Essential Egypt





Wander through an ancient Wonder of the World, discover temples and sail the Nile
Ancient history, golden sands and crowded souqs – Egypt is the ultimate destination for any adventurous traveller. This nine-day trip is the perfect mix of blockbuster wonders and intimate moments, with loads of planned activities and plenty of time to wander at your own pace. Your local leader will take you to bucket list icons like the Pyramids of Giza (one of the Seven Wonders of the World) in Cairo and the Valley of the Kings in Luxor, then guide you off the beaten path to eat koshari in a local downtown joint, or into a bazaar to meet a perfume merchant. Kayak along the Nile, spend a night on a traditional felucca under starry skies and drink your body weight in mint tea. The best part? You’ll do it all with like-minded travellers your own age.
4.9
298 reviewsStart: Cairo, Egypt
End: Cairo, Egypt
- Duration
- 9 days
- Group size
- 1 to 16
- Ages
- Min 18 - Max 35
- Style
Basix: Simple accommodation, local transport and lots of free time
Original: Tourist-class hotels, some meals included and a great mix of included activities and free time
Comfort: Comfortable accommodation, with a relaxed pace of travel and many included meals and activities
Premium: Our best accommodation, exclusive inclusions and our most experienced leaders
- Basix
- Theme
Our themes categorise trips based on a common interest or activity, while showcasing the highlights of a destination.
- 18 to 35s
- Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
This trip is for 18 to 35 year olds
Tick off all the popular spots and enjoy unique local experiences
Affordable trips with the freedom to choose how you spend your time
Connect to the places you go and the communities at the heart of every Intrepid experience
Why you'll love this trip
- Spend a night cruising the Nile in a traditional felucca boat (a bit like a floating living room) stopping at colourful villages and temples by day and stargazing by night.
- Witness some epic sights in Cairo, like the mysterious Sphinx and one of the Seven Wonders of the World – the Great Pyramids of Giza. Maybe even learn how to spell your name in hieroglyphics!
- Kayak along the Nile, paddling through ancient landscapes and getting a glimpse into local life along the shores.
- Discover the Valley of the Kings with a tour through three burial sites of ancient Pharaohs and the option to check out the fascinating lost tomb of Tutankhamun.
- Squeeze between stalls at an Aswan bazaar and discover the open-air museum of Luxor with loads of free time to see the sights at your own pace and a local leader with all the hot tips.
View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2025 - 31 December 2025
Itinerary
Ahlan wa sahlan! Welcome to Egypt. If you arrive in Cairo with time to spare, maybe immerse yourself in the madness of the bazaars, embrace the kitsch world of Dr Ragab's Pharaonic Village or wash down the dust with a sahlab (sweet, hot custard drink with nuts). Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. After, put your tastebuds into overdrive as you head out with your new travel buddies for some koshari (vegetarian Egyptian chilli often with fresh lemon juice). Later tonight, maybe explore Cairo’s nightlife – your trip leader will know all the best spots!
- Hotel (1 night)
- Dinner
- Cairo - Saqqara and Memphis Urban Adventure - USD49
- Cairo - Coptic Museum (entrance fee) - EGP280
- Cairo - Islamic Art Museum (entrance fee) - EGP340
- Cairo - The Citadel (entrance fee) - EGP550
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. Most optional activities in Egypt are payable in cash only (EGP or USD). If you prefer to do your own thing, taxis are available and your leader can assist in organising.
If you’re interested in one of the Urban Adventures tours, check out https://www.urbanadventures.com/cairo
After breakfast this morning, it’s time to tick something huge off your bucket list. Drive out to the edge of the desert and explore the Great Pyramids of Giza – one of the famed ancient Wonders of the World – 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 m tall, and made from 2.3 million blocks weighing around 2.5 tonnes each. He even got a 9 cm statue to commemorate him – lucky him! You can marvel at their size up close or take an epic pic from a distance, with Cairo in the background. Later, you’ll have free time to continue exploring how you’d like – maybe visit the Egyptian Museum, home to one of the world's greatest collections of ancient artefacts, or head to the Valley Temple of King Khafre (Chephren). In the evening, it's time for your sleeper train to Aswan where you’ll spend the night.
