Day 1 Cairo

Arrive in Cairo and transfer to your hotel. There are no planned activities until an evening welcome meeting at 6pmAccommodation: Santana Hotel (or similar) – Normal check-in times apply at our start hotels, but you can usually store your luggage for the day if you arrive early.

Day 2 Cairo/Aswān (B/D)

Tour the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx before a guided tour of the Egyptian Museum. Catch an overnight train to Aswan.
Accommodation: Nile Hotel (or similar)

Day 3 Aswān (B/D)

Explore Aswan before visiting a Nubian village and enjoy a home-cooked dinner with a local family.Our train is due to arrive in Aswan early in the morning, but, trains can often be delayed. Enjoy some free time in the morning to browse the souk or walk along the Nile.Later, board a boat to reach one of the many Nile islands and visit a Nubian village. Walk around the small community, then enjoy a traditional dinner at a local home.
Accommodation: Nile Hotel (or similar)

Day 4 Aswān (B)

Spend the day exploring Aswan. Opt to visit the magnificent temples of Abu Simbel. One of the most fascinating sights in the area is the Temple of Abu Simbel. Later, opt for a half-day tour of the Unfinished Obelisk, High Dam, and Philae Temple. Visit the modern Nubian Museum to learn more about Aswan’s local people.
Accommodation: Nile Hotel (or similar)

Day 5 Aswān/Kom Ombo (B/L/D)

Sail the Nile on a traditional felucca. Sleep onboard under the stars. Board the felucca and spend the rest of the day out on the river and a night under the stars. Feluccas are a basic, traditional Nile sailboat and make for an extremely relaxing and enjoyable way to travel down the river. You sleep, open-air on the deck of the boat (mattresses and blankets are provided, but if you prefer something between you and the blankets, you will need to bring a sleep sheet/sleeping bag liner of your own). The Felucca itself does not have toilets or showers, however we will have access to a private support boat, travelling in close proximity to our Felucca. This support boat is equipped with toilets and a shower (please bring a towel) and and an area to eat your meals, leaving you stress free to enjoy this tranquil and traditional experience on the Nile.

Day 6 Kom Ombo/Luxor (B)

Enjoy a guided visit Kom Ombo Temple before driving to Luxor. En route, visit the Temple of Karnak.
Accommodation: Susanna Hotel (or similar)

Day 7 Luxor (B/L)

Visit the Colossi of Memnon, Valley of the Kings, and the Temple of Hatshepsut. Enjoy lunch with a local family on the West Bank of the Nile. Cross to the West Bank. Visit the massive 18m (59ft)-high Colossi of Memnon, which is all that remains of an ancient temple. Descend down the narrow corridors and check out the tombs of the pharaohs at the Valley of the Kings. The Funerary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut literally seems to rise out of the surrounding limestone outcrops. Enjoy lunch with a local family on the West bank of the Nile and then explore Luxor at your own pace.
Accommodation: Susanna Hotel (or similar)

Day 8 Luxor/Cairo (B)

Fly back to Cairo and then fly back to Canada

SAFETY Guests must make their own enquiries regarding safety and government warnings in relation to the destinations they are travelling to. Official warnings change quite regularly and can be found from the Government of Canada’s official source: Travel Advice and Advisories – https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/advisories. 

(NOTE:  insurance restrictions apply due to government warning)

VISA REQUIREMENTS

Travelers need a visa to visit Egypt for Tourism. A paper or embassy visa is the only visa available for travelers visiting Egypt from Canada. The visa is typically a stamp or sticker added to the passport. Travelers must obtain this visa from a local embassy, consulate or visa center before traveling.

You can create an account on https://cibtvisas.ca/ fill out your details, print forms and follow instructions. They then will need to be mailed to the closest consulate where they will charge a fee of $367 including tax (subject to change) to be processed.

This takes around 25-30 business days to receive your visa back.

On Dec 1st, 2024 Canadians will be able to purchase EVisa’s again

DRINKING WATER

It is advisable to drink bottled water in Egypt.

Health

*When travelling outside Canada, you may be at risk for a number of vaccine preventable illnesses. You should consult a health care provider or visit a travel health clinic preferably six weeks before you travel.  Due to limited supply of selected vaccines,  consider visiting earlier.  Some countries require proof of immunization in order to enter. It is prudent to assess your personal health status with a travel clinic or your family doctor before booking vacation, some immunizations have restrictions. There are no specific health requirements for this trip. However, we recommend protection against typhoid, tetanus, infectious hepatitis and polio. Though malaria does exist in Egypt, it is not normally found in the areas where we travel. You should consult your doctor for up-to-date medical travel information before departure. We recommend that you carry a First Aid kit and hand sanitizers / antibacterial wipes, as well as any personal medical requirements. Please be aware that we are in remote areas and away from medical facilities for some time during this trip, and for legal reasons our leaders are prohibited from administering any type of drug including headache tablets, antibiotics, etc.