Accommodation

7 nights accommodation in 5-star hotels 1 night on board felucca sailboat with support boat (hotel upgrade available) 1 night on board sleeper train from Cairo to Aswan (flight & hotel upgrade available)

Hygieneprotocol

This tour will be operated in line with our ’Safer Encounters’ scheme which covers a wide range of additional hygiene precautions as well as social distancing rules and other measures to help prevent the transmission of Covid-19.

Meals

9 Breakfasts 3 Lunches 4 Dinners

Others

The Pyramids & Sphinx Egyptian Museum Philae Temple Abu Simbel option Nile felucca cruise Temple of Karnak & Valley of the Kings Colossi of Memnon Red Sea at Hurghada Sightseeing tours as detailed in the itinerary Services of a local Egyptologist guide for all the sightseeing tours Meals as indicated in the itinerary

Transport

A/C minibus, sleeper train, felucca sailboat 24-hour airport arrival & departure transfer service Our trips feature a mix of different transport options. We want you to feel like you’re really experiencing the country you’re travelling through, but at the same time we want you to finish journeys refreshed enough to enjoy the next stage of the tour. In Egypt we do not use any public tourist buses or overnight coach journeys as we know that people don’t sleep on board and end up very tired for the following few days. All the vehicles we use are air-conditioned, many are fitted with speed limiters, and all are inspected and checked daily. Some 4WD vehicles used on desert safaris may not always have air conditioning where they are only used for short periods. For the overnight train journey between Cairo and Aswan this tour uses the overnight sleeper train. You will have a private lockable twin cabin on board which holds two large seats and fold down beds which the carriage steward will make up for you in the evening. Sheets, blanket & pillows are provided. The cabin also contains a wash basin and storage cupboard. An airline tray-style evening meal and breakfast are provided. The Cairo-Aswan journey takes around 12 hours.

Guide

Sightseeing tours as detailed in the itinerary Services of a local Egyptologist guide for all the sightseeing tours We are committed to being a small group operator, as we feel this gives everyone in the group the best chance to get to know their fellow travellers and to hear and make the most of their guide. There’s no point in us providing great guides if you’ve got to peer over 30-40 shoulders to see them! So, we won’t ever put you in a 50-seater coach with 49 other people and just one guide. Instead, we set our Egypt small-group departures to have a maximum of 18 travellers. Shoestring tours have a maximum group size of 26. On dedicated Nile Cruise tours you may join larger boat groups for the sightseeing trips, though a supplement is always available for a private Egyptologist guide for these tours (requires advance booking). Specialist escorted tours and workshops may have different group sizes - please download the Tour Notes for details. In Egypt we provide fully trained, local English-speaking graduate Egyptologist guides to run your tour and escort you during all of the sightseeing in Cairo and the Nile Valley. We also have permanent local reps in all the main towns/cities and Red Sea resorts who are also at your service, and will be handling all the practical arrangements for the tour. We use local Bedouin guides for tours through the desert. On some departures we may use one guide in Cairo, and a second guide if you are travelling between Aswan and Luxor. At Encounters Travel we only use local Egyptian guides and reps. We feel this gives you the best experience of the country and the sites you are seeing. Please check our website for more details and profiles of some of our most famous Egyptian guides.

Not included:

Flights

International flights are not included but may be available on request.

Others

Single room supplement (if a same-sex room share not available) Visa fees (US$25 available on arrival for most nationalities) Meals not indicated in the itinerary Entrance fees to sites visited (allow approx. US$122) Tipping kitty (allow US$70) Drinks, snacks and other personal expenses (e.g. laundry) Tour guide tips Hotel gala dinners (if charged by the hotels on 24 & 31 Dec, see Tour notes) Single Room Supplement (applicable when a same sex room share cannot be arranged - contact us for details) Any other items not mentioned above

