Day 1: Cairo, Egypt
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Arrival Airport: Cairo International Airport (CAI)

Welcome to Cairo! This famous city's history is closely intertwined with the story of ancient Egypt — the kingdom that the Egyptian pharaohs knew. Our in-country team will do all they can to make sure you get to see and enjoy the many sights here.

On your first evening, you will check into your hotel and enjoy a welcome dinner. Feel free to spend the rest of the night at your leisure — but keep in mind that you'll want a good night's sleep before embarking on tomorrow's adventure!

Accommodation: Paradise Boutique Hotel or Similar

Day 2: Cairo, Egypt
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After you’ve enjoyed your breakfast, you will meet your guide for your full-day tour of Cairo. During your tour, you will visit the Giza Pyramids, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. At the foot of the pyramids lies the Sphinx, with the face of King Chephren and the body of a lion. The tour also includes a visit to the Valley Temple, which belongs to the Pyramids of Chephren, and the wishing well.

In the afternoon, we'll tour Memphis, Egypt’s capital that lasted until the end of the Old Kingdom (3200 BCE). Here, you'll see the famous colossal statue of King Ramses II. After touring Memphis, we will drive to Sakkara, the City of the Dead with the famous step pyramid of Djosser (the world's oldest major stone structure).

Accommodation: Paradise Boutique Hotel or Similar

Day 3: Cairo, Egypt
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After you’ve enjoyed your breakfast, you will meet your guide and visit the Egyptian Museum. At the museum, you will see a rare collection of 5,000 years of art, which is considered the largest collection of Egyptian art in the world. Over 250,000 genuine artifacts are presented, including an exhibit dedicated to Tutankhamen and a collection of treasure, gold and jewelry.

In the afternoon, you will visit Old Cairo, where you will have free time to enjoy the Hanging Church of the 3rd century (built from tower remains from the Babylon fortress), the Church of Abu Serga (where you can see the holy crypt), and the Ben Ezra Jewish Synagogue. Enjoy dinner at your leisure before departing for Luxor, Egypt, by sleeper train at appoximately 7:45 p.m.

Accommodation: overnight train

Day 4: Luxor, Egypt
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You'll arrive around 6 a.m., your guide meeting you at the station. From here, you will be brought to your hotel, where you can enjoy a hearty breakfast before heading out for the afternoon.

This afternoon, you will take the ferry over to the East Bank. Your expert guide will lead us to the striking Luxor Temple, dedicated to the god Amun. You will see its courtyard and the granite statues of Ramses the Great. You will also visit the Karnak temples before heading back to the hotel.

Accommodation: Sunflower Guest House Luxor West Bank or similar

Day 5: Luxor, Egypt
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Wake up and get ready for an early start with a delicious breakfast at the hotel. Today, you will explore the West Bank of Luxor to see the Valley of the Kings. You will also have the chance to visit the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut. On the way back to the hotel, you will pass by the famed Colossi of Memnon, known in Ancient Greek times for their haunting voices at dawn.

Enjoy lunch on the West Bank before enjoying free time in Luxor for the rest of the day. You may also choose to add on a hot-air balloon tour of Luxor.

Accommodation: Sunflower Guest House Luxor West Bank or similar

Day 6: Edfu, Egypt
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This morning, you’ll travel by train to Edfu. Once you arrive in Edfu, your guide will meet you and bring you to the legendary Temple of Horus. This Ptolemaic temple, built between 237 and 57 BCE, is one of the best-preserved monuments in Egypt.

Eat lunch at your leisure before enjoying free time in Edfu for the rest of the day. You may also choose to add on a tour of the Temple of Kom Ombo, dedicated to Sobek, the god of crocodiles. The temple stands at a bend in the Nile, where sacred crocodiles basked in the sun during ancient times.

Accommodation: Local Edfu Guesthouse or similar

Day 7: Aswan, Egypt
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Today, you’re off to Aswan! You will travel by train, leaving Edfu at 9 a.m. Once you arrive in Aswan, you will take a short motorboat ride to the majestic Philae Temple on Agilika Island. From there, you’ll proceed to the granite quarries, which provided most of the stone used to build ancient pyramids and temples, where you can still see a massive, unfinished obelisk. You will also visit the High Dam before checking in to the hotel.

Spend the evening exploring the city and grabbing dinner at your leisure.

Accommodation: Marhaba Hotel Aswan or similar

Day 7: Aswan, Egypt / USA
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Enjoy your morning exploring the city before catching your transportation to the airport for your departure home. (If you've extended your travels, you'll set forth for Ethiopia.)

Departure Airport: Aswan International Airport (ASW)

Ethiopia Extension

+ What vaccinations should I get before my trip?

It's important that you receive the most accurate and up-to-date travel health information before departing for Africa. The only one qualified to provide you with this advice is your family physician or a specialist from a Travel Health clinic. We can provide some general guidance on what websites to check, but these websites are no substitute for a personal consultation with a qualified medical professional.

+ Can you help arrange my Egypt travel visas?

If you are an American traveler joining this trip, you will need a visa to visit Egypt. You may purchase this visa for $25 upon arriving at the airport in Cairo. Please note that it will take about an hour to clear customs and immigration.

Whether you are an American citizen or not, we strongly recommend using VisaHQ to verify (or double-check) the visa requirements for your travel plans.

+ Do your tours include international airfare?

Travelers arrive from all over the world to begin our tours, and it is not possible to include international airfare in our prices. We would be happy to help you arrange flights. Just ask for an air quote when making your booking.

+ When is the best time to visit Egypt?

October through April are the best months to visit Egypt. Winter is peak travel season, so if you'd like to avoid the crowds but enjoy comfortable temperatures, you might want to plan your trip for October through November or Februrary through April. Please see our blog article for more information.

+ I'm a solo traveler — will I be charged a single supplement?

We are happy to accommodate single travelers! Please note that we will add a single supplement charge to your trip cost. We look forward to putting together your dream trip!