I always tell my clients to see the Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx at first light, before the desert heat sets in and the crowds arrive — it's a completely different experience. I love sending travelers to the new Grand Egyptian Museum too; the collection is unlike anything else.

If you ask me, a private Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan is the best way to experience Egypt. I've arranged this itinerary for so many clients — gliding past riverside villages, stopping at Karnak, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings, and Abu Simbel. It never gets old.

Cairo is one of my favorite cities to send people to — the medieval alleys of Khan el-Khalili bazaar, the citadel of Saladin, and dinner along the Nile with the skyline lit up at night. And if you have time, I always recommend adding on Aswan for a quieter pace and access to the Nubian villages and temples.

My advice: go between October and April, when the temperatures are far more comfortable. And I always book a private guide for my clients — it makes all the difference in truly understanding what you're seeing.