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Highlights of Egypt

Activity

Culture

Overview

Discover the iconic pyramids and temples of the pharaohs without the crowds, guided by an expert Egyptologist

Explore the wonders of ancient Egypt with an expert Egyptologist unravelling the myths and legends that envelope this storied kingdom. The highlights are numerous: the great pyramids and sphinx of Giza, the stepped pyramid of Saqqara, the Kom Ombo and Edfu temples, and the Valley of the Kings. There’s also time to immerse ourselves in the indigenous Nubian culture and explore the great city of Cairo. Additionally, this trip was designed to visit the sites at their quietest without the normal crowds from the Nile cruises – a welcome bonus in such a popular destination.

One of Our Top Recommended Trips for 2026… Here’s Why
Having been lucky enough to explore the Grand Egyptian Museum during the soft opening, I can say the wait for it to fully open was worth it. Visit in 2026 and you’ll be one of the first through the doors, allowing you to view the unrivalled collection of ancient relics before everyone else − Holly Parkinson, destination expert

Key Information

Trip Code: AER
Ways to Travel: Guided Group
Countries: Egypt
Carbon Footprint: 70.3kg CO2e per person per day

What's Included

All breakfasts and three dinners
All accommodation
All transport and listed activities
Tour leader throughout
Group arrival and departure transfers available

Highlights

Explore the ancient wonders of Egypt at their quietest
Start the adventure in the enthralling city of Cairo
Marvel at the magnificent pyramids of Giza and Saqqara
Sail along the Nile on a traditional felucca
Head into pharaoh tombs in the Valley of Kings
Immerse yourself in Nubian culture in the laid-back town of Aswan

Itinerary

First Destination: Cairo
Next Destination: Luxor

Meals included:None

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Meals included:Breakfast

First Destination: Cairo
Next Destination: Luxor

Welcome to Cairo, where the ancient and modern worlds connect seamlessly. Many flights arrive into Cairo late today, but if you arrive earlier, you may want to head to the hotel pool for a refreshing post-flight dip.

Want more time in Cairo? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative, allowing you extra time to explore the city and relax into the adventure.

Accommodation: Pyramids Park Resort (or similar)

Around 7am, say hello to your tour leader and fellow travellers, when we gather as a group to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead.

Then we head into the city to explore. First on the tour is the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities, which contains relics dating to 4,000 BCE, including the fantastic riches of Tutankhamun’s tomb. Survey the many fabulous treasures of Egypt in one place and set the scene for the rest of the adventure.

Continue our learning at the National Museum for Egyptian Civilization, which covers Egypt from prehistoric times to now. In this vast museum is the Royal Mummies Hall, which displays the mummified remains of 20 pharaohs, including Hatshepsut, Seti I and II, plus multiple Ramses.

Finally, we visit the ancient Khan El Khalili bazaar, navigating the narrow alleys lined with vendors selling everything from spices to gold.

Please note: When the Grand Egyptian Museum fully opens, we go there instead of the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities. Duration of the visit is 3 – 4 hours.

Your tour leader ensures a big welcome this evening over a group dinner.

Accommodation: Pyramids Park Resort (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

First on our sightseeing today is Giza, home to the Pyramids of Cheops, Chephren and Mycerinus and the mysterious Great Sphinx. Only the throng of sightseers milling around their huge foundations keep you in the 21st century. If you’d like to go inside these grand structures, it is possible to buy an entrance ticket locally.

We then visit Saqqara, a necropolis that pre-dates Giza and is now the largest archaeological site in Egypt. It’s home to the oldest pyramid in the world, the Step Pyramid (or the Pyramid of Djoser), plus the tombs of ancient rulers. If you’d like to explore inside the stepped pyramid, it is possible to buy a ticket locally.

Accommodation: Pyramids Park Resort (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast

We have free time this morning to relax. You may wish to unwind at the hotel, enjoying the sun and taking a swim in the pool before our flight to Aswan. Alternatively, you could use the time to head back to the Pyramids of Giza for one last exploration.

In the afternoon, we transfer to Cairo Airport to catch our flight to Aswan. Settle into the hotel upon arrival or head out and explore the markets.

