Family Holiday For Toddlers In Egypt Along The Nile & Red Sea

Overnight Comfortable Hotel (H++) in The Oasis Hotel

Today we visit the last remaining wonder of the ancient world, the magnificent Pyramids of Giza, sandwiched between the sprawling mass of Cairo and the open plains of the desert and dominated by the Great Pyramid of Cheops. You can opt to venture inside these magnificent structures, or perhaps visit the magnificent Solar Boat, designed to transport the Pharaoh’s soul to the afterlife (both these visits are optional). The complex also includes the splendid Granite Temple and the enigmatic and mysterious Sphinx, the Father of Terror, a crouching lion with a human head that is carved from a single piece of solid rock. From the Pyramids we then head to a papyrus institute, where you can learn something of the ancient methods of paper making in the Egypt of the pharaohs before returning to the hotel. The afternoon then presents some intriguing possibilities for further exploration and fun. You might like to visit the Pharaonic Village, travelling by barge to view a recreation of ancient Egypt that includes a number of fascinating craftwork exhibits and museums. Other options include a visit to the amusement park of Magic Land, which include a number of game zones and shows for young and old alike, whilst for those interested in exploring more of Egypt’s ancient heritage might like to undertake an optional excursion to nearby Saqqara and Dashur, or perhaps immerse yourself into the religious heart of Cairo with a tour of its Coptic and Islamic past and then take a wander through the bustling bazaars of the Khan el Khalili.

Overnight Comfortable Hotel (H++) in The Oasis Hotel Included meals: Breakfast Swimming available

This morning we leave free for you to enjoy the facilities at your hotel, have a splash in the pool or maybe, if you're feeling energetic, one of the optionals mentioned for yesterday.  After checking out of our hotel we pay a visit to the remarkable Museum of Antiquities, a spectacular repository of some 120,000 items encompassing all aspects of the world of the Ancient Egyptians, from ornate jewellery and towering granite statues, to mummified remains and, of course, the treasures of Tutankhamen himself. This incredible museum houses some of the finest artefacts of Egypt’s long and fascinating history and even the briefest glimpse of some of these priceless treasures presents us with a truly unique insight into one of the world’s great ancient civilisations. Another enjoyable aspect of the Egyptian Museum is the Children's Museum located on site where you can test all you've learned by building your very own Pyramid!!  Later this afternoon we will then transfer to the railway station to board a first class overnight train south, following the fertile ribbon of the Nile Valley into Upper Egypt, towards the once ancient city of Thebes. Described by Homer as the ‘city of a hundred gates’ and the capital of Egypt under some of its most famous and powerful pharaohs: Ramses, Tuthmose, Akhenaten and, of course, Tutankhamun, Thebes, or Luxor as it is now known, is situated on the east bank of the Nile, a vibrant mix of the traditional and the modern, where the daily bustle sees horse drawn carriages (caleshes), goats and splendidly robed Egyptians sharing the streets with the trappings of modern life. Each carriage will include two bunks, basic washing facilities and bedding and the evening journey will also include dinner (airline style tray meal).

Overnight Train (U) Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Arriving in Luxor this morning we pay a visit to a newly established 44-acre farm belonging to old friends of Explore. Located on the West Bank of the Nile, just south of the Valley of the Kings, the farm is given over to mangoes (harvested in mid-summer), camels, Arab horses, goats, cows and fattailed sheep. Irrigated by both flood (ancient) and trickle (modern) methods the farm is slowly developing and in a few years will be fully productive. A little mosque has been built and we can climb the minaret for views over the land to the sugar cane fields beyond. Our visit is both fun and educational, giving an insight into Egyptian agricultural methods – as well as a chance to see local animals close up! After checking into our hotel we will have a chance to relax and freshen up and then enjoy some free time before this afternoon’s planned excursion. The plan is to board a number of traditional feluccas (Egyptian sailing boats) and set sail downstream, exploring something of the rural landscapes along the Nile before returning back to Luxor (child life jackets are provided). Perfect for sedate sailing, these enchanting vessels affords us an opportunity to explore the Nile’s bewitching highlights in a style all but forgotten in the constant rush for modern convenience. These vessels follow a sailing tradition that dates back to the times of the Pharaohs and as we pass through the serene landscapes of the Nile Valley it is almost possible to imagine life along the great river much as it was countless centuries ago. Leaving our boats further down the river, we will return back to Luxor by taxi, to enjoy our first night in the city that once lay under the influence and rule of some of ancient Egypt’s greatest rulers.

