Egypt: Alexandria to Aswan
Egypt: Alexandria to Aswan
Egypt: Alexandria to Aswan
13 Days Starting in Cairo and ending in Luxor
Visiting: Egypt
Tour operator:
Tour code:
AED
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
4 - 16
Age range:
16-99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians, Vegans, Please inform Exodus of specific dietary requirements
Tour operated in:
EnglishTour Overview
Few countries can rival Egypt’s wealth of magnificent archeological sites, with the pyramids and Great Sphinx of Giza ranking as two of the most recognisable in the world. It is a place like no other and on this two-week itinerary we explore its treasures across the length of the country. In the north there is the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria and El Alamein, the site of the famous Second World War battle. Cairo’s attractions are world famous but we also experience the bazaars and culinary delights on a food tour. Journeying south by sleeper train we reach the Nubian city of Aswan where we board our Nile cruise boat and discover the monuments and temples all the way to Luxor.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Start Cairo
Welcome to Cairo, the capital of Egypt and our starting point for this culture-rich exploration. A welcome briefing will take place tomorrow morning on Day 2.
Accommodation: Pyramids Park Resort (or similar)
Day 2 : Cairo Tour
Meals Included: Breakfast
Morning welcome briefing after breakfast. Your leader will advise you of the time for this meeting. Please bring your insurance details with you to the briefing.
After the briefing, enjoy a full-day tour of Cairo, beginning with a visit to the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities, home to the largest collection of ancient Egyptian artefacts in the world, including the golden riches of Tutankhamun’s tomb. We also explore Al Azhar mosque, which dates to 970 CE and is the oldest mosque in Cairo. It’s still frequently visited by local worshippers and we need to cover up to enter (long sleeves and trousers/pants, while women also need to cover their hair with a scarf) – as when entering all mosques. The mosque is sometimes closed without prior notice but we can still pass by to see it.
Please note: When the Grand Egyptian Museum is fully open, we will go there instead of the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities.Â
Accommodation: Pyramids Park Resort (or similar)
Day 3 : Pyramids And Great Sphinx Of Giza
Meals Included: Breakfast
We begin our day with a visit to Giza, home to the Great Pyramids of Cheops, Chephren and Mycerinus and the mysterious Great Sphinx. Only the throng of sightseers milling around their huge foundations keep you in the 21st century. The afternoon is free to relax at our hotel, explore Cairo or join an optional excursion to Saqqara and Memphis.
Accommodation: Pyramids Park Resort (or similar)
Day 4 : Food Tour Of Cairo
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Today we embark on a tour of the best food spots in Cairo and discover some of the fantastic local cuisine available across the city – – you will pass by restaurants / shops where you will be able to taste some of the best oriental items: highlights are mulukhiyah (green soup), ful medames (beans) and kushari (rice and macaroni). The tour also includes the bazaars of Khan el-Khalili in the historic centre of Islamic Cairo. We’ll experience modern Cairo with a visit to Al Azhar park and a walk along the bustling El Moaz Street. We also aim to visit the House of Arts and Culture – a music school ((it is not opened all year and opening hours are quite limited so kindly check with your guide). Donations of musical instruments such as violins, saxophones, drums or spare parts such as violin bows are welcomed.
Accommodation: Pyramids Park Resort (or similar)
Day 5 : Visit El Anba Bishoy Monastery And El Alamein; Continue To Alexandria
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Today we start with a 90-minute drive to Wadi El Natrun, a depression that lies below sea level. The ancient Egyptians extracted salt here to use for mummification. The area was important for early Christians, too, and we will visit Ek Anba Bishoy Monastery. We continue to El Alamein (a two-hour drive away), the site of the allied victory during World War II. There are two areas we can visit - the War Cemetery and Military Museum. More than 80,000 soldiers were killed or wounded in the two battles. It was a decisive win for the Allies with Winston Churchill saying, "Before Alamein we never had a victory. After Alamein we never had a defeat". After visiting El Alamein, we’ll continue to Alexandria, a two-hour drive away where we'll enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.
