Journey south to the rock-cut masterpieces of Abu Simbel, where four colossal statues of Ramesses II command Lake Nasser’s shore. Step inside painted halls celebrating the king and Nefertari, their grandeur amplified by desert silence.

Learn how a daring UNESCO relocation saved the temples from rising waters in the 1960s. This optional experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour; travel times are longer and departures typically start very early.

Join a guided tour across the desert plateau to the Pyramids of Giza, the enigmatic Great Sphinx, and the limestone-block Valley Temple of Khafre. Walk the sands where 4th-Dynasty engineers mastered geometry and scale, and learn how quarrying, ramps and workforce villages powered these royal projects.

Pause for sweeping photographs, trace tool marks in ancient stone, and hear how funerary beliefs shaped every angle. It’s Egypt’s iconic story told where it began—under a bright Cairo sky, backed by monumental silhouettes.

Explore the cutting-edge galleries of the Grand Egyptian Museum, steps from the Giza Plateau. Marvel at King Tutankhamun’s treasures displayed with modern conservation, and greet the towering colossal statue of Ramesses II in the atrium before ascending the grand staircase lined with pharaonic masterpieces.

Curators frame Egypt’s timeline with light, space and context, turning gilded artifacts, painted coffins and everyday objects into a vivid portrait of Nile-side life, belief and power across millennia.

Drift with the current as you sail a traditional felucca beneath creaking lateen sails. Glide past palm-fringed islands and granite outcrops while Nubian villages dot the riverbanks, their color-washed houses glowing in the afternoon light.

The hush of water against wood, a breeze in the canvas, and birds skimming the surface set the pace. This is river life as locals have known it for centuries—unhurried, elemental, quietly cinematic.

Settle into the rhythm of the river on a three-night Nile cruise. Watch palm groves, villages and tawny dunes slip by from the sun deck as feluccas tack across the current and fishermen haul in the day’s catch.

Between temple stops, unwind by the pool, sip mint tea and let river life unfold in slow, cinematic frames. Evenings bring soft breezes and a sky pricked with stars over Egypt’s storied waterway.

Step ashore to explore the Temple of Kom Ombo, uniquely dedicated to two deities—Sobek and Horus. Its perfectly symmetrical design mirrors twin sanctuaries, while riverside breezes carry the scent of the Nile through carved hypostyle halls.

Study reliefs of ancient surgical tools and calendars, then visit the small museum of crocodile mummies. The setting—temple stones glowing at golden hour—adds drama to this textbook lesson in Ptolemaic art and devotion.

Explore pharaonic Thebes on a curated circuit of the Valley of the Kings, the terrace-stacked Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari, and the towering Colossi of Memnon. Painted corridors glow with afterlife texts as cliffs frame Egypt’s most storied necropolis.

Hear how a woman king reshaped power, see pigments that defy three thousand years, and stand face-to-face with colossal guardians of Amenhotep III’s vanished mortuary temple—history, art and landscape in one sweep.

Pedal quiet lanes on a guided bike tour through West Bank villages, where sugarcane fields rustle and mud-brick homes front date palms. Pause at local workshops and small cafés as daily life unfolds at an easy pace.

Along the way, meet local youth involved in community initiatives, exchanging stories and greetings. The ride showcases living culture beside ancient monuments, adding people and perspective to Luxor’s grand historic canvas.

Trade the coast for ochre mountains on a 4×4 desert safari. Roll across gravel plains and canyoned wadis to a Bedouin settlement, where mint tea welcomes you into goat-hair tents and stories of desert seasons and star paths.

Refuel with a traditional barbecue lunch cooked over embers, then snap wide-angle views of serrated ridgelines and wind-etched sands. It’s rugged scenery paired with living heritage, just inland from the Red Sea.

Visit the 4th-century Monastery of St Anthony, tucked into a stark desert oasis beneath the Galala Mountains. Enter quiet courtyards, stone chapels and ancient refectories that have sheltered Coptic monks for over 1,600 years.

Admire Coptic icons and frescoes, hear the story of Egypt’s earliest monastic traditions, and feel the hush of the desert pressing close beyond the walls—a contemplative counterpoint to Cairo’s lively streets.

Join a local host to visit a market, choosing herbs, greens and fava beans for Egypt’s beloved taamiya. Back in the kitchen, roll falafel (taamiya) by hand, whisk tahina and plate crunchy pickles alongside warm baladi bread.

Sit down together for a family-style Egyptian meal, trading kitchen tips and neighborhood tales. It’s a hands-on snapshot of Cairo’s food culture—fresh, sociable, and proudly home-taught.

