9-Day Nubian Adventure
5.0 (0 opiniones)
Tour Code: 472063
Comidas incluidas
9-Day Nubian Adventure
5.0 (0 opiniones)
Tour Code: 472063
Comidas incluidas
Ciudad de salida
El Cairo
Fin de la ciudad
El Cairo
Tipo de viaje
Crucero
Duración
9 días
Idioma
Inglés en directo
Tipo de guía
Visita guiada
Nivel de actividad
Fácil
Calidad
Todo incluido
Destacados
Discover the secrets of Egypt with this classic 9 day tour. Visit the Great Pyramids in Cairo before heading to Aswan and Luxor in the Nile Valley and enjoying a traditional felucca cruise down the Nile
Itinerario
Adventure tour of Cairo, Luxor & Aswan including a Nile felucca cruise
Experience the wonders of Egypt over 9 days on this special tour. Taking in the key historical sites of the world renowned Egyptian Museum in Cairo and the Sphinx and Great Pyramid at Giza, you will then travel to Aswan to visit a local Nubian village and to explore the romantic temples of Philae, leaving time for you to wander around the fascinating souks and markets. Optional trips to Abu Simbel are available before an overnight cruise on a traditional felucca sailboat takes you down the Nile River, through the Nile Valley to Luxor where you will experience the incredible temples and world famous tombs of the Valley of the Kings. Finishing back in Cairo, your last day has some free time or optional tours before we walk through the back streets Old Cairo to the Khan-el-Khalili bazaar.
Day 1, Arrive into Cairo. Transfer to your hotel Upon arrival at Cairo airport, we will meet you and assist you with visa formalities and luggage collection, then transfer you to your hotel near the pyramids. Our rep will help you settle in, then the rest of the day is free at your leisure. If your flight lands early, then you could take a first look at the pyramids with an amazing sound and light show, or perhaps head into downtown Cairo for a Nile dinner cruise and show. | OVERNIGHT: Cairo - 5 star hotel | EXTRAS: Extra night - pre-tour, Single Room Supplement Day 2, Cairo, Pyramids, Sphinx & Museum tour Our Nubian Adventure tour begins with a drive to Giza on the outskirts of Cairo to visit the Sphinx and the three great pyramids of Egypt. One of our local Egyptologist guides will be accompanying you on this and all of your other sightseeing tours, and you'll find them a wealth of knowledge and full of enthusiasm about Egyptian history, and their country in general. At 500 feet high and 750 feet wide at its base the Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops) is an awesome man-made structure constructed of giant stone blocks with a hard limestone casing. The casing has, over the years, been stripped away to leave exposed the inner block structure. Together with the smaller pyramids of Khafre (Chephern) and Menkaure (Mycerinus), the majestic sight of these enormous structures rising out of the desert is a breathtaking spectacle. You will have the opportunity to climb down right inside the pyramids if you wish, though your guide cannot accompany you (a limited number of tickets are available for the Great Pyramid). Following on from the Pyramids we then head to the Egyptian Museum in central Cairo. Home to the fantastic Tutankhamun exhibit the museum hosts a huge number of other ancient Egyptian artefacts. This evening we transfer to the station for the overnight sleeper train to Aswan (approx. 12 hours). | OVERNIGHT: Sleeper train | MEALS: Breakfast, Dinner | EXTRAS: Cairo/Aswan flight upgrade Day 3, Aswan, Nubian Village, Philae Temple Upon arrival in Aswan we take a short transfer to our hotel overlooking the Nile. The river here is at its most scenic in Egypt, and is dotted with islands and felucca sailing boats. Aswan itself is an intriguing mixture of African and Middle Eastern cultures, and lies in part of the ancient region of Nubia. Many Nubian people still live here and work on the river, and we'll visit a Nubian village away from the main town where we'll walk through narrow alleyways seeing colourfully painted houses, friendly people, wandering animals and enjoy a traditional local lunch. We continue our day with an afternoon tour to the Temple of Philae. This beautiful island temple is dedicated to Isis and was saved from the rising waters of Lake Nasser. It can only be reached by a scenic boat ride. The evening is free at leisure to explore Aswan's various markets and to walk up and down the Corniche on the banks of the Nile. There's also an option to ride a camel across the sands on the far banks of the Nile to St. Simeon's monastery. Those