Signature

Signature Egypt Treasures of the Nile

Overview

Amid pharaohs’ tombs and the Nile’s flow, explore a nation where the ancient and present move as one

The grace of the Nile. The grandeur of the Pyramids. The stories carved into stone. This is history made present. Led by your handpicked Signature Guide, an expert Egyptologist, journey from Cairo’s grand galleries and monuments to Luxor’s painted tombs on a journey of discovery, each moment purposefully designed to avoid the crowds for a more intimate experience. Then slow right down aboard a private dahabiya gliding on the Nile. This is Egypt, where eternity lives in every carving, every river bend, every rising sun.

Venture to the very heart of each destination on our Signature Collection, where every journey is shaped by our unrivalled local connections and insider expertise. Step beyond the ordinary with private invitations, rare encounters, and experiences few will ever share. So when someone says, “I’ve been there,” you’ll simply smile, knowing you’ve experienced it differently.

Signature Day: Experience our distinctive Signature Day, choosing between optional activities such as tracing the stories of Egypt’s royals in the Valley of the Queens, floating above the West Bank by hot-air balloon, or cycling through Luxor’s Nile-side villages

Signature Stay: Sail the Nile aboard your private dahabiya, combining timeless elegance, modern comfort, and personalised service

Signature Guide: Let your hand-picked Signature guide lead you to the country’s soul − sharing their home, heritage, and heart

Key Information

Activity: Culture
Activity Level: Easy & Moderate
See our Activity Level Guidelines to check if this holiday is right for you.
Comfort Level: Premium
Trip Code: LEN
Ways to Travel: Guided Group
Countries: Egypt
Carbon Footprint: 121.7kg CO2e per person per day

Signature Exclusive Inclusions

Elegant, hand-picked hotels and a Signature Stay in a private dahabiya
All breakfasts, seven lunches, and seven dinners, featuring restaurants that capture authentic Egyptian cuisine
Named Signature Guide with outstanding knowledge and guest satisfaction
Your preferred Signature Day experience, selected and prebooked ahead of travel
Complimentary transfers on arrival and departure, ensuring a smooth journey, plus comfortable transport throughout (including a domestic flight, private vehicles, and a private dahabiya)
Gratuities for local support staff so every detail of your journey feels effortless

Don't Forget To

Request a single room if required, purchase travel insurance and arrange any visas and vaccinations.

Signature Experiences

Gaze on Tutankhamun’s world at the Grand Egyptian Museum, then enjoy privileged access to enter the Great Pyramid

Trace vanished seas in Wadi Al-Hitan, crossing desert by 4x4 to 40m-year-old whale fossils exposed in the sand

Walk Luxor’s West Bank beyond the expected, from the Valley of the Kings to vivid Medinet Habu and Howard Carter's House

Itinerary

First Destination: Cairo
Next Destination: Aswan

Accommodation:Sheraton Cairo Hotel
Meals included:Dinner

Accommodation:Sheraton Cairo Hotel
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:Sheraton Cairo Hotel
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:Malkata House
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:Malkata House
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:Aboard the Safiya
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:Aboard the Safiya
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:Aboard the Safiya
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:Aboard the Safiya
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Meals included:Breakfast

First Destination: Cairo
Next Destination: Aswan

Our journey begins in Cairo, where the hum of the city meets the calm of the Nile.

On arrival, you’ll be welcomed by our local representative before passport control and escorted through the priority fast-track lane, helping you clear formalities with ease before continuing to baggage claim and your transfer to the hotel.

Settle into your riverside hotel, where palm-framed views set the scene for our journey. Those arriving early may join an optional walking tour in Cairo (available to prebook on request).

As the sun slips beneath Cairo’s skyline, join your Signature Guide for a welcome reception and dinner overlooking the Nile. An elegant introduction to the timeless allure of Egypt.

Accommodation:Sheraton Cairo Hotel
Meals included:Dinner

Signature Experience: Join your Signature Guide to explore the Grand Egyptian Museum, the most comprehensive and impressive museum on Ancient Egypt anywhere in the world. Your guide’s intimate knowledge of the exhibits means you’ll take the quietest route possible, while their expert insight reveals stories of the pharaohs and sets the scene for our adventure. Continue to the Giza Plateau, visiting the Sphinx and the Pyramids, again taking the quietest route and time so you’ll avoid the crowds. Step inside Khufu’s pyramid, enjoying private vehicle transport within the site, away from others.

Lunch is served with a front-row seat to the Great Pyramid. Return to Cairo to relax for the evening or ask your Signature Guide for their recommendations on a great dinner spot.

Accommodation:Sheraton Cairo Hotel
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

Signature Experience: Trade city edges for open desert in Wadi Al-Hitan, the Valley of the Whales. We ride by 4×4 across the sands to 40m-year-old whale fossils exposed in golden silence.

Continue to Tunis village for lunch at Kom El-Dikka, a farm-to-table restaurant specialising in Egyptian and Lebanese cuisine.

Return to Cairo as the Nile catches the evening light.