Accommodation: Metropole Paradise Inn (or similar)
Day 6 : Alexandria Tour; Transfer To Sleeper Train.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Today we have a tour of Alexandria. Founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BCE, the city was home to the Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and it’s Great Library was the largest library of its time. Unfortunately, they no longer survive, but there is still much to see in this Mediterranean port city. Our tour begins with a visit to the city catacombs followed by the impressive Qaitbay Fortress and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina – Alexandria’s revival of the Great Library. In the afternoon, we return to Cairo (three to four hours) to board our sleeper train to Aswan (which takes approximately 12 hours).
Accommodation: Sleeper train
Day 7 : Arrive Aswan; Nubian Tour And Felucca Ride
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Arriving in Aswan during the morning, we spend the rest of the day exploring the Nubian way of life. We begin with a visit to the Nubian Museum, which chronologically charts the history and culture of the people, before enjoying a Nubian lunch on board a felucca while we explore the Nile. In the afternoon we have a tour to the Monastery of St Simeon by camel* and at a Nubian House on Elephantine Island you will meet a local family (please see the People, Places & Planet section). We finish our day with a barbeque on the shores of an island in the Nile.
*To reach the monastery, we ride camels for about 15 minutes. If you prefer not to ride a camel it is possible to walk the 2.5mi (4km) over sandy and stony ground. This part of the trip takes place in the middle of the day when the sun is at its highest.
Accommodation: Basma Hotel (or similar)
Day 8 : Visit Philae Temple And Aswan High Dam And Board Nile Cruise
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
We begin today with a visit to the Philae Temple and Aswan High Dam. In the 1970s, the temple was relocated by Unesco to Aglika Island after it became evident the original site of Philae would submerge on completion of the dam. This morning represents a magnificent and enduring testament to both ancient and modern engineering.
Then will be transferred to our cruise boat and relax before enjoying lunch on board. For the rest of the day there is the option to explore the Aswan market or attend the Sound and Light Show at Philae Temple.
Accommodation: M/S Nile Style (or similar)
Day 9 : Optional Visit To Abu Simbel; Sail To Kom Ombo, Sail To Edfu.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today there is the option of a visit to the magnificent temples of Abu Simbel to the south through the Nubian Desert. Built by Ramses II, the two temples are certainly some of the most spectacular in Egypt. Originally on the banks of the Nile, the temples were raised to a new site above the lake in the late 1960s, as the waters from the new Lake Nasser rose behind the Aswan High Dam. The four great seated statues of Ramses II stare east towards the rising sun.
You have the option to add this excursion by bus or plane, in both instances you are picked up from the boat early in the morning with a breakfast box, and arrive back to Aswan in the afternoon. We arrive at the destination around 8am, where we are given approximately two hours in the area to visit the temples. For those flying to Abu Simbel, please note that timing will be different.
After lunch we sail to Kom Ombo, from 18:00 – 20:00 visit the temple there before continuing our journey to Edfu, which is where we will spend the night.
Accommodation: M/S Nile Style (or similar)
Day 10 : Tour Edfu; Sail To Luxor
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
06:00 – 08:00 Walking in Edfu, we start our day exploring the city and its temples before sailing further north along the Nile. After crossing the Esna lock we reach our destination, 16:30 arrive Luxor, where we will have our final dinner on board and hopefully witness a stunning sunset over the river.
Accommodation: M/S Nile Style (or similar)
Day 11 : Disembark In Luxor; Explore The Valley Of The Kings
Meals Included: Breakfast
After breakfast on board we disembark in Luxor and explore the Valley of the Kings. For nearly 500 years this was the site of royal burials and it contains the tombs of more than 62 pharaohs, including Tutankhamun, Seti I, Ramses III and IV. One ticket allows us to see three tombs. Your ticket allows you to see three tombs. The ticket usually allows entry into what are regarded as the most impressive tombs, but (if you have time) a visit to extra tombs is also recommended for example Tutankhamun (extra ticket ), Seti I (extra ticket), Ramses III and IV(extra ticket). Visits to tombs are now strictly controlled to halt further deterioration of wall paintings – each tomb is periodically closed for a number of weeks. In terms of size and decoration, it is not as impressive as many of the other tombs, but is of course historically very interesting. After, we visit the massive stone statues of the Colossi of Memnon before transferring to our hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax or wander around the streets of Luxor.
