Egypt: Alexandria to Aswan
Egypt: Alexandria to Aswan
Egypt: Alexandria to Aswan
13 Days Starting in Cairo and ending in Luxor
Visiting: Egypt
Tour operator:
Tour code:
AED
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
4 - 20
Age range:
16-99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians, Vegans, Please inform Exodus of specific dietary requirements
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Few countries can rival Egypt’s wealth of magnificent archaeological sites, with the Pyramids and Great Sphinx of Giza ranking as two of the most recognisable in the world. It is a place like no other and on this two-week itinerary we explore its treasures across the length of the country. In the north there is the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria and El Alamein, the site of the famous Second World War battle. Cairo’s attractions are world famous but on this itinerary we also experience the bazaars and culinary delights on a food tour. Journeying south by sleeper train we reach the Nubian city of Aswan where we board our Nile cruise boat and discover the monuments and temples all the way to Luxor.
Highlights
Itinerary
The group flight usually arrives in Cairo this evening. The welcome briefing
will either take place this evening or tomorrow morning.
*Pyramids Park Resort Hotel or similar*
Day 2
We begin our day with a visit to the Pyramids at Giza. Home to the Great
Pyramids of Cheops, Chephren and Mycerinus and the enduring and mysterious
Great Sphinx, these great monuments to the afterlife defy the imagination.
Only the throng of sightseers, Egyptian and foreign, milling around their
huge foundations, keep the viewer in the 21st century. The afternoon is free
to relax at our hotel, explore Cairo or join an optional excursion to
Saqqara, Memphis, and Dahshur.
*Pyramids Park Resort Hotel or similar*
Day 3
After breakfast we enjoy a full day tour of Cairo. We begin with a visit to
the Egyptian Museum – home to the world’s largest collection of ancient
Egyptian artefacts including the incredible golden riches of Tutankhamun’s
tomb. Following this piece of history, we experience modern Cairo with a tour
of the El Darb El Ahmar School for Arts and a walk along the bustling El Moaz
Street. We also explore Al Azhar mosque which dates back to AD970 and is
Cairo’s oldest. The mosque is still frequently visited by locals to this
day and we will need to cover up (long sleeves and trousers) to enter - as
when entering all mosques. Women will also need to cover their hair with a
scarf.
*Pyramids Park Resort Hotel or similar*
Day 4
Today we have a journey of 3-4hrs to Alexandria. Founded by Alexander the
Great in 331BC, the city was home to the Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the
Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and it’s Great Library was the largest
of its time. Unfortunately, these parts of Egypt’s glorious history did not
survive up to modern times but there is still much to see in this
Mediterranean port city. Our tour begins with a visit of the city’s
catacombs followed by the impressive Qaidbay Fortress and the Bibliotheca
Alexandrina – Alexandria’s revival of the Great Library.
*Mediterranean Azur Hotel or similar*
Day 5
We have an early morning drive to El Alamein, the site of the famed allied
victory during World War Two, where we will visit the War Cemetery and
Military Museum. More than 80,000 soldiers were killed or wounded in the two
battles. It was a decisive win for the Allies with Winston Churchill saying,
"Before Alamein we never had a victory. After Alamein we never had a defeat".
After lunch we stop by El Anba Bishoy Monastery on our return to Cairo.
*Pyramids Park Resort Hotel or similar*
Day 6
Today we embark on a tour of Cairo’s best food spots and discover some of
the fantastic local cuisine available across the city – highlights are
Mulukhiyah (soup), Ful Medames (beans) and Kushari (rice and macaroni). The
tour also includes the bazaars of Khan el-Khalili located in the historic
centre of Islamic Cairo. This evening we transfer to the railway station and
board our sleeper train to Aswan (which takes approximately 12 hours).
*Sleeper train.*
Day 7
Arriving in Aswan during the morning, we spend the rest of the day exploring
the Nubian way of life. We begin with a visit to the Nubian Museum, which
chronologically charts the history and culture of the people, before enjoying
Nubian lunch onboard a felucca while we explore the Nile. In the afternoon we
have a tour of the Monastery of St. Simeon by camel and visit the nearby
village of Gharb Sohil (please see Responsible Travel section). We finish our
day with a barbeque on the shores of an island in the Nile.
*Basma Hotel or similar*
Day 8
This morning we transfer to our cruise boat and have some time to relax
before enjoying lunch on board. For the rest of the day there is the option
to explore the Aswan market or attend the Sound and Light Show at Philae
Temple.
For those who want to do the optional visit to Abu Simbel, the tour starts at
approximately 3.30am when we get picked up from the hotel. A breakfast box is
provided. Around 8am we will arrive at the destination, where we are given
around three hours to visit the temples. Built by Ramses II, the temples of
Abu Simbel rank amongst the most impressive in the country and well worth the
journey south across the Nubian Desert. We will be back in Aswan around 3pm.
For our Sun Festival departures, the visit to Abu Simbel is included. The
festival is a bi-annual event that has been taking place for over 3200 years.
During the celebrations the sun perfectly aligns with the usually dark
interior and lights up the seated statues of Ramses II, the sun god, Ra and
the king of the gods, Amun. Only the statue of Ptah, the god of darkness,
remains in the shadows. There are traditional Nubian dances being performed,
street food everywhere (save stomach space for some fresh koshari) and live
music outside the temple.
*M/S Esmeralda or similar*
Day 9
We begin today with a visit to the Philae Temple and Aswan High Dam. In the
1970s the temple was relocated by UNESCO to Aglika Island after it became
evident that the original site of Philae would submerge on completion of the
dam. This morning represents a magnificent and enduring testament to both
ancient and modern engineering. After lunch we sail to Kom Ombo and visit the
temple there before continuing our journey to Edfu which is where we will
spend the night.
