The Origin of The First “Tourist” in History

28 May The Origin of The First “Tourist” in History

Tourism is not just a modern phenomenon. In fact, one of the first documented tourists was Pharaoh Ramses II, who embarked on a journey for leisure in the 13th century BCE.

Ramses II ordered inscriptions at the temples of Abu Simbel and Karnak, describing his travels to foreign lands—not for war or trade, but out of a desire to explore new territories. It is also believed that he visited ancient Egyptian monuments, making him one of the earliest travelers interested in history.

Centuries later, the Greeks and Romans refined the concept of tourism by visiting temples, thermal baths, and famous cities. However, traveling for pleasure remained a privilege of the elite until the 19th century, when trains and steamships made mass tourism possible.

The adventurous spirit of Ramses II lives on today in every traveler who sets out to explore the world and leave their own mark on history.