Optional

Optional experiences are available on this tour for an additional cost. Hot air balloon in Luxor - This popular optional tour starts early in the morning so that you experience the sunrise over the Valleys of the Kings & Queens, temples and desert. We endeavour to use the earliest flights of the day as they are timed to fit with the rising sun, this means that times may vary. You get around 1 hour in the air. Alexandria day trip - Alexandria is about 2.5 hours north of Cairo on the Mediterranean coast of Egypt. This city is the second largest in Egypt and this full day tour will include the Roman amphitheatre with its twelve semi-circular marble tiers, the Catacombs of Kom al-Shoqafa which is the largest Roman cemetery in Alexandria, Pompey’s Pillar, Fort Qaitbey (from outside), the famous modern library before returning to Cairo. If time allows you can tour inside Fort Qaitbey (entrance fee extra) and we may also visit the Montazah Palace gardens. Lunch at a seafood restaurant is included. Abu Simbel overland - The temples built by Ramses II at Abu Simbel are one of Egypt’s highlights, and have a fascinating story behind them to go with their impressive size. When Lake Nasser was flooded, the final water level was going to submerge several temples, the most important of which being Abu Simbel. The temple was therefore dismantled completely and rebuilt further up the hillside where it sits today. The temple stands today as a testament to Ramses II and the great building prowess of the ancient Egyptians, as well as to modern engineering. We depart Aswan early in the morning to join an escorted convoy which departs Aswan at around 04.30. This gets us to Abu Simbel to see the temples in the light of the rising sun, and we then have a guided tour with one of our Egyptologists and some free time before we drive back to Aswan (approx. 3 hours drive each way, with around 2 hours at the temples). All transfers, guide, and entrance fees are included. The tour itinerary is designed so you will not miss any other activities if you choose this option. Note - we choose the overland route to get to Abu Simbel as the flight times there are unreliable and the journey using the flight is much more segmented (you get more rest on the coach), not to mention it is much more expensive to fly. Cairo city tour - This half day guided tour of Cairo tour begins with Islamic areas including the Citadel of Saladdin, boasting the famous Alabaster Mosque of Mohammed Ali. Then we head onto the Coptic area of Cairo where the Romans constructed the fortress of Babylon. The church of St. Mary was built over the ruins of two towers of the fortress whilst it is more commonly known as the Hanging Church next stop is St. Sergius which is said to be the resting place of the Holy Family. The tour finishes at the Khan-el-Khalili bazaar. Internal flights upgrade - This option provides an upgrade from the overnight sleeper train to an internal flight with Egypt Air for the journeys from Cairo/Aswan and Luxor/Cairo. Two extra nights in the hotel are included in place of the overnight train. Breakfasts are included in the hotel but you will miss the on board dinner included on the sleeper train. Flight times vary and are subject to availability. Single room supplements apply. Single room supplement - This tour is based on twin-share accommodation, with single bookers paired up with another traveller of the same sex in the group. If the final group make-up means that no room share is available, you will need to pay this supplement. Room shares are arranged in order of booking. However, if you would like to guarantee yourself a single room throughout the tour, then please add this option to your booking. Saqqara, Dashour & Memphis - This half day guided tour on the outskirts of Cairo tour provides more insight into the history and evolution of pyramid building, and of the Egyptian civilisation. Our tours are based in the area of ancient Memphis, a former capital of Egypt. First we’ll visit Saqqara, a huge desert necropolis which was built for the kings and nobles of the Old Kingdom. Here we see Zoser’s ’step’ pyramid and the adjacent Imhotep museum where we learn more about Memphis and the history of the region. Next we head to Dashour to see one of the next attempts at pyramid building. Dashour’s moniker of the ’bent pyramid’ shows they still had a bit to learn, but this is a fascinating site and the pyramid still has much of its original limestone cladding. We’ll then return you to your hotel. Upgrade from felucca to hotel in Aswan - Although our overnight felucca journey is an amazing experience and often a highlight of the tour, the basic overnight accommodation is not for everyone. This upgrade is designed for those who would like a little more comfort in place of the overnight felucca sailboat trip, where you sleep on the deck of the boat. You may choose to sail on the felucca for a couple of hours with the main group, and have lunch and dinner on the boat and then get transferred back to your hotel in Aswan in the evening. Or you can remain in Aswan for the whole afternoon to look around the markets and Corniche independently, and not do any sailing at all, as you prefer (no meals are included if you remain in Aswan). Your night in Aswan will be spent in a 5-star hotel. The next morning we will transfer you to rejoin the group after they leave the felucca, and the rest of your tour will continue as normal from there on. Prices shown are based on travelling in low season (April to September) and staying in a shared twin/double room.

