Map of Egypt Family Holiday Comfort including Egypt

Walk like an Egyptian on a family adventure

Explore the world of pyramids, mummies, tombs and bazaars on an eight-day exploration of Egypt for families. Dive into ancient history with expert local guides and see all the iconic sights, including the mighty Pyramids and the Sphinx, King Tut’s tomb, the Egyptian Museum and the Valley of the Kings. Cruise down the Nile on a traditional felucca and interact with a local family over a meal in a Nubian village. You and the kids will also have plenty of time to explore at your own pace, or just laze by the pool and soak up the Egyptian sun. Get your gang together and take a journey back in time.


Start
Cairo, Egypt
Finish
Cairo, Egypt
Destination
Egypt
Style
Comfort
Theme
Family
Code
XEFK
Physical rating
Ages
Min 5
Group size
Min 1, Max 16

Why you'll love this trip

  • Egypt is home to some of the world's most amazing ancient icons. Explore the Pyramids of Giza, Sphinx and Valley of the Kings with expert local guides who know all the history.

  • Experience a slice of contemporary Egyptian life and interact with locals along the way. See the Nubian way of life when you enjoy dinner at a local house in Aswan.

  • Spend time weaving through streets, getting lost in a colourful bazaar and exploring the impressive Karnak temple in Luxor.

  • Travel like the locals do on a comfortable overnight sleeper train – a fun experience where you’ll wake up to another exciting destination to discover!

  • Enjoy plenty of free time to do what your family loves doing on holiday – maybe that’s heading out for some more exciting tours, or just lazing by the pool and soaking up the sun.

Is this trip right for you?

  • There is a fair amount of walking involved in exploring the pyramids, and it can get very hot in the summer. Be sure your family has appropriate clothing, sun protection and plenty of water to drink.

  • Evenings can get quite cool, so it's best to bring warm clothes too. Wearing layers is the best way to deal with the disparity in day and night temperatures.

  • Taking an overnight train is a fun experience, but keep in mind that facilities will be basic. Though there are lockable cabins there is a shared bathroom at the end of the carriage.

Itinerary

Salaam Aleikum! Welcome to Egypt. You and your family will be met on arrival at Cairo airport and transferred to your hotel. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 5 pm this evening where you’ll meet your local leader and the other families joining you on your journey. Cairo is one of the great cities of antiquity and its history can be symbolised by two imposing landmarks – the Pyramids of Giza and the Mosque of Mohammed Ali. If you arrive with time to spare, perhaps get out and explore the busy streets of this city of contrasts. You may like travel along the river by felucca (a traditional wooden boat with broad canvas sails) or head out to explore the markets. After the meeting, head out for an included dinner at one of the boat restaurants on the Nile for an introduction to Egyptian cuisine and a chance to get to know your group.
Accommodation
  • Novotel Cairo El Borg or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer
Optional Activities
  • Urban Adventures - Saqqara and Memphis - USD70
  • Urban Adventures -Home Cooked Cairo - USD64
Meals Included
  • Dinner
Special Information
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information for each member of your family. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place. If you can't arrange a flight that will arrive in time, you may wish to arrive a day early so you're able to attend. We'll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability).

The arrival transfer is only valid if arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-trip accommodation through Intrepid. Please provide your flight details at the time of booking, or at a minimum 14 days prior to travel, as we may not be able to confirm a request made within 14 days of travel.
After breakfast this morning set out to see some of the world’s most iconic sights – the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx. The kids will stand in awe of the grand structure with towering limestone blocks For an additional charge you may be able to go inside the Great Pyramid of Khufu (although occasionally it may be closed to visitors). For lunch, you may like to stop at one of Cairo’s oldest fast food restaurants, founded in 1959. Afterwards, make your way to The Grand Egyptian Museum, home to one of the world's great collections of antiquities. Wander the treasure-filled halls of the museum and take in the masses of gleaming artefacts recovered from the tomb of Tutankhamun – an impressive sight to behold. From gold jewellery to the famous golden death mask and his gilded sarcophagi, this pharaoh was certainly prepared for the afterlife. Head back to the hotel for a swim before an optional dinner out with the group.
Accommodation
  • Novotel Cairo El Borg or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Cairo - Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx
  • Cairo - Egyptian Museum
Optional Activities
  • Cairo - The Great Pyramid of Cheops (entrance fee) - EGP600
  • Cairo - The 2nd Pyramid of Khafre (entrance fee) - EGP100
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Please note that you'll be required to walk around the Pyramids complex. It can be very hot in the summer months, so be prepared for little shade and pack appropriate clothing, sun protection, and carry lots of water for everyone! The inside thoroughfares of the Pyramids are very small and very warm, so for those suffering from claustrophobia it is not recommended.
The first stop of the day is a visit to the Citadel of Salah Ed-Din. Located high atop Cairo, the citadel boasts magnificent views of the city. Built by the Arab hero Salah ad-Din, the citadel primarily functioned as a military garrison, as well as serving as a royal residence for over 700 years. Then, head to the Khan el-Khalili, one of the biggest and oldest markets in the world, made up of a labyrinth of narrow streets and passageways. The 'Khan', sprawling around an old area known as Al-Azhar, is a quintessentially Cairo experience. It retains a distinctly medieval feel, so be ready to play knights. You may want to explore the gold market, Perfume Street or the fragrant spice market. Your leader will suggest some places to grab lunch at the bazaar before the group head back to the hotel for a swim and freshen up. Tonight is a true local experience – an overnight train to Luxor.
Accommodation
  • Overnight sleeper train (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Cairo - Khan al-Khalili bazaar visit
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner
Special Information
The overnight sleeper train between Cairo and Luxor will take approximately 9 hours. Each cabin sleeps 2 people in single bunk beds. The lower bunk can also be converted into 2 seats. Pillows, sheets and blankets are provided. There is also a compartment next to the upper bed for luggage storage and a small sink, and toilets are located at the end of the carriage. Each carriage has 10 cabins which are all lockable from the inside. During the journey, dinner and breakfast are provided, however the meals are very basic and you may wish to bring along your own fresh fruit, snacks and water to supplement these. For families of three and four we can request an interconnecting room. Please ask your booking agent to request this for you.
Built around the ruins of the ancient Egyptian capital Thebes, the city of Luxor is a historical treasure trove. Upon arrival, head straight to the Karnak Temple, perhaps the most impressive of all the ancient Pharaohs’ monumental works. One of the world's most celebrated temple complexes, Karnak is a house of the gods built over a period of some 200 years. Your guided tour of this vast temple of impressive pylons, obelisks and chapels will reveal its finest sections, such as the Avenue of Sphinxes and the Great Temple of Amun. Arrive back at the hotel for lunch and a much needed swim and relax for the afternoon.
Accommodation
  • Luxor Iberotel hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Luxor - Temple of Karnak
Optional Activities
  • Luxor - Karnak Temple Sound and Light Show (minimum 2 persons) (entrance, guide & transport) - USD35
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Embrace another early morning, cross the Nile and drive to the secluded Valley of the Kings. Sixty-three pharaohs were buried here as part of their journey to the afterlife. In the company of a local guide, spend a few hours exploring some of the exquisitely decorated tombs. It is here that the burial site of the boy-king, Tutankhamun, was re-discovered by British archaeologist Howard Carter in 1922. If you'd like to organise a visit to King Tut's tomb today, this can be arranged with advance notice – ask your leader for details at the beginning of your trip. On your way back to the river, spend an hour at the funerary temple of Queen Hatshepsut, Egypt's first female ruler. After some lunch in Luxor, hit the road to Aswan (approximately 4 hours). Tonight, your leader will take you on a wander around the bazaar followed by an optional dinner.
Accommodation
  • Aswan Basma Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Luxor - Valley of the Kings (entrance to 3 tombs)
  • Luxor - Tomb of Tutankhamun
  • Aswan - Orientation walk & bazaar visit
  • Luxor - Hatshepsut Temple
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
Even to travellers in ancient times, Aswan was known as the legendary gateway to the kingdom of Nubia. Today, it’s still something of a frontier town, where the Arab Middle East meets Africa. Today is free for you to explore Aswan, or the surrounding area, at your family’s preferred pace. If you can wrangle the troops, you might want to visit the magnificent temples of Abu Simbel, located near the Sudan border. These two temples – one for Ramses II and another he dedicated to his wife Queen Nefertari – were cut into the cliff face in the 13th century and remain impressive in their scope and detail. Ask your leader for details on how to arrange a visit, but be aware you need a minimum of four people to participate in this highly recommended optional activity. If you would prefer to stay in Aswan and get a taste of contemporary Egypt, there’s plenty to do. The relaxed atmosphere makes Aswan a great city to wander and watch the boats cruise the Nile, plus there’s always the hotel pool nearby where you and the kids can cool off. In the early evening, take a trip across the river to a Nubian village and enjoy a traditional dinner at one of the local houses.
Accommodation
  • Aswan Basma Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Aswan - Nubian Village Visit and Dinner
Optional Activities
  • Aswan - Abu Simbel Tour - USD110
  • Aswan - Unfinished Obelisk (entrance fee) - EGP120
  • Aswan - Sound & Light Show at Philae Temple - USD40
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner
Special Information
ABU SIMBEL OPTIONAL ACTIVITY:
By flight: 40minutes each way
By bus: 3hours each way

