Premium Egypt 9 Days

Salaam Aleikum! Arrive in Cairo and enjoy a smooth transfer to your hotel. Your Egyptian adventure kicks off with a welcome meeting at 6 pm, where your leader will go over the trip details. If you arrive early, explore the bustling streets, grab a snack at a local eatery, or relax by the hotel pool with spectacular pyramid views.

This evening, join your group for an included dinner and experience authentic Egyptian cuisine, from rich, garlicky fatta to the classic comfort dish kushari. Share stories, get to know your fellow travellers, and get ready for the adventure ahead.

Accommodation: Overland Hotel (1 night)
Meals: Dinner
Included activities:

Complimentary Arrival Transfer

Welcome Dinner

Optional activities:

Saqqara & Memphis

After breakfast, set out to explore the legendary Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx with your expert local guide. Walk among these ancient wonders, marvel at their scale, and learn the fascinating stories behind the pharaohs who built them. For an extra experience, you may enter the Great Pyramid of Khufu, though access can sometimes be restricted.

After a break for lunch, continue to the Grand Egyptian Museum, home to nearly 100,000 incredible artefacts, including the treasures from Tutankhamun’s tomb – from exquisite jewellery to his iconic golden death mask. Your leader will provide insight into Egypt’s dynastic history while leaving plenty of time to explore the museum’s highlights on your own.

Accommodation: Overland Hotel (1 night)

Meals: Breakfast

Included activities:

Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx

Grand Egyptian Museum

Optional activities:

Great Pyramid of Cheops – EGP1500

Special information: Walking is required around the pyramids; summer heat and minimal shade make sun protection and water essential. The pyramid interiors are small and warm; not recommended for those with claustrophobia.

Take a morning flight to Aswan, Egypt’s southern gem. Upon arrival, check into your hotel before heading to Philae Island to explore the stunning Temple of Isis, dedicated to the goddess of health, marriage, and wisdom. Relocated from the rising Nile, this temple’s intricate carvings and serene setting make it one of Upper Egypt’s highlights. Your leader will share fascinating stories about the temple’s history and the island’s changing landscape.

In the afternoon, hop on a boat to a Nubian village on a nearby island. Wander the colourful streets, meet the locals, and gain insight into their vibrant culture. Your day culminates with a traditional Nubian dinner in a family home – an intimate, memorable way to experience local life and cuisine.

Accommodation: Overland Hotel (1 night)

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Included activities:

Philae Temple

Nubian Village Visit and Dinner

After breakfast, take a leisurely stroll around Aswan or, if you wish, join an optional excursion to the magnificent Abu Simbel temples, a UNESCO World Heritage site that was carefully relocated to make way for the Aswan High Dam. Choose to travel by road or plane, and marvel at the colossal statues of Ramses II carved directly from the mountainside.

Later, board your Nile riverboat – your Feature Stay accommodation for the next three nights. Cruising the Nile brings you closer to the heart of Egypt, allowing you to enjoy riverside views, traditional villages, and scenes of everyday life along the banks. In the afternoon, sail on a traditional felucca and watch the sun dip behind the Nile, enjoying drinks as the sky turns golden. Return to the riverboat for a delicious dinner and a relaxing evening on board.

Accommodation:  Nile Cruise  (1 night)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Included activities: Sunset drinks on a felucca

Optional activities:

Abu Simbel excursion by car or by flight

Spend a relaxing morning on board your Nile riverboat, enjoying the gentle rhythm of the river and the sun on the sundeck. In the afternoon, sail toward Kom Ombo Temple, where your leader will guide you through the fascinating history of this unique sanctuary. Built around 181 BC, Kom Ombo is dedicated to two gods – Horus, the falcon-headed god of protection, and Sobek, the crocodile-headed god of fertility associated with the Nile. Explore each mirrored section of the temple, and learn about recent discoveries, including mummified crocodiles in the Sobek area.

After your visit, return to the riverboat and continue sailing to Edfu, where you’ll dock for the night. Relax on deck as the Nile’s landscape drifts by, and enjoy dinner aboard your comfortable riverboat.

Accommodation: Nile Cruise  (1 night)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included activities: Kom Ombo Temple

Wake up moored near Edfu and enjoy a leisurely morning on board your riverboat. If you wish, you may explore the nearby town independently, though the Temple of Horus is only accessible by locally managed horse and carriage, which we do not include due to animal welfare concerns.

Set sail towards Luxor, passing through the Esna Locks along the way. Upon arrival, step into the open-air museum that is Luxor, a city rich with monuments from the age of the Pharaohs. Explore the magnificent Karnak Temple, a sprawling complex of chapels, pylons, and obelisks built over 200 years.

Relax on deck during the evening as your riverboat docks in Luxor for the night.

Accommodation: Nile Cruise  (1 night)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Included activities:

Luxor – Karnak Temple

Optional activities:

Luxor – Karnak Temple Sound & Light Show

After breakfast, leave your riverboat behind and head to the legendary Valley of the Kings. Beneath the arid hills lie over 60 tombs of Pharaohs, many adorned with exquisite reliefs and paintings. With your leader, explore the secret resting places of the New Kingdom rulers (16th to 11th century BC), and uncover the fascinating stories behind their elaborate burials.

Entry is included to three tombs of your choice, along with access to the tomb of Tutankhamun, one of the most famous archaeological discoveries in history. Walk through the chamber that holds the young Pharaoh’s golden sarcophagus and marvel at the artistry of ancient Egypt.

Next, visit the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, a stunning colonnaded structure set against dramatic cliffs, before stopping at the Colossi of Memnon, two enormous 17-meter-high statues that have watched over Luxor’s west bank for millennia.

Accommodation: Overland Hotel (1 night)

Meals: Breakfast

Included activities:

 Valley of the Kings (entrance to 3 tombs)

Tomb of Tutankhamun

Hatshepsut Temple

Colossi of Memnon

Optional activities:

 Hot Air Balloon over the Valley of the Kings

Catch a morning flight back to Cairo and check into your hotel. This afternoon, step into the heart of Old Islamic Cairo and explore the labyrinthine Khan al-Khalili Bazaar, a bustling network of alleyways filled with gold, spices, textiles, and souvenirs. Wander through Al-Azhar neighbourhood, and take in the beautiful architecture of historic mosques, palaces, and madrasas along the UNESCO-listed El Moez Street.

Pause for a moment at Cairo’s oldest coffeeshop and sip a traditional Arabic coffee or mint tea as you soak up the lively street scenes. For a truly authentic experience, you’ll be welcomed into a local Cairo family home to enjoy a traditional meal, sharing stories and gaining a unique glimpse into modern Egyptian life.

Accommodation: Overland Hotel (1 night)

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Included activities:

Khan al-Khalili Bazaar

Ibn Tulun Mosque

Coffee/tea in a local cafe

Home-Cooked Dinner

After breakfast, your Egyptian adventure comes to an end. You are free to depart at any time after hotel check-out. If you’ve arranged a private airport transfer, your pick-up time will be confirmed by your hotel or travel agent. For those wishing to extend their stay in Cairo, additional accommodation can be arranged in advance through your booking agent.

Meals: Breakfast