Egypt: Alexandria to Aswan

Few countries can rival Egypt’s wealth of magnificent archeological sites, with the pyramids and Great Sphinx of Giza ranking as two of the most recognisable in the world. It is a place like no other and on this two-week itinerary we explore its treasures across the length of the country. In the north there is the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria and El Alamein, the site of the famous Second World War battle. Cairo’s attractions are world famous but we also experience the bazaars and culinary delights on a food tour. Journeying south by sleeper train we reach the Nubian city of Aswan where we board our Nile cruise boat and discover the monuments and temples all the way to Luxor.
Profile
â€Eight nights in four-star hotels (local grading), three nights on a cruise boat and one night sleeper train â€Travel by private minibus, cruise boat and sleeper train â€Extend your trip with some days by the Red Sea
At a Glance
â€Eight nights in four-star hotels (local grading), three nights on a cruise boat and one night sleeper train â€Travel by private minibus, cruise boat and sleeper train â€Extend your trip with some days by the Red Sea
Trip For You
This trip is graded Activity Level 2 (Leisurely/Moderate). For more on our trip gradings, visit our Activity Level Guidelines page. It is suitable for clients with average health and fitness. No experience of any activity involved is necessary. However, please note: Some days involve early starts but this allows us to get the most from our time in Egypt and avoid the worst of the heat.Egypt can be hot, especially during the summer, which can cause discomfort while travelling. Care should be taken to keep hydrated. The hottest months tend to be June to September when temperatures can reach as high as 40C (104F) in the south of the country. The hotels and cruise boat we use on this trip are of a mid-level standard, providing good comfort. The night on the sleeper train is in first-class cabins with shared bathroom facilities. The train is a great way to travel in Egypt, but delays are not uncommon. Please note that the new Egyptian Museum is scheduled to open in November 2022 but that this is subject to change. We will change to the new museum when it is open. Ramadan is expected to run from approximately 10 March-10 April 2024 and 28 February-29 March 2025. One of the most important periods in the Islamic calendar, it is a special time to visit a Muslim country. Each evening, the streets empty as people head home to break the fast, followed by an air of festivity upon their return. Our leaders and drivers choose to work at this time so we continue to run trips; however, their energy levels may be slightly lower than normal. Many tourist sites, restaurants and shops will have an amended schedule, but your tour leader will know how to adapt the itinerary to still experience all the inclusions on this trip and maximise your experience during this special time.
Group Description
There will be a local leader and drivers throughout the trip and local guides where needed.
Eating Drinking
All breakfasts, six lunches and five dinners included. In the itinerary, we state which meals are included on which day. For meals not included, we suggest you allow approximately 235 Egyptian pounds (US$12) for lunch and 350 pounds (US$18) for dinner. Food in Egypt involves such things as kebabs, chicken, stews, pitta bread, falafel, beans, vegetables, pickles and salads. Dishes tend to be simple and wholesome and vegetarians can be catered for, though the options may be somewhat limited. Meals on the cruise are open buffets, which include Western and Egyptian dishes. Drinks are not included on the cruise. The Cairo food tour gives us the chance to try several Egyptian dishes, such as ful medames (a mixture of beans and tahini) and kushari (a dish made of rice, macaroni and lentils mixed with garlic, tomato, chickpeas and crispy fried onions).
Transportation
Road transport is by private air-conditioned mini/midi-bus and Egypt's roads are generally good. Travelling is generally restricted to a few hours a day and the mode of transport is varied. As detailed above, during our trip we also use a cruise ship, felucca and train. Cairo to Aswan sleeper train: The train is a good way to cover a long distance in a time efficient manner and avoids the need for a domestic flight. This reduces carbon emissions which Exodus are committed to doing on all our trips. Compartments are compact and have bunk beds. Bedding is provided. The train tends to shake due to the condition of the track and is quite noisy. Earplugs are a good idea. Basic dinner and breakfast are provided, you may wish to take snacks with you. There is a shared toilet in each carriage.  Take a sense of adventure with you as these trains are not the same standard  that you can experience in Europe.
Joining Instructions
