Your passport to adventure
Well organized with good guides. Small groups and well paced and decent time for departure from one city to another.
Jagdev, Aug 2017
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, sleeper train, felucca sailboat & internal flight
Highlights: The Pyramids & Sphinx, Egyptian Museum, Philae Temple, Abu Simbel option, Nile felucca cruise, Temple of Karnak & Valley of the Kings, Colossi of Memnon, Red Sea at Hurghada
This comprehensive Egypt tour covers Cairo and the Nile Valley as well as the Red Sea at Hurghada. We start with visits to the iconic Pyramids and Sphinx at Gisa where our local Egyptologist guides will start their explanations about ancient Pharaonic history and the evolution of pyramid building. While in Cairo we'll also visit the huge Egyptian Museum, home to a host of ancient artefacts, mummies, and the famous King Tutankhamun display.
Next, we board an overnight sleeper train and head south into Upper Egypt, arriving in Aswan the next morning. Aswan is home to one of the most scenic stretches of the Nile and we'll take a boat trip to the beautiful island Philae temple. An option is also available to visit the amazing temples built by Ramses II at Abu Simbel, which were completely dismantled and moved when Lake Nasser was flooded.
We take to the Nile next for a relaxing overnight river cruise on a traditional Nile felucca sailboat, accompanied by our friendly Nubian crew. This is a great way to break up your sightseeing with some relaxation time and to see rural Egyptian life pass you by on the banks of the Nile. After leaving the boat we'll visit Edfu temple en-route to Luxor, which is considered by many as the world's greatest open air museum. Here we'll tour both the east bank of the river to see the huge temple complex at Karnak and Luxor temple, which is beautifully lit up at night; and also the west bank of the Nile to explore tombs in the Valley of the Kings, see Queen Hatchepsut and Medinat Habu temples and the Colossi of Memnon. You can also take a spectacular hot air balloon flight here if you wish.
Finally we head east to a beach resort in Hurghada for some relaxation time by the Red Sea. Snorkelling, scuba diving and other watersports options are available, and you can extend your time here if you wish. The tour then ends with a short flight back to Cairo and some free time there during which some further optional day trips and extensions are available.
The tour is based on 5-star hotels in Cairo, Aswan, Luxor and Hurghada, with an overnight sleeper train journey from Cairo to Aswan, and internal flight from Hurghada to Cairo. Our support boat will join with the group during the felucca cruise, providing welcome clean toilets, showers, and a hygienic kitchen.
Note: From 2020 this tour will extend to 10 days, adding an extra night to your time in Luxor and then taking advantage of a fast new road between Hurghada and Cairo to drive this section instead of flying.
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2019 Departures - 9 days
During 2019 this tour runs as a 9-day trip, including an internal flight from Hurghada to Cairo on Day 8.
2020 Departures - 10 days
During 2020 this tour adds an extra night to your time in Luxor and then takes advantage of the fast new road between Hurghada and Cairo instead of flying. This journey takes around 5 hours, which ends up around the same as taking the flight, with all the airport check-ins and luggage collection etc. taken into account.
Hotel Gala Dinners
Many of Egypt's hotels and Nile cruise boats arrange a very special gala dinner with entertainment in the evening on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. Payment for these is often optional on Christmas Eve (24 Dec) but may be compulsory on New Year's Eve (31 Dec), whether you attend or not. Prices can range from around US$50 to over US$150 per person. Final decisions on prices and whether dinners are compulsory are made relatively close to the time. We aim to always select hotels that make their Gala Dinners optional, though this is is not always possible. Gala dinner prices are therefore not included in our prices above, but will be added to your booking if they become required. More information is available on request.
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FROM THIS TRIP
Small-group departure dates & prices are shown below. This tour is also available privately for travel anytime through the year and can then be customised to fit your requirements. Please contact us for more information 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.
Helnan Aswan Hotel
Aswan
coming soon
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.
Sunrise Royal Makadi Aqua Resort
Hurghada
The Sunrise Royal Makadi Resort is an excellent Red Sea resort option with a great beachfront location and lots of different activities and facilities available on site. The hotel is located near Makadi Bay, around 30km from the centre of Hurghada.
