Top Menu

Explore Egypt

Travel to Egypt and experience the history and culture on a tour that explores Cairo, cruises along the Nile and visits Luxor, Alexandria and the Siwa Oasis. Be humbled by the grandeur of the pyramids, step back in time at magnificent pharaonic tombs, let cares melt away while cruising the Nile in a felucca. Explore all that Egypt has to offer – both its major sights and its tucked-away treasures.

From $1,210 

Take the first step in your adventure now!

Enquire now
StartsCairo, Egypt
EndsCairo, Egypt
RegionEgypt
Duration15 days
Tour OperatorIntrepid Travel
Tour Map
View Dates

Itinerary

Day 1 - Starting: Cairo & Finishing: Cairo

Salaam Aleikum! Welcome to Egypt. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6pm on Day 1. Please look for a note in the hotel lobby or ask the hotel reception where it will take place. If you can't arrange a flight that will arrive in time, you may wish to arrive a day early so you're able to attend. We'll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability). If you're going to be late, please inform the hotel reception. We'll be collecting your insurance details and next of kin information at this meeting, so please have these on hand. Cairo is one of the great cities of antiquity and its history can be symbolised by two imposing landmarks – the Pyramids of Giza and the Mosque of Mohammed Ali. In free time perhaps get out and explore the busy streets of this city of contrasts, where you can see donkey carts and expensive cars, medieval slums and modern shopping malls. If you have time, perhaps travel along the river by felucca (a traditional wooden boat with broad canvas sails) or head out to explore the markets. If you want to escape the hustle and bustle, the Christian Coptic sector is well worth a visit.

Day 2 - Starting: Cairo & Finishing: Cairo

This morning after breakfast you’ll see some of the world’s most iconic sights. You’ll visit Giza’s Pyramids and Sphinx (optional) – instantly familiar yet retaining a mystique and power, getting up close to these incredible pharaonic tombs is amazing. Explore these structures that have stood tall for 4,500 years, and for an additional charge you may be able to go inside the Great Pyramid of Khufu (or Cheops), although occasionally it may be closed to visitors. Please note that you'll be required to walk around the Pyramids complex. It can be very hot in the summer months, so be prepared for little shade and pack appropriate clothing, sun protection, and carry lots of water. Afterwards, make your way to the Egyptian Museum (optional), home to one of the world's great collections of antiquities. Wander the treasure-filled halls of the museum, and make sure to check out the Mummies Hall (optional) for a close encounter with some of the country’s most important queens and pharaohs. Later in the evening, meet your leader and travel to Giza station, where you will board a sleeper train to Aswan (approximately 13 hours). Bedding and air-conditioning are provided. Notes: Western-style toilets are located in each carriage, but we recommend bringing additional toilet paper. Keep in mind general train cleanliness may not be to the same standards you are accustomed to. An included dinner and breakfast are served on board. You may want to purchase something extra beforehand to supplement your meal, particularly if you're a vegetarian as only a single type of meal is served for dinner, which always includes meat. In rare circumstances you may be paired in your cabin with a group member of the opposite sex, depending on the group configuration. On other occasions, you might be sharing with another traveller of the same sex who may not be part of our group, again determined by the group configuration.

Day 3 - Starting: Aswan & Finishing: Aswan

The Nile, Elephantine Island and white-sailed feluccas: welcome to Aswan, Egypt's southernmost city. Its easy-going charm is due in no small part to its large Nubian population. Today is a free day so take the opportunity to see such Aswan sites as the unfinished obelisk or the High Dam. The Nubian Bazaar is a must, while the excellent Nubian Museum is top of many visitors’ lists. Highly recommended is the beautiful Temple of Isis (the Goddess of health, marriage and wisdom) that was rescued from the rising waters of the Nile and relocated on Philae Island. It's a marvel of decorative pylons featuring some of Egypt's finest carvings – definitely one of the real gems of Upper Egypt. The waterfront promenade, or Aswan's 'corniche', runs alongside one of Nile's most appealing stretches and is the perfect place to stop for a mint tea. Watch the waterfront come alive at dusk, with families out strolling, socialising and relaxing along the corniche.

