What’s Included in our Egypt Tour

 

Accommodations That Match the Experience

• Luxury 5 Star Accommodations: Cairo, Luxor and Aswan – Including the Belle Epoque Cairo or equivalent and Al Moudira, Luxor West Bank
• 4-night Luxury Private Dahabiya MS Hadeel or similar
• All breakfasts, 11 lunches, 5

Expert Guidance You Won’t Find Elsewhere

• Laura Ranieri Roy – Canadian Egyptologist with MA from University of Toronto
• Nabil Labib – Egyptian Egyptologist and architect with 20+ years experience
• Small group learning with informative lectures
• All site admissions and expert guiding

Exclusive Experiences

• Full day Grand Egyptian Museum with indepth guiding
• Full day special tour of the rejuvenated Giza plateau – and its secret sites
• Access to rarely-visited sites between Luxor and Aswan: including Nobles tombs, Esna Temple, Gebel el Silsila and more
• Private Luxury Dahabiya Experience: Experience quiet coves, special learning, workshops and celebrations on board – and wonderful private chefs that cook for just 16 of us! We BYOB – so no expensive drinks!
• Scenic Nile sailing and felucca rides

Day-by-Day Itinerary

October 23 – Day 1: Arrival in Cairo & Sunset Welcome

Arrive in Cairo, where you are met by your private escort and transferred to your elegant hotel with pyramid views. As golden sunlight bathes the desert horizon, gather with your fellow returning travellers for a sunset welcome drink and festive group dinner. Let the memories of your first journey stir excitement for the hidden treasures ahead.

• Overnight Belle Epoque(boutique luxury hotel) or similar
• Meals: Dinner

October 24 – Day 2: The Grand Egyptian Museum: Tutankhamun Revealed

Today is a true privilege — a deep dive into the newest wonder of the museum world: the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM). Enter the monumental complex through its light-filled atrium and explore 12 cavernous exhibition halls filled with treasures spanning 5,000 years of history.

One of the great highlights: the full Tutankhamun collection, displayed for the first time in its entirety. Walk through the boy king’s short but dramatic life via his exquisite golden shrines, jewellery, and ritual objects — many lovingly restored and never before seen outside storage.

Step into the vast Solar Boat Gallery, where the second boat of King Khufu — discovered near the Great Pyramid — is being painstakingly conserved. This is a day of awe and intimacy with Egypt’s ancient soul. Enjoy lunch at the GEM or in a nearby garden cafe. Evening at leisure.

• Overnight Cairo: Belle Epoque or similar
• Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

October 25 – Day 3: Hidden Giza: Stories Beneath the Sand (B, L)

Today, we peel back the layers of history at Giza — not just its colossal pyramids, but the human stories buried in the sand.

What a time to visit. The Giza plateau has been completely transformed as of April 2025. Today there is a new entrance, state-of-the-art visitor centre with exhibits, electric buses, walkways, new panoramic views – all conspiring to reinvent the Giza experience into one that is more environmental, accessible and with less hassle!

We will walk around the pyramids and also venture behind the “Wall of the Crow” to experience the site of the ancient builders at the Workers’ Village, where mudbrick homes and bakeries provide a rare window into daily life beneath the kingly  grandeur.

Visit the tombs of the artisans who constructed the pyramids, and also explore the enigmatic Tomb of Queen Khentkawes, mother of kings and guardian of a sacred causeway. For the bold, an optional descent into the Great Pyramid of Khufu or Khafre awaits — an experience that defies description.

Enjoy lunch at one of the new plateau restaurants: either Khufu’s or 9 Pyramids Lounge, a stunning open-air venue with views of all three pyramids.We have the whole day here to explore and may also optionally do a Giza camel ride – from the new more modern and humane animal facility.

