Day 1 Saturday
Upon arrival at Cairo International airport you will be met by a Busabout representative who will guide you through formalities at this somewhat chaotic airport! You’ll be transferred to your hotel to the sounds of horns as the cars, trucks, buses, mopeds, donkeys and pedestrians all fight for space on the overcrowded roads.
Overnight – Hotel, Cairo.
Day 2 Sunday
After breakfast your Busabout Egyptologist will take you to visit the Great Pyramids at Giza where you can view the Pyramid of Cheops, the only remaining wonder of the ancient Seven Wonders of the world. Next you’ll be taken to the world-famous Egyptian Museum. Here you’ll be taken on an included guided tour of the museum where amongst thousands of artifacts you can see the funerary treasures of King Tutankhamen – this is sure to be a highlight of your trip.
Overnight – Hotel, Cairo (Breakfast)
Day 3 Monday
Spend the day at leisure in Cairo or book one of our great value optional excursions such as a day trip to Alexandria, the renowned capital of the Ptolemies. This evening you’ll board our overnight sleeper train to Aswan. The train offers comfortable reclining seats with plenty of legroom.
Overnight – Train (Breakfast)
Day 4 Tuesday
We’ll have an early arrival into Aswan today and get straight into visiting the areas array of ancient sights. This morning you have an included tour, visiting the High Dam, Unfinished Obelisk and the Philae temple. After a short break for lunch you’ll head off on included Felucca ride around the Botanical gardens.
Overnight – Hotel, Aswan (Breakfast)
Day 5 Wednesday
This morning you have free time to explore Aswan or take one of our optional excursions to Abu Simbel to visit the Behemothic temple of Ramese II – the most awe-inspiring temple in ancient Egypt. You’ll have the choice of visiting by air or bus, depending on your budget – this will be a highlight of your trip! As if that wasn’t enough for one day, at lunchtime you’ll be joining our five-star Nile cruise. No need to rough it on a Felucca with no facilities, with Busabout you get to cruise the Nile in Style! Enjoy the famous Egyptian hospitality, relax in the bar, chill out in your air conditioned cabin or sunbathe on the upper deck next to the pool – the choice is yours.
Overnight - on board five star cruise boat (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
Day 6 Thursday
This morning you have free time to explore Aswan, or perhaps take our optional excursion to visit a Nubian Village, approximately 90 minutes motorboat cruise along the Nile. After lunch onboard you’ll set sail up the mighty River Nile. First stop will Kom ombo to visit its unusual double temple dedicated to Sobek – the crocodile God and the falcon God Horus the Elder. We’ll then continue our luxury cruise to Edfu where we’ll spend the night.
Overnight - on board five star cruise boat (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
Day 7 Friday
After breakfast today we’ll visit the Temple of Horus – the falcon God. This is not only the best preserved ancient temple in Egypt, but also the second biggest after Karnak. It was uncovered from a huge mound of sand in 1860 and dates back to 237bc. You’ll then continue your cruise to Luxor, where you’ll enjoy a guided tour of Luxor temple. Built by Amenhotep III around 1370bc this temple was dedicated to Amon-Re, king of the Gods and his consort, Mut. This fascinating temple has been used almost continuously for worship ever since. This evening you have a chance (if time allows) to enjoy a sound and light show at karnak temple where amongst the avenues of Sphinxes and halls of colossal columns you’ll hear tales of ancient Thebes.
Overnight - on board five star cruise boat (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
Day 8 Saturday
Today you’ll have an early start to avoid the blistering midday heat, and head off into the Theban mountains to visit the astonishing pharonic tombs of the Valley of the Kings. These exquisitely decorated tombs housed the sarcophagi encased mummies of over 60 pharaohs, most famously that of the child king Tutankhamen. You’ll then head to the temple of Hatshepsut, the extolled female pharaoh, and the Colossi of Memnon. These massive quartzite statues that once guarded the entrance to the mortuary temple of Amenhotep III now make an awe-inspiring sight as they stand virtually alone in a field on the road to the valley of the kings. You’ll then conclude your visit to upper Egypt with a visit to the temple of Karnak, the largest ancient religious site in the world. You’ll be blown away by more than 100 hectares of colossal statues, gigantic obelisks and monumental pylons. This afternoon you will travel through the desert for your first glimpse of the red sea at Hurghada.
Overnight – Hotel, Hurghada (Breakfast/Dinner)
Day 9 Sunday
Have the morning at leisure to explore Hurghada. Perhaps go snorkelling in the crystal clear waters of the Red Sea, enjoy a glass bottom boat cruise to view the untouched reefs, or soak up the atmosphere of one of the towns many souks (market). This afternoon you’ll drive up the east coast of Egypt, through the oil fields, to the resort town of Ain Sokhna at the mouth of the mighty Suez Canal.
Overnight – Hotel resort, Ain Sokhna (Breakfast/Dinner)
Day 10 Monday
Spend the morning relaxing by the pool and watching the colossal ship glide past in the channel leading to the Suez Canal. This afternoon you’ll travel through the tunnel under the Suez Canal and onto the Sinai Peninsula. Most of your journey today is through the amazing moonscape vista of the sparsely populated Sinai Desert. Tonight’s hotel is in St Catherine at the foot of Mount Sinai.
Overnight – Hotel, St Catherine (Breakfast/Dinner)
Day 11 Tuesday
A very early (2am) start for those that wish to climb Mount Sinai. Experience the magnificent sunrise from the mountain where Moses is said to have received the Ten Commandments from God. This experience is not to be missed! You’ll then descend for a guided tour of the monastery of St Catherine* by one of the local priests. This fascinating monastery houses a descendant of the burning bush, through which God is said to have spoken to Moses. You then continue your journey through the Sinai desert to Dahab for an unforgettable three night stay with time to relax, enjoy the colourful waters of the Red Sea, dive, snorkel, and explore the souks.(* subject to availability)
Overnight - Hotel resort, Dahab (Breakfast/Dinner)
Days 12 & 13 Wednesday and Thursday
You have two full free days to enjoy Dahab. Dahab is Arabic for “Gold” almost certainly derived from the golden sandy beaches that surround the town. As well as the multitude of watersports available why not take a camel trek into the desert, or perhaps a quad bike safari. You could visit a Bedouin camp, try kite surfing – or just relax and soak up some sun. In the evening there are plenty of bars to keep even the most indulgent travellers entertained!
Overnight - Hotel resort, Dahab (Breakfast/Dinner),(Breakfast/Dinner)
Day 14 Friday
You have this morning in Dahab to purchase that last minute souvenir before you head off back through the desert to Cairo. Tonight you’ll stay in a fabulous resort near the Pyramids of Giza where you can relax in the pool amongst the palm trees.
Overnight Hotel Resort, Cairo (Breakfast)
Day 15 Saturday
After breakfast today you’ll be transferred to the airport for your flight home.
(Breakfast)