Wonders of Egypt - Small Group, Winter
Tour Overview
Embark on an unforgettable journey through the "Wonders of Egypt - Small Group, Winter" tour, where ancient history and cultural experiences await. Begin your adventure in Cairo, exploring the Egyptian Museum and the Great Pyramids of Giza with a knowledgeable Egyptologist. Fly to Luxor to start a luxurious four-night Nile cruise, visiting iconic sites like the Karnak temple complex and the Valley of the Kings. In Aswan, choose between an Egyptian cooking demonstration or a tour of the Captain's quarters. Enjoy authentic dining experiences, including high tea at the Old Cataract Hotel. This tour offers a perfect blend of sightseeing, cultural immersion, and relaxation, ensuring a memorable Egyptian adventure. ...more ...less
Choice Highlights
- Choose between two carefully selected activities
- Aswan: Satisfy your curiosity and your taste buds over an Egyptian cooking demonstration with your talented onboard chef.
- Aswan: Ever wondered what it is like to be in the driver's seat? Enjoy a tour of the Captain's quarters and learn about how he sails through the Nile and how knowledge has been passed down through generations.
Top Rated Highlights
- Cairo: Take a short scenic flight to Luxor where you will begin your Nile Cruise.
- Karnak: Stand amid a vast forest of columns in the largest temple complex known to man, as your Egyptologist explains the significance behind it. Walk the avenue of ram-headed sphinxes, see the of Rameses II and the Hypostyle Hall.
- Luxor: Visit the Luxor Museum and discover ancient artefacts.
- Colossi of Memnon: See the massive stone statues of the Colossi of Memnon.
- Valley of the Kings: Embark on an experience with an Egyptologist to visit the mortuary Temple Hatshepsut.
- Valley of the Kings: Explore the Valley of the Kings, home to the magnificent tombs of Egypt's Pharaohs, with an Egyptologist.
- Luxor: Visit Luxor Temple, constructed approximately 1400 BC. Look to the top of the remaining Pylon of Ramses II and step into the ancient monument.
- Kom Ombo: Visit the unique temple as it is the only double temple in Egypt.
- Aswan: Visit Aswan's High Dam and Granite Quarries to ponder why the Unfinished Obelisk has been left in mid-creation for thousands of years.
- Philae Island: Travel by motorboat to Philae Island and witness the majestic Temple of Isis rising from the waters.
- Aswan: On a traditional Nile felucca, meet a sailor and learn the art of sailing this ancient Nile craft. Visit the High Dam and Granite Quarries.
- : Take a short boat ride to Philae Island, located between the old and new Aswan Dams, where you???ll have a short tour. You'll then be seated in a Roman style theater for a retelling of the perennial Nile flood, and of the goddesses Isis and Hathor, to whose worship the temple was originally dedicated.
- Aswan: Enjoy your short flight back to Cairo for your final night.
- Cairo: With your Egyptologist, explore the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), where you can admire the remarkable treasures of Tutankhamun, including his iconic gold mask, gilded coffin and exquisite jewelery: priceless artefacts that shine a light on Egypt’s fascinating past.
- Giza: Be mesmerised by the Sound & Light Show at the Great Pyramids.
- Cairo: Uncover Cairo’s rich heritage at the UNESCO-listed Citadel, a commanding fortress that shaped Egypt’s history for centuries. With your Egyptologist, step inside the Great Alabaster Mosque, where soaring domes, intricate stained glass and the tomb of Sultan Muhammad Ali create a moment of quiet reflection. From its hilltop setting, take in sweeping views over the city below.
- Giza: With your Egyptologist, meet the enigmatic Sphinx and venture deep inside one of the pyramids, to the chambers where the pharaohs went to meet their Gods in the afterlife.
- Memphis: Visit this famous capital of the ancient world to see the statue of Ramses II and the Great Alabaster Sphinx.
- Saqqara Necropolis: View the oldest pyramid in the world, the Step Pyramid of Zoser I, existing for over 4,500 years.
Make Travel Matter
Cairo: Be mesmerised by the intricate art of Egyptian carpet weaving as you meet the skilled artisans of a local weaving school. This ancient and traditional Egypt art is one of the oldest in the country, and only few schools have been safeguarding the traditional weaving methods on wooden looms, using silk and cotton, and natural dyes. More than carpets, they come to life as unique works of art. This experience advances UN Global Goal 11: Resilient Cities and Communities.
Authentic Dining
Luxor: Get to know your fellow travelers over a delightful drink followed by dinner.
