8-Day Egyptian Legacy Tour
Product Code: 460945
OVERVIEW

Highlights

  • •This classic 8-day tour introduces you to the main sites of Egypt while spoiling you with 5-star hotels in Cairo and a 5-star Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan. You see the pyramids, sphinx, Egyptian Museum and all the main Nile valley sites
Tour Code
460945
Duration
8 day
Departure City
Cairo
End City
Cairo
Tour Type
Cruise
Language
English
Available options
IS THIS TOUR FOR ME?

Tour Themes: UNESCO

Visit locations designated as World Heritage Sites by the United Nations

Tour Type: Guided Tour

Multiple local tour guides/drivers available throughout your tour/activity

Group Size: Small group tour

Take an intimate and semi-private trip with a small group

Activity Level: Moderate

Designed for travelers in good health who are comfortable with light walking or hiking

Itinerary

Adventure tour of Cairo and the Nile Valley

A luxury version of our classic Egypt tour, offering a higher standard of accommodation and transport to ensure your comfort at all times. We start in Cairo where you can explore the Great Pyramids of Giza including the Step Pyramid and the iconic Sphinx. A short flight takes you to Luxor the next morning where you will experience the incredible temples and world famous tombs of the Valley of the Kings as well as visiting Karnak, Medinat Habu, Queen Hatchepsut and the Colossi of Memnon. Your luxury river boat cruise takes you all the way to Aswan, via the temples of Edfu and Komomo, where we will explore the romantic temples of Philae and the impressive Aswan High Dam. Flying back to Cairo, we then tour the world famous Egyptian Museum, accompanied by a certified Egyptologist, before you are free to explore the bustling markets and souks of this incredible city.

Day 1: Arrive into Cairo. Transfer to hotel Upon arrival our staff will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel close to the Pyramids for the start of your trip. They will help you settle in, introduce you to the local area, and explain tomorrow’s arrangements. | OVERNIGHT: Cairo – 5 star hotel | EXTRAS: Extra night - pre-tour, Single Room Supplement - Egypt Day 2: Cairo. Pyramids & Saqqara tour Our tour of Egypt starts with a visit to the Giza Plateau, home of Egypt's world famous Great Pyramids, proclaimed by the Greeks to be among the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. We visit the great Pyramids of Giza and their guardian Sphinx, Memphis-first capital of the ancient kingdom to see the statue of Ramses II, then to Sakkara to see the Step pyramid. | OVERNIGHT: Cairo hotel | MEALS: Breakfast | EXTRAS: Nile Dinner Cruise in Cairo (deluxe) Day 3: Luxor. West bank tour. Luxor temple This moring we transfer to Cairo airport of an early flight to Luxor. We begin our tour of the West bank of the Nile starting at the Colossi of Memnon we then get to explore the dusty Pharaonic tombs located at the world famous Valley of the Kings. We also visit the Temple of Queen Hatchepsut and see the colourful hieroglyphics at Medinat Habu temple before crossing back into Luxor. Your afternoon is free to relax on board your 5-star Nile cruise boat or to explore Luxor's markets. In the evening we take a walking tour of the beautiful Luxor Temple which is spectacularly lit up at night. | OVERNIGHT: On board - 5 star cruise | MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Day 4: Luxor. Karnak Temple. Sail to Edfu This morning you have the chance to take a spectacular sunrise hot air balloon flight over the West bank of the Nile. After breakfast, our tour of Luxor today is to the huge temple complex of Karnak which features towering columns and numerous temples and structures - rightly justifying Luxor's reputation as the largest open air museum in the world! In the afternoon the boat starts sailing up the Nile, through the lock at Esna and on to Edfu where we | OVERNIGHT: (Note - Nile cruise boat itineraries are subject to slight alterations en-route). | OVERNIGHT: On board - 5 star cruise | MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | EXTRAS: Hot air balloon in Luxor Day 5: Edfu. Cruise to Kom Ombo & Aswan After breakfast we visit the nearby Edfu Temple which is dedicated to the god Horus. We then continue upriver towards Kom Ombo, watching traditional rural Egyptian life pass us by on the banks of the Nile. You may want to enjoy a relaxing soak in the plunge pool on the boat's sun deck. At Kom Omombo we tour the temple which sits scenicly by the banks of the Nile and is home to mummified crocodiles amongst other things! The cruise then continues onwards to Aswan. | OVERNIGHT: On board - 5 star cruise | MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Day 6: Aswan. Abu Simbel option. Philae Temple, Aswan Dam An option is available this morning to visit the temples built by Ramses II at the amazing UNESCO world heritage site of Abu Simbel. We depart very early with the aim of seeing the rising sun over the temples. If you don't visit Abu Simbel, then this morning is free.. Our tours in Aswan include a trip to the beautiful island temple complex of Philae which we visit by boat. The Philae temple remains one of Egypt’s most romantic and picturesque sites having been completely relocated following work on the Dam. We'll also see the impressive Aswan High Dam which was constructed to form Lake Nasser. The rest of the day is free to explore the colourful souks and markets found in the town or watch the sunset over the River Nile. | OVERNIGHT: Aswan - 5-star cruise | MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | EXTRAS: Abu Simbel overland Day 7: Cairo, Egyptian Museum & optional tours This morning we transfer to Aswan airport for a flight back to Cairo. We start our tour of Cairo with a visit to the Egyptian Museum, the world-renowned Museum of Egyptian Antiquities. Accompanied by your certified Egyptologist, you'll stroll through the halls highlighting each historical period of this ancient land. The afternoon if free to enjoy at your leisure or to take some optional half day tours visiting not-to-be-missed the Khan Al-Khalili bazaar, abuzz with activity and offering a priceless perspective on Cairo's oriental character OR discover Cairo's churches & synagogues by taking the old Cairo Coptic. | OVERNIGHT: Cairo hotel | MEALS: Breakfast | EXTRAS: Nile Dinner Cruise in Cairo (deluxe) Day 8: Cairo. Departure transfer to the airport Your time is free today until we transfer you to the airport for your departure flight. | OVERNIGHT: N/A | MEALS: Breakfast | EXTRAS: Extra night - post-tour