who have chosen to visit Abu Simbel tomorrow should aim for an early night tonight ready for a very early start in the morning. | OVERNIGHT: Aswan - 5 star hotel | MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch | EXTRAS: Camel ride to St. Simeon's Monastery Day 4, Abu Simbel option, Nile felucca cruise After a free morning, we board a traditional felucca sailboat this afternoon for a great day sailing down the Nile. Drifting down the Nile on a felucca is one of Egypt's most enjoyable experiences, and you'll see local rural Egyptian life pass you by. Our Nubian crew will handle the boat and provide entertainment to you on the way, as well as preparing all your meals. Our fully equipped facilities boat will drop by from time to time during the day and moor up with us at night. Our boat has a western toilet and showers on board as well as a modern, hygienic kitchen where the crew will prepare and cook a tasty evening meal. You sleep on the deck of the boat tonight and we provide mattresses, blankets and mosquito nets as required. You can also choose to upgrade your Nile felucca cruise to stay in the hotel in Aswan instead of on board the boat. All other touring remains the same. For those not averse to a very early morning start, there is a very special option morning visit to the UNESCO world heritage site of Abu Simbel available. This amazing site was completely dismantled and rebuilt when Lake Nasser was built, and is one of Egypt's biggest highlights. | OVERNIGHT: On board felucca | MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | EXTRAS: Abu Simbel tour, Felucca to hotel upgrade Day 5, Edfu temple & Karnak Temple in Luxor After breakfast on-board we leave behind our felucca crew and take a tour of nearby temple Edfu before driving north to Luxor. Luxor is built on and around the ancient site of Thebes, and has the greatest concentration of ancient ruins in the Nile Valley, if not the world. To the west, across the Nile, lies the City of the Dead, with its mortuary temples and rock carved tombs, and to the east stand the Temples of Luxor and Karnak. After lunch we'll visit the massive temple complex of Karnak , once the religious heart of Thebes and Upper Egypt. It was linked to the town of Luxor by a long sphinx lined avenue, and the temple itself was linked to the Nile via a canal along which sailed the sacred boats of the god Amun. The entrance is via a smaller sphinx-lined avenue, built by Ramesses II, after which you enter the temple proper through the enormous pylon entrance. Inside the large Courtyard are three temples dedicated to the gods Amun, Khous and Mut. The much photographed Hypostyle Hall has an impressive 134 towering columns, each is carved with scenes of gods and pharaohs, and hieroglyphic inscriptions cover the walls. In the evening we'll take a walking tour of the smaller Luxor Temple, which is in the centre of town and is colourfully lit up by night. | OVERNIGHT: Luxor - 5 star hotel | MEALS: Breakfast | EXTRAS: N/A Day 6, Luxor, West Bank tour, free time We have an early start today as we cross the Nile for a tour of Luxor's West Bank. The dusty tombs in the ancient burial site of the Valley of the Kings are still revealing their secrets today and the valley remains one of the world's most important archaeological sites. We will descend into several of these Pharaonic tombs before also visiting Queen Hatchepsut and Medinat Habu temples, and the huge Colossi of Memnon. The rest of the day is then free to relax in your 5-star hotel by the Nile, or head out into Luxor to explore independently. You could do some shopping or browsing in the market, take a felucca trip to nearby Banana island or visit the mummification museum. Additional ancient Egyptian sightseeing is also available if you'd like to learn more about Egyptian history. The Workers Village, Valley of the Queens and Rammesseum on the west bank of the Nile are all worth a visit. Your Egyptologist guide will be happy to arrange any extra visits you may like to do (payable locally). | OVERNIGHT: Luxor - 5 star hotel | MEALS: Breakfast | EXTRAS: Hot air balloon in Luxor Day 7, Luxor, Karnak temple You can enjoy a welcome lie in today after several early starts. Our afternoon tour then explores the huge temple complex at Karnak. This was once the religious centre of Thebes and Upper Egypt and was linked to Luxor by a long sphinx-lined avenue. The whole complex was in turn linked by a canal to the Nile which the sacred boats of the god Amun moved through. We enter the temple through a smaller sphinx-lined avenue built by Ramesses II, before entering the immense pylon entrance. The huge Courtyard that follows contains are three chapels dedicated to the gods Amun, Khous and Mut while the remarkable Hypostyle Hall has 134 towering columns, each carved with scenes of gods and pharaohs. Hieroglyphic inscriptions adorn the walls. There is a huge amount to see here and our Egyptologist guide will give a tour of several hours followed by some free time for you to look around further. In the evening we transfer to the station to catch the overnight sleeper train back to Cairo (approx. 