Day 1 - Saturday
Cairo
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.
To read more about our free airport transfer please click here
Overnight: Cairo (Hotel)
Day 2 - Sunday
Cairo - Aswan
After breakfast your Busabout Egyptologist will meet you in the Hotel reception for a welcome meeting at 8.30am. Your tour then begins with a visit to 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. You’ll have the early evening at leisure before boarding the overnight train to Aswan. The train offers comfortable reclining seats with plenty of legroom. This journey will be approx 12hours.
Overnight: Aswan (Train) Meals: Breakfast buffet included
Day 3 - Monday
Aswan
Enjoy your supplied breakfast box while pulling into Aswan (approx 10am arrival). This morning you have an included tour, visiting the Aswan High Dam, Unfinished Obelisk and the Philae temple. Spend the afternoon exploring the souk of Aswan.
Don't feel like sailing down the Nile on a felucca? Click here to see how you can upgrade to a 5* cruise boat. CRUISE UPGRADE PASSENGERS: you will board your cruise boat in time for your included buffet lunch. In the afternoon you will have an opportunity to experience a felucca ride as you sail around Elephantine Island home of the Aswan Botanic Gardens and Mausoleum of Agha-Khan. You will return to your cruise boat as the sun is setting, in time for your included buffet dinner.
Overnight: Hotel (Aswan) or Nile cruise boat.
Day 4 - Tuesday
Abu Simbel - Nile
This morning, passengers who have purchased the Abu Simbel flight trip will make an early departure (approx 7am). This side trip is about 5hrs, and includes the visit to Abu Simbel and the Behemothic Temple of Ramses II – the most awe-inspiring temple in ancient Egypt. This will be a highlight of your trip! For those not heading to Abu Simbel, you will have the option to take our optional side-trip to a traditional Nubian Village. Alternatively, relax and explore the charms of Aswan this morning at your leisure. This afternoon we board the Felucca boat to set sail up the Nile.
Read more about building our Abu Simbel Add-On into your itinerary here
Overnight: Felucca Meals: Buffet breakfast at hotel, lunch and dinner included
CRUISE UPGRADE PASSENGERS: this afternoon we set sail up the Nile. You will have lunch on board the boat. Enjoy the views as you sail towards Kom Ombo, where you will be taken on a Guided sight-seeing tour. Afternoon tea, and buffet dinner is included on the cruise boat.
Day 5 - Wednesday
Kom Ombo
Enjoy the calm and serenity of sailing along the Nile in your felucca, in the company of your trip mates. This evening you will arrive in Kom Ombo to visit its unusual double temple dedicated to Sobek – the crocodile God and the falcon God Horus the Elder. 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. This evening will be your last night sleeping under the stars on the Nile.
Overnight: Felucca Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
CRUISE UPGRADE PASSENGERS: this morning you will enjoy a guided visit the Ptolemaic temple of Edfu, dedicated to the falcon god Horus. Breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea & dinner are all provided for you on-board. You will cruise onto Luxor where you will spend your last night on-board your luxury cruise ship.
Day 6 - Thursday
Kom Ombo - Luxor
This morning you will disembark the cruise boat and take an air-conditioned bus to the temple of Edfu, then continue on to Luxor. Check-in to your hotel and freshen up before joining the Cruise passengers for 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 (time permitting) 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: Luxor (4*Hotel Mercure) Meals: Breakfast included
CRUISE UPGRADE PASSENGERS: enjoy your included buffet breakfast, and disembark the boat to be transferred to the hotel. Enjoy some free time to wander around Luxor before meeting with the Felucca passengers to visit the sites with your Guide.
Day 7 - Friday
Luxor - Hurghada
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 visit upper Egypt with a visit to the temple of Karnak, the largest ancient religious site in the world. This afternoon you will travel through the desert for your first glimpse of the red sea at Hurghada, arriving in the evening at approx 10pm.
Overnight: Hurghada (3* La Perla Beach Resort) Meals: Buffet breakfast and dinner at hotel included
Day 8 - Saturday
Hurghada - Dahab
We have an early start today to take the ferry from Hurghada to Sharm -El-Sheikh, continuing our journey through the Sinai desert to Dahab. Dahab is Arabic for “Gold” and almost certainly is derived from the golden sandy beaches that surround the town. We drive 1 1/2hrs from the ferry port in Sharm El Sheik to your hotel resort in Dahab through the Sinai desert. In Dahab you're sure to have an unforgettable stay with time to relax, enjoy the colourful waters of the Red Sea, dive, snorkel, and explore. You will arrive at the Tropitel early afternoon. Spend the afternoon at the beach, relax by the pool, and head into downtown Dahab in the evening to have a look around. Perhaps you’ll end up at the infamous Shipwreck bar for happy hour!
Overnight: Dahab (4*Tropitel Oasis Resort) Meals: Buffet Breakfast and dinner at Resorts included
Want to learn to dive in the Red Sea? Click here for more details
Please note: Occasionally the ferry between Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh can be cancelled due to weather conditions. If this should happen the connection will be made by bus.
Day 9 - Sunday
Dahab
Why not join our optional Camel trek and Blue Hole snorkelling trip. Meet in the resort reception area at 10.30am for your Busabout Guide. If you haven’t jumped on the back of a camel yet, now is your chance! The Blue Hole is a famous diving and snorkelling site in Dahab, well worth a visit. Return back to the hotel at 3.30pm to relax by the pool. In the evening there are plenty of bars to keep even the most indulgent travellers entertained! Or grab some much needed rest if you have signed up for the Moses’ Mountain & St Katherine Excursion – departure from the hotel is at midnight!
Overnight: Dahab(4* Tropitel Oasis Resort) Meals: Buffet Breakfast and dinner at Resort included
Day 10 - Monday
Dahab
An early start for those who are hiking Mt Sinai for sunrise, you will be sent off with a breakfast box, and will return back to the hotel by midday. Catch up on some sleep, or enjoy the resort facilities. This afternoon we offer the quad biking excursion, pick-up at 5pm, with a 2 hour adrenaline-filled ride into the Sinai desert.
Overnight: Dahab (4*Tropitel Oasis Resort) Meals: Buffet Breakfast and dinner at Resort included
Day 11
Dahab
Today your tour comes to an end so it's time to bid a teary-eyed farewell to Egypt. If you have a bit more time left in your traveling diary then you can Add-On our fantastic 4 Day Petra and Jordan Adventure onto your itinerary. We have departures leaving from the Tropitel Hotel at 8am at the end of every 11 Day One Way Egypt Adventure so click here to read about the wonders of the rose red city and exploring the Wadi Rum rocky desert! If you need to transfer to Sharm El Sheik airport, to Cairo, or require additional nights accommodation, speak with your Busabout Dahab Guide.