Arrival to Cairo

Guests are transferred from the airport to their hotel. We will then give our guests the opportunity to rest from their long journey to Egypt, and to soak up the local atmosphere. Dinner at your hotel is included.

Memphis, Saqqara & Dashur

We will depart the hotel at 8am for Memphis, the former capital of Egypt. Our first stop is the Memphis Museum, (where you will find the infamous colossal reclining statue of Ramses II and the alabaster sphinx). We then continue to Saqqara, the site of the Step Pyramid, the Pyramid of Titi, the Serapeum, and the Mastabas of Ti & Mereruka. After lunch we will proceed to Dashur where we will see the Bent Pyramid and the Red Pyramid.

Pyramids of the Giza Plateau, the Sphinx & the Valley Temple

We have a very early start to the day, as we depart the hotel for the Giza Plateau for a very special treat– special, off-hours access to watch the sunrise by the pyramids!  Our morning will be spent at the famous Giza Plateau, where the last of the seven wonders of the ancient world still stand. Guests will have the opportunity to take some breathtaking photos of the three Great Pyramids, the Sphinx, and the Valley Temple, while our guide explains the history of this ancient and mysterious site.

Guests will also have the opportunity to go inside the Great Pyramid, the Pyramid of Menkaure, as well as the Solar Boat Museum. Entrance to these three areas are at an additional cost.

After lunch we will visit a Papyrus shop where they will demonstrate how papyrus has been made for over 5000 years.

The rest of the afternoon will be free, with a range of activities available at an additional cost.

Travel to Karnak, Luxor, and The Luxor Temple

We will depart our hotel early in the morning to catch our flight to Luxor, where, once there, we will be transferred to our hotel to check in.

After a short rest and lunch, we will visit Karnak Temple complex, which encompasses a vast mix of ruined temples, chapels, pylons, and other buildings. Construction of temples started in the Middle Kingdom and continued through to Ptolemaic times, with many famous pharaohs contributing to this architectural marvel. Karnak is the second largest ancient religious temple in the world, spanning across over 100 hectares.

We will return to Luxor before dusk, and marvel at the beautiful colossal statues of Ramesses II (along with other statues of great rulers– such as Tutankhamen– and some beautiful intact pillars.

Overnight stay in Luxor.

Hatshepsut’s Temple and The Valley of the Kings

In the morning we cross the Nile to visit Hatshepsut’s Temple in the Valley of the Kings.  After this, we will visit three famous tombs in the Valley, which was the burial place for pharaohs and other powerful rulers in ancient times for a period of nearly 500 years (16th to 11th century BCE).   The admission ticket allows entry into three of the 63 tombs, but an additional ticket can be purchased for King Tutankhamen’s tombs.

We depart back for Cairo in the late afternoon, and arrive in the evening to allow our guests to pack for their departure the next day. We will also have a farewell dinner for all our guests.

Fayoum Oasis, Lake Karoun, the Pyramid of Meidum, and the Pyramid of Hawara

Our journey today takes us two hours outside of Cairo to the picturesque Fayoum Oasis and Lake Karoun. We will have some time at each of our stops to enjoy the beautiful oasis.

After lunch we will visit the Hawara Pyramid and the Meidum Pyramid, unique structures built at the end of the third dynasty. There are also some mud brick mastabas next to the pyramids which we will have the opportunity to visit.

Day trip to Alexandria

Our journey today will take us 200km (125m) north of Cairo to the Mediterranean coastal city of Alexandria. Alexandria was established during the Graeco-Roman period of Egypt’s history by Alexander the Great in 333 BCE.

In Alexandria we will visit the Citadel (which is in a picturesque location by the bay), Pompey’s Pillar, the Roman Amphitheatre, and the Kom el Shoqafa catacombs, as well as the famous Library of Alexandria.

After lunch we will travel back to Cairo.

The Citadel, Sultan Hussan, Refai Mosques & the Egyptian Museum

We begin the morning by visiting the Citadel and the Mosque of Muhammed Ali. The Citadel sits high above Cairo with a beautiful view of the city. We will continue to the Sultan Hussan and Refai Mosques, which are an architectural marvel.

After lunch we will visit the Egyptian Museum, where our guide will walk you through the halls and explain some of the 160,000 objects that are housed there, covering 5,000 years of Egypt’s history.

Guests will have the opportunity to visit the mummy exhibit at their own cost. Photography within the museum is allowed, though guests will need to purchase their own tickets for photography.

Old Cairo, the Coptic Museum & Khan El Khalili

We begin our day by visiting Old Cairo, where our guide will walk us through the narrow streets and laneways of this historic area.  We will also visit the Hanging Church, the Coptic Museum (which houses the largest collection of early Christian artifacts in the world), the Church of Abu Serga, and Amr Mosque.

After lunch we will visit Khan El Khalili Bazaar, an ancient market place with narrow, twisting passages lined with tiny shops, where you can witness craftspeople practising skills that have been passed down through generations.

In the evening, we will invite our guests on a Nile Cruise to introduce you to the Egyptian culture with a traditional dinner, bellydancer, and Egyptian folkloric dancer.

Guests will be transferred to the airport for their departure home.