Accommodation: Basma Hotel (or similar)
Upgrade to a Nile-view room today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Meals included:Breakfast

Today we visit the highlights of Aswan, first taking a motorboat to the Philae temple complex on Agilkia Island. The standout structure here is the Temple of Isis, an impressive classical monument built around 690 BCE for the ancient goddess. We also visit the vast Aswan High Dam, which was built in the 1960s to manage flooding, increase hydroelectric power and provide a reliable source of water for agriculture.

In the afternoon, we visit the Nubian village of Animalia, where we can immerse ourselves in the indigenous Nubian culture with a visit to a traditional house and small museum. We then explore the Nile by felucca (a traditional Egyptian sailing boat). On this one-hour ride, we can truly enjoy the peace of the Nile and the beauty of the surrounding landscape, where the vast desert almost reaches the water’s edge. (The timings of the felucca sailing might be changed according to weather conditions).

Capping an activity-packed day, we enjoy an Egyptian dinner on the island of Gharb Sohil.

Accommodation: Basma Hotel (or similar)
Upgrade to a Nile-view room today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

We have a day at leisure. There’s the option to visit the magnificent temples of Abu Simbel, where four great seated statues of Ramses II stare east towards the rising sun. Built by the pharaoh, the two temples were originally on the banks of the Nile; however, they were raised to a higher site in the late 1960s when waters from the new Lake Nasser rose behind the Aswan High Dam.

Accommodation: Basma Hotel (or similar)
Upgrade to a Nile-view room today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Meals included:Breakfast

Explore the Kom Ombo and Edfu temples today as we transfer (with a total drive time of 8hr 30min) to Luxor today. The temple of Kom Ombo, dedicated to the gods Sobek and Horus, sits on scenic spot by the Nile, while Edfu is home to the remarkably well-preserved Temple of Horus, a grand structure that served as the centre of the cult.

Accommodation: Iberotel Luxor (or similar)
Upgrade to a Nile-view room with a balcony today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Meals included:Breakfast

Start at the Valley of the Kings on the west bank of the Nile, which contains the once-hidden tombs of more than 62 pharaohs, including Tutankhamun, Seti I, Ramses III and IV. A discreet entrance in the hillside takes us underground, where a series of corridors and antechambers leads to the burial chamber and sarcophagus. The walls are covered in brightly painted images and hieroglyphs – a map of the afterlife to ensure the king’s safe passage.

One ticket allows us to see three tombs, usually those regarded as the most impressive; however, a visit to the tombs of Ramses VI and Tutankhamun (extra tickets, payable locally) are recommended. Visits to tombs are now strictly controlled to halt further deterioration of wall paintings – each is periodically closed. On crowded days, make sure to have a quick visit to each of the included tombs if you want to add extra tombs as your tour leader will give a fixed meeting time.

We then visit the Memorial Temple of Hatshepsut, a three-tiered monument that looks particularly impressive at the bottom of a limestone cliff.

In the afternoon, we visit Luxor Temple and the huge Karnak Temple complex on the east bank of the Nile. Built over more than 1,500 years, Karnak is a mixture of pylons, courtyards, halls and sanctuaries. The Hypostyle Hall has 134 columns, some of which are more than 75ft (23m) high.

In the evening, we have a farewell dinner together at a local restaurant, a chance to relive our adventures and perhaps start planning the next!

Accommodation: Iberotel Luxor (or similar)
Upgrade to a Nile-view room with a balcony today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

The adventure ends in Luxor today. If you’d like to explore a little more, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay in Luxor.

Meals included:Breakfast

Dates & Prices

Skip the hassle: We’ll handle your trip from start to finish, with competitive flight prices, deposit-only payments, and full ATOL protection available.

Call us on 0203 733 5948

Your Group, Your Adventure

Want to choose your travel companions? Gather your family and friends and let us create a Private Adventure just for you.

View Details

Accommodation

Classic hotels in Cairo, Aswan and Luxor

On this adventure in Egypt, we stay in three hotels. Below are the accommodations we typically use.

Upgrade to a Nile-view room on Day 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 of the itinerary – speak to your sales representative for more details.

