Traveling To Egypt With Children
As we all know, vacations with children are hard to plan at the best of times. When you were a young, carefree adult, you could go where you wanted to go and do what you wanted to do. With children, everything becomes a lot more complicated. There are places that you can’t go to, and there are activities that aren’t suitable. Some potential travel destinations get ruled out completely, but there have to be better options available than just heading for the same Disney vacation every time – and there are. So keep reading about traveling to Egypt with children.
Egypt may not be close to the top of your list when you’re considering where to take a young child. We don’t know why that is. Despite what you might have read in the papers, Egypt is considered perfectly safe to travel to in 2020 so long as you stick to the right areas, and it rivals any other country in the world when it comes to scenery and culture. The history of Ancient Egypt might even have been among your favorite subjects when you were at school, and it might be your children’s favorite subject, too! What better way for them to find out more about it than to see it with their own eyes?Â
When it comes to attractions, Egypt may not have roller coasters and theme parks, but it has wonders of the ancient world and hidden gems that have to be seen to be believed. The deserts and pyramids of Egypt have been used as the setting for everything from Hollywood movies to top slot games. Perhaps we should take the existence of those online slots as a reminder that some aspects of Egyptian tourism are orientated toward adults – Sharm-El-Sheikh, in particular, has incredible casinos that would put all but the very best online slots websites to shame – but you can have a family-friendly trip when you are traveling to Egypt with children, without feeling like you’ve missed out on anything significant. Here are just a few of the family activities you might want to consider.Â
Swim With Dolphins
The camels get all the attention when it comes to the way people report on Egyptian wildlife – and we understand that. Not many countries have so many domesticated camels willing to take tourists for rides, but some of the most stunning wildlife in Egypt is in the water. From March until November, the Egyptian reefs are populated by dolphins who have come to feed, and they’re happy to have human company as they do so. Egypt has some of the clearest, bluest waters in the world, and responsible dolphin watching tours are available from many reputable travel agencies. Swimming with dolphins is a common ambition for millions of people, and there’s nothing stopping you and your children from experiencing it at the same time.Â
See The Pyramids By Camel
Having clarified that there are other animals in Egypt, let’s move back onto the topic of camels. You’ll be offered a camel ride in just about every tourist destination you visit, but if you’re going to do it, you might as well do it in style by taking a camel trip around the pyramids of Giza. Not only will being on a camel offer you a better view of the famous pyramids above the heads of the rest of the crowds, but it will also offer you once-in-a-lifetime photo opportunities. These are memories that will last forever. Seeing the pyramids up close on the back of a camel is just about the most Egyptian experience we can imagine, and you’d probably be surprised to find out that it usually costs less than ten dollars to make it happen. Make sure you remember to tip the camel handler when you’re done.
Look Tutankhamun In The Eye
There are two ways you could look at Tutankhamun in the eye. The first is in the Valley of the Kings, where his mummy has been returned to its original resting place. It’s a fascinating thing to see, but at the same time it’s also a dead body, so we understand why some parents would prefer it if their children didn’t see that. The second way to do it would be to visit Cairo’s Egyptian museum and look at his famous blue and gold death mask – one of the most world-famous images if Egypt. It’s on permanent public display, along with over one hundred thousand more fascinating relics of Egypt’s distant past. No history lesson in the world will do as much to inform your child’s knowledge of the people and places that came before us than this.
Go Souvenir Shopping at Khan al Khalili
While you’re in Cairo, don’t miss the chance to spend a few hours shopping among the hustle and bustle of Khan al Khalili, which is the city’s huge outdoor bazaar. Just about every Egyptian trinket you can think of can be bought here, and the price you pay for those trinkets depends on your ability to haggle with shopkeepers. They drive a hard bargain, but they also respect people who know how to negotiate! All of the shopkeepers are used to dealing with children and will haggle with them with a smile on their faces. You might even find that your child is capable of getting a bigger discount on an item than you are yourself, so don’t be afraid to use them as a bargaining tool!
Walk Through History At The Pharaonic Village
The Pharaonic Village – or, to give it its full name, Dr. Ragab’s Pharaonic Village, is on the outskirts of the Giza District, and it’s a portal into the past. The best way to describe it would be to call it a living museum – a whole town that’s been dressed up to look like Ancient Egypt, complete with actors dressed in appropriate period attire. There are activities to take part in, history lessons to be learned, and even practical skills to be taught. If you do find the children beginning to lose interest, though, the village has a trick up its sleeve. Look hard enough, and you’ll find that there are a few Egyptian-themed fairground attractions and rides for them to go on. That should perk them up!
We hope that we’ve managed to give you a flavor of what’s on offer when you are traveling to Egypt with children with the above selection – even if we’re talking about flavor, and we haven’t even mentioned the fantastic food! It may not be a destination you go to every year, but for a once or twice in a lifetime trip, it’s unmissable and unforgettable. If the thought of seeing Disney’s Magic Kingdom for the tenth time is making you nauseous, give Egypt serious consideration!
