egypt tourism pictures

Egypt in Pictures: 18 Beautiful Places to Photograph

Written by Diana Bocco Updated Jan 18, 2023

Home to one of the oldest and most advanced ancient civilizations, Egypt stuns with impressive opportunities to capture gorgeous pictures at every corner.

From thrilling desert safaris to stunning beaches and blue lagoons to the unmissable pyramids, there are plenty of things to do in Egypt for every type of traveler.

A country that has fascinated the world for centuries, Egypt is an eclectic mix of art, culture, history, and stunning natural wonders that make striking subjects for great images. Whether you're heading over for nature or man-made wonders, here are some of the most beautiful spots to photograph in Egypt.

1. Pyramids of Giza

2. karnak temple, 3. abu simbel temples, 4. valley of the kings, 5. fayoum's magic lake, 6. mount sinai, 7. sharm el luli, 8. siwa salt lakes, 9. sahara desert, 10. red sea coast, 11. temple of horus, 12. dashur pyramids, 13. fjord bay, 14. great sphinx of giza, 15. ras mohammed national park, 16. white desert national park, 17. siwa oasis, 18. the nile.

Just 13 kilometers outside Cairo, the three pyramids of Giza are Egypt's most famous photo subject. The oldest and largest of the three, the Great Pyramid of Giza stands at 146.5 meters tall and was built using 2.3 million granite stone blocks.

Although the pyramids you see today are rough and dusty, they were originally covered in smooth limestone.

• Read More: Pyramids of Giza: Attractions, Tips & Tours

Karnak is a complex of temples and chapels, including the impressive Hypostyle Hall, which covers 5,000 square meters and contains 134 columns that can reach up to 10 meters tall. Karnak is a vast open site that took many years to build — over 30 pharaohs contributed to the design and expansion of the structure. Today, you can capture beautiful images of the stone sculptures against a bright blue sky.

• Read More: Exploring The Temples of Karnak: A Visitor's Guide

The two rock temples at Abu Simbel date back to the 13th century, when they were carved right on the mountainside by order of Pharaoh Ramesses II. The temples are dedicated to the pharaoh and his queen Nefertari. The temples were originally located somewhere else but were relocated in 1968 when the Aswan High Dam reservoir was built — without relocation, they would've been completely submerged underwater.

To add to your portfolio of travel images, you can visit Abu Simbel on a day trip from Aswan .

• Read More: Exploring Abu Simbel: A Visitor's Guide

The 63 tombs carved on the cliffs at Valley of the Kings were built over a period of 500 years, starting in the 11 th century BC. Pharaohs, powerful nobles, and their families have their final resting place here. KV5, the largest tomb, with at least 130 rooms and rich decorations representing Egyptian mythology, was built for the sons of Ramesses II.

• Read More: Exploring The Valley of the Kings: A Visitor's Guide

The Fayoum Oasis is a basin just south of Cairo. Better known for its ancient saltwater lake that changes color throughout the day depending on how the sunlight hits the water, Fayoum is surrounded by sand dunes, and it's also a great location for sandboarding and taking memorable pictures.

The lake's high content of salt and minerals is believed to be healing and is visited by many to treat rheumatism and other health issues.

Also known as Mount Moses, Mount Sinai — potentially the location for the biblical mountain and a holy site — sits right next to other peaks, including Egypt's highest mountain, Saint Catherine. The summit of Mount Sinai can be reached in as little as 2.5 hours on foot, though camel rides are also available to cover the route.

• Read More: Saint Catherine's Monastery: A Visitor's Guide

The white, soft sands of Sharm El Luli beach stretch next to a crystal-clear lagoon. Smooth shores, vast coral reefs, and shades of blue make this one of Egypt's best beaches and a perfect destination for snorkeling, diving, and taking incredible photos. The area is underdeveloped — no hotels, no restaurants, and all the peace and quiet you could want.

A mystical mix of soft white salt and turquoise waters, the Siwa Lake is over 95 percent salt. The lake attracts many people who believe in its healing abilities. The salt is also harvested and used to create lamps, as it's believed the curative qualities of the salt increase as the lamp heats up.

The world's largest hot desert is about the size of the United States — that's eight percent of the world's land area. Covered in sand seas and stone plateaus, the Sahara has sand dunes that can reach 180 meters tall, with opportunities for eye-popping pictures.

The Sahara desert can be cold at night, with temperatures sometimes plunging to freezing levels.