9 hours). | OVERNIGHT: Sleeper train | MEALS: Breakfast, dinner | EXTRAS: Luxor to Cairo flight upgrade Day 8, Cairo, optional tours. Back streets of the Khan-el-Khalili bazaar We arrive back into Cairo this morning and then you have time to explore Cairo as you choose or you may take an optional tour. These include a city tour visiting Coptic Cairo, the Citadel and Mohamed Ali Mosque, or a half day tour to Saqqara, Dashour and Memphis to learn more about the history and evolution of pyramid building. Other full day options further afield include a visit to the colonnial city of Alexandria on the Mediterranean, or a trip into the desert outside Cairo to see the World Heritage Site of the Valley of the Whales at Wadi Rayan. In the late afternoon we take a guided walk through the back streets and bazaars in central Cairo. We'll walk through the huge Bab al-Futuh gateway and explore streets dedicated to metalwork, spices, pottery, fabric, jewelery and anything else you can imagine as we gradually enter the more touristy Khan-el-Khalili bazaar. We'll have time for a break to try some tea and a shisha pipe and perhaps enjoy an early dinner of Egypt's unofficial national dish, Kushari. Finally we transfer you back to your hotel. | OVERNIGHT: Cairo - 5 star hotel | MEALS: Breakfast | EXTRAS: Cairo city tour, Saqqara, Dashour & Memphis Day 9, Cairo. Departure transfer to the airport Free day. Transfer to the airport for your departure flight. | OVERNIGHT: N/A | MEALS: Breakfast | EXTRAS: Extra night - post-tour
Experience the wonders of Egypt over 9 days on this special tour. Taking in the key historical sites of the world renowned Egyptian Museum in Cairo and the Sphinx and Great Pyramid at Giza, you will then travel to Aswan to visit a local Nubian village and to explore the romantic temples of Philae, leaving time for you to wander around the fascinating souks and markets. Optional trips to Abu Simbel are available before an overnight cruise on a traditional felucca sailboat takes you down the Nile River, through the Nile Valley to Luxor where you will experience the incredible temples and world famous tombs of the Valley of the Kings. Finishing back in Cairo, your last day has some free time or optional tours before we walk through the back streets Old Cairo to the Khan-el-Khalili bazaar.
Day 1, Arrive into Cairo. Transfer to your hotel Upon arrival at Cairo airport, we will meet you and assist you with visa formalities and luggage collection, then transfer you to your hotel near the pyramids. Our rep will help you settle in, then the rest of the day is free at your leisure. If your flight lands early, then you could take a first look at the pyramids with an amazing sound and light show, or perhaps head into downtown Cairo for a Nile dinner cruise and show. | OVERNIGHT: Cairo - 5 star hotel | EXTRAS: Extra night - pre-tour, Single Room Supplement Day 2, Cairo, Pyramids, Sphinx & Museum tour Our Nubian Adventure tour begins with a drive to Giza on the outskirts of Cairo to visit the Sphinx and the three great pyramids of Egypt. One of our local Egyptologist guides will be accompanying you on this and all of your other sightseeing tours, and you'll find them a wealth of knowledge and full of enthusiasm about Egyptian history, and their country in general. At 500 feet high and 750 feet wide at its base the Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops) is an awesome man-made structure constructed of giant stone blocks with a hard limestone casing. The casing has, over the years, been stripped away to leave exposed the inner block structure. Together with the smaller pyramids of Khafre (Chephern) and Menkaure (Mycerinus), the majestic sight of these enormous structures rising out of the desert is a breathtaking spectacle. You will have the opportunity to climb down right inside the pyramids if you wish, though your guide cannot accompany you (a limited number of tickets are available for the Great Pyramid). Following on from the Pyramids we then head to the Egyptian Museum in central Cairo. Home to the fantastic Tutankhamun exhibit the museum hosts a huge number of other ancient Egyptian artefacts. This evening we transfer to the station for the overnight sleeper train to Aswan (approx. 