Discover the pyramids and temples of Egypt, before cruising the Nile from Luxor to Aswan
Unearth a wealth of ancient monuments and treasures in Egypt with the added insight of an expert Egyptologist and the comfort of five-star accommodation throughout. Stand at the awe-inspiring Pyramids of Giza and marvel at the colossal columns of the Temple of Karnak before boarding the MS Movenpick Royal Lily or Royal Lotus for a four-night premium cruise along the Nile. Visit the Valley of the Kings where some 62 pharaohs including Tutankhamun are entombed, before setting sail upstream to Aswan, also visiting the spectacular Edfu and Kom Ombo Temples en route. Sip sundowners from the pool bar or relax on the sun deck as you watch local life pass. In Aswan, the centre of Nubian culture, we stay on Elephantine Island with panoramic views of the Nile.
Food & Drink
All breakfasts, four lunches and four dinners included.
In the itinerary, we state which meals are included on which day. We suggest you allow 2,460-3,445 Egyptian dollars (approximately US$100-US$140) for meals not included. Food in Egypt involves such things as kebabs, chicken, stews, pitta bread, falafel, beans, aubergine (eggplant) and other vegetables, pickles and salads. Dishes tend to be simple and wholesome and vegetarians can be catered for if they accept the options may be somewhat limited. On board the cruise ship there is one complimentary bottle of water in your cabin and after this drinks are not included.
Transport
Road transport is by private air-conditioned mini/midi-bus and the roads are generally good. Travelling is typically restricted to a few hours a day and the mode of transport is varied. As detailed above, during our trip we use cruise ship and felucca.
Weather & Seasonality
Rain is very rare in all parts of Egypt and most days are sunny and clear. Summer temperatures often reach the upper 30s (around 100F) but this is particularly true for the period between June and September. Winter can be surprisingly cold, especially on the Nile or at night. The average daytime maximum in Cairo in January is 20C (68F), nights are minimum 8C (46F). In summer, these temperatures are 35C (95F) and 22C (72F) respectively. Daytime temperatures are a little higher on average in Aswan.
Getting to the start hotel
The start hotel is approximately 50 minutes’ drive from the airport. We provide free arrival transfers to the start hotel for any flight landing on arrival day and you’ll be met before customs and immigration. Speak to your sales representative before departure to book. 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 Aswan Airport (ASW) for customers who Exodus booked onto a chosen 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.
Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers will be sent to you as part of our Final Joining Instructions. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent.
Location start: Cairo
Location end: Aswan
What To Take
Essential Equipment
- Trousers (pants) or long dresses for women (Egypt is a Muslim country and there are times you may be asked to cover up when entering a mosque)
- Warm sweater (November to March) or a light sweater (April to October)
- Warm jacket or fleece (November to March only)
- Long sleeved shirts (for evening and/or sun protection)
- Sunhat
- Backpack
- Water bottle
- Sunscreen, sunglasses and lip salve
- Lightweight walking shoes
- Light wet-weather top
Medication
Some medicines that are prescribed or available over the counter in your home country may be controlled substances in Egypt. Please check with your nearest Egyptian embassy or consulate about the customs requirements for any medicines you plan on carrying. You should also check your local government’s advice about carrying prescribed medication in Egypt.
Water included
Plastic bottles are a big issue in many countries where recycling isn’t yet widely available; they often end up in landfill or get burned. Both processes are harmful to the environment and we would like to reduce our impact here. For your trip, we provide an alternative to single-use plastic bottles to reduce the plastic used. This means that safe drinking water will be available throughout; all you need to do is bring a bottle to refill along the way. Please add this to your packing list.
Optional Equipment
- Camera
- Swimwear
- Torch/flashlight (useful in the temples)
Practical Information
Passport
Remember to check the expiration date of your passport if travelling internationally. Many countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months after the date of your scheduled return.
Visa
Egypt
Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally need a visa to enter Egypt. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.
Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.
• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/africa/egypt
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/egypt
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/egypt/entry-requirements
• USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Egypt.html
If you are obtaining your visa online, please ensure you have a scan of your passport ready. The file size should be small and ideally saved as a JPEG or PDF otherwise you might not be able to load it on the visa application.
You will need to provide your host’s information on the application – please use the following details:
South Sinai Travel
79 Merghany Street
Cairo
Egypt
Telephone: +20 22418 7310
www.southsinai.com
salwa.ibrahim@southsinai.com
Please note, Egyptian officials have requested tourists carry a copy of their passport with them while in the country. Please also note, some prescribed medicines are controlled substances in Egypt.
Please note that some prescribed medicines available in the UK are considered controlled substances in Egypt and can’t be brought into the country without prior permission from Egypt’s Ministry of Health; if you arrive in Egypt without this permission and the required documentation, the medication will not be allowed into the country and you may be prosecuted under Egyptian law; if you’re travelling with prescription medication you should carry a medical certificate from your GP confirming that the medication has been prescribed for a medical condition.
