Egypt Express tour

Egypt Express tour

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8 Days From

$1090

Egypt Express tour

8 Days Starting and ending in 30.064741,31.249510

Visiting: Egypt

Tour operator:

Encounters Travel

Tour code:

70

Group size:

1 - 18

Physical rating:

All Ages / Not applicable

Age range:

8-95

Special diets catered:

Please advise requests

Tour operated in:

English
From: $1090

NB: Prices correct on 05-Nov-2024 but subject to change.

This tour is no longer available, please see similar tours below or send an enquiry

Tour Overview

If you're looking to experience the wonders of Egypt, but you're on a budget, this shoestring level Egypt tour is perfect for you. Exploring the busy capital city of Cairo and the beauty of the Nile Valley between Aswan and Luxor, we'll take you to some of Egypt's popular sights, such as the towering Great Pyramids, the Sphinx of Giza and the incredible treasures of the Egyptian Museum.

After spending some time in Cairo, we head south, travelling the route of the Nile by overnight seater train to Aswan, take a boat trip to the island temple of Philae, with an option to visit the impressive Abu Simbel Temple built by Ramses II.

From Aswan, you'll spend an afternoon sailing and then sleeping on a traditional felucca sailboat on the Nile River, with a support boat equipped with a toilet, a shower and a kitchen for the crew to prepare your meals. Sailing on the Nile is one of the best ways to experience Egypt through the eyes of the locals and offers a welcome break from the busy sightseeing. A hotel upgrade is available if you'd prefer not to sleep on the boat.

We'll head back to Cairo, where you can finish the tour with a half-day city tour or learn about the history of pyramid building at Dashour and Memphis.

Highlights

  • The great Pyramids & Sphinx, beautiful Philae temple by boat, Nile felucca cruise, Pharaonic sites of Luxor's East and West Banks, back streets of the Khan-el-Khalili bazaar

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1: Arrive Into Cairo: Transfer To Hotel
Upon Arrival Our Staff Will Meet You At The Airport: Assist You With Obtaining Your Visa And Luggage: And Then Transfer You To Your Hotel In Central Cairo For The Start Of Your Trip. They Will Hel

Nile dinner cruise in Cairo, Single Room Supplement (EGSHES), Extra day in Cairo pre-tour (3-star)

Day 2 : Day 2: Cairo: Pyramids & Sphinx At Giza. Overnight Train To Aswan

Accommodation Name: We start our exploration of Egypt with the iconic three great pyramids at Giza, on the outskirts of Cairo. Probably the most recognizable ancient buildings in the world, these three pyramids were built pyramids were built by the Pharaohs Khufu, Khafre and

Day 3 : Day 3: Arrive In Aswan. Philae Temple & Nubian Village

Accommodation Name: After our night onboard the overnight train, we arrive in Aswan where we spend the night in a Nubian village staying in a local guesthouse. The ancient region of Nubia comprised an area around the Nile in parts of present day southern Egypt and northern S

Day 4: Abu Simbel Option. Nile Felucca Cruise
There Is An Optional Tour Early This Morning To Drive To The Amazing Unesco World Heritage Site At Abu Simbel Which Sits On The Banks Of Lake Nasser About 3 Hours Away From Aswan. The Temples He

Abu Simbel overland, Felucca to Hotel upgrade

Day 5: Felucca Sailing: To Luxor Via Edfu. Optional Luxor Temple At Night
We Spend Some More Time Sailing On The Nile This Morning: And After Lunch With The Felucca Crew: We Bid Them A Reluctant Goodbye And Drive North To Luxor: Making A St

Hot air balloon in Luxor

Day 6: Luxor: West Bank Tour. Optional Karnak Temple Tour. Overnight Train To Cairo
This Morning We Take A Tour To The West Bank Of The Nile: Where We’Ll Visit The Temple Of Queen Hatchepsut: Explore Several Tombs In The Valley Of The Kings