12 hours). | OVERNIGHT: Sleeper train | MEALS: Breakfast, Dinner | EXTRAS: Cairo/Aswan flight upgrade Day 3, Aswan, Nubian Village, Philae Temple Upon arrival in Aswan we take a short transfer to our hotel overlooking the Nile. The river here is at its most scenic in Egypt, and is dotted with islands and felucca sailing boats. Aswan itself is an intriguing mixture of African and Middle Eastern cultures, and lies in part of the ancient region of Nubia. Many Nubian people still live here and work on the river, and we'll visit a Nubian village away from the main town where we'll walk through narrow alleyways seeing colourfully painted houses, friendly people, wandering animals and enjoy a traditional local lunch. We continue our day with an afternoon tour to the Temple of Philae. This beautiful island temple is dedicated to Isis and was saved from the rising waters of Lake Nasser. It can only be reached by a scenic boat ride. The evening is free at leisure to explore Aswan's various markets and to walk up and down the Corniche on the banks of the Nile. There's also an option to ride a camel across the sands on the far banks of the Nile to St. Simeon's monastery. Those who have chosen to visit Abu Simbel tomorrow should aim for an early night tonight ready for a very early start in the morning. | OVERNIGHT: Aswan - 5 star hotel | MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch | EXTRAS: Camel ride to St. Simeon's Monastery Day 4, Abu Simbel option, Nile felucca cruise After a free morning, we board a traditional felucca sailboat this afternoon for a great day sailing down the Nile. Drifting down the Nile on a felucca is one of Egypt's most enjoyable experiences, and you'll see local rural Egyptian life pass you by. Our Nubian crew will handle the boat and provide entertainment to you on the way, as well as preparing all your meals. Our fully equipped facilities boat will drop by from time to time during the day and moor up with us at night. Our boat has a western toilet and showers on board as well as a modern, hygienic kitchen where the crew will prepare and cook a tasty evening meal. You sleep on the deck of the boat tonight and we provide mattresses, blankets and mosquito nets as required. You can also choose to upgrade your Nile felucca cruise to stay in the hotel in Aswan instead of on board the boat. All other touring remains the same. For those not averse to a very early morning start, there is a very special option morning visit to the UNESCO world heritage site of Abu Simbel available. This amazing site was completely dismantled and rebuilt when Lake Nasser was built, and is one of Egypt's biggest highlights. | OVERNIGHT: On board felucca | MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | EXTRAS: Abu Simbel tour, Felucca to hotel upgrade Day 5, Edfu temple & Karnak Temple in Luxor After breakfast on-board we leave behind our felucca crew and take a tour of nearby temple Edfu before driving north to Luxor. Luxor is built on and around the ancient site of Thebes, and has the greatest concentration of ancient ruins in the Nile Valley, if not the world. To the west, across the Nile, lies the City of the Dead, with its mortuary temples and rock carved tombs, and to the east stand the Temples of Luxor and Karnak. After lunch we'll visit the massive temple complex of Karnak , once the religious heart of Thebes and Upper Egypt. It was linked to the town of Luxor by a long sphinx lined avenue, and the temple itself was linked to the Nile via a canal along which sailed the sacred boats of the god Amun. The entrance is via a smaller sphinx-lined avenue, built by Ramesses II, after which you enter the temple proper through the enormous pylon entrance. Inside the large Courtyard are three temples dedicated to the gods Amun, Khous and Mut. The much photographed Hypostyle Hall has an impressive 134 towering columns, each is carved with scenes of gods and pharaohs, and hieroglyphic inscriptions cover the walls. In the evening we'll take a walking tour of the smaller Luxor Temple, which is in the centre of town and is colourfully lit up by night. | OVERNIGHT: Luxor - 5 star hotel | MEALS: Breakfast | EXTRAS: N/A Day 6, Luxor, West Bank tour, free time We have