Cruise on the Nile

Our final full day in Cairo started quietly. After a super early night last night (we were both absolutely wrecked), we woke naturally around 7:30am. We stayed in bed for a while, taking it slow as Jayde wasn’t sounding too flash this morning and definitely wasn’t feeling 100%, so neither of us were in a rush.

Eventually, we got up, got dressed, and made our way to the Egyptian Museum. This was something we’d both been looking forward to, but if we’re honest, it felt a bit… tired. The museum itself is old, and with many of the major artifacts now moved to the new Grand Egyptian Museum, what’s left behind feels a little empty in places.

That said, we came mainly to see the Tutankhamun exhibition, and we did get a glimpse of some of the remaining highlights including his famous golden mask, some of his jewellery, and part of his sarcophagus. Even with the reduced collection, it was surreal to stand in front of objects that once belonged to a pharaoh buried over 3,000 years ago. The detail and craftsmanship in every piece is incredible.

After the museum, we grabbed a quick postcard on the way out and wandered into a nearby café for a bit of a break and a matcha. Then it was back to the hotel for some light travel admin, checking in to our flight, packing up a bit, and getting ready for our final night in Egypt.

We’d booked something special to wrap up the trip an evening dinner cruise along the Nile. Our private driver picked us up and dropped us off at the dock where our boat was waiting. We took a few photos out on the deck before heading inside to find our table.Dinner was a buffet with a surprisingly great mix of food that was fresh, tasty, and had plenty of it.

As we were finishing up, the entertainment began: live music, belly dancers, traditional performances, and more. One particularly funny moment was when the entertainer asked where we were from. When we answered “New Zealand,” he immediately started counting in Māori! We were both caught completely off guard and burst out laughing. It was such a surprise!

After about three hours on the river, we returned to port and made our way back to the hotel, full and happy.
And just like that, our time in Egypt — and the Middle East — has come to an end. It’s a bit sad to leave this part of the world behind. We’ve experienced so much — the ancient wonders, the chaos of Cairo, the kindness of locals — all of it unforgettable.

And just like that, our time in the Middle East has come to an end. We have made some incredible memories and friends across Turkey, Jordan and Egypt and it is sad to be saying goodbye. Jordan was hands down our favourite country that we have visited to date on our trip and we got to experience some unforgettable experiences we will remember for the rest of our lives. Tomorrow a new adventure begins as we fly to Corfu, Greece just a quick stop before making our way to Albania which marks us starting to head back up through Europe. We're sad to leave this part of the world behind, but excited to see what the next chapter of this trip has in store.Læs mere