Egypt adventure spanning 16 days

Our A1toureg representative will greet and assist you at Cairo International Airport, providing comfortable transfer to your hotel via private air-conditioned car. Your evening is at leisure; should your flight arrive early, feel free to reach out for activity recommendations. Settle in for your first night at the hotel.

Your guide will collect you from the hotel for an exceptional tour of The Pyramids of Giza (Cheops, Chephren, and Mykerinus). Next, visit the iconic Great Sphinx before exploring the Valley Temple. Local restaurant lunch at Giza. Then tour the Egyptian Museum, housing over 250,000 genuine relics spanning 5,000 years—including the exclusive Tutankhamen collection: treasures, gold, and jewels hidden for 3,500 years before discovery in 1920. For the Royal Mummy Hall, a separate 30 USD fee applies through the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization. The New Grand Museum opens soon. Return for dinner and rest. Optional: Sound & Light Show at Giza Pyramids (40 USD per person).

Depart 06:00 from your Giza or Cairo hotel heading toward Bahariya Oasis, situated 350 km east—a 4-hour journey. Centuries ago, travelers between the Nile and oasis faced three-day passages; today's speed is a luxury! Two coffee breaks punctuate the drive. You'll glimpse railways transporting iron ore to Helwan's mill (not for tourists). Bahariya is Egypt's iron ore heartland, sourced from Managim quarries. Arrive 10:00, meet your safari guide, board 4x4 Jeeps. Journey through the Black Desert, named for its dark powder-covered peaks and highlands. Lunch 12:00 at El Haize oasis, 37 km from Bawiti—a prosperous Roman settlement with Libyan heritage families. Before dining, immerse yourself in natural hot springs that melt stress; warmth promotes muscle relaxation and tranquility. A Water Museum here explains underground importance. 13:00 depart for Agabat Valley. 14:00 arrive deep within the White Desert. Millions of years underwater shaped limestone and chalk formations resembling animals. 4x4 explore Wadi el Agabat with sandboarding. 16:30 explore the White Desert National Park, Egypt's premier desert wonderland featuring limestone pillars—chickens, sphinxes, camels, tents, mushrooms. 17:30 pitch camp and witness sunset. 18:30 as sky turns pink to deep orange, silence envelops. Sit by the fire enjoying simple chicken, rice, vegetables—nothing tastes better. Bedouin staff arrange dinner and desert camping (vegetarian options available). Note: nighttime temperatures drop sharply; proper jacket essential—we supply sleeping bags, tents, mattresses.

06:00 dawn breaks over the White Desert. 07:00 desert breakfast before heading to Bahariya Oasis. 09:00 en route, visit Crystal Mountain (Gebel al-Izzaz), a natural crystal-studded hill nicknamed Desert Jewel, shimmering beautifully in sunlight. Discovered decades ago. 11:00 arrive at Bahariya Oasis and soak in Bir Sigam, a therapeutic hot spring 7 km east on the Cairo road—best temperature-wise. Summer alternative: Bir Madi (cold spring). Drive to Cairo airport, then fly to Aswan. Transfer from Aswan airport to your Basma Hotel.

Collect from Aswan hotel. Today explores Aswan's crown jewels: Philae Temple, Felucca sailing around Elephantine, High Dam, Unfinished Obelisk. Philae Temple: Honoring goddess Isis, this classical-style sanctuary began circa 690 BC and served as one of her last ancient worship outposts. High Dam: A rock-fill embankment on Egypt-Sudan border, fed by the Nile, forming Lake Nasser. Built 1960–1968, inaugurated 1971. Unfinished Obelisk: Aswan sourced ancient Egypt's finest granite for statues and monuments. The massive obelisk in Northern Quarries, nearly 42m long with three completed sides (inscriptions pending), weighs 1168 tonnes—would've been Egypt's heaviest stone object. 12:00 lunch aboard the cruise. 16:00 Felucca sailing around Elephantine Island; visit Lord Kitchener Island. Optional: Nubian Village tour (2 hours)—utterly authentic, colorful, artistic community surprising at every corner; feel the place's soul while strolling. Dinner and overnight cruise. Meals: Breakfast–Lunch–Dinner.

Breakfast & lunch aboard. Early departure to Abu Simbel from Aswan. Abu Simbel Temples: Two temples of Ramses II and Queen Nefertari carved from mountainside (1274–1244 BC) on the Nile's west bank. The Great Temple honored Ramses II, Ra-Harakhty, Amun-Ra, Ptah with four colossal statues. The second honored Nefertari and goddess Hathor. UNESCO relocated both temples stone-by-stone to higher ground—a monumental preservation triumph. 13:00 sail toward Kom Ombo. Kom Ombo Temple: 40 km north of Aswan, this dual-deity sanctuary honored Sobek and Horus, dating primarily to Ptolemaic-Roman era (332 BC–395 AD). Sail onward to Edfu. Dinner & overnight cruise. Galabyia Party.

