Planning a 10-day Egypt itinerary and not sure where to start? This guide combines the classic first-timer route: Cairo, Giza, a Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor, and a visit to Abu Simbel, with the cultural insights only a Cairo-born traveler can share. I grew up with the coffee rituals of Khan el-Khalili and long summer days on the Alexandria coast. I’ve used those memories to create a practical plan that helps you travel confidently and go beyond the famous sights. My goal

What Are the Best Non-Touristy Things to Do in Cairo? The best non-touristy experiences in Cairo are: Wandering Gamaliya’s literary alleys where Naguib Mahfouz set his Cairo Trilogy Having your coffee grounds read at 200-year-old El Fishawy café Following the coppersmiths’ hammers in the hidden Nahhasin workshops Playing backgammon (tawla) with locals in a neighborhood ahwa Taking a 5:30 AM sunrise felucca with fishermen on the Nile These five connect you to Cairo’s real soul