Discover Egypt tour
| country: | Egypt |
| location: | Sinai Desert, Nile Cruises, Pyramids, Luxor |
| trip type: | A small group adventure |
| departures: | Departs Thursdays and Sundays most weeks throughout the year |
| price: | From £505 (15 days) excluding flights. We can arrange flights from the UK. |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
read 1 travellers review
the amazing things you'll be doing
Discover Egypt's stark desert beauty, home for centuries to the monumental legacies left behind by the great pharaohs. Explore its bewitching history and captivating culture by journeying down the Nile, across the remote contours of the Sinai Desert and along the sun-swept beaches lining the Red Sea. Shop in an Egyptian bazaar, climb Mt Sinai and see one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.
day-by-day itinerary
| Days 1-2: | Cairo. Start the adventure in Egypt's chaotic capital. Ride a camel out to the Pyramids and Sphinx at Giza and peruse artefacts at the Egyptian Museum. |
| Days 3-4: | Aswan. Hone bargaining skills in one of the country's best bazaars. Visit a Nubian village for insight into the culture of the local people. Take an optional excursion to Abu Simbel. |
| Days 5-6: | Nubian Homestay/Nile Felucca. Experience village culture first hand at a homestay. Drift along the Nile and take in the sights of rural riverside life. Enjoy meals prepared on board before falling asleep under the stars. |
| Days 7-9: | Luxor. Take a donkey ride to the ancient hieroglyphs and royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings. Explore the temple complex of Karnak, and meet members of the Animal Care Project, dedicated to improving the lives of Egypt's working animals. |
| Day 10: | Cairo. Back in the capital, enjoy a guided walk through Islamic Cairo and bargain up a storm in the labyrinthine Khan al-Khalili. |
| Day 11: | Mt Sinai. Climb, or perhaps ride a camel, to the top of Mt Sinai for panoramic desert views. Visit the legendary St Katherine's Monastery, built around the biblical burning bush. |
| Days 12-13: | Red Sea Beach Camp. Snorkel among coral reefs, stay in beach huts looking across to Saudi Arabia and, in the evening, experience the hospitality of the Bedouin over an optional fresh seafood meal. |
| Days 14-15: | Cairo. Cross the famous Suez Canal on return to Cairo. An optional farewell dinner offers one last taste of local Egyptian favourites such as falafel and fuul and a chance to relive memories of your Egyptian adventure. |
travellers' tales
Holiday was great overall - facilitated by guides that were supportive, engaging, knowledgeable about local customs and who shared lots of pieces of information that the average package holiday maker would not have access to.
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small group adventure holiday
This is a 'small group adventure' - on our group trips you'll be with a maximum of 11 like minded travellers and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends it's good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting people from other parts of the world as well as seeing new places! (more) Because of our small group size, we're able to guarantee departures for all of our trips. Once you have booked and paid your deposit, your trip is guaranteed to go!
highly commended
This tourism business was Highly Commended in our 2007 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - the largest awards of their kind in the world, and organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society.Since 2004, the Awards has recognised individuals, companies and organisations in travel making a big commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and helping to conserve biodiversity.
how this holiday makes a difference
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Egypt is an extraordinary country and exploring it will get you travellers there with the locals, learning about their way of life and supporting as many local communities as possible.In true Intrepid style most of the accommodation is in locally owned, small guesthouses. Local transport is the main mode of transport, allowing immersion into Egyptian daily life and interaction with local people.
The itinerary includes a boat trip on the Nile River in a traditional felucca. This supports an ancient mode of transport as well as supporting the Nubian crew in their way of life. There's time for exploring temples along the way and one night is spent camping under the stars - perfect for appreciating the incredible Egyptian environment. In Luxor the group visits the Brooke Hospital for Animals and the Fair Trade Centre. Here travellers can purchase goods that encourage the maintenance of traditional crafts and support local communities. In the Sinai area the group fully gets into appreciating the stunning natural environment with opportunities for snorkelling the Red Sea and beach-relaxing. One night the group visits a tribal village in the mountains for a traditional Bedouin dinner - a great experience away from the touristy parts. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |