Tour Itinerary

Day 1 -Cairo
Welcome to Egypt! When you arrive, our staff will meet you at the airport, assist you with obtaining your visa and luggage, and then take you to your hotel close to the Pyramids for the start of your trip. They will help you settle in, introduce you to the local area, and explain tomorrow’s arrangements. The rest of the day is free. If you arrive early you may like to take an evening dinner cruise on the Nile, or enjoy a spectacular sound and light show at the pyramids (both available to book locally on arrival).
Overnight in Cairo.

Day 2 – Pyramids, Sphinx & Museum
Your tour of Egypt begins with a trip to the Egyptian Museum in central Cairo. Home to the fantastic Tutankhamun exhibit the museum hosts a huge number of other ancient Egyptian artefacts. One of our local Egyptologist guides will be accompanying you on this and all of your other sightseeing tours, and you’ll find them a wealth of knowledge and full of enthusiasm about Egyptian history, and their country in general.
Following on from the museum we then head to Giza on the outskirts of Cairo to visit the Sphinx and the three great pyramids of Egypt. The Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops), an awesome man-made structure constructed of giant stone blocks, together with the smaller pyramids of Khafre (Chephern) and Menkaure (Mycerinus), the majestic sight of these enormous structures rising out of the desert is a breathtaking spectacle. You will have the opportunity to climb down right inside the pyramids if you wish; though your guide cannot accompany you (a limited number of tickets are available for the Great Pyramid).
This evening we head to the station for the overnight sleeper train to Aswan (approx. 12 hours).
Overnight Between Cairo – Aswan Sleeper Train Cabin Sleeper Train

Day 3 – Aswan, Philae Temple & Aswan Dam
This morning you arrive in Aswan and head to your hotel overlooking the Nile which is at its most picturesque here, with cascading rapids, lush green islands, and feluccas sailing to and for. Aswan itself is a melting pot of African and Middle Eastern cultures.
Wandering through the busy markets and we build in some free time for you here to do this, walk up and down the Corniche on the banks of the river or visit the Nubian Museum which has a fascinating collection covering the development of the Nubian people in the region.
Tours in Aswan start this afternoon with a visit the Temple of Philae, a beautiful island complex dedicated to Isis and reclaimed from the rising waters of Lake Nasser, which you reach by a scenic boat ride. You also stop to visit the huge Aswan Dam. The rest of the day is free.
If you are choosing the luxury Nile cruise upgrade in place of the felucca, then you will normally board your cruise boat today.
Overnight in Aswan.

Day 4 – Abu Simbel option. Nile Felucca Cruise
An option is available this morning to visit the temples built by Ramses II at the amazing UNESCO world heritage site of Abu Simbel. We leave early to see the rising sun over the temples. Transfers, guiding, and entrance fees are included. If you don’t visit Abu Simbel, then this morning is free.
We board our traditional Nile felucca at lunchtime to enjoy an afternoon sailing down the Nile. Floating down the Nile on a felucca is one of Egypt’s most enjoyable activities and you’ll be able to watch local rural Egyptian life pass you by on the banks of the river as you drift past. Your Nubian crew will sail the boat and entertain you on the way, as well as preparing meals for you. Our separate facilities boat will join with us from time to time during the day and moor up with us at night. This boat has a welcome toilet and showers on board as well as a hygienic kitchen where the crew will prepare a delicious evening meal. You sleep on the deck of the boat tonight (mattresses, blankets and mosquito nets provided). You can upgrade your upcoming felucca sailboat trip to a 3 night luxury Nile cruise, and in this case you’ll spend your first night on board on Day 3 instead of in the hotel. All other touring remains the same.
Overnight Between Aswan – Kom Ombo Felucca Felucca

Day 5 – Kom Ombo & Edfu temples, Karnak Temple in Luxor.
After breakfast on-board we bid farewell to our felucca crew and visit the nearby temples of Kom Ombo and Edfu before continuing on north to Luxor. The town of Luxor is built on and around the ancient site of Thebes, and boasts the largest concentration of ancient ruins in the Nile Valley, if not the world. To the west of the Nile lies the City of the Dead, with its mortuary temples and rock-hewn tombs, whilst to the east lie the Temples of Luxor and Karnak.
After lunch we’ll tour the huge temple complex at Karnak, once the religious center of Thebes and Upper Egypt. It was linked to Luxor by an extensive avenue, lined with sphinxes, and the whole complex was in turn linked to the Nile via a canal through which moved the sacred boats of the god Amun. Entering through a smaller sphinx-lined avenue, built by Ramesses II, you come to the immense pylon entrance. Inside the huge Courtyard are three chapels dedicated to the gods Amun, Khous and Mut. The remarkable Hypostyle Hall has 134 towering columns, each carved with scenes of gods and pharaohs, and hieroglyphic inscriptions adorn the walls.
Later this evening, we’ll take a walking tour of the smaller Luxor Temple which is right in the middle of town and beautifully lit up at night.
Overnight in Luxor.

Day 6 – Luxor, West bank tour to Hurghada.
Cross the Nile early this morning to begin your tour of Luxor’s West Bank. Home to the Valley of the Kings, the dusty tombs in this ancient burial site are still revealing their secrets today and so it remains one of the most important archaeological sites in the world. Your tour includes several of these Pharaonic tombs, as well as the temples of Queen Hatchepsut and Medinat Habu, and the huge Colossi of Memnon. A spectacular hot air balloon flight over the west bank of the Nile is available this morning (expect an early start to catch sunrise as the balloon rises).
This afternoon, leave the Nile Valley and drive to the Red Sea resort of Hurghada
Overnight in Hurghada.

Day 7 – Red Sea at Hurghada, free day.
The day is free today to relax and enjoy your time by the Red Sea. Hurghada is world famous for its scuba diving and snorkelling and the rich Red Sea marine life here attracts divers from all over the world. Other adventurous activities available include wind surfing and kite surfing, glass bottomed submarines, quad biking, camel rides and sea fishing trips. Our local rep based in Hurghada will be on hand to help make any arrangements. Hurghada itself has an interesting marina and old town to explore.
Overnight in Hurghada.

Day 8 – Fly to Cairo, optional tours.
Fly back to Cairo this morning and you then have a choice of either a free day to explore or relax at your own leisure, or to take one of our optional additional tours. These include a city tour which visits the narrow winding streets of Coptic Cairo, the impressive Citadel and Mohamed Ali Mosque as well as the bustling market streets of Khan El Khalili bazaar. Alternatively you could head to the outskirts of Cairo to learn more about the history of pyramid building by visiting the early pyramids at Saqqara and Dashour, part of the ancient city of Memphis.
Overnight in Cairo.

Day 9 – Cairo, free day.
Your time is free today for some last-minute sightseeing or shopping until we take you to the airport for your departure flight. If you have an evening flight departure, then the Cairo City Tour and Saqqara, Dashour and Memphis tours are also available today. Alternatively, you can add extra nights to your time in Cairo which would allow you to take a day trip to the colonial city of Alexandria on the Mediterranean coast, or a trip into the desert outside Cairo to see the World Heritage Site of the Valley of the Whales at Wadi Rayan.

Please Note, the minimum age for this tour is 12