- Tour code
EGYADV01
- Start
Cairo
- End
Luxor
- Min. age
16 years old
- Group size
Max 6-16 travellers
- Trip style
Comfort
- Trip pace
Relaxed
- Language
English
Egypt rewards travelers who slow down, and this route is paced so you can. Your first taste of Cairo comes through its food, on a guided walk through neighborhood alleys, followed by a morning at the pyramids of Giza with an Egyptologist and time back at the hotel pool to recover from the heat.
A day for the Egyptian Museum, Saladin's Citadel and the lanes of Khan El Khalili and El Moez Street closes your stay in the capital, before a flight south to Aswan. There the pace drops: a desert monastery, the island temple of Philae, an afternoon under sail on a felucca and dinner at a Nubian restaurant.
The road north takes in the Temple of Horus at Edfu before Luxor, where Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, the Valley of the Queens and the Temple of Hatshepsut round out the week, with a farewell dinner by the Nile on the last night.
Transfers, guiding and logistics are handled and your Soca Islands Host travels with the group, so your job is to look, taste and ask questions.
Why This Journey
Egypt's great sites are spread along hundreds of kilometres of river, and putting them together independently means juggling domestic flights, drivers, entry tickets and guides. This trip links Cairo, Aswan and Luxor in a single week, with an Egyptologist at Giza and free time built in so the heat and the early starts never become too much.
It suits first-time visitors who want the pyramids, the temples and the royal tombs without feeling rushed, and travelers who care as much about food and everyday life as monuments: the Cairo food walk and the Nubian dinner are as much a part of the trip as Karnak. Groups are small, from 6 to 16 travelers.
Where You'll Stay
Cairo (2 nights): Steigenberger Hotel El Tahrir Cairo, on Tahrir Square opposite the Egyptian Museum. Aswan (3 nights): Mövenpick Aswan, on Elephantine Island in the Nile. Luxor (2 nights): Sofitel Winter Palace Luxor, a short walk from Luxor Temple. Proposed accommodation (or similar), subject to confirmation. Prices are based on sharing a double room with two beds.
Getting There
International Flights Not Included. International airfare to and from the destination is not included in the package price. Travelers are responsible for arranging their own flights and ensuring their arrival and departure align with the trip itinerary. Fly into Cairo (CAI) and out of Luxor (LXR); arrival and departure airport transfers are included. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
What you will see and do
Drift along the Nile under the white sail of a felucca
Share a Nubian dinner on the west bank of the Nile
Walk the Giza plateau with an Egyptologist who brings the pyramids to life
What's included
All activities mentioned on the itinerary
Accommodations in double rooms
Experienced Soca Islands Host with you throughout the trip
One farewell group activity when possible
Max 16 travellers per group
Arrival and departure airport transfers
Group transportation
What's excluded
- International flights (travellers arrange their own)
- Travel insurance (required)
- Meals not listed in the itinerary
- Optional activities, including the sunrise hot-air balloon flight and the evening visit to Luxor Temple
- Single room supplement (single rooms on request, subject to availability)
- Extra hotel nights before or after the trip
Group itinerary
Your airport pickup is arranged, and on the drive into the city keep an eye on the horizon: the pyramids often show themselves before you've even reached the hotel.
Once you've dropped your bags, you'll meet the rest of the group and head out with a local guide on a food walk through Cairo's tucked-away alleys, tasting the dishes Egyptians actually eat day to day.
This is the morning most people picture when they think of Egypt. With an Egyptologist at your side, you'll explore the Giza pyramids and hear how, and why, they were built.
Lunch comes with a view of the plateau. Afterward you return to Cairo, where the afternoon is yours to cool off at the hotel pool.
Start with the Egyptian Museum, where statues, jewelry and burial goods fill room after room. Next comes Saladin's Citadel, the 12th-century stronghold above the city, home to the Alabaster Mosque and wide views over Cairo.
The afternoon belongs to the old city: the lanes of Khan El Khalili and El Moez Street, with snacks to try as you go. Later, you fly south to Aswan, where the Nile runs slower and wider.
Aswan runs at a gentler pace, and today follows suit. In the morning you'll visit the ruins of the Monastery of St Simeon, out in the desert where a large community of monks once lived.
The rest of the day is free. The Nubian Museum is an easy option, or you can simply find a spot by the river and watch the boats go by.
Philae's temple, dedicated to the goddess Isis, sits on its own island, a fitting start to a day built around the water. In the afternoon you'll board a felucca and let the wind carry you between the granite islands.
Dinner tonight is at a Nubian restaurant, a chance to try the region's cooking and learn a little about a culture with its own language and traditions.
A private vehicle carries you north to Edfu, whose Temple of Horus is among the best preserved in Egypt. Then it's on to Luxor, built on the site of ancient Thebes.
At Karnak, you'll wander among giant columns, obelisks and statues. If you still have energy after dark, Luxor Temple and the lit-up Avenue of Sphinxes make an optional evening outing.
