


Egypt - Highlights & Discoveries
From £5,975
Summary
The archaeology of ancient Egypt is one of the most instantly recognisable of all the great civilisations. This is a narrative of power, vision and ambition. The monuments of Egypt are much more than dry and dusty stones – through the real expertise of our Guide Lecturers, we ‘meet’ the real ancient Egyptians: from legendary pharaohs to the humble workers, who built their tombs and palaces.
Our adventure starts in Cairo then on to Luxor, followed by a Nile cruise to Aswan. The grand finale of this journey will be our visit to Egypt’s most impressive temple site, Abu Simbel.
Explore MS Tulip
M/S Tulip offers spacious and luxuriously furnished accommodation. The public areas provide the ultimate in comfort, elegance and design, which enable its guests to experience a fascinating way to travel and relax.
View full ship pageTour highlights:




- Enjoy access to both the grand gallery and royal burial chamber of the Great Pyramid of Khufu
- Discover the impressive temple site of Abu Simbel, which is a real highlight of our tour
- Experience the delights of cruising the Nile while pausing to visit the beautifully preserved temples of Upper Egypt
- Explore the enigmatic Valleys of the Kings & Queens and pay a visit to the exceptionally preserved tomb of Nefertari
Book Now
Your Departure date
Today's Price
£5,975
Deposit: £500 Single supplement: £960
Includes flights
Keeping you safe on your next tour
-
FREE 'Travel Safe' kits for every traveller
-
COVID-19 insurance
-
Enhanced Health and Safety audits
-
Distanced seating on coaches
-
'Get me home' service and private airport transfers
-
COVID protocols at our hotels, and aboard our cruise ships
-
Flexible balance payment date and COVID-friendly refund conditions
-
COVID-testing and medical training for tour staff
-
Constant monitoring and post-tour tracing
Meet your Experts
Lucia Gahlin
Guide Lecturer
Lucia Gahlin is a specialist in the archaeology of Ancient Egypt and has been leading archaeological tours to Egypt for over 20 years. She is an Honorary Research Associate at University College London’s Institute of Archaeology.
Your itinerary
Day 1 - London - Cairo
We depart from London and arrive in Cairo; the buzzing, energetic, metropolis that is Egypt’s extraordinary capital – a city that Egyptians admiringly refer to as ‘the Mother of the World’.
Snack in hotel room due to late arrival.
Le Méridien Pyramids Hotel and Spa
Le Méridien Pyramids Hotel and Spa, nestled between the city and the wilderness, boasts unparalleled views of the majestic, ancient splendor of the Giza Pyramids. A mere glance out a guest room window reveals one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Le Méridien Pyramids Hotel and Spa is surrounded by landscaped gardens, which provide a respite of greenery amidst golden sands. With 641 guest rooms, a peerless choice of restaurants and cuisines, a magnificent swimming pool and spa amenities, this 5-star hotel offers guests everything they could possibly need. The hotel is also conveniently located a mere 20 minutes from Cairo's city center. Experience a luxurious, unique and comfortable stay at the Le Méridien Pyramids Hotel and Spa.
Day 2 - Cairo
We start our day with a visit to Saqqara, a vast necropolis to the ancient Egyptian capital of Memphis. We discover the incredible Step Pyramid of Djoser and the smooth-sided Pyramid of Unas, the Mastaba of Mereruka and the Imhotep Museum, home to unique exhibits found during excavations nearby. After lunch we visit Memphis which served as the country’s capital during the Old Kingdom. Today this bustling ancient city is reduced to an open-air museum, its highlight the extraordinary fallen colossus of Ramesses II.