FLIGHTS: should be booked in advance online through EgyptAir: http://www.egyptair.com/English. Prices vary throughout the season, depending on the day of the week you fly and how far in advance you book, but expect to pay between US$250-300 pp. It's recommended to book the early morning flight and visit Abu Simbel at sunrise to avoid the heat. The airport is 25mins from the hotel in Aswan.

BY BUS: this can be organised locally via your leader (US$110 pp). It is an early start (between 5-6am) and you will return to Aswan in the early afternoon (1-2pm). Ask your leader for details on how to arrange a visit, but be aware you need a minimum of four people to participate in this optional activity.
This morning, take a water taxi over to the Temple of Isis at Philae. The Temple of Isis (the Goddess of health, marriage and wisdom) was rescued from the rising waters of the Nile and relocated to Philae Island. It's a marvel of decorative pylons featuring some of Egypt's finest carvings – definitely one of the real gems of Upper Egypt. The afternoon will be free to relax and take a swim in the pool. Late this afternoon, board a flight back to Cairo. Check in to the hotel on arrival, then perhaps freshen up and head out for an optional final dinner with your fellow family travellers.
Accommodation
  • Novotel Cairo El Borg or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Aswan - Philae Temple (entrance fee)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Check out of the hotel in Aswan will be at noon but bags will be stored in the lobby and accessible.
After breakfast, there are no activities planned for today and you are able to depart your accommodation at any time after check out. If you would like to spend some more time in Egypt, we don’t blame you! We'll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability).
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Meals

6 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 3 dinners

Transport

Private minivan, Overnight sleeper train, Flight

Accommodation

Hotels (6 nights), Overnight Sleeper Train (1 night)

Included activities

  • Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer
  • Cairo - Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx
  • Cairo - Egyptian Museum
  • Cairo - Khan al-Khalili bazaar visit
  • Luxor - Temple of Karnak
  • Luxor - Valley of the Kings (entrance to 3 tombs)
  • Luxor - Tomb of Tutankhamun
  • Aswan - Orientation walk & bazaar visit
  • Luxor - Hatshepsut Temple
  • Aswan - Nubian Village Visit and Dinner
  • Aswan - Philae Temple (entrance fee)

Dates & availability

Trip departures are unavailable.

There are currently no scheduled departures on our Egypt Family Holiday Comfort trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.

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Important notes

FAMILY TRIPS: Please note that these trips are for adults and children travelling together and there must be at least one child under 18 with you.

AGE: Minimum age for children on this trip is 5 years old.

DISCOUNT: A discount of 10% applies on this trip to children 17 years and under at time of travel.

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: A single supplement is available on this trip.

INTERNAL FLIGHT: please note the standard check in luggage allowance is 23 kg for EgyptAir.

ARRIVAL AIRPORT TRANSFER: A complimentary airport arrival transfer is included; valid if you are arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-tour accommodation through us. You must provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel.

We recommend that you check your government's advice for their latest information on travelling in Egypt before your departure and ensure that your travel insurance covers you for all areas of your itinerary. We have links to prominent government travel advisories and regular updates on issues affecting this trip on our Travel Alerts page – intrepidtravel.com/au/travel-alerts

Essential trip information

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