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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Discover Egypt & Country Reviews
Product Reviews
Posted 17th of Jan 2019
Great value for the price!
Product Reviews
Posted 3rd of Jan 2019
The price was great and the people wonderful!
Product Reviews
Posted 2nd of Jan 2019
Bucket list experience. A must.
Product Reviews
Posted 4th of Dec 2017
Amazing value for the price. We loved our guide, Big Mo!
Product Reviews
Posted 21st of Nov 2017
See above review for more details.
Product Reviews
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 Reviews
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 Reviews
Posted 8th of Jun 2017
Incredible trip; our guide was really knowledgeable and answered all questions regarding history.
Product Reviews
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 Reviews
Posted 7th of Jun 2017
As stated before it was a great trip
Product Reviews
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 Reviews
Posted 10th of Apr 2017
excellent value on all aspects - tours, transportation, accommodations and included fees
Product Reviews
Posted 10th of Apr 2017
Price was excellent! Very affordable for 2 people.
Product Reviews
Posted 6th of Apr 2017
The tour was exceptional for the price I paid. Really saw and did so much.
Product Reviews
Posted 5th of Apr 2017
Prices were great. Our US dollar went a long way.
Product Reviews
Posted 18th of Mar 2017
Very well organized with knowlegable guide.
Product Reviews
Posted 17th of Mar 2017
This tour is incredible - we saw all the major sights in Cairo, Aswan, and Luxor, and enjoyed several days at the Jaz Makadi Resort in Hurghada. The tour is arranged more or less chronologically and you have the same guide the entire time, so you really get a great experience following the cultural/religious/political development of ancient Egypt over several thousand years.
Product Reviews
Posted 16th of Mar 2017
Sights coverd and seen breath taking. Total enchament.
Product Reviews
Posted 16th of Mar 2017
Good value for price just be aware of additional tours.
Product Reviews
Posted 14th of Oct 2016
Discover Egypt was very educational. I learned so much about Egypt that left me yearning for more. I would love to visit again. Thank you Encounters
Product Reviews
Posted 9th of Oct 2016
Great time in Egypt, thanks especially to Waleed
Product Reviews
Posted 6th of Oct 2016
Excellent
Product Reviews
Posted 6th of Oct 2016
I've traveled extensively and never had a better trip. They met my son and I at the gate coming off the plane and stayed with us til we were at our gate leaving and everything in between. Sheriff was an excellent guide and much fun. I can say I will never go back to Egypt because I was shown everything I wanted to see and more, and I was expecting a lot. Completely satisfied! Egypt is a safe place to travel now and your crazy not to book this trip. The Egyptian people are friendly and fun. You will thoroughly enjoy it.
Product Reviews
Posted 6th of Oct 2016
The time spent with the locals was the most enjoyable portion of the trip. I feel there was entirely too much packed into a short amount of time. The vacation felt more like a school trip as opposed to a vacation. I did not enjoy the 4-5am wake-up calls and obligations during vacation.
Product Reviews
Posted 13th of Aug 2016
see above
Product Reviews
Posted 6th of Aug 2016
All I know is Sheriff was one fabulous interesting, educational guides I will ever encounter. The choices of sites could not have been better.
Product Reviews
Posted 28th of Jul 2016
Good
Product Reviews
Posted 11th of Jul 2016
See above
Product Reviews
Posted 12th of Jun 2016
A fantastic tour with a great mix of education and free time. A great taste of this amazing culture
Product Reviews
Posted 9th of Jun 2016
Got to see most the main sites.
Product Reviews
Posted 9th of Jun 2016
Excellent
Product Reviews
Posted 15th of Apr 2016
Excellent itinerary. So much to do and see. Best trip I've done so far
Product Reviews
Posted 15th of Apr 2016
Again, great tour.
Our new facilities boat makes the whole felucca experience more enjoyable, with a clean toilet and hot showers on board, as well as massage beds and a hygienic kitchen.