Early risers can add an optional hot-air balloon flight at sunrise above the royal valleys. On the ground, you'll visit the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens, stepping into royal tombs, and stop at the terraced Temple of Hatshepsut.
In the evening the group gathers by the Nile for a farewell dinner.
Your trip wraps up today. After breakfast, your departure transfer takes you to Luxor airport in time for your flight.
If your flight leaves later in the day, there may be time for a last walk along the Corniche or a final look at Luxor Temple.
Accommodations
Here's a glimpse of the hotels we selected for this adventure.
Steigenberger Hotel El Tahrir Cairo
A 295-room hotel on Tahrir Square in downtown Cairo, overlooking the Egyptian Museum, with Khan El Khalili a short drive away and the Nile Corniche on the doorstep.
An outdoor heated pool in the wellness area is a welcome break after a hot morning at Giza, and there is a restaurant serving Oriental and international dishes, a lobby bar, a fitness centre and a sauna.
Rooms are 27 m² (291 ft²).
Hotel websiteMövenpick Aswan
A resort on Elephantine Island in the middle of the Nile, facing Aswan's Corniche, with gardens running down to the water and wide river views.
There is an infinity-edge pool over the Nile, a buffet breakfast, and several restaurants and bars, including the Panorama restaurant with 360-degree river views and Egyptian cooking at Mezze.
Rooms are 32 m² (344 ft²).
Hotel websiteSofitel Winter Palace Luxor
A Victorian-era hotel on the Nile Corniche, about 100 metres from Luxor Temple and a short drive from Karnak, set in large gardens with views across the river to the West Bank.
There is a pool in the gardens, several restaurants and bars, and afternoon tea in the Victorian Lounge.
Rooms are 24 m² (258 ft²).
Hotel websiteRooms
You'll stay at Trip Hotel.
- Included
Shared double
Shared with the person you book with, or a fellow traveller of the same sex.
- +$1,096 per person
Single room
A room to yourself, subject to availability.
Room prices are per person for the Apr 3, 2027 departure and can differ on other dates. You choose your room when you book.
Tour FAQS
Fly into Cairo International Airport (CAI) and out of Luxor International Airport (LXR).
Proposed accommodation is Steigenberger Hotel El Tahrir Cairo in Cairo, Mövenpick Aswan in Aswan and Sofitel Winter Palace Luxor in Luxor (or similar hotels), subject to confirmation.
International Flights Not Included. International airfare to and from the destination is not included in the package price. Travelers are responsible for arranging their own flights and ensuring their arrival and departure align with the trip itinerary. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
Yes. Arrival and departure airport transfers are included: into Cairo (CAI) at the start and out of Luxor (LXR) at the end. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
The trip includes 7 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 3 dinners. Meals not included are at your own cost.
Extra nights can be requested, subject to hotel availability; contact our Customer Experience team for a quote.
There are no scheduled activities on the final day, so feel free to book your departure at your own convenience.
We recommend arriving before 3 pm on Day 1 to make it in time for the welcome event. But don’t worry no matter when you land, we’ll have an airport transfer ready for you.
Please Refer to your government’s travel advice or consult your local consulate. Remember, passport and visa requirements can change, so make sure to stay updated.
Excluding alcohol, we suggest budgeting around USD $40.00 per day for extras.
While we’re not medical professionals, we want to help you prepare for a safe and healthy adventure. Here are some tips:
- Consult with a healthcare professional: Schedule an appointment with your travel nurse or doctor at least eight weeks before your adventure to get any necessary vaccines or medications.
- Up-to-date medical advice:
- US residents: Check the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
- UK residents: Visit the NHS Fit For Travel website.
- Australian residents: Refer to the Smart Traveler Health website.
3. Government travel advice:
- US residents: Consult the US Department of State Travel Advice.
- UK residents: Check the FCDO Travel Advice.
- Australian residents: Visit the Smart Traveler website.
4. Medication tips: If you take prescription medication, bring enough to last the entire trip, plus a few extra days in case of delays. Carry a copy of your prescription in case you need to visit a clinic abroad.
We hope this helps you prepare for a safe and enjoyable adventure.
Please keep in mind that our itinerary, activities, and hotels might change. These adjustments could happen with little notice due to factors like availability, weather conditions, seasonal shifts, or other circumstances beyond our control. Rest assured, we always aim to minimise any impact on your experience. Occasionally, we may tweak the itinerary to try out fresh ideas and keep the adventure exciting.
We believe solo travelers shouldn’t have to pay extra to explore the world. That’s why our group trips are designed around shared accommodation and do not include a single supplement. Solo travelers joining our group trips are paired in twin or multi-share rooms with another traveler of the same sex for the duration of the trip.
Some of our Independent trips are structured differently. For these itineraries, solo travelers will need to book at the single occupancy rate.
Tips are not included in the cost of this tour. Remember, tipping is entirely at your discretion and based on what you feel comfortable with.
Would you like to learn more or customise our True Egypt trip?
Have questions about accommodations, accessibility, group preferences, or dietary needs? Complete the form below and our team will get back to you shortly.
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