Essential Egypt (5 Star Hotels)
9 Days Starting and ending in Cairo, Egypt
Visiting: Cairo, Aswan, Luxor
Tour operator:
Tour code:
E1
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
25 - 30
Age range:
0-0
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians
Tour operated in:
EnglishInterests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on an unforgettable journey through Egypt with the "Essential Egypt" tour, where luxury meets history. Stay in 5-star hotels and explore the wonders of Cairo, Aswan, and Luxor with the guidance of an experienced Egyptologist. Marvel at the iconic Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx, and the Sakkara Pyramid. Sail the Nile on a traditional Felucca, visit the Philae Temple, and explore the Valley of the Kings. Discover the vibrant culture of Cairo, from the Egyptian Museum to the bustling Khan el-Khalili Bazaar. With options for hot-air ballooning, camel trekking, and more, this tour offers a perfect blend of adventure and relaxation. Enjoy daily breakfasts, comfortable transportation, and the company of fellow travelers on this cultural odyssey.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Cairo
Location: Cairo
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Sonesta Hotel Tower & Casino – 5 Star
Welcome to Egypt! At the Cairo terminal keep your eyes peeled for the Travel Talk sign for your transfer to the hotel.
Freshen up and meet in the lobby around 6:00pm for an informal meeting with your guide and other tour members.
Afterwards you have free time to start exploring vibrant Cairo or board a cruise for an optional group dinner.
Accommodation Sonesta Hotel Tower & Casino – 5 Star Included Activities Welcome Meeting Optional Activities Group Dinner on Cruise - 35 USD
Day 2: Cairo City Tour, Overnight Sleeper Train
Location: Cairo
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Overnight Sleeper Train
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Set your alarms for 7.
30am and fill up on plenty of breakfast before a big day exploring Egypt's iconic Ancient Wonder of the World – the Pyramids and Sphinx! Follow your guide for a tour across the ancient site to learn about the 4,600-year-old wonders.
After everyone has had their dose of awe, we'll head out to Sakkara to see the iconic step pyramid built in 2700 B.
C.
Later in the afternoon, board an overnight sleeper train to Aswan.
AccommodationOvernight Sleeper Train Meals IncludedBreakfast, Dinner Included ActivitiesSightseeing of Giza PyramidsSightseeing of SphinxSightseeing of Sakkara Pyramid Entrance FeesGiza Pyramids/Sphinx - 540 EGPSakkara Pyramid - 450 EGP
Day 3: Aswan
Location: Aswan
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Tolip Hotel - 5 Star
Meals Included: Breakfast
Wake up in Aswan, ready to explore on a city tour with your local guide.
Visit the Unfinished Obelisk for a look into the incredible building methods used to create the four-sided, hallmark monuments that are placed at the entrances of Egyptian temples.
Take some time to walk along the 42-metre long lying bed of granite and learn about its significance from your guide.
Visit the Philae Temple, dedicated to the goddess Isis, divine mother of the pharaohs.
The temple is set beautifully on an island in the middle of the Nile.
 We will then arrive at the hotel for check in at 5.
30pm with the option to join a traditional Nubian dinner in the evening.
AccommodationTolip Hotel - 5 Star Meals IncludedBreakfast Included ActivitiesAswan City tourSightseeing of Philae TempleSightseeing of Unfinished Obeliks of Aswan Optional ActivitiesNubian Dinner - 32 USD Entrance FeesPhilae Temple - 450 EGP
Day 4: Aswan
Location: Aswan
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Tolip Hotel - 5 Star
Meals Included: Breakfast
Enjoy a free morning to explore Aswan and the banks of the Nile River at your own pace.
If you are feeling up to it in the afternoon, join the optional trip to the UNESCO World Heritage Listed Abu Simbel.
It is a must-do for all keen historians! AccommodationTolip Hotel - 5 Star Meals IncludedBreakfast Optional ActivitiesAbu Simbel - 120 USD
Day 5: Daily Felucca Cruise On The Nile
Location: Aswan
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Tolip Hotel - 5 Star
Meals Included: Breakfast
Time to relax and enjoy the cool breeze of the Nile.
