Classical Egypt tour
| country: | Egypt |
| location: | Pyramids |
| trip type: | A small group adventure |
| departures: | Weekly departures on Thursdays throughout the year |
| price: | From £690 (10 days) excluding flights, based on twin share. We can arrange flights from the UK |
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the amazing things you'll be doing
In Cairo, our guide unravels the complexity of the dynastic periods as we visit Memphis and its necropolis, Sakkara. We see the first ‘step-pyramid’ and visit several outstanding Old Kingdom tombs. We also explore the Egyptian Museum, pyramids and Sphinx before arriving in ancient Thebes (Luxor) where we visit Karnak Temple, the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut and the splendid royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings. Cruising south to Luxor, we visit Edfu Temple and the lovely ruined temple at Komombo.
In Aswan, we enjoy a visit to the charming Temple of Isis and have time for an optional visit to Abu Simbel. Back in Cairo, we head into the winding streets of the medieval city, discovering the Gayer-Anderson Museum, the Mosque of Ibn Tulun and the celebrated Khan el Khalili bazaar. Includes tour leader, professional local guides, accomodation (3 nights riverboat, 4 nights comfortable hotel, 2 nights air-con sleeper train), arrival transfer, some meals (9 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 5 dinners), transport, sightseeing and entrance fees.
For nearly 30 years, we have lead the field in small group adventure travel. See the iconic sights as well as get off the beaten track to discover the 'real' country, and come away understanding something more of the world. Our innovative and interactive itineraries include as much as possible to ensure that you get the most out of your valuable time away, but also contain plenty of time to relax and explore by yourself. Traveling in small group, and by private transport, means that you will have the company of other like-minded travelers, your holiday will be safe and stress-free and that the impact on environment and community is kept to a minimum.
As part of our responsible travel policy we also employ local leaders and actively avoid international hotel chains, preferring to give our patronage to authentic, centrally-located and owner-managed establishments whenever possible. Our locally born and raised leaders are great fun and will be a great part of your holiday because of their intimate knowledge of the sights, culture and customs, history and language of their homeland. Once you have traveled with a local leader you will understand that there is no better way!
In Aswan, we enjoy a visit to the charming Temple of Isis and have time for an optional visit to Abu Simbel. Back in Cairo, we head into the winding streets of the medieval city, discovering the Gayer-Anderson Museum, the Mosque of Ibn Tulun and the celebrated Khan el Khalili bazaar. Includes tour leader, professional local guides, accomodation (3 nights riverboat, 4 nights comfortable hotel, 2 nights air-con sleeper train), arrival transfer, some meals (9 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 5 dinners), transport, sightseeing and entrance fees.
For nearly 30 years, we have lead the field in small group adventure travel. See the iconic sights as well as get off the beaten track to discover the 'real' country, and come away understanding something more of the world. Our innovative and interactive itineraries include as much as possible to ensure that you get the most out of your valuable time away, but also contain plenty of time to relax and explore by yourself. Traveling in small group, and by private transport, means that you will have the company of other like-minded travelers, your holiday will be safe and stress-free and that the impact on environment and community is kept to a minimum.
As part of our responsible travel policy we also employ local leaders and actively avoid international hotel chains, preferring to give our patronage to authentic, centrally-located and owner-managed establishments whenever possible. Our locally born and raised leaders are great fun and will be a great part of your holiday because of their intimate knowledge of the sights, culture and customs, history and language of their homeland. Once you have traveled with a local leader you will understand that there is no better way!
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Cairo. On arrival at Cairo Airport, you will be met by a Peregrine representative and transferred to your hotel. This is simply an arrival day so you may arrive in Cairo at any time. Note that hotel rooms are generally only available after midday. The balance of the day is free to explore your surroundings and our tour leader may make contact in the evening. |
| Day 2: | Cairo. After breakfast and a briefing from our tour leader we drive out to Memphis, on the edge of the Western Desert, where a small museum marks the site of the ancient city. We then continue to its necropolis, Sakkara, where our guide explains the significance of the various temples and colonnades. At the centre of the complex is the step-pyramid of King Djoser, believed to be over 5000 years old and the predecessor to the great pyramids at Giza. Nearby we visit the tombs of the nobles, containing exquisite bas-reliefs of everyday life in ancient times. At the conclusion of our visit we return to Cairo where the balance of the day is at leisure to explore this busy metropolis or to relax at our hotel. |
| Day 3: | Cairo. This morning we head to the Egyptian Museum for a tour of the various key exhibits. Our guide explains the complexities of Egypt’s many dynastic periods, starting with the Old Kingdom and ending with the Greco-Roman occupation. This provides us with an excellent background for our visit to Upper Egypt. Later we drive out to Giza, where we visit the pyramids and the nearby Sphinx. For an additional charge you may be able to go inside one of the pyramids (although occasionally they are closed). Returning to downtown Cairo, the rest of the afternoon is at leisure until we are transferred to the station where we board the overnight sleeper train to Luxor. Sleeping berths (beds and linen) are provided in private cabins and a pleasant ‘airline-style’ dinner is served on board. A toilet is located at the end of each carriage. |
| Day 4: | Luxor. Breakfast is served on board the train and just after dawn we arrive in Luxor, where we are transferred to our hotel. We can relax by the pool or explore the bazaar and later we take horse-drawn carriages to Karnak, one of the world’s most celebrated temple complexes, built over a period of some 200 years. We enjoy a guided tour of the temple and the rest of the afternoon and evening is free to relax, shop in the bazaar (which stays open till quite late), or experience the atmosphere of a local coffee shop. |
