Egypt

Book with us by 31st March 2021 for travel by 31st December 2022 and we’ll give you the flexibility to change your plans for free.

Pyramids rise above sun-baked sands. The Sphinx stares, unblinking, into a relentlessly blue sky. Boats wend their way down the waters of the Nile. Traders hawk their wares in the dusty bazaars. In many ways, Egypt seems timeless, unchanging. However, modern politics are very present in this ancient land and our specialists continue to visit Egypt to gauge the atmosphere and levels of service available throughout the country.

In our experience it remains a friendly and hospitable place, and our experts can craft a tailored itinerary to help you explore this dynamic destination. A cruise down the Nile is still one of the most effective ways to see Egypt, including the archaeological treasures around Aswan and Luxor. But there is more to see on an Egypt holiday than the ancient sites — coral reefs in the clear waters of the Red Sea, afternoon tea at the Victorian-era Old Cataract Hotel, medieval sites in the souks of Cairo.

Egypt in pictures

From the pyramids and Great Sphinx of Giza to the hieroglyphic scrawls covering the walls of Luxor’s temples, Egypt’s ancient past leaps out at you wherever you go. Having explored the length of the country, our specialists know the most impressive sights in Egypt and can recommend the best places to go to see them.

Admire the treasures housed in Cairo’s Museum of Egyptian Antiquities before embarking on a Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan — the best way to take in the country’s ancient sites. Once in Aswan, you can explore the local Nubian culture, browse craft markets and watch feluccas sail by along the river. Afterwards, visit the relocated temples of Abu Simbel or head to the coast to snorkel around the Red Sea’s coral reefs.

Popular places to visit in Egypt

Featuring heavily on our itinerary ideas for visiting Egypt, these places are destinations that we know prove consistently popular with our travellers. How you choose to include them in your trip can be tailored into a route that best suits your preferences.

Cairo
Aswan
Hurghada
Luxor
Alexandria
Red Sea
Abu Simbel

A land of ancient intrigue and popular legend, Egypt offers visitors an extensive choice of attractions, activities and experiences. The Pyramids of Giza, which have long enthralled travellers with their scale and grandeur, are top of the list for many and we can show you how to experience this area away from the crowds.

Nearby, Cairo is best explored on a walking tour, its ancient and modern streets offering contrasting insights into North African culture. A wonderful antidote to the hustle and bustle, a Nile cruise or a trip to the Red Sea to snorkel and dive makes a relaxing end to your holiday.

Ideas for experiencing Egypt

Experiences you have as you travel often hold the longest memories. As part of their research trips, our specialists seek out authentic ways to get to know Egypt, and the best local guides. These activities reflect some of their best-loved experiences.

Giza, Saqqara & Dahshur

Giza, Saqqara & Dahshur

Cairo

Giza, Saqqara & Dahshur

The first tourists were the ancient Greeks, some four thousand years ago, and the fascination with these mystic monuments has continued unabated ever since.
Churches, Synagogues of Old Cairo

Churches, Synagogues of Old Cairo

Cairo

Churches, Synagogues of Old Cairo

Old Cairo is contained within the boundaries of the Roman fortress of Babylon, where the Copts built their churches for protection. For three hundred years, from the conversion of the Emperor Constantine until the arrival of Islam, Egypt was a Christian nation and the Coptic church is one of the oldest communions as well as the church that really pioneered austere monasticism in the remote desert.
Alexandria Tour

Alexandria Tour

Alexandria

Alexandria Tour

Visit some of the key sights in Alexandria, including Pompey's Pillar, the Catacombs of Kom es-Shoqafa, Alexandria National Museum and Alexandria Library.
Abu Simbel Tour

Abu Simbel Tour

Aswan

Abu Simbel Tour

The great Sun Temple of Abu Simbel epitomises the monumentalism of the New Kingdom during its imperial heyday, when Ramses II (1304-1237) waged colonial wars from the Beka'a Valley in Lebanon to the Fourth Cataract. To impress his power and majesty on the Nubians, Ramses had four gigantic statues of himself hewn from the mountainside and his unblinking stare confronted travellers as they entered Egypt from Africa.
Museum, Citadel, Mosque & Souqs

Museum, Citadel, Mosque & Souqs

Cairo

Museum, Citadel, Mosque & Souqs

Situated on a spur of the Muqattam Hills, the citadel dominates Cairo's skyline and was the nerve centre of the city and wider Egypt for almost 700 years. Its construction was initiated in 1176 by Saladin and completed by Muhammad Ali, whose lavish mosque occupies the heart of the citadel. The mosque is classically Ottoman, with cascading semi-domes supporting a central dome without the need for substantial interior columns or pillars.
Philae Temple Sound & Light Show

Philae Temple Sound & Light Show

Aswan

Philae Temple Sound & Light Show

The highlight of this excursion is crossing the Nile in a boat and being greeted by sights of the floodlit Philae Temple silhouetted against the rocks and surrounding water.

It is a lovely experience, but be warned it is a popular excursion and as a result boats can be crowded.
Explore the West Bank

Explore the West Bank

Luxor

Explore the West Bank

As the sun died over the west bank and then was born again over the eastern horizon, they believed that if they were buried to the west, they too would be reborn, hence the tombs and funerary temples of the nobles and pharaohs of Thebes were all built on the west bank