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Day 1: Arrive into Cairo. Transfer to hotel
Upon arrival our staff will meet you at the airport and transfer 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.
| OVERNIGHT:
Cairo – 5 star hotel
| EXTRAS:
Extra night - pre-tour, Single Room Supplement - Egypt

Day 2: Cairo. Pyramids & Saqqara tour
Our tour of Egypt starts with a visit to the Giza Plateau, home of Egypt's world famous Great Pyramids, proclaimed by the Greeks to be among the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. We visit the great Pyramids of Giza and their guardian Sphinx, Memphis-first capital of the ancient kingdom to see the statue of Ramses II, then to Sakkara to see the Step pyramid.
| OVERNIGHT:
Cairo hotel
| MEALS:
Breakfast
| EXTRAS:
Nile Dinner Cruise in Cairo (deluxe)

Day 3: Luxor. West bank tour. Luxor temple
This moring we transfer to Cairo airport of an early flight to Luxor. We begin our tour of the West bank of the Nile starting at the Colossi of Memnon we then get to explore the dusty Pharaonic tombs located at the world famous Valley of the Kings. We also visit the Temple of Queen Hatchepsut and see the colourful hieroglyphics at Medinat Habu temple before crossing back into Luxor. Your afternoon is free to relax on board your 5-star Nile cruise boat or to explore Luxor's markets. In the evening we take a walking tour of the beautiful Luxor Temple which is spectacularly lit up at night.
| OVERNIGHT:
On board - 5 star cruise
| MEALS:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Luxor. Karnak Temple. Sail to Edfu
This morning you have the chance to take a spectacular sunrise hot air balloon flight over the West bank of the Nile. After breakfast, our tour of Luxor today is to the huge temple complex of Karnak which features towering columns and numerous temples and structures - rightly justifying Luxor's reputation as the largest open air museum in the world! In the afternoon the boat starts sailing up the Nile, through the lock at Esna and on to Edfu where we | OVERNIGHT: (Note - Nile cruise boat itineraries are subject to slight alterations en-route).
| OVERNIGHT:
On board - 5 star cruise
| MEALS:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
| EXTRAS:
Hot air balloon in Luxor

Day 5: Edfu. Cruise to Kom Ombo & Aswan
After breakfast we visit the nearby Edfu Temple which is dedicated to the god Horus. We then continue upriver towards Kom Ombo, watching traditional rural Egyptian life pass us by on the banks of the Nile. You may want to enjoy a relaxing soak in the plunge pool on the boat's sun deck. At Kom Omombo we tour the temple which sits scenicly by the banks of the Nile and is home to mummified crocodiles amongst other things! The cruise then continues onwards to Aswan.
| OVERNIGHT:
On board - 5 star cruise
| MEALS:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Aswan. Abu Simbel option. Philae Temple, Aswan Dam
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. If you don't visit Abu Simbel, then this morning is free.. Our tours in Aswan include a trip to the beautiful island temple complex of Philae which we visit by boat. The Philae temple remains one of Egypt’s most romantic and picturesque sites having been completely relocated following work on the Dam. We'll also see the impressive Aswan High Dam which was constructed to form Lake Nasser. The rest of the day is free to explore the colourful souks and markets found in the town or watch the sunset over the River Nile.
| OVERNIGHT:
Aswan - 5-star cruise
| MEALS:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
| EXTRAS:
Abu Simbel overland

Day 7: Cairo, Egyptian Museum & optional tours
This morning we transfer to Aswan airport for a flight back to Cairo. We start our tour of Cairo with a visit to the Egyptian Museum, the world-renowned Museum of Egyptian Antiquities. Accompanied by your certified Egyptologist, you'll stroll through the halls highlighting each historical period of this ancient land. The afternoon if free to enjoy at your leisure or to take some optional half day tours visiting not-to-be-missed the Khan Al-Khalili bazaar, abuzz with activity and offering a priceless perspective on Cairo's oriental character OR discover Cairo's churches & synagogues by taking the old Cairo Coptic.
| OVERNIGHT:
Cairo hotel
| MEALS:
Breakfast
| EXTRAS:
Nile Dinner Cruise in Cairo (deluxe)

Day 8: Cairo. Departure transfer to the airport
Your time is free today until we transfer you to the airport for your departure
flight.
| OVERNIGHT:
N/A
| MEALS:
Breakfast
| EXTRAS:
Extra night - post-tour

Day 1 Cairo

Welcome to Cairo! On arrival at the airport, take an included transfer to your hotel. You are free to arrive at any time today before an important welcome meeting, held at 6 pm. If you do arrive early, perhaps get out and explore the busy streets, finding a hole-in-the-wall eatery for a snack like ta’ameya – Egypt’s take on falafel. Or you may wish to make the most of your hotel – the pool area offers magnificent pyramid views. After your welcome meeting, where you will meet your local leader and fellow travellers, head out for an included dinner with the group. Here your leader will introduce you to the dazzling variety of Egyptian cuisine, known for being fresh, delicious and unique to the country. Best enjoyed when shared, tuck into an array of traditional dishes like fatta, a dish made with rice, bread and meat in a garlic and vinegar sauce, and kushari, a tantalising mixture of pasta, rice, lentils and fried onions.

