Egypt Family Adventure

Welcome to Cairo, a city that has been at the heart of Egyptian civilisation for more than 1,000 years and continues to shape the country today.

Arrival flights can arrive late, and the visa process can take some time. Therefore, we recommend flying into Cairo a day earlier and adding an extra night at your start hotel.

There are some excellent sightseeing options available in Cairo if you wish to see more. Speak to your sales representative to book.

Accommodation: Mövenpick Cairo Media City (or similar)

Begin with a welcome briefing with the tour leader (usually at 7am or 7.30am). Please have your breakfast beforehand and be sure to bring your insurance details as the tour leader needs to gather this information.

At the Grand Egyptian Museum – the world’s largest archaeological museum dedicated to a single civilization – we come face-to-face with artefacts that are thousands of years old, including treasures from Tutankhamun’s tomb that rarely fail to impress younger travellers. The visit is guided with clear explanations that help make sense of the symbols, stories and daily life of Ancient Egypt.

Later, we step into the lively lanes of Khan el-Khalili bazaar, where bright stalls laden with spices and crafts offer a chance to practise bargaining skills and meet local vendors.

Accommodation: Mövenpick Cairo Media City (or similar)

Today is one of those travel days that lives up to every expectation. Standing on the Giza Plateau, we take in the scale of the Pyramids of Cheops, Chephren and Mycerinus — monuments that have fascinated travellers for thousands of years.

Our Egyptologist explains how these vast structures were built and why they mattered, answering questions from curious minds and helping younger travellers picture life in Ancient Egypt. The Great Sphinx, half-lion and half-pharaoh, adds another layer of mystery.

Only the throng of sightseers milling around their huge foundations keep you in the 21st century.  If you’d like to venture inside the belly of the pyramids, it is possible to pay for additional tickets locally. After, we drive to a viewpoint to see the grand monuments from another angle.

There is free time later in the day to relax at the hotel or continue exploring Cairo at your own pace.

Accommodation: Mövenpick Cairo Media City (or similar)

We typically transfer to Cairo airport before sunrise for our flight to Luxor (flight times can vary but we need to be at the airport three hours before the flight so expect a wake up around 2am). A breakfast box is provided, but you’ll also need to pack your day’s essentials into your hand luggage, such as your hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.

After landing, we head straight to Karnak Temple, a vast complex built over more than 1,500 years. Walking between towering columns, it is easy to imagine religious ceremonies and processions that once took place here, while our early arrival means we miss the big crowds that arrive later in the day. We then tour the smaller Luxor Temple complex, where we see more grand monuments from the ancient world.

After, we arrive at our cruise boat in time for lunch on board before free time in the afternoon to relax or head back into Luxor for more exploration.

Accommodation: M/S Nile Style (or similar)
Upgrade to an upper-deck cabin today – speak to your sales representative for more details

We cross to the west bank of the Nile very early, travelling to the Valley of the Kings on a 30 to 40-minute bus ride. Here, discreet entrances lead underground into richly decorated tombs, their walls covered with colourful scenes intended to guide pharaohs into the afterlife. Exploring inside these chambers is often a highlight for younger travellers.

One ticket allows us to see three tombs, usually into what are regarded as the most impressive tombs. However, if there is time, we recommend a visit to the tombs of Ramses VI and Tutankhamun – these require extra tickets, which can be bought locally.

Visits to tombs are now strictly controlled to halt further deterioration of wall paintings – each tomb is periodically closed for several weeks. On crowded days, make sure to have a quick visit to each of the included tombs if you want to add extra tombs as your tour leader will give a fixed meeting time in order to return to the cruise boat before it sails.

Nearby, the terraced Temple of Hatshepsut tells the story of one of Egypt’s most remarkable rulers, while the Colossi of Memnon provide a final dramatic stop before we return to the boat.

Returning to the boat, we begin sailing along the Nile. As the river carries us south, families can relax on deck, play cards, read or simply watch villages and farmland drift by.

Accommodation: M/S Nile Style (or similar)
Upgrade to an upper-deck cabin today – speak to your sales representative for more details

This morning, we visit Edfu Temple, dedicated to the falcon-headed god Horus and one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt. Its carvings are clear and detailed, making it easier for children to spot scenes and symbols explained by the leader.

Later, after time sailing and relaxing on board, we stop at Kom Ombo, a temple unusually dedicated to two gods.

We continue cruising towards Aswan, arriving later in the evening.

Please note: Exact sailing and excursion times cannot be guaranteed for each individual trip.

Accommodation: M/S Nile Style (or similar)
Upgrade to an upper-deck cabin today – speak to your sales representative for more details

We wake in Aswan, a smaller and more relaxed town with strong Nubian roots. Families can browse the local bazaar, where spices and souvenirs offer plenty to look at.

Today there’s the option of flying to the magnificent temples of Abu Simbel, 186mi (300km) to the south through the Nubian Desert. Built by Ramses II, the two temples are certainly some of the most spectacular in Egypt. Originally on the banks of the Nile, the temples were raised to a new site above the lake in the late 1960s, as the waters from the new Lake Nasser rose behind the Aswan High Dam. The four great seated statues of Ramses II stare east towards the rising sun. We arrive back in Aswan around 1.30pm, before lunch.

Alternatively, remain in Aswan and visit the Nubian Museum, which offers a clear and engaging look at local culture and traditions.

Accommodation: M/S Nile Style (or similar)
Upgrade to an upper-deck cabin today – speak to your sales representative for more details

After disembarking the cruise boat, we visit Philae Temple, carefully relocated to higher ground to save it from flooding after the construction of the Aswan High Dam. The story of its rescue adds a modern chapter to Egypt’s ancient past.

In the afternoon, we slow the pace with a felucca sail on the Nile. With no engine noise, this gentle journey allows families to appreciate the contrast between river, desert and islands — a calm and fitting finale to our time on the water.

Please note: The timings of the felucca sailing might be changed according to weather conditions

Accommodation: Basma Hotel (or similar)
Upgrade to a Nile-view room today – speak to your sales representative for more details

You’ve stood beneath the Pyramids, explored royal tombs and sailed the Nile together, but now it’s time to begin the journey home.

If your family would like to extend the adventure, speak to your sales representative about additional nights or extensions – Egypt always has more stories to tell.