Grand Egyptian Museum’s Opening Receives Rave Reviews

After 23 years in the making, the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), the largest museum on the planet dedicated to one civilization, made its debut opening earlier this month – much to the delight of tour operators.

“The opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum is a major milestone for Egypt and for our travelers,” Intrepid Travel President of the Americas Leigh Barnes, adding that the company began offering visits to GEM on Nov. 5, the day after it grand opening debut.

“As the world’s largest archaeological museum, GEM will showcase approximately 100,000 artifacts spanning 7,000 years of Egyptian history,” Barnes added, noting that a key highlight is the fact that GEM houses the complete collection of King Tutankhamun’s treasures.

“The Grand Egyptian Museum truly transforms travel in Egypt. It’s not just a new attraction, it’s a gateway to the country’s past like never before,” Barnes added.

For its part, TTC Brands will include GEM on all 2026 Egypt departures for its Trafalgar, Insight Vacations and Costsaver brands. “The opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum will be one of the most significant cultural moments of the decade,” said Jen Hirtle, TTC Brands general manager for Europe, the Middle East and Africa travel experiences.

“Egypt has always been a destination that inspires travelers, and now advisors can offer even more reasons for their clients to experience it with Trafalgar, Insight Vacations or Costsaver,” she added.

G Adventures, meanwhile, is building in additional time at GEM into all of its Egypt itineraries.

“Spending a couple of hours at this new museum will give travelers an in-depth look at the region’s fascinating history, and give them a chance to see some of the world’s oldest and most valuable treasures and pieces of art,” said G Adventures Vice President of Product. VP of product, Yves Marceau.   

“The building itself is architecturally stunning, and the treasures inside are jaw-dropping,” he added.

Over the past several months, Tauck has “been fortunate to offer guests exclusive preview access ahead of the museum’s official opening, said the company’s tour architect,” said the company’s tour architect, Scott Greiner. “Now, they are thrilled to share the full experience of this long-awaited landmark.”

Each GEM visit is guided by Tauck’s Egyptologists, who lead guests through the galleries and highlight key pieces during the first hour of the two-hour visit –“ ensuring they don’t miss details or stories that bring Egypt’s history to life,” Greiner added.

As is the case with Tauck, guests traveling on Abercrombie & Kent’s (A&K) Small Group and Tailor Made itineraries will also have the opportunity to explore GEM with expert Egyptologists, enabling them to gain “special insight into its unparalleled collection and striking design,” said Jennifer Morris, A&K’s senior global product manager for Africa, India Sub and Middle East/North Africa.

“The museum itself is an architectural marvel – its grand staircase frames views of the Pyramids of Giza, and the entire surrounding area has undergone thoughtful enhancements that elevate the visitor experience, she added. “For travelers seeking a deeper understanding of Ancient Egypt, this is truly a once-in-a-lifetime moment to visit.”

In the view of Khaled Mostafa, Goway’s sales performance manager for Africa and the Middle East, GEM is likely to generate “greater demand for Egypt, which already ranks among our top-selling countries in Africa and the Middle East.”

Furthermore, the museum won’t just impact Goway’s business, but “anyone lucky enough to travel to Egypt,” he said, adding that GEM “offers such unparalleled depth and immersive storytelling that it instantly becomes one of the must-see landmarks in such a storied destination.

In the final analysis, Goway believes GEM is “essential inclusion for travelers to truly understand and appreciate how ancient Egyptians lived and worked,” Mostafa said. “As an Egyptian working in travel, the culmination of this project is something I’ve been anticipating for a long time, and it’s so gratifying to see come to fruition.”

This article originally appeared in TravelPulse.

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