Day 2 Cairo

This morning, tour the mighty Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx with your small group and expert leader, who is a trained Egyptologist. Seeing these ancient and iconic structures up close is a memory that will stay with you long after your time in Egypt is over. For an additional charge, you may be able to go inside the Great Pyramid of Khufu (or Cheops). After stopping to purchase some lunch, your adventure continues to the Egyptian Museum, home to one of the world's great collections of ancient artefacts. The masses of gleaming artefacts recovered from the tomb of Tutankhamun are an impressive sight – from jewellery to the famous golden death mask and his gilded sarcophagi, this pharaoh was certainly prepared for the afterlife. Your leader will take you through some of Egypt’s dynastic history, and you will have plenty of time to explore on your own – home to almost 100,000 artefacts, there’s a whole ancient world to uncover.

Day 3 Aswan

Catch a morning flight to Aswan – Egypt’s southernmost city. Its relaxed charm is due in no small part to its large Nubian population. Check in to your hotel then travel to Philae Island and visit the beautiful Temple of Isis – the goddess of health, marriage and wisdom – rescued from the rising waters of the Nile and relocated here. Your leader will share stories of the history and changing landscape of the island. Then, take a boat to a Nubian village on an island in the middle of the Nile. Walk through the village before sitting down to dinner with a local Nubian family in their home. Enjoy traditional Nubian food, swap stories with your friendly hosts and gain a unique perspective into their way of life.

Day 4 Aswan - Nile Cruise

After breakfast, you may like to take a stroll around Aswan or join an optional tour of Abu Simbel, a temple complex that was dismantled and moved to make way for the Aswan High Dam, before you board a Nile riverboat, your Feature Stay accommodation for the next three nights. Travelling by riverboat allows you to get to the heart of each destination while ensuring the journeys in between are every bit as interesting. In the afternoon, board a traditional felucca sailing boat where you can sit back and relax with some drinks as the sun sets over your beautiful surroundings. Return to your riverboat for dinner.

Day 5 Nile Cruise - Edfu

Enjoy a peaceful morning on board your riverboat, then set out in the afternoon along the river, relaxing in the sun on deck and taking in the desert hills forming a backdrop over the lush riverbanks. Arrive at Kom Ombo Temple, sitting spectacularly on the river’s edge. Your leader will let you in on the secrets of this ancient temple. Built in approximately 181 BC, Kom Ombo is dedicated to two gods – Horus (god of protection) and Sobek (god of fertility, linked to the Nile’s water). Each god has a dedicated section – north or south – and there have been recent discoveries of mummified crocodiles in the Sobek section. Afterwards, return to your riverboat and continue to Edfu where you will dock for the evening.

Day 6 Nile Cruise - Luxor

This morning, you will be moored near Edfu and may have the option to venture independently into town to see the nearby temple. Sail towards Luxor passing through the Esna Locks. You may have to queue to proceed through the locks, but this is a great opportunity to sit back with a drink in hand and observe life on the Nile – listen to the shouts of the many captains as they navigate their way through the various small boats of merchants selling their wares to a captive audience. Arrive at the open-air museum of Luxor – from the spectacular temple complex of Karnak to the Valley of the Kings, Luxor is full of wonderfully preserved reminders of the Pharaohs. Today you'll explore the Karnak Temple. One of the world's most celebrated temple complexes, Karnak is a house of the gods built over a period of some 200 years. Your guided tour of this vast temple of impressive pylons, obelisks and chapels will reveal its finest sections, such as the Avenue of Sphinxes and the Great Temple of Amun.

Day 7 Luxor

Disembark your riverboat and travel to the Valley of the Kings. Buried under the arid hills here are over 60 tombs of pharaohs, many richly decorated with reliefs and paintings. With your leader, explore this place, where the pharaohs of the New Kingdom (16th to 11th century BC) were secretly interred for all eternity, and where discoveries are still being made. Your leader will explain the history and legends of these remarkable people, and the significance of the many paintings and hieroglyphics, still well preserved in the deepest tombs. Entry is included to three tombs of your choosing, as well as access to the tomb of Tutankhamun. The unearthing of the young Pharaoh’s resting place is one of the world’s greatest archaeological discoveries, and today you will have the chance to explore the painted chamber and marvel at his famous golden sarcophagus. Continue to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut – a colonnaded building set against high cliffs that create a spectacular natural amphitheatre, then view the Colossi of Memnon – two 17-metre-high statues on Luxor's west bank.

Day 8 Cairo

Board a flight bound for Cairo this morning. On arrival, settle in to your hotel then head with your group to the Al-Azhar neighbourhood to visit Khan al-Khalili Bazaar – a sprawling maze of alleyways including the gold market, cloth market, 'perfume street' and the spice market. Continue to the 9th-century Al-Azhar Mosque – one of the oldest and largest in Egypt. Its perfectly proportioned courtyard and distinctive minaret make it a masterpiece of Islamic architecture. Stop off in Cairo’s oldest coffeeshop for an Arabic coffee or mint tea as you watch the world go by. It’s a known fact that the very best food in Cairo is made inside local homes, but few visitors get the chance to experience this for themselves. This afternoon, you will be one of the lucky few as you are welcomed into the home of a local family for a meal. Sit down to a wonderful meal of traditional dishes which you’ll share with your friendly hosts and gain an inside look at modern Egyptian life.

Day 9 Cairo

Your trip will come to an end today after breakfast. Check-out time is usually around 12pm and you are free to leave at any time. If you have arranged a private airport transfer you will be advised of the pick-up time. If you would like to spend more time in Cairo, we’ll be happy to organise additional accommodation (subject to availability).