an early start today as we cross the Nile for a tour of Luxor's West Bank. The dusty tombs in the ancient burial site of the Valley of the Kings are still revealing their secrets today and the valley remains one of the world's most important archaeological sites. We will descend into several of these Pharaonic tombs before also visiting Queen Hatchepsut and Medinat Habu temples, and the huge Colossi of Memnon. The rest of the day is then free to relax in your 5-star hotel by the Nile, or head out into Luxor to explore independently. You could do some shopping or browsing in the market, take a felucca trip to nearby Banana island or visit the mummification museum. Additional ancient Egyptian sightseeing is also available if you'd like to learn more about Egyptian history. The Workers Village, Valley of the Queens and Rammesseum on the west bank of the Nile are all worth a visit. Your Egyptologist guide will be happy to arrange any extra visits you may like to do (payable locally). | OVERNIGHT: Luxor - 5 star hotel | MEALS: Breakfast | EXTRAS: Hot air balloon in Luxor Day 7, Luxor, Karnak temple You can enjoy a welcome lie in today after several early starts. Our afternoon tour then explores the huge temple complex at Karnak. This was once the religious centre of Thebes and Upper Egypt and was linked to Luxor by a long sphinx-lined avenue. The whole complex was in turn linked by a canal to the Nile which the sacred boats of the god Amun moved through. We enter the temple through a smaller sphinx-lined avenue built by Ramesses II, before entering the immense pylon entrance. The huge Courtyard that follows contains are three chapels dedicated to the gods Amun, Khous and Mut while the remarkable Hypostyle Hall has 134 towering columns, each carved with scenes of gods and pharaohs. Hieroglyphic inscriptions adorn the walls. There is a huge amount to see here and our Egyptologist guide will give a tour of several hours followed by some free time for you to look around further. In the evening we transfer to the station to catch the overnight sleeper train back to Cairo (approx. 9 hours). | OVERNIGHT: Sleeper train | MEALS: Breakfast, dinner | EXTRAS: Luxor to Cairo flight upgrade Day 8, Cairo, optional tours. Back streets of the Khan-el-Khalili bazaar We arrive back into Cairo this morning and then you have time to explore Cairo as you choose or you may take an optional tour. These include a city tour visiting Coptic Cairo, the Citadel and Mohamed Ali Mosque, or a half day tour to Saqqara, Dashour and Memphis to learn more about the history and evolution of pyramid building. Other full day options further afield include a visit to the colonnial city of Alexandria on the Mediterranean, or a trip into the desert outside Cairo to see the World Heritage Site of the Valley of the Whales at Wadi Rayan. In the late afternoon we take a guided walk through the back streets and bazaars in central Cairo. We'll walk through the huge Bab al-Futuh gateway and explore streets dedicated to metalwork, spices, pottery, fabric, jewelery and anything else you can imagine as we gradually enter the more touristy Khan-el-Khalili bazaar. We'll have time for a break to try some tea and a shisha pipe and perhaps enjoy an early dinner of Egypt's unofficial national dish, Kushari. Finally we transfer you back to your hotel. | OVERNIGHT: Cairo - 5 star hotel | MEALS: Breakfast | EXTRAS: Cairo city tour, Saqqara, Dashour & Memphis Day 9, Cairo. Departure transfer to the airport Free day. Transfer to the airport for your departure flight. | OVERNIGHT: N/A | MEALS: Breakfast | EXTRAS: Extra night - post-tour
Atracciones turísticas
Templo de Filae
Gran Pirámide de Giza
Pirámide de Jafre
Pirámide de Menkaure
Valle de los Reyes
Templo de Hatshepsut
Templo de Edfu
Templo de Kom Ombo
Templo de Karnak
Museo Egipcio
Gran Esfinge de Giza
Colosos de Memnon
Qué incluye
Incluye
No incluye
Notas especiales
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. Our private/tailor-made tour itineraries use a wider mix of hotels, from comfortable mid-range hotels at the 2-4 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.
Nile cruise tours are generally based on Egyptian 5-star deluxe level boats - please check the Accommodation section on the tour page 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. Single travellers may choose to pay a single room supplement to guarantee themselves a single room throughout the tour. Alternatively, they may choose to share a room with one or two other travellers of the same sex.