Day 4 - Starting: Aswan & Finishing: Aswan

Today perhaps head out of Aswan and visit stunning Abu Simbel this morning. With the four gargantuan statues of Ramses guarding the Great Temple, this is one of Egypt's most memorable sights. Please note this optional activity has a very early start (but it’s totally worth it) - departure will be between 5am and 6am. You can get there by flying, or by the cheaper option of renting a minivan with a group and leaving very early (flights do not operate daily). The journey by land is 3 hours each way. It's best to visit at sunrise to avoid the heat. The rest of the day is free for you to make your own discoveries. A popular afternoon option in Aswan is a sailboat ride around the islands in a traditional felucca, stopping off at the botanical gardens on Kitchener's Island. Alternatively, take a camel ride to the Monastery of St Simeon, an abandoned 7th-century fortress monastery located in the desert on the Nile's west bank. Your tour leader will be on hand to help you arrange any excursions. Alternatively, you may prefer to simply relax and take in the beauty of the Nile, or do some shopping in the friendly bazaar.

Day 5 - Starting: Nubian Homestay & Finishing: Nubian Homestay

This morning you’ll board an iconic traditional Egyptian sail boat board, a felucca, for a morning sail until lunch. After lunch aboard the felucca, arrive at a Nubian homestay on the West Bank of the Nile. Explore the Nubian way of life here with a walk through the surrounding countryside and agriculture fields to reach the homestay. The tranquillity of the location is indescribable. The house is in the Nubian style, with a sandy courtyard in the middle where the family gathers for meals, and to the sides are the rooms where they sleep. These are also the rooms that you’ll be staying in for the night. Get into the swing of Egyptian life by lending a hand in the kitchen to help cook dinner, or maybe kick around a football in the courtyard with the kids. There are few better ways to understand a country and its people than with a local homestay.

Day 6 - Starting: Nile Felucca & Finishing: Nile Felucca

Board a felucca and spend a day out on the river, watching rural Egyptian daily life play out on the banks, then spend a night under the stars. Your Nubian sailing crew provides all the meals, which are hearty and delicious. Being a traditional wooden boat with broad canvas sails, your felucca offers some shade and protection from the elements. However, there is no cabin or enclosed section. Nonetheless, watching the sun setting across the Nile in the evening is a sight you won't forget. This is the absolute highlight of the trip for many. Notes: Conditions will be basic during your felucca trip. If you are prepared for this, you’re sure to have a memorable adventure. You'll sleep outside on the deck of the felucca on a mattress. While blankets are provided, a sleeping sheet is recommended. During the colder months (October to March) temperatures can get as low as 5°C at night, so a sleeping bag is highly recommended. Slight alterations may have to be made to the Nile itinerary throughout the year, depending on winds and currents. As the felucca is a sailing craft without any outboard engine, if there's no wind we won't travel very far. Our Felucca does have a shared bathroom facility on board

Day 7 - Starting: Luxor & Finishing: Luxor

After farewells to the felucca crew, take a private van to Luxor (approximately 3.5 hours). Today you’ll visit the Intrepid Foundation's local project ACE (Animal Care in Egypt). It’s a great chance to see the holistic approach the project takes towards animal welfare, and to raising awareness among the locals. You’ll also explore the magnificent Karnak Temple, which is perhaps the most impressive of all the ancient Pharoahs' monumental works. One of the world's most celebrated temple complexes, Karnak is a house of the gods built over a period of some 200 years. Your guided tour of this vast temple of impressive pylons, obelisks and chapels will reveal its finest sections, such as the Avenue of Sphinxes and the Great Temple of Amun. The rest of the day will be free to relax, shop in the bazaar (open until quite late) or perhaps experience the atmosphere of a local teahouse.