Insurance

Travel insurance is mandatory but not included.

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 1: Arrive Into Cairo And Transfer To Hotel
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Arrive Into Cairo And Transfer To Hotel

Upon arrival our staff will meet you at the airport, assist you with obtaining your visa and luggage, and then transfer you to your hotel close to the Pyramids for the start of your trip. They will help you settle in, introduce you to the local area, and explain tomorrow’s arrangements. The rest of the day is free. If you arrive early you may like to take an evening dinner cruise on the Nile, or enjoy a spectacular sound and light show at the pyramids (both available to book locally on arrival). | OVERNIGHT: Cairo 5-star hotel. | MEALS: NULL. | EXTRAS: Single room supplement (EGSGDE). Extra day in Cairo (5-star) - pre-tour
Day 2 Day 2: Cairo, Pyramids, Sphinx & Museum Tour
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Cairo, Pyramids, Sphinx & Museum Tour

Our tour of Egypt begins with a drive to Giza on the outskirts of Cairo to visit the Sphinx and the three great pyramids of Egypt. One of our local Egyptologist guides will be accompanying you on this and all of your other sightseeing tours, and you’ll find them a wealth of knowledge and full of enthusiasm about Egyptian history, and their country in general. At 500 feet high and 750 feet wide at its base the Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops) is an awesome man-made structure constructed of giant stone blocks with a hard limestone casing. The casing has, over the years, been stripped away to leave exposed the inner block structure. Together with the smaller pyramids of Khafre (Chephern) and Menkaure (Mycerinus), the majestic sight of these enormous structures rising out of the desert is a breathtaking spectacle. You will have the opportunity to climb down right inside the pyramids if you wish, though your guide cannot accompany you (a limited number of tickets are available for the Great Pyramid). Following on from the Pyramids we then head to the Egyptian Museum. Home to the fantastic Tutankhamun exhibit the museum hosts a huge number of other ancient Egyptian artefacts. This evening we transfer to the station for the overnight sleeper train to Aswan (approx. 12 hours). You’ll enjoy dinner on board in your private twin-berth compartments before the steward sets your beds up for the night. | OVERNIGHT: Sleeper train. | MEALS: Breakfast, Dinner. | EXTRAS: Cairo to Aswan flight upgrade
Day 3 Day 3: Aswan, Nubian Village And Philae Temple
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Aswan, Nubian Village And Philae Temple

This morning we arrive in Aswan and transfer to our hotel overlooking the Nile which is at its most picturesque here, with lush green islands, and feluccas sailing to and fro. Aswan itself is a melting pot of African and Middle Eastern cultures, most easily experienced by wandering through the busy markets. It’s also part of the ancient region of Nubia, which comprised parts of present day southern Egypt and northern Sudan around the Nile rivers. Many descendants of the Nubian people still live here and we’ll visit a local Nubian village to see their colourful houses, simple way of life and to enjoy a traditional lunch. We continue our tour this afternoon with a visit the Temple of Philae, a beautiful island complex dedicated to Isis and reclaimed from the rising waters of Lake Nasser, which we reach by a scenic boat ride. The evening is then free to look around Aswan’s spice and general markets, and to walk up and down the popular Corniche, on the banks of the Nile. An option is also available to take a camel ride through the sands on the far bank of the Nile to St. Simeon’s monastery. If you’ve chosen the Abu Simbel option then head to bed early this evening to be ready for a very early start tomorrow morning. | OVERNIGHT: Aswan 5 star hotel. | MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 4 Day 4: Abu Simbel Option. Nile Felucca Cruise
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Abu Simbel Option. Nile Felucca Cruise