Explore Karnak Temple as dusk softens the light across the Great Hypostyle Hall, then continue to riverfront Luxor Temple linked by the revived Avenue of Sphinxes. Reliefs glow as daylight fades, sharpening columns and colossi in warm shadow.

Hear how pharaohs, priests and later empires layered meaning into these sanctuaries for more than a millennium. This optional experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Board a cruiser for a relaxed Red Sea boat trip, dropping anchor over gardens of staghorn and brain coral. Slip into clear water to snorkel vibrant coral reefs with parrotfish, butterflyfish and rays flickering through the blue.

Sun on deck between swims and, conditions permitting, call at sandy islets such as Giftun Island. This optional experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour; snorkeling gear is typically provided.

Add a separate ticket to step inside Tutankhamun’s tomb (KV62), a small chamber made famous by its treasure hoard. Examine vivid wall scenes of the “Opening of the Mouth” ritual and the young king before Osiris.

Objects found here are conserved in Cairo and Giza, but the atmosphere remains intimate and powerful. This optional entry is at additional cost and bookable on tour; access can be timed to manage crowds.

• 5 Dinner (D)
• 9 Breakfast (B)
• 5 Lunch (L)

• Cairo: Just 16. Yep — this is a small group Egypt tour with a tight-knit crew of 18–35s. So it’s super easy to click, hang out, and actually get to know each other.
• Cairo: If you love a social trip with a tight-knit crew, you’ll fit right in. With max 16 travellers, there’s heaps of time to connect, share the big moments, and actually feel like you’re exploring Egypt with mates (yes, you’ll remember everyone’s name).  A smaller group also keeps things smooth — easier to weave through markets, move around without the chaos, and sometimes unlock extra-special experiences and stays that just work better with a crew this size. Ideal if you like the freedom of travelling solo, with built-in mates along the way. 

• Cairo: Visit Egypt’s most iconic ancient sites in one stop: the Pyramids of Giza, the Great Sphinx, and the Valley Temple. Your Trip Manager will guide you around the plateau, sharing the stories behind how these monuments were built and what they meant to the people who created them. Think: pharaoh power to afterlife beliefs and the engineering that still impresses today. 
• Cairo: The world’s largest archaeological museum complex is no joke. You’ll find 100,000 artifacts here (including King Tut’s ENTIRE treasure collection). You don’t wanna miss this one…
• Aswan: Spend a few nights aboard a river cruise – with views out over the Nile and a sun deck on board. 
• Aswan: Sit back and chill as you drift down the famous river on a traditional felucca sailing boat   
• Kom Ombo: Explore this seriously cool double temple with a perfectly symmetrical layout. One side is dedicated to Sobek (the crocodile god), the other to Horus (the falcon god) — two temples in one, and twice the ancient intrigue.
• Luxor: Grab your camera and explore one of the world’s most famous archaeological sites. See the tomb of Tutankhamun from the outside (with the option to add on exploring it from the inside!) and many other Egyptian pharaohs. 
• Hurghada: Check out these towering Pharaoh statues. They’ve stood guard since 1350 BC, even surviving natural disasters. And apparently one even ‘sings’ in the wind. 
• Luxor: Get ready to see Luxor on two wheels. We’ll cruise past epic monuments and historic spots with stories that bring the place to life. The best bit? You’ll meet local youth communities along the way, so you can swap hellos, hear real stories, and ride away with more than just photos
• Hurghada: Buckle up for a 4×4 ride across open desert terrain, chasing big views and off-road thrills. You’ll visit a Bedouin settlement to learn about local life, then refuel with a barbecue lunch served up the traditional way. Sand, stories, and seriously good feeds.
• Cairo: Step into history with a visit to the 4th-century Monastery of St Anthony, set in a desert oasis that feels worlds away from everything. Ancient walls, quiet courtyards, and wide-open desert all around — peaceful, powerful, and seriously atmospheric.
• Cairo: Roll up your sleeves and join a seasoned local home cook for a hands-on Egyptian food adventure. You’ll kick things off at a buzzing local market, picking out fresh ingredients for a classic lunch. Back in the kitchen, you’ll learn to make taamiya (Egypt’s take on falafel) from scratch, while getting the lowdown on local cheeses, basterma and tehina from someone who knows it best. Then comes the best bit — sitting down together to enjoy the feast you’ve created, soaking up that laid-back, family-style Egyptian meal

Contiki

Gather for a flavorful first night in Egypt and meet your Trip Manager over a relaxed welcome dinner. Settle into Cairo’s rhythm as shared plates, warm bread and bright salads arrive at the table, with the chatter of the city humming beyond the doorway.

Hear practical tips for the days ahead and swap first impressions with your small group. This convivial start sets the tone for a trip built on good company and family-style Egyptian meal moments.