Budget Travel · Cultural

13-Day Egypt Explorer – Cairo, Siwa Oasis & the Nile

🕑 13 days / 12 nights 📍 Egypt 🥾 Medium 📅 Next departure 9 Jan 2027

The trip at a glance

Two sides of Egypt in one journey: the Pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo, Alexandria on the Mediterranean, and the remote desert oasis of Siwa. Then travel south by sleeper train to Aswan, enjoy a sunset felucca sail on the Nile and finish among the temples and tombs of Luxor.

Highlights

  • • The Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, plus the complete Tutankhamun collection at the Grand Egyptian Museum
  • • Alexandria's Roman catacombs, amphitheatre and Mediterranean seafront
  • • Siwa Oasis: Shali fortress, the Oracle of Amun, the Mountain of the Dead and Cleopatra's Bath
  • • A 4WD safari in the Great Sand Sea, with sunset tea at a desert spring
  • • The Step Pyramid of Saqqara and the Red and Bent Pyramids of Dahshur
  • • An overnight sleeper train along the Nile Valley
  • • Philae Temple and the souk of Aswan
  • • A sunset sail on a traditional felucca, with dinner
  • • Karnak Temple, the Valley of the Kings and the Colossi of Memnon

Overview

Itinerary at a glance

Day 1: Arrive in Cairo, welcome meeting
Day 2: Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum
Day 3: Drive to Alexandria: Roman catacombs, amphitheatre and seafront
Day 4: Drive across the desert to Siwa Oasis, visit Shali fortress
Day 5: Siwa: Oracle of Amun, Cleopatra’s Bath, Mountain of the Dead, 4WD safari with sunset tea
Day 6: Siwa handicrafts, drive to Marsa Matrouh
Day 7: Drive back to Cairo, free evening
Day 8: Saqqara and Dahshur pyramids, overnight sleeper train to Aswan
Day 9: Aswan: Philae Temple and the souk
Day 10: Optional Abu Simbel in the morning, sunset felucca sail with dinner
Day 11: Drive to Luxor, Karnak Temple
Day 12: Valley of the Kings and Colossi of Memnon
Day 13: Tour ends in Luxor after breakfast

Day-by-day itinerary

Day 1 Welcome to Cairo

Arrive in Cairo and meet your group at the welcome meeting at 6 pm. Arrive early to explore the city's museums and bazaars.
Overnight: Cairo · Meals: none

Day 2 Pyramids & Grand Egyptian Museum

Visit the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, then the Grand Egyptian Museum with the complete Tutankhamun collection.
Overnight: Cairo · Meals: breakfast

Day 3 Alexandria

Drive to Alexandria to see the Roman catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa and the Roman Amphitheatre, then stroll the seafront to the Citadel of Qaitbay.
Overnight: Alexandria · Meals: breakfast

Day 4 To Siwa Oasis

A long drive along the coast past El Alamein and into the desert to Siwa. Explore the old mud-brick town of Shali.
Overnight: Siwa · Meals: breakfast, dinner

Day 5 Siwa & the Great Sand Sea

Visit the Oracle of Amun, Cleopatra's Bath and the Mountain of the Dead. In the afternoon, a 4WD safari into the dunes with sunset tea at Bir Wahed spring.
Overnight: Siwa · Meals: breakfast, dinner

Day 6 Marsa Matrouh

Meet the women artisans of the Siwa Handicrafts Organisation, then drive to Marsa Matrouh on the Mediterranean coast.
Overnight: Marsa Matrouh · Meals: breakfast

Day 7 Back to Cairo

A travel day back to Cairo, with a free evening.
Overnight: Cairo · Meals: breakfast

Day 8 Saqqara, Dahshur & sleeper train

See the Step Pyramid at Saqqara and the Red and Bent Pyramids at Dahshur. In the evening, take the overnight sleeper train to Aswan.
Overnight: sleeper train · Meals: breakfast, dinner

Day 9 Aswan

Visit Philae Temple on its island, and in the evening explore Aswan's colourful souk.
Overnight: Aswan · Meals: breakfast

Day 10 Abu Simbel (optional) & sunset felucca

In the morning, join an optional trip to the great temples of Abu Simbel, or relax in Aswan. In the late afternoon, sail the Nile on a traditional felucca at sunset, followed by dinner.
Overnight: Aswan · Meals: breakfast, dinner

Day 11 Luxor & Karnak

Drive from Aswan to Luxor to explore Karnak Temple, then visit Animal Care in Egypt, a charity for working animals.
Overnight: Luxor · Meals: breakfast

Day 12 Valley of the Kings

Cross to the West Bank for three tombs in the Valley of the Kings and the Colossi of Memnon. Free afternoon and evening.
Overnight: Luxor · Meals: breakfast

Day 13 Departure

Your trip ends after breakfast. Extra nights in Luxor can be arranged on request.
Meals: breakfast

What's included

Included

  • 12 nights' accommodation: 11 in hotels (including 2 nights in Aswan) and 1 on the overnight sleeper train
  • Meals as listed: 12 breakfasts, 4 dinners
  • Tour leader throughout and local guides at the main sites
  • All transport: private vehicle, sleeper train Cairo–Aswan, sunset felucca sail, 4WD desert safari
  • Entrance fees: Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, Grand Egyptian Museum, Kom el-Shoqafa Catacombs, Roman Amphitheatre, Shali, Oracle of Amun, Cleopatra's Bath, Mountain of the Dead, Saqqara, Dahshur, Philae Temple, Karnak Temple, Valley of the Kings (3 tombs), Colossi of Memnon
  • Visits to the Siwa Handicrafts Organisation and Animal Care in Egypt

Not included

  • Optional extras
  • Prices per person, paid locally:
  • National Museum of Egyptian Civilization & Royal Mummies EGP 550
  • Citadel of Salah El-Din EGP 550
  • Museum of Islamic Art EGP 340
  • Coptic Museum EGP 280
  • Sufi dance show, Khan el-Khalili EGP 180
  • Inside the Great Pyramid of Cheops EGP 1,500

Good to know

Good to know

  • Welcome meeting: Day 1 at 6 pm in the hotel. Please attend, as we collect insurance and emergency contact details. If you'll be late, let the hotel reception know.
  • Long drives: Days 3–7 include long desert drives of 6 to 9 hours. Bring a book, music or a podcast.
  • Felucca sail: on Day 10 you sail the Nile at sunset on a traditional wooden felucca, followed by dinner, then return to your hotel in Aswan.
  • Sleeper train: about 10 hours overnight from Cairo to Aswan.
  • Last day: no activities are planned on Day 13, so you're free to leave at any time.

Route map

Dates & booking

1 Join a group departure – or choose your own date below

✓ Every group date is guaranteed to go ahead once 6 travellers have booked.

9 – 21 Jan 2027
6 more to guarantee
$1,795per person
6 – 18 Feb 2027
6 more to guarantee
$1,795per person
12 – 24 Mar 2027
6 more to guarantee
$1,795per person
9 – 21 Apr 2027
6 more to guarantee
$1,795per person

• Choose your own start date – private tour

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