Simply Egypt

Salaam aleikum! Welcome to Egypt. You’ll be met at Cairo International Airport and transferred to your hotel, where your adventure will kick off this evening with a welcome meeting at 6 pm. If you arrive early, head out and explore at your own pace. Cairo is a bustling city of traffic, street food stalls and minarets all side by side, with centuries of history. Maybe visit the Cairo Citadel, which dates back to 1176 and is home to multiple museums and mosques. Or head to the Islamic part of the city and the labyrinthine Khan el-Khalili – a huge, historic bazaar full of spice shops, coffee houses and lots of opportunities to practice your bargaining skills. After your meeting tonight, maybe head out for your first Egyptian dinner with your new travel pals.

Start with the biggies today, heading out to see the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx after breakfast. These two ancient icons have stood on the desert edge for more than 4500 years, and one is, of course, the last standing Wonder of the Ancient World. Walk around the site with your guide and take in the scale of these massive stone structures up close. For an extra cost, you may also be able to go inside the Great Pyramid of Khufu. After, continue to the Grand Egyptian Museum, opened in November 2025 and home to an enormous collection of ancient artefacts. The treasures from Tutankhamun’s tomb are a standout, from jewellery and gilded sarcophagi to the famous golden death mask – this pharaoh was certainly well prepared for the afterlife! Later, meet your leader and travel to the nearby train station, where you’ll board an overnight sleeper train bound for Luxor.

Wake up this morning in Luxor, home to the spectacular temple complex of Karnak and the Valley of Kings. Set off with your local leader to the Temple of Dendera. This temple is dedicated to the goddess Hathor and is particularly known for the zodiac ceiling, colourful reliefs and intricate columns. Ancient stories, religious tradition and rituals come to life as you wander through the Hypostyle Hall, look into hidden crypts and discover rooftop chapels. After, visit a local NGO, Animal Care in Egypt (ACE), an Intrepid Foundation partner, to learn about the work they do to care for wounded working animals in the region. The rest of the day is free for you to explore further. Perhaps move on to the celebrated Karnak temple complex, a house of gods build over a period of some 200 years. Or, ask your leader for dinner recommendations, then join your group for a felucca sunset sail, imagining what life was like here centuries ago.

Head into the Valley of the Kings today, where more than 60 royal tombs are hidden beneath the dry hills outside Luxor. With your leader, you’ll explore the place where the pharaohs of the New Kingdom (16th to 11th century BC) were secretly interred for all eternity. The surrounding painted walls, hieroglyphics and stories were meant to carry them into the afterlife. You’ll also visit the tomb of Tutankhamun, where the young pharaoh is buried, before continuing to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut – a striking colonnaded temple built into the cliffs. The afternoon is free to explore Luxor however you wish. Maybe browse the market, visit the Mummification Museum or ask your leader for a good local dinner spot. Later, meet up with your group and head to the train station, where you’ll board your overnight sleeper train back to Cairo.

Slip into Cairo before dawn and awake to your final day in the Egyptian capital. Today you’re free to explore on your own. Maybe visit the Dahshur Pyramids, home to the Red Pyramid – the world’s oldest true pyramid. While you’re there, you can clamber down a 79 m (259 ft) narrow tunnel from a raised entrance on the pyramid’s northern face to reach two chambers that lie deep inside the 4600-year-old structure. Or visit Sakkara, Egypt’s largest archaeological site and ancient burial ground of Memphis. Tonight, if you wish, you can celebrate your time in Egypt by joining a local Cairo family for a delicious homecooked dinner. The food and conversation are the perfect finishing touch to this epic Egypt adventure.

There are no activities planned for the final day and you are free to depart at any time. If you would like to extend your stay in Cairo, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time.