Visiting Attractions

  • Cairo Cairo
  • Cairo Cairo
  • Luxor Luxor
  • Edfu Edfu
  • Aswan Aswan
  • Kom Ombo Kom Ombo
  • Edfu Edfu
  • Aswan Aswan
  • Cairo Cairo
  • Cairo Cairo
  • Philae Temple Philae Temple
  • Aswan High Dam Aswan High Dam
  • Great Pyramid of Giza Great Pyramid of Giza
  • Pyramid of Khafre Pyramid of Khafre
  • Pyramid of Menkaure Pyramid of Menkaure
  • Saqqara Saqqara
  • Valley of the Kings Valley of the Kings
  • Temple of Hatshepsut Temple of Hatshepsut
  • Temple of Edfu Temple of Edfu
  • Temple of Kom Ombo Temple of Kom Ombo
  • Luxor Temple Luxor Temple
  • Karnak Temple Karnak Temple
  • Egyptian Museum Egyptian Museum
  • Great Sphinx of Giza Great Sphinx of Giza
  • Colossi of Memnon Colossi of Memnon
WHAT'S INCLUDED

Package Includes

  • Domestic flights
  • All hotel accommodation in 5-star hotels
  • 4-night 5-star Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan
  • All transport and transfers
  • 24-hour airport arrival & departure transfer service
  • Services of a local Egyptologist tour guide for all sightseeing tours
  • Meals as indicated in the itinerary

Package Excludes

    • International flights
    • Visa fees
    • Travel insurance (compulsory)
    • Meals not indicated in the itinerary
    • Entrance fees (allow approx. US$99)
    • Tipping kitty (allow US$70)
    • Drinks, snacks and other personal expenses (e.g. laundry)
    • Tour guide tips
    • Hotel gala dinners on 24 and/or 31 Dec (budget up to $180 p/p, see Tour notes)
    • Any other items not mentioned above
Special Notes
  • Accommodation
    Most of our small group tours use high quality hotels at the Egyptian 5-star level in Cairo, Aswan, Luxor and Hurghada, all with swimming pools and a choice of restaurants and bars. Our private/tailor-made tour itineraries use a wider mix of hotels, from comfortable mid-range hotels at the 2-4 star level (generally the best available in some of the less visited places included in the particular itinerary) up to some of the very best deluxe 5-star properties in the country.

    Nile cruise tours are generally based on Egyptian 5-star deluxe level boats - please check the Accommodation section on the tour page for details.

    Accommodation is based on twin, triple or double en-suite rooms/cabins with air conditioning. All couples will be given a private double room/cabin. Single travellers may choose to pay a single room supplement to guarantee themselves a single room throughout the tour. Alternatively, they may choose to share a room with one or two other travellers of the same sex.

    Single travelers
    On most of our Egypt tours, if you are happy to share a room/cabin with another traveller of the same sex, then if you are travelling solo, you do not need to pay the single supplement cost, even if you end up with a single room during the tour. This does not apply to all tours - please check the single room supplement option on your tour for full details.

    Gala Dinners
    Many of Egypt's hotels and Nile cruise boats arrange a very special gala dinner with entertainment in the evening on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. Payment for these is often optional on Christmas Eve (24 Dec) but may be compulsory on New Year's Eve (31 Dec), whether you attend or not. Prices can range from around US$50 to over US$150 per person. Final decisions on prices and whether dinners are compulsory are made relatively close to the time. We aim to always select hotels that make their Gala Dinners optional, though this is is not always possible. Gala dinner prices are therefore not included in our prices above, but will be added to your booking if they become required. More information is available on request.
  • Transport
    Our trips feature a mix of different transport options. We want you to feel like you’re really experiencing the country you're travelling through, but at the same time we want you to finish journeys refreshed enough to enjoy the next stage of the tour. In Egypt we do not use any public tourist buses or overnight coach journeys as we know that people don't sleep on board and end up very tired for the following few days. All the vehicles we use are air-conditioned, many are fitted with speed limiters, and all are inspected and checked daily. Some 4WD vehicles used on desert safaris may not always have air conditioning where they are only used for short periods.

    This tour also avoids any overnight train journeys, featuring domestic flights with Egypt Air between Cairo-Luxor and Aswan-Cairo.

    Nile cruise boat itineraries are subject to alterations depending on local conditions at the time of travel. Some sailing may be done after dark. Boats may moor up alongside each other at night, requiring you to cross through other boats to reach the shore. On Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve the cruise boats normally run a special Gala Dinner. The cost of this is normally compulsory, whether you attend or not, and is included in our group tour prices, and will be added to private and tailor-made tour quotes as required.
  • Transfers
    Our Egypt tours include a 24-hour airport meet & assist service in Cairo airport, your arrival and departure airport-hotel transfers and all other transfers. Our representative will meet you in the immigration hall of Cairo airport before you get to passport control. They will assist with visa formalities before helping you collect your luggage and taking you to your hotel.

    Your airport transfers are only included on the first and last day of the set tour itinerary, plus on any additional days if you book your hotel room with us. If you make your own arrangements for additional accommodation at either the beginning or the end of the tour then you will need to arrange your own airport transfers on these days.
  • International Flights
    We want to give you as much flexibility as possible when it comes to booking your holiday with us. So, to take account of people with varying travel plans, except on some Escorted Tours, we don’t include your international flights in the main tour price. We are however very happy to book your flights for you. Our ATOL (UK flight sales license - No. 10467) protects all holidays booked together with a flight from the UK.

