Stop in at the Khan El-Khalili Bazaar, repeated to be the largest in the Middle East. Its labyrinthine streets are jammed with stalls and workshops pedalling everything from woodwork to glassware and perfumes.

The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) is the largest archaeological institution in the world, showcasing more than 100,000 artifacts spanning Egypt's long history. See the "hanging obelisk," suspended by four columns; view the rare cartouche of King Ramses II, concealed for more than 3,500 years; observe the colossal statue of King Ramses II. From the stone tools and pottery of the earliest human settlements along the Nile to exhibits from the Graeco-Roman era, the museum's contents highlight the evolution of one of the world's most remarkable civilizations.

The Great Pyramids of Giza are as remarkable as they are enigmatic, built more than 4,500 years ago as giant tombs for the mummies of the pharaohs Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure. Standing in their shadow — in the presence of a history so pivotal, so mysterious — is truly mind-blowing. Follow your Egyptologist guide on an exploration of these ancient monoliths, gaining a deeper understanding of their story. Then, progress to the Great Sphinx, with its mythical lion’s body and human head, unearthed from the sands of antiquity.

Built more than 4500 years ago, the Great Pyramids of Giza are the only survivors of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Monumental in scale, they were erected as giant tombs for the mummies of the pharaohs Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure. Nearby is the enigmatic Sphinx with the body of a lion and the face of a man wearing a royal head cloth, which is said to be based on King Khafre and guards his vast burial tomb.

Start at the Citadel, a medieval fortress built in 1176 that sits high above Cairo on a limestone hill. Today, it houses various mosques and museums, including the grand, soaring architecture of the Mosque of Sultan Hassan, completed in 1363, and the mausoleum where his sons are buried. From there it is a short walk to the much more recent Refaie Mosque, which was completed in 1912 with colourful decoration and is the burial site of Egypt's last royal family and the last Shah of Iran. Finally, you will stop in at the Khan El-Khalili Bazaar, repeated to be the largest in the Middle East. Its labyrinthine streets are jammed with stalls and workshops pedalling everything from woodwork to glassware and perfumes.

The Philae Temple complex was originally located on a peaceful island and dedicated to the goddess of love. Almost lost in floods when the Aswan Dam was built in the 1930s, it was relocated to Agilika and painstakingly reassembled. Explore its monumental structures, known for their hieroglyphic reliefs, before visiting the Granite quarries that supplied most of the stone used to build pyramids, temples and obelisks in Egypt.

Visit the magnificent Temple of Kom Ombo, which is dedicated to Sobek, the crocodile god, and Har Wer, the falcon god. In ancient times, the reptiles could be seen basking in the desert sun on the banks of the Nile.

Visit the dramatic Temple of Edfu at morningtime, one of the best preserved shrines in Egypt. Built between 237 and 57BC at the height of the Ptolemaic Kingdom's powers, it was dedicated to the deities Horus and Hathor. Take note of the inscriptions on its walls, which reveal fascinating insights into language, myth and religion during the Hellenistic period in Egypt.

Pay your respects to the ram-headed god Khnum, associated with creation and fertility at the Temple of Esna. Built during the reign of Emperor Claudius, it is a remarkable example of a Greco-Roman temple. The beautifully preserved Great Hypostyle Hall is a particular highlight; excavated from silt that had accumulated through centuries of annual floods on the Nile.

A vast City of the Dead, the Valley of the Kings is filled with magnificent tombs carved into desert rocks. These were richly decorated and filled with treasures for the afterlife by generation after generation of Pharaohs. A sight to behold.