Day 1 – Arrival in Cairo
On arrival at Cairo airport you will be welcomed by our local representative holding a sign with your name. They will also help arrange your visa on arrival and guide you through the busy airport, so you can relax after your journey knowing everything is being taken care of. From there, you will head to your transfer and be driven to your hotel nearby. You’ll be staying in the relaxed Zamalek district in the heart of the city, with tree-lined streets and plenty of cafes and restaurants just a short walk away. From your hotel, you can also walk to Tahrir Square, where locals gather and city life unfolds around you. Here, you will find the original Egyptian Museum, a beautiful building home to a huge collection of ancient artefacts collected over generations. Although some features have moved to the new Grand Egyptian Museum, if you have time it is still well worth a visit for both the building itself and impressive collection of statues, mummies and treasures on display.
Day 2 – The Pyramids of Giza
This morning, after breakfast, you will be visiting the infamous Pyramids of Giza. You have seen them countless times in textbooks, films and documentaries, but nothing quite prepares you for the moment they appear on the horizon. You’ll likely have so many questions about these mysterious structures and this is where your guide is on hand to bring it all to life. You’ll be joined by a local expert who will take you through the history behind why they were built, the mysteries of their construction and the stories that still surround them today. There is also the option to step inside the Great Pyramid of Cheops, for an additional fee (around £20), where you can walk through a series of narrow passageways and steep wooden walkways towards the heart of the pyramids and ending in the granite burial chamber. It’s warm, a little claustrophobic and undeniably memorable. You’ll feel like an archaeologist uncovering ancient secrets.
Entrance fees are arranged locally and are not included in the price.
Onto the Sphinx, Saqqara and Dahshur
From the pyramids, you’ll continue on foot towards the legendary Sphinx. It may be a little smaller than many people imagine, but standing face-to-face with this mysterious guardian of the desert is still a special moment. With the pyramids rising behind it, it’s one of those classic Egypt scenes that feels familiar, but even more impressive in real life.
Next, you’ll continue onto Saqqara, home to Egypt’s oldest pyramids and often skipped by most tourists which is exactly what makes it so special. The atmosphere feels quieter and more authentic, giving you space to properly take in the scale and history of the site without the crowds. At Saqqara, you’ll explore the famous Step Pyramid, considered the earliest large-scale stone structure ever built and the blueprint for the pyramids that followed.
Your final stop today is Dahshur, a royal necropolis and UNESCO World Heritage Site that feels wonderfully off the beaten track. Here, you’ll find several pyramids, including the unusual Bent Pyramid, named after its distinctive change in angle halfway up – thought to be the result of an engineering rethink. At the end of the day, your driver will take you back to your hotel where you can relax and reflect on your first deep dive into ancient Egypt.
Day 3 – Travel to El Minya
You’ll be picked up from your hotel and driven south along the Nile to El Minya, following the river into a quieter, less-visited part of Egypt. Along the way, you’ll stop at the rock-cut tombs of Beni Hassan, set high above the valley, where you can explore a handful of beautifully decorated interiors.
Continuing via Tell el-Amarna, you’ll arrive in El Minya, an area known for some of Egypt’s best-preserved archaeological sites, including the temples of Nefertiti, which you’ll visit tomorrow. The town itself has a relaxed charm, with elegant architecture reflecting its prosperous past, and you’ll stay overnight in a centrally located hotel.
Day 4 – Visit the city of Nefertiti
Today you’ll head out with your guide to explore one of Egypt’s most fascinating historic sites, the ancient city of Tell el-Amarna, once known as the Sun City. Built by Pharaoh Akhenaten and Queen Nefertiti in honour of Aten, the sun god, it was once filled with temples, palaces and tombs spread across the desert, and even now, more than 3,000 years on, it’s a pretty special place to wander and take it all in. Later, you’ll continue on to the pilgrimage town of Abydos, one of Egypt’s most important religious centres, where you’ll settle in for the night in a comfortable hotel.
Day 5 – Visit Abydos & Dendera, then onto Luxor
After breakfast, you’ll head out to explore the ancient city of Abydos, once a key centre for the worship of Osiris, god of the afterlife. It became an important pilgrimage site, and as you wander through the impressive complex, you’ll see some beautifully preserved carved reliefs that have stood the test of time.
Later, continue to Dendera to visit the Temple of Hathor, dedicated to the goddess of love and joy. The temple is known for its striking columns and rare intact roof, which you can walk on for views across the surrounding countryside. From here, it’s around a two-hour drive to Luxor, where you can sit back and enjoy the changing scenery.
You will be staying at a beautiful boutique hotel on Luxor’s quieter west bank. Away from the bustle of the centre, this peaceful spot feels like a hidden oasis, with palm-filled gardens, a swimming pool and traditionally styled Arabic rooms.
The hotel has an open-air restaurant, serving delicious home-cooked Egyptian dishes, many made with ingredients straight from the garden. We recommend you dine here at least once during your stay. If you’d rather head into the centre for dinner, they can easily arrange a taxi for you.
