True Egypt

Be sure to book a window seat on your flight to Cairo for a chance to witness the majesty of the pyramids as you fly over Giza to land. From the airport, you’ll be chauffeured through Cairo’s overwhelmingly energetic streets to your luxe city hideaway, where you’ll have time to settle in before meeting your group and Pack Leader for a celebratory welcome drink. Later, you’ll set off on a special tour of Cairo’s backstreet food haunts. This is an invaluable introduction to Egyptian cuisine that will immerse you in the local culture and lead you down secret streets most visitors would never find. You’ll sample home-made sausages, a distinctive dish called molokhiya and the best baba ganoush you’ve ever had. 

First up today is a short drive to Giza to visit the world-famous pyramids and Sphinx that are synonymous with Egypt. One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World (and the only one still standing), these vast pharaonic tombs are an extraordinary testament to the power and organization of the ancient Egyptian dynasties. Your guide will explain why the pyramids were built and the ongoing mysteries surrounding their construction. Then, you’ll have the chance to feel like a real-life pharaoh with an optional camel ride across the dunes. After enjoying lunch with your group, overlooking the iconic monuments, it’s time to head back to your hotel to relax or explore the city.

This morning you’ll explore the extraordinary Egyptian Museum. Home to a staggering collection of statues, sculptures and carvings, you’ll take a wander around the ancient artefacts, immersing yourself in Egypt’s rich history and witnessing the rich treasures found over years of excavation. Mind blown, you’ll drive downtown to visit another of Cairo’s great sights: the 12th-century Citadel – built by Saladin to protect Egypt’s rulers from the Crusaders – with its ornate Alabaster Mosque. For lunch today, you’ll make your way to Khan El Khalili Bazaar and El Moaz Street, where your Pack Leader will help you source some delicious local food. Then it’s time to head back to the airport for your flight south to Aswan.

After breakfast, you’ll transfer to the banks of the Nile where a private motorboat will be waiting to transport you across the river. From here, you’ll mount a train of camels and lumber gently up the hill until the imposing stone- and mud-brick ruins of St Simeon Monastery heave into view. In its heydey, this vast seventh- to 10th-century structure housed up to 1,000 monks, who slept on hard stone benches and travelled far and wide to convert Nubians to Christianity. With its well-preserved basilica and humble monks’ cells set in miles of empty desert, it’s an eerily atmospheric sight. Back in Aswan, you’ll have lunch and an afternoon to explore. We recommend paying a visit to the excellent Nubian Museum, which showcases the art and culture of this ancient region.

You’ll spend much of today on Egypt’s grand river – the lifeblood of the country. First, you’ll take a motorboat to the tiny island of Agilkia to explore the ancient temple complex of Philae. Then you’ll transfer to a private felucca (a traditional Egyptian wooden sailboat) to float leisurely down the Nile, while your onboard hosts keep you fed and watered – leaving you to sit back and absorb the beautiful scenery as it meanders by. This evening, you’ll experience an authentic taste of local cuisine with a home-cooked meal prepared by a Nubian family. It’s the perfect opportunity to gain a local’s perspective into the history and culture of the region, as told through its people.

After an early breakfast, set off in a private minibus and travel north to the ancient sites and treasures of Luxor. This was the site of mighty Thebes, the seat of the Egyptian pharaohs at their most powerful, and nothing in the world compares to the scale and grandeur of the monuments that have survived. En route, you’ll visit the atmospheric Temple of Edfu, preserved by the desert sand. Then, you’ll continue on to Karnak, where an English-speaking guide will point out the finest corners of this sprawling wonder of temples, chapels and pylons. Relax at your hotel until sunset when an optional visit to Luxor Temple beckons. Exploring the famed Avenue of Sphinxes at night, as the light and shadows play off the reliefs and colonnades, is a particularly eerie experience.

It’s your final full day in Egypt and it’s sure to be one to remember*. Today, you’ll head across the river to explore the Valleys of the Kings and Queens. Dotted among the arid hills, over 60 richly decorated royal tombs have been discovered, including Tutunkhamun’s final resting place (additional fee) and the Temple of Hatshepsut. Mind-blown by ancient history, you’ll return to your hotel for an afternoon at leisure. There’s one last treat in store tonight. You and your fellow Flashpackers will dine in style at an elegant riverside restaurant – the perfect place to reflect on your trip and celebrate eight epic days in Egypt. *You have the option to begin your last full day with a sunrise hot air balloon over the Valley of the Kings for an additional cost. 

Today spells the end of your Egyptian escape; it’s time to say goodbye. Banish the blues by riding high on the incredible journey you’ve just had – from exploring Egypt’s ancient pyramids and temples, to mastering your haggling skills at local bazaars and navigating your way along the mighty River Nile. After all that, we think you deserve a lazy breakfast at your hotel, and the next stop of your voyage is up to you.