Pyramids & Pharaohs in Egypt

Welcome to Cairo, the capital of Egypt. Here, raucous modern life meets ancient history.

Upon arrival, check into the Hyatt Regency Cairo West, just outside the city. This hotel has views over the pyramids. Stay: Hyatt Regency Cairo West (or similar).

The welcome briefing with your leader will be held at the reception on day two. Please have your breakfast first and bring your insurance details to the meeting. After breakfast, we head to the Pyramids of Giza, spending an hour on a quad bike with the pyramids as our backdrop. Then there's a tour to reveal the secrets of these intriguing structures.

Later, in downtown Cairo, we visit the Egyptian Museum to see the riches of Tutankhamun's tomb and other Egyptian treasures. The day continues at the architecturally beautiful Al-Azhar Mosque, one of the oldest examples in the city. Stay: Hyatt Regency Cairo West (or similar) (B).

We board kayaks this morning and paddle on the Nile for around two hours. Then it's back to downtown Cairo for a food tour and the chance to sample traditional Egyptian dishes. We also have an afternoon tour of Old Cairo to wander the narrow lanes of the Khan El-Khalili bazaar.

Tonight, we board a sleeper train to Aswan, the southern frontier of ancient Egypt. Stay: Sleeper train (B/L/D).

There's a full day on the Nile today. We board a felucca (a traditional wooden sailing boat) and get to know this famous waterway a little better. There's time to relax and enjoy the scenery as we pass rocky islets and glimpse the golden dunes beyond the west bank.

Later, we check into Anakato Hotel, a traditional Nubian-style accommodation. Stay: Anakato Hotel (or similar) (B/L/D).

We rise before the sun this morning to travel through the desert to Abu Simbel. It's renowned for its colossal temples – spectacular examples of ancient Egyptian art and engineering overlooking Lake Nasser. After, there's downtime back at Anakato Hotel before the adventure continues in the late afternoon when we take a desert walk with a Nubian guide. We feast on a home-cooked Nubian meal and learn about the culture and history of this region. For those flying to Abu Simbel, please note that timing will be different. Stay: Anakato Hotel (or similar) (B/D).

This morning, we sandboard across the dunes. It's an extreme sport that's sure to get your heart pumping. The rest of the day is yours to swim and kayak in the Nile, explore Aswan bazaar or take an optional tour of Philae Temple, the High Dam or a nearby Nubian village. Stay: Anakato Hotel (or similar) (B).

It's to Luxor today, taking an approximately six-hour transfer. We tour the ancient Karnak Temple and marvel at the grandeur of the surviving monuments. After sunset, we visit Luxor Temple, built between 1390 BCE and 1352 BCE.

Tonight, we stay at the Sonesta St. George hotel on the east bank of the Nile. Stay: Sonesta St. George hotel (or similar) (B).

We have an early transfer this morning, which takes us to the Valley of the Kings, the site of 63 royal tombs. It was part of the ancient city of Thebes and the burial site of almost all the pharaohs of the 18th, 19th and 20th dynasties. Then it's onto the Colossi of Memnon, two giant, faceless stone statues guarding the entrance to the temple of Amenophis III.

There are tombs with extra tickets that are paid locally like King Tutankhamun, Ramses VI and Seti I. In terms of size and decoration, Tutankhamun's tomb is not as impressive as many of the other tombs, but is, of course, historically very interesting. There's lunch at El Marsam restaurant (at your own expense) and then a visit to ACE Luxor animal hospital, a charity dedicated to treating animals in the most impoverished communities of Luxor.

Tonight, there's a farewell dinner at El Sofra restaurant (at your own expense), dining on traditional Egyptian dishes. Stay: Sonesta St. George Hotel (or similar) (B).

The adventure ends this morning after breakfast and we begin our return journeys home. However, if you'd like a little more time to explore, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay (B).