Cairo: Pyramid Park Resort (nights 1-3)

Highlights of Egypt

Just a five-minute drive from the Giza pyramids, this contemporary resort is in the ideal spot to begin our adventure. When you’re not exploring the ancient world, jump in the pool or relax on the half-sunken sun loungers.

Aswan: Basma Hotel (nights 4-6)

Highlights of Egypt

On the highest hill in Aswan, directly opposite the Nubian Museum, the Basma occupies a privileged spot. Rooms come in a mixture of styles, many with views over the city or the Nile, and you can spend your free time in the expansive pool.

Luxor: Iberotel Luxor (nights 7-8)

Highlights of Egypt

The highlight of this Iberotel property is undoubtedly the pool, which floats on the Nile and offers fantastic views. Enjoy them with a drink from the pool bar! Elsewhere, the property has contemporary rooms, plus table tennis and billiards tables.

Extend Your Trip

Exclusive Add-ons

Alexandria Add-on Tour

Extend your adventure with a pre-trip exploration of Alexandria, a magnificent port city on the Mediterranean coast founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BCE.

Day 1: Arrive in Cairo today with a chance to settle in and enjoy the hotel facilities before travelling to Alexandria tomorrow. Accommodation: Steigenberger Pyramids (or similar)

Day 2: Transfer (three hours) from Cairo to Alexandria. En route, visit the Monastery of Saint Bishoy, an ancient Coptic Orthodox monastery in the Wadi El Natrun. After arrival, explore the Alexandria Library (Bibliotheca Alexandrina), a modern homage to the Great Library of Alexandria, which was one of the largest in the ancient world. The contemporary construction is a magnificent feat of design, housing numerous galleries, cultural venues and more. Accommodation: Metropole Paradise (or similar)

Day 3: Delve further into the cultural importance of the city at the Alexandria National Museum and Catacombs. The museum showcases the history of Alexandria and Egypt with more than 1,800 artefacts, while the catacombs are the largest-known Roman burial site in the country. Accommodation: Metropole Paradise (or similar)

Day 4: Catch a return transfer to Cairo today ready to join Day 1 of the main trip. On the way, visit El-Alamein, the site of two defining battles in the Second World War. We also have time to visit El-Alamein Military Museum to increase your understanding of these decisive conflicts.

Post-trip Extensions

Exclusive Add-ons

Red Sea Beach Extension

Extend your stay in Egypt and end the adventure on a relaxed note with time at the Red Sea. Hurghada is a vibrant beach resort ideal for rest and relaxation as well as activities out at sea and in the nearby desert. Stay for as many nights as you wish in a choice of hotels by the beach.

Let us know your preferences and we’ll take care of all the details, including transfers and accommodation: all you need to do is relax.

Essential Information

This trip is graded Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings, visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip, please contact us.

Itinerary: Most days involve early starts, allowing us to maximise our time in Egypt and avoid the worst of the heat.

Weather: Egypt can be hot, take care to keep hydrated. The hottest months tend to be June to September when temperatures can reach 40C (104F) in the south.

Ramadan is expected to run from approximately 28 February-29 March 2025 and 17 February-19 March 2026. One of the most important periods in the Islamic calendar, it is a special time to visit a Muslim country. Each evening, the streets empty as people head home to break the fast, followed by an air of festivity upon their return. Our leaders and drivers choose to work at this time so we continue to run trips; however, their energy levels may be slightly lower than normal. Many tourist sites, restaurants and shops will have an amended schedule, but your tour leader will know how to adapt the itinerary to still experience all the inclusions on this trip and maximise your experience during this special time.

Start hotel: Pyramids Park Resort Cairo, Alexandria Desert Rd, Kerdasa, Giza Governorate, Cairo, 12411, Egypt
Phone: +20 2383 88300
Recommended arrival time: Hotel check-in is from 2pm, there are no activities on Day 1. Our welcome briefing will be held on the morning of Day 2.
Airport: Cairo (CAI)

Getting to the start hotel

The start hotel is approximately a one-hour drive from the airport. We provide one group transfer from the airport to the hotel – speak to your sales representative for the transfer time. You may join at no extra cost, provided you can be at the airport before the transfer leaves. The transfer only departs once all passengers joining the transfer have arrived, and you may, therefore, have to wait. If you are joining, you will be met before immigration and customs.