An option is available this morning to visit the temples built by Ramses II at the amazing UNESCO world heritage site of Abu Simbel. We depart very early with the aim of seeing the rising sun over the temples. If you don’t visit Abu Simbel, then this morning is free. We board our traditional Nile felucca at lunchtime to enjoy an afternoon sailing down the Nile. Floating down the Nile on a felucca is one of Egypt’s most enjoyable activities and you’ll be able to watch local rural Egyptian life pass you by on the banks of the river as you drift past. Our Nubian crew will sail the boat and entertain you on the way, as well as preparing meals for you. Our separate facilities boat will join with us from time to time during the day and moor up with us at night. This boat has a welcome toilet and showers on board as well as a hygienic kitchen. You sleep on the deck of the boat tonight (mattresses, blankets and mosquito nets provided). This is a fun, but basic experience, and we offer an optional upgrade to spend this night back in the Aswan hotel instead of sleeping on the felucca for those wishing some more comfort. You then rejoin the rest of the group the next morning. | OVERNIGHT: On board felucca. | MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. | EXTRAS: Abu Simbel overland, Upgrade from felucca to hotel in Aswan
Day 5 Day 5: Edfu Temple, Luxor Temple At Night
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Edfu Temple, Luxor Temple At Night

After breakfast on-board we bid farewell to our felucca crew and visit the nearby temple at Edfu before continuing on north to Luxor. The town of Luxor is built on and around the ancient site of Thebes, and boasts the largest concentration of ancient ruins in the Nile Valley, if not the world. To the west of the Nile lies the City of the Dead, with its mortuary temples and rock-hewn tombs, whilst to the east lie the Temples of Luxor and Karnak. We check into a luxury 5-star hotel on the banks of the Nile and have time to relax and enjoy time by the pool this afternoon. Later this evening we’ll take a walking tour of the smaller Luxor Temple which is right in the middle of town and beautifully lit up at night. | OVERNIGHT: Luxor 5-star hotel. | MEALS: Breakfast
Day 6 Day 6: Luxor, West Bank Tour, Karnak Temple
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Luxor, West Bank Tour, Karnak Temple

We cross the Nile early this morning to begin our tour of Luxor’s West Bank. Home to the Valley of the Kings, the dusty tombs in this ancient burial site are still revealing their secrets today and so it remains one of the most important archaeological sites in the world. Our tour includes several of these Pharaonic tombs, as well as the temple of Queen Hatchepsut, Deir-el-Medina (the Valley of the Craftsmen), and the huge Colossi of Memnon. A spectacular hot air balloon flight over the west bank of the Nile is available this morning (expect an early start to catch sunrise as the balloon rises). After lunch we’ll tour the huge temple complex at Karnak , once the religious centre of Thebes and Upper Egypt. It was linked to Luxor by an extensive avenue, lined with sphinxes, and the whole complex was in turn linked to the Nile via a canal through which moved the sacred boats of the god Amun. Entering through a smaller sphinx-lined avenue, built by Ramesses II, you come to the immense pylon entrance. Inside the huge Courtyard are three chapels dedicated to the gods Amun, Khous and Mut. The remarkable Hypostyle Hall has 134 towering columns, each carved with scenes of gods and pharaohs, and hieroglyphic inscriptions adorn the walls. | OVERNIGHT: Luxor 5-star hotel. | MEALS: Breakfast. | EXTRAS: Hot air balloon in Luxor
Day 7 Day 7: Luxor To The Red Sea At Hurghada
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Luxor To The Red Sea At Hurghada

