Alternative Egypt: Aswan, the Nile, Luxor and the Red Sea

Rise and shine, it’s your first full day in Egypt and you’ll want to make the most of it. After a hearty breakfast this morning you’ll be met by a knowledgeable local guide, who’ll be leading you on a sailing journey around the beautiful islands of Aswan. Your first stop is the fascinating archaeological park on Elephantine Island, which boasts two nilometers (ancient pillars used to measure the Nile’s water level), a small museum and the temple and sanctuary of Satet, which dates back to the Ptolemaic era. Continue on to a well-preserved Nubian village that was built to accommodate communities displaced after the construction of the High Dam. From here, hop across to Sehel Island to discover the Famine Stela, a hieroglyphic inscription detailing a seven-year period of drought and imploring Hapi – the ancient god of the annual flooding of the Nile – to bring back the waters of the Nile. Round off the day’s adventure with a traditional Nubian lunch in a charming local restaurant. The rest of today is then yours to play with. We can arrange for you to spend the afternoon discovering the majestic riverside temples of Abu Simbel with a private guide, or you can continue exploring Aswan at your own pace.

Wave goodbye to your charming Nubian hotel as you continue your travels along the Nile River. Your first stop this morning is Agilka Island to visit Philae, a temple complex dedicated to the God mother Isis, the goddess of healing and magic. The sanctuary is one of the most beautiful of its kind, owing to its well-preserved bas-reliefs, frescoes and capitals (engraved pillars). After an informative stroll around the site, climb aboard the Flâneuse du Nil, a traditional dahabieh boat with just seven cabins, which you’ll be calling home for the next two nights. Sail up the river to Kom Ombo, a temple nestled on a promontory dedicated to two deities: the falcon god Horus and Sobek, the lord of crocodiles. This unusual double temple stands out for its remarkable symmetry and romantic setting overlooking the Nile. Continue on to Gebel el-Silsila, a narrow sliver of the Nile that’s home to sandstone quarries on both sides. The sandstone quarried here was used to build the temples of Thebes, Denderah, Esna, Edfu and Kom Ombo. Enjoy an evening of delicious Egyptian food and some nighttime stargazing on the top deck before curling up for a good night’s rest.

After breakfast in the renowned restaurant of the Flâneuse du Nil and some relaxation on the top deck, soaking in the morning hum of life on the Nile, head out to visit the Speos of Horemheb. This remarkable site displays a sandstone temple built directly into the rock, flanked by stele chapels that dedicated offerings to the pharos Seti I, Ramses II, Merenptha and Ramses III. Enjoy lunch on board as you sail up to the remains of Elkab, a 3,000-year-old Neolithic settlement surrounded by a mud brick enclosure. Continue to Esna to dock up and enjoy another evening of delicious food on board the boat.

Step off the Flâneuse du Nil and reacquaint yourself with life on dry land as you’re privately transferred to the majestic city of Luxor. On arrival in the city, check in for two nights in a fabulous 1920s hotel built to accommodate archaeologists. The atmosphere here thrums with a delightful hustle and bustle, while archaeologists, artists and travellers from all walks of life flock to the nearby Western Necropolis of Thebes and Valley of the Queens. After settling in and freshening up, you’ll be met by a private guide, who’ll be leading you on a horse riding adventure through Luxor’s enchanting countryside to the Medinet Habu Temple. Enjoy strolling through the grounds of one of Luxor’s most impressive temples, which, dedicated to pharaoh Ramses III, was built to restore the grandeur of Egypt during the New Kingdom (1570-1050 BC). The rest of today is then yours to spend as you please. You could head back to your hotel to enjoy some R&R, or we could arrange for you to continue temple-hopping your way through Luxor with visits to the temples of Karnak and Luxor.

Take a short break from the temples of ancient Egypt, and spend today exploring the scenic and cultural delights of Luxor in the company of a clued-up local guide. This is a great way to get off the city’s traditional tourist loop and discover its lesser-known architectural and cultural heritage, as well as its contemporary local initiatives. Begin your walk with a visit to New Gourna, a village designed by Egyptian architect Hassan Fathy to replace Old Gourna, a town that had become overrun with tomb raiders during the rise of Egyptology. Hassan was commissioned to mirror the look and feel of the original settlement, using traditional Egyptian materials and local construction techniques. The result? A charming mud-brick settlement in the heart of lively Luxor. The walking tour continues with a deep dive into the city’s artisan culture. Start with a visit to a bustling palm-wood workshop, the most popular material for local furniture. Continue on to the pottery school of El Gourna, which celebrates the teachings of traditional pottery making, an art that was trampled by the rise of the alabaster industry. Enjoy lunch in an archeological base on the west bank of Luxor, where you can meet archaeologists working on the surrounding archaeological sites. Spend the rest of today savouring life in Luxor with a free-spirited stroll around the hotel’s neighbourhood. We could also arrange for you to spend your final afternoon in Luxor discovering the Valley of the Kings and the tomb of Sethi I.

Your adventure across Egypt continues today with a temple-hopping journey to the serene shores of the Red Sea. Begin your sightseeing morning with a private visit to the Theban Necropolis, a ritualistic burial site on the west bank of the Nile. Continue on to the Valley of the Kings to discover the underground tombs of almost all the pharaohs of the New Kingdom. Nearby is the Valley of the Queens, where certain royal wives were buried, including Nefertari (the wife of Ramses II), who was lovingly known as ‘she for whom the sun shines’. Round off your morning of temple-hopping with a visit to Deir el-Bahari, the grand funeral temple of Hatshepsut, a female king of Egypt during the 18th dynasty (1473–1458 BC). This temple contrasts with the classic ancient Egyptian form of funerary structures with its long ramps and porticos (a large porch with pillars). Here you can admire paintings, reliefs and partly-preserved monumental structures, and bask in the splendour of ancient Egypt. After the visit, hop into a private vehicle and sit back, relax and enjoy the desert views as you are driven to Marsa Alam, a beautiful resort town nestled on the turquoise shores of the Red Sea. On arrival, check in to a luxurious beachfront hotel for three nights and spend the rest of today settling into your new coastal environment. Enjoy a stroll through the surrounding botanical gardens before heading to the beach for sunset.

Spend two days enjoying some serious coastal R&R in beautiful Marsa Alam. Move effortlessly from the hotel’s pool to the delightful waters of the Red Sea, read your book under the shade of a straw parasol and enjoy the hustle and bustle of bars and restaurants at the local marina in the evening. When you’re ready for a bit of action, don a mask and snorkel and observe the colourful fish, superb corals and pelagic species that reside in the waters of the well-preserved Elphinstone Reef. You are also within striking distance of the sweeping Egyptian desert, which is never short of adventurous offerings…