Overnight Comfortable Hotel (H++) in Swiss Inn Included meals: Breakfast

This morning, we cross the Nile and travel by bus to the extraordinary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, Egypt’s only female Pharaoh, who usurped the throne from her son, the future Tuthmoses III. The scale of the temple and its magnificent setting are breathtaking, but perhaps even more remarkable are the details - look out for the fine carving of the ‘Expedition to the Land of Punt’. We then take a drive to the Valley of the Kings’ to explore some of the more important sites made famous in 1922 by the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun by Howard Carter. We visit three tombs. Arriving back in Luxor, you can take the time to cool down by the pool, enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of the Local Bazaar of this most ancient of cities or perhaps take a donkey trek on the West Bank through some local fields (toddlers are carried in a carriage pulled by the donkey).

Overnight Comfortable Hotel (H++) in Swiss Inn Included meals: Breakfast Swimming available

Anyone wishing to experience the early morning spectacle of the Nile Valley by air can take an optional balloon flight, this morning, taking in the true majesty of this setting in the early glow of the rising sun and meeting the rest of the group in the Valley of the Kings in time to join the tour. This morning we travel by calesh (horse drawn carriage), to visit the stupendous Temple of Amun at Karnak. Built under the watchful eyes of numerous pharaohs over a period of some 1500 years and dating from around 2000 BC, the scale and grandeur of the site is incredible (it covers an area the size of 10 European cathedrals). An avenue of silent sphinxes leads up to the entrance, where the Temple Precinct encloses the Festival Temple of Tuthmosis and the magnificent Hypostyle Hall with its 134 towering pillars. We will visit Hatshepsut’s obelisks and explore a myriad of chambers and temples, before gazing out across the Sacred Lake. In the Court of the Cachette a unique upstanding stele documents a pact between Ramses II and the Hittite king, an undertaking that presents us with one of the first international treaties ever recorded. Returning back to the hotel by calesh, we then have a little time before departing on the afternoon convoy for the town of Safaga on the Red Sea.

Overnight Comfortable Hotel (H++) in Menaville Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

The reefs and seas off this coast teem with life, and with over 400 varieties of corals and 1500 species of fish, the Red sea is a hard act for anyone to follow. Egypt can boast some 800km of magnificent reef filled coastline that stretches from Israel in the north to the Sudan. There are brightly coloured shoals of spectacular reef fish of every shade and hue living amongst the corals, as well as turtles, rays, small sharks and a brilliant canvas of soft corals and anemones. Today we include a full day’s glass bottom boat trip out into these spectacularly rich waters, to enjoy the reefs and sand islands off Safaga’s coast and spend some time exploring these remarkable waters (life jackets are provided).

Overnight Comfortable Hotel (H++) in Menaville Hotel Included meals: Breakfast Swimming available

A free day in Safaga affords an opportunity to do as much, or as little as you wish, with a range of options available, from relaxing on the beach, to windsurfing, diving and snorkelling. The choice is yours. Safaga is particularly popular as a windsurfing destination, having hosted the world championships in 1993. It also offer some of the most unspoilt dive sites along this stretch of coast, ranging from shallow dives suitable for beginners, to impressive dropoffs and walls, such as Panorama Reef and Abu Kafan, which is a glorious fusion of soft corals and sheer walls that are a regular hunting ground for sharks, turtles and barracuda.

Overnight Comfortable Hotel (H++) in Menaville Hotel Included meals: Breakfast Swimming available

Transferring to the airport in nearby Hurghada, we fly back to the Egyptian capital today, where the rest of the day is free to relax or explore as you wish. You may wish to make the most of the time by undertaking one of the optional excursions previously offered on our arrival, perhaps taking a trip out to the pyramid complexes at Dashur and Saqqara, one of the richest archaeological sites in Egypt and site of the world’s oldest stone building, the Stepped Pyramid of Zoser. Alternatively you may wish to simply soak up the eclectic chaos and charms of one of Africa’s most enthralling cities, perhaps seeking out a last minute bargain in the bustling souks before the journey home.

Overnight Comfortable Hotel (H++) in The Oasis Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Included meals: Breakfast