Day 8 - Starting: Luxor & Finishing: Luxor

Rise early this morning and head into the Valley of the Kings. Buried under the arid hills here are over 60 tombs of pharaohs, many richly decorated with reliefs and paintings. With your leader, explore this sprawling and spectacular place, where the pharaohs of the New Kingdom (16th to 11th century BC) were secretly interred for all eternity, and where discoveries are still being made. Your group leader will explain the history and legends of these remarkable people, their funerary rites, and the significance of the many paintings and hieroglyphics, still well preserved in the deepest tombs. You will visit three of the most interesting royal tombs and then continue to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, a stunning colonnaded building set against high cliffs that create a spectacular natural amphitheatre. One of the Egypt’s greatest queens, she built this temple to prove her importance among the ancestors. Notes: Tutankhamun's final resting place is also located here – it’s not included but can be arranged in advance through your leader.

Day 9 - Starting: Hurghada & Finishing: Hurghada

Today you farewell the Nile and drive east to the beachside town of Hurghada (approximately 5 hours). The green Nile valley is soon left behind as you head out into the barren Eastern Desert. Passing through rocky hills, the glittering waters of the Red Sea soon come into view and the rugged bulk of the Sinai Peninsula looms through the haze on the opposite shore. A vibrant beach resort, Hurghada is by no means a typical ‘adventure destination’. After checking in to your hotel, take a walking tour with the leader to get your bearings, and check out some of the local restaurants and eateries.

Day 10 - Starting: Hurghada & Finishing: Hurghada

Transfer to the Hurghada Marina and climb aboard your boat for a trip out to Giftun Island, part of the Red Sea National Parks, where you’ll spend a relaxing day on the stunning white beach of Mahmya. While here, you have the opportunity to take a snorkelling excursion by boat to one of the most magnificent reefs in the Red Sea – fine reef walls, lovely fan corals, and colourful fish – and explore the extraordinary ecosystem. Your snorkelling gear is provided. After a buffet lunch in one of Mahmya’s open air sea view restaurants, there a plenty of activities to choose from, such as volleyball, soccer, or simply lazing on the beach. After a great day, you’ll head back to Hurghada in the late afternoon and transfer back to the hotel.

Day 11 - Starting: Cairo & Finishing: Cairo

Check out of your hotel this morning and then catch a flight back up to Cairo (approximately 1 hour). On your return to Cairo, visit the Islamic parts of the city and the frenetic backstreets of the local bazaar (Khan el-Khalili) with your trip leader. A labyrinth of narrow streets and passageways, Khan is one of the biggest and oldest markets in the world. The 'Khan', sprawling around an old area known as Al-Azhar, is a quintessentially Cairo experience – a warren of alleys with stalls serving up a succession of intoxicating scenes. It retains a distinctly medieval feel. You might explore the gold market, ‘Perfume Street’ and the spice market, where heady aromas hang in the air like a thick blanket of Damascene cloth (which can be purchased next door in the cloth market).

Day 12 - Starting: Alexandria & Finishing: Alexandria

Jump in a private van today and drive following the ‘desert road’ to the Mediterranean coastal city of Alexandria (approximately 3 hours). Egypt's second largest city and main port, locals call this vibrant city the Bride of the Mediterranean Sea. On arrival in Alexandria, take an orientation walking tour with your leader. The Greek architect Dinocrates built Alexandria in 331 BC under the orders of Alexander the Great. The city, immortalising Alexander's name, quickly flourished into a prominent cultural, intellectual, political and economic metropolis. It was the renowned capital of Ancient Egypt's last royal dynasty, the Ptolemies, and the site of the Pharos. One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, this lighthouse acted as a beacon, guiding sailors away from this notoriously treacherous stretch of coastline. Take some time to stroll along the Corniche and take in some fresh Mediterranean air. Alexandria at night is not to missed, with the whole city lighting up.

