Country(ies): Egypt
Tour type: Small Group
Group size: Min: 2 | Max: 18
Accommodation: 5-star hotels, sleeper train & felucca sailboat
Meals:
Transport: A/C minibus/coach, sleeper train & felucca sailboat
Highlights: Abu Simbel Sun Festival, The Pyramids & Sphinx at Giza, Cairo's famous Egyptian museum, Nubian Village, Philae Temple by boat, traditional felucca sailing, ancient Valley of the Kings, Karnak & Luxor temples
This special 9-day Egypt tour takes in Cairo, Aswan and Luxor, and is timed to coincide with the Sun Festival that takes place in the temples at Abu Simbel twice a year. Egypt is home to a huge variety of ancient monuments from the Pharaonic era. One of the most important, most interesting and most impressive is the temple to Ramses II at Abu Simbel. Ramses II was one of the great Pharaohs, and built temples all over Egypt. The temples in Abu Simbel are particularly interesting because they were constructed, not from blocks and columns, but by cutting and tunnelling into a rock cliff-face. The main entrance tunnel features 4 statues at its end, and incredible care was taken when the temple was built so that twice a year, on the dates of Ramses ascension to the throne, and on his birthday, the rising sun shines right in through the tunnel and lights up just 3 of the statues, leaving the fourth, dedicated to Ptah, the god of Darkness, in shadow. When the Aswan Dam was built and Lake Nasser was flooded, the temples were below the planned water line and a huge project took place to carefully dismantle the temples and rebuild them higher up, out of danger from the rising waters. The allignment of the tunnel was maintained so that to this day the rising sun shines in on the 22nd October and 22nd February each year.
Our tour starts in Cairo with a visit to the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx before heading to Aswan where we visit the island temple of Philae and the Aswan Dam. The next morning our Egyptologist tour guide escorts us as we set off very early to get to Abu Simbel in plenty of time for the sunrise. It will be busy, but it is generally well organised so that everyone has the chance to go inside and see the statues in the morning sunlight. After this special experience we return to Aswan and board a traditional Nile felucca for a relaxing cruise down the river on your way towards Luxor in the Nile Valley. Support is provided en-route from our facilities boat with on board toilet, showers and massage deck. An alternative upgrade to an extra night in the hotel in Aswan is available if you prefer.
After our night on the felucca we drive on north to Luxor, stopping to see the temple at Edfu en-route. Once in Luxor you will visit the huge temple complex at Karnak, explore the tombs of the Valley of the Kings and Queen Hatchepsut temple, and also have some free time to walk through the markets and relax by the hotel pool before we head back to Cairo. If you'd like to add some time by the Red Sea to this trip, then please contact us for details as extensions are easily arranged from Luxor to Hurghada, and then back to Cairo from there.
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Unlike other operators we maintain a small group size of maximum 18 people on this most popular departure date. We can also customise the itinerary to fit your personal requirements. Please contact us for details and prices.
The hotels and accommodations listed below are the ones we most often on this tour. From time to time we may exchange these for similar properties at the same level. In general, specific hotels cannot be guaranteed on our group tours, but you may select your preferred options if you are booking a tailor-made trip.
Steigenberger Cairo Pyramids Hotel
Cairo
It features two pools, several restaurants and bars, free WiFi, a spa and fitness centre, and both classic and family rooms. The rooms overlook the gardens and feature air-conditioning, TVs, safes, and minibars. The hotel offers an airport shuttle.
Sleeper train
Cairo, Luxor & Aswan
On the sleeper train you have a private twin-berthed cabin, which features two large seats; fold down beds with mattress, sheets, pillow, blanket; storage locker and wash basin. An airline style evening meal and breakfast are included.
Tolip Aswan Hotel
Aswan
Tolip Aswan Hotel overlooks the Nile and sits close to several tourist sites. Rooms have en-suite bathrooms, TVs, minibars, WiFi, and balconies with river views. Facilities include a pool, bar, gym, and sauna.
Felucca Sailboat
Aswan
Feluccas are very basic traditional Nile sailboats and make for an extremely relaxing and enjoyable way to travel down the river.
Steigenberger Nile Palace Hotel
Luxor
This hotel, formerly Le Meridien Luxor, is a modern hotel built in 2001. It is ideally situated right on the banks of the Nile and is within easy reach of all the major sites of Luxor.
Le Riad Hotel de Charme
Egypt
Le Riad Hotel de Charme is an award winning all-suite boutique hotel located in the heart of Old Cairo on the busy, mainly pedestrian El Moez Street surrounded by old Ottoman Houses and a short walk from the Khan-el-Khalili bazaar.