Breakfast aboard. Cruise departure. Visit Edfu 08:00 via horse carriage. Edfu Temple: Upper Egyptian icon featuring a superbly preserved sanctuary honoring hawk-god Horus. The Ptolemaic structure (founded during Ptolemy III's reign, 246 BC) sits atop an earlier temple. Wall inscriptions chronicle the mythic contest between Horus and Seth, likely an annual religious drama. Return 10:00. Cruise lunch. 10:30 sail to Luxor via Esna lock. Arrive 18:00. Visit Luxor Temple. Luxor Temple: Largely New Kingdom pharaoh Amenhotep III's work, completed by Tutankhamon and Ramses II. The first pylon, raised by Ramses II, showcases his Military Battle of Kadesh artwork. Dinner & overnight cruise. Optional: Sound & Light Show at Karnak Temple (40 USD per person).

Optional hot-air balloon ride over Valley of Kings (80 USD per person). Breakfast aboard, then disembark. Explore Luxor's west bank and Karnak. Valley of the Kings: Historically "Great Place of the Truth," this royal necropolis is a majestic pharaonic domain where rulers rested in massive stone sarcophagi, awaiting eternity. The isolated valley behind Deir el-Bahari, dominated by a pyramid-shaped peak. Colossi of Memnon: Twin statues rising 18m from the plain, remnants of Amenhotep III's once-largest west-bank complex. Hatshepsut Temple: Rising from the desert plain in stepped terraces, this sanctuary merges seamlessly with the limestone cliffs of the Theban Mountain's eastern face, as if nature herself architected this extraordinary monument. Karnak: Far more than a temple—a grand complex of sanctuaries, pavilions, pylons, and obelisks honoring Theban deities and pharaonic glory. Karnak was the paramount worship hub for the Theban Triad (Amun, Mut, Khonsu). Lunch during excursion. Transfer to Marsa Alam Hotel.

Unwind amid sun and serenity at the Marsa Alam resort. This hotel is exceptional—snorkeling is superb with options for both newbies and seasoned swimmers. Cuisine is outstanding. Facilities gleam with cleanliness; staff radiates friendliness and attentive service throughout.

Relax at the resort. Book an optional excursion to Sataya Reef. Embark on a boat trip to the Satayh Dolphin Reef, a protected marine sanctuary where you can snorkel and swim alongside dolphins. Marvel at 60–80 dolphins performing an incredible show as you bond with them. This biodiverse region teems with dolphins, marine mammals, and mesmerizing coral and fish varieties. The adventure departs from Hamata Harbour, 120 km south of Marsa Alam.

Unwind at the resort. Reserve an optional excursion to Abu Dabab Beach Snorkeling. Abu Dabab Bay is a pristine snorkeling & dive haven in the Marsa Alam region. Coral walls feature abundant colorful fish perfect for snorkeling. The sandy beach with seagrass in crystalline, warm waters hosts vibrant fish species, green turtles, and the critically endangered Dugong, which occasionally feeds on seagrass in this sheltered bay. Join an exclusive speedboat adventure (14:00 start, ~90 minutes) hunting for the elusive Dugong from shore—heightened spotting chances! Vegetarian meals available.

Relish tranquility at the Marsa Alam resort.

Savor final moments at the Marsa Alam resort. Depart for Cairo by air.

Enjoy a relaxing evening at the Marsa Alam resort before nightfall flight to Cairo. Overnight at Cairo Hotel.

08:00 pickup from Cairo hotel with your Egyptologist guide. Embark on an enriching 8-hour orientation spanning major Old Cairo monuments and Khan El Khalili Bazaar's labyrinthine trading lanes. From your hotel, ascend to Saladin Citadel, fortified by Salah al-Din atop Moqattam Hills (1183 AD) against Crusaders. Now a treasured historic complex featuring mosques and museums, including Muhammad Ali Pasha Mosque. Turkish architect Yousif Boushnaq designed this alabaster marvel, imported from Istanbul; its radiant alabaster contrasts stunningly against the sandstone cityscape. Lunch in a local Old Cairo establishment. Then explore Old Cairo's crown jewels: Hanging Church, Ben Ezra Synagogue, Church of St. Barbara, Church of Abu Serga—among Cairo's oldest Coptic sanctuaries. Advance to Khan el-Khalili Bazaar, the Middle East's most historic bazaar. Navigate alleys at the heart of Cairo's commerce since the 14th century. Overnight Cairo.

After your remarkable Egyptian expedition, transfer to Cairo airport for your international flight. If you'd like to extend your stay in Marsa Alam, reach out to our team.