Small Group Luxurious Tour of the Nile

You’ll be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel.

Early arrivals can take an evening dinner cruise on the Nile or enjoy the spectacular sound and light show at the pyramids.

Your Egypt tour begins with a drive to Giza to visit the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx.

You will be led by one of our local Egyptologists, who will accompany you throughout the trip. Following on from the Pyramids we then head to the Egyptian Museum that is home to the fantastic Tutankhamun exhibit (note that the new museum is scheduled to open some time in 2023 – dates tba).

Later in the day, we will transfer you to the station as we board an overnight sleeper train to Aswan. You’ll enjoy dinner on board in your private twin-berth compartments before the steward sets your beds up for the night.

Flight and hotel upgrades are available if you would like to skip the train journey although for the adventurous traveller the journey is a great experience. (approx. 12 hrs).

Arrive in Aswan this morning – a melting pot of African and Middle Eastern cultures, most easily experienced by wandering through the busy markets.

Contine your tour with a visit to a local Nubian village where you’ll have lunch, before visiting the Temple of Philae this afternoon.

This is a beautiful island complex dedicated to Isis – reclaimed from the rising waters of Lake Nasser, reached by a scenic boat ride.

The evening is yours free to explore Aswan’s spice and general markets and to stroll up and down the popular Corniche, on the banks of the Nile.

This morning there is an option to drive to the World Heritage Site of Abu Simbel to view the fabulous temples to Ramses II. (Additional cost from £125). Anyone who chose to not visit Abu Simbel will have free time to explore Aswan at their leisure.

Later in the day board a traditional felucca boat for the start of your cruise downstream along the Nile. The feluccas are accompanied by a separate facilities boat which has a western toilet and showers on board, along with a hygienic kitchen for the crew to prepare you tasty meals.

You’ll sleep on the deck of the boat tonight (mattresses, blankets and mosquito nets provided).

An upgrade is available to return to Aswan and spend an extra night in the hotel if you prefer.

Breakfast on the felucca before visiting the temple of Edfu, possibly the best preserved in the whole of Egypt, before continuing north by road, to Luxor.

On the west bank of the Nile lies the Valley of the Kings & Queens – with its mortuary temples and rock-hewn tombs – and on the east bank of the Nile sit the Temples of Luxor and Karnak.

We’ll check in at a luxury hotel on the banks Nile and you’ll have time to relax at the pool.

Later in the evening, enjoy a walking tour of the smaller Luxor Temple, which is right in the centre of Luxor and beautifully lit up at night.

Start your tour today at Luxor’s West Bank – where you visit the Valley of the Kings, one of the most important archaeological sites in the world, where the hidden tombs in this ancient burial site are still revealing their secrets today.

After lunch, visit the massive temple complex at Karnak – the entire complex was in turn connected to the Nile via a canal, through which moved the sacred boats of the god Amun.

Entering through a smaller sphinx-lined avenue, built by Ramesses II, you’ll enter through the enormous pylon entrance. Inside the huge Courtyard are three chapels dedicated to the gods Amun, Khous and Mut. The Hypostyle Hall boasts 134 immense columns, carved with scenes of gods and pharaohs, and bold hieroglyphs cover the walls.

Optional Excursion: Hot Air Balloon Ride over Luxor and the Nile

Say goodbye to the Nile Valley today and make your way to the Red Sea resort of Hurghada, where you will stay in a 5-star beach resort for 2 nights.

Your stay here is on a ‘soft all inclusive’ basis, with all meals, soft drinks and snacks included but not alcoholic beverages.

A free day free to relax and unwind. Luckily, Hurghada is the perfect place to do that. For those who love water sports, scuba diving and snorkelling are available.

Other activities available include quad biking, camel rides, windsurfing, sea fishing trips, kite surfing and glass-bottomed submarines, or simply explore the town.

We can also book extra nights in the resort in Hurghada for you to extend your time here.

Drive back to Cairo this morning (5.5 hrs appx) and on arrival you’ll have free time to explore the city or take an optional tour – these include a city tour which visits Coptic Cairo, the Citadel and Mohamed Ali Mosque, or a half-day tour to Saqqara, Dashour and Memphis.

In the late afternoon/early evening, take a guided walk through the back streets and bazaars in central Cairo. Walk through the huge Bab al-Futuh gateway and explore streets dedicated to metalwork, spices, pottery, fabric, jewellery as you gradually enter the more touristy Khan-el-Khalili bazaar which is the perfect place to pick up some final souvenirs.

Optional upgrade: Hurghada to Cairo by air

Today is free for more last-minute sightseeing or shopping until your transfer to the airport for your departure flight.

You can also extend the tour to take a day trip to the coastal city of Alexandria or head into the desert to the World Heritage Site of the Valley of the Whales.