Day 13 - Starting: Alexandria & Finishing: Alexandria

Today you’ll head back to a more recent period in Egyptian history with a visit to El Alamein and the war museum located there. El Alamein sits on the Mediterranean Sea, 106 kilometres west of Alexandria, and it played an important role in significant World War II battles. The area was a turning point in the North African campaign, where the Allies held out against, and eventually pushed back and defeated, the Afrika Korps of Rommel. The importance of El Alamein was highlighted by Winston Churchill, who said “Before Alamein we never had a victory. After Alamein, we never had a defeat.” The area contains a number of memorials from the countries who lost soldiers here – Greece, South Africa, Australia, Italy – as well as a war cemetery that’s home to the graves and names of the thousands who lost their lives, from places as diverse as Britain, India, Melanesia, Malaysia, and New Zealand. In the museum, discover the story of what unfolded here, and then return to Alexandria. The city is also known for its seafood, so don't forget to feast on some fresh fish while you're here.

Day 14 - Starting: Cairo & Finishing: Cairo

This morning, head underground and delve into the mysteries of the Kom ash-Shuqqafa catacombs. This Roman burial site is the largest of its kind in Egypt and was discovered, quite accidentally, by a hapless donkey. The crypts are 20 metres below street level, and what probably began as a small family tomb grew into a labyrinth of chambers that could accommodate more than 300 bodies. Murals and reliefs inside show how Alexandria was a place where Egyptian and Greek funerary myths coexisted. Stop by the strikingly modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina, inspired by the original great library of Alexandria and built to hold over 8 million books. Your last included visit today is el Morsi Abu El Abbas Mosque, the largest in the city. In any free time, perhaps take the opportunity to see the Citadel of Qaitbay, a fortress overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, where the famous lighthouse once stood. You’ll then leave Alexandria and return to Cairo (approximately 5 hours), arriving around 4 pm. The afternoon is yours to spend as you please. Take the chance to visit Khan Khalili for some last minute shopping in the evening. Then maybe gather together you fellow travellers for a celebratory kebab, kofta, or sheesha as this Egypt exploration comes to an end.

Day 15 - Starting: Cairo & Finishing: Cairo

This trip finishes today after breakfast. There are no activities planned for the final day, and you are able to depart the accommodation at any time.

View Dates

More Information

Highlights

  • Wander through Roman catacombs
  • Take a dip in Cleopatra’s Bath at the Oasis of Siwa
  • See the grand burial sites of the pharaohs
  • Explore vibrant Cairo
  • Experience Nubian hospitality
  • Cruise down the Nile on a felucca

Travel to Egypt and experience the history and culture on a tour that explores Cairo, cruises along the Nile and visits Luxor, Alexandria and the Siwa Oasis. Be humbled by the grandeur of the pyramids, step back in time at magnificent pharaonic tombs, let cares melt away while cruising the Nile in a felucca and get back to nomadic life in a desert camp. Explore all that Egypt has to offer – both its major sights and its tucked-away treasures.

Day 1 Accommodation

Hotel (1 nights)

Day 1 Optional Activities

  • Cairo - The Citadel - EGP 60
  • Cairo - Coptic Museum - EGP 60
  • Cairo - Islamic Art Museum - EGP 50
  • Cairo - Downtown Cairo Tour - USD 45
  • Cairo - Half Day Pyramids Adventure - USD 67
  • Cairo - Islamic Cairo in Depth Tour - USD 64
  • Cairo - Saqqara and Memphis - USD 73
  • Cairo - Treasures and Tut Tour - USD 65

Day 2 Included Activities

  • Cairo - Pyramids and Sphinx

Day 2 Accommodation

Overnight sleeper train (1 nights)

Day 2 Optional Activities

  • Cairo - The Great Pyramid of Cheops - EGP 200
  • Cairo - The 2nd Pyramid of Khafre - EGP 40
  • Cairo - Sound & Light Show at the Pyramids - EGP 100
  • Cairo - Mummies Hall at Egyptian Museum - EGP 100
  • Cairo - Solar Boat Museum - EGP 60
  • Cairo - The Egyptian Museum - EGP 75

