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Map of Essential Egypt including Egypt

If you only do one Egypt trip this lifetime, make it this one

Ancient history, endless golden sands, crowded souqs – Egypt is the ultimate destination for adventurous travellers. This nine-day tour is the perfect mix of blockbuster wonders and intimate moments, planned activities and time to wander. Your local leader will take you to bucket list icons like the Pyramids and Luxor, then guide you off the beaten path to eat koshari in a local downtown Cairo joint, or into a bazaar to meet a perfume merchant. Kayak the Nile, spend a night on a traditional felucca, drink your body weight in mint tea and more. The best part? You’ll do it all with like-minded travellers your own age.

This trip is for 18 to 29-year-olds

Some of our under-30 travellers prefer to get around with people their own age. If that’s you, you’re in the right place!

Over 29? We’ve got over 900 other great adventures to choose from for solo travellers, friends, families, food lovers, hiking enthusiasts, and more.

Start
Cairo, Egypt
Finish
Cairo, Egypt
Destination
Egypt
Style
Basix
Theme
18 to 29s
Code
XEYE
Physical rating
Ages
Min 18, Max 29
Group size
Min 1, Max 16

Travel solo, together

You're never alone when travelling solo with Intrepid

Why you'll love this trip

  • Cities like Cairo can be dizzying, but your local leader and guides are there for a reason – they'll have you heading straight for the best local spots.

  • The pyramids and Sphinx are awe-inspiring. But the smaller moments are special too – like kayaking on the Nile, dancing with Nubian locals and learning to spell your name in hieroglyphs.

  • Spend overnight cruising the Nile in a felucca, which is a bit like a floating living room. Stop at villages and temples by day and stargaze by night.

  • Squeeze between stalls at an Aswan bazaar and meet a perfume merchant who will school you on everything from mummification to smelling pretty for a date.

  • You’ll get plenty of free time in massive historical sites like Luxor, so you can grill your leader for tips on the way there and then set your own pace.

Is this trip right for you?

  • This is a trip designed for travellers aged 18 to 29; full of fun, flexibility and plenty of free time to explore at your own pace.

  • Before booking on this trip we recommend that you read the ‘Safety’ section under Essential Trip Information for specifics regarding Egypt trips. If you have specific concerns about women's safety, this blog written by one of our travellers will give you an idea of what to expect: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/solo-female-travel-in-egypt/

  • We plan our itinerary in order to beat the heat wherever possible, but even so you’ll likely feel warm – particularly in July and August. The good news is its mostly dry heat, so easier to handle than humidity. Egypt nights can be chillier than expected, especially from December to February, so it’s important to pack clothes that can be layered.

  • For many of our travellers cruising the Nile on a felucca is a trip highlight, but it's not for everyone. You will be sharing a sleeping area with your fellow travellers for one night, as well as sharing a bathroom while on board.

  • The terrain at some historic sites can be rocky and steep. Solid walking shoes are essential, plus anything to shade you from those rays – a hat, sunscreen and long sleeves. If you don't feel up to it on a hot day, you can decide to not take part, or wander at your own pace.

  • This trip includes the adventure of overnight train travel, one of the most unique ways to wake up in a new and strange place. You’ll get a small bed and air conditioning in a shared room, but the train might not be as clean as you’re used to.

Pyramids of Giza

Itinerary
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Welcome to Cairo! You will meet with your trip leader and the rest of your group at 6 pm this evening. If you arrive with time to spare before your tour begins, maybe go immerse yourself in the madness: grab a pair of authentic Roy Bunds sunnies from the bazaar, embrace the kitsch world of Dr Ragab's Pharaonic Village, or wash down the dust with a sahlab (sweet, hot custard drink with nuts).

Be ready tonight to put your tastebuds into overload as you head out with your new travel buddies for some koshari where all the locals go, downtown of course. Koshari? Think vegetarian Egyptian chilli, you may want a fresh lemon juice with that.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Cairo - Saqqara and Memphis Afternoon Tour - USD82
  • Cairo - Sufi Dance Khan al-Khalili (entrance fee) - EGP125
  • Cairo - Coptic Museum (entrance fee) - EGP150
  • Cairo - Islamic Art Museum (entrance fee) - EGP180
  • Cairo - The Citadel (entrance fee) - EGP300
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 at this time. 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.

We have listed the total price including transportation and local guides (where applicable) for these optional activities wherever possible. This is to help you budget for any additional excursions you might like to do on your trip. Some activities require minimum numbers to operate. If you prefer to do your own thing, taxis are available and your leader can assist in organising.

Drive out to the edge of the desert and explore the Pyramids and the nearby Sphinx (nobody's quite sure how it lost its nose). A guy called Khufu was responsible for building the Great Pyramid. It’s 4500 years old, 146 metres tall and made from 2.3 million blocks weighing around 2.5 tons each. And how did they honour him? With a 9 cm tall statue. Bummer. Later there are plenty of options, like visiting the Egyptian Museum, home to one of the world's great collections of ancient artefacts or the Valley Temple of King Khafre (Chephren). Just remember these will cost you extra. In the evening, it's time for your sleeper train to Aswan (Sleeper Train to Aswan sounds a bit like the title of an adventure novel, doesn't it? Just you wait).
Accommodation
  • Overnight sleeper train (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Cairo - Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx
Optional Activities
  • Cairo - The 2nd Pyramid of Khafre (entrance fee) - EGP100
  • Cairo - The Great Pyramid of Cheops (entrance fee) - EGP600
  • Cairo - The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization & The Royal Mummy Room (entrance fee) - EGP200
  • Cairo - The Egyptian Museum - USD35
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner
Special Information
The two-berth cabins on the overnight train are comfortable and air-conditioned. All bedding is provided on board by the porter. Western-style toilets are located in each carriage, but we recommend bringing additional toilet paper. Keep in mind general train cleanliness may not be to the same standards you are accustomed to. An included dinner and breakfast are served on board. You may want to purchase something extra beforehand to supplement your meal, particularly if you're a vegetarian as a meat-based meal is served for dinner. In rare circumstances you may be paired in your cabin with a group member of the opposite gender, depending on the group configuration. On other occasions, you might be sharing with another traveller of the same gender who may not be part of our group, again determined by the group configuration.

Hit the bazaar this morning on a tour with your leader. Be prepared for friendly shouts of ‘welcome’ and ‘where are you from’ coming from the vendors. Visit an oil and perfume merchant to learn about how aromatic botanicals have been used in Egypt throughout the ages. From mummification to smelling pretty for a date, you’ll discover their myriad uses. Later, choose whether to join an optional tour to the Philae Temple Complex. A standout here is the Temple of Isis (the Goddess of health, marriage and wisdom) that was rescued from the rising waters of the Nile and relocated in the 1960s. In the afternoon, pop on a lifejacket and grab a paddle for the kayaking adventure of a lifetime as you navigate the Nile. For dinner, you’ve got the chance to head to a Nubian village and enjoy an optional dinner with a local family.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Aswan - Kayaking
  • Aswan - Orientation walk & bazaar visit
Optional Activities
  • Aswan - Philae Temple (entrance fee) - EGP300
  • Aswan - Unfinished Obelisk (entrance fee) - EGP120
  • Aswan - Nubian Village Visit and Dinner - USD15
  • Aswan - Philae Temple Sound & Light Show Tour (minimum 2 persons) (entrance, guide & transport) - USD40
  • Aswan - Philae Temple Tour - USD30
  • Aswan - Philae Temple, High Dam and Unfinished Obelisk Tour - USD60
  • Aswan - Philae Temple Sound and Light Show (entrance fee) - USD40
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

This morning is yours to spend as you please in Aswan. If you can manage a (very) early start, the optional drive to Abu Simbel is well worth it. Cut out of a solid rock cliff, this temple’s a real winner as far as sightseeing in Egypt goes (and that is obviously saying a lot). Renting a minivan with your fellow travellers is the cheapest option. Remember, it takes 3 hours to drive there and 3 hours to drive back, plus you’ll want at least 2 hours to explore when you’re there. Back in Aswan the evening is free to check out the town.

Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Aswan - Abu Simbel Tour - USD110
  • Aswan - Nubian Museum (entrance fee) - EGP200
  • Aswan - Abu Simbel by Air - subject to availability - from - USD380
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Chill this morning before boarding your overnight felucca. A bit like a floating tent, a felucca is a traditional Egyptian vessel and the perfect way to explore the Nile. Later, take a stroll through a colourful Nubian village and discover what life is like for people living along the Nile.

Depending on the group vibe, tonight might include a little beach party.

Accommodation
  • Overnight Felucca (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Nile - Felucca overnight sailing trip
  • Nile - Dinner and Music Felucca
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Special Information
A felucca sailing excursion is one the best ways to experience the relaxed lifestyle of the Nubian and Egyptian culture. Part of this immersive experience in sharing a sleeping space with your fellow travellers. You’ll be sharing a massive mattress like a happy can of sardines. Blankets are provided, but we recommend travelling with a sleep sheet. There is a toilet on board and mosquito net coverage, though it never hurts to have insect repellent on hand.

Disembark your fine felucca this morning. While your body might be crying out for a shower, there’s one more temple to see before heading to the hotel. Check out the Temple of Edfu, where inscriptions give insight into life during the Hellenistic period when the temple was built. Continue to Luxor, where you’re free to explore this open-air, museum-city on your own. Can we suggest Karnak as the first stop? Wandering through this ancient village is a cool way to get a sense of life here more than 3000 years ago (hint: religion was a big deal). Legend has it that if you walk around the granite scarab that is west of the Sacred Lake seven times, you’ll meet your soulmate.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Luxor - Karnak Temple (entrance fee) - EGP300
  • Luxor - Karnak Temple Sound and Light Show (minimum 2 persons) (entrance, guide & transport) - USD35
  • Aswan - Kom Ombo Temple (entrance fee) - EGP240
  • Edfu - Edfu Temple (entrance fee) - EGP300
  • Luxor - Karnak Temple Sound & Light Show Tour - USD35
  • Luxor - Karnak Temple - USD25
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Optional Activities mentioned today are for entry only OR for organised tour programmes facilitated by your Group Leader. In the past we have found that this suits most of our travellers. If you prefer to do your own thing, transport to sites are available and your leader can assist with organising this.

This morning travel the short distance to discover the West Bank. Check out three burial tombs in Valley of the Kings, with the option to pay for an exploration of the formerly lost tomb of Tutankhamun. Continue to the Colossi of Memnon, where two huge statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III will have you pondering whether posting selfies to Instagram twice a day is really the height of narcissism. If your fellow travellers are up for it, you can choose to finish your West Bank adventure with an optional visit to the tomb of Hatshepsut. She became pharaoh when she married her half-brother, which wasn’t all that uncommon at the time.   If you’ve got any energy left, there will also be time to squeeze in a visit to Luxor Temple before your overnight train to Cairo.
Accommodation
  • Overnight sleeper train (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Luxor - Valley of the Kings (entrance to 3 tombs)
Optional Activities
  • Luxor - Hatshepsut Temple - EGP160
  • Luxor - Tomb of Tutankhamun (entrance fee) - EGP300
  • Luxor - Luxor Temple (entrance fee) - EGP260
  • Luxor - Luxor Museum (entrance fee) - EGP200
  • Luxor - Dinner with a local family - USD15
  • Luxor - Hot Air Balloon over the Valley of the Kings - USD130
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner
Special Information
You are able to purchase a photo ticket that will entitle you to take photos in any of the three tombs that you visit as part of your tour. The cost of the camera ticket is around EGP 300.

It is possible to do a hot air balloon over the Valley of the Kings and the Temples of antiquities on the West Bank. Your Leader can reserve this service for you. We use Dream Balloons in Luxor. Pick up will be from your hotel between 0430 and 0500; balloon capacity is 16-25; Cameras are prohibited in the basket but cell phones are allowed. Activity is subject to weather conditions. Payment by card is possible and will attract a 3% bank service fee.

Head back to the hotel on arrival to Cairo and jump on the Metro with your Leader , head south from Bab al-Futuh (one of three remaining gates from the Old City), walking past the old Islamic monuments that stand watch over the bazaars. Join in some good nature haggling at the Kahan-el Khalili bazaar, then head to El Fishawy. This ramshackle 240-year-old cafe is the perfect place for a cup of tea or a glass of cold water with lemon and mint. While there is nothing scheduled for tonight, we recommend heading into town as a group for one last bowl of koshari.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Cairo - Khan Al-Khalili Bazaar
Optional Activities
  • Cairo - Sound & Light Show at the Pyramids (entrance fee) - EGP500
  • Cairo - Sound & Light Show at the Pyramids Tour - USD50
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Your tour ends today after breakfast. Planning to hang out in Cairo for a bit? Check out some of the Urban Adventures offered by our sister company at urbanadventures.com/destination/Cairo-tours.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Want to tailor this itinerary?

Meals

8 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 4 dinners

Transport

Private vehicle, Felucca, Overnight sleeper train

Accommodation

Hotel (5 nights), Overnight train (2 nights), Felucca (1 night)

Included activities

  • Cairo - Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx
  • Aswan - Kayaking
  • Aswan - Orientation walk & bazaar visit
  • Nile - Felucca overnight sailing trip
  • Nile - Dinner and Music Felucca
  • Luxor - Valley of the Kings (entrance to 3 tombs)
  • Cairo - Khan Al-Khalili Bazaar

Dates & availability

Trip departures are unavailable.

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

Prices may go up, so secure your trip today!
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Important notes

1.Some entrance fees are not included. If you wish to take part in these activities, you pay these fees as you go along.
2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Day 2,7 (Sleeper Train) and Day 5 (Felucca) where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
3. Following recent safety incidents 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 - https://www.intrepidtravel.com/au/travel-alerts.

Essential trip information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

View Essential Trip Information

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