Country(ies): Egypt
Tour type: City Break
Group size: Min: 1 | Max: 0
Accommodation:Luxury Boutique Hotel - Le Riad Hotel de Charme
Meals: Breakfasts - 4, Lunches - 0, Dinners - 0
Transport: A/C minibus
Highlights:Old Cairo, El Moez Street, All-suite boutique hotel, Pyramids and Sphinx at Giza, walking distance from Khan-el-Khalili bazaar
This short Cairo city break tour gives you a taste of Egypt's bustling capital city, home to the iconic Pyramids, Sphinx and Egyptian Museum, and is ideal for those short of time or who may have visited other parts of Egypt already.
Accommodation is the the award winning Le Riad Hotel de Charme, a small luxury boutique hotel located in the heart of Old Cairo facing the famous Beit el Sehemy with its exceptional old Ottoman houses.
The design of the hotel celebrates and reflects Old Cairo's style and history, with all 17 suites being individually furnished with warm colours, Fatimid fabrics, antique wooden furniture and paintings from local artists. Suites are all large and comfortable with spacious marble bathrooms, separate lounge and study areas and a variety of different arts and crafts displayed.
The tour begins with a guided sightseeing tour to Egypt's most well-known landmark - the Great Pyramids of Giza and the enigmatic Sphinx where your Egyptologist guide will explain the history and evolution of pyramid building.
Your remaining time in Cairo is then free to explore independently, relax in your hotel or take an additional tour. These include a city tour to the Citadel, Coptic Cairo and the Egyptian Museum, a walking tour through the old streets around the hotel and the Khan-el-Khalili bazaar, a day trip to the colonial Mediterranean city of Alexandria, or a tour to see more pyramids at Dashour, Saqqara and Memphis. Dinner cruise and felucca trips on the Nile are also available.
An overnight trip to see the ancient Egyptian sites on both banks of the River Nile at Luxor is also available, and the tour can be extended with extra nights in Cairo if you wish.
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Upon arrival at Cairo airport, we will meet you and assist you with visa formalities and luggage collection, then transfer you to your luxury boutique hotel in the heart of Old Cairo. We'll help you settle into your suite, then the rest of the day is free at your leisure. If your flight lands early, then you could take a first look at the pyramids at the spectacular sound and light show, or just explore your surroundings on El Moez Street.
OVERNIGHT:
Cairo boutique hotel
MEALS:
None
EXTRAS:
Superior suite upgrade
Single room supplement (EGTMC5)
Your stay in Egypt beings this morning with a relaxing breakfast in the hotel. During the morning our local representative will brief you on the hotel, your location in Old Cairo with some tips on exploring, and discuss any additional optional tours you may have either pre-booked or like to arrange during your stay.
Early in the afternoon you then take a sightseeing tour for a first taste of ancient Egypt with a visit to the enigmatic Sphinx and the three greatest pyramids in Egypt. At 500 feet high and 750 feet wide at its base the Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops) is a breath taking man-made structure, built from enormous stone blocks with a white limestone covering. Over the years, the limestone covering has been stripped away to expose the inner block structure. Along with the smaller pyramids of Khafre (Chephern) and Menkaure (Mycerinus), the inspiring sight of these huge structures looming out of the desert is an unforgettable site. One of our specialist Egyptologist guides will accompany you and explain some of the history of pyramid building, and of the different dynasties of the ancient Egyptian empire.
You will have a chance to climb down inside the pyramids if you wish, but you're on your own, as your guide cannot accompany you (a limited number of tickets are available for the Great Pyramid). After the Pyramids we then head to the nearby Sphinx which was only properly uncovered from the desert sands in the last century. Finally we head back to our hotel and a taste of local Egyptian life as El Moez Street bustles with a relaxed but exciting energy in the evenings.
OVERNIGHT:
Cairo boutique hotel
MEALS:
Breakfast
EXTRAS:
None
Your next two days are free to explore independently or to do some more guided sightseeing. The area of Old Islamic Cairo surrounding your hotel is one of Cairo's most charming, with covered markets, narrow streets, old buildings and mosques. Of Old Cairo, this quarter most evokes its past and in many ways has changed very little. It has inspired many writings, from Arabian nights to the works of the modern Nobel Laureate Naguib Mahfouz. Getting enjoyably lost amongst the winding alleys while walking from the hotel to the nearby Khan-el-Khalili bazaar is one of the pleasures of staying here.
However, a guided walking tour is also available to help you make the most of your surroundings and explore the various different bazaars, markets and architectures around you. Other optional tours available include a City Tour to the Citadel with its great views over the city, the tiny streets and churches of Coptic Cairo, and the famous Egyptian Museum, home to the amazing Tutunkhamun display. You could also take a trip to learn more about the history of Pyramid building at Memphis, Saqqara and Dashour, or enjoy a full day trip to the colonial coastal city of Alexandria.
You may also take a flight to the Nile-side city of Luxor in Upper Egypt, which hosts an incredible number and variety of ancient Egyptian temples, tombs and other sites. This overnight trip includes a tour of Karnak Temple on the East Bank of the Nile, plus the Valley of the Kings, Queen Hatchepsut Temple, and the Valley of the Artisans on the West Bank, with a night spent in a 5-star hotel by the NIle before you fly back to Cairo again.
OVERNIGHT:
Cairo boutique hotel
MEALS:
Breakfast
EXTRAS:
Alexandria day trip
Saqqara, Dashour & Memphis
Overnight trip to Luxor with East & West Bank tours
Khan-el-Khaliali bazaar walking tour
You have another free day in Cairo today with all the same optional tours available.
OVERNIGHT:
Cairo boutique hotel
MEALS:
Breakfast
EXTRAS:
Alexandria day trip
Saqqara, Dashour & Memphis
Overnight trip to Luxor with East & West Bank tours
Khan-el-Khaliali bazaar walking tour
Your time is free today for some last minute sightseeing or shopping until we transfer you to the airport for your departure flight. Alternatively you can add extra nights to your time in Cairo.
OVERNIGHT:
N/A
MEALS:
Breakfast
EXTRAS:
Extra day in Cairo - post-tour - Le Riad
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Hotel Gala Dinners
Nearly all of Egypt's hotels and Nile cruise boats arrange a very special Gala Dinner with entertainment in the evening of Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. Payment for these is often optional on Christmas Eve (24 Dec) but normally compulsory on New Year's Eve (31 Dec), whether you attend or not.
The hotel used on this tour, Le Riad Hotel de Charme, does not run a Gala Dinner on Christmas Eve, but a compulsory Gala Dinner is arranged on New Year's Eve (31 Dec). The price is US$170 p/p, which is not included in the tour price, but will be added to your booking and is either payable in advance or directly to the hotel.
Private departures are available daily all year round. The tour can also be extended and customised to fit your personal requirements, interests and flights.
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The hotels and accommodations listed below are the ones we most often use 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.
Our tours are designed to include all that you need to enjoy a really special time in the destination you're 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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