13 days tour

Egypt: Alexandria To Aswan

$ 2,990 .00 USD

Total price per person

Reserve with $2,990.00

Egypt: Alexandria To Aswan

This tour includes:

Guide

There will be a local leader and drivers throughout the trip and local guides where needed.

Accommodation

We use a range of four-star (local rating) properties, spend three nights navigating the Nile on a cruise boat, and one night travelling from Alexandria to Aswan on the sleeper train. The hotels typically used are on the day-to-day itinerary; however, below are a few of the notable accommodations on this trip. Alexandria to Aswan: Sleeper train (night 6) The train is a good way to cover a long distance in a time-efficient manner and avoids the need for a domestic flight. This reduces carbon emissions, which we are committed to doing on all our trips. Compartments are compact and have bunk beds; bedding is provided. The train tends to shake due to the condition of the track and is quite noisy, so earplugs are a good idea. A basic dinner and breakfast are provided, you may wish to take snacks with you. There is also a shared toilet in each carriage. Take a sense of adventure with you as these trains are not the same standard that you can experience in Europe. Nile cruise: M/S Nile Style (nights 8-10) 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, thereโ€™s a gym, sophisticated lounge bar and elegant restaurant. 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.

Meals

All breakfasts, six lunches and five dinners included. In the itinerary, we state which meals are included on which day. For meals not included, we suggest you allow approximatelyUS$15 for lunch and US$20 for dinner (depends on the type of restaurant you choose). Food in Egypt involves such things as kebabs, chicken, stews, pitta 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. Meals on the cruise are open buffets, which include Western and Egyptian dishes. Drinks and water are not included at hotels & on the cruise. The Cairo food tour gives us the chance to try several Egyptian dishes, such as ful medames (a mixture of beans and tahini) and kushari (a dish made of rice, macaroni and lentils mixed with garlic, tomato, chickpeas and crispy fried onions).

Transport

Road transport is by private air-conditioned mini/midi-bus (also Coaster or Bus is used depending on the size of the group) and Egyptโ€™s roads are generally good. Travelling is generally restricted to a few hours a day and the mode of transport is varied. As detailed above, during our trip we also use a cruise ship, felucca and train.

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Itinerary of your trip Egypt: Alexandria To Aswan

  • Day 1 Day 1: Start Cairo
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 1: Start Cairo

      Welcome to Cairo, the capital of Egypt and our starting point for this culture-rich exploration. A welcome briefing will take place tomorrow morning on Day 2. Accommodation: Pyramids by Jaz (or similar)

  • Day 2 Day 2: Cairo Tour (Breakfast)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 2: Cairo Tour (Breakfast)

      Morning welcome briefing after breakfast. Your leader will advise you of the time for this meeting. Please bring your insurance details with you to the briefing. After the briefing, enjoy a full-day tour of Cairo, beginning with a visit to the Egyptian Museum, home to the largest collection of ancient Egyptian artefacts in the world, including the golden riches of Tutankhamunโ€™s tomb. We also explore Al Azhar mosque, which dates to 970 CE and is the oldest mosque in Cairo. Itโ€™s still frequently visited by local worshippers and we need to cover up to enter (long sleeves and trousers/pants, while women also need to cover their hair with a scarf) โ€“ as when entering all mosques. The mosque is sometimes closed without prior notice but we can still pass by to see it. Accommodation: Pyramids by Jaz (or similar)

  • Day 3 Day 3: Pyramids And Great Sphinx Of Giza (Breakfast)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 3: Pyramids And Great Sphinx Of Giza (Breakfast)

      We begin our day with a visit to Giza, home to the Great 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. The afternoon is free to relax at our hotel, explore Cairo or join an optional excursion to Saqqara and Memphis. Accommodation: Pyramids by Jaz (or similar)

  • Day 4 Day 4: Food Tour Of Cairo (Breakfast,Lunch)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 4: Food Tour Of Cairo (Breakfast,Lunch)