Single travelers
On most of our Egypt tours, if you are happy to share a room/cabin with another traveller of the same sex, then if you are travelling solo, you do not need to pay the single supplement cost, even if you end up with a single room during the tour. This does not apply to all tours - please check the single room supplement option on your tour for full details.
Gala Dinners
Many of Egypt's hotels and Nile cruise boats arrange a very special gala dinner with entertainment in the evening on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. Payment for these is often optional on Christmas Eve (24 Dec) but may be compulsory on New Year's Eve (31 Dec), whether you attend or not. Prices can range from around US$50 to over US$150 per person. Final decisions on prices and whether dinners are compulsory are made relatively close to the time. We aim to always select hotels that make their Gala Dinners optional, though this is is not always possible. Gala dinner prices are therefore not included in our prices above, but will be added to your booking if they become required. More information is available on request.
This tour features an overnight felucca cruise. Feluccas are very basic traditional Nile sailboats and are a fun and relaxing way to travel down the river. You sleep on the deck of the boat (mattresses and some blankets are provided, but we suggest that you bring a sleeping sheet, blanket or light sleeping bag during the winter months of November-February). There are no toilet facilities on board, but you will be joined several times each day and at night by our support boat where a toilet and warm showers will be available. Mosquito nets are provided for use while you are sleeping but you should bring mosquito repellent for the evenings and early mornings. Your Nubian boat crew will cook all your meals while on board and entertain you in the evenings.
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 journey between Cairo and Aswan this tour uses the overnight sleeper train. You will have a private lockable twin cabin on board which holds two large seats and fold down beds which the carriage steward will make up for you in the evening. Sheets, blanket & pillows are provided. The cabin also contains a wash basin and storage cupboard. An airline tray-style evening meal and breakfast are provided. The Cairo-Aswan journey takes around 12 hours.
We take an internal flight with Egypt Air from Hurghada to Cairo at the end of the tour (this is more expensive but removes the need for a long drive of around 7 hours, and leaves more time available to spend in Cairo that afternoon).
Our Egypt tours include a 24-hour airport meet & assist service in Cairo airport, your arrival and departure airport-hotel transfers and all other transfers. Our representative will meet you in the immigration hall of Cairo airport before you get to passport control. They will assist with visa formalities before helping you collect your luggage and taking you to your hotel.
Your airport transfers are only included on the first and last day of the set tour itinerary, plus on any additional days if you book your hotel room with us. If you make your own arrangements for additional accommodation at either the beginning or the end of the tour then you will need to arrange your own airport transfers on these days.
We want to give you as much flexibility as possible when it comes to booking your holiday with us. So, to take account of people with varying travel plans, except on some Escorted Tours, we don’t include your international flights in the main tour price. We are however very happy to book your flights for you. Our ATOL (UK flight sales license - No. 10467) protects all holidays booked together with a flight from the UK.
Please contact us with your preferred dates and departure airport and we’ll give you a selection of airlines, times and fares to choose from. Your airport arrival & departure transfers are included on the first and last days of the tour whether you book your flights independently or through us. Nearly all our Egyptian tours start and finish in Cairo airport (CAI).
We are committed to being a small group operator, as we feel this gives everyone in the group the best chance to get to know their fellow travellers and to hear and make the most of their guide. There’s no point in us providing great guides if you’ve got to peer over 30-40 shoulders to see them! So, we won’t ever put you in a 50-seater coach with 49 other people and just one guide. Instead, we set our Egypt small-group departures to have a maximum of 18 travellers. On dedicated Nile Cruise tours you may join larger boat groups for the sightseeing trips, though a supplement is always available for a private Egyptologist guide for these tours (requires advance booking).
In Egypt we provide fully trained, local English-speaking graduate Egyptologist guides to run your tour and escort you during all of the sightseeing in Cairo and the Nile Valley. We also have permanent local reps in all the main towns/cities and Red Sea resorts who are also at your service, and will be handling all the practical arrangements for the tour. We use local Bedouin guides for tours through the desert.
On some departures we may use one guide in Cairo, and a second guide for the Aswan to Luxor section.
At Encounters Travel we only use local Egyptian guides and reps. We feel this gives you the best experience of the country and the sites you are seeing. Please check our website for more details and profiles of some of our most famous Egyptian guides.