    Please contact us with your preferred dates and departure airport and we’ll give you a selection of airlines, times and fares to choose from. Your airport arrival & departure transfers are included on the first and last days of the tour whether you book your flights independently or through us. Nearly all our Egyptian tours start and finish in Cairo airport (CAI).
  • Group Size/Tour Leaders/Guides
    We are committed to being a small group operator, as we feel this gives everyone in the group the best chance to get to know their fellow travellers and to hear and make the most of their guide. There’s no point in us providing great guides if you’ve got to peer over 30-40 shoulders to see them! So, we won’t ever put you in a 50-seater coach with 49 other people and just one guide. Instead, we set our Egypt small-group departures to have a maximum of 18 travellers. On dedicated Nile Cruise tours you may join larger boat groups for the sightseeing trips, though a supplement is always available for a private Egyptologist guide for these tours (requires advance booking).

    In Egypt we provide fully trained, local English-speaking graduate Egyptologist guides to run your tour and escort you during all of the sightseeing in Cairo and the Nile Valley. We also have permanent local reps in all the main towns/cities and Red Sea resorts who are also at your service, and will be handling all the practical arrangements for the tour. We use local Bedouin guides for tours through the desert.

    On some departures we may use one guide in Cairo, and a second guide for the Aswan to Luxor section.

    At Encounters Travel we only use local Egyptian guides and reps. We feel this gives you the best experience of the country and the sites you are seeing. Please check our website for more details and profiles of some of our most famous Egyptian guides.
  • Entrance Fees
    Our Small Group tours do not include entrance fees to the tourist sites mentioned in the itinerary. We do however normally include these in prices for Tailor-Made and Escorted tours. Please check the Inclusions and Exclusions section below the tour itinerary for a details about your tour and the amount you may need to budget. This amount is subject to change and will be reconfirmed in Egypt at the start of your tour. A 50% discount for minors or ISIC card holders is often, but not always available. Your guide will be happy to collect payment for all the entrance fees at the start of the tour, and pay them for you as you go along if you wish.
  • Tipping
    Tipping is very much a part of Egyptian culture and customs. To make our prices more transparent and so it is easier for you to budget and less hassle while in Egypt, on our small group tours we organise a ‘Tipping Kitty’ which needs to be paid as a local payment and will be around US$25-45 depending on the length of yoru trip. This kitty provides tips for a wide range of people you’ll meet along the tour including hotel porters, train and station staff, drivers, site guards, local reps etc. Please check the Included/Excluded notes below the tour itinerary for more information on how much to budget for this kitty.

    Your Egyptologist guide (and Bedouin guides in the desert) is not included in this kitty and you may tip them at the end of your tour subject to your satisfaction with and appreciation of the service they have provided. You should not feel obliged to tip any particular amount, and should consider your personal budget. We are often asked to provide a guide however, and can suggest that approx. USD 3-8 per person per day would be appropriate.

    On private/tailor-made tours we can also arrange a tipping kitty if you wish, or you can tip people as you go along the tour. Your guide will be happy to help advise either way.
  • Health and Vaccinations
    You should ensure you are fully insured for medical emergencies including emergency evacuation and repatriation.

    Recommended vaccinations and other health protection measures vary according to the country you are visiting and where you are travelling from. We recommend you contact your GP/medical practitioner or a travel clinic for current information on vaccinations needed for your destination. You should ensure that you are up to date with vaccines and boosters recommended for your normal life at home, including for example, vaccines required for occupational risk of exposure, lifestyle risks and underlying medical conditions.

    In addition, additional courses or boosters normally recommended for the countries in this region are:

    Egypt: Tetanus, Typhoid, Hepatitis A Jordan: Tetanus, Hepatitis A Israel: Hepatitis A, Poliomyelitis Lebanon: Dipheria, Hepatitis A

    Malaria is not generally present unless it has been contracted abroad; you do not need to take malaria prophylactics.