After a lazy morning we leave the Nile Valley and drive to the Red Sea resort of Hurghada where we check into a 5-star resort. Your stay here is on a ’soft all inclusive’ basis, with all meals, soft drinks and snacks included but not alcoholic beverages. | OVERNIGHT: Hurghada - 5-star resort. | MEALS: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8 Day 8: Red Sea At Hurghada, Free Day
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: Red Sea At Hurghada, Free Day

Your day is free today to relax and enjoy your time by the Red Sea. Hurghada is world famous for its scuba diving and snorkelling and the rich Red Sea marine life here attracts divers from all over the world. Other adventurous activities available include wind surfing and kite surfing, glass bottomed submarines, quad biking, camel rides and sea fishing trips. Our local rep based in Hurghada will be on hand to help make any arrangements. Hurghada itself has an interesting marina and old town to explore. If you wish, we can book extra nights in the resort in Hurghada for you to extend your time here - please contact us for details and prices. Note: Please note that when adding extra nights in Hurghada you will leave the group here and miss the remaining activities in Cairo. You can either finish the tour in Hurghada or return later to Cairo. Please contact us for more information and customised pricing. | OVERNIGHT: Hurghada 5-star resort. | MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9 Day 9: Drive To Cairo, Old Cairo & Khan-El-Khalili Bazzar Tour
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 9: Drive To Cairo, Old Cairo & Khan-El-Khalili Bazzar Tour

We drive back to Cairo this morning (approx.. 5hrs) and check into a city centre hotel. An upgrade to an internal flight is also available on request. In the late afternoon we take a guided walk through the back streets and bazaars in Old Cairo. We’ll walk through the huge Bab al-Futuh gateway and explore streets dedicated to metalwork, spices, pottery, fabric, jewelery and anything else you can imagine as we gradually enter the more touristy Khan-el-Khalili bazaar. We’ll have time for a break to try some mint tea and a shisha pipe and this is a great final opportunity to pick up some souvenirs of your time in Egypt. | OVERNIGHT: Cairo 5-star hotel. | MEALS: Breakfast. | EXTRAS: Hurghada to Cairo flight upgrade
Day 10 Day 10: Cairo, Free Time, Departure Airport Transfer
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 10: Cairo, Free Time, Departure Airport Transfer

Your time is free today for some last minute sightseeing or shopping until we transfer you to the airport for your departure flight. If you have an afternoon or evening flight departure, then a half-day tour of Coptic Cairo and the Citadel is available today, or you could take another half-day tour to learn more about the evolution of pyramid building at Saqqara, Dashour & Memphis. tours are also available today. Alternatively you can add extra nights to your time in Cairo which would allow you to take a day trip to the colonial city of Alexandria on the Mediterranean coast, or a trip into the desert outside Cairo to see the World Heritage Site of the Valley of the Whales at Wadi Rayan. | OVERNIGHT: N/A. | MEALS: Breakfast. | EXTRAS: Alexandria day trip, Cairo city tour, Saqqara, Dashour & Memphis, Extra day in Cairo (5-star) - post-tour

10 days tour

Discover Egypt

This tour includes:

Not included:

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Itinerary of your trip Discover Egypt

Day 1: Arrive Into Cairo And Transfer To Hotel

Day 2: Cairo, Pyramids, Sphinx & Museum Tour

Day 3: Aswan, Nubian Village And Philae Temple

Day 4: Abu Simbel Option. Nile Felucca Cruise

Day 5: Edfu Temple, Luxor Temple At Night

Day 6: Luxor, West Bank Tour, Karnak Temple

Day 7: Luxor To The Red Sea At Hurghada

Day 8: Red Sea At Hurghada, Free Day

Day 9: Drive To Cairo, Old Cairo & Khan-El-Khalili Bazzar Tour

Day 10: Cairo, Free Time, Departure Airport Transfer

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