      Today we embark on a tour of the best food spots in Cairo and discover some of the fantastic local cuisine available across the city โ€“ โ€“ you will pass by restaurants / shops where you will be able to taste some of the best oriental items: highlights are mulukhiyah (green soup), ful medames (beans) and kushari (rice and macaroni). The tour also includes the bazaars of Khan el-Khalili in the historic centre of Islamic Cairo. Weโ€™ll experience modern Cairo with a visit to Al Azhar park and a walk along the bustling El Moaz Street. We also aim to visit the House of Arts and Culture โ€“ a music school ((it is not opened all year and opening hours are quite limited so kindly check with your guide). Donations of musical instruments such as violins, saxophones, drums or spare parts such as violin bows are welcomed. Accommodation: Pyramids by Jaz (or similar)

  • Day 5 Day 5: Visit El Anba Bishoy Monastery And El Alamein; Continue To Alexandria (Breakfast,Dinner)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 5: Visit El Anba Bishoy Monastery And El Alamein; Continue To Alexandria (Breakfast,Dinner)

      Today we start with a 90-minute drive to Wadi El Natrun, a depression that lies below sea level. The ancient Egyptians extracted salt here to use for mummification. The area was important for early Christians, too, and we will visit Ek Anba Bishoy Monastery. We continue to El Alamein (a two-hour drive away), the site of the allied victory during World War II. There are two areas we can visit - the War Cemetery and Military Museum. More than 80,000 soldiers were killed or wounded in the two battles. It was a decisive win for the Allies with Winston Churchill saying, "Before Alamein we never had a victory. After Alamein we never had a defeat". After visiting El Alamein, weโ€™ll continue to Alexandria, a two-hour drive away where weโ€™ll enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. Accommodation: Metropole Paradise Inn (or similar)

  • Day 6 Day 6: Alexandria Tour; Transfer To Sleeper Train. (Breakfast,Dinner)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 6: Alexandria Tour; Transfer To Sleeper Train. (Breakfast,Dinner)

      Today we have a tour of Alexandria. Founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BCE, the city was home to the Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and itโ€™s Great Library was the largest library of its time. Unfortunately, they no longer survive, but there is still much to see in this Mediterranean port city. Our tour begins with a visit to the city catacombs followed by the impressive Qaitbay Fortress and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina โ€“ Alexandriaโ€™s revival of the Great Library. In the afternoon, we return to Cairo (three to four hours) to board our sleeper train to Aswan (which takes approximately 12 hours). Accommodation: sleeper train

  • Day 7 Day 7: Arrive Aswan; Nubian Tour And Felucca Ride (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 7: Arrive Aswan; Nubian Tour And Felucca Ride (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

      Arriving in Aswan during the morning, we spend the rest of the day exploring the Nubian way of life. We begin with a visit to the Nubian Museum, which chronologically charts the history and culture of the people, before enjoying a Nubian lunch on board a felucca while we explore the Nile. In the afternoon we have a tour to the Monastery of St Simeon by camel* and at a Nubian House on Elephantine Island you will meet a local family (please see the People, Places & Planet section). We finish our day with a barbeque on the shores of an island in the Nile. *To reach the monastery, we ride camels for about 15 minutes. If you prefer not to ride a camel it is possible to walk the 2.5mi (4km) over sandy and stony ground. This part of the trip takes place in the middle of the day when the sun is at its highest. Accommodation: Basma Hotel (or similar)

  • Day 8 Day 8: Visit Philae Temple And Aswan High Dam And Board Nile Cruise (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 8: Visit Philae Temple And Aswan High Dam And Board Nile Cruise (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

      We begin today with a visit to the Philae Temple and Aswan High Dam. In the 1970s, the temple was relocated by Unesco to Aglika Island after it became evident the original site of Philae would submerge on completion of the dam. This morning represents a magnificent and enduring testament to both ancient and modern engineering. Then will be transferred to our cruise boat and relax before enjoying lunch on board. For the rest of the day there is the option to explore the Aswan market or attend the Sound and Light Show at Philae Temple. Accommodation: M/S Nile Style (or similar)