- Overnight Sleeper Train (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Dinner
- Cairo - Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx
- Cairo - The 3rd Pyramid of Menkawre (entrance fee) - EGP280
- Cairo - The Great Pyramid of Cheops (entrance fee) - EGP1000
- Cairo - The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization & The Royal Mummy Room (entrance fee) - EGP550
- Cairo - The Egyptian Museum (minimum 2 people) - USD50
Your travel time on the overnight train will be approximately 14 hours.
The two-berth cabins on the overnight train are comfortable and air-conditioned. All bedding is provided onboard. Western-style toilets are in each carriage, but we recommend bringing additional toilet paper. Keep in mind, that general train cleanliness may not be to the same standards you’re accustomed to. An included dinner and breakfast are served onboard. 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 might be paired with a group member of another gender, or sharing with a traveller of the same gender who is not part of our group.
Hit the bazaar this morning on a tour with your leader. Among the friendly shouts of ‘welcome’ and ‘where are you from’ coming from the vendors, maybe visit an oil and perfume merchant to learn how aromatic botanicals have been used in Egypt throughout the ages. Later, choose whether to join an optional tour to the Philae Temple Complex, where you can see 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, grab a paddle for a kayaking adventure as you navigate the Nile. Float along the historic waters as you see the sights from a new perspective. For dinner, you can head to a Nubian village for an optional dinner with a local family.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Aswan - Kayaking
- Aswan - Orientation walk & bazaar visit
- Aswan - Philae Temple (entrance fee) - EGP550
- Aswan - Unfinished Obelisk (entrance fee) - EGP220
- Aswan - Nubian Village Visit and Dinner (minimum 4 people) - USD20
- Aswan - Philae Temple Sound & Light Show Tour (minimum 2 people) (entrance, guide & transport) - USD55
- Aswan - Philae Temple Tour (minimum 2 people) - USD40
- Aswan - Philae Temple, High Dam and Unfinished Obelisk Tour (minimum 2 people) - USD65
- Aswan - Philae Temple Sound and Light Show (entrance fee, minimum 2 people) - USD20
This morning is yours to spend as you please in Aswan. If you can manage a (very) early start, the optional drive to the epic Abu Simbel is well worth the sleepy eyes – cut out of a solid rock cliff, this temple is a historic site built as a place of worship to Pharaoh Ramses II after his death. Renting a minivan with your fellow travellers is the cheapest option and it takes about 3 hours to drive there. You’ll want at least 2 hours to explore, before heading back to Aswan for a free evening to hit the best dinner and drink spots. Maybe try some ful wa ta’ameya (Egyptian falafel) with a warm pita and salad, followed by another cup of mint tea.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Aswan - Abu Simbel Tour (minimum 4 people) - USD110
- Aswan - Nubian Museum (entrance fee) - EGP400
- Aswan - Abu Simbel by Air - subject to availability - from (Per Person) - USD450
This morning is yours to relax and recharge. Then you’ll board an overnight felucca – a bit like a floating tent, this traditional Egyptian vessel is the perfect way to explore the Nile. Spend the late afternoon amid tranquil scenery, either tucking into a good book or playing cards with your group. Depending on your group’s vibe tonight, you might like to have a little beach party under the starry night sky. Tonight, fall asleep to the gentle rocking of the boat, the warm breeze on your cheeks and the blanket of constellations above (there are no walls on a felucca, so your view will be totally undisturbed!).
- Overnight Felucca (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Nile - Felucca overnight sailing trip
- Nile - Dinner and Music Felucca
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 is sharing a sleeping space with your fellow travellers. You’ll be on 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 felucca this morning and head for the sweet release of a hotel shower. If you like, you can check out the Temple of Edfu along the way, 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 at your own pace. Karnak Temple is a good first stop – wandering through this ancient village is a cool way to get a sense of what life was like here more than 3000 years ago. Legend has it that if you walk around the granite scarab west of the Sacred Lake seven times, you’ll meet your soulmate. Tonight, maybe kick back with some fiteer baladi (Egyptian pizza) or shawarma.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Luxor - Karnak Temple (entrance fee) - EGP600
- Luxor - Karnak Temple Sound and Light Show (minimum 2 people) (entrance, guide & transport) - USD45
- Aswan - Kom Ombo Temple (entrance fee) - EGP450
- Edfu - Edfu Temple (entrance fee) - EGP550
Your travel time today will be approximately 4 hours.
This morning, travel the short distance to the West Bank. Check out three burial tombs in the Valley of the Kings, with the option to explore 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 twice a day is really the height of narcissism. You’ll also head over to our Intrepid Foundation partner, Animal Care in Egypt (ACE), a local NGO dedicated to providing free veterinary care for wounded working animals in the region. 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 (not 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.
- Overnight Sleeper Train (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Dinner
- Luxor - Valley of the Kings (entrance to 3 tombs)
- Luxor - Animal Care in Egypt (The Intrepid Foundation Partner) visit
- Luxor - Hatshepsut Temple - EGP440
- Luxor - Tomb of Tutankhamun (entrance fee) - EGP700
- Luxor - Luxor Temple (entrance fee) - EGP500
- Luxor - Luxor Museum (entrance fee) - EGP400
- Luxor - Dinner with a local family (minimum 2 people) - USD25
- Luxor - Hot Air Balloon over the Valley of the Kings (Per Person) - USD120
Your travel time on the overnight train will be approximately 10 hours.
It is possible to do a hot air balloon over the Valley of the Kings and the Temples of Antiquities on the West Bank (weather dependent). Your leader can reserve this service for you. We use Dream Balloons in Luxor. Pick-up will be from your hotel between 4:30 and 5 am and the balloon capacity is 16 to 25. Cameras are prohibited in the basket, but cell phones are allowed.
When you arrive in Cairo, you’ll head to your hotel to freshen up and drop your bags. Then, jump on the Metro with your leader to Bab al-Futuh – one of three remaining gates from the Old City. Walking past the old Islamic monuments that stand watch over the bazaars, you can join in on some good-natured haggling at the Kahan-el Khalili bazaar, then head to El Fishawy. This ramshackle 240-year-old cafe is perfect for a cup of tea or a glass of cold water with lemon and mint. Tonight, you’re free to find the perfect spot for a farewell dinner with your group or to hit the nightlife and celebrate a trip well-travelled.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Cairo - Khan Al-Khalili Bazaar
- Cairo - Sound & Light Show at the Pyramids Tour (minimum 2 people) - USD55
- Cairo - Sound & Light Show at the Pyramids (entrance fee) - USD20
- Cairo - Sufi Dance Khan al-Khalili (entrance fee) - EGP180
The Sufi dance Khan al-Khalili cultural performance is on Wednesdays and Saturdays only. Please consider your tour departure date carefully if you are interested in this optional activity.
After breakfast this morning, your trip comes to an end. If you’d like to explore Egypt further, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation.
- Breakfast
Inclusions and activities
8 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 4 dinners
Private vehicle, Felucca, Overnight sleeper train
Hotel (5 nights), Overnight train (2 nights), Felucca (1 night)
- 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)
- Luxor - Animal Care in Egypt (The Intrepid Foundation Partner) visit
- Cairo - Khan Al-Khalili Bazaar
- Cairo - Saqqara and Memphis Urban Adventure - USD49
- Cairo - Coptic Museum (entrance fee) - EGP280
- Cairo - Islamic Art Museum (entrance fee) - EGP340
- Cairo - The Citadel (entrance fee) - EGP550
- Cairo - The 3rd Pyramid of Menkawre (entrance fee) - EGP280
- Cairo - The Great Pyramid of Cheops (entrance fee) - EGP1000
- Cairo - The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization & The Royal Mummy Room (entrance fee) - EGP550
- Cairo - The Egyptian Museum (minimum 2 people) - USD50
- Aswan - Philae Temple (entrance fee) - EGP550
- Aswan - Unfinished Obelisk (entrance fee) - EGP220
- Aswan - Nubian Village Visit and Dinner (minimum 4 people) - USD20
- Aswan - Philae Temple Sound & Light Show Tour (minimum 2 people) (entrance, guide & transport) - USD55
- Aswan - Philae Temple Tour (minimum 2 people) - USD40
- Aswan - Philae Temple, High Dam and Unfinished Obelisk Tour (minimum 2 people) - USD65
- Aswan - Philae Temple Sound and Light Show (entrance fee, minimum 2 people) - USD20
- Aswan - Abu Simbel Tour (minimum 4 people) - USD110
- Aswan - Nubian Museum (entrance fee) - EGP400
- Aswan - Abu Simbel by Air - subject to availability - from (Per Person) - USD450
- Luxor - Karnak Temple (entrance fee) - EGP600
- Luxor - Karnak Temple Sound and Light Show (minimum 2 people) (entrance, guide & transport) - USD45
- Aswan - Kom Ombo Temple (entrance fee) - EGP450
- Edfu - Edfu Temple (entrance fee) - EGP550
- Luxor - Hatshepsut Temple - EGP440
- Luxor - Tomb of Tutankhamun (entrance fee) - EGP700
- Luxor - Luxor Temple (entrance fee) - EGP500
- Luxor - Luxor Museum (entrance fee) - EGP400
- Luxor - Dinner with a local family (minimum 2 people) - USD25
- Luxor - Hot Air Balloon over the Valley of the Kings (Per Person) - USD120
- Cairo - Sound & Light Show at the Pyramids Tour (minimum 2 people) - USD55
- Cairo - Sound & Light Show at the Pyramids (entrance fee) - USD20
- Cairo - Sufi Dance Khan al-Khalili (entrance fee) - EGP180
This trip generates 43 kg of CO2-e per person per day
Learn more about our climate commitment.
