What Surprised Us in Egypt (and Why We Loved It Anyway)
- Brooke Barber
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
An Honest, Unfiltered Look at the Authentica Adventure in Egypt
Egypt is a place you feel as much as you see. The magnitude of its monuments, the thrum of city life, the warmth of the people—it’s unforgettable, electrifying, and at times, downright overwhelming. When we brought a group of travelers to Egypt with Authentica, we knew the pyramids and temples would be awe-inspiring. But there was so much more that surprised us—delighted us, challenged us, and ultimately made the experience richer than we could have imagined.
Whether you're planning your first trip to Egypt or just dreaming of future adventures, here’s what we loved, what surprised us, and why this place left such a mark.
🌅 1. The 5 AM Wake-Up Call... Literally
One of the first surprises was hearing the adhan, the Islamic call to prayer, ring out through the city before sunrise. It’s a beautiful, haunting sound that echoes across rooftops at 5 AM—and again throughout the day. What made this contrast so striking is that Cairo comes alive at night. Shops stay open late, traffic buzzes until the early hours, and locals gather with friends and family well into the evening. This rhythm of early mornings and late nights was unexpected—and took a few days to adjust to.
🍽️ 2. Late Lunch, Later Dinner
Meals in Egypt follow a different pace. Lunch typically rolls around at 3 or 4 in the afternoon, with dinner not arriving until 9 or 10 PM (or sometimes even later!). For those of us accustomed to earlier mealtimes, this was a serious adjustment. On our first few days, we found ourselves hangry by 1 PM—thankfully, our incredible Egyptian guides were quick to adapt, finding earlier meal options and snack stops when we needed them. Still, it was a fascinating insight into how culture shapes daily life.
🚗 3. The Traffic Is... Organized Chaos
Let’s just say it: Do not rent a car in Egypt. The traffic, especially in Cairo, is like nothing we’ve ever experienced. Lanes are suggestions, pedestrians weave between cars, and the honking is constant. And yet... somehow, it works. It’s a fast-moving, adrenaline-pumping system of organized chaos. Watching our local drivers navigate it all with grace (and nerves of steel) was entertainment on the trip.
🔊 4. It’s Loud. It’s Stimulating. It’s a Lot.
Egypt is intense. Between the crowds, the traffic noise, the street vendors, and the sheer scale of what you’re seeing—from the Great Pyramids to temple after temple—it can be a sensory overload. We found we needed downtime to recharge and often opted for quiet evenings in. If you feel exhausted or overstimulated during your trip, know that it’s normal. We build moments of rest into the itinerary because Egypt is BIG in every way.
🥙 5. The Food Is Absolutely Delicious
We could write an entire blog post just about the food. Egyptian cuisine is flavorful, fresh, and accessible to all kinds of diets. Vegans loved the falafel, ful medames (fava bean stew), and koshari (a carb-lover’s dream made of rice, lentils, and pasta). Meat eaters raved about grilled kofta, roasted chicken, and shawarma. The produce is vibrant, and the spice blends are unforgettable. Every meal felt like a celebration.
🧥 6. Winter in Egypt Can Be Cold
We expected warm sun, and we got it—but we didn’t expect how chilly it could be in February, especially in the early mornings or out in the desert where the wind picks up. Layering was key. Some days we were in T-shirts by noon, but jackets and scarves were essential in the evenings. Lesson learned: Egypt has seasons too!
📸 7. Passionate Culture, Fierce Hospitality
Egyptians are passionate—and we mean that in the best way. Our guides weren’t just informative—they were protectors, advocates, and sometimes warriors. They negotiated better entry times, cleared space for our group to enjoy a quiet photo op, and even jumped into the occasional verbal skirmish with other guides to ensure we had the best experience possible. Egyptian hospitality isn’t passive—it’s active, engaged, and deeply generous.
🏛️ 8. The Sites? Pinch-Me Unreal
We haven’t even touched on the real reason you go: the sites. And yes, they’re everything you imagine. Standing in the shadow of the Great Pyramid, floating down the Nile, tracing hieroglyphics in ancient tombs—it doesn’t feel real, even when you're there. We had to keep reminding ourselves: this isn’t a museum replica. This is the real thing. Egypt delivers wonder in spades.
🕰️ 9. Time Feels Different There
One of the most unexpected—and ultimately refreshing—parts of our experience in Egypt was the relaxed sense of time. Tours might start 15 minutes late, or a spontaneous detour to a local shop might shift the schedule entirely. At first, this challenged our American tendency to tightly control every minute. But Egypt teaches you to let go a little. It’s not about rigid timelines—it’s about the experience. Some of our most memorable moments happened when we went off-script, laughed through delays, or found ourselves on a detour that ended up being our favorite part of the day.
✨ Final Thoughts
Traveling through Egypt with Authentica is not just about checking off bucket-list sites—it’s about deeply engaging with a culture that’s vibrant, ancient, and in constant motion. Our trip was full of surprises (both delightful and disorienting), but that's exactly what made it so meaningful.
We laughed. We ate well. We were humbled and stretched. And we came home not just with photos—but with stories, insight, and a better understanding of a place we now hold dear.
For your own Egypt experience, join us from March 21-31, 2026 to see the sites and feel the culture for yourself!
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