Egypt: Alexandria to Aswan

Welcome to Cairo, where the ancient and modern worlds connect seamlessly. Many flights arrive into Cairo late today, but if you arrive earlier, you may want to head to the hotel pool for a refreshing post-flight dip. Want more time in Cairo? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative, allowing you extra time to explore the city and relax into the adventure.

After breakfast, meet your tour leader and fellow travellers as we gather as a group to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead. We then head into the city for a full-day tour, beginning at the impressive Grand Egyptian Museum. Highlights we expect to see include the vast Great Hall, home to the colossal statue of Ramesses II, and the Grand Stairs, which present Egypt’s ancient story through a series of striking displays. Explore the Tutankhamun Galleries, where treasures from the boy king’s tomb offer insight into his life and legacy. We also explore areas such as the Khufu Boat Museum and the Main Galleries, where artefacts spanning thousands of years showcase the richness of Egypt’s past. We continue to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization for further insight into this fascinating heritage, before visiting Al Azhar Mosque, one of Cairo’s oldest mosques. Please note that modest dress is required to enter, and while the mosque may occasionally close without notice, we will still pass by to see it. This evening, your tour leader ensures a big welcome over a group dinner.

Begin with a visit to Giza, home to the iconic pyramids and sphinx, where we explore the site and admire these 4,500-year-old monuments. Only the throng of sightseers milling around their huge foundations keep you in the 21st century. If you’d like to go inside these grand structures, it is possible to buy an entrance ticket locally. The afternoon is free to relax at our hotel, explore Cairo or join an optional excursion to Saqqara and Memphis.

Start with a 90-minute drive to Wadi El Natrun, where the ancient Egyptians extracted salt to use for mummification. The area was also important for early Christians, and we visit the ancient Monastery of Saint Bishoy. Then we transfer (two hours) to El Alamein, the site of a decisive Allied victory during the Second World War, where we can visit the War Cemetery and Military Museum. More than 80,000 soldiers were killed or wounded here, but the victory led Sir Winston Churchill to say: “Before Alamein we never had a victory. After Alamein we never had a defeat”. After, we transfer (two hours) to Alexandria, where we enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.

Founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BCE, Alexandria was home to the Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and its Great Library was the largest library of its time. Unfortunately, they no longer survive, but there is still much to see in this Mediterranean port city. Our tour begins with a visit to the city catacombs followed by the impressive Qaitbay Fortress and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina – Alexandria’s modern revival of the Great Library.

Return to Cairo (three to four hours) to catch our flight to Aswan. Upgrade to a Nile-view room today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Spend the day learning about the indigenous Nubian people and their way of life. Begin with a visit to the Nubian Museum, which charts the history and culture of the Nubian people, before a Nubian lunch on a felucca (traditional Egyptian sailboat) as we explore the Nile. In the afternoon, we take a 15-minute-or-so camel ride to the mud-and-stone ruins of the Monastery of St Simeon. We also have time to meet a Nubian family at their home on Elephantine Island before finishing with a barbecue on the shores of the Nile. Please note: If you prefer not to ride a camel, it is possible to walk the 2.5mi (4km) over sandy and stony ground. This part of the trip takes place in the middle of the day when the sun is at its highest. Upgrade to a Nile-view room today – speak to your sales representative for more details