Jump on-board a traditional Felucca sailboat, bound for the Elephantine and Kitchener Islands on the Nile.
After our river excursion, the rest of the day is yours to wander around Aswan as you wish.
AccommodationTolip Hotel - 5 Star Meals IncludedBreakfast Included ActivitiesSailing on the Felucca
Day 6: Edfu, Kom Ombo, Luxor
Location: Luxor
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Steigenberger Nile palace Hotel – 5 Star
Meals Included: Breakfast
As we hop back onboard the coach and drive north towards Kom Ombo.
Visit the Kom Ombo Temple, dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek.
Next stop will be Edfu, home to one of the largest and best-preserved temples in Egypt.
Dedicated to the falcon god Horus, the temple was built over 180-years from 237 BC to 57 BC.
We'll arrive in Luxor in the late afternoon, before checking out the Luxor Temple in the evening.
Explore the dim-light temple after dark and learn from your guide of the temple complexes ancient history, dating back to the 14th century B.
C.
AccommodationSteigenberger Nile palace Hotel – 5 Star Meals IncludedBreakfast Included ActivitiesSightseeing of Edfu TempleSightseeing of Komombo TempleSightseeing of Luxor Temple Entrance FeesEdfu Temple - 450 EGPKomombo Temple - 360 EGPLuxor Temple - 400 EGP
Day 7: Luxor, Overnight Sleeper Train
Location: Luxor
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Overnight sleeper train
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
The West bank of the Nile River awaits you! Follow your guide to the Valley of the Kings, also known as the ‘City of the Dead', home to fancy royal tombs carved into desert rocks and filled with treasures for the Pharaoh afterlife.
Next up, the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut and Colossi of Memnon.
Not to forget, a visit to the vast Karnak Temple Complex, one of the most important religious centres of ancient Egypt with its marvellous temples.
Your Egyptologist guide will enlighten you with the most intriguing stories and mythologies from the temple complex.
Feeling adventurous?Take to the skies on an optional hot air balloon ride over Luxor.
In the evening, board an overnight sleeper train to Cairo.
AccommodationOvernight sleeper train Meals IncludedBreakfast, Dinner Included ActivitiesSightseeing of Karnak TempleSightseeing of Hatshepsut Temple & Colossi of Memnon Optional ActivitiesHot Air Balloon - 124 USD Entrance FeesValley Of The Kings - 600 EGPHatshepsut Temple - 360 EGPKarnak Temple - 450
Day 8: Cairo City Tour
Location: Cairo
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Sonesta Hotel Tower & Casino – 5 Star
Meals Included: Breakfast
The journey continues with one of the most important museums dedicated to the ancient world.
Egyptian Museum of Cairo houses around 120,000 ancient Egyptian relics and antiquities.
Then roam around Cairo stopping by the Citadel of Saladin, Mosque of Mohammed Ali, the Hanging Church and the world-famous Khan el-Khalili bazaar.
Make sure to wear your haggling hats and brace for the mayhem! AccommodationSonesta Hotel Tower & Casino – 5 Star Meals IncludedBreakfast Included ActivitiesSightseeing of CairoSightseeing of Egyptian MuseumSightseeing of Citadel of SaladinSightseeing of Mohammed Ali MosqueSightseeing of Hanging ChurchSightseeing of Bazaar Khan El- Khalili Entrance FeesEgyptian Museum - 480 EGPCitadel of Saladin - 450 EGP
Day 9: Cairo
Location: Cairo
Meals Included: Breakfast
Have your final breakfast on us and start bidding farewells to your travel mates.
Check-out of the hotel in Cairo (11:00am) and catch the transfer to the airport at the end of your tour.
Time to start counting days for your next adventure with Travel Talk! Meals IncludedBreakfast
What's Included
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Accommodation
Stay in 5 and 4 star hotels during the tour.
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Meals
Enjoy 8 breakfasts included in the tour package.
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Transportation
Travel in comfort with A/C coach or mini-bus and experience a Felucca sailboat ride.
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Airport Transfer(s)
Arrival and departure transfers are provided on the first and last day of the trip.
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Tour Guiding
Benefit from the services of experienced Egyptologist guides throughout the tour.