Hotel | Le Méridien Pyramids Hotel and Spa |
---|---|
Meals included | All meals included |
Le Méridien Pyramids Hotel and Spa
Le Méridien Pyramids Hotel and Spa, nestled between the city and the wilderness, boasts unparalleled views of the majestic, ancient splendor of the Giza Pyramids. A mere glance out a guest room window reveals one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Le Méridien Pyramids Hotel and Spa is surrounded by landscaped gardens, which provide a respite of greenery amidst golden sands. With 641 guest rooms, a peerless choice of restaurants and cuisines, a magnificent swimming pool and spa amenities, this 5-star hotel offers guests everything they could possibly need. The hotel is also conveniently located a mere 20 minutes from Cairo's city center. Experience a luxurious, unique and comfortable stay at the Le Méridien Pyramids Hotel and Spa.
Day 3 - Cairo
This morning we visit the pyramid complexes on the Giza Plateau, including the Great Pyramid – a true wonder of the ancient world, where atmospheric passageways lead to the breath-taking grand gallery and royal burial chamber. We also explore the Solar Boat Museum, which houses an original pharaonic ship, the Valley Temple of Khafra and the enigmatic Great Sphinx, whose limestone form has occupied this spot for more than 4,000 years. In the afternoon we enjoy a visit to the new Grand Egyptian Museum, where the world’s most extensive exhibitions in pharaonic artefacts can be seen. Among the many treasures on display are the solid gold mask of Tutankhamun, and the Narmer Palette, thought to depict the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt.

Hotel | Le Méridien Pyramids Hotel and Spa |
---|---|
Meals included | All meals included |
Le Méridien Pyramids Hotel and Spa
Le Méridien Pyramids Hotel and Spa, nestled between the city and the wilderness, boasts unparalleled views of the majestic, ancient splendor of the Giza Pyramids. A mere glance out a guest room window reveals one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Le Méridien Pyramids Hotel and Spa is surrounded by landscaped gardens, which provide a respite of greenery amidst golden sands. With 641 guest rooms, a peerless choice of restaurants and cuisines, a magnificent swimming pool and spa amenities, this 5-star hotel offers guests everything they could possibly need. The hotel is also conveniently located a mere 20 minutes from Cairo's city center. Experience a luxurious, unique and comfortable stay at the Le Méridien Pyramids Hotel and Spa.
Day 4 - Cairo - Luxor
Today we fly to Luxor. After checking into our hotel, we take a boat across the river to have lunch, and then afterwards proceed to the Memorial Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahri, a stunning collection of shrines which has largely been restored to its former glory. The temple is cradled by the dramatic natural sculptures of neighbouring cliffs.

Hotel | Sofitel Pavillon Winter Luxor |
---|---|
Meals included | All meals included |
Sofitel Pavillon Winter Luxor
The Sofitel Pavillon Winter Luxor is a 5 star hotel located on the banks of the Nile, nestled in the tropical gardens of a former opulent 19th-century palace.
Facilities include 3 restaurants, 2 bars and a large outdoor swimming pool. Guest rooms are decorated in a modern style with contemporary amenities including an LCD TV, minibar, safety deposit box, air conditioning, a hairdryer and free Wifi. Bathrooms have a shower over bath.
Day 5 - Luxor
This morning we lose ourselves in the captivating complex of Karnak. Here we encounter the cult temple of Amun-Ra, chief of the deities of the New Kingdom. This is a spectacular multi-period location with a wealth of religious and historical inscriptions at every turn. Chapels, gateways, halls and obelisks stand side by side. Sturdy pillars touch the African sky. Palm trees shimmer, reflected in the waters of the Sacred Lake. In the afternoon we visit the famous Colossi of Memnon on the West Bank at Thebes. These two enormous statues of the Pharaoh Amenhotep III stand at a towering 18-metres high, and were erected to guard the entrance to the pharaoh’s vast and opulent memorial temple. Alas, only traces of that once-great temple remain. Afterwards we visit the Qurna tombs of Rekhmire and Sennefer.

Hotel | Sofitel Pavillon Winter Luxor |
---|---|
Meals included | All meals included |
Sofitel Pavillon Winter Luxor
The Sofitel Pavillon Winter Luxor is a 5 star hotel located on the banks of the Nile, nestled in the tropical gardens of a former opulent 19th-century palace.
Facilities include 3 restaurants, 2 bars and a large outdoor swimming pool. Guest rooms are decorated in a modern style with contemporary amenities including an LCD TV, minibar, safety deposit box, air conditioning, a hairdryer and free Wifi. Bathrooms have a shower over bath.
Day 6 - Luxor
The Valley of the Kings awaits us today. This was the final resting place of royals and nobility for almost 500 years, with excavations dating the site back as far as the 16th century BC. Its most notable occupant is, of course, King Tutankhamun, so famously discovered by Howard Carter in 1922, and since returned to his original burial place where he now lies undisturbed. We visit four tombs in total here. After lunch we visit the Valley of the Queens, which includes the exceptionally preserved Tomb of Nefertari, who was the wife of Pharaoh Ramesses II.

