Family Discovery Tour Of Ancient Egypt

Arrive Cairo and check-in at hotel.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Swimming available

Africa’s largest capital, Cairo is situated mainly on the east bank of the Nile. This morning we drive to Giza, to visit one of the seven ancient wonders of the world, the Pyramids, among the most impressive man-made spectacles in the world. Here, you can opt to venture inside a pyramid, or admire the Solar Boat, designed to transport the Pharoah’s soul to the afterlife. The complex includes the Sphinx, a crouching lion with a human head carved from solid rock, and the splendid Granite Temple. In the afternoon, we visit the Egyptian Museum, which amongst its 100,000 artifacts contains the extraordinary treasures of Tutankhamun, complete with his Golden Mask.  We may also have the opportunity to visit the Children's Museum located at the Egyptian museum where you could have the chance to build your own pyramid! Tonight we board the overnight train to Aswan.

Overnight Train (U) Included meals: Breakfast Swimming available

We hope to arrive in Aswan by noon time where we will transfer directly to our hotel.  We have left the afternoon free for you to settle into this vibrant, bustling town, maybe enjoy the Nubian Museum or town souks.  In the evening we plan a visit by launch to a riverside village to eat with a Nubian family (friends of Explore for more than ten years!).

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Dinner Swimming available

Today we have the chance to visit the fabulous rock-hewn temple of Abu Simbel. Cut into the rock face, this enormous structure was raised 61m to save it from inundation by the artificial lake created by the Aswan High Dam. The 20m high statues represent Ramses II, known as the Great Builder. Alternatively wonder the streets of this fascinating city. Sited on the east bank of the Nile, Aswan stands just below the first Cataract and is the meeting point of Arab culture with Nubia and Black Africa. The excellent souq here reflects the fusion between Arab and African cultures, and we recommend a visit at some point during your stay. The afternoon is left free for your own family exploration which might involve visiting the souks of Aswan or simply relaxing by the pool.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast Swimming available

In the morning we cross the river by motor launch and meet our camels for an exciting journey across the desert to the abandoned Coptic monastery of St. Simeon, then return via a different route to the river. Around lunchtime we board our Nile Riverboat for a three day voyage downriver to Luxor. During our cruise, we see the intensive cultivation of the Nile Valley (mainly sugar-cane and maize) and at intermittent points are small villages which depend upon the river for their livelihood.

Overnight Accommodation on Boat (U) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Swimming available

We sail to the major settlement of Kom Ombo situated on the east bank of the Nile today. Dating from the Ptolemaic period, the temple of Kom Ombo is unique in that it is dedicated to two gods. Both Horus and Sobek were worshipped; Sobek is the crocodile god – much needed at this spot as this stretch of the river was noted for crocodiles until early this century! We then sail to Edfu, the largest Egyptian temple after Karnak, supposedly marking the position where the god Horus met and vanquished his father Osiris’s murderer Seth. Dating from the time of the Ptolemies (3rd-1st century BC). A sacred falcon-headed god guards the Temple of Horus, which is in almost perfect condition. The temple is unusual in that the roof is still intact. We moor overnight at Esna.

Overnight Accommodation on Boat (U) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Swimming available

Early in the morning we pass through the lock in the dam at Esna, which was built in 1906 to regulate the Nile floodwaters, and, from there, sail on to Luxor. On arrival we have the afternoon free to enjoy further sightseeing in Luxor such as a visit to Habu Temple and Workers tombs, or Karnak Temple or perhaps visit the souq to bargain for some souvenirs!

Overnight Accommodation on Boat (U) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch Swimming available

Rising very early this morning, we cross the Nile to enjoy a visit 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 bus ride 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. In the afternoon you are free to enjoy the historical city as you wish.  This may involve some pool time or even an optional donkey ride through the villages and fields of the West Bank, finishing watching the sun set over the Nile.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast Swimming available

Included meals: Breakfast