12-Day Egypt Off The Beaten Track Adventure

Experience Egypt off the beaten track and enjoy many of the ancient wonders which not many tourists ever get to see. Begin your journey through Egypt in Cairo. See the legendary Giza Pyramids and more, and then head off the beaten track. Sit back and relax as we drive you in air-condition comfort to places like Fayoum, El Minya, Amarna, Assuit, Abydousa and Dandara.

Board a 5-Star Nile River cruise in Luxor. Visit some of Upper Egypt’s most cherished sites as you sail along the Nile to Aswan, then head back to Cairo for your flight back home.

TOURS RUN: Monday & Tuesday

From: US$ 2,189

Egypt Off The Beaten Track

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7

Itinerary

DAY 1 – Arrive at Cairo International Airport for Your Egypt Off the Beaten Track Experience

When you land in Cairo, one of our tour managers will meet you at the airport and then he or she escorts you to your hotel in one of our deluxe air-conditioned vehicles. After checking in, your tour manager will review your “Egypt off the beaten track” itinerary with you and confirm pick-up times for your upcoming tours. You will then have the rest of the day for yourself.

DAY 2 – Giza Pyramids and Step Pyramid Tour

Today you will visit two awe-inspiring ancient sites. Your morning will be spent at the Giza necropolis where you will visit the famous Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx and the Valley Temple. Our tours include entrance fees for the site, but do not include entry to the pyramids. If you really want to go inside one or more of the pyramids, tickets are available at the site.

When you have finished at the pyramids you break for lunch which will be provided at a good local restaurant.

After lunch, you head to Saqqara which is a short drive from Cairo. When you arrive, you will make your way directly to the ancient Saqqara necropolis to see the Great Step Pyramid of Pharaoh Djozer. This was the first pyramid built by the ancient Egyptians.

When you are finished at this site you will head back to Cairo. You will be dropped off at your hotel and you will have the rest of the day for yourself.

Meals Include – Breakfast & Lunch

DAY 3 – Cairo Sightseeing Tour

Today your guide and driver will meet you at the confirmed time and then you will head to the old Al Darb Al Ahmar neighborhood. This is a fascinating part of Cairo and your guide will tell you all about its long and fascinating history. Next, you visit the imposing Salah El Din Citadel and the wonderful Mohamed Ali Alabaster Mosque.

Other sites you will visit today include Sultan Hassan Mosque and Madrasa, and the Mosque of Ahmed Ibn Tulun. Lunch will once again be had at a good local restaurant during your tour.

Meals Included – Breakfast & Lunch

DAY 4 – Egypt Off the Beaten Track: Fayoum and El Minya

Today you will check-out from your hotel early in the morning and then you will drive to Fayoum which is about 60 kilometers from Cairo. On arrival, you will visit Lake Qaroun and then continue on to the Wadi Rayan National Park to see its beautiful water falls.

When you are finished at the park, you then visit Gabal Al Modawara and the Wales Cemetery before breaking for a nice picnic lunch.

After lunch, you drive to El Minya where you will be taken to check-in at the hotel where you will be staying for the next two nights

Meals Included – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

DAY 5 – Egypt Off the Beaten Track at El Minya

Today your guide and driver fetch you and then you head to the necropolis of Tuna El Gabal. Here you will get to see the ancient crypts of baboons and ibis, the tomb of Isadora, and the tomb of the priest Pet-osiers.

After the necropolis you then make your way to Al Ashmunien, the ancient city of Hermopolis. The main highlights here are two massive baboon statues and the ruins of a basilica church. Next, you head to Beni Hasan where you will visit a number of ancient rock-cock tombs.

When you are finished at Beni Hasan you will then be driven back to your hotel in El Minya.

Meals Included – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

DAY 6 – Tell Al Amarna and Assuit

Check out from your hotel after breakfast, and then it will be another day of Egypt off the beaten track. Your first stop today will be at Tell Al Amarna. Visit the northern and southern tombs. You will also visit the ruins of the palace and temples, as well as another ancient royal tomb.

After your tour at Amarna, you then drive to Assuit where you will visit the Al Muharraq Monastery. It is believed that the Holy Family stayed here for 6 months and 10 days.

Next, you will make your way to Meir Village. This once served as a cemetery during the Old Kingdom – Middle Kingdom era. There are lots of ancient rock-cut tombs here, and because it’s off the beaten track, you are not likely to encounter many tourists during your visit.

Finally, you will drive to Abydos and you will be taken directly to the hotel where you will be staying for the night.