Our Small Group tours do not include entrance fees to the tourist sites mentioned in the itinerary. We do however normally include these in prices for Tailor-Made and Escorted tours. Please check the Inclusions and Exclusions section below the tour itinerary for a details about your tour and the amount you may need to budget. This amount is subject to change and will be reconfirmed in Egypt at the start of your tour. A 50% discount for minors or ISIC card holders is often, but not always available. Your guide will be happy to collect payment for all the entrance fees at the start of the tour, and pay them for you as you go along if you wish.
Tipping is very much a part of Egyptian culture and customs. To make our prices more transparent and so it is easier for you to budget and less hassle while in Egypt, on our small group tours we organise a ‘Tipping Kitty’ which needs to be paid as a local payment and will be around US$25-45 depending on the length of yoru trip. This kitty provides tips for a wide range of people you’ll meet along the tour including hotel porters, train and station staff, drivers, site guards, local reps etc. Please check the Included/Excluded notes below the tour itinerary for more information on how much to budget for this kitty.
Your Egyptologist guide (and Bedouin guides in the desert) is not included in this kitty and you may tip them at the end of your tour subject to your satisfaction with and appreciation of the service they have provided. You should not feel obliged to tip any particular amount, and should consider your personal budget. We are often asked to provide a guide however, and can suggest that approx. USD 3-8 per person per day would be appropriate.
On private/tailor-made tours we can also arrange a tipping kitty if you wish, or you can tip people as you go along the tour. Your guide will be happy to help advise either way.
You should ensure you are fully insured for medical emergencies including emergency evacuation and repatriation.
Recommended vaccinations and other health protection measures vary according to the country you are visiting and where you are travelling from. We recommend you contact your GP/medical practitioner or a travel clinic for current information on vaccinations needed for your destination. You should ensure that you are up to date with vaccines and boosters recommended for your normal life at home, including for example, vaccines required for occupational risk of exposure, lifestyle risks and underlying medical conditions.
In addition, additional courses or boosters normally recommended for the countries in this region are:
Egypt: Tetanus, Typhoid, Hepatitis A Jordan: Tetanus, Hepatitis A Israel: Hepatitis A, Poliomyelitis Lebanon: Dipheria, Hepatitis A
Malaria is not generally present unless it has been contracted abroad; you do not need to take malaria prophylactics.
More information is available here: Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon
Note: We are aware of some places in Egypt using 'black henna' instead of pure brown henna. Black henna contains a chemical dye PPD (paraphenylenediamine) which can result in severe allergic reactions and resultant scarring. To be safe we recommend avoiding any henna tattoos while in Egypt unless you are certain they are using pure brown henna.
Passports should be valid for at least six months after your departure from the country. Please do not bring an almost full or almost expired passport. 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. In practice however, many nationalities (including British and European, Australian, New Zealand, USA, Canadian) can and do generally obtain their visas on arrival in Cairo airport. 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.
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.
Sockets are two round pronged and 220 volts (Type C). Universal adaptors are available in most airport shops if you don't have one already. Standard European adapters will work fine, though sometimes they may feel a little loose in the sockets. All hotel rooms have electrical sockets where you can re-charge cameras, phones etc. Hair dryers are normally available on request from the hotel reception if not in your room already.
If you have US appliances (110 volts) you will need a voltage converter as well as a plug adapter.
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.
Luggage: Suitcases, rucksacks or fabric holdalls are all fine to bring with you to Egypt. You should also bring a small daypack/bag to take out during the day. Your main luggage will normally be left in the hotel during your sightseeing trips – you will not need to carry it far, and there are nearly always hotel porters to assist.
Luggage limits: There is no luggage limit for this tour. However, most airlines restrict you to between 20kg and 25kg for your hold luggage and between 5kg and 10kg for hand luggage. Please check with your airline before travelling to the airport.
Clothing: Most of your time in Egypt will be in a hot climate. However, at night, and especially in the deserts, the temperatures can drop quite dramatically. So you must pack for cool conditions. Formal dress (eg. suits & ties) is not required on the cruise boats or in 5-star hotel restaurants. Long sleeves are recommended to protect from mosquitoes if you are on the felucca. Modesty rates highly in Egypt, especially for women, so to respect the local culture & people, please ensure all clothes are loose fitting and not revealing. Shorts (not hot-pants) are OK in tourist sites, as are T-shirts, but these should not show too much bare flesh (we suggest that your shoulders should remain covered). In the centre of Cairo, and when visiting any mosques, legs and arms should be covered.