Egypt's Red Sea coastline — also known as the Red Sea Riviera — is made up of a number of resort cities. The combination of warm waters, soft white sands, and diverse marine life makes the area a popular destination for snorkeling and cruises.

• Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in the Red Sea Region

Built sometime between 237 BC and 57 BC, the Temple of Horus in Edfu is one of the best-preserved ancient temples in Egypt. Because of its location on the banks of the Nile, it's often a stop for cruises that go down the river. At night, the entire temple is illuminated with a sound and light show, making it one of the few Egyptian temples that can be visited at night.

• Read More: Exploring Edfu's Magnificent Temple of Horus

The Giza pyramids might be the most famous in Egypt, but the Dashur pyramids are just as impressive. In fact, the Dashur pyramids are some of the oldest in Egypt, dating back to 2613 BC. The construction techniques used here helped Egyptians transition between the older step-sided pyramids to the smooth surface pyramids that were built later on.

The contrast of crystal-blue waters and the deep gold of the desert sands around it is striking here. Coral reefs that reach 24 meters deep at the "Fjord hole" make this a diver's paradise. Located 15 kilometers from the ancient town of Taba, the bay makes for a perfect half-day trip.

Technically part of the Giza complex, the Sphinx represents a mythical creature that's part human, part lion. Sitting at 73 meters long and 20 meters high, the Sphinx is the oldest and largest monumental sculpture in the country. Historians and archeologists have always speculated that there are secret hidden chambers under the Sphinx, but nothing has been found so far despite much searching.

Overlooking both the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Aqaba, Ras Mohammad National Park is right on the very popular Red Sea Riviera area, at Sharm el-Sheikh . Here, islands, underwater caves, mangrove forests, and sand dunes mix together to create one of the most stunning coastlines in Egypt. Aside from the beautiful coral, divers can also find the wreck of the British Navy ship SS Thistlegorm underwater.

Sahara el Beyda (also known as "the white desert of Egypt") is a surreal place, where wind and sand have "sculpted" otherworldly formations out of white chalk, evoking images of stark beauty. The protected area extends for over 3,000 square kilometers and also includes sand dunes, rust-colored rock formations, and two oases.

A surprising large number of animals live here, including fennec foxes, Rhmim gazelles, and sand cats.

Sitting close to the Libyan border and next to the Great Sand Sea, the Siwa Oasis is home to one of the most isolated human settlements in the world — about 33,000 ethnic Berbers call the place home.

The ruins of the 13th-century Shali fortress — built of local salt rocks — is the most famous place to take photos here.

As the longest river in Africa, the Nile has shaped history in many countries, but especially in Egypt.

Today, there's no better way to bring ancient times to life than to cruise down the Nile , past some of the most magnificent landmarks of human civilization. In fact, Egypt's 5,000-year history all lines up against the river: the pyramids, major temples, and other archeological treasures are all built right by the Nile, which provided both access to a means of transportation for building materials, and fertile soil and water.

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Pictures of Egypt – Beautiful Places in Ancient Egypt

Written By: The Planet D

Updated On: November 10, 2023

There are so many things to see and do in Egypt besides just marveling at the pyramids. So to celebrate the dreamer in you, we’ve put together our favorite pictures of Egypt to remind you to add this amazing country to your list of travels. For now, enjoy these beautiful photos of Egypt! ( CC: All images of Egypt by ThePlanetD)

With all that is going on in the world, Egypt is often considered a no-travel zone by people but Egypt is wonderful. The people are friendly and kind, the scenery is beautiful and the history is out of this world. Read more Facts about Egypt

Table of Contents

Ancient Egypt In Pictures

Are you ready to see Egypt? Having visited Egypt several times. We have been lucky enough to see remote parts of the country from the seat of a bicycle, the back of a truck, and even in luxury with a private driver .

We started our cycling trip through Africa in Egypt way back in 2008, we have backpacked on a budget in Egypts, and have been guest speakers at a conference where we were treated with five-star service, so we’ve seen Egypt with many different eyes and our photography has captured all of our unique experiences.

1. Pyramids of Giza

Okay, I know I said above that there is a lot more to see in Egypt than the Pyramids of Giza, but you cannot visit the country without taking a tour to see the Giza Pyramids in person. They are truly magical. We visited the Pyramids of Giza at sunrise when leaving on our cycling tour through Egypt, at sunset, and during mid-day. No matter what time of the day you visit, these centuries-old monuments are awe-inspiring.

