Egypt Uncovered

Sunday. Welcome to Egypt! Upon arrival at Cairo airport you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax or those arriving early can opt to join an optional Backstreets of Cairo tour which departs the hotel at 10am. At 7pm this evening meet your guide and the rest of the group at a Welcome Meeting.

Note: If you would like to extend your stay we offer an Alexandria Day Trip on the Saturday before your tour starts or on the final day and can arrange pre/post tour accommodation upon request.

Today see the incredible pyramids and the iconic Sphinx at The Giza Plateau. Perhaps opt to ride a camel. Later we travel to Saqqara, to explore the myriad of tombs and temples at the site and see Zhoser's step pyramid - constructed by Imhotep, the pharaoh's chief architect in 2700 BC.

Cairo - Luxor. Today we embark on a guided tour of the Grand Egyptian Museum, an extraordinary 490,000 sq.m complex that houses over 100,000 artefacts and will eventually showcase a giant exhibition featuring the treasures of King Tutankhamun. Many of the items on display are being exhibited for the first time, with artefacts gathered from across Egypt and the world.

Next, we visit the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, home to an extensive collection of statues, jewellery, and sarcophagi. Among its treasures are several remarkably well-preserved mummies, including those of Yuya and Thuyu, high-ranking nobles and the great-grandparents of King Tutankhamun. These mummies showcase incredible preservation, with thick locks of hair, visible fingernails, and smooth, blackened skin offering a fascinating glimpse into Egypt's ancient past.

Returning to the hotel, there's time to relax by the pool before we board the overnight train to Luxor this evening.

We arrive into Luxor this morning and drive to Dendera which is one of Egypt's best preserved temple complexes, located 60km north of Luxor. This vast complex covers 40,000 square meters and its temples, chapels and shrines were gradually built over thousands of years. Dendera's crowning glory is the 2000 year old Temple of Hathor with its exquisitely decorated ceiling. After our guided tour of this incredible site we return to Luxor where the afternoon if free to spend at leisure. Take a stroll around town or enjoy a refreshing swim in the pool and soak up the sunshine.

This evening there is an optional visit to view the beautiful Temple of Luxor at night. Book and pay locally.

4000 year-old Luxor is ancient Egypt at its very best and this morning we tour the West Bank. Our first stop is the famous Valley of the Kings, which is home to many beautifully decorated pharaohs' tombs. After exploring this incredible site we travel on to visit the beautiful limestone, colonnaded Temple of Hatshepsut, who was one of only three Egyptian ruling queens. We'll also see the imposing 18m-high Colossi of Memnon, which are all that remains of the temple of the hedonistic Amenophis III.

Returning to the hotel at around midday there's time to have lunch and relax by the pool before we visit the colossal Temple of Karnak later this afternoon. More than a temple, Karnak is a spectacular complex of sanctuaries, pylons, chapels, halls and obelisks, all dedicated to the Theban gods and to the greater glory of Egypt’s Middle and New Kingdom rulers.

Today is free for you to spend at leisure in Luxor. Relax and soak up the sunshine by the hotel pool or explore Luxor on foot, following the waterside corniche and maybe stopping for drink and a bite to eat at one of the many Nile side cafes and tea houses. Alternatively, there is an optional tour of the Luxor Museum that can be booked locally. The Luxor Museum is located on the corniche and contains a fascinating array of Egyptian antiquities.

Luxor - Hurghada. Departing Luxor we head east to Hurghada on the beautiful Red Sea Riviera for three days by the beach. The next two days are free for you to explore Hurghada or simply relax. There's an optional day trip to Giftun Island for swimming and snorkelling, which can be booked locally.

Hurghada is one of the most popular Red Sea resorts. Hotels and expanded infrastructure provide holidaymakers with excellent aquatic facilities for sail boarding, yachting, deep-sea fishing, SCUBA diving and snorkeling and Hurghada’s central location provides a gateway to prime offshore reefs, which are some of the finest in the world. Hurghada also has plenty of restaurants and late night bars for evening entertainment.

Hurghada - Cairo. This morning we depart Hurghada and drive back to Cairo. The rest of the day is free for you to relax by the pool, independently explore or perhaps opt to visit the famous Khan el Khalili bazaar to buy some souvenirs.

Wednesday. Hotel check out and included onward transfer to airport.