Kom Ombo: Learn about traditional Egyptian attire and immerse yourself in local culture at an Egyptian dinner and galabeya party.
Aswan: Follow in the footsteps of Sir Winston Churchill and Agatha Christie as you enjoy high tea at Aswan's famous Old Cataract Hotel, as the sun begins to set.
Insight Choice
Aswan: Satisfy your curiosity and your taste buds over an Egyptian cooking demonstration with your talented onboard chef.
Aswan: Ever wondered what it is like to be in the driver's seat? Enjoy a tour of the Captain's quarters and learn about how he sails through the Nile and how knowledge has been passed down through generations.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Cairo
Location: Cairo
Accommodation: Hotel, Cairo Marriott & Omar Khayyam Casino.
Accommodation Name: Cairo Marriott & Omar Khayyam Casino
Welcome to the timeless land of the pharaohs. On arrival at Cairo Airport, you’ll be transferred to your hotel and have time to relax and sample the hotels amenities after your journey.
Day 2: Fly to Luxor, Cruise the Nile
Location: Luxor
Accommodation: MS Medea or MS Miriam (or similar).
Accommodation Name: MS Medea or MS Miriam (or similar)
Meals Included: Dinner
In the morning, fly to Luxor and visit the huge temple complex of Karnak. Walk through the avenue of ram-headed sphinxes to stand among the columns of the Hypostyle Hall. Later, transfer to your cruise ship, your home for the next four nights. After lunch on board, take a walk through the Luxor Museum, witness ancient artefacts and see two royal mummies. This evening, get to know your Travel Director, a professionally trained Egyptologist, as well as fellow guests over a welcome drink followed by dinner. The rest of the evening is yours at leisure, enjoy dinner on the ship before relaxing in its lounge or in the comfort of your room.
Day 3: Valley of the Kings to Edfu
Location: Luxor, Edfu
Accommodation: MS Medea or MS Miriam (or similar).
Accommodation Name: MS Medea or MS Miriam (or similar)
Meals Included: Dinner
This morning travel by coach to the west bank of the Nile. See the Colossi of Memnon and visit both the Temple of Hatshepsut and the Valley of the Kings, where many pharaohs were buried, including Hatshepsut, Amenhotep I and Tutankhamun. Experience the renowned local hospitality of Egyptians during a visit to the village of Geziret Bahirat. Connect with the community and share bread with the Bahirat family, whilst they regale guests with their fascinating stories of daily life. Visit Luxor Temple which was unearthed by Mariette in the 1860s, before returning to your cruise ship and sail via the Esna Lock to Edfu, for your overnight stay.
Day 4: Kom Ombo to Aswan Relaxed Start
Location: Kom Ombo, Aswan
Accommodation: MS Medea or MS Miriam (or similar).
Accommodation Name: MS Medea or MS Miriam (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
In the early morning sail to Kom Ombo to visit the only double temple of Egypt dedicated to two gods. Discover the Temple, learning all about its ‘double’ and perfectly symmetrical design for the duo of gods – one side dedicated to Sobek the crocodile god, the other to Horus the Elder the falcon god. Indulge your culinary side during an Egyptian cooking demonstration or tea with the Captain for your Insight Choice experience. This evening, enjoy a fun-filled traditional Egyptian themed dinner and galabeya party on board your ship.
Day 5: Aswan’s High Dam and Nile Felucca
Location: Aswan
Accommodation: MS Medea or MS Miriam (or similar).
Accommodation Name: MS Medea or MS Miriam (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
In the morning, visit the Aswan High Dam and granite quarries, to see the enormous unfinished obelisk. Travel by motorboat to the Temple of Isis. Rising from the waters of the Nile on the Island of Philae, it was the last temple built in the classical Egyptian style. Later, on a traditional Nile Felucca, meet a sailor and learn about traditional sailing practices. As the sun starts to fade, enjoy high tea at the historic Old Cataract Hotel. The likes of Sir Winston Churchill and Agatha Christie stayed at this pretty venue, and Christie supposedly wrote “Death on the Nile” from the hotel itself.
Day 6: Aswan and Back to Cairo Relaxed Start
Location: Aswan, Cairo
Accommodation: Cairo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayyam Casino.
Accommodation Name: Cairo Marriott & Omar Khayyam Casino
Meals Included: Breakfast
In the morning, disembark your cruise ship and enjoy time at leisure in Aswan. Why not join an optional experience and travel by air to the magnificent Temples of Ramesses II at Abu Simbel? These temples overlook Lake Nasser and are made up of the Great Temple of Ramesses II and the Temple of Hathor. Otherwise, spend the morning as you wish. Perhaps soak up the African atmosphere in the Nubian bazaar or visit one of the many points of interest nearby, such as the Botanical Gardens, Elephantine Island and the Aga Khan Mausoleum. Later, transfer to the airport for your return flight to Cairo for the night.