Make sure to take a tour to see the pyramids from a different perspective. We hired a camel to see the pyramids and fulfilled our fantasy of being Bedouins in the Sahara Desert. If you like adventure, you can book a quad bike and camel tour of the pyramids. We’ve gone quadding in the Sahara and it is cool. No matter what way you decide to experience the Pyramids of Giza, make sure to have your camera ready to snap memories of a lifetime.

2. Great Sphinx of Giza

My favourite thing to see at the Giza complex is the Great Sphinx standing guard over the pyramids. The sphinx represents a mythical creature that is half man half lion. They say that the face of the Sphinx represents King Khafre. The fourth king of the 4th Dynasty of 2575 BC. Man, that’s old.

3. Alabaster Mosque

The Great Mosque of Muhammad Ali is located in the Citadel of Cairo and is not to be missed. Built between between 1830 and 1848 it helps to contribute to Cairo’s nickname as the City of Minarets.

Make sure to go inside to see the beautiful interior of the most visited mosque in the country.

In Cairo, we have stayed in both Five Star, Budget, and Midrange hotels. In all honesty, it was the budget hotel that we had the best time in Cairo. But here are the three that we have stayed at.

• Intercontinental Cairo City Stars – This was truly an amazing hotel with all amenities and fine dining. We loved the spa.
• Dahab Hostel – This place was cheap and we loved it. Located in the heart of downtown, it’s walking distance to major sights like the Egyptian Museum and Tahrir Square.
• Cataract Pyramids Resort – This mid range hotel offers fantastic views of the Pyramids.

4. Abandoned Mosque

The Alabaster Mosque may be the most visited in Cairo, but don’t rule out other mosques. We found the polished marble of an abandoned mosque to be one of our favorite photos of Egypt.

5. Library of Alexandria

The Library of Alexandria is filled with one of the greatest collections of literature on earth but it is the modern architecture that is so striking. Students hang out in the complex and ponder the challenges of Egypt’s future while we snapshots of its striking design.

Alexandria was home to one of the seven wonders of the Ancient world, the Alexandria Lighthouse. The Library of Alexandria was the largest library in the ancient world. It was founded in 323 BC. It may be situated in an ancient city, but it has also been updated to modern times.

Here’s a cool fact – The Bibliotheca Alexandrina houses the world’s largest digital collection of historical manuscripts in the world. They are definitely staying in tune with the 21st century.

6. Ancient Burial of Saqqara

One of the largest funerary temples in Egypt, it is also where archeologists discovered the oldest coffins ever found. There are more temples in Egypt than just the Pyramids of Giza.

The amazing thing about traveling in Egypt is that they are still discovering temples and burial grounds. You will always see a working archeological dig.

7. Alexandria Street Car

The Alexandria Tram System began operation in 1863. We didn’t expect to see streetcars driving through the streets. A very cool fact, is most of the Streetcars came from Toronto. It was cool to see a connection from home in this ancient city.

8. Red Pyramid

Located 40 km outside of  Cairo , The Red Pyramid is an amazing place to visit. It is far less visited than the Pyramids of Giza, but no less impressive. We could even crawl inside to the center of this temple. Read more: The Red Pyramid of Egypt – Experience it Inside and Out

9. The White Desert

The White Desert of Egypt is like being on another planet. Located in the Farafra depression in western Egypt, a visit here is a once in a lifetime experience. Imagine sleeping like the ancient Bedouin among the massive chalky white rock formations.

The White Desert National Park is just 5 hours from Cairo, but not many people visit this protected area that spans 300 square kilometers. Check out more here: The Lunar Landscape of Egypt’s White Desert

10. The Black Desert

Egypt has a lot of deserts. home to the mother of them all the Sahara, you can also see a black desert here too. The Sahra al-Suda, consisting of mounds of black mountains is a stark contrast from the light and sandy deserts we are used to.

11. Valley of The Kings

No trip to Egypt would be complete without a visit to the Valley of the Kings. Located on the Nile River, it was part of the ancient city of Thebes. Here you’ll see King Tut’s Tomb, Ramses and all of the other famous ancient Egyptian Kings.

12. Temple of Hatshepsut

This impressive temple is dedicated to the female King Hatshepsut. She was the leader of the Pharaohs for 27 years. Hatshepsut’s monument rivals even the greatest of kings. Built between 1490-1460 BC it is one of the most impressive temples in Egypt.

13. The Nile River

Aswan is located on the Nile in the South of Egypt just before the journey over Lake Nassar. It’s a popular town with ships setting sail each day, but be sure to spend a few days exploring. You don’t have to take a cruise though, you can hire a felucca for a very reasonable price to take you out to see the sights. While visiting Aswan, you can see the Philae Temples, and Abu Simble and take a cruise along the Nile.