Accommodation: Iberotel Luxor (or similar)
Day 12 : Luxor Tour Including Karnak And Luxor Temples
Meals Included: Breakfast
For our penultimate day we have a half-day tour of Luxor’s east bank. Luxor is commonly called the greatest open-air museum in the world and this morning we visit the extraordinary Karnak and Luxor temples, which stand within the modern city. There should also be an opportunity to visit the A.C.E animal hospital to learn about the efforts taken to improve animal welfare in Egypt. After a leisurely afternoon, we enjoy our final dinner together at one of this historic city’s restaurants.
Accommodation: Iberotel Luxor (or similar)
Day 13 : End Luxor
Meals Included: Breakfast
You’ve seen many marvels in Egypt, but now it’s time for one last breakfast before beginning your journey home. If you’ve still a little adventure in you, speak to your sales representative about joining our post-trip excursion to the Red Sea.
What's Included
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All breakfasts, five lunches and six dinners
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All accommodation (see accommodation section)
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All transport and listed activities
What's Not Included
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Travel insurance
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Single accommodation (available on request)
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Visas or vaccinations
Accommodation
We use a range of four-star (local rating) properties, spend three nights navigating the Nile on a cruise boat, and one night travelling from Alexandria to Aswan on the sleeper train. The hotels typically used are on the day-to-day itinerary; however, below are a few of the notable accommodations on this trip.
Alexandria to Aswan: Sleeper train (night 6)
The train is a good way to cover a long distance in a time-efficient manner and avoids the need for a domestic flight. This reduces carbon emissions, which we are committed to doing on all our trips. Compartments are compact and have bunk beds; bedding is provided. The train tends to shake due to the condition of the track and is quite noisy, so earplugs are a good idea. A basic dinner and breakfast are provided, you may wish to take snacks with you. There is also a shared toilet in each carriage. Take a sense of adventure with you as these trains are not the same standard that you can experience in Europe.
Nile cruise: M/S Nile Style (nights 8-10)
Climb aboard this stylish cruise boat for an unforgettable journey on the longest river in the world. It has 77 air-conditioned cabins, each with a view over the waters while sailing, allowing you to relax in peace and watch the world drift past. Much of your free time may well be spent on the spacious sundeck, which has a dipping pool and plenty of cushy loungers (shaded and unshaded). Elsewhere, there’s a gym, sophisticated lounge bar and elegant restaurant.
Worth knowing
In common with all Nile cruises, the M/S Nile Style moors next to other boats at night, meaning you may only have a view of the river from your cabin while sailing.
Food
All breakfasts, six lunches and five dinners included.
In the itinerary, we state which meals are included on which day. For meals not included, we suggest you allow approximatelyUS$15 for lunch and US$20 for dinner (depends on the type of restaurant you choose). Food in Egypt involves such things as kebabs, chicken, stews, pitta bread, falafel, beans, vegetables, pickles and salads. Dishes tend to be simple and wholesome and vegetarians can be catered for, though the options may be somewhat limited.
Meals on the cruise are open buffets, which include Western and Egyptian dishes. Drinks and water are not included at hotels & on the cruise.
The Cairo food tour gives us the chance to try several Egyptian dishes, such as ful medames (a mixture of beans and tahini) and kushari (a dish made of rice, macaroni and lentils mixed with garlic, tomato, chickpeas and crispy fried onions).
Check out our Q&As
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Are flights included in this tour?
International flights are not included with this tour.
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Is there a supplement for solo travellers?
If you would like to be paired with a tour member of the same gender, there is no additional charge. A single supplement can be requested if you would like your own room.
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Can you assist with pre or post tour accommodation?
We are happy to assist with pre and post tour accommodation. Please enquire for detailed information.
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Who is Exodus Travels?
At Exodus Travels, we've been exploring the world for nearly 50 years. From Walking and Trekking, Cultural and Cycling, Responsible Wildlife, to Polar and our new Premium Adventures, we are proud to offer award-winning small group and self-guided tours to 100+ countries worldwide.
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes, our local guides are English speaking.
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
The minimum age for this tour is 16 years old.
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Exodus has been trading since 1974
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Exodus Adventure Travels allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform exodus adventure travels, 43 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Exodus Adventure Travels requires a minimum deposit of 25% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of exodus adventure travels charges.
Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.