Meals

Breakfast daily, 2 lunches and 2 dinners

Others

2 overnight trains from Cairo to Aswan and Luxor to Cairo (private 2 berth sleeper cabin) Touring - Cairo, Giza, Aswan, Kom Ombo and Luxor

Guide

Escorted by an Egyptian tour guide degree qualified in Egyptology

Accommodation

3 nights 3 - 4 star hotels, 2 nights aboard a felucca (open deck).

Transport

Airport arrival and departure transfer on day 1 and day 8 All relevant transfers and transportation in private modern air-conditioned vehicles

Not included:

Insurance

Insurance is not included.

Others

International flights and visa Tip for your tour guide. We recommend you allow USD$8 per day, per traveller. Tipping your guide is an entirely personal gesture

Optional

ABU SIMBEL BY ROAD FROM R 3,505 Possibly the most awe-inspiring temple of all ancient Egypt, with its gargantuan rock-cut facade is the magnificent Abu Simbel. Guarding the entrance to the temple are 4 colossal seated statues of the pharaoh himself, staring out across Lake Nasser. Over the centuries the temple was all but lost to humanity due to shifting desert sands, however it was rediscovered by chance in 1813 by a Swiss explorer and eventually in the early 60’s an excavation team restored it and once again the full glory of the temple of Abu Simbel was revealed to the modern world. This excursion is not to be missed! This add-on can be added to any group tour that travels through Aswan. ALEXANDRIA DAY TRIP FROM R 2,965 Carry on your Egyptian affair before or after your tour, with a day trip (including lunch) to amazing Alexandria on the Mediterranean Coast. Founded by Alexander the Great, Alexandria boasts wonderful beaches and an impressive seafront corniche, along which are dotted cafes and restaurants, as well as catacombs, a fortress, souks and relics from a bygone age. Whilst in Alexandria, head underground to take a guided tour of the Roman catacombs - the largest known Roman burial site in Egypt, which consists of three tiers of tombs and chambers. These remarkable 35m deep catacombs, contain over 300 mummies and were discovered accidentally in 1900 when a donkey drawn cart fell into a pit. After the catacombs visit Pompey’s Pillar before stopping to see the exterior of the impressive Library of Alexandria (and if we are fortunate and it is open to the public during our stop here, those who are interested can go inside), and taking a leisurely stroll along the corniche, with views of the beautiful Mediterranean Sea. At the end of Alexandria’s corniche is the striking Citadel of Qaitbey, a defensive fortress built in the 14th century by Sultan Qaitbey. Our day trip includes a guided tour of the fortress, which was built on the site of the legendary Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, destroyed by a powerful earthquake 1323AD. BACKSTREETS OF CAIRO FROM R 2,325 Discover some of Cairo’s most fascinating neighbourhoods and get off the beaten track on this Backstreets of Cairo tour. Stroll through the bustling Downtown and explore the beautiful mosques and monuments of Islamic Cairo’s spectacular El Moez Street, before bartering for goods at Khan el Khalili Bazaar. Then learn about the life of the Zabbaleen waste pickers before visiting the famous Cave Church of St Simon. Departing our hotel at 10am we drive to Tahrir Square in the heart of the capital, which became the hub of Egypt’s revolution in January 2011. We’ll gain a fascinating insight into the revolution from our guide before stopping nearby to set out on foot for a stroll through Downtown Cairo, taking in local sites of interest such as Talaat Harb Square with its famous statue and the historic Groppi Cafe. Meeting our vehicle again we travel to Islamic Cairo for a walking tour of El Moez Street and the bustling Khan El Khalili area. El Moez street is one of Cairo’s oldest streets and it has one of the greatest concentrations of medieval architectural treasures in the Islamic world. There are many exquisite mosques and monuments on El Moez Street and on our tour we visit El Hakim, one of Cairo’s largest mosques and the sprawling Sultan Qalawun complex, which includes a madrasa, a hospital and a mausoleum. We’ll also visit Bayt Al-Suhaymi, a 17th century Egyptian mansion and the famous gate of Bab al-Futuh. After a refreshing glass of sugar cane juice we’ll continue our adventure, navigating the bustling streets of the famous Khan el Khalili bazaar, where you can barter for souvenirs. Here we take a break for you to have lunch, shop and soak up the atmosphere of this vibrant souk. This afternoon we drive to one of the poorest neighbourhoods in the capital, inhabited by the Zabbaleen community who make their living from recycling 80% of the city’s rubbish. Here our guide will explain about the work and lives of the Zabbaleen, who are thought to be some of the world’s most efficient recyclers. The Zabbaleen are Coptic Christians and the most remarkable sight in this area is the beautiful rock cut Monastery of St. Simon the Tanner and its famous Cave Church. Carved out of the mountainside, the Cave Church of St Simon is thought to be the largest church in the Middle East, seating over 17,000 worshippers in a large amphitheatre. After a guided tour of this incredible site and taking in the wonderful views of the capital we’ll return to our hotel, arriving at approximately 5pm.

