-Ra, king of the gods, but with shrines for Mut, Khonsu, and others too.

 

 

The next morning, we woke at 4 am for the hot air balloon ride. It’s early, yes, but you want to be in the sky as the sun rises over the Valley of the Kings. You can expect roughly 20-30 people in the basket. The silence, the colours, the temples and tombs spread out below… it was honestly breathtaking. One of those experiences where you catch yourself grinning because it feels unreal.

 

 

And then, of course, the Valley of the Kings. Pharaohs didn’t want their tombs to be obvious targets for looting, so instead of pyramids, they carved them into the desert cliffs. Hidden, secret, protected. Inside, the tombs were filled with treasures to accompany the pharaohs into the afterlife such as gold, jewellery, amulets, food, even clothing. Of course this has all been removed, but you get the picture. 

 

 

Your ticket usually gives access to three tombs, and I’d recommend Ramses IV, Ramses IX, and Tutankhamun. The colours in Ramses IV’s tomb are shockingly vivid, blues, reds, yellows that look like they were painted yesterday, not thousands of years ago. This was because it was only discovered recently, in the 1920's and all it's treasures were still inside instead of being looted. The walls are covered with scenes from the Book of the Dead, star maps, and spells for safe passage into the afterlife.

 

 

It was here that I first saw Nut, goddess of the night sky. She’s often shown arching over the earth, her body filled with stars, swallowing the sun each evening and giving birth to it again each morning. She represents the eternal cycle of day and night, life and rebirth. I haven’t created jewellery of her yet, but trust me, she’ll make an appearance in a future Morgan & Äya collection. She’s too magical not to.

 

 

And finally, we went to the temple at Deir el-Bahari built by (my ultimate girl crush) Queen Hatshepsut. The place itself is pretty cool, but it's Queenie that I'm most impressed with. It wasn't enough for Hatshepsut to be queen, so she declared herself Pharaoh (yes girl) one of the few women in history to do so. She wore the false beard, took the title, and ruled as powerfully as any man. She reopened trade routes, brought wealth to Egypt, and left behind monuments that still stand. To me, she’s the embodiment of strength, vision, and audacity. She’s the reason Morgan & Äya exists - the muse who proved that women can shape history too. 

 

 

 

Day 10: Cairo Finale – Egyptian Museum

Back in Cairo, I finally visited the Egyptian Museum. After seeing temples and tombs, the treasures hit differently. King Tut’s mask is so highly decorated with gold, I could have sworn it glowed. I sat sketching for hours, inspired by the jewellery that I saw. It still felt modern even thousands of years later.

 

Useful Egyptian Arabic Words

One of the most rewarding parts of traveling through Egypt is connecting with people — whether you’re buying spices in a Cairo suq, chatting with your felucca crew, or tipping a camel guide at Giza. While most people in tourism speak at least some English, learning a few words of Egyptian Arabic goes a long way. It shows respect, often brings a smile, and sometimes even gets you a better deal when haggling.

Here are a few essentials I found useful during my 10-day Egypt itinerary. I’ve included phonetic pronunciations and tips on when to use them.

• Hello – Salaam Alaikum (sah-LAAM ah-LAY-koom)
  A polite and universal greeting meaning “peace be upon you.” You’ll hear it everywhere, from Cairo to Aswan. The common reply is Wa Alaikum Salaam (wa ah-LAY-koom sah-LAAM), meaning “and upon you, peace.”

• Goodbye – Ma’a Salama (mah-a sah-LAH-mah)
  Literally “go with peace.” You can use this when leaving a shop, saying goodbye to your driver, or at the end of a conversation.

• Thank you – Shukran (SHOOK-rahn)
  Polite and essential. Use it when paying, when someone helps you, or really any time you want to be respectful.

• You’re welcome – Afwan (AFF-wahn)
  The standard response to “Shukran.” It’s also used to mean “excuse me” in some situations (like getting someone’s attention in a shop).

• Yes – Naam (NAH-ahm)
  Clear and formal, but in everyday Egyptian Arabic you’ll also hear Aywa (EYE-wah), which is more casual.

• No – La’ (Lah’)
  Short and firm. Very handy in bazaars, camel markets, or when politely refusing offers.

• How much? – Be kam? (beh KAHM)
  Essential for haggling. Pair it with a smile — haggling in Egypt is cultural, fun, and expected.

• Fifty – Khamseen (kham-SEEN)
  I found this especially useful when haggling in Cairo’s Khan el-Khalili Bazaar. Numbers beyond 20 can get tricky, but knowing a few basics like 50 makes a difference.

✨ Tip: Egyptians are warm and hospitable, so don’t be shy about trying these words. Even if your pronunciation isn’t perfect, the effort is always appreciated.

Final Thoughts

Egypt is one of those places that stays under your skin. It’s chaotic and dazzling and at times exhausting, but in the best possible way. One minute you’re riding a camel in front of the pyramids, the next you’re drifting down the Nile on a felucca, holding hands with strangers around a fire. There were moments I was overwhelmed by the heat (42°C in Aswan is no joke), or baffled by the haggling, or jolted awake on the sleeper train at 2 am. But those moments are part of the charm - they make the trip real, and they’re the stories you bring home.

If you’re planning your own trip, my biggest tips would be:

• Pack light, breathable clothes, Egypt’s sun is relentless, even in October.

• Carry small bills for tips and haggling. Tipping is actually very culturally embedded and welcomed. It's not seen as "conflict". It's just part of the transaction. 

• Save your shopping for last in Cairo, the bazaars are magical, but you don’t want to haul oils and perfumes across the country.

• Don’t rush Luxor, give it two full days if you can. It’s where the magic really comes alive.

And then there’s the personal side. For me, Egypt wasn’t just sightseeing. It was sitting in front of Hatshepsut’s temple and thinking about a woman who refused to play small. It was learning that Isis, Nut, and Nefertari weren’t just figures carved in stone — they were symbols of power, magic, and renewal. Those women still speak, thousands of years later, and they’re the voices I carry into my jewellery at Morgan & Äya.

If Egypt is on your list, then this is your sign to go.

And when you come home, you’ll understand why those queens & goddesses of Ancient Egypt never stopped inspiring me, in history, in art, and yes, even in jewellery. ✨