Other items: If you will be travelling on a felucca then we recommend bringing a light sleeping sheet or sleeping bag liner all year round for comfort, and a light sleeping bag in the winter months (November to February). We also recommend you bring a sun hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, a basic first aid kit, toiletries, small towel, money belt, small torch, camera & charger.
El seguro de viaje es obligatorio en todos nuestros viajes y debe cubrir accidentes personales y responsabilidad civil, gastos médicos y repatriación, retrasos en el viaje y abandono. También le recomendamos encarecidamente que contrate un seguro de cancelación y de pérdida o robo de equipaje. Los seguros médicos personales no suelen ofrecer cobertura suficiente y, por lo general, no son adecuados para nuestros viajes. No podrá participar en su viaje si no nos ha facilitado los datos de su seguro o si llega sin cobertura (en este caso no se efectuarán reembolsos).
Puede contratar su propio seguro, o puede beneficiarse de una póliza completa que podemos contratar para usted a través de Endsleigh Insurance y que ha sido diseñada para nuestros viajes. La póliza está disponible para viajeros de todas las nacionalidades y no es necesario vivir en el Reino Unido para contratarla. Si desea conocer todos los detalles de la cobertura ofrecida, los precios y solicitar una de nuestras pólizas, rellene el formulario de solicitud de seguro de viaje.
Nota: Cualquier país que bordee el Mediterráneo se considera "Europa" a efectos del seguro de viaje (incluidos Turquía, Israel, Egipto y Marruecos). Si realiza un viaje por un país de Europa y otro por todo el mundo (por ejemplo, un viaje a Egipto y Jordania), necesitará una póliza mundial. Cuando rellene el formulario, deberá indicar las fechas de su viaje, incluidos los días adicionales que supongan los vuelos nocturnos o los viajes de conexión entre su domicilio y el viaje. Nuestras pólizas no cubren más tiempo o actividades que el viaje y las opciones reservadas con nosotros y el viaje de ida y vuelta a casa.
Si tiene previsto organizar un vuelo en globo aerostático o practicar submarinismo durante el viaje, compruebe la letra pequeña de su póliza para asegurarse de que están cubiertos (en nuestra póliza sí lo están). Compruebe también la altitud máxima que alcanzará y que la cobertura completa, incluida la evacuación de emergencia, se ofrece hasta esa altitud.
Si lleva consigo un equipo fotográfico caro u otro equipo electrónico, compruebe la cobertura y la letra pequeña de su póliza para asegurarse de que tiene cobertura suficiente.
IMPORTANTE: Debemos disponer de los datos de su seguro de viaje (número de póliza y tipo de seguro) antes de su salida o no se le permitirá participar en el viaje. Si aún no nos lo ha comunicado, comuníquenos los datos cuando pueda. Deberá llevar consigo una copia en papel de su póliza de seguro, ya que es posible que se la pidamos al inicio del viaje.
Esta excursión o actividad está supervisada por un selecto operador local de la región. Al reservar su excursión o actividad y después de recibir la confirmación, recibirá un billete electrónico con el nombre y los datos de contacto del operador local. Si necesita ayuda para encontrar una excursión específica, póngase en contacto con nosotros para obtener más información.
Si alguna de las atracciones está cerrada debido a Covid-19, el guía organizará el itinerario en función de la situación real en la fecha de la excursión. Por favor, compréndalo. Muchas gracias.
Requisito de vacunación contra la fiebre amarilla: Si ha viajado o transitado por regiones donde la fiebre amarilla es endémica, incluidos países de África Oriental (excepto Tanzania) o Sudamérica, antes o después de su viaje, es posible que se le exija presentar un certificado válido de vacunación contra la fiebre amarilla. Este requisito puede aplicarse no sólo para unirse a viajes, sino también para determinados vuelos o la entrada en países específicos. Para más detalles, consulte el sitio oficial: Zonas de riesgo de fiebre amarilla - Apto para viajar
Política de cancelación
Información sobre precios
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