Day 01: Highlights of the day: Cairo | Arrival Cairo

Just as you touch down in Cairo international airport, one of our representatives will welcome and assist you upon customs before accompanying you on your transfer to your chosen hotel. Check-in, relax, and settle in, ready for your adventurous upcoming days!

Day 02: Highlights of the day: Cairo | Pyramids, Sphinx, Egyptian Museum. Overnight on a sleeper train to Aswan

Rise and Shine to your first day of exploring Cairo’s Highlights. This morning you will be met at your hotel by your private guide for a full-day tour of the pyramids at Giza, Sphinx and Sakkara. Take in the fascinating great Pyramids from a different perspective as you ride a camel (Optional) through the Sahara desert at Giza, we will show you the best spots for a perfect photo shot ! get creative standing super close to the Sphinx while you take pictures at this breathtaking sight. Following on from the Pyramids we then head to the Egyptian Museum. Home to the fantastic Tutankhamun exhibit the museum hosts a huge number of other ancient Egyptian artefacts. In the early evening, you will experience a different side to traveling in Egypt, grab your belonging before we head to the train station to board the sleeper train to Aswan. This evening we transfer to the station for the overnight sleeper train to Aswan (approx. 12 hours). You’ll enjoy dinner on board in your private twin-berth compartments before the steward sets your beds up for the night.

Day 03: Highlights of the day: Aswan | Nubian Village and Philae Temple

Upon arrival to Aswan, This morning we arrive in Aswan and transfer to our hotel overlooking the Nile which is at its most picturesque here, with lush green islands, and feluccas sailing to and from. Aswan itself is a melting pot of African and Middle Eastern cultures, most easily experienced by wandering through the busy markets. It’s also part of the ancient region of Nubia, which comprised parts of present day southern Egypt and northern Sudan around the Nile rivers. Many descendants of the Nubian people still live here and we’ll visit a local Nubian village to see their colourful houses, simple way of life and to enjoy a traditional lunch. We continue our tour this afternoon with a visit the Temple of Philae, a beautiful island complex reclaimed from the rising waters of Lake Nasser, which we reach by a scenic boat ride. The evening is then free to look around Aswan’s spice and general markets, and to walk up and down the popular Corniche, on the banks of the Nile. An option is also available to take a camel ride through the sands on the far bank of the Nile to St. Simeon’s monastery. If you’ve chosen the Abu Simbel option then head to bed early this evening to be ready for a very early start tomorrow morning.

Day 04: Highlights of the day: Nile Felucca cruise | Optional tour of Abu Simbel. Overnight onboard Nile Felucca cruise

A new day, a new adventure with plenty of new discoveries! 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 depart very early with the aim of seeing 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. Our 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. You sleep on the deck of the boat tonight (mattresses, blankets and mosquito nets provided). This is a fun, but basic experience, and we offer an optional upgrade to spend this night back in the Aswan hotel instead of sleeping on the felucca for those wishing some more comfort. You then rejoin the rest of the group the next morning.

Day 05: Highlights of the day: Luxor | Edfu temple, Luxor temple at night. Overnight in Luxor luxury 5-star hotel

After breakfast on-board we bid farewell to our felucca crew and visit the nearby temple at 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. We check into a luxury 5-star hotel on the banks of the Nile and have time to relax and enjoy time by the pool this afternoon. 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.

Day 06: Highlights of the day: Luxor | Luxor, West bank tour, Karnak temple . Overnight in Luxor hotel

Enjoy your breakfast and the breathtaking view before you check out. This morning, you can catch the sunrise over Luxor from a different perspective with our optional hot air balloon ride. Enjoy a bird’s eye’s view of the East and West banks of the Nile. We cross the Nile early this morning to begin our 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. Our tour includes several of these Pharaonic tombs, as well as the temple of Queen Hatchepsut, Deir-el-Medina (the Valley of the Craftsmen), and the huge Colossi of Memnon. After lunch we’ll tour the huge temple complex at Karnak , once the religious centre of Thebes and Upper Egypt. The remarkable Hypostyle Hall has 134 towering columns, each carved with scenes of gods and pharaohs, and hieroglyphic inscriptions adorn the walls.

Day 07: Highlights of the day: Hurghada | Transfer to Hurghada. Overnight in Hurghada

it’s time to put away your walking shoes and change them with your summer flip-flops ! this morning we take you to sunny Hurghada in a comfortable A/C vehicle. Hurghada is known for its watersports activities, nightlife, and pleasantly warm weather all year round with daily temperatures hovering around 30C (86F) most of the year. there are plenty of optional tours to keep you busy, Look forward to enjoying a wonderful place, full of color, warmth, fauna, and flora. Your stay here is on a ‘soft all inclusive’ basis, with all meals, soft drinks and snacks included but not alcoholic beverages.

Day 08: Highlights of the day: Hurghada | Free at your leisure, optional water activities. Overnight in Hurghada

Rise and Shine, enjoy your lazy morning in… step outside and enjoy the beach and the beautiful weather. Optional water-specific recreational activities are plentiful like snorkeling, diving and para-gliding these are a few of the many you can choose from, check out what our travel specialists recommend for today in our optional tours section. Your day is free today to relax and enjoy your time by the Red Sea.
Note: Please note that when adding extra nights in Hurghada you will leave the group here and miss the remaining activities in Cairo. You can either finish the tour in Hurghada or return later to Cairo. Please contact us for more information and customised pricing.

Day 09: Highlights of the day: Cairo | Drive to Cairo, Old Cairo & Khan-el-Khalili bazzar tours. Overnight in Cairo

We drive back to Cairo this morning (approx.. 5hrs) and check into a city centre hotel. An upgrade to an internal flight is also available on request. In the late afternoon we take a guided walk through the back streets and bazaars in Old Cairo. We’ll walk through the huge Bab al-Futuh gateway and explore streets dedicated to metalwork, spices, pottery, fabric, jewelery and anything else you can imagine as we gradually enter the more touristy Khan-el-Khalili bazaar. We’ll have time for a break to try some mint tea and a shisha pipe and this is a great final opportunity to pick up some souvenirs of your time in Egypt.

Day 10: Final Departure : Cairo | Cairo, free time before departure, airport transfer.

Your time is free today for some last minute sightseeing or shopping until we transfer you to the airport for your departure flight. If you have an afternoon or evening flight departure, then a half-day tour of Coptic Cairo and the Citadel is available today, or you could take another half-day tour to learn more about the evolution of pyramid building at Saqqara, Dashour & Memphis. tours are also available today. Check out our optional tours section for more details.