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Egypt Family Adventure

Activity

Family

Overview

Travel through thousands of years of history on a family adventure that brings Ancient Egypt vividly to life

From standing at the foot of the Great Pyramids to sailing the Nile on a comfortable cruise boat, this journey is designed to spark curiosity and imagination for travellers of all ages. Led by a knowledgeable Egyptologist who knows how to engage both adults and younger travellers, we explore legendary temples, tombs and museums, while balancing guided visits with time to relax and enjoy being together. Cruising the Nile from Luxor to Aswan adds a sense of adventure, with ever-changing scenes of riverside life, warm evenings on deck and memorable sunsets along the way.

Key Information

Trip Code: FAE
Ways to Travel: Guided Group, Small Ship Cruises
Countries: Egypt
Carbon Footprint: 118kg CO2e per person per day

What's Included

All accommodation: 7 Superior nights (4 Nile cruise boat, 3 hotel), 1 Classic night (hotel)
All breakfasts, four lunches and four dinners
Immersive itinerary with all transport (minibus, cruise boat and one internal flight) and listed activities
Expert tour leader to enhance your adventure
Group arrival and departure transfers available

Don't Forget To

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

Highlights

Learn the stories behind the ancient wonders from your tour leader, an expert Egyptologist
Stand face-to-face with the Great Sphinx and explore the Pyramids of Giza
Cruise the Nile on a comfortable boat with a swimming pool and open decks
Step inside colourful tombs in the Valley of the Kings
Sail by felucca and experience the calm rhythm of the Nile
Discover Nubian culture in the relaxed town of Aswan

Itinerary

First Destination: Cairo
Next Destination: Aswan

Accommodation:Mövenpick Cairo Media City (or similar)
Meals included:None

Accommodation:Mövenpick Cairo Media City (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:Mövenpick Cairo Media City (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:M/S Nile Style (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:M/S Nile Style (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:M/S Nile Style (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:M/S Nile Style (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:Basma Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

First Destination: Cairo
Next Destination: Aswan

Welcome to Cairo, a city that has been at the heart of Egyptian civilisation for more than 1,000 years and continues to shape the country today.

There are no activities planned today as some flights arrive in the evening. Our welcome briefing will take place tomorrow morning.

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:Mövenpick Cairo Media City (or similar)

After breakfast, usually at 7am or 7:30am, meet your tour leader and fellow travellers for a warm welcome to Egypt – a great opportunity to learn all about the adventures ahead.

At the Grand Egyptian Museum – the world’s largest archaeological museum dedicated to a single civilization – we come face-to-face with artefacts that are thousands of years old, including treasures from Tutankhamun’s tomb that rarely fail to impress younger travellers. The visit is guided with clear explanations that help make sense of the symbols, stories and daily life of Ancient Egypt.

Later, we step into the lively lanes of Khan el-Khalili bazaar, where bright stalls laden with spices and crafts offer a chance to practise bargaining skills and meet local vendors.

Accommodation:Mövenpick Cairo Media City (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Today is one of those travel days that lives up to every expectation. Standing on the Giza Plateau, we take in the scale of the Pyramids of Cheops, Chephren and Mycerinus — monuments that have fascinated travellers for thousands of years.

Our Egyptologist explains how these vast structures were built and why they mattered, answering questions from curious minds and helping younger travellers picture life in Ancient Egypt. The Great Sphinx, half-lion and half-pharaoh, adds another layer of mystery.

Only the throng of sightseers milling around their huge foundations keep you in the 21st century. If you’d like to venture inside the belly of the pyramids, it is possible to pay for additional tickets locally. After, we drive to a viewpoint to see the grand monuments from another angle.

There is free time later in the day to relax at the hotel or continue exploring Cairo at your own pace.

Accommodation:Mövenpick Cairo Media City (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

We typically transfer to Cairo airport before sunrise for our flight to Luxor (flight times can vary but we need to be at the airport three hours before the flight so expect a wake up around 2am). A breakfast box is provided, but you’ll also need to pack your day’s essentials into your hand luggage, such as your hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.

After landing, we head straight to Karnak Temple, a vast complex built over more than 1,500 years. Walking between towering columns, it is easy to imagine religious ceremonies and processions that once took place here, while our early arrival means we miss the big crowds that arrive later in the day. We then tour the smaller Luxor Temple complex, where we see more grand monuments from the ancient world.

After, we arrive at our cruise boat in time for lunch on board before free time in the afternoon to relax or head back into Luxor for more exploration.

Upgrade to an upper-deck cabin today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Accommodation:M/S Nile Style (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We cross to the west bank of the Nile very early, travelling to the Valley of the Kings on a 30 to 40-minute bus ride. Here, discreet entrances lead underground into richly decorated tombs, their walls covered with colourful scenes intended to guide pharaohs into the afterlife. Exploring inside these chambers is often a highlight for younger travellers.

One ticket allows us to see three tombs, usually into what are regarded as the most impressive tombs. However, if there is time, we recommend a visit to the tombs of Ramses VI and Tutankhamun – these require extra tickets, which can be bought locally.

Visits to tombs are now strictly controlled to halt further deterioration of wall paintings – each tomb is periodically closed for several weeks. 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 in order to return to the cruise boat before it sails.

Nearby, the terraced Temple of Hatshepsut tells the story of one of Egypt’s most remarkable rulers, while the Colossi of Memnon provide a final dramatic stop before we return to the boat.