When you travel with us, The Intrepid Foundation gives you more opportunities to support important causes in destinations you visit.
Before you book you should know
- It gets pretty warm in July and August in Egypt. 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.
- 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.
- This trip is a great way to see a lot in a short period of time and it can be part of a longer itinerary if you have more time to explore. You might like to check out Real Egypt & Jordan.
The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.
Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.
OCCASIONAL ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION
The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our usual accommodation. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances.
ACCOMMODATION STYLE
Some of the accommodation along the way is basic or simple, three and four-star accommodation in the Middle East (with the exception of Israel) is often not equal to same-star facilities in some western destinations. Rooms are clean and comfortable, however, you may note some small maintenance issues that have been overlooked, please assist us by bringing these to the attention of your group leader or local representative so that we can follow up with our hosts. Many restaurants and hotels do not serve alcohol for religious reasons or due to local laws. Breakfast is included in 95% or our hotels, pleaser refer to our daily itinerary for meal inclusions.
TWIN SHARE / MULTI SHARE BASIS
Accommodation on this trip is on a twin/multi-share basis.
CHECK-IN TIME
Throughout the trip, we request that our hotels prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination. Standard check-in time is 1400 hours.
PRE/POST TRIP ACCOMMODATION
If you've purchased pre-trip or post-trip accommodation (subject to availability), you may be required to change rooms from your trip accommodation for these extra nights.
SHOWERS
Showers at some hotels only have hot water at peak times (usually morning and evening). Outside of these times, you may need to speak to reception to obtain hot water.
HEATING AND AIR-CONDITIONING
As a desert region, this part of the world has extremes of weather. Winter months (approx December to March) can be very cold. All of our hotel accommodation contains suitable bedding, and simple light bedding is provided during camping activities such as an overnight felucca, desert camps or at the Red Sea Beach camp stay. Most of our travellers find the bedding provided here adequate, but for your own comfort and if you are particularly sensitive to the cold, consider bringing your own sleeping bag, thermals, scarf, gloves and a warm jacket. Some of our guesthouses/hotels don't supply heating. In many cases, this would be a major financial and environmental strain on our hotels and the local towns. Summer (approx June to August) can be very hot everywhere we travel, which means that it can be quite uncomfortable for those not used to the heat. Not all our hotels have air-conditioning, and in those that do, it's not always functioning.
ROOM ISSUES
If you have any issues with your room, please speak to the hotel and your group leader or local representative right away so that the problem can be addressed without delay.
Santana Hotel
7 Ahmed El Melehi Street
Dokki
Cairo
EGYPT
Instructions
Intrepid can assist with pre-booking an arrival transfer from the airport - enquire with your agent. Please advise your flight arrival details at least 14 days prior to your departure.
For your confirmed arrival transfer, you’ll be met before you reach immigration by a representative holding an Intrepid sign. This representative will assist you in obtaining a visa on arrival if required, before guiding you through immigration, luggage collection and to a waiting vehicle. In case of flight cancellations, changes, if you experience severe delays at any point, or if you are not able to find the representative, please contact the transfer operator directly: +20 12 2100 5565. You can also reach our local operations team on +201096811067 for further assistance.
Alternatively, you can take a taxi from the airport to your hotel. The journey will take approximately 45mins, depending on the traffic, and cost approximately EGP300.
Dates and prices
Important notes
1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Day 5 (Felucca) where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. 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.
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.
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