    More information is available here: Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon

    Note: We are aware of some places in Egypt using 'black henna' instead of pure brown henna. Black henna contains a chemical dye PPD (paraphenylenediamine) which can result in severe allergic reactions and resultant scarring. To be safe we recommend avoiding any henna tattoos while in Egypt unless you are certain they are using pure brown henna.
  • Passports and Visas - Egypt
    Passports should be valid for at least six months after your departure from the country. Please do not bring an almost full or almost expired passport. Visa arrangements are the responsibility of the traveller, and requirements are subject to change by the local authorities.

    We recommend that you contact your closest Egyptian consulate or embassy for current information for your nationality.

    In general official advice is that all nationalities obtain their Egypt visas in advance, as we cannot guarantee that you can get them in the airport. In practice however, many nationalities (including British and European, Australian, New Zealand, USA, Canadian) can and do generally obtain their visas on arrival in Cairo airport. The cost is currently US$25 p/p and must be paid in hard currency (i.e. GBP, USD or EUR) - you'll be given change in local currency if necessary. There are no forms to fill in and you don't need to bring passport photos. Visas are issued at one of the bank desks in the immigration hall, before you get to passport control. Our representative will have met you by this stage and will assist with the process.

    All African & Indian nationals, and some others, will need to obtain their visas in advance.

    For further information on your visa requirements, please either contact us or your local Egyptian embassy/consulate.
  • Voltage
    Sockets are two round pronged and 220 volts (Type C). Universal adaptors are available in most airport shops if you don't have one already. Standard European adapters will work fine, though sometimes they may feel a little loose in the sockets. All hotel rooms have electrical sockets where you can re-charge cameras, phones etc. Hair dryers are normally available on request from the hotel reception if not in your room already.

    If you have US appliances (110 volts) you will need a voltage converter as well as a plug adapter.
  • Money - Egypt
    The local currency in Egypt is the Egyptian Pound, often denoted 'LE'. The Egyptian Pound can vary significantly in value against the British Pound, but sticks fairly close to the value of the US Dollar. You do not need to arrange to bring any Egyptian Pounds with you to Egypt, as change facilities are available in all the hotels, airports and banks. You should try to obtain and keep hold of small denomination notes or coins on you during the tour as these are useful for toilets, tips and small purchases. ATMs are readily available in major towns and many local shops will accept VISA/Mastercard or Amex, but may charge fees of up to 10% - check before you pay. Travellers cheques are not recommended as they can not be changed in many places now, and can incur high fees.

    While in Egypt you will need sufficient funds to cover meals not included in the itinerary, drinks, snacks, souvenirs and personal expenses such as laundry. These should generally all be paid for in Egyptian Pounds. You may also need to pay for the tour Tipping Kitty and site Entrance Fees while you are in Egypt. Payments for these may be made to your tour guide in hard currency (USD, GBP, EUR) at the start of your tour. Please see your tour Included/Excluded details for more information and guideline amounts for these.

    It is difficult to recommend a level of personal spending money which will suit everyone as this can differ greatly, but as a guideline, we would suggest allowing USD 15-25 per person per day as a minimum. Allow more if you plan on doing lots of shopping, or buying many alcoholic drinks.
  • What to take
    Luggage: Suitcases, rucksacks or fabric holdalls are all fine to bring with you to Egypt. You should also bring a small daypack/bag to take out during the day. Your main luggage will normally be left in the hotel during your sightseeing trips – you will not need to carry it far, and there are nearly always hotel porters to assist.

    Luggage limits: There is no luggage limit for this tour. However, most airlines restrict you to between 20kg and 25kg for your hold luggage and between 5kg and 10kg for hand luggage. Please check with your airline before travelling to the airport.

    Clothing: Most of your time in Egypt will be in a hot climate. However, at night, and especially in the deserts, the temperatures can drop quite dramatically. So you must pack for cool conditions. Formal dress (eg. suits & ties) is not required on the cruise boats or in 5-star hotel restaurants. Long sleeves are recommended to protect from mosquitoes if you are on the felucca. Modesty rates highly in Egypt, especially for women, so to respect the local culture & people, please ensure all clothes are loose fitting and not revealing. Shorts (not hot-pants) are OK in tourist sites, as are T-shirts, but these should not show too much bare flesh (we suggest that your shoulders should remain covered). In the centre of Cairo, and when visiting any mosques, legs and arms should be covered.