Returning to the boat, we begin sailing along the Nile. As the river carries us south, families can relax on deck, play cards, read or simply watch villages and farmland drift by.

Upgrade to an upper-deck cabin today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Accommodation:M/S Nile Style (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning, we visit Edfu Temple, dedicated to the falcon-headed god Horus and one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt. Its carvings are clear and detailed, making it easier for children to spot scenes and symbols explained by the leader.

Later, after time sailing and relaxing on board, we stop at Kom Ombo, a temple unusually dedicated to two gods.

We continue cruising towards Aswan, arriving later in the evening.

Please note: Exact sailing and excursion times cannot be guaranteed for each individual trip.

Upgrade to an upper-deck cabin today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Accommodation:M/S Nile Style (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We wake in Aswan, a smaller and more relaxed town with strong Nubian roots. Families can browse the local bazaar, where spices and souvenirs offer plenty to look at.

Today there’s the option of flying to the magnificent temples of Abu Simbel, 186mi (300km) to the south through the Nubian Desert. Built by Ramses II, the two temples are certainly some of the most spectacular in Egypt. Originally on the banks of the Nile, the temples were raised to a new site above the lake in the late 1960s, as the waters from the new Lake Nasser rose behind the Aswan High Dam. The four great seated statues of Ramses II stare east towards the rising sun. We arrive back in Aswan around 1.30pm, before lunch.

Alternatively, remain in Aswan and visit the Nubian Museum, which offers a clear and engaging look at local culture and traditions.

Upgrade to an upper-deck cabin today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Accommodation:M/S Nile Style (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After disembarking the cruise boat, we visit Philae Temple, carefully relocated to higher ground to save it from flooding after the construction of the Aswan High Dam. The story of its rescue adds a modern chapter to Egypt’s ancient past.

In the afternoon, we slow the pace with a felucca sail on the Nile. With no engine noise, this gentle journey allows families to appreciate the contrast between river, desert and islands — a calm and fitting finale to our time on the water.

Please note: The timings of the felucca sailing might be changed according to weather conditions

Upgrade to a Nile-view room today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Accommodation:Basma Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

You’ve stood beneath the Pyramids, explored royal tombs and sailed the Nile together, but now it’s time to begin the journey home.

If your family would like to extend the adventure, speak to your sales representative about additional nights or extensions – Egypt always has more stories to tell.

Meals included:Breakfast

Dates & Prices

Need flights or extra nights? Book through us – one team, one seamless journey

Call us on 1 844 462 4317

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

Cruise boat and hotels

We stay in four-star hotels (local rating) and spend four nights navigating the Nile on a cruise boat. Below are the places we typically stay during our time in Egypt.

Upgrade to a higher category of room on days 4-8 – speak to your sales representative for more details.

Cairo: Mövenpick Cairo Media City (nights 1-3)

Egypt Family Adventure

Kick-off our adventure at this refined family-friendly retreat in the capital. When you’re not out exploring, there’s plenty to keep the kids and adults entertained, including multiple outdoor pools, an aquapark and a daily chocolate hour with complimentary cocoa treats.

Nile: M/S Nile Style cruise boat (nights 4-7)

Egypt Family Adventure

Climb aboard this stylish cruise boat for an unforgettable journey on the longest river in the world. It has 77 air-conditioned cabins, each with a view over the waters while sailing, allowing you to relax in peace and watch the world drift past. Much of your free time may well be spent on the spacious sundeck, which has a dipping pool and plenty of cushy loungers (shaded and unshaded). Elsewhere, there’s a sophisticated lounge bar and elegant restaurant.

Aswan: Basma Hotel (night 8)

Ancient Egypt & Nile Cruise

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 cooling off in the expansive pool. The property is also home to The Lotus restaurant, which serves an eclectic mix of international and local cuisines, plus the Vienna Cafe, where you can enjoy light bites, hot drinks and a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.

Worth knowing

In common with all Nile cruises, the M/S Nile Style moors next to other boats at night, meaning you may only have a view of the river from your cabin while sailing.
The accommodation shown has been booked and agreed in advance, however we may need to make changes to a property of similar or higher standard after you have booked. We will endeavour to inform you of any changes in advance which could, on rare occasions, be at late notice.

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.

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.

Suitability: This trip is suitable for everyone with average health and fitness. No experience of any activity involved is necessary. Most days involve early starts (especially Day 3 when we catch an early flight to Luxor) but this allows us to get the most from our time in Egypt and avoid the worst of the heat.

Summer departures: The hottest months are June to September when temperatures can hit over 40C (104F). On departures during these months, we amend the itinerary to avoid the hottest parts of the day, but the inclusions remain the same. Care should be taken to keep hydrated.

Ramadan is expected to run from 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: Mövenpick Cairo Media City, El Wahat Rd, First 6th of October, 6th of October City (3), Giza Governorate 3280240
Phone: +20 2 38555001
Recommended arrival time: Hotel check-in is from 2pm, there are no activities on Day 1 so you can arrive at any time.
Our welcome meeting takes place on the morning of Day 2 – please bring your insurance details as the tour leader needs to gather this information.
Airport: Cairo International Airport (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 one group transfer to Aswan International Airport (ASW). Please speak to your sales representative for times 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.

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.

For meals not included, we suggest you allow approximately US$15 for lunch and US$20 for dinner (this differs according to the type of restaurant you are looking for).

Rain is very rare in all parts of 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), night time minimum is 8C (46F). In the 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: