Day 1A – 28 October, 2025
Depart Australia / New Zealand bound for Egypt. We recommend flying with Emirates / Qantas via Dubai.
** Please note: for those who prefer to arrive in-country to acclimatize before the tour commences, we can offer a pre-tour extension for 3 nights in the fascinating Oasis town of Fayoum. Details on request.
Day 1 – Arrive Cairo – 29 October, 2025
Welcome to Egypt!
For thousands of years, Egypt has been the playground of emperors and kings. Great civilisations have risen from its sandy interiors and the Nile continues to bring life to an otherwise barren land. Much of the scenery has barely changed since biblical times, and the entire nation is wrapped in an ancient mysticism which has beguiled writers and romantics for centuries.
Overlooking the Great Pyramids of Giza, Nozol Pyramids Hotel offers one of the finest views in all of Cairo. Enjoy a welcome drink, a light Egyptian mezze and raise a toast to a fabulous fortnight ahead.
Overnight: Nozol Pyramids Hotel (Light Meal, Welcome Drink)
Day 2 – Cairo
Visit two iconic ancient Egyptian sites this morning—the Giza Pyramids and the enigmatic Sphinx.
Explore the interior of one of the legendary pyramids & take in the panorama of the Giza Plateau on foot or from atop a camel. Enjoy some local street food (on own account) before we head back to the hotel for an afternoon at leisure where you can catch up on sleep or finish that book you started.
Take time to recharge after a long flight before you make your way to Mena House for an opulent hosted Welcome Dinner and watch the sun set over the Pyramids.
Overnight: Nozol Pyramids Hotel (B / Hosted Dinner)
Day 3 – Cairo
The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) is set to be the largest archaeological museum in the world and will house the complete Tutankhamun collection. Parts of the museum are expected to be open in 2024, after much anticipation, and so you will spend the morning on a guided tour exploring the collections of ancient Egyptian artefacts currently on show and housed within its cavernous interior including an immersive Tutankhamun exhibition not seen before in Egypt.
Enjoy a hosted lunch at one of the newly opened restaurants and shop for unique and eclectic gifts in the beautifully curated museum giftshop.
Return to your hotel for the remainder of the afternoon & evening at leisure. Relax on the rooftop terrace and reflect on the day’s wonders with your birds eye view of the Pyramids.
Overnight: Nozol Pyramids Hotel (B / L)
Day 4 – Luxor
After breakfast, check out and head to Luxor. Transfer to Cairo Airport in time for your onward flight to Luxor.
On arrival, transfer to your hotel, the Hilton Luxor Resort, before a guided tour to of the awe-inspiring Karnak Temple on Luxor’s East Bank. Dubbed the biggest open-air temple in the world, this monumental ancient Egyptian complex is adorned with colossal columns, intricate hieroglyphs, and the iconic Great Hypostyle Hall. Immerse yourself in the grandeur of this UNESCO World Heritage site, a testament to the architectural marvels of ancient Thebes.
In the evening, enjoy a hosted dinner on the banks of the Nile.
Overnight Accommodation: Hilton Luxor Resort & Spa (B / Hosted Dinner)
Day 5 – Luxor
Travel to the West Bank of the Nile and enjoy a local breakfast before exploring the Valley of the Kings and its decorated tombs of the ancient Pharaoh Kings, including Tutankhamun’s tomb enclosed in 35-century-old walls.
Visit the enormous funerary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, ancient Egypt’s first female pharaoh, followed by the gigantic Colossi of Memnon that acted as the Guardians of the West Bank of Luxor.
Lunch will be in one of the famous local restaurants situated on the Nile.
Crossing back to the East Bank, the afternoon is at leisure to explore Luxor or relax by the pool before you make your way to Luxor Temple, an ancient Egyptian marvel nestled along the Nile River. As the sun sets, admire majestic obelisks, graceful statues, and captivating hieroglyphs through the changing light as they whisper tales of pharaohs and gods.
Overnight Accommodation: Hilton Luxor Resort & Spa (B / L)
Day 6 – Cruising The Nile
Optional sunrise hot air balloon ride above the Valley of the Kings early this morning.
Today you board Mandalla Dahabiya, a stunning traditional sailboat and our private floating hotel for the next 4 nights. You will discover the Nile’s significant impact on ancient Egyptian civilization as you sail upstream from Luxor to Aswan aboard Mandalla. (You have exclusive use of your floating oasis and will enjoy lunch and dinner on board.)
Overnight Accommodation: Mandalla Dahabiya (B / L / D)
Day 7 – Cruising The Nile
This morning you set sail for Esna, a journey into the heart of Egypt’s cultural tapestry.
As you gracefully navigate the Nile, the experience is not just a scenic cruise but a historic voyage. Crossing the Esna Lock is a fascinating part of this journey, where the dahabiya is carefully maneuvered through the lock’s chambers, showcasing the engineering marvels that facilitate the Nile’s navigation. Esna marks the ancient division between Upper and Lower Egypt. The unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the pharaohs, symbolized by the famous “pschent” double crown, marked a significant event in ancient Egyptian history.
As you leave the bustling and cosmopolitan backdrop of Lower Egypt behind, you enter the more serene and traditional landscape of Upper Egypt with its lush riverbanks, ancient temples and slower pace of life.
Overnight Accommodation: Mandalla Dahabiya (B / L / D)
Day 8 – Cruising the Nile
An early start for your crew as you set sail before sunrise to arrive in Edfu for a pre-breakfast tour of the Temple of Horus, the Falcon-headed God of the sky.
You will board a horse and carriage to arrive at the temple before the crowds (and the heat of the day) to experience its wonders mostly to yourselves. This stunningly well‐preserved & colourful structure is one of the largest in Egypt, built in 230BC by Ptolemy III it reveals what temple worship was like in ancient Egypt. Edfu Temple carries within its walls the legends surrounding Good and Evil represented in the stories of Isis & Osiris.
Back on board, set sail to Ğebel el‐Silsila ‐ an archaeological site on both banks of the Nile & once the most important sandstone quarry in Egypt. It is one of the less frequented sites along the mighty Nile as larger vessels cannot reach this site (on our small Dahabiya you can..)
This evening you dine on traditional Egyptian food & enjoy Arabic Music and dancing. Time to break out your bespoke Gallabeyah or Belly Dancing outfit!
Overnight Accommodation: Mandalla Dahabiya (B / L / D)
Day 9 – Nile Cruise
Your Dahabiya moors almost directly in front of the Greco-Roman Temple of Kom Ombo (Hill of Gold), dedicated to the Sun God Horus & the Crocodile God Sobek, considered by some ancient Egyptians to be the creator of the world.
Walk to the entrance and enjoy a guided tour before viewing the mummified remains of several crocodiles that once basked along the ancient Nile shore, just as their descendants do today. Later you continue sailing upstream watching the golden sand dunes tumble into green fields that melt into the Nile, water buffalo grazing along its shores and kids playing on the banks before we reach Al Ramadi Island where you can swim, sunbathe and walk before enjoying a BBQ dinner on shore under the stars.
Overnight Accommodation: Mandalla Dahabiya (B / L / D)
Day 10 – Aswan
On arrival in Aswan this morning, disembark from your dahabiya after breakfast, bidding a fond farewell to your fabulous crew. You then board a small motorised boat to Philae Temple on the island of Ageilika. This sacred complex was dedicated to the Goddess Isis and reflects a fusion of three great civilizations ‐ Egyptian, Greek, and Roman. The temple was dismantled and painstakingly reassembled when the Aswan High Dam was constructed.
The coffee shop at the temple is a good place to get a cooling drink and light refreshment before you make your way to the Aswan High Dam. This monumental engineering feat spanning the Nile River near Aswan was completed in 1970, and stands as one of the world’s largest dams, providing flood control, hydroelectric power for the region, and regulating water flow for Egypt’s agricultural development.
Your accommodation for the next three nights is the Old Cataract Hotel, a historic icon perched on the banks of the Nile. Established in 1899, this colonial-era gem has hosted royalty, dignitaries, and literary legends. Its timeless charm, blending Victorian and French influences, complements stunning Nile views. After check in, the remainder of the afternoon is at leisure to enjoy this spectacular iconic hotel, before we meet again for a hosted dinner overlooking the Nile.
Overnight Accommodation: Old Cataract Hotel Aswan (B / D)
Day 11 – Aswan & Abu Simbel
An early breakfast (or optional boxed breakfast) before you board your bus for a ride through the Southern Desert to the famed temple of Abu Simbel near the border with Sudan. Most famous for the two massive rock-cut temples built during the reign of Pharaoh Ramesses II in the 13th century BCE, the Great Temple of Abu Simbel is dedicated to Ramesses II, while the smaller temple honors his queen, Nefertari. These awe inspiring structures were relocated in the 1960s to save them from submersion following the construction of the Aswan High Dam.