| Day 5: | Luxor. We rise early this morning (very early in summer time!) and drive across to the west bank of the Nile. We head into the Valley of the Kings where our guide explains the funerary rites of the ancient Egyptians and significance of the many tomb paintings and hieroglyphics. We visit three royal tombs and then continue to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, set in a spectacular natural amphitheatre. Our final stop is at the Colossi of Memnon, giant statues that were once part of an impressive colonnade. Returning to the east bank we transfer to our cruise boat, our home for the next three nights. After lunch on board we set sail in the afternoon and begin cruising towards Edfu. We pass through Esna lock, which can sometimes be a slow process, depending on the number of vessels waiting to get through, and continue our journey upstream. |
| Day 6: | Edfu-Komombo. Morning finds us moored near Edfu, a very well-preserve temple dedicated to Horus, the falcon-headed God. We disembark and have time to explore the temple as well as experiencing the bustling town centre. Returning to our cruise boat we continue cruising upstream, relaxing on the sundeck and enjoying views of the desert and everyday life that are almost as timeless as the Nile itself. Arriving at Komombo we visit the Temple of Sobek (the crocodile-headed God) that lies, classically ruined, on the edge of the Nile. Its most spectacular aspect is undoubtedly from the river itself, but a short walk around the temple also provides an interesting insight into the Greco-Roman period. |
| Day 7: | Komombo-Aswan. We arrive in Aswan, Egypt’s second-largest city. This friendly southern metropolis has an easygoing charm that is due in no small part to its large Nubian population. Depending on the arrival of our cruise boat we may make a visit to the beautiful Temple of Isis, rescued from the rising waters of the Nile and re-located on Philae Island (alternatively we will visit it tomorrow). It is an absolute gem and one of the highlights of Upper Egypt. The balance of our day is free to wander through the Nubian bazaar, or enjoy a walk along the ‘corniche’ that runs alongside the river. |
| Day 8: | Aswan-Cairo. We disembark from our cruise boat and check into our hotel where a few day use rooms are available for our use. The balance of the day is then completely free for you to make your own arrangements. The visit to Abu Simbel will occur this morning for those who booked this option with the tour leader back in Cairo. A popular afternoon option is a relaxing sailboat ride around the islands, in a traditional ‘felucca’. You can stop off at the botanical gardens on Lord Kitchener’s Island, and also take a fun camel ride to the Monastery of St. Simeon, located on the west bank of the river. Your tour leader will be on hand to help arrange any excursions you may wish to undertake. Alternatively you may prefer to relax by the hotel pool. In the late afternoon we reconvene for our transfer to the station, where we board the sleeper train for the return journey to Cairo. After departure an ‘airline-style’ dinner is served in your cabin. |
| Day 9: | Cairo. Arriving in Cairo, after breakfast on the train, we are transferred to our hotel where we have time to freshen up. Having experienced the highlights of ancient Egypt, today is our opportunity to see something of medieval Cairo, in the form of the Khan el Khalili bazaar, Cairo’s oldest mosque, and the Gayer-Anderson Museum. Our tour leader takes us first to the beautiful Ibn Tulun Mosque, considered one of the finest examples of 9th century architecture before walking across to the Gayer-Anderson Museum, housed in two fine old villas (16th and 17th century) that overlook Ibn Tulun. Once owned by an English army officer, the two houses contain a fascinating collection of Arabic artefacts, furniture and memorabilia, giving us a great insight into Cairene life during the Ottoman period. We then continue into the Khan el Khalili bazaar, which sprawls around an old area of Cairo known as Al Azhar. The tortuous streets and alleyways - and attendant hawkers - look like a scene from 1001 Nights as our tour leader takes us into the heart of the bazaar. We explore the gold market, ‘perfume street’ and the spice market – where the scent of cumin, coriander and cardamon hangs in the air like a thick blanket of Damascene cloth (which can be purchased next door in the cloth market!). There’s time for you to do some last-minute shopping here before we head back to the hotel. The balance of the day is at leisure. |
| Day 10: | Cairo. Your trip ends today after breakfast. If you have arranged a private airport transfer you will be advised of the pick-up time. |
travellers' tales
The highlight was arriving on the shores of Lake Nasser before dawn to watch the spectacular sunrise with Ramesses II in 4 stages of his life at our backs. (more)
small group adventure holiday
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its 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 new people as well as seeing new places.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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See Egypt through the eyes of a local, as your Egyptian tour leader gives you a first-hand insight into the exotic and historically rich tapestry that makes up this amazing country. Discovering archaeological sites, seeking out Pharaonic tombs, exploring ancient temples, wandering around vibrant bazaars and sailing down the Nile - all experiences that impart to travellers an awareness of these valuable natural and historical gems and the importance of them being preserved and protected, so that they can be enjoyed and appreciated by future generations.
The Egyptians, ancient and modern, have rich and enduring cultures, which are unveiled on this trip. Equally important, your local tour leaders help you to understand the traditions of these proud people, ensuring you don’t commit any cultural ‘faux pas’. To support tour programs in this part of the world we are training our tour leaders on a variety of issues, from environmental awareness to First Aid. This not only assists in the conduct of a tour but also provides leaders with important life skills. By only employing tour leaders born and bred in the regions they visit, we are supporting local economies. We prefer to give our patronage to small owner-managed hotels rather than those from international chains, as we feel these places offer quality and character and also directly benefit local people. We also have a long-standing relationship with Omar and his family of Nubian sailors, who operate all their felucca sailing trips around Aswan. Through offering employment and steady revenue, tourism can ultimately make a real positive difference to local communities. |
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. |