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Classical Egypt tour

country:Egypt
location:Pyramids, Luxor 
trip type: A small group adventure
departures:Departs most Fridays throughout the year
price:From £995 (10 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
In Cairo our guide unravels the complexity of the dynastic periods on a visit to Memphis and its splendid necropolis, Sakkara. We see the first Step Pyramid and visit several outstanding Old Kingdom tombs. We also explore the Egyptian Museum (including the Tutankhamun exhibition) and visit the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx. A comfortable overnight sleeper train takes us south to Luxor, the site of ancient Thebes. Here we visit Karnak Temple, the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut and the splendid royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings. We then board our comfortable riverboat for a relaxing cruise, visiting Edfu Temple and the lovely ruined temple at Komombo along the way. Reaching Aswan we enjoy a visit to the charming Temple of Isis at Philae and have time for an optional visit to Abu Simbel. Back in Cairo we head into the medieval city, exploring the fascinating Gayer-Anderson Museum, housed in two fine 17th century villas, and the nearby Mosque of Ibn Tulun. Our final Egyptian highlight is a visit to the celebrated Khan al-Khalili Bazaar.
day-by-day itinerary
Day 1:(Fri) Arrive Cairo and transfer to hotel.
Day 2:Visit Memphis and its necropolis, Sakkara.
Day 3:Visit Egyptian Museum, pyramids and Sphinx. Sleeper train to Luxor.
Day 4:Arrive Luxor. Horse-drawn carriages to Karnak Temple. Board Nile cruise boat.
Day 5 :Visit Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut and Colossi of Memnon.
Day 6-7:Sail to Aswan. Visit Edfu and Komombo temples.
Day 8:Visit Philae Temple. Optional visit to Abu Simbel. Sleeper train to Cairo.
Day 9:Arrive Cairo. Visit medieval city, including Gayer-Anderson Museum, Ibn Tulun Mosque and the Khan al-Khalili bazaar.
Day 10:Trip ends in Cairo this morning (Sun).
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
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.

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