Egypt beyond the familiar · Dmitry Saley
Egypt: Information & Interesting Facts
More than a year in Egypt. Over 15,000 kilometres behind the wheel. Places, people and observations from travelling independently.
Scenes from my own journeys in Egypt.
The Egypt I want to share with you
Egypt is a beautiful country, and it is much bigger than the temples of Luxor or the resorts of the Red Sea. This section is about the places, encounters and details that can disappear from the usual picture of a holiday here.
I have spent more than a year in Egypt and driven over 15,000 kilometres around the country myself. I rent a car, make my own plans and take time to explore. My travels have taken me widely across Egypt; Sinai is the exception, and I cannot offer first-hand advice about driving there.
A view from beyond the back seat
I often find that information about Egypt online — in encyclopaedias, blogs and travel articles — leaves out things I have seen for myself, or presents them differently from my experience. One reason, I think, is that many visitors hesitate to travel independently.
When you see a country through a driver’s itinerary and stories, that person naturally shapes what you see and how you understand it. A good driver can add a great deal, but one person’s explanation is still one perspective. Stories can be selective, embellished or simply repeated from someone else.
Here I offer my own perspective: a European who has spent time living in Egypt, travelled independently and formed impressions along the way. I will tell you what I saw, what I learned and what remains a personal opinion. My experience is another way to get to know the country, rather than the last word on it.
The people are part of the journey
People in Egypt are as varied as anywhere else. Some of my warmest encounters have been outside the tourist centres: with farmers, workers and people in professional and intellectual life. A conversation, a glass of tea or a good meal can become as memorable as a famous monument.
I want to share that side of travelling, too: taking time, being curious, listening and meeting people as individuals. Beyond the familiar attractions, there is an everyday Egypt that I have found welcoming, interesting and full of reasons to return.
Travelling on my own terms
Independent travel in Egypt is possible. I have felt comfortable renting a car and exploring the routes I chose, and I intend to keep doing it. Travelling this way has given me the freedom to stop, change plans and see places at my own pace.
Routes, access restrictions and conditions vary by area and can change. Before planning a journey, check current regional travel advice, local requirements and your rental terms. My own experience is the starting point for these stories, not a guarantee for every route.
Places, stories and details to come
This section will grow into a collection of articles about different places in Egypt, with practical observations and interesting details from my visits. The aim is to help you look beyond the standard itinerary and discover more of the country for yourself.
Start with my first-hand guides
Aswan: a boat trip, the islands and a Nubian village →
A Nile cruise: my experience and advice →