Day 7: Cairo Sightseeing
Location: Cairo
Accommodation: Cairo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayyam Casino.
Accommodation Name: Cairo Marriott & Omar Khayyam Casino
Meals Included: Breakfast
Begin your city sightseeing with your Egyptologist by exploring the Cairo Citadel, a medieval Islamic-era fortification that served as the seat of the Egyptian government for almost seven centuries, and visit the Great Alabaster Mosque. Later, visit the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), the home for many of Egypt’s ancient treasures, including the remarkable collection from Tutankhamun’s tomb.
Day 8: The Great Pyramids of Giza
Location: Giza, Memphis, Sakkara
Accommodation: Cairo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayyam Casino.
Accommodation Name: Cairo Marriott & Omar Khayyam Casino
Meals Included: Breakfast
Gain a deeper understanding of the last remaining Wonder of the Ancient World during a visit to Giza with your Egyptologist. Meet the enigmatic Sphinx, crouching at the foot of the Chephrenís Causeway and venture inside one of the magnificent Pyramids. Nearby lies Memphis, capital of the Old Kingdom, where you can see the colossal statue of Ramesses II and the great Alabaster Sphinx. Continue to Sakkara to view the Step Pyramid of Zoser, which dates back to 2686 B.C., making it the oldest pyramid in the world. Meet the skilled artisans at a local weaving school for a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Enjoy free time in the afternoon.
Day 9: Depart Cairo
Location: Cairo
Meals Included: Breakfast
Your wonderful journey ends with transfers to Cairo International airport.
What's Included
-
Choice Highlights
Choose between two carefully selected activities in Aswan, including an Egyptian cooking demonstration and a tour of the Captain's quarters.
-
Top Rated Highlights
Experience a scenic flight to Luxor, visit the Karnak temple complex, explore the Valley of the Kings, and enjoy a traditional Nile felucca ride.
-
Make Travel Matter
Visit a local weaving school in Cairo to learn about traditional Egyptian carpet weaving.
-
Authentic Dining
Enjoy a delightful drink and dinner in Luxor, an Egyptian dinner and galabeya party in Kom Ombo, and high tea at Aswan's Old Cataract Hotel.
-
Additional Included Highlights
Baggage handling, hotel and restaurant tips, taxes, porterage charges, and economy class flights between Cairo/Luxor and Aswan/Cairo are included.
-
Insight Experiences
Visit a family home in Luxor for a tasting of authentic Egyptian sun bread.
-
Well-being
Travel with a highly-skilled Travel Director and certified Egyptologist, enjoy luxury air-conditioned coach travel, and benefit from enhanced hygiene protocols.
-
Transport
Travel in comfort with included economy class flights between Cairo, Luxor, and Aswan, and enjoy a four-night Nile cruise aboard a mid-size ship. Complimentary transfers from/to Cairo Airport are available on arrival and departure days.
What's Not Included
Gratuities
Gratuities are not included for the Travel Director, Nile Cruise staff, Drivers, and Airport Escorts.
Dining Summary
- 8 Breakfast (B)
- 4 Lunch (L)
- 4 Dinner (D)
- 1 Afternoon Tea (AT)
Additional Included Highlights
- We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door.
- Hotel and restaurant tips are included - you'll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.
- From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination.
- 4 night Nile cruise aboard your mid-size cruise ship featuring air-conditioned cabins with private facilities, on either MS Medea, MS Miriam, MS Giselle, MS La Boheme or similar. Please note that gratuities are not included for the Travel Director, Nile Cruise staff, Drivers and Airport Escorts.
- Included economy class flights between Cairo/Luxor and Aswan/Cairo with transfers between airports and hotels.
- Complimentary transfers from/to Cairo Airport are available on arrival and departure days, or with additional accommodation booked through Insight Vacations.
Insight Experiences
- Luxor: Enjoy listening to stories of village life from local residents, when you visit a family home for a tasting of authentic Egyptian sun bread.
Well-being
- Our highly-skilled Travel Director and certified Egyptologist will ensure your journey is seamless, serving as your expert guide, consummate organiser, and friend overseas.