Hotel | Sofitel Pavillon Winter Luxor |
---|---|
Meals included | All meals included |
Sofitel Pavillon Winter Luxor
The Sofitel Pavillon Winter Luxor is a 5 star hotel located on the banks of the Nile, nestled in the tropical gardens of a former opulent 19th-century palace.
Facilities include 3 restaurants, 2 bars and a large outdoor swimming pool. Guest rooms are decorated in a modern style with contemporary amenities including an LCD TV, minibar, safety deposit box, air conditioning, a hairdryer and free Wifi. Bathrooms have a shower over bath.
Day 7 - Luxor
Our first visit today is at the Ramesseum, with its fallen colossus of Ramesses II, an astounding testament to the Pharaohs reign – and the inspiration behind Percy Bysshe Shelley’s masterpiece ‘Ozymandias’. Afterwards we make our way to Medinet Habu, arguably the best-preserved temple of the New Kingdom, filled as it is with a wealth of exemplary paintings, carvings and sculptures. In total, the precinct contains over 7 square kilometres of decorated reliefs. On the East Bank we check-in to our Nile cruise boat and after lunch onboard we explore Luxor Temple, with its avenue of sphinxes, military reliefs and gorgeous papyrus columns. Our afternoon continues with a visit to the new Aboudi’s bookshop, which is the world’s best English language Egyptological bookshop.

Hotel | MS Tulip |
---|---|
Meals included | All meals included |
MS Tulip
M/S Tulip offers spacious and luxuriously furnished accommodation. The public areas provide the ultimate in comfort, elegance and design, which enable its guests to experience a fascinating way to travel and relax.
The M/S Tulip features a 5-star restaurant, which serves daily breakfast, lunch and dinner all prepared with the freshest ingredients. You can enjoy afternoon tea in the lounge bar, or watch the sunset by the outdoor swimming pool with a cocktail. All cabins have been elegantly decorated and the include panoramic Nile views, air conditioning, a mini bar, tea and coffee making facilities, and a Smart TV with satellite. Each room also has its own bathroom with a bathtub and hairdryer.
Day 8 - Luxor
The fantastic Luxor Museum is a treat in store - a masterfully arranged collection of archaeological artefacts and home to celebrated works of art, including the famous statue of Tuthmosis III - an extraordinary figure carved out of greywacke. We return to our boat and enjoy lunch before we set sail to Edfu.

Hotel | MS Tulip |
---|---|
Meals included | All meals included |
MS Tulip
M/S Tulip offers spacious and luxuriously furnished accommodation. The public areas provide the ultimate in comfort, elegance and design, which enable its guests to experience a fascinating way to travel and relax.
The M/S Tulip features a 5-star restaurant, which serves daily breakfast, lunch and dinner all prepared with the freshest ingredients. You can enjoy afternoon tea in the lounge bar, or watch the sunset by the outdoor swimming pool with a cocktail. All cabins have been elegantly decorated and the include panoramic Nile views, air conditioning, a mini bar, tea and coffee making facilities, and a Smart TV with satellite. Each room also has its own bathroom with a bathtub and hairdryer.
Day 9 - Luxor - West Bank
In the morning, we make our way to the temples of the gods of Upper Egypt, starting with the Temple of Horus at Edfu. One of the country’s most magnificently preserved shrines, the construction of which is thought to have spanned an incredible 180 years, from the 3rd to the 2nd century BC. Towering at a jaw-dropping 37 metres, its pylon - or gateway - is the highest among all of Egypt’s surviving temples, and is decorated with vivid scenes of King Ptolemy VIII destroying his enemies before Horus. The complex even houses a Nilometer, a structure made to measure the depth and clarity of flooding Nile waters. This afternoon we explore the Temple of Sobek and Horus the Elder at Kom Ombo and the site’s Crocodile Museum.