Our tours are designed to include all that you need to enjoy a really special time in the destination youre visiting. However, we do also offer some extra options to complement the tour and add some additional sightseeing or activities, or some extra time at either end of the tour.
All accommodation based options (e.g. Single supplements, extra nights, cruise upgrades) should be booked and paid for in advance so that we can make the appropriate arrangements. Other options may either be booked and paid for in advance or while you are on the tour, though we recommend booking in advance to ensure there are no issues with availability.
Many options are priced the same throughout the year, but some may incur single or high season supplements - full details are given on the tour reservation form or on request.
The detailed Tour Notes below have been written to give you some more detailed information about how the tour runs, what to expect, and how to prepare for your holiday. We recommend downloading an up to date copy of these shortly before you travel in case of any changes.
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Abu Simbel Sun Festival & Country Reviews
Product Review
Posted 29th of Mar 2019
Important Egyptian sites were available to visit. They were visited.
Product Review
Posted 27th of Mar 2019
This was a great trip and worth every penny. Our Egyptologist tour guide was 'Big Mo' which made all the difference. He was knowledgeable, kind, and hospitable. He made sure we had a solid introduction to each tour site and then was available for more detailed information if we wanted. Book a tour with 'Big Mo' if at all possible!
Product Review
Posted 27th of Mar 2019
Excellent value—I purchased it initially on Groupon and Encounters Travel allowed us to make additions.
Product Review
Posted 26th of Mar 2019
Excellent tour. From the moment we landed in Cairo until we left, we were well taken care of. We experienced so much of Egypt -- from temples and pyramids and tombs to a bonfire dinner and sing-a-long on an island. Our guide (Waleed) was exceptional. His love and knowledge of Egypt was evident throughout the tour. He helped Egypt come alive for us. We were very pleased with the tour.
Product Review
Posted 26th of Mar 2019
Perfect adventure! Food, Tours, Service, Guides, even transportation!
Product Review
Posted 26th of Mar 2019
With all we did and the amount of travel, I was shocked at how cost effective the tour company made it. You get your money's worth after you think about busses, felucca sailboat, overnight train, hotel rooms, and the amazing tour guide.
Product Review
Posted 17th of Jan 2019
Great value for the price!
Product Review
Posted 17th of Jan 2019
Great value for the price!
Product Review
Posted 7th of Jan 2019
My Egyptian tour was the trip of a lifetime, The Egyptian and Nubian people were friendly and welcoming. The food and hotels were fantastic and the country of Egypt was stunning!!!
Product Review
Posted 6th of Jan 2019
All the sights were great and our tour guide explained and told History on all we saw.
Product Review
Posted 5th of Jan 2019
Worth every penny! Go to Egypt with Encounters Travel!
Product Review
Posted 4th of Jan 2019
Really enjoyed the various excursions especially the overnight felucca, hot air balloon, abu simbel and Camel ride against the pyramids
Product Review
Posted 3rd of Jan 2019
The tour for the price was EXCELLENT!
Product Review
Posted 3rd of Jan 2019
The price was great and the people wonderful!
Product Review
Posted 2nd of Jan 2019
Bucket list experience. A must.
Product Review
Posted 4th of Dec 2017
Amazing value for the price. We loved our guide, Big Mo!
Product Review
Posted 21st of Nov 2017
See above review for more details.
Product Review
Posted 15th of Sep 2017
We really got to see a lot for the time we spent in Egypt and Encounters made sure no time was wasted in waiting for transportation and rooms and things like that. We had a great group, a great guide, and really learned a lot. All accommodations were exceptional and we couldn't believe how we did everything for such a good price
Product Review
Posted 12th of Jun 2017
There was a time many years ago that I wanted to travel to Egypt and didn't because of the cost. This trip was, to me, very affordable. I think everyone should experience this trip. The tour guide was alos excellent, Sherif Mohammad.
Product Review
Posted 8th of Jun 2017
Incredible trip; our guide was really knowledgeable and answered all questions regarding history.
Product Review
Posted 7th of Jun 2017
Great tour! Safe, comfortable, and fascinating. It was a joy to travel to so many wonderful places and always know I was in good hands.
Product Review
Posted 7th of Jun 2017
As stated before it was a great trip
Product Review
Posted 6th of Jun 2017
The whole experience was wonderful.
Product Review
Posted 6th of Jun 2017
Amazing trip. It was well layed out and guided. We also we're lucky to have a great group in which we all got along really well.
Product Review
Posted 6th of Jun 2017
Exceed expectations and very professional.
Product Review
Posted 10th of Apr 2017
excellent value on all aspects - tours, transportation, accommodations and included fees