EGYTPIAN EXPLORER FAMILY HOLIDAY

Itinerary

• Flight Inclusive itinerary
• Land Only itinerary

Day 1

We fly from London to Cairo direct on the scheduled services of British Midland. We are met on arrival and transferred to our hotel.

Day 2

We have a relaxing morning before heading to the impressive Pyramids at Giza, on the western outskirts of Cairo. Home to the Great Pyramids of Cheops, Chephren and Mycerinus and the timeless and enigmatic Sphinx, these great monuments to the afterlife defy the imagination. Only the throng of sightseers, Egyptian and foreign, milling around their huge foundations keep the viewer in the 21st century. We take a camel ride here too, the perfect opportunity to take a few classic photos! This evening we travel by sleeper train to Luxor

Day 3

We arrive early in Luxor and start discovering what this ancient city has to offer. We visit the stunning Karnak and Luxor temples. Built over 1500 years, Karnak is a confusion of pylons, courtyards, halls and sanctuaries. Its Hypostyle hall has 134 columns 23 metres high and 15 metres in circumference! We have some time to relax and settle in to our hotel and before an afternoon visit to the Mummification Museum, a interesting museum that appeals to adults and children alike

Day 4

We cross the Nile in the morning to the West Bank. Here we see the Valley of the Kings, which contains the once hidden tombs of over 64 Pharaohs, including Tutankhamun, Seti I, Ramses III and IV. A discreet entrance in the hillside takes the visitor underground, through a series of corridors and anti-chambers that lead us down to the burial chamber and sarcophagus. The walls are covered in brightly painted images and hieroglyphs - a map of the afterlife to ensure the king's safe passage. One ticket allows us to see three tombs. Visits to tombs are now strictly controlled to halt further deterioration of wall paintings - each tomb is periodically closed for a number of weeks. Our guide will attempt to choose three tombs, which represent a range of styles. Tutankhamun's tomb is visited with a separate ticket. The energetic can walk over a small but steep ridge (about 30 mins) to Queen Hatshepsut's Temple at Dehr El Bahri, otherwise we drive. Cut from an east-facing cliff, the temple is famed for its carved reliefs and paintings, as well as its impressive proportions, best viewed from above. The half-day finishes with a visit to the Colossi of Memnon and a view of the Ramesseum - a now fittingly dilapidated epitaph to Ramses II, who built so much for his own glory. For the children, we also include a donkey ride today. In the afternoon it is time to relax once again and we sail on a felucca (a traditional sailing boat) on the Nile. This is a great way to really enjoy Egypt's most important river.

Day 5

In the early morning leave the Ancient Egyptian sites behind and head along the Nile valley to Qena. We then turn into the Eastern Desert and travel through a dramatic range of mountains on to the Red Sea coastal resort of El Gouna - a total distance of about 300 km (approximately 4-4 ½ hours).

Day 6

El Gouna is a small resort on the Red Sea offering access to the reefs, coral islands and beaches of the Red Sea. El Gouna has a relaxed feel. We stay in a small hotel close to the marina and there are some nice restaurants and cafes close by. The hotel has pool access and is just a short walk from the hotel is a beach. Our day is free for relaxation or you can join an optional full day's snorkelling trip to a coral island and reef, with lunch of salad and fish freshly cooked on board. With respect for the environment, we would ask that passengers are very careful not to damage the reef and refrain from removing or taking home any coral. Snorkelling equipment of variable quality is available locally. Qualified divers should bring their BSAC or PADI certification card and logbook if they want to dive.

Day 7

Today we take a short internal flight back to Cairo (from Hurghada, 30 minutes from El Gouna). In the afternoon we visit the famous Egyptian Museum of Antiquity in the centre of Cairo. The museum contains relics dating back to 4000 BC, including the fantastic riches of Tutankhamun's tomb. Here is the unique opportunity to survey the many fabulous treasures of Egypt in one place and really understand everything you have seen throughout this tour.

Day 8

Today we end our trip in Cairo and transfer to the airport for our return flight back to London.