Hot air balloon in Luxor, Karnak Temple tour

Day 7 : Day 7: Arrive In Cairo. Optional Day Trips Available

Accommodation Name: We arrive back into Cairo this morning and transfer to our hotel. The day is then free to explore Cairo as you choose or you may take an optional tour. These include a city tour in Cairo which visits Coptic Cairo, the Citadel and Mohamed Ali Mosque, or a

Day 8: Cairo: Optional City & Museum Tour. Departure Airport Transfer
Your Time Is Free Today For Some Last Minute Sightseeing Or Shopping Until We Transfer You To The Airport For Your Departure Flight. We Recommend An Afternoon Or Evening

Egyptian Museum & Bazaar tour, Saqqara, Dashour & Memphis, Extra day in Cairo post-tour (3-star)

What's Included

What's Not Included

Accommodation

Most of our small group tours use high quality hotels at the Egyptian 5-star level in Cairo, Aswan, Luxor and Hurghada, all with swimming pools and a choice of restaurants and bars.



However, some of our lower budget trips (eg. Egypt Express) use good quality 3 and 4-star level hotels, all with air-conditioned en-suite bathrooms. On some tours we also use a Nubian guesthouse in Aswan which is full of character and has a great location by the Nile.



Our private/tailor-made tour itineraries use a wider mix of hotels, from comfortable mid-range hotels at the 3-4 star level (generally the best available in some of the less visited places included in the particular itinerary) up to some of the very best deluxe 5-star properties in the country.



Please check the Accommodation tab on the tour page or download these Tour Notes for details of the normal hotels used. On our group tours, these hotels may change from time to time for other properties of a similar standard. If you would like to guarantee a particular hotel, please request a tailor-made tour.



Nile cruise tours are generally based on Egyptian 5-star level boats - perhaps equivalent to a decent international 4-star hotel standard. Please check the Accommodation section on the tour page for details. Deluxe 5-star level boats, all-suite boats, and Dahabiyas are also available on private and tailor-made tours. Please contact us for details.



Accommodation is based on twin, triple or double en-suite rooms/cabins with air conditioning. All couples will be given a private double room/cabin. Triple cabins are not available on Nile cruise boats.



Please check the Single Room Supplement option for details on room sharing options and charges for solo travellers on this tour.

Mode of Transport

Our trips feature a mix of different transport options. We want you to feel like you’re really experiencing the country you’re travelling through, but at the same time we want you to finish journeys refreshed enough to enjoy the next stage of the tour. In Egypt we do not use any public tourist buses or overnight coach journeys as we know that people don't sleep on board and end up very tired for the following few days. All the vehicles we use are air-conditioned, many are fitted with speed limiters, and all are inspected and checked daily. Some 4WD vehicles used on desert safaris may not always have air conditioning where they are only used for short periods.



For the overnight train journeys from Cairo to Aswan (approx. 12 hrs) and Luxor to Cairo (approx. 9 hrs) this tour uses the VIP overnight seater train. Seats onboard the train are large enough to be able to relax, however for those who prefer additional comfort, we also offer the sleeper train as an optional upgrade. The sleeper train has private twin berth cabins with large seats and fold-down beds with sheets, pillow & blanket. The lockable cabins also have a washbasin and storage cupboard, and an airline tray-style evening meal and breakfast is included.

Check out our Q&As

  • Do you require a visa for this holiday?

    Visa arrangements are the responsibility of the traveller, and requirements are subject to change by the local authorities.



    We recommend that you contact your closest Egyptian consulate or embassy for current information for your nationality.



    In general official advice is that all nationalities obtain their Egypt visas in advance, as we cannot guarantee that you can get them in the airport. An online e-visa is available through visa2egypt. Please do not use any other website as there are many scam sites offering Egypt e-visas.