Lunch en route from a local falafel café before our return to Aswan, where you can take time to explore the town or simply relax and swim in the pool, enjoy the complimentary spa or indulge in a treatment. You can also join a tour given by one of the resident guides and learn about the history of this magnificent hotel, which inspired Agatha Christie’s ‘Death on the Nile’.
Overnight Accommodation: Old Cataract Hotel Aswan (B / L)
Day 12 – Aswan
Aswan, with its rich history and unique cultural blend, has also become a hub for the perfume industry in Egypt. Local artisans in Aswan craft exquisite fragrances using traditional methods and natural ingredients, influenced by the region’s flora.
After breakfast at the renowned 1902 Restaurant, visit an essential oil workshop and learn how ancient Egyptians first used perfumes, and immerse ourselves in the scents that echo Aswan’s distinctive charm. Stock up on gifts or treat yourself to a beautiful fragrant oil as a reminder of your time in Egypt.
Before lunch, board a traditional felucca for a days sailing, a chance to relax and enjoy local life and scenery. A lazy lunch on board as you take in the sights, chat and inevitably sneak in a snooze.
In the late afternoon, we jump onto a motor boat for a sundowner cruise around the islands of Aswan, enjoying a gin and tonic, glass or bubbles or ice cold beer. Dinner will be enjoyed in a local restaurant this evening.
Overnight Accommodation: Old Cataract Hotel Aswan (B / L / D)
Day 13 – Cairo
After an early breakfast you transfer to the airport for your flight to Cairo. On landing, explore Old Cairo, discovering the cultural treasures of The Hanging Church, one of the oldest churches in Egypt, the Abo Serga Church with its ancient icons, and The Synagogue of Ben Ezra which stands on the site where it is believed baby Moses was found in the bulrushes. Immerse yourself in the bustling charm of Khan el Khalili bazaar, a labyrinth of narrow alleys, local shops and historic tea houses, before a hosted lunch at the famous Nagib Mahfouz café.
After lunch you will visit the well renowned Atef Wassef Silver Shop, enjoy mint tea with the owner and haggle over stunning silver treasures you won’t want to leave behind, before you take a leisurely stroll through downtown Cairo to admire the colonial architecture and maybe pop into one of Cairo’s famous patisseries for a little baklava to round off the day.
After check-in at our hotel, the Four Seasons Nile Plaza, the remainder of the day is yours to unwind at leisure.
Overnight Accommodation: Four Seasons Nile Plaza – Nile View (B / L)
Day 14 – Cairo
Today, take a guided tour of the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation, the first museum in the Arab world focused on the earliest civilisation in history, and home to 22 royal mummies that are part of a grand exhibit known as ‘The Pharaohs’ Golden Parade’, allowing visitors to explore the fascinating world of ancient Egyptian royalty, their rituals, and the cultural context of their time.
Following lunch (to own account) in the Civilisation café, enjoy a tour of the Citadel of Saladin, a medieval Islamic fortification perched high above Cairo and constructed in the 12th century to defend against Crusader attacks. The Citadel offers panoramic views of Cairo, making it a captivating destination for both history enthusiasts and admirers of Islamic architecture. Situated within the Citadel, the Alabaster Mosque of Muhammad Ali, or the Muhammad Ali Pasha Mosque, is a striking masterpiece of Ottoman architecture. Commissioned by Muhammad Ali Pasha in the 19th century, the mosque showcases a blend of Ottoman and Mamluk architectural styles. Its grand dome and towering minarets, made of alabaster, contribute to its imposing presence on Cairo’s skyline.
Depending on how ‘open’ the Grand Egyptian Museum is, this afternoon you will visit the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities which hosts the finest pieces of Egyptian civilisation and history.
Tonight you say farewell with a hosted dinner at a restaurant on the Nile, a time to reflect on the fun you’ve had and the new friends you have made.
Overnight Accommodation: Four Seasons Nile Plaza – Nile View (B / D)
Day 15 – Cairo – Departure
Enjoy your last morning in Egypt at leisure – do some last-minute shopping, enjoy a stroll along the Nile, or have a final dip in the pool before packing your bags and transferring to the airport to board your flight home. (B)