• Overnight Belle Epoque or similar
• Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

October 26 – Day 4: A Day to Choose Your Own Cairo Adventure (B)

The day is yours to shape. Lose yourself in the winding alleys of Islamic Cairo, visit majestic mosques and madrassas, or treat yourself to a return to a favourite site or museum

For those who want deeper archaeology, we will arrange an optional half day hidden tombs of Saqqara excursion to explore some of the lesser known sites, based on group preferences. (estimated extra cost $150 USD pp)

Prefer a quieter pace? Relax by the pool, or let us arrange a private museum tour or special interest visit — from hidden Coptic churches to contemporary Egyptian art. Our team is on hand to assist with bespoke arrangements tailored to your interests.

Medieval city late afternoon guided walk – free

In the late afternoon, Laura and Francois will welcome you on a meander down through the wonders of El Moese Street and a meal in a secret spot in Medieval Cairo – which is so vibrant and alive at night.

Whether you seek exploration or rest, this is your day to breathe in Cairo’s vibrant pulse.

• Overnight Belle Epoque or similar
• Meals: Breakfast

 

October 27 – Day 5: Fly to Luxor – Undiscovered Karnak & More

After breakfast, we bid farewell to Cairo and check out of our hotel. A short flight carries us south to Luxor, once known as Thebes — the beating heart of ancient Egypt.

Upon arrival, we head straight to the East Bank for a deep dive into its most fascinating — and often overlooked — sacred spaces. Begin by stepping into the vast temple complex of Karnak — not through the crowded main gate, but via its quieter, more mysterious precincts. Discover the atmospheric Temple of Khonsu, a perfectly preserved gem that rarely sees visitors. And see the mysterious Ptah Temple with its powerful Sekhmet statue that radiates strange energy.

Wander the Open-Air Museum, where dismantled shrines and reliefs from eras past have been reconstructed in remarkable detail.

We will enjoy lunch in a wonderful secret spot

After lunch, we cross the Nile and check into our magnificent special Luxor West bank hotel, the 5 star Al Moudira: Tucked away on Luxor’s peaceful west bank, Al Moudira is a boutique oasis just minutes from the Valley of the Kings. Its domed suites, lush courtyards, and antique-filled interiors evoke timeless Middle Eastern charm. Guests enjoy fine Mediterranean and Eastern cuisine, a serene pool, and a traditional hammam—making it a unique and elegant base for exploring ancient Thebes.

Late afternoon and evening at your leisure. Why not hop back to the East bank to enjoy drinks and drink at the Winter Palace?

• Overnight Al Moudira, Luxor,
• Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

October 28 – Day 6: Hidden West Bank: Artisans, Nobles & Cliff Tombs (B, L)

Today we venture out on a specially curated tour of tombs rarely visited on the West Bank. The exact tombs will depend on openings at the time and group preferences. For example, descend into the beautifully preserved tomb of Sennedjem or Pashedu, whose walls pulse with color and myth. Then, explore one or more exquisite Noble Tombs rarely seen by most travellers — like those of Menna or Nakht, with vivid scenes of daily life and afterlife rituals. Time permitting we will visit either the Ramesseum or another temple site on the west bank.

We pause midday for a relaxing lunch at the charming Marsam Hotel, once a base for 20th-century archaeologists and still echoing with their stories.

• Overnight: Al Moudira Hotel, West Bank Luxor,
• Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

October 29 – Day 7: Visit the Gorgeously Restored Temple of Khnum & Board Your Private Dahabiya

After breakfast, we check out of our hotel and drive south to the riverside town of Esna. Here, we descend into the gorgeously restored Temple of Khnum — a rarely visited jewel with soaring columns, vivid Roman-era reliefs, and vibrant colours newly revealed by expert conservation.

Following our visit, we board our private Dahabiya, a traditional wind-powered river yacht reserved exclusively for our group. This will be our home for the next blissful 5 nights! With just a handful of beautifully appointed cabins (8 in all), this elegant vessel offers an unmatched private way to explore the Nile — with attentive crew, gourmet dining, and the serenity of travel at river pace. We will have a chance to stop to stock up on wine, beer and alcohol as we like – which is the beauty of a private boat.

Relax on deck with tea as we begin our unforgettable journey southward. All meals will be served on deck – and we will have optional talks by Laura and Francois.

