7 Great Non Touristy Things to do in Egypt

If you are looking for non touristy things to do in Egypt, we can help with some great recommendations. In this post, we will look at some of the things you can do, and some really good places to visit where you won’t come across large crowds of tourists. Continue reading to find out more about going off the beaten track during your trip to Egypt.

Visit Gezira Island

Gezira Island is a man-made island located to the west of downtown Cairo. The island was originally called “Jardin des Plantes” which In English means garden of plants. This was due to the island’s fantastic collection of exotic plants that have been shipped in from all around the world.

The northern 3rd of the Gezira Island Is home to Zamalek, which is a very affluent district, while the southern part of the island is home to the Gezira district. The island is home to the grand Cairo Opera House, a number of embassies, the Museum of Modern Egyptian Art, a popular cultural center, numerous international restaurants and trendy cafes, along with a number of upmarket hotels. If you want to get a feel of what it is like in one of Egypt’s upscale districts, then Gezira Island is the place to go.

Visit Al Azhar Park

Visiting Al Azhar Park in Historic Cairo is one of the best non touristy things to do in Egypt if you find yourself in Cairo, the countries bustling capital. The park was created at a cost of roughly 30 million US dollars. It has also been listed as one of the world’s top 60 green spaces. The park is home to numerous shaded sitting areas, lush greenery, and even a restaurant where you can sit and enjoy some delicious authentic Egyptian cuisine.

Whether you want to enjoy a family picnic or whether you simply just want to get away from the chaos of Cairo, visiting Al Azhar Park is a fabulous choice for families, groups of friends, and even solo travelers.

Visit Cairo’s Mosques

Cairo is home to numerous beautiful mosques, including the Al-Rifai Mosque, the Al Azhar Mosque, the Ibn Tulan Mosque, and the Muhammad Ali Alabaster Mosque, to name just a few. The Alabaster Mosque which is located within the Cairo Citadel is perhaps the most famous mosque in Cairo, so you may encounter some tourists if you choose to visit this mosque.

Unlike in most Muslim majority countries, most of the mosques in Egypt are open to visitors, including non-muslims. However you should avoid visiting a mosque during prayer times. One should also be aware of the fact that women are required to cover their hair, neck and shoulders when entering a mosque. In a nutshell, visiting a number of mosques during your time in Cairo is one of the top non touristy things to do in Egypt.

Visit the Mummification Museum in Luxor

You may be surprised to see mention of the Mummification Museum in Luxor in our list of non touristy things to do in Egypt, but believe us when we say that it is not a very touristy venue, although you may encounter a small number of tourists when you visit. This is a great venue to visit if you want to learn more about the fascinating history of the ancient Egyptian process of preserving bodies.

Interestingly the ancient Egyptians didn’t only embalm humans, but instead, they also embalmed several animals, including cats, dogs and crocodiles. The mummification process typically took around 70 days due to the fact that the process was also accompanied by several different rituals. If you find yourself in Luxor, a visit to this fascinating museum is one of the top non touristy things to do in Egypt.

Visit Deir el Medina (Valley of the Artisans)

A visit to the Deir el Medina, aka Valley of Artisans, is another one of our top recommendations of non touristy things to do in Egypt. This ancient village is located near modern day Luxor, and was once home to the workers and craftsman who constructed and decorated the more than 60 royal tombs that one can see in the nearby Valley of Kings.

When this site was being excavated, it provided a monumental amount of insight into the social interactions, working conditions, and living conditions of a community in the ancient Egyptian civilization. While the Valley of Kings is a massively popular tourist attraction, it is unlikely that you will encounter many, if any tourists at the Valley of the Artisans.

Enjoy a Desert Hike with Ancient Tombs and Monasteries

This is one of the top non touristy things to do in Egypt if you find yourself in the vicinity of Aswan. The western bank of the Nile River looks like a steep gigantic mountain of sand but when you get up close it isn’t as steep as it appears from a distance. Hiking up the embankment is relatively easy, and hiking across the open desert when you get to the top is even easier.

One of the first places you will come across is the ruins of the Monastery of St. Simeon. You can visit this site but you need to pay a small fee. If you follow the dirt road from there you will then arrive at the Monastery of St. Hedra, a modern monastery which is still operating to this day.

The area is also home to numerous tombs which have been sealed with steel doors. However, don’t be surprised if you come across 1 or 2 that are open due to their doors having been ripped off. This really enjoyable hike begins at the Tombs of the Nobles.

Visit Some Nubian Villages

There are numerous Nubian villages in the vicinity of modern day Aswan, and many local tour operators now offer organized tours to some of these villages. However since you are looking for non touristy things to do in Egypt, we would recommend that you avoid visiting any Nubian villages that are featured in popular tours.

If you want to avoid tourists, then we would recommend visiting the villages of Nagaa Al Hamdlab and Nagel-Gulab. Don’t expect any special treatment just because you are a foreigner because these are just ordinary people going about their daily lives. Some of the locals will smile and wave at you, but otherwise you are largely just ignored.

There is also a very small but nice tea house located on the road between these two villages. Next door to the tea house is a local restaurant, but be aware that this is a “very” local restaurant. If it is not too local for you then you’ll be able to enjoy a nice lunch which will hardly cost you anything. Once again, this walk also begins at the Tombs of the Nobles. Be mindful to take plenty of drinking water with.

Book your Off the Beaten Track Egypt Vacation Today

At Egypt Tours Plus, we offer a fantastic range of private guided Egypt tour packages but, if these are too touristy for you, we happy to craft a custom tour to any and all places and attractions that you would like to see and experience.

Contact us now to find out more about non touristy things to do in Egypt, or to begin planning your unforgettable custom Egypt tour today.

 

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Last Updated on October 1, 2024