Catching your return flight

There’s a group departure transfer to Luxor International Airport (LXR/HELX) that is scheduled to align with a flight to London, UK. Please speak to your sales representative if you wish to join or to arrange an alternative transfer.

There are no mandatory vaccination requirements; however, tetanus, typhoid, hepatitis A vaccines are recommended. Although not usually advised, other vaccinations to consider include rabies and hepatitis B.

There is evidence that Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS) is spread by contact with camels. This trip includes the option of a camel ride, which is undertaken at your own risk; we suggest that you visit the Travel Health Pro website which includes information about the virus.

We recommend exercising caution with tap water. To reduce the risk of stomach upsets, it is best to use bottled water to brush your teeth and avoid salad that may have been washed with tap water.

Egypt

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally need a visa to enter Egypt. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/africa/egypt
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/egypt
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/egypt/entry-requirements
• USA:  www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Egypt.html

If you are obtaining your visa online, please ensure you have a scan of your passport ready. The file size should be small and ideally saved as a JPEG or PDF otherwise you might not be able to load it on the visa application.

You will need to provide your host’s information on the application – please use the following details:

South Sinai Travel
79 Merghany Street
Cairo
Egypt
Telephone: +20 22418 7310
www.southsinai.com
salwa.ibrahim@southsinai.com

Please note, Egyptian officials have requested tourists carry a copy of their passport with them while in the country. Please also note, some prescribed medicines are controlled substances in Egypt.

For meals not included, we suggest you allow approximately US$15 for lunch and US$20 for dinner. Food in Egypt involves kebabs, chicken, stews, pita bread, falafel, beans, vegetables, pickles and salads. Dishes tend to be simple and wholesome, and vegetarians can be catered for, though the options may be somewhat limited.

Rain is very rare in Egypt and most days are sunny and clear. Summer temperatures can exceed 40C (104F), but this is particularly true for the period between June and September. Winter can be surprisingly cold, especially on the Nile or at night. The average daytime maximum in Cairo in January is 20C (68F), nighttime minimum is 8C (46F). In summer, these temperatures are 35C (95F) and 22C (72F) respectively. Daytime temperatures are slightly higher on average in Aswan.

As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.

We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.

You’ll also find Thriving Nature, Thriving People moments across our trips. These experiences are often a highlight of your adventure, while also benefiting the natural world or local communities.

On this trip, we:

Can choose to visit A.C.E (Animal Care in Egypt), an animal charity dedicated to providing free veterinary care and education to their owners

Reviews

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Highlights of Egypt

Activity Level

Comfort Level

Activity

Overview

Discover the iconic pyramids and temples of the pharaohs without the crowds, guided by an expert Egyptologist

Key Information

What's Included

Highlights

Itinerary

Dates & Prices

Skip the hassle: We’ll handle your trip from start to finish, with competitive flight prices, deposit-only payments, and full ATOL protection available.

Your Group, Your Adventure

Accommodation

Classic hotels in Cairo, Aswan and Luxor

Extend Your Trip

Alexandria Add-on Tour

Post-trip Extensions

Red Sea Beach Extension

Essential Information

Getting to the start hotel

Catching your return flight

Egypt

Reviews

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Highlights of Egypt

Activity Level

Comfort Level

Activity

Overview

Discover the iconic pyramids and temples of the pharaohs without the crowds, guided by an expert Egyptologist

Key Information

What's Included

Highlights

Itinerary

Dates & Prices

Skip the hassle: We’ll handle your trip from start to finish, with competitive flight prices, deposit-only payments, and full ATOL protection available.

Your Group, Your Adventure

Accommodation

Classic hotels in Cairo, Aswan and Luxor

Extend Your Trip

Alexandria Add-on Tour

Post-trip Extensions

Red Sea Beach Extension

Essential Information

Getting to the start hotel

Catching your return flight

Egypt

Reviews

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Egypt: Alexandria to Aswan

Ancient Egypt & Nile Cruise – Premium Adventure

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The Adventure Begins Here