Classic Egypt holiday for first timer visitors

Planet

CARBON REDUCTION
Three nights sailing between Aswan and Luxor replace a flight and road transfers on that stretch, and the trip uses only two domestic flights (Cairo–Aswan, Luxor–Cairo). On request we can swap a domestic flight for the overnight sleeper train between Cairo and Upper Egypt. Vegetarian and vegan meals are available every day, including on the cruise, where kitchens are briefed in advance. Travel documents and itineraries are sent digitally rather than printed.

ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE
Hotels and cruise ships on this trip are chosen with regard to their energy, water and food-waste efforts and to cutting single-use plastic, and we review suppliers' environmental performance. Camel and horse rides at Giza and in Luxor are optional and only offered through operators whose welfare standards we consider acceptable; we do not include animal performances. Before travel you are briefed on site etiquette at Giza, Philae, Abu Simbel and the Valley of the Kings: keep to paths, never touch reliefs and follow photography rules.

People

LOCAL ECONOMY
Every visit is led by a licensed Egyptian Egyptologist. Lunches on touring days in Cairo are at Egyptian-owned restaurants. There are no forced shopping stops; instead we point you to artisans in Aswan and Luxor you can buy from directly, so more of your spending stays with them.

We hire local Egyptian guides and drivers throughout the trip, and we prefer locally owned hotels, restaurants and craft partners wherever quality and safety allow. Before you travel we brief you on dress codes at religious sites, respectful photography and cultural etiquette, so you can meet local people with confidence and respect. Visits are paced to respect site capacity and support the preservation of Egypt's cultural heritage.

EMPLOYMENT, INCLUSIVITY AND DIVERSITY
All our guides are licensed local Egyptologists and are fairly paid. We never use shop commissions, and gratuities are always optional. We are committed to fair, equal-opportunity employment regardless of gender, religion, ethnicity, age, disability or background. We train young local tourism professionals and are creating more roles for women in tourism.