Accommodation:Sheraton Cairo Hotel
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

Fly south to Luxor, where ancient Thebes waits beyond the Nile. On arrival, we travel north to Dendera, where the Temple of Hathor, dedicated to the cow goddess of the same name, glows with carved constellations and painted ceilings.

You’ll have free time to wander or grab some lunch before we continue on to visit the East Bank as dusk falls over Luxor Temple, the columns glowing gold beside the river.

Accommodation:Malkata House
Meals included:Breakfast

Today is your Signature Day, inviting you to shape the experience around your interests and connect more deeply with Luxor’s ancient past. You could:

Rise before dawn for a hot-air balloon flight over the West Bank, floating above temples and farmland before a farm breakfast (4am-7am)
Trace the lives of queens, nobles and princes at the Valley of the Queens, Queen Hatshepsut’s terraced temple and the richly painted Tombs of the Nobles (7.30am-12.30pm)
Spend an evening at Luxor Museum, where a thoughtfully curated collection of sculpture, jewellery and royal treasures brings ancient Thebes into intimate focus (5pm-8pm)
Cycle through Luxor’s rural landscape, following quiet tracks between mud-brick homes, palm groves and fertile fields shaped by the Nile (4pm-5pm)

Accommodation:Malkata House
Meals included:Breakfast

Signature Experience: The West Bank brings a privileged exploration of the Valley of the Kings, the vivid reliefs of Medinet Habu, and Howard Carter’s House, still preserved in 1922 anticipation, where you’ll uncover stories from the Golden Age of Egyptology.

After, we journey to Esna, where we step aboard our Signature Stay, the Safiya, a private dahabiya, which recalls the golden age of Nile travel. With just 10 suites and shaded decks made for slow afternoons, it invites relaxation.

Enjoy a late lunch on deck as sails catch the wind and the river carries you toward the heart of Egypt.

Accommodation:Aboard the Safiya
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Enjoy breakfast on deck as the dahabiya drifts toward El Kab, where ancient mud-brick walls and painted tombs and shrines rise from the desert.

Walk through the temples and tombs of El Kab, one of Egypt’s most unique settlements, exploring vast walls, vivid tombs, and temples that reveal the earliest echoes of a civilisation.

Sail onward to Edfu to visit the grand Temple of Horus, among the best preserved in Egypt, then unwind on board as the current sets the pace. Dinner is a special moonlit barbecue on the shoreline.

Dinner is a special moonlit barbecue, laughter low over the water.

Accommodation:Aboard the Safiya
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Step ashore at Bisaw Island, where life follows the rhythm of the river. Meet women baking traditional sun bread, and join fishermen in their narrow boats, learning how the Nile shapes every day.

Share simple moments with local families at Bishaw Island village, discovering daily life through warm conversation, an encounter that reveals the soul of the Nile.

Sail onward to El Silsila, where sandstone once left the cliffs to build Egypt’s greatest temples.

Explore the ancient quarry and the rock-cut temple of Horemheb, where shrines and inscriptions echo the artistry of an empire.

Return to Safiya for a quiet evening on deck, the river drifting silver in the dusk.

Accommodation:Aboard the Safiya
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Walk through the columned halls of Kom Ombo Temple and visit the Crocodile Museum, a unique riverside exhibition, as you uncover how divine balance and the might of the Nile shaped Egypt’s spiritual life.

Back on board, join the chef for an easy-going cooking demonstration. As you near Aswan, there’s time for a refreshing swim before a starlit farewell dinner on deck, during which you’ll enjoy some of the food you helped to prepare earlier.

Accommodation:Aboard the Safiya
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Before taking your complimentary departure transfer to the airport, linger in the morning light, letting the river settle into memory. This chapter may close, but Egypt’s stories and the spirit of the Nile will remain with you.

Alternatively, extend your stay and continue your journey of discovery. Speak with your Signature Collection travel expert to explore the possibilities.

Meals included:Breakfast

Dates & Prices

Accommodation

Experience the best of Egyptian hospitality

Every aspect of the Signature Collection is meticulously planned to take you deeper into the destination. That means your accommodation is a refined showcase of local hospitality, whether you’re staying in a pioneering luxury hotel or enjoying privileged access to a characterful stay designed to fully immerse you in the local culture.

Below are the accommodations we use on this adventure:

Cairo: Sheraton Cairo Hotel (nights 1-3)

Sheraton Cairo Hotel

Begin our journey at this polished hotel on the banks of the Nile. Spacious contemporary rooms, panoramic river views and excellent facilities, including an outdoor pool, provide a comfortable, relaxing base from which to explore Cairo’s ancient treasures and modern culture.

Luxor: Malkata House (night 4-5)

Malkata House

Set amid palm groves on Luxor’s tranquil West Bank, this family-run boutique hotel brings understated elegance to the desert’s edge. Facilities include an outdoor pool overlooking the mountains and a restaurant serving Egyptian cuisine, while the desert slopes beyond conceal the tombs and temples of ancient Thebes.