  • Day 9 Day 9: Optional Visit To Abu Simbel; Sail To Kom Ombo, Sail To Edfu. (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 9: Optional Visit To Abu Simbel; Sail To Kom Ombo, Sail To Edfu. (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

      For those who want to do the optional visit to Abu Simbel, the tour starts at approximately 3.30am when we get picked up from the cruise boat. A breakfast box is provided. Around 8am we will arrive at the destination, where we are given around two hours to visit the temples. Built by Ramses II, the temples of Abu Simbel rank among the most impressive in the country, and are well worth the journey south across the Nubian Desert. We will be back in Aswan around 13:30pm. After lunch we sail to Kom Ombo, from 18:00 โ€“ 20:00 visit the temple there before continuing our journey to Edfu, which is where we will spend the night. Accommodation: M/S Nile Style (or similar)

  • Day 10 Day 10: Tour Edfu; Sail To Luxor (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 10: Tour Edfu; Sail To Luxor (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

      06:00 โ€“ 08:00 Walking in Edfu, we start our day exploring the city and its temples before sailing further north along the Nile. After crossing the Esna lock we reach our destination, 16:30 arrive Luxor, where we will have our final dinner on board and hopefully witness a stunning sunset over the river. Accommodation: M/S Nile Style (or similar)

  • Day 11 Day 11: Disembark In Luxor; Explore The Valley Of The Kings (Breakfast)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 11: Disembark In Luxor; Explore The Valley Of The Kings (Breakfast)

      After breakfast on board we disembark in Luxor and explore the Valley of the Kings. For nearly 500 years this was the site of royal burials and it contains the tombs of more than 62 pharaohs, including Tutankhamun, Seti I, Ramses III and IV. One ticket allows us to see three tombs. Your ticket allows you to see three tombs. The ticket usually allows entry into what are regarded as the most impressive tombs, but (if you have time) a visit to extra tombs is also recommended for example Tutankhamun (extra ticket ), Seti I (extra ticket), Ramses III and IV(extra ticket). Visits to tombs are now strictly controlled to halt further deterioration of wall paintings โ€“ each tomb is periodically closed for a number of weeks. In terms of size and decoration, it is not as impressive as many of the other tombs, but is of course historically very interesting. After, we visit the massive stone statues of the Colossi of Memnon before transferring to our hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax or wander around the streets of Luxor. Accommodation: Iberotel Luxor (or similar)

  • Day 12 Day 12: Luxor Tour Including Karnak And Luxor Temples (Breakfast)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 12: Luxor Tour Including Karnak And Luxor Temples (Breakfast)

      For our penultimate day we have a half-day tour of Luxorโ€™s east bank. Luxor is commonly called the greatest open-air museum in the world and this morning we visit the extraordinary Karnak and Luxor temples, which stand within the modern city. There should also be an opportunity to visit the A.C.E animal hospital to learn about the efforts taken to improve animal welfare in Egypt. After a leisurely afternoon, we enjoy our final dinner together at one of this historic cityโ€™s restaurants. Accommodation: Iberotel Luxor (or similar)

  • Day 13 Day 13: End Luxor (Breakfast)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 13: End Luxor (Breakfast)

      Youโ€™ve seen many marvels in Egypt, but now itโ€™s time for one last breakfast before beginning your journey home. If youโ€™ve still a little adventure in you, speak to your sales representative about joining our post-trip excursion to the Red Sea.

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Experience Style

Experience Style

Mixed

There will be challenging activities such as hiking, biking, canyoning and trekking, but youโ€™re also going to have other means of transportation and relaxed moments to just chill.

Accomodation level

Accomodation level

Medium

This accommodation includes essential services like a hot shower, electricity, and a nice and comfy bed.

Experience Type

Experience Type

Small Group

Youโ€™ll be accompanied by a small group of travelers just like you.

Physical Rating

Physical Rating

Average

There are several physical activities that last from 2 to 6 hours in easy terrains, low altitude flats, or water experiences. Please ask if youโ€™re not sure this applies to you.

Age range

Age range

Min: 16 / Max: 80

Age range allowed for this experience.

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