    In practice however, many nationalities (including British and European, Australian, New Zealand, USA) can and do obtain their visas on arrival in Cairo airport. The process is much quicker and simpler, the cost is currently US$25 p/p and must be paid in hard currency (i.e. GBP, USD or EUR) - you'll be given change in local currency if necessary. There are no forms to fill in and you don't need to bring passport photos. Visas are issued at one of the bank desks in the immigration hall, before you get to passport control. Our representative will have met you by this stage and will assist with the process.



    Imporant Note: Due to recent changes in the visa regime for Canadians, a visa on arrival or e-visa will no longer be possible for Canadian Citizens entering Egypt after October 1st 2023. Until further notice Canadian passport holders must obtain a visa prior to arrival, from the nearest Egyptian Consulate.



    All African & Indian nationals, and some others, will need to obtain their visas in advance.



    For further information on your visa requirements, please either contact us or your local Egyptian embassy/consulate.

  • What currencies are required for this tour?

    The local currency in Egypt is the Egyptian Pound, often denoted 'LE'. The Egyptian Pound can vary significantly in value against the British Pound, but sticks fairly close to the value of the US Dollar. You do not need to arrange to bring any Egyptian Pounds with you to Egypt, as change facilities are available in all the hotels, airports and banks. You should try to obtain and keep hold of small denomination notes or coins on you during the tour as these are useful for toilets, tips and small purchases. ATMs are readily available in major towns and many local shops will accept VISA/Mastercard or Amex, but may charge fees of up to 10% - check before you pay. Travellers cheques are not recommended as they can not be changed in many places now, and can incur high fees.



    While in Egypt you will need sufficient funds to cover meals not included in the itinerary, drinks, snacks, souvenirs and personal expenses such as laundry. These should generally all be paid for in Egyptian Pounds. You may also need to pay for the tour Tipping Kitty and site Entrance Fees while you are in Egypt. Payments for these may be made to your tour guide in hard currency (USD, GBP, EUR) at the start of your tour. Please see your tour Included/Excluded details for more information and guideline amounts for these.



    It is difficult to recommend a level of personal spending money which will suit everyone as this can differ greatly, but as a guideline, we would suggest allowing USD 15-25 per person per day as a minimum. Allow more if you plan on doing lots of shopping, or buying many alcoholic drinks.

  • Are vaccinations required for this tour?

    Visa arrangements are the responsibility of the traveller, and requirements are subject to change by the local authorities.



    We recommend that you contact your closest Egyptian consulate or embassy for current information for your nationality.



    In general official advice is that all nationalities obtain their Egypt visas in advance, as we cannot guarantee that you can get them in the airport. An online e-visa is available through visa2egypt. Please do not use any other website as there are many scam sites offering Egypt e-visas.

    In practice however, many nationalities (including British and European, Australian, New Zealand, USA) can and do obtain their visas on arrival in Cairo airport. The process is much quicker and simpler, the cost is currently US$25 p/p and must be paid in hard currency (i.e. GBP, USD or EUR) - you'll be given change in local currency if necessary. There are no forms to fill in and you don't need to bring passport photos. Visas are issued at one of the bank desks in the immigration hall, before you get to passport control. Our representative will have met you by this stage and will assist with the process.



    Imporant Note: Due to recent changes in the visa regime for Canadians, a visa on arrival or e-visa will no longer be possible for Canadian Citizens entering Egypt after October 1st 2023. Until further notice Canadian passport holders must obtain a visa prior to arrival, from the nearest Egyptian Consulate.



    All African & Indian nationals, and some others, will need to obtain their visas in advance.



    For further information on your visa requirements, please either contact us or your local Egyptian embassy/consulate.

  • Is travel insurance compulsory?

    Yes! Travel insurance is compulsory on all of our tours and needs to cover personal accident & liability, medical expenses and repatriation, travel delay & abandonment. We also strongly recommend that you take out cover against cancellation and lost/stolen baggage. Personal medical insurance does not normally provide sufficient cover and is generally not suitable for travel on our tours. You will not be able to join your tour if you have not provided us with details of your insurance or if you arrive without cover in place (no refunds will be due in this event).