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Train (Sleeper Cabin)
Travel overnight from Cairo to Aswan, and from Luxor to Cairo in a private 2 berth sleeper cabin.
What's Not Included
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Any flights
Flights are not included in the tour package.
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Travel insurance
Travel insurance is not provided and should be arranged separately.
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Meals not stated in the itinerary
Any meals not mentioned in the itinerary are not included.
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Items of a personal nature
Personal expenses are not covered.
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Visa fees
Visa fees are not included and must be arranged independently.
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Tipping and Gratuities
Tipping and gratuities are not included in the tour price.
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Entrance Fees
Entrance fees for sights and museums are not included.
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Optional activities
Optional activities are available at an additional cost.
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Other services not stated in the itinerary
Any services not mentioned in the itinerary are not included.
Add Ons
Local Payment: £0
Mode of Transport
Travel in style with A/C coach or mini-bus, and enjoy a traditional Felucca sailboat ride. Overnight sleeper trains provide a private 2-berth cabin for journeys from Cairo to Aswan and Luxor to Cairo. Arrival and departure transfers are included.
Accommodation
Experience luxury and comfort with stays in 5 and 4 star hotels, including the Sonesta Hotel Tower & Casino in Cairo, Tolip Hotel in Aswan, and Steigenberger Nile Palace Hotel in Luxor. Enjoy overnight sleeper train accommodations for a unique travel experience.
Check out our Q&As
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What type of accommodation is provided during the tour?
The tour provides accommodation in 5 and 4 star hotels, including stays at the Sonesta Hotel Tower & Casino in Cairo, Tolip Hotel in Aswan, and Steigenberger Nile Palace Hotel in Luxor. Additionally, there are overnight sleeper train accommodations with private 2 berth cabins for travel between Cairo, Aswan, and Luxor.
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Are meals included in the tour package?
The tour includes 8 breakfasts. Some dinners are also included, specifically on the days when traveling on the overnight sleeper train.
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What kind of transportation is used during the tour?
Transportation during the tour includes an air-conditioned coach or mini-bus for travel between destinations, a Felucca sailboat for a Nile cruise, and overnight sleeper trains for travel between Cairo, Aswan, and Luxor.
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Is there an Egyptologist guide included in the tour?
Yes, the tour includes the services of experienced Egyptologist guides who will escort you to various historic sites and provide insights into the history and culture of Egypt.
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Are airport transfers included in the tour?
Yes, arrival and departure transfers are included on the first and last day of the trip, providing transportation to and from Cairo airport.
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What optional activities are available during the tour?
Optional activities available during the tour include a group dinner on a cruise in Cairo, a traditional Nubian dinner in Aswan, a visit to Abu Simbel, and a hot air balloon ride over Luxor.
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Are entrance fees to attractions included in the tour price?
No, entrance fees to attractions such as the Giza Pyramids, Sphinx, Sakkara Pyramid, Philae Temple, and others are not included in the tour price and must be paid separately.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
There are always single travellers on our tours. If you don't mind being roomed with another single traveller of the same gender, then you do not need to pay a single supplement, however, this excludes all of our North American tours where the sharing option for a solo traveller is not available, and the single supplement must be applied if you are travelling alone. The single supplement is for travellers who would like to stay in a private room for the duration of the tour. PLEASE NOTE: The single private option is not always available, especially for sailing tours and camping.
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
Our tours are suitable for any traveller above 18 years old. The majority of Travel Talkers are from the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada or Europe, however we always have travellers from all over the world. What brings them together is a passion for travel, discovering authentic cultures and experiencing unique adventures with like-minded travellers.
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
At Travel Talk, we believe that travel is a force for good and show our support through various initiatives and charity organizations, as well as keeping the principals of responsible and sustainable travel at the core of our ethos. These values are engrained in our business culture and the design of our trips just the same. Together with our guests, we strive to make a positive impact on local p
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Over 20 years
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Free Date Changes
Travel Talk Tours allows you to make 2 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 61 days before the start of the tour.
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Low Deposit
Travel Talk Tours requires a minimum deposit of 100 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of travel talk tours charges.
Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 59 days before tour starts: Forfeit 70% of booking price.
At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 85% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.