Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Aswan - Kôm Ombo - El Silsila - El Kaab - Esna - Luxor - Marsa Alam (Red Sea)
100% customisable for you
Your grand Egyptian adventure starts today with a seven-hour flight to Aswan via Cairo. Head to the airport, whizz through security and relax in the airport lounge as you await departure.
Upon arrival, a private driver will whisk you off to your hotel for the next two nights. Reaching the guesthouse is an adventure in itself – you’ll sail 30 minutes down the Nile, admiring wading birds, kingfishers and other migratory birds as you go.
Spend the rest of today soaking in your new Egyptian environment with some riverside R&R, before sampling the finest local specialties at dinner this evening.
Rise and shine, it’s your first full day in Egypt. After a hearty breakfast, meet your expert local guide for a sailing adventure 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 of Satet, which dates back to the Ptolemaic era. Continue to a well-preserved Nubian village, and then hop across to Sehel Island to discover the Famine Stela, a hieroglyphic inscription detailing a seven-year period of drought and famine.
Round off the morning’s excursion with a traditional Nubian lunch in a charming local restaurant. Once you’re suitably stuffed, the rest of today is yours to play with, whether you’d rather discover the majestic riverside temples of Abu Simbel with a private guide, or explore Aswan at your own pace.
Kick off this morning with a visit to Agilkia Island, home to the Philae temple complex. Dedicated to Isis, the goddess of healing and magic, the sanctuary is one of the most beautiful of its kind, complete with well-preserved bas-reliefs, frescoes and capitals (engraved pillars). After a stroll around the site, climb aboard the Flaneuse du Nil, a traditional dahabieh boat you’ll call home for the next two nights.
Sail up the river to Kom Ombo, a temple dedicated to two deities: the falcon god Horus and Sobek, the crocodile god. 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 with sandstone quarries on both banks. This sandstone was used to build the temples of Thebes, Denderah, Esna, Edfu and Kom Ombo.
This evening is another chance to sample some delicious Egyptian food while stargazing from the top deck.
Soak in the morning hum of life on the Nile as you tuck into a traditional breakfast on the deck of the Flaneuse. Then, it’s time for this morning’s excursion to the remarkable sandstone temple, Speos of Horemheb. Built directly into the rock, the temple is flanked on both sides by stele chapels dedicated to the pharaohs Seti I, Ramesses II, Merneptah and Ramesses III.
Back on board the boat, enjoy lunch as you sail up to the ancient city of Edfu. Here, visit the impressive Temple of Horus, the best-preserved Ptolemaic temple in Egypt, discovered in the 19th century.
Later today, continue cruising towards Esna to dock up for the night and enjoy another tasty meal onboard the boat.
Step off the Flaneuse du Nil and reacquaint yourself with life on dry land before being privately transferred to Luxor. On arrival in the city, check in for two nights at a fabulous 1920s hotel. The atmosphere thrums with a delightful hustle and bustle, while archaeologists, artists and travelers from all walks of life flock to the nearby Western Necropolis of Thebes.
After settling in and freshening up, you’ll be met by a private guide for 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 Ramesses III, was built to restore the grandeur of Egypt during the New Kingdom (1570-1050 BC).
The rest of the day is yours to spend as you please. Head back to your hotel to enjoy some R&R, or if you’re in the mood for more ancient history, there’s no shortage of temples to visit.
Take a (short) break from the temples of ancient Egypt and spend today exploring Luxor with a clued-up local guide: a great way to get off the city’s traditional tourist track.
Begin at New Gourna, a village designed by Egyptian architect Hassan Fathy to replace Old Gourna. Fathy was commissioned to mirror 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. Visit a bustling palm wood workshop – the most popular material for local furniture – before heading to the El Gourna pottery school to learn the teachings of traditional pottery making.
Enjoy lunch in an archeological base on the west bank of Luxor, where you can meet archaeologists at work. Then, spend the rest of today savouring life in Luxor with a stroll around the neighbourhood.
Your adventure continues with a temple-hopping trip through Luxor before heading to the serene Red Sea. Begin your sightseeing morning at the Theban Necropolis, a ritualistic burial site on the west bank of the Nile. Next up is the colossal Valley of the Kings, home to the underground tombs of almost all the New Kingdom pharaohs.
Round off your morning of temple-hopping at the Deir el-Bahari, the grand funeral temple of Hatshepsut – a female pharaoh during the 18th dynasty (1473–1458 BC) – to admire paintings, reliefs and monumental structures.
Afterwards, hop into a private vehicle and enjoy the desert views during your five-hour drive to Marsa Alam, a beautiful resort town tucked on the turquoise shores of the Red Sea.
On arrival, check into a rustic beachfront hotel for three nights. Spend the rest of today settling into your new coastal environment, enjoying a stroll through the surrounding botanical gardens or watching the sunset from the beach.
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 come evening.
When you’re ready for a bit of action, don a snorkel mask and observe the colourful fish, superb corals and pelagic species that reside in the waters of the well-preserved Elphinstone Reef. You’re also nearby the sweeping Egyptian desert, which is never short of adventurous offerings...
The time has come to hang up your archaeologist hat for the last time and embark on the journey home. After breakfast this morning, take a private three-and-a-half-hour transfer to the airport in Hurghada, where you’ll catch your six-hour flight back to the UK.
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
ENQUIRE NOW
Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday
We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from fast-tracking you through airport check-in and security to our network of local Concierges