Day 3 Accommodation

Hotel (1 nights)

Day 3 Optional Activities

  • Aswan - Sound & Light Show at Philae Temple - EGP 100
  • Aswan - Nubian Museum - EGP 60
  • Aswan - Unfinished Obelisk - EGP 40
  • Aswan - Kalabsha Temple - EGP 40
  • Aswan - Tomb of the Nobles - EGP 40
  • Aswan - Philae Temple - EGP 60
  • Aswan - Monastery of St. Simeon - EGP 35

Day 4 Accommodation

Hotel (1 nights)

Day 4 Optional Activities

  • Aswan to Abu Simbel: return transport by bus & entrance fee (price from per person - minimum 4 passengers) - USD 90
  • Aswan to Abu Simbel: return flights and entrance fee (book with www.egyptair.com - prices from approx) - USD 320

Day 5 Accommodation

Homestay (1 nights)

Day 6 Accommodation

Nile Felucca (1 nights)

Day 6 Optional Activities

  • Edfu - Edfu Temple - EGP 60
  • Luxor - Sound and Light Show at Karnak - EGP 100
  • Luxor - Luxor Museum - EGP 100
  • Luxor - Luxor Temple - EGP 60
  • Luxor - Bicycle Hire - EGP 50
  • Kom Ombo - Kom Ombo Temple - EGP 50
  • Luxor - Mummification Museum - EGP 60

Day 7 Included Activities

  • Luxor - Karnak Temple

Day 7 Accommodation

Hotel (1 nights)

Day 7 Optional Activities

  • Luxor - Valley of the Queens - EGP 50
  • Luxor - Tombs of Nobles - EGP 40
  • Luxor - Medinat Habu Temple - EGP 40
  • Luxor - Ramasseum Temple - EGP 40

Day 8 Included Activities

  • Luxor - Valley of the Kings (3 tombs)
  • Luxor - Hatshepsut Temple

Day 8 Accommodation

Hotel (1 nights)

Day 8 Optional Activities

  • Luxor - Tomb of Tutankhamun - EGP 100

Day 9 Accommodation

Hotel (1 nights)

Day 10 Included Activities

  • Hurghada - Mahmya Beach Cruise ( Day trip )

Day 10 Accommodation

Hotel (1 nights)

Day 11 Included Activities

  • Cairo - Khan al-Khalili bazaar visit

Day 11 Accommodation

Hotel (1 nights)

Day 12 Accommodation

Hotel (1 nights)

Day 13 Included Activities

  • El Alamein - War Museum

Day 13 Accommodation

Hotel (1 nights)

Day 13 Optional Activities

  • Alexandria - Commonwealth cemetery - Free -

Day 14 Included Activities

  • Alexandria - Catacombs of Kom Ash-Suqqafa
  • Alexandria - Bibliotheca Alexandrina
  • Alexandria - Morsi Abu El Abbas Mosque

Day 14 Accommodation

Hotel (1 nights)

Day 14 Optional Activities

  • Alexandria - Qaitbay fortress - EGP 30
  • Alexandria - Alexandria National Museum - EGP 40
  • Alexandria - Roman Amphitheatre - EGP 30
  • Alexandria - Al Montazah Palace & Gardens - EGP 8