Day 6 – The Valley of the Kings
Early this morning, you’ll be picked up from your guesthouse for a visit to the legendary Valley of the Kings. Following winding roads into the mountains, you’ll reach the valley where many of Egypt’s pharaohs were laid to rest. With more than 60 tombs discovered so far, it remains one of the world’s most fascinating archaeological sites.
While many tombs were looted centuries ago, the tomb of Tutankhamun was famously found almost untouched by Howard Carter, making it one of the most important discoveries in Egyptology. Around ten tombs are open to visitors each day, rotating regularly. As you wander through the chambers, you’ll see colourful hieroglyphics, hidden passageways and burial rooms caved deep into the mountainside.
After the Valley of the Kings, you will dropped off at your Nile cruise ship, which will be your home for the next few days. While it may not have the traditional charm of a felucca or dahabiya, it more than makes up for it with comfort and luxury. After settling into your cabin, you will enjoy your first lunch on board, before having the afternoon and evening free to explore Luxor at your own pace. Tonight, you will spend your first night on your floating hotel, fully equipped with a private double cabin, air conditioning, television and en-suite bathroom offering the perfect blend of relaxation and cultural discovery.
Day 7 – Luxor – Esna
You will have breakfast on board and then have free time until midday to relax or explore Luxor further. If you are up early a hot air balloon ride can be arranged, and if you have not yet visited Karnak Temple we can organise a guide for you. Just let us know what you would like to do. In the afternoon your journey along the Nile begins as the ship sets sail towards Esna. Later you will visit the Temple of Horus at Edfu, one of the best preserved temples in Egypt, where a private guide will meet you at the boat and take you to the site. This impressive temple dedicated to the falcon headed god rivals Karnak in both scale and beauty. By evening the ship will moor for the night and you can enjoy another meal on board before spending a relaxed evening on deck or in your cabin.
Day 8 – Visit the temples at Kom Ombo
The waters around Edfu can be very busy, so it is not always possible to visit the Temple of Horus on day seven. If that is the case, the visit will take place the following morning, so you will still have the chance to see it. Later today the ship will stop at Kom Ombo, where you can step ashore to visit the impressive temple dedicated to the gods Sobek and Haroeris. A private guide will meet you and accompany you through the site, helping you to understand its history and significance. The temple stands in its original position along the Nile, which adds to its unique setting and atmosphere. After your visit you will return to the ship and continue your journey towards Aswan. In the evening you can relax on board, enjoy dinner, and take in the views as you sail, ready for a full day in Aswan tomorrow.
Day 9 – Visit Aswan
This morning the boat arrives in Aswan, where you will stay on board for another night. After breakfast, you are free to spend the day as you wish. You may choose to relax on deck or head out to explore the Nile around Aswan. A lovely option is a boat trip by felucca to Elephantine Island, where you can visit a small museum and some Roman ruins, as well as nearby Nubian villages. Here you can step inside a local home for a cup of coffee and a glimpse of daily life. On another island you will find a lush botanical garden, offering a striking contrast to the surrounding desert landscape. We are happy to help arrange any of these excursions for you. In the evening you will return to the cruise for dinner and spend your final night on board.
Day 10 – End of Nile cruise
After breakfast you will disembark and say goodbye to the boat, bringing your Nile journey to an end. We will arrange for you to be taken to a hotel on the banks of the Nile, where you can unwind on the terrace and watch sailboats drift along the Nile, or cool off in the swimming pool. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy as you wish, perhaps visit the beautiful Philae Temple, or simply take it easy and soak up the relaxed riverside atmosphere.
Day 11 – Visit the iconic Abu Simbel
This morning, it’s a very early start (around 4am) as you’ll be travelling south from Aswan to one of Egypt’s most spectacular sights: the legendary temples of Abu Simbel. The drive takes around 3.5 hours through desert landscapes towards the shores of Lake Nasser, with the option to stop along the way whenever you’d like. Nothing quite prepares you for your first glimpse of Abu Simbel. Carved directly into the rock, the entrance is guarded by four huge statues of Pharaoh Ramses II, built to impress visitors and showcase his power more than 3,000 years ago – and they still do exactly that today. Similar to Philae Temple, Abu Simbel was part of an extraordinary UNESCO rescue project and careful relocated stone by stone to save it from the rising waters caused by the construction of the Aswan High Dam. Later that afternoon, you will travel back to Aswan, where you can cool off in the pool after a long, but rewarding day.
If you’d prefer to stay in Abu Simbel overnight, we can arrange this for you. It’s a great way to experience the temples once the day-trippers have left, giving you more time to explore in a calmer setting. Speak to your travel specialist for more information.
Day 12 – Departure from Egypt
Today, it’s time to say goodbye to Egypt and fly home. It’s a short drive from your hotel to Aswan Airport, and you’ll travel back via Cairo for your onward international flight. By now, you’ll have explored vast temple complexes, followed the story of the pharaohs through centuries of history, and experienced life along the river on a relaxing Nile cruise.
If you’re not ready for the journey to end, we can arrange a few relaxing days on the Red Sea, where you can unwind by the beach and discover the incredibly vibrant underwater world before heading home.
Accommodation