Meals Included – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 7 – Egypt Off the Beaten Track: Abydos to Luxor

After you have had your breakfast and you have checked-out from your hotel, you then visit the Shonet El Zebeeb fortress. After the fortress, you will then visit the ancient temple of Seti the 1st. Construction of the temple was started by Seti and later completed by Ramses II. It is considered to be the most beautiful ancient temple in all of Egypt.

Following your temple visit, you break for lunch, and then you are taken see the ancient Dandara complex While here, you will also have the opportunity to explore an ancient temple that was dedicated to the goddess Hathor.

The Dendara complex is the last attraction you visit today, so once you are finished at the site you will then be driven to Luxor where you will check in at a hotel for the night.

Meals Included – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

DAY 8 – Nile Cruise Embarkation and Luxor East Bank Tour

Enjoy a relaxing morning at your hotel. Towards the end of the morning, our tour representative and a driver will fetch and take you to board a 5-Star Nile River cruise. Have lunch on board the shortly after boarding.

In the afternoon, one of our expert guides will take you and a small group of our other clients to see two spectacular ancient relics on the East Bank. Visit Luxor Temple and the vast Karnak Temple complex, and then you return to the ship. Have the rest of the day for yourself

Meals Included – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

DAY 9 – Luxor West Bank Tour and Cruise to Edfu

After breakfast your guide accompanies you to three different ancient sites: Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, and the Colossi of Memnon.

After your tour you head back to the ship, and it departs for Edfu, sailing via Esna. Enjoy lunch and afternoon tea while sailing on the Nile. Enjoy the entire afternoon as you wish. Spend this night of your Egypt Off the Beaten Track vacation on the river at Edfu.

Meals Included – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

DAY 10 – Edfu Temple, Kom Ombo Temple, and Cruise to Aswan

After breakfast today, your guide accompanies you on a visit to the Temple of Horus at Edfu. This is the most well-preserved ancient temple in Egypt. It is simply breathtaking.

Return to the ship after your visit to the temple, and then you sail to Kom Ombo to see the fascinating Kom Ombo Temple complex which is actually two temples in one, and was built to honor two different gods.

Following your excursion at Kom Ombo, your cruise ship then sails to Aswan where you will spend this night of your cruise on the river.

Meals Included – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

DAY 11 – Aswan Sightseeing and Free Time

After breakfast, your guide accompanies you to three different attracts. Visit the Aswan High Dam, the giant Unfinished Obelisk, and the breathtaking ancient Temple of Philae.

With no more tours scheduled for today, you will have the afternoon free to enjoy as you wish. Enjoy the last night of your cruise on the river at Aswan.

Meals Included – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

DAY 12 – Return to Cairo for Final Departure

At the confirmed time, our tour representative and a driver will fetch you from your hotel and then take you to Aswan Airport for your final departure via Cairo. Your Egypt Off the Beaten Track vacation has now come to an end.

Meals Included – Breakfast

Included

Not Included in your “Egypt Off the Beaten Track” Itinerary

  • Meet and greet service by one of our representatives at airports
  • Assistance from our guest relations department throughout your stay if/when needed
  • All transfers in our private air-conditioned vehicles
  • Accommodation for 3 nights in Cairo (including breakfast and dinner)
  • Accommodation for 2 nights in El Minya (including breakfast and dinner)
  • Accommodation for night in Abydos, Sohag (including breakfast and dinner)
  • Accommodation for 1 night in Luxor (including breakfast and dinner)
  • All sightseeing tours in Cairo and Giza [private guided tours]
  • All sightseeing tours during your Nile Cruise [guided small group tours]
  • Entrance fees to all sites listed in our Egypt off the beaten track itinerary
  • English-speaking expert guide for all tours
  • Lunch meals as indicated in the itinerary
  • Bottled water during tours
  • Portage if/when needed

Excluded

Not Included in your “Egypt Off the Beaten Track” Itinerary

  • International airfare to and from Cairo
  • Egyptian tourist / entry visa
  • Optional tours and/or activities
  • Personal expenses
  • Tipping kitty

Accommodation Plan

Gold Plan

  • Le Meridien Pyramids Hotel and Spa (5-Star)
  • Grand Aton Hotel (4-Star)
  • House of Life Hotel (4-Star)
  • Sonesta St. George Hotel (5-Star)
  • MS Salacia Nile River Cruise (5-Star)

Prices

Select your preferences

Prices for our "Egypt Off the Beaten Track" Itinerary are quoted per person in US$ and are valid until the 30th of September 2023, except during the Easter, Christmas and New Year holidays. Discounted rates for children. Contact us for an exact price quote.

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