• Overnight: Luxury private Dahabiya (Hadeel or similar)
  Meals: B, L, D

October 30 – Day 8: El-Kab & Sandstone Shrines of Silsila (B, L, D)

Wake to birdsong and Nile breezes on our private boat. We will enjoy breakfast then disembark at El-Kab, an ancient city of hidden tombs and mudbrick temples etched into the desert cliffs. Continue to Gebel el-Silsila, where sandstone for Egypt’s great temples was quarried. Walk among shrines carved directly into the cliff face, and see chapels dedicated by pharaohs to the river gods.

Tonight, dine under the stars (weather permitting) as your boat moors in a quiet river cove.

Optional sunrise or sunset yoga/meditation on the deck.

• Overnight: Luxury private Dahabiya (Hadeel or similar)
  Meals: B, L, D

October 31 – Day 9: Edfu: Temple of Horus & Island Retreats (B, L, D)

Today we dock in a special cove and make the journey a little inland to visit Edfu Temple, one of the most beautifully preserved in Egypt. It will be a return journey for many  – but so much to see here at this Ptolemaic gem and best preserved temple in Egypt. Stand in awe of its towering columns and secret rooms dedicated to the falcon god Horus.

We will return to the boat for a leisurely lunch

In the afternoon, cruise past rural farms and palm-draped islands. Watch life unfold on the riverbanks Enjoy peaceful afternoon sailing, .— children waving, water buffalo wallowing — as you recline on deck.

Possible cooking demonstration or storytelling onboard.
Dinner dockside in a quiet village.
Optional: Edfu Sound & Light Show

• Overnight: Luxury private Dahabiya (Hadeel or similar)
  Meals: B, L, D

November 1 – Day 10: Kom Ombo & the Crocodile Mummies (B, L, D)

Arrive at Kom Ombo, a unique double temple honoring both the falcon god Horus and the crocodile god Sobek. Explore its fascinating mummified crocodile museum, and see ancient medical carvings — including early surgical instruments.

Sail into beautiful Aswan, with an optional visit to a Nubian village.
Farewell sunset dinner on deck.

Continue to Aswan, docking at a quiet riverbank near Elephantine Island.

• Overnight: Luxury private Dahabiya (Hadeel or similar)
  Meals: B, L, D

November 2 – Day 11: Philae Temples & Optional Nubian Touring (B, D)

Today we say farewell to our beautiful dahabiya and spend a full day exploring the richness of Aswan. Our day begins with a visit to the stunning Philae Temple, dedicated to Isis and known as Egypt’s last surviving ancient temple.

After a special lunch, you will have the choice of one of two exceptional experiences:

1. Khnum Temple on Elephantine Island: Nestled among palm groves and Nubian villages, this seldom-visited temple honors Khnum, the divine potter and guardian of the Nile’s source. Dating back to the Old Kingdom and revered through Greco-Roman times, the temple’s ruins reveal layers of history through its columns, gateways, and inscriptions. Surrounded by the peaceful Nile, it captures the mystery of Khnum, who was believed to have fashioned humanity on his potter’s wheel from Nile clay.

OR

1. Qubbet el-Hawa: This ancient necropolis overlooking the Nile features rock-cut tombs of powerful governors and nobles from the Old and Middle Kingdoms. The tombs are adorned with vivid scenes of daily life and expeditions, offering a fascinating glimpse into Egypt’s past along with breathtaking river views.

We will reunite later for a relaxing felucca ride at sunset, a perfect final memory on the Nile.

For your final evening, consider enjoying the terrace at the iconic Old Cataract Hotel, soaking in its timeless charm.

• Overnight: Sonesta Nouba, Aswan
  Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 12 – Departure or Optional Extension (B)

Private airport transfer for your flight home — or extend your adventure with our 8-day post tour to Fayoum, Alexandria and the Siwa Oasis!

Price: $6595 USD pp*, $2095 USD* single supplement (recommended room sharing because of Dahabiya limited cabins)

• Intimate tour – maximum 14 travellers plus tour leaders