Egypt: Boats & Bazaars

Day 1 : Cairo

Arrive at any time.

There are no planned activities until an evening welcome meeting.

What better way to kick off your travels than by getting to know your CEO and group over a few drinks? Take a short taxi ride to a favourite local restaurant and bar in a trendy part of Cairo. Kick back, relax, and bask in the excitement of your journey’s beginning.

If this is your first visit to Cairo, we highly recommend that you book an airport transfer.

If you opt to prebook the Islamic and Coptic Cairo Tour a night of pre-tour accommodation is required as this tour departs at 10am.

Optional Activities - Day 1

Acommodation

Pharaohs Hotel Cairo

Day 2 : Cairo/Aswān

Take an orientation tour through the narrow alleys of the Khan el-Khalili bazaar, with free time for shopping or people watching from a shisha café. Then enjoy a guided tour of the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx. Overnight sleeper train to Aswan.

For lunch, why not go local with a couple of falafel sandwiches, or take the chance to find out what kushari tastes like?

In the evening, board an overnight train to Aswan. The overnight train is a modern air-conditioned sleeper, with twin-berth beds. There is no shower in the cabin, but each cabin does have a sink. The shared toilet is at the end of each carriage. A basic airline-style tray meal for dinner and breakfast is included. Attendants can serve drinks in your compartment at extra cost or there is a bar car for socializing.

After breakfast, we will check out of our hotel and store our luggage in our vehicle, ready to head to the station to catch tonight's overnight train later in the evening.

Optional Activities - Day 2

Day 3 : Aswān

Free morning to explore Aswan. Opt to wander through the souk at your own pace or visit the famous Philae Temple, it's your choice.

In the afternoon, board a boat and cruise down the Nile. Visit a Nubian village and enjoy a home-cooked dinner with locals.

Our train is due to arrive in Aswan early in the morning, but, trains can often be delayed.

Optional Activities - Day 3

Acommodation

Obelisk Hotel Aswan

Day 4 : Aswān

Spend the day exploring Aswan.

Spend another day exploring Aswan. Opt to visit one of the most fascinating sights in the area, the Temple of Abu Simbel. Or continue exploring the city to learn more about Aswan's local people.

If you have purchased the Temple of Abu Simbel Excursion, you will visit the temple today. Leaving Aswan at around 4am, you travel deep into the desert to the site of these enormous temples, on the shores of Lake Nasser. You can spend around 2 hours at the temples and then return to Aswan by about 12pm. The round trip drive is around 5-6 hrs.

Optional Activities - Day 4

Acommodation

Obelisk Hotel Aswan

Day 5 : Aswān/Luxor

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel. Ride on a Felucca to Aswan Bridge, where we will disembark and transfer to Kom Umbo. Later visit Kom Umbo temple before transferring to Luxor. Tonight, enjoy dinner at the local market where you can try some local specialties.

Feluccas are very basic traditional Nile sailboats and make for an extremely relaxing and enjoyable way to travel down the river.

Acommodation

Emilio Hotel Luxor

Day 6 : Luxor

Enjoy a full free day to explore Luxor. Opt to set off on a guided visit to the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon on the West Bank of Luxor excursion. Or choose to discover the city at your own pace, by wandering through the local bazaars or visiting a museum—the choice is yours!

Optional Activities - Day 6

Acommodation

Emilio Hotel Luxor

Day 7 : Luxor/Cairo

After breakfast the group will sail by ferry to the West Bank to meet our student-guide. Together we will bike through the village and visit the Funtasia Project Center where the group will learn about the Planeterra project at this location over tea with our guide. Afterwards, cycle back to the waterfront and board the ferry to travel back across the Nile. Spend a free afternoon in Luxor at your leisure, or choose to join the East Bank optional excursion. In the evening board an overnight train back to Cairo.

In the evening, board an overnight train back to Cairo. The overnight train is a modern air-conditioned sleeper, with twin-berth beds. There is no shower in the cabin, but each cabin does have a sink. The shared toilet is at the end of each carriage. A basic airline-style tray meal for dinner and breakfast is included. Attendants can serve drinks in your compartment at extra cost or there is a bar car for socializing.

Optional Activities - Day 7

Day 8 : Cairo

Tour ends upon arrival.

Our tour finishes on arrival at Giza train station. Please be aware that delays on overnight trains do quite often occur, so please do not book any onward flights before 2pm today.

If you opt to book the Memphis and Sakkara Excursion, please ensure you allow enough time to return from the activity when planning your onward journey.

Optional Activities - Day 8