Hotel | MS Tulip |
---|---|
Meals included | All meals included |
MS Tulip
M/S Tulip offers spacious and luxuriously furnished accommodation. The public areas provide the ultimate in comfort, elegance and design, which enable its guests to experience a fascinating way to travel and relax.
The M/S Tulip features a 5-star restaurant, which serves daily breakfast, lunch and dinner all prepared with the freshest ingredients. You can enjoy afternoon tea in the lounge bar, or watch the sunset by the outdoor swimming pool with a cocktail. All cabins have been elegantly decorated and the include panoramic Nile views, air conditioning, a mini bar, tea and coffee making facilities, and a Smart TV with satellite. Each room also has its own bathroom with a bathtub and hairdryer.
Day 10 - West Bank
Today, we make our way to ancient Egypt’s southern border and visit the impressive Temple of Isis in Philae. The flooding of Lake Nasser caused the whole complex to be moved from its original location. After a stop at Aswan (High) Dam we visit the Unfinished Obelisk Quarry. After lunch on the boat we visit Elephantine Island to take in various important temples and the museum there.

Hotel | MS Tulip |
---|---|
Meals included | All meals included |
MS Tulip
M/S Tulip offers spacious and luxuriously furnished accommodation. The public areas provide the ultimate in comfort, elegance and design, which enable its guests to experience a fascinating way to travel and relax.
The M/S Tulip features a 5-star restaurant, which serves daily breakfast, lunch and dinner all prepared with the freshest ingredients. You can enjoy afternoon tea in the lounge bar, or watch the sunset by the outdoor swimming pool with a cocktail. All cabins have been elegantly decorated and the include panoramic Nile views, air conditioning, a mini bar, tea and coffee making facilities, and a Smart TV with satellite. Each room also has its own bathroom with a bathtub and hairdryer.
Day 11 - West Bank - Abu Simbel
It’s an early morning start as we transfer to Aswan airport and fly to Abu Simbel, located on the shores of Lake Nassar. Here, we make the most of our last day exploring what is considered to be Egypt’s most impressive temple site, home to the temples of Ramesses II and Nefertari. After lunch, we fly to Cairo and transfer to our hotel, where we will enjoy our final dinner together as a group.

Hotel | Le Méridien Cairo Airport |
---|---|
Meals included | All meals included |
Le Méridien Cairo Airport
Le Méridien Cairo Airport is an upscale hotel built within walking distance of the main terminal at Cairo International Airport, and connected to it by its own sky-bridge.
The hotel features several restaurants serving zesty Lebanese dishes at Mezzeh, a sports bar and fitness centre. Soundproofed rooms include a large bathroom, flat-screen TV and Wi-Fi.
Day 12 - Cairo - London
The modern world is calling us home. We take our leave from Egypt and catch our return flight to London.

Meals included | Breakfast |
---|

Tour dates & prices
Included in your cost:
- Expert Guide Lecturer
- Professional Tour Manager
- Local travel aboard a private air-conditioned coach
- Accommodation
- Meals as per the itinerary, tea or coffee with dinner
- Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
- All taxes & gratuities
- Field notes
Tour Departure | Tour ID | Departure date | Return Date | Guided by | Price | Deposit | Single supplement | Availability |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
14 September 2021 | AEGH210914 | 14 September 2021 (Tuesday) | 25 September 2021 (Saturday) | Lucia Gahlin | £5,945 (inc. flights) |
£500 | £890 | Book Now |
26 October 2021 | AEGH211026 | 26 October 2021 (Tuesday) | 6 November 2021 (Saturday) | Elizabeth Bloxam | £5,745 (inc. flights) |
£500 | £950 | Book Now |
8 February 2022 | AEGH220208 | 8 February 2022 (Tuesday) | 19 February 2022 (Saturday) | Lucia Gahlin | £5,925 (inc. flights) |
£500 | £960 | Book Now |
27 September 2022 | AEGH220927 | 27 September 2022 (Tuesday) | 8 October 2022 (Saturday) | Lucia Gahlin | £5,975 (inc. flights) |
£500 | £960 | Book Now |
Tour Enquiries

Newsletter
Data is kept securely according to our Privacy Policy.
Change country?
It looks like you’re in the United States.
Would you like to use the US site instead?