Flights

Flights are not included.

Start planning your experience

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

Day 1: Cairo

You will be met upon arrival at Cairo Airport and transferred to our start hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax or those arriving early can opt to join our optional Backstreets of Cairo tour which departs the hotel at 10am. If you’d like to extend your stay in Egypt we offer a pre tour (Wednesday) or post tour Sunday Day Trip to Alexandria.
Day 2 Day 2: Pyramids Of Giza
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Pyramids Of Giza

Cairo - Aswan. Our tour begins with a visit to one of the world’s most famous sights this morning - the legendary Pyramids of Giza and the iconic Sphinx. Built over 4500 years ago, the three great pyramids are sole survivors of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World. This afternoon we take a guided tour of the new Grand Egyptian Museum, which contains an incredible array of relics and antiquities including the treasures of King Tutankhamun and his spectacular gold funerary mask. Our sightseeing today also includes a visit to a government supervised Papyrus Museum. This evening we board the night train to Aswan. Please Note: the Grand Egyptian Museum is scheduled to open in late 2024, though an official opening date has yet to be released. If travelling prior to the opening of the new facility we’ll visit the Egyptian Museum instead.
Day 3 Day 3: Aswan & The Philae Temple
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Aswan & The Philae Temple

Our train pulls into Aswan early this morning and we check into our hotel. Then we take a scenic boat ride out to Agilika Island for a guided tour of the beautiful Philae Temple, which is dedicated to the goddess Isis. Travelling back to Aswan we visit a perfume oil emporium before spending the rest of the day at leisure. Relax by the hotel pool, explore Aswan’s colourful souks and watch a beautiful sunset over the Nile.
Day 4 Day 4: Optional Abu Simbel
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Optional Abu Simbel

Aswan - Nile felucca cruise. Very early this morning there’s an optional excursion by road to the spectacular Temple of Abu Simbel, arguably Egypt’s most awe-inspiring temple. This gigantic rock-cut temple was created to revere King Ramses II, with four colossal statues of the pharaoh guarding the entrance. In the afternoon we board a felucca for a relaxing two night journey along the River Nile, stopping at villages and islands along the way.
Day 5 Day 5: Felucca Sailing & Kom Ombo
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Felucca Sailing & Kom Ombo

Spend the day relaxing onboard a felucca and enjoying the views as we sail down the River Nile. Soak up the sunshine on deck and perhaps go for a swim. In the afternoon we reach Kom Ombo and take a motorboat to visit this ancient temple, which is dedicated to the crocodile headed god - Sobek. Then we return to the felucca for our second night sleeping under the stars.
Day 6 Day 6: Luxor & Karnak Temple
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Luxor & Karnak Temple

Kom Ombo - Luxor. Leaving the felucca we drive to the ancient city Luxor this morning, which is often referred to as the world’s greatest open-air museum. This afternoon we enjoy a guided tour of the Temple of Karnak, a magnificent religious complex, dedicated to the Theban gods and built on a gigantic scale. In evening there’s an optional tour of the beautiful Temple of Luxor with dinner included (book and pay locally). This remarkable temple and the Avenue of Sphinxes which leads to it, are most spectacular at night when they’re illuminated by hundreds of atmospheric lights.
Day 7 Day 7: Valley Of The Kings
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Valley Of The Kings

Luxor - Cairo. We travel to Luxor’s West Bank this morning for a guided tour of the legendary Valley of the Kings, which is home to an array of beautifully decorated pharaohs’ tombs, three of which you can enter. Arriving at the West Bank we will be greeted by the towering 18m-high Colossi of Memnon and after the Valley of the Kings we enjoy a tour of the beautiful Temple of Queen Hatshepsut. Returning to the hotel the afternoon is free to relax by the pool. This evening we board the overnight train to Cairo.
Day 8 Day 8: Cairo
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: Cairo

Cairo. After breakfast, hotel check-out and onward transfer to the airport.

8 days tour

Felucca Explorer - 8 Days

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Felucca Explorer - 8 Days

Day 1: Cairo

Day 2: Pyramids Of Giza

Day 3: Aswan & The Philae Temple

Day 4: Optional Abu Simbel

Day 5: Felucca Sailing & Kom Ombo

Day 6: Luxor & Karnak Temple

Day 7: Valley Of The Kings

Day 8: Cairo

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