Egypt Encompassed

Arrive at Cairo Airport and transfer to your hotel | Settle in and meet up with your group in the evening.

Cairo Pyramids Hotel (or similar)  –  This 4-star hotel, just a stone’s throw from the Pyramids of Giza, features modern rooms with a private terrace and unparalleled views.

Take a guided tour of the Giza Pyramids and the Sphinx. Later, travel to Saqqara to see the famous Stepped Pyramid.  (B)

Cairo Pyramids Hotel (or similar)

Explore Egypt’s history at the world-famous Egyptian Museum in downtown Cairo | Visit the Khan El Khalil Bazaar – where everything is for sale at a haggler’s price | Stop by Ibn Toulon Mosque and the Gayer Anderson Art Museum | Catch the overnight sleeper train to Luxor.  (BD)

Overnight sleeper train:  –  This adventurous, 9-hour ride is the best way to travel from Cairo to Luxor. Two sleep comfortably inside a compartment, with dinner and breakfast served onboard.

After an early breakfast on board, the train rolls into the Nile port city of Luxor| Be guided through the Karnak and Luxor Temples, two of the world’s most celebrated temple complexes | Board the Nile cruise boat – your home for the next four nights.  (BD)

M.S. Terramar cruise ship (or similar) – Experience top-line comfort on the world’s most famous river. Every cabin is tastefully appointed, and the common areas feature a full bar, lounge and restaurant serving Egyptian and international cuisine. An outdoor pool completes the experience.

Rise early and head into the Valley of the Kings | Wander through Tutankhamun’s tomb and three other royal tombs | Be guided through the ancient Hatshepsut Temple and Colossi of Memnon | Begin your passage along the Nile and take in the desert landscape as you dine onboard.  (BLD)

M.S. Terramar cruise ship (or similar)

Continue your southward cruise along the Nile – with stops at the great temple complexes Edfu and Komombo | Enjoy a drink on board and take a dip in the swimming pool.  (BLD)

M.S. Terramar cruise ship (or similar)

Arrive in Aswan and take a boat to Philae Temple, a marvel dedicated to the goddess Isis | Wonder at the engineering feat of the Aswan High Dam and enjoy a relaxing sail on a felucca – the traditional way to travel along the Nile River.  (BLD)

M.S. Terramar cruise ship (or similar)

Take a short flight to reach the iconic Abu Simbel | Soak up one of Egypt’s most memorable sights: the four colossal statues of Ramses guarding the Great Temple | Check in to a boutique hotel in a nearby Nubian village | Enjoy the local’s warm hospitality, traditional cuisine, and dancing!  (BD)

Anakato Nubian Houses (or similar) – Overlooking the Nile, Anakato Nubian Houses retain all their traditional style while seamlessly incorporating modern comforts. Generous hospitality, heritage furniture and local art make for an unforgettable stay.

Take a morning flight to Cairo and travel to nearby Ismailia | View another engineering masterpiece, the Suez Canal. An economic lifeline for Egypt, it’s one of the most important waterways in the world – allowing cargo ships to pass from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea | Return to Cairo for an overnight stay.  (B)

Cairo Pyramids Hotel (or similar)

Take the desert road to Alexandria and stop at the Commonwealth War Graves at El Alamein. Pay your respect to the thousands of lives lost in the Western Desert campaigns of World War II.  (B)

The Windsor Palace Hotel (or similar) – Travel back to the early 1900s in this beautifully restored hotel. A minute’s walk from the hustle and bustle of Alexandria, it boasts a gym, pool, sea views and a rooftop restaurant.

Visit the remarkable Bibliotheca Alexandria – the modern rendition of the famed Alexandrina Library | Wander slowly through the Catacomb of Kom El Shuqqafa and the Al Montazah Palace and Gardens | Enjoy the panoramic view from the Quit Bay Fortress.  (B)

Windsor Palace Hotel (or similar) 

Journey back to Cairo through the Nile Delta farming communities | Discover first-hand how the thin artery of life, the Nile, explodes into fertile plains | Spend your final night in downtown Cairo.  (B)

Cosmopolitan Plaza Inn Hotel (or similar) – Designed by a famous Italian architect, this 4-star ‘Downtown’ hotel combines European opulence with Middle Eastern sensibilities. Enjoy all the amenities you need.

Breakfast concludes your tour | Taxis to the airport are available, or Byroads can organise a transfer on request.  (B)