Included Meals

Breakfast: 14

Lunch: 4

Dinner: 5

Updating availability

Departs onEnds onPricePassengersReservation
Oct 15, 2016Oct 29, 2016from USD1269
0 spaces left
Enquire now
Nov 26, 2016Dec 10, 2016from USD1332
0 spaces left
Enquire now
Dec 03, 2016Dec 17, 2016from USD1318
1 spaces left
Enquire now
Dec 10, 2016Dec 24, 2016from USD1372
10 spaces left
Enquire now
Dec 24, 2016Jan 07, 2017from USD1525
10 spaces left
Enquire now
Jan 07, 2017Jan 21, 2017from USD1400
13 spaces left
Enquire now
Feb 11, 2017Feb 25, 2017from USD1210
13 spaces left
Enquire now
Mar 11, 2017Mar 25, 2017from USD1210
12 spaces left
Enquire now
Jun 10, 2017Jun 24, 2017from USD1345
13 spaces left
Enquire now
Sep 02, 2017Sep 16, 2017from USD1400
14 spaces left
Enquire now
Sep 23, 2017Oct 07, 2017from USD1450
16 spaces left
Enquire now
Oct 07, 2017Oct 21, 2017from USD1450
16 spaces left
Enquire now
Oct 21, 2017Nov 04, 2017from USD1450
16 spaces left
Enquire now
Nov 18, 2017Dec 02, 2017from USD1450
16 spaces left
Enquire now
Nov 25, 2017Dec 09, 2017from USD1400
16 spaces left
Enquire now
Dec 02, 2017Dec 16, 2017from USD1345
16 spaces left
Enquire now
Dec 16, 2017Dec 30, 2017from USD1345
16 spaces left
Enquire now
Dec 23, 2017Jan 06, 2018from USD1400
16 spaces left
Enquire now
Jan 06, 2018Jan 20, 2018from USD1345
16 spaces left
Enquire now
Feb 10, 2018Feb 24, 2018from USD1345
16 spaces left
Enquire now
Mar 10, 2018Mar 24, 2018from USD1345
16 spaces left
Enquire now
Sep 01, 2018Sep 15, 2018from USD1400
16 spaces left
Enquire now
Sep 22, 2018Oct 06, 2018from USD1450
16 spaces left
Enquire now
Oct 06, 2018Oct 20, 2018from USD1450
16 spaces left
Enquire now
Oct 20, 2018Nov 03, 2018from USD1450
16 spaces left
Enquire now
Nov 17, 2018Dec 01, 2018from USD1450
16 spaces left
Enquire now
Nov 24, 2018Dec 08, 2018from USD1400
16 spaces left
Enquire now
Dec 01, 2018Dec 15, 2018from USD1400
16 spaces left
Enquire now
Dec 22, 2018Jan 05, 2019from USD1345
16 spaces left
Enquire now
Dec 29, 2018Jan 12, 2019from USD1400
16 spaces left
Enquire now

Get Inspired

Chile’s Atacama Desert

The Atacama Desert is one of the world’s most spectacular deserts, with fields of steaming geysers, massive smoking conical volcanoes, craggy mountains and flamingo-dotted turquoise lagoons.

Read More

Learn something new on your next journey

There are thousands of learning holidays to choose from in all corners of the globe, but we’ve rounded up a list of some of our favourites to get you inspired.

Read More

Hot air ballooning around the world

There is nothing as perfect as seeing the world from a bird’s eye view in a hot air balloon. Here are a few places we recommend you go to where you can float above the clouds and feel on top of the world.

Read More

Summer Cruise around Svalbard in Norway

A journey through the fjords, glaciers and islands aboard a cruise ship in Norway.

Read More

Download PDF

We'll send you your PDF link straight to your email address!

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

  Ask a Question

If you have any questions about this tour, please don't hesitate to contact us 24/7 and we will get back to you!

  Speak to a consultant

We are there for you! Our expert consultants have the knowledge and expertise to guide you – get in touch with us!

from $1,210

Take the first step in your adventure now!

Enquire now

from$1,210  


*Currency conversion is estimate only

COMPARE TOURS

  • No products to compare
Clear all Compare

Why choose Tour Ninjas?

Best Price Guaranteed
No Booking or Card Fees
Wide Range of Tours
We're here to Help

Tour Ninjas

Read more about us

Enquire now


Hold my seat for 48 hours

  • How long do you have? Do you have particular must see?
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Download PDF

We'll send you your PDF link straight to your email address

Tour PDF Request

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This