The Luxor Temple is the star attraction of Luxor located on the banks of the Nile it is one of the best-preserved of all the temples in Egypt. It was the capital of the New Kingdom, Take a 3 day luxury Nile Cruise from Luxor you won’t regret it.

Dating back to the 11th dynasty of ancient Egypt, Luxor is known as one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities. With over 800 archaeological sites, Luxor is often referred to as the “world’s greatest open-air museum.”

The city, originally named Thebes, was the flourishing capital of Egypt during the New Kingdom period. Visitors can explore the Valley of Kings, which houses more than 60 royal tombs including the famous tomb of Tutankhamen. The Valley of Queens the mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut, The Luxor Temple, and the sprawling Karnak Temple Complex.

15. Karnak Temple

The Karnak Temple is one of the most famous ancient Egyptian sites, located on the east bank of the Nile River in Luxor. This vast complex was constructed around 2055 BC and continuously expanded over more than a millennium, particularly between the Twelfth and Twentieth Dynasties. Over time, various pharaohs from the Middle Kingdom to the Ptolemaic dynasty contributed to its grandeur, making it the largest temple complex of its kind in Egypt? ?? ?? ?.

The Avenue of the Sphinxes is one of the most impressive sites. It is a 3-kilometer processional route that connects the Luxor Temple with the Temple of Mut at Karnak. This grand avenue was lined with more than 1,050 sphinx statues.

The initial phases of the Avenue of the Sphinxes’ construction are attributed to Queen Hatshepsut, and although none of the chapels built during her reign remain today, the avenue itself has been a significant archaeological and historical feature, originally comprising over 1,500 statues. The avenue and its sphinxes were buried under layers of sand for centuries until modern excavations revealed their grandeur once again? ?? ?.

16. Abu Simbel Temples

Located on Lake Nassar Abut Simbel is Ramses II imposing temple. It was built to show the power of Egypt Originally located on The Nile, Abu Simbel needed to be moved when the Egyptian’s created the Aswan Dam project (which decimated neighboring Wadi Halfa in Sudan by the way). It would have been engulfed by water never to be seen again until the government came to its rescue.

We saw Abu Simbel en route to the Sudan but you can visit it on day trips from Aswan and Cairo.

17. Siwa Oasis

Siwa takes you far off the beaten path near the border of Libya. In the middle of the Siwa Oasis is an 13th century walled fortified town built by mud brick and rock salt. It is in ruins today, but a tour through the abandoned buildings is a highlight of any trip to Egypt. It is here that there is plenty of desert adventures from dune buggy rides to sand boarding.

We didn’t visit here, but one of our cycling companions spend a lot of time in the desert and couldn’t stop talking about it so we had to include it.

18. The Red Sea

We had the privilege of cycling along the Red Sea in Egypt and it is beautiful. We have also been snorkeling in the Red Sea. I do wish that we had gone scuba diving while there, but we were too busy pushing boundaries and cycling a continent so we didn’t have a lot of time for play. Sharm El Sheikh is one of the most popular places to visit on the Red Sea.

Celebrated for its luxurious resorts, fine dining, vibrant nightlife, and especially for its underwater adventures, the region boasts crystal-clear waters and extensive coral reefs that have become havens for snorkeling and scuba diving. Ourselves included!

And these are our favorite pictures of Egypt. We’ll be adding more as Dave goes through his photo library. The beauty of being locked down for so long, is that we have had the pleasure of revisiting our travels around the world.

One of our trips through Egypt was courtesy of Memphis Tours. , We also cycled the continent from Cairo to Cape Town and spent more than 30 days exploring Egypt. Egypt is a country close to our hearts as the starting point of this great travel journey that we’ve been on for the 15 years. Each time we visit, it brings back fond memories of our first time walking through its ancient passageways.

• Red Pyramid of Egypt
• It All Began in Egypt – Cycling a Continent

18 Interesting and Fun Facts About Egypt

• 20 Exciting Things to Do in Egypt
• Everything You Need to Know About Alexandria, Egypt
• Amazing Places to Visit in Egypt

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About The Planet D

Dave Bouskill and Debra Corbeil are the owners and founders of The Planet D. After traveling to 115 countries, on all 7 continents over the past 13 years they have become one of the foremost experts in travel. Being recognized as top travel bloggers and influencers by the likes of Forbes Magazine , the Society of American Travel Writers and USA Today has allowed them to become leaders in their field.

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