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optional FIRST pre-trip day in FAYOUM
Day 2: Pyramids, SPHinx & grand egyptian museum
optional SECOND pre-trip day in alexandria
Spend a day touring the Fayoum Oasis, visiting a pottery factory in the picturesque Tunis Village before we switch to a 4x4 vehicle and visit Valley of the Whales, the Climate Change Museum, Wadi El Rayan, and the Magic Lake.We can sandboard on the dunes, too! We’ll return to the hotel in Cairo in the early evening.
Meals: B, L
optional SECOND pre-trip day in alexandria
Day 2: Pyramids, SPHinx & grand egyptian museum
optional SECOND pre-trip day in alexandria
Visit Alexandria's classic sites, including its famous library, the Catacombs, and the Qaitbay Citadel that was built on the site of the ancient lighthouse. We'll also see the end of the Nile as it empties into the Mediterranean Sea.
We'll be back to Cairo in time for our first group dinner.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 1: welcome to egypt!
Day 2: Pyramids, SPHinx & grand egyptian museum
Day 2: Pyramids, SPHinx & grand egyptian museum
When you arrive in Cairo you'll be greeted by a personal guide who will walk you through the airport to a private car which will drive you to the Marriott Zamalek. (It's about a 40 minute ride from the airport.)
Meet the rest of the guest for dinner at the delightful Granita in the safe and walkable Zamalek district.
Meals: D
Day 2: Pyramids, SPHinx & grand egyptian museum
Day 2: Pyramids, SPHinx & grand egyptian museum
Day 2: Pyramids, SPHinx & grand egyptian museum
Today we will visit the Great Pyramids of Giza, ride camels to the most iconic photo spot in the desert, meet the Sphinx, and explore to the treasures at the Grand Egyptian Museum, including King Tut's famous gold mask. It's such an iconic day and I can't wait for you to experience it.
We'll also learn how papyrus paper is made.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 3: CAIRO & khan el khalili bazaar
Day 3: CAIRO & khan el khalili bazaar
Day 3: CAIRO & khan el khalili bazaar
Explore Cairo's bustling city streets, both Old Coptic and Islamic Cairo, and treasure shop at the colorful Khan el Khalili Bazaar.
In the afternoon we'll fly to Aswan and check into our private Dahabeya. (Did I mention how awesome it will be to travel this way?)
Meals: B, L, D
Day 4: philae temple & Nubian village
Day 3: CAIRO & khan el khalili bazaar
Day 3: CAIRO & khan el khalili bazaar
Today is one of my favorite days. We'll tour the pretty Philae Temple and visit a Nubian Village where we'll taste local Nubian Coffee roasted over a campfire mixed with spices - delish!
We'll also swim in the most perfect spot in the Nile.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 5: abu simbel
Day 3: CAIRO & khan el khalili bazaar
Day 5: abu simbel
Be wowed by the UNESCO World Heritage site of the cave temples of Abu Simbel. They are just as awe inspiring as Ramesses II designed them to be, and their modern history (they were moved block by block when the Aswan Dam was constructed) is an engineering marvel.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 6: Nile river
Day 3: CAIRO & khan el khalili bazaar
Day 5: abu simbel
Relax on our private Dahabeya as we sail down the Nile and make local stops to villages off the tourist trail.
We'll have a cooking demonstration of delicious classic Egyptian dishes, taste test a variety of dates, and I have a few other fun surprises to share.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 7: luxor & karnak
OPTIONAL POST TRIP TO PETRA AND THE DEAD SEA
Day 8: valley of the kings
Luxor Temple!
Karnak!
These two iconic ancient Egyptian sites are on everyone's bucket lists, and we'll see both today.
Get ready to be inspired.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 8: valley of the kings
OPTIONAL POST TRIP TO PETRA AND THE DEAD SEA
Day 8: valley of the kings
Weather permitting - and it usually is - we'll start the day with a peaceful sunrise hot air balloon ride over the Valley of the Kings and local farms and villages on the bank of the Nile.
Then we'll explore where King Tut's tomb was discovered and the commanding temple built by Queen Hatshepsut.
We'll enjoy our last evening in Egypt at the beautiful Hilton Luxor Resort & Spa.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 9: travel LUXOR to cairo and home
OPTIONAL POST TRIP TO PETRA AND THE DEAD SEA
OPTIONAL POST TRIP TO PETRA AND THE DEAD SEA
After a delicious breakfast buffet (it really is outstanding,) we'll fly from Luxor Airport to Cairo for our international departures home.
