Tour type: Small Group
Group size: Min: 2 | Max: 18
Accommodation: 4 to 5-star hotels, tented camp, guesthouse, sleeper train & felucca sailboat
Meals:
Transport: A/C 4x4 vehicle, boat, A/C minibus, sleeper train, felucca sailboat & internal flight
Highlights: Khartoum, Whirling Dervishes, Omdurman souk, Naga & Mussawarat, Meroe Pyramids, Jebel Barkal, Karima Nubian house, Nuri Pyramids, Pyramids, Sphinx & Egyptian Museum, Valley of the Kings, Karnak Temple, Nile felucca cruise,
This adventure tour of Sudan and Egypt traces the footsteps of ancient civilisations, from the sprawling desert city of Khartoum to the stunning pyramids at Meroe, and from the iconic Pyramids & Sphinx at Gisa to the fertile Nile Valley. Travel along the Nile Valley and unearth the incredible ancient sites of Sudan and Egypt, whilst sampling the unique Nubian culture and the majesty of the Pharaohs, finishing with some relaxing time by the Red Sea.
We start this incredible tour in the sprawling capital city of Khartoum, with its many museums, tombs and markets. There is time to explore the intriguing souks in Omdurman, before we cross the Nubian Desert seeking out the lost pyramids and temples of the Nile Valley. We explore the famous Meroe Pyramids, which are the most concentrated pyramid complex in the Nile valley. We'll experience a real dessert camp with the luxury of a private veranda to enjoy the wonderful views of the pyramids. We'll also visit the ancient remains at Mussawarat and Naga. Continuing along the Nile Valley to Karima to explore the many temples, tombs and pyramids around Jebel Barkal. We also visit Old Dongola to see the Coptic Christian churches, and take a boat ride to the Pyramids of Nuri. Returning to Khartoum, we next take a flight to Cairo, the capital of Egypt.
Leaving Cairo behind, we board an overnight sleeper train and head south along the Nile Valley into Upper Egypt, arriving in Aswan the next morning. Aswan boast one of the most beautiful stretches of the Nile and we'll enjoy a boat trip to the tranquil island temple of Philae and see the enormous Aswan Dam. There is an early morning option to visit the amazing temples built by Ramses II at Abu Simbel, which were completely deconstructed and moved to higher ground when Lake Nasser was flooded.
Next, we board a traditional Nile felucca sailboat for a relaxing overnight river cruise on the Nile, accompanied by our friendly Nubian crew. A great way to break up your sightseeing, our felucca cruise offers some relaxation time and a chance to see rural Egyptian life pass you by on the banks of the Nile. Our support boat will join with the group during the felucca cruise, providing welcome clean toilets, showers, and a hygienic kitchen. At the end of the cruise we'll visit Edfu and Komombo temples en-route to Luxor, which is one of the world's greatest open air museum. Whilst in Luxor, we'll visit both the east bank of the river to explore the huge temple complex at Karnak and Luxor temple, which is beautifully illuminated by night; and also the west bank of the Nile to descend into the tombs in the Valley of the Kings, see Queen Hatchepsut temple and the Valley of the Artisans, Deir-el-Medina and stop at the Colossi of Memnon. There is also an option to take a spectacular hot air balloon flight if you wish.
Finally we return to Cairo where you have some free time or optional tours before we take a final walk through the mazy back streets of Islamic Cairo and the Khan-el-Khalili bazaar.
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Hotel 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.
Group dates and prices are based on the tour running with a minimum of 4 travellers. We can still run the tour for lower numbers, but a supplement will be due. Private tours are also available on request.
The hotels and accommodations listed below are the ones we most often use on this tour. From time to time we may exchange these for similar properties at the same level. In general, specific hotels cannot be guaranteed on our group tours, but you may select your preferred options if you are booking a tailor-made trip.
Acropole Hotel
Khartoum
The Acropole Hotel is a friendly, family run hotel, run by the same Greek family for over 60 years. It is centrally located, very clean, with great food, and is very well known and regarded throughout Khartoum.
The Meroe Camp
Meroe
The Meroe camp is located in Bagarwyia, about 230 km north of Khartoum, overlooking the amazing Royal Necropolis where there a large number of Pyramids.
Nubian Rest House
Karima
At the foot of the Jebel Barkal, there is our Nubian Rest House, a charming boutique hotel with 22 A/C twin rooms (all with private facilities), a delicious restaurant and a pleasant veranda where to sit in the cool starry nights.
Steigenberger Cairo Pyramids Hotel
Cairo
It features two pools, several restaurants and bars, free WiFi, a spa and fitness centre, and both classic and family rooms. The rooms overlook the gardens and feature air-conditioning, TVs, safes, and minibars. The hotel offers an airport shuttle.
Sleeper train
Cairo, Luxor & Aswan
On the sleeper train you have a private twin-berthed cabin, which features two large seats; fold down beds with mattress, sheets, pillow, blanket; storage locker and wash basin. An airline style evening meal and breakfast are included.
Tolip Aswan Hotel
Aswan
Tolip Aswan Hotel overlooks the Nile and sits close to several tourist sites. Rooms have en-suite bathrooms, TVs, minibars, WiFi, and balconies with river views. Facilities include a pool, bar, gym, and sauna.
Felucca Sailboat
Aswan
Feluccas are very basic traditional Nile sailboats and make for an extremely relaxing and enjoyable way to travel down the river.
Steigenberger Nile Palace Hotel
Luxor
This hotel, formerly Le Meridien Luxor, is a modern hotel built in 2001. It is ideally situated right on the banks of the Nile and is within easy reach of all the major sites of Luxor.
Sheraton Cairo Hotel & Casino
Cairo
The Sheraton Cairo is located in Cairo’s Dokki district, close to the Egyptian Museum. It consists of a casino, night club, and 5-star hotel. The hotel offers a full range of services and amenities, as well as fully-equipped luxury rooms.
Our tours are designed to include all that you need to enjoy a really special time in the destination youre visiting. However, we do also offer some extra options to complement the tour and add some additional sightseeing or activities, or some extra time at either end of the tour.
All accommodation based options (e.g. Single supplements, extra nights, cruise upgrades) should be booked and paid for in advance so that we can make the appropriate arrangements. Other options may either be booked and paid for in advance or while you are on the tour, though we recommend booking in advance to ensure there are no issues with availability.
Many options are priced the same throughout the year, but some may incur single or high season supplements - full details are given on the tour reservation form or on request.
The detailed Tour Notes below have been written to give you some more detailed information about how the tour runs, what to expect, and how to prepare for your holiday. We recommend downloading an up to date copy of these shortly before you travel in case of any changes.
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