  • What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?

    You are always able to change your travel date. However, some charges may apply depending on how long before your departure you make the change. Our flexible booking conditions and reduced charges will apply if you are changing date because of a Covid-19 reason or because your government is advising against travel to your destination. Please check our detailed booking conditions for full details.

  • When is my balance payment due?

    60 days prior to departure

  • Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

    On most of our group tours, solo travellers may choose to form a temporary 'tour bubble' and share a room with another traveller of the same sex in the group. If a room share is not available then a single room supplement may be payable, with the costs for these kept as low as possible. We have also removed compulsory single supplements from many of our tours, and are reducing the cost by 50% on s

  • Can I transfer my booking to someone else?

    Customers may transfer their booking or any Credit on File to another person who satisfies all the relevant conditions to the tour, provided that we are notified not less than 7 days before departure, and the transferee agrees to these booking conditions and all other terms of the contract between us. The Client and new booker are jointly and severally responsible for any outstanding payments and a transfer administration fee of GBP50 / USD75 / CAD100 / AUD100 / NZD100 / EUR75 / ZAR1000 / INR5000 or GBP100 / USD150 / CAD200 / AUD200 / NZD200 / EUR150 / ZAR2000 / INR10,000 if the transfer is made less than 60 days before departure. Important Note: Certain arrangements may not be amended or transferred after they have been confirmed (for example flight tickets, Gorilla Permits) and any alteration could incur a cancellation and rebooking charge of up to 100% of that part of the arrangements.

Reviews from travellers on this tour

Martin Dawson II  

Recommended Trip

July 2017

The Discover Egypt tour is fantastic and a great opportunity to explore ancient and modern Egypt. The helpful Encounters Travel staff, small group size and sightseeing arrangements made this an unforgettable experience.

Bertha Diaz  

Recommended Trip

February 2019

I went to Egypt all organized by this travel agency; the trip was amazing. All was taken care in detail with care and attention; all really was spot on; from the tour guide that was incredible, funny as well he knew his history very well; to the hotels, I can thank enough this company and recommend it to anyone visiting Egypt. I am sure they do a great job elsewhere

Bill Dark  

Recommended Trip

October 2017

Encounters Travel Discover Egypt is the most comprehensive tour I've ever been on.They met us at the airport getting off the plane and took us back to the airport and saw that we got through security and everything in between. It is very safe in Egypt. You can walk the streets and when telling people that ask that we were from America we were met with smiles and positive comments. Because of the low number of tourists in the country right now Encounters Travel has negotiated with the hotels to stay in 5 star hotels. The pyramids are spectacular but it's only a small part of what you will see. Right now there are no crowds. An example My Wife and I took an optional tour to some pyramids southwest of Cairo. We went inside the Red Pyramid to the burial chambers. Two people passed us going in and two people passed us going out. That's 4 other people in the pyramid with us. All of the people with Encounters Travel are there to see to it that you have an enjoyable time and are extremely helpful.Our tour guide Big Mo is very knowledgeable and friendly.The Encounters agent in Hurghada, Mohamed,( I think everyone in Egypt is that name,HaHa) Was extremely pleasant and fun to be with. When Anass,the Encounters manager found out that my wife couldn't walk far he arraigned for a wheel chair to tour the Egyptian museum so she could see it all. This was my second time going on the Discover Egypt tour. I went last year with my son and when my wife heard all of our stories she wanted to see it. Someone asked her on the way home what her favorite part was and she replied "All of it" If you ever thought of going to Egypt now is the time.

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Book with Confidence

  • Transfer as credit to Future Tours

    Encounters Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform encounters travel, 60 days before departure.

  • Low Deposit

    Encounters Travel requires a minimum deposit of 150 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of encounters travel charges.

    Up to 61 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 35% of booking price.

    At 41 days before tour starts: Forfeit 70% of booking price.

    At 27 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.

    At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

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