Meals: B
OPTIONAL POST TRIP TO PETRA AND THE DEAD SEA
OPTIONAL POST TRIP TO PETRA AND THE DEAD SEA
OPTIONAL POST TRIP TO PETRA AND THE DEAD SEA
Since you're already in this part of the world and you have the time, join some of your fellow travelers in Jordan for a few days and visit the stunning World Wonder UNESCO site of Petra. This mini trip also includes a visit to the famous Byzantine mosaic pilgrimage map in Madaba and Mount Nebo, where Moses saw the Holy Land, before you
Since you're already in this part of the world and you have the time, join some of your fellow travelers in Jordan for a few days and visit the stunning World Wonder UNESCO site of Petra. This mini trip also includes a visit to the famous Byzantine mosaic pilgrimage map in Madaba and Mount Nebo, where Moses saw the Holy Land, before you watch the sun set as you float in the Dead Sea.
Contact me for details
What is Included?
What is not Included?
What is not Included?
- Personal Airport Pickup
- Accommodation (all nights)
- All meals and drinking water
- Internal flights
- Admission tickets
- Optional camel ride
- Hot air balloon ride at sunrise (weather permitting)
- Customized travel journal
- Solarpuff lantern to give to a family without access to electricity
- Contribution to Egypt Equine Aid
What is not Included?
What is not Included?
What is not Included?
- Round trip international airfare to and from Cairo
- Snacks and other drinks
- Travel insurance (CFAR required)
- Tips (for the local guide and sailing crew)
- Souvenirs
- Contributions to Climate Smart to offset carbon emissions
The Cost
What is not Included?
Our Group
Cost per person:
Double occupancy
$6,499
Solo room
$8,499
Non-Refundable Deposit
due February 1, 2025
$1,499
Pre-Day Trip to Alexandria
price tba
Our Group
Our Accommodations
Our Group
My tours are small on purpose.
This trip has room for a maximum of 16 people.
The travelers in our group are friends and family: people I've traveled with or have talked about traveling with. They are kind and respectful people of all genders and ages who are excited about exploring Egypt, and I'm looking forward to sharing it with them.
As most of you know, I don't advertise my trips. I prefer to run a secret boutique travel company.
If you know about this trip and have made it to this site, then you are most welcome to apply to join us.
Our Accommodations
Our Accommodations
Our Accommodations
As much as I travel I would rather settle into a room for a few nights instead of moving to a different hotel every day. With that in mind, I've designed our itinerary so we stay in only three locations over nine days:
- Two nights in Cairo at a 4-star hotel
- Five nights on our private Dahabeya traditional sailing vessel
- One night at the beautiful 5-star Hilton Luxor Resort & Spa
All rooms are offered as double occupancy. Travelers who prefer solo accommodations can pay an additional fee for their own rooms.
Our Dahabeya
Our Accommodations
Our Accommodations
Dahabeyas have been sailing the Nile since the Middle Ages carrying important rulers in style. These shallow-bottomed boats were painted gold (the Arabic word for gold, is "dhahab") to represent the wealth of the travelers onboard.
While there are many different styles of boats transporting tourists along the Nile, I prefer these traditional sailing boats because they are quiet, travel during the day, sit closer to the surface of the water, and are much smaller, allowing us to see more than we would from the other options.
These boats are more environmentally friendly.
I also like that we can hire the whole boat just for our group. This, of course, is the more expensive option, but I think it is definitely worth it. Plus, it has a hot tub.
Our Local Guide
On our trip through Egypt we will be accompanied by one of my friends who is a local Egyptian licensed tour guide. He is an expert in Egyptology - the history and mythology of ancient Egypt. He also knows delightful places we can visit off the beaten path, and he's a really great guy.
In addition to our guide, each guest will be met at the airport and driven to our hotel in Cairo by people who work for my good friend's tour company. Every person who works for them are highly professional and very nice.
Your Travel Dates
Travelers should book their flights to arrive in Cairo before 4:00 pm on the the arrival day. Because it is long flight (about 10.5 to 20 hours of traveling,) most flights will depart on the day prior.*
Your return flight from Cairo on the final day should be booked no earlier than 3:00 pm
*
For Main Trip:
Depart USA on Sept 28 in order to arrive by 4:00 pm on Sept 29
For Alexandria pre-trip:
Depart USA on Sept 27 in order to arrive by the evening of Sept 28
For Fayoum & Alexandria pre-trips:
Depart USA on Sept 26 in order to arrive by the evening of Sept 27
Thoughtful Travel
Thoughtful Travel
I am dedicated to supporting good stewardship of the planet and the life on it.
The challenges air travelers face is what to do about the damaging carbon emitted into the atmosphere by our international flights which contribute to the climate crisis.
I have joined Rick Steves' Climate Smart Commitment that invests in a portfolio of carefully selected nonprofits that fight climate change through government advocacy and on-the-ground work. The goal is to pay our fair share of the environmental cost that our trips incur, and to do so in a way that empowers communities throughout the developing world.
A donation to this program is Included in the cost of every trip.
