Trips

Cairo

Salaam Aleikum! Welcome to Egypt. You and your family will be met on arrival at Cairo airport and transferred to your hotel. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 5 pm this evening. After the meeting we will head out for an included dinner at one of the boat restaurants on the Nile. Cairo is one of the great cities of antiquity and its history can be symbolised by two imposing landmarks – the Pyramids of Giza and the Mosque of Mohammed Ali. In free time perhaps get out and explore the busy streets of this city of contrasts, where you can see donkey carts and expensive cars, medieval slums and modern shopping malls. If you have time, perhaps travel along the river by felucca (a traditional wooden boat with broad canvas sails) or head out to explore the markets. If you want to escape the hustle and bustle, the Christian Coptic sector is well worth a visit.

Cairo

This morning after breakfast you’ll see some of the world’s most iconic sights: The Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx. The children will stand in awe of the grand structure with limestone blocks much taller than them! For an additional charge you may be able to go inside the Great Pyramid of Khufu, (although occasionally it may be closed to visitors). For lunch there will be an option to stop at one of Cairo's restaurants Felfela. Founded in 1959, Felfela is considered to be one of the oldest fast food and casual dining operators in Egypt. We highly recommend the sharma. Lunch is not included. Afterwards, make your way to the Egyptian Museum, home to one of the world's great collections of antiquities. Wander the treasure-filled halls of the museum, and make sure to check out the Mummies Hall for a close encounter with some of the country’s most important queens and pharaohs. The Mummy Hall is very popular with the children. The masses of gleaming artefacts recovered from the tomb of Tutankhamun are an impressive sight to behold. From gold jewellery to the famous golden death mask and his gilded sarcophagi, this pharaoh was certainly prepared for the afterlife. Head back to the hotel for a swim before an optional dinner out with the group.

Cairo/Overnight Train

After breakfast, the first stop of the day is a visit to the Citadel of Salah Ed-Din. Located high atop Cairo, the Citadel boasts magnificent views of the city. Built by the Arab hero Salah ad-Din, the Citadel primarily functioned as a military garrison, as well as serving as a royal residence for over 700 years. Leaving the Citadel, you’ll all head to the Khan el-Khalili. A labyrinth of narrow streets and passageways, Khan is one of the biggest and oldest markets in the world. The 'Khan', sprawling around an old area known as Al-Azhar, is a quintessentially Cairo experience – a warren of alleys with stalls serving up a succession of intoxicating scenes. It retains a distinctly medieval feel, so be ready to play knights. You might want to explore the gold market, Perfume Street and the spice market, where heady aromas hang in the air like a thick blanket of Damascene cloth. Your leader will suggest some lunch place at the bazaar before the group head back to the hotel for a swim and freshen up. Tonight is a true local experience – an overnight train to Luxor.

Luxor

Upon arrival we will head straight to the Karnak Temple. Karnak Temple is perhaps the most impressive of all the ancient Pharoahs' monumental works. One of the world's most celebrated temple complexes, Karnak is a house of the gods built over a period of some 200 years. Your guided tour of this vast temple of impressive pylons, obelisks and chapels will reveal its finest sections, such as the Avenue of Sphinxes and the Great Temple of Amun. Arriving back at the hotel for lunch and a much needed swim and relax for the afternoon.

Luxor - Aswan

Embrace another early morning, cross the Nile and drive to the secluded Valley of the Kings. Sixty-three pharaohs were buried here as part of their journey to the afterlife. In the company of a local guide you will spend a few hours exploring some of the exquisitely decorated tombs. It is here that the burial site of the boy-king, Tutankhamun, was re-discovered by British archaeologist Howard Carter in 1922. If you'd like to organise a visit to King Tut's tomb today, this can be arranged with advance notice – ask your leader for details at the beginning of your trip. On your way back to the river, spend an hour at the funerary temple of Queen Hatshepsut, Egypt's first female ruler. After some lunch in Luxor we hit the road to Aswan (4 hours). Tonight there will be an option to wander around the Bazzar followed by an optional dinner. .

Aswan

In Aswan the Nile runs deep and fast between granite rocks as the desert encroaches on the river. Even to travellers in ancient times, Aswan was known as the legendary gateway to the kingdom of Nubia. Today it is still something of a frontier town, where the Arab Middle East meets Africa. Today is free for you to explore Aswan, or the surrounding area, at your family’s preferred pace. If you can wrangle the troops, you might want to visit the magnificent temples of Abu Simbel, located near the Sudan border. These two temples – one for Ramses II and another he dedicated to his wife Queen Nefertari – were cut into the cliff face in the 13th century and remain impressive in their scope and detail. Ask your leader for details on how to arrange a visit, but be aware you need a minimum of four people to participate in this optional activity. We highly recommend this activity. If you would prefer to stay in Aswan and get a taste of contemporary Egypt there is plenty to do. The relaxed atmosphere makes Aswan a great city to wander and watch the boats cruise the Nile, plus there’s always the hotel pool nearby where you and the kids can cool off. In the early evening you will take a trip across the river to a Nubian village and enjoy dinner at one of the local houses

Aswan - Cairo

This morning we will take a water taxi over to the Temple of Isis at Philae. The Temple of Isis (the Goddess of health, marriage and wisdom), which was rescued from the rising waters of the Nile and relocated on Philae Island. It's a marvel of decorative pylons featuring some of Egypt's finest carvings – definitely one of the real gems of Upper Egypt. The afternoon will be free to relax and take a swim in the pool. Late this afternoon, board a flight back to Cairo. Check-in to the hotel on arrival, then perhaps freshen up and head out for an optional final dinner with your fellow family travellers.

Cairo

After breakfast, there are no activities planned for today and you are able to depart your accommodation at any time after check-out. If you would like to spend some more time in Egypt, we don’t blame you! We'll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability). How about booking yourself in to an Urban Adventures tour? There’s one called Home Cooked Cairo, where you’ll cook up a feast in a local family home – and it’s child friendly too!