Internationale groepsreis Edits: Pyramids & Pharaohs in Egypt

Welcome to Cairo, the magnificent capital of Egypt. It’s a loud and proud place where raucous modern life meets an entrenched ancient history. You’ll check into the beautiful Hyatt Regency Cairo West, just outside of the city with views over to the pyramids. 

You’ve got nine days in Egypt, and there’s a lot to cram in. Your first full day has blockbuster attractions in store. After breakfast, you’ll head straight out to the Pyramids of Giza, spending an hour on a quad bike with the pyramids as your movie-like backdrop. Then there’s a tour to understand the secrets of these intriguing structures better.Later, in downtown Cairo, you’ll visit the Egyptian Museum to see the riches of Tutankhamun’s Tomb and other Egyptian treasures. The day continues at the architecturally beautiful Al Azhar Mosque, one of the oldest examples in the city. 

You’ll board a kayak this morning and paddle the Nile for around two hours. Then it’s back to downtown Cairo for a food tour and the chance to sample koshary, molokhia, ful and falafel traditional Egyptian dishes. There’s an afternoon tour of Old Cairo to wander the narrow lanes of the Khan El-Khalili bazaar.Tonight, you’ll be rocked to sleep aboard a sleeper train bound for Aswan, the southern frontier of ancient Egypt.

There’s a full day on the Nile today. You’ll board a traditional felucca and get to know this famous waterway a little better. As the boat’s lateen sails unfurl, there’s time to relax and enjoy the scenery as you pass rocky islets and glimpse the golden dunes beyond the west bank.  Later, you’ll check into Anakato Hotel, traditional Nubian-style accommodation.

You’ll rise before the sun this morning to travel through the desert to Abu Simbel.  It’s renowned for its colossal temples -- spectacular examples of ancient Egyptian art and engineering overlooking Lake Nasser.  After, there’s some downtime back at the Anakato Hotel before your adventure continues in the late afternoon when you’ll take a desert walk with a Nubian guide. You’ll feast on a home-cooked Nubian meal and learn about the culture and history of this region. 

This morning, you’ll be sandboarding across the dunes. It’s an extreme sport that’s sure to get your heart pumping. Buzzing with adrenaline, the rest of the day is yours to swim and kayak in the Nile, explore Aswan’s bazaar or take an optional tour of Philae Temple, the High Dam or a nearby Nubian village.

It’s on to Luxor today, taking the four-hour transfer to this one-of-a-kind destination. You’ll tour the ancient Karnak Temple and marvel at the sheer grandeur of the monuments that have survived here.  After sunset, you’ll visit the Luxor Temple, built between 1390 and 1352 BC. Tonight, you’ll stay at the excellent Steigenberger Nile Palace Luxor on the Nile’s east bank.

An early transfer this morning takes you to the Valley of the Kings, the site of 63 royal tombs.  It was part of the ancient city of Thebes and the burial site of almost all the pharaohs of the 18th, 19th, and 20th dynasties.  Then it’s onto the Colossi of Memnon, two giant and faceless stone statues guarding the entrance to the temple of Amenophis III.There’s lunch at the El Marsam restaurant and then a visit to ACE Luxor animal hospital, a charity dedicated to treating animals in the most impoverished communities of Luxor.Tonight, there’s a farewell dinner at El Sofra restaurant, dining on traditional Egyptian dishes.

And, just like that, a whirlwind exploration is complete. Today you’ll head to Luxor’s airport for your return flight home.