*M/S Esmeralda or similar*
Day 10
Waking in Edfu, we start our day exploring the city and its temples before
sailing further north along the Nile. After crossing the Esna lock we reach
our destination, Luxor, where we will have our final dinner on board and
hopefully witness a stunning sunset over the river.
*M/S Esmeralda or similar*
Day 11
After breakfast on board we disembark in Luxor and explore the Valley of the
Kings. For nearly 500 years this was the site of royal burials and it
contains the tombs of over 62 pharaohs, including Tutankhamun, Seti I, Ramses
III and IV. One ticket allows us to see three tombs. The ticket usually
allows entry into what are regarded as the most impressive tombs, but if you
have time a visit to the tomb of Ramses VI is also highly recommended. Visits
to tombs are now strictly controlled to halt further deterioration of wall
paintings - each tomb is periodically closed for a number of weeks.
Afterwards we visit the massive stone statues of the Colossi of Memnon before
transferring to our hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax or wander
around the streets of Luxor.
*Iberotel Luxor or similar*
Day 12
For our penultimate day we have a half day tour of Luxor’s east bank. Luxor
is commonly called the world's greatest open-air museum and this morning we
visit the extraordinary Karnak and Luxor temples which both stand within the
modern city. There should also be an opportunity to visit the A.C.E animal
hospital to learn about the efforts taken to improve animal welfare in
Egypt. After a leisurely afternoon we enjoy our final dinner together at one
of this historic city’s restaurants.
*Iberotel Luxor or similar*
Day 13
Our trip ends today. Those on the group flights will be taken to airport for
the flight to London.
What's Included
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Meals
11 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners.
* All breakfasts, 6 lunches,  5 dinners
* All accommodation (see accommodation section)
* All transport and listed activities
* Flights from London (if booking incl. flights)
What's Not Included
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Travel insurance
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Visas or vaccinations
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Single accommodation (available on request)
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Travel insuranceSingle accommodation (available on request)Visas or vaccinations
Accommodation
We use a range of four-star (local rating) properties throughout this trip and spend three nights navigating the Nile on a cruise boat. Below are the places where we typically stay during our time in Egypt.
Cairo: Cairo Pyramids Hotel (nights 1 to 4)
In Cairo, we typically use the Cairo Pyramids Hotel, which is located close to the Great Pyramids at Giza. The hotel has a pool, choice of dining options, and a fitness area.
Alexandria: Metropole Paradise Inn (night 5)
The Metropole Paradise Inn is located on the corniche with great views of the Mediterranean. It is a historical hotel with classical design throughout and dating back to 1902.
Alexandria to Aswan: Sleeper train (night 6)
We use first-class cabins with shared bathroom facilities.
Aswan: Basma Hotel (night 7)
All rooms in the Basma Hotel have balconies with views of the Nile or desert. The facilities in the rooms and in the hotel itself are excellent, including a choice of bars and restaurants and a huge swimming pool, all set amid well-maintained gardens.
Nile Cruise: M/S Nile Style (nights 8, 9 and 10)
We sail on the M/S Nile Style or a similar cruise boat. Facilities include a swimming pool, sundeck, gift shop, restaurant and lounge bar. Each of the 77 en suite cabins is fully air-conditioned and has a TV. Wifi is also available (it is stronger in the public areas).
Luxor: Iberotel (nights 11 and 12)
Iberotel is on the banks of the River Nile and just a 10-minute walk away from the Luxor Temple. It has a garden terrace and swimming pool with views of the West Bank.
Worth knowing
In common with all Nile cruises, the M/S Nile Style moors next to other boats at night, meaning you may only have a view of the river from your cabin while sailing.
Food
All breakfasts , 6 lunches and 5 dinners included.In the itinerary we state
which meals are included on which day. We suggest you allow GBP60-90
(approx. USD100-140) for meals not included. Food in Egypt involves such
things as kebabs, chicken, stews, pitta-bread, felafel, beans, aubergine and
other vegetables, pickles, salads. Dishes tend to be simple and wholesome and
vegetarians can be catered for if they accept that the options may be
somewhat limited.Meals on the cruise are open buffets that include Western
and Egyptian dishes.The Cairo food tour gives us the chance to try a number
of Egyptian dishes such Ful Medames (which is a mixture of beans and tehini)
and Kushari (a dish made of rice, macaroni and lentils mixed with garlic,
tomato, chickpeas and crispy fried onions).
Check out our Q&As
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Is there a supplement for solo travellers?
If you would like to be paired with a tour member of the same gender, there is no additional charge. A single supplement can be requested if you would like your own room.
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Who is Exodus Travels?
At Exodus Travels, we've been exploring the world for nearly 50 years. From Walking and Trekking, Cultural and Cycling, Responsible Wildlife, to Polar and our new Premium Adventures, we are proud to offer award-winning small group and self-guided tours to 100+ countries worldwide.
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
The minimum age for this tour is 16 years old.
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Are flights included in this tour?
International flights are not included with this tour.
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Can you assist with pre or post tour accommodation?
We are happy to assist with pre and post tour accommodation. Please enquire for detailed information.
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes, our local guides are English speaking.
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Exodus has been trading since 1974
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Exodus Adventure Travels allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform exodus adventure travels, 43 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Exodus Adventure Travels requires a minimum deposit of 25% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of exodus adventure travels charges.
Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.