    Other items: If you will be travelling on a felucca then we recommend bringing a light sleeping sheet or sleeping bag liner all year round for comfort, and a light sleeping bag in the winter months (November to February). We also recommend you bring a sun hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, a basic first aid kit, toiletries, small towel, money belt, small torch, camera & charger.
  • Travel Insurance
    Travel insurance is compulsory on all of our tours and needs to cover personal accident & liability, medical expenses and repatriation, travel delay & abandonment. We also strongly recommend that you take out cover against cancellation and lost/stolen baggage. Personal medical insurance does not normally provide sufficient cover and is generally not suitable for travel on our tours. You will not be able to join your tour if you have not provided us with details of your insurance or if you arrive without cover in place (no refunds will be due in this event).

    You may arrange your own insurance, or you can take advantage of a comprehensive policy that we can arrange for you through Endsleigh Insurance which has been designed to be suitable for our tours. The policy is available to travellers of all nationalities and you do not need to live in the UK to take out the policy. For full details of cover provided, prices and to apply for one of our policies, please complete travel insurance application form.

    Note: Any country that borders the Mediterranean is considered as 'Europe' for the purposes of travel insurance (including Turkey, Israel, Egypt and Morocco). If you are doing a tour that visits one country in 'Europe' and one that is 'Worldwide' (for example, an Egypt and Jordan tour), then you need a 'Worldwide' policy. When completing the form you should enter your travel dates including any extra days involved in overnight flights or connecting travel between your home and the tour. Our policies are not able to cover any extra time or activities other than your tour and options booked with us and your travel to & from home.

    If you plan to arrange a hot air balloon flight locally, or do some scuba diving during your tour, you should check the small print in your policy to make sure these are covered (these are covered in our policy). Please also check the maximum altitude that you will be reaching and that full cover including emergency evacuation is provided up to this altitude.

    If you are taking expensive camera gear or other electronic equipment with you then please check the coverage and the fine print of your policy to ensure that you have sufficient cover.

    IMPORTANT: We must have your travel insurance details (policy number and type of insurance) before you depart or you may not be allowed to join the tour. If you haven't told us already, please let us know the details when you can. You should take a paper copy of your insurance policy with you as you may be asked to show this at the start of the tour.

Cancellation Policy

Please see the Available Options section above for any details about cancellation policies.

Pricing Info

Your reservation is always subject to confirmation by email, normally within one to two business days.

Reservation Info

    1.Immediately after submitting your reservation you will receive a Receipt of Reservation via email.
    2. Within one to two business days of submitting your reservation you will receive a status update email from us. If you need to book an airline ticket, we recommend that you do so after you receive a confirmation of your tour reservation from us.
    3. An E-Ticket will be sent to you via email as soon as details of your reservation are confirmed or your supporting information is received by us. We will provide you with all detailed information about your tour on the E-Ticket. Contact information for local tour provider will be included on E-Ticket for your convenience or re-confirmation purpose if re-confirmation is required.
    4. Simply print your E-Ticket and present it with your valid photo ID on the day of your activity to your tour guide. Please remember E-Ticket is your proof of purchase.

Terms and Conditions

    - Your purchase does not guarantee confirmation. Your purchase will initiate a reservation process. We will confirm with you via email within one to two business days.
    - Prices may vary due to availability. We reserve the right to make price adjustment without prior notice.
    - Please refer to our Standard Amendment, Cancellation and Refund Policy before you make reservation.
    - Please refer to Customer Agreement before you make reservation.
    - Local tour provider reserves the right to make modifications to tour arrangements including order of tour activities, hotel and its location if deemed necessary.
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