Egypt: Alexandria to Aswan

Welcome to Cairo, where the ancient and modern worlds connect seamlessly. Many flights arrive into Cairo late today, but if you arrive earlier, you may want to head to the hotel pool for a refreshing post-flight dip. Want more time in Cairo? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative, allowing you extra time to explore the city and relax into the adventure.

After breakfast, meet your tour leader and fellow travellers as we gather as a group to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead. We then head into the city for a full-day tour, beginning at the impressive Grand Egyptian Museum. Highlights we expect to see include the vast Great Hall, home to the colossal statue of Ramesses II, and the Grand Stairs, which present Egypt’s ancient story through a series of striking displays. Explore the Tutankhamun Galleries, where treasures from the boy king’s tomb offer insight into his life and legacy. We also explore areas such as the Khufu Boat Museum and the Main Galleries, where artefacts spanning thousands of years showcase the richness of Egypt’s past. We continue to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization for further insight into this fascinating heritage, before visiting Al Azhar Mosque, one of Cairo’s oldest mosques. Please note that modest dress is required to enter, and while the mosque may occasionally close without notice, we will still pass by to see it. This evening, your tour leader ensures a big welcome over a group dinner.

Begin with a visit to Giza, home to the iconic pyramids and sphinx, where we explore the site and admire these 4,500-year-old monuments. Only the throng of sightseers milling around their huge foundations keep you in the 21st century. If you’d like to go inside these grand structures, it is possible to buy an entrance ticket locally. The afternoon is free to relax at our hotel, explore Cairo or join an optional excursion to Saqqara and Memphis.

Start with a 90-minute drive to Wadi El Natrun, where the ancient Egyptians extracted salt to use for mummification. The area was also important for early Christians, and we visit the ancient Monastery of Saint Bishoy. Then we transfer (two hours) to El Alamein, the site of a decisive Allied victory during the Second World War, where we can visit the War Cemetery and Military Museum. More than 80,000 soldiers were killed or wounded here, but the victory led Sir Winston Churchill to say: “Before Alamein we never had a victory. After Alamein we never had a defeat”. After, we transfer (two hours) to Alexandria, where we enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.

Founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BCE, Alexandria was home to the Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and its 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 – Alexandria’s modern revival of the Great Library.

Return to Cairo (three to four hours) to catch our flight to Aswan. Upgrade to a Nile-view room today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Spend the day learning about the indigenous Nubian people and their way of life. Begin with a visit to the Nubian Museum, which charts the history and culture of the Nubian people, before a Nubian lunch on a felucca (traditional Egyptian sailboat) as we explore the Nile. In the afternoon, we take a 15-minute-or-so camel ride to the mud-and-stone ruins of the Monastery of St Simeon. We also have time to meet a Nubian family at their home on Elephantine Island before finishing with a barbecue on the shores of the Nile. Please note: 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. Upgrade to a Nile-view room today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Today, there is the option to visit the magnificent temples of Abu Simbel to the south through the Nubian Desert. Built by Ramses II, the two temples are among the most spectacular in Egypt with four great seated statues of the pharaoh staring east towards the rising sun. You have the option to add this excursion by bus or plane. In both instances you are picked up early in the morning with a breakfast box and return to Aswan in the afternoon. You arrive at the destination around 8am, where you have approximately two hours to visit the temples. For those flying to Abu Simbel, the timing is different. In the afternoon we are 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. Upgrade to an upper-deck cabin today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Begin with a visit to the Philae temple complex. The standout structure here is the Temple of Isis, an impressive classical monument built around 690 BCE for the ancient goddess. We also visit the vast Aswan High Dam, which was built in the 1960s to manage flooding, increase hydroelectric power and provide a reliable source of water for agriculture. After lunch, we sail to the temple of Kom Ombo, which is dedicated to the gods Sobek and Horus and sits on scenic spot by the Nile, before continuing to Edfu, where we spend the night. Upgrade to an upper-deck cabin today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Rising early, we start our day exploring Edfu, home to the remarkably well-preserved Temple of Horus, a grand structure that served as the centre of the cult. We then sail north along the Nile to Luxor, crossing the Esna lock, where we have dinner and hopefully witness a stunning sunset over the river. Upgrade to an upper-deck cabin today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Disembark after breakfast and explore the Valley of the Kings on the west bank of the Nile. The valley contains the once-hidden tombs of more than 62 pharaohs, including Tutankhamun, Seti I, Ramses III and IV. A discreet entrance in the hillside takes visitors underground; a series of corridors and antechambers leads us down to the burial chamber and sarcophagus. The walls are covered in brightly painted images and hieroglyphs – a map of the afterlife to ensure the king’s safe passage. One ticket allows us to see three tombs. The ticket usually allows entry into what are regarded as the most impressive tombs, but a visit to the tombs of Ramses VI and Tutankhamun (both extra tickets, payable locally) are recommended. Visits to tombs are now strictly controlled to halt further deterioration of wall paintings – each tomb is periodically closed for several weeks. After, we visit the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, a magnificent monument to the ancient pharaoh under a limestone cliff. Then, 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. Upgrade to a Nile-view room with balcony today – speak to your sales representative for more details

For our penultimate day, we have a half-day tour of Luxor’s east bank. Luxor is often 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 city’s restaurants. Upgrade to a Nile-view room with balcony today – speak to your sales representative for more details

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