- Enjoy the comfort of Insight's luxury, air-conditioned coach with onboard washroom. Alternate vehicles without onboard washroom may be used on occasion. Our customized luxury coaches are sanitized before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical distancing measures have been implemented on our customized luxury coaches.
- Experience enhanced hygiene protocols to align with the latest guidance following COVID-19.All Travel Directors, Well-Being Directors and Drivers have completed training in enhanced well-being and hygiene protocols.
- We only work with establishments we are confident will consistently adhere to our high well-being standards, which include hotels, restaurants and sight-seeing venues.
- Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.
Mode of Transport
Travel in comfort with included economy class flights between Cairo, Luxor, and Aswan, and enjoy a four-night Nile cruise aboard a mid-size ship. Complimentary transfers from/to Cairo Airport are available on arrival and departure days.
Accommodation
Experience luxury at the Cairo Marriott & Omar Khayyam Casino, and enjoy a four-night stay aboard the MS Medea or MS Miriam cruise ship, offering air-conditioned cabins with private facilities.
Summary
- Cruise the Nile for four-nights from Luxor to Aswan • Travel with return flights from Cairo • Ride a Nile felucca.
- Visit the Karnak Temple Complex • Luxor Museum • Valley of the Kings and Temple Hatshepsut on the West Bank • Luxor Temple • Temple of Kom Ombo • High Dam and Granite Quarries of Aswan • Temple of Isis on the Island of Philae • Egyptian Museum • Pyramids of Giza • Sphinx and Sakkara Step Pyramid of Zoser
- Egyptian dinner and galabeya party on the Nile cruise. Follow in the footsteps of Winston Churchill and Agatha Christie as you enjoy high tea at Aswan's famous Old Cataract Hotel, while the sun begins to set.
Check out our Q&As
-
What unique experiences are included in the tour?
The tour includes a visit to a local weaving school in Cairo to learn about traditional Egyptian carpet weaving, a cooking demonstration or a tour of the Captain's quarters in Aswan, and a visit to a family home in Luxor for a tasting of authentic Egyptian sun bread.
-
What are the dining experiences like on this tour?
The tour offers a variety of dining experiences including a delightful drink and dinner in Luxor, an Egyptian dinner and galabeya party in Kom Ombo, and high tea at Aswan's famous Old Cataract Hotel. The dining summary includes 8 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 2 dinners with wine, 2 additional dinners, and 1 afternoon tea. ...more ...less
-
What kind of accommodation is provided during the tour?
Accommodation includes a stay at the Cairo Marriott & Omar Khayyam Casino and a four-night stay aboard the MS Medea or MS Miriam cruise ship, which offers air-conditioned cabins with private facilities.
-
Are there any optional experiences available during the tour?
Yes, there is an optional experience to travel by air to the magnificent Temples of Ramesses II at Abu Simbel during your leisure time in Aswan.
-
What is the transportation arrangement for the tour?
The tour includes economy class flights between Cairo, Luxor, and Aswan, and a four-night Nile cruise aboard a mid-size ship. Complimentary transfers from/to Cairo Airport are available on arrival and departure days.
-
What is the focus of the 'Make Travel Matter' experience on this tour?
The 'Make Travel Matter' experience focuses on visiting a local weaving school in Cairo to learn about the intricate art of Egyptian carpet weaving, which supports UN Global Goal 11: Resilient Cities and Communities.
-
Can I join the tour once it has departed?
We regret that no refunds can be made for absences from a tour, including experiences such as missed meals or sightseeing.
-
How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 1978.
-
What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Insight Vacations is a founding member of the TreadRight Foundation, a joint initiative created by the brands within The Travel Corporation (TTC) almost 15 years ago to ensure our impact through tourism is positive. Our ethos to #MakeTravelMatter guides our decision-making at every level of our business.
-
Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
-
Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
You have two options as a solo traveller. Either choose to be matched with a same sex partner for a room share - at no extra cost. Or choose a room of your own with a reduced or even free private room upgrade on select tours.
-
What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
Reviews of this operator
1 Select your preferred date
Book with Confidence
-
Low Deposit
Insight Vacations requires a minimum deposit of 350 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
-
Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of insight vacations charges.
Up to 91 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 90 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 80% of booking price.
At 1 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
-
Terms and Conditions
Enquire for Extra Savings
Rated 5* on Trust Pilot & ABTA Protected.
Wonders of Egypt - Small Group, Winter
9 Days Starting and ending in Cairo, Egypt
Visiting: Cairo, Luxor, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Aswan, Giza, Memphis, Sakkara
Tour operator:
Tour code:
SWA945N20
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