Key information Start hotel: Cairo Pyramids Hotel, Cairo - Alexandria Desert Rd, Kafr Nassar, Pyramids, Giza Governorate 3515011 Phone: +20 2 33772555 Recommended arrival time: Hotel check-in is from 2pm Airport: Cairo (CAI) Getting to the start hotel The start hotel is approximately a one-hour drive from the airport. Your options for this journey are: Take an Exodus transfer Exodus provides one group arrival transfer from the airport, which is timed to coincide with the arrival of a chosen flight from London, UK. You may join this transfer at no extra cost, provided you can be at the airport before the transfer leaves. Speak to your sales representative for the group arrival transfer times. Make your own way It’s possible to reach the start hotel by public transport, but the journey is complicated. We therefore recommend joining the group transfer where possible or arranging a private transfer with us at additional cost. If not, a cab from the airport to the start hotel costs 100 Egyptian pounds (US$5) and should take an hour. If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative. Catching your return flight There’s a group departure transfer to Luxor International Airport (LXR) that is scheduled to align with a flight to London, UK. Please speak to your sales representative if you wish to join. If the group departure transfer does not suit your flight time, speak to your sales representative to arrange an alternative transfer.
Weather Information
Rain is very rare in all parts of Egypt and most days are sunny and clear. Summer temperatures often near 40C (104F) but this is particularly true for the period between June and September. The winter months can be surprisingly cold, especially on the Nile or at night. The average daytime maximum in Cairo in January is 20C (68F), night time minimum is 8C (46F). In the summer, these temperatures are 35C (95F) and 22C (72F) respectively. Daytime temperatures are slightly higher on average in Aswan.
Spending Money
Please note, some sites have a camera charge, which means you will have to pay extra to take pictures – this can be approximately 313 Egyptian pounds (US$16) for each site. Optional excursions Prices are per person and in US dollars as this is the most stable currency used in Egypt but excursions can be paid in any hard currency (including British pounds and euros). Payment cannot be made in Egyptian pounds. When booking and paying for these tours locally a three percent charge will be added for all card payments. The flight to Abu Simbel is to be requested with Exodus at the time of booking your tour. We will then check availability.Unless indicated otherwise, the below prices are based on a minimum of four people taking part and are subject to change. Cairo: â€Sound and light show, Giza US$48 (minimum six travellers) Does not run everyday. â€Citadel and Mohamed Ali Mosque US$40 â€Coptic Cairo including Coptic Museum US$38 â€Trip to Sakkara and Memphis US$66 â€Entrance fee to go inside Great Pyramids: US$30 â€Camel ride (please arrange through leader) US$12 approximately Aswan: â€St Simone Monastery US$36 â€Sound and Light show at Philae US$52 (minimum six travellers) â€Abu Simbel flight excursion: from GBP £396, US$435. The flight must be requested with Exodus at the time of booking your tour. If you do not request the flight at this time we cannot guarantee seats will be available if trying to book locally. Flight timings vary but the flight duration is approximately 45 minutes.  The length of time in the temples depends on the Egyptair flight schedule and is not controlled by Exodus. It should however be longer than an hour. â€Abu Simbel road excursion: from US$175 (book locally). Depart Aswan at approximately 4.30am for the 3hr 30min transfer to Abu Simbel. The temple visit itself takes around two hours. Depart at approximately 10am and arrive back in Aswan at around 1.30pm. â€Supplement for visiting Abu Simbel on Sun festival $32 Due to local regulations, guides are not permitted to enter Abu Simbel temple with you but will provide information outside, allow you free time to explore, and arrange a meeting place for afterwards. Luxor: â€A.C.E Luxor Animal Hospital (time permitting) Free â€Sound and light show, Karnak Temple US$52 â€Queen Hatshepsut’s temple US$18 â€Entrance for additional tombs on the West Bank approximately US$18 â€Additional Visit to the West bank - Mednet Habu Temple, entrance to Valley of Queens & Deir El-Medina US$45 â€Dendarah & Abydos US$70-US$90
Tipping
Baksheesh is part of Egyptian life, and small tips are expected by most of the people working in the tourism industry (drivers, hotel staff, railway porters, restaurant staff etc). To simplify this process for our clients, Exodus has agreed with our team of tour leaders to recommend a tipping kitty for all trips to Egypt. Your tour leader will explain this at the start of the holiday, and will collect the suggested sum from those who wish to participate. Your tour leader will then take care of all the tipping on behalf of the group. While your participation is highly recommended, it is not compulsory. Your leader can provide details of the distribution of the money as required. For groups of 12 or more clients, the contribution is suggested as US$65 per person. For groups of fewer than 12 clients, the contribution is suggested as US$70 per person. If you feel your leader has performed well over the course of your trip, you may want to show your appreciation of their services. The sum you choose to give is entirely personal, but as a guide, about US$4 per person per day would be reasonable. The tipping kitty explained above is entirely separate from any contribution to the tour leader.

highlights

• Visit tombs in the Valley of the Kings
• The Mediterranean port city of Alexandria
• Sightseeing on a Nile River cruise
• Guided food tour in Cairo