The Nile: The Safiya (nights 6-9)

Signature Egypt | Treasures of the Nile

Your Signature Stay. Sail the Nile aboard an elegant private dahabiya where time slows. With only a few cabins, attentive crew, and freshly prepared meals, this intimate boat offers serenity, privacy, and unhurried travel between ancient temples, quiet moorings, and age-old riverside villages.

Enhance your stay: Personalise your experience with curated room upgrades and additional nights tailored to your travel plans.

Post-trip Extensions

Exclusive Add-ons

Red Sea Hotels

Extend your time in Egypt and follow the journey to the shores of the Red Sea. After days tracing the story of the pharaohs, the Sinai coast offers space to slow down beside warm, clear waters and coral-rich reefs. Here are a few of our favourite hotels to inspire your stay:

Cleopatra Luxury Resort Sharm El Sheikh: Set along the shores of Nabq Bay, this spacious beachfront retreat combines contemporary Mediterranean design with sweeping Red Sea views. Rooms open towards gardens or the water, while wide pools and a private stretch of beach invite long, relaxed days by the sea. Restaurants draw on both Egyptian and international traditions, creating an easy, comfortable base for exploring the reefs and desert landscapes of the Sinai Peninsula.

Rixos Premium Seagate: Overlooking the coral-rich waters of Nabq Bay, this expansive resort is designed for effortless coastal living. Landscaped gardens lead to the shoreline, where the Red Sea reveals vibrant marine life just offshore. A collection of restaurants, attentive service and spacious pools shape an atmosphere of ease, allowing days to unfold between the beach, spa and sea.

Four Seasons Resort Sharm El Sheikh: Cascading down a hillside towards the Red Sea, this elegant resort (picture above) blends Moorish-inspired architecture with sweeping coastal views. Rooms and suites look out over gardens and turquoise water, while terraces, pools and restaurants are positioned to catch the shifting light over the sea. With attentive service and direct access to some of the region’s finest reefs, it offers a serene setting to conclude your Egyptian journey.

This is just a glimpse of what’s possible. Speak to your Signature Collection travel expert, who can guide you through the options and arrange everything for you.

Essential Information

We have graded this trip Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings, please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page.

Driving times: The longest travel times take place on Day 3 (two to three hours). All other journeys are under two hours.

Signature Day: Select from a curated menu of optional experiences to create a day that is personal to you, or choose to slow the pace and enjoy the facilities of your accommodation. Simply prebook your chosen experience at least 60 days before departure through your Signature Collection travel expert. Additionally, if you arrive early in Cairo, why not pre-book an optional city tour to build your excitement for the main trip to come?

Flights: This tour starts in Cairo and ends in Aswan. Economy flights between Cairo and Luxor are included as part of your package. Flights from Aswan to Cairo are best booked in conjunction with your international tickets – please speak to your Signature Collection travel expert if you would like this added to your booking.

As with all adventures in the Signature Collection, we take care of your arrival and departure transfers, allowing you to fully relax and immerse yourself in the local culture.

Arrival airport: Cairo (CAI)
- Your adventure begins with a welcome reception at 6pm on Day 1 at our first accommodation.
Departure airport: Aswan (ASW)
- Your adventure concludes after breakfast on the final day.

Complimentary arrival and departure transfers are included between the airport and the tour’s designated start and end hotels on the first and last day of your tour. If you book additional pre-tour or post-tour nights at the designated start or end hotel through Exodus, your complimentary transfer will also be valid for those arrival and departure dates.

Additional charges may apply for transfers on different dates or to and from alternative hotels within the same city. To ensure arrangements can be made, complimentary transfers must be requested through your Signature Collection Travel Expert at least two weeks before your tour departure date.

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.

This journey is designed to deepen your connection to Egypt through its food and drink. Share traditional dishes aboard your Nile cruiser, sample regional flavours shaped by the riverbanks, and join the chef for a relaxed cooking demonstration as you sail towards Aswan. Evenings drift from lantern-lit dinners on deck to a farewell feast beneath the stars, where recipes prepared earlier in the day return to the table. Expect fragrant spices, freshly baked flatbreads, grilled meats, and delicate mezze that reflect the richness and generosity of Egyptian hospitality. Where meals are not included, your Signature Guide will be on hand with considered recommendations, whether you choose to dine together or enjoy the evening at your own pace.

Egypt is generally warm and dry. October to April brings milder days and cooler nights, suiting temple visits and river sailing; May to September is hotter, especially in Upper Egypt, with bright, clear mornings and languid afternoons.

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.

We also weave Signature Legacy moments into your itinerary, so the positive impact of your trip lasts long after your stay. These are moments to remember which help people and nature thrive, ensuring you build a harmonious, positive connection with the places you visit.

On this journey, you can:

Meet the artisans of Tunis village, visiting family-run studios founded by Evelyne Porret, whose legacy lives through potters shaping Egypt’s creative heart with skill, purpose, and pride.
Share daily life with Egyptian families throughout the journey, joining breadmaking, and fishing traditions that sustain communities and foster meaningful connections through responsible, community-based travel.