Vaccinations and Health
There are no required vaccinations. However, recommended vaccinations include tetanus, polio, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies and typhoid.
You will also need a yellow fever vaccination certificate if you’re arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission or transiting for more than 12 hours through a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. Some travellers may also need proof of a polio vaccination. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.
There is evidence that Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS) is spread by contact with camels. This trip includes the option of a camel ride, which is undertaken at your own risk; we suggest that you visit the Travel Health Pro website which includes information about the virus.
Local Time
Egypt’s time zone: Africa/Cairo (UTC +03:00)
Electricity
Egypt’s electricity: Plug types C (two round pins, European standard) and F (two round pins) – 220V, 50Hz
Money
Egypt’s currency: The official currency is the Egyptian pound (EGP), though US dollars are also widely accepted
ATM Availability
There are ATMs in many parts of Egypt and you can use Visa, Mastercard and Switch using your normal PIN. Credit cards are accepted in most hotels, restaurants and tourist bazaars. It is also possible to purchase larger items such as carpets with Visa, American Express and some other major cards.
There is no limit to the amount of foreign currency that can be brought into the country, and we do not recommend you pick up Egyptian currency prior to departure.
Money can be changed on arrival at the airport or at local banks/exchange offices. Any hard currency, including British pounds, euros and US dollars can be exchanged. Additionally US dollars can be used to pay in Egypt; however, you usually receive change in Egyptian pounds. Your tour leader can assist with exchanging money throughout the tour. When you leave Egypt it is possible, though not always easy, to re-exchange Egyptian pounds into foreign currency. It is easiest to try to budget wisely to avoid having too many Egyptian pounds at the end of your tour.
Extra Expenses & Spending Money
Optional excursions
Our excursion packages include entrance fees, a professional Egyptologist guide, licensed drivers and vehicles, and local tourist police permission fees.
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 us at the time of booking your tour. We will then check availability. Unless indicated otherwise, the below prices are based on a minimum of six people taking part and are subject to change.
Cairo (only possible pre-tour or if arriving early on Day 1):
- Sound and light show, Giza: US$48 (minimum six travellers) Does not run every day.
- Citadel and Mohamed Ali Mosque: US$40
- Coptic Cairo including Coptic Museum: US$42
- Tour of Sakkara and Memphis: US$66
- Entrance fee to go inside Great Pyramids: US$30
- Grand Egyptian Museum: US$65
Aswan:
- Abu Simbel flight excursion: The flight must be requested with us at the time of booking your tour. If you do not request the flight at this time, we cannot guarantee seats will be available. Flight timings vary but the flight duration is approximately 45 minutes. The length of time in the temples depends on the Egyptair flight schedule. It should, however, be longer than an hour. Please speak to your sales representative to book.
- Abu Simbel road excursion: from US$175 – minimum six people (can be prebooked). 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.
Please note: Abu Simbel visits are not advised during the Abu Simbel Sun Festival (22 February and 22 October), due to safety precautions. If you would still like to visit Abu Simbel during your trip, we will try our best to accommodate. 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.
- St Simone Monastery (accessible by foot or on a camel): US$36
- Animalia Nubian village: US$25
- Sound and light show at Philae: $52 (minimum six travellers)
- Unfinished Obelisk: US$15 (minimum six travellers)
Luxor:
- A.C.E Luxor Animal Hospital (time permitting): Free
- Sound and light show, Karnak Temple: US$52
- Entrance for additional tombs on the West Bank, Valley of the Kings: Approximately US$18
- Dendarah and Abydos: US$70-US$90
Tipping
On this Premium Adventure, tipping for any local support staff is included, and will normally be taken care of via your tour leader (or in some cases through our local agent). So no need for any tipping kitty contributions, or to make your own tips during the trip.
Our ‘included tips’ will normally cover drivers, local specialist guides, certain hotel staff, and serving staff for included meals. Amounts will be in line with the local standard. Of course, if you wish to make a further tip for some extra special service you may do so.
Tips for the Tour Leader are not included. Whether to tip at all and the amount is entirely at your own discretion, but as a starting point, we suggest around $40 per person for the duration of the trip.
Important Information
Water safety
This trip includes time by a lake, river or sea, where there may be opportunities to swim. You should always seek local advice before deciding whether to swim. Open-water or wild swim spots should be treated with extreme caution.
Binoculars and drones
We do not recommend taking binoculars or monoculars into Egypt as on occasion these have been confiscated either on arrival or within the country. Drones are also forbidden.
This trip goes near an area deemed unsafe to visit by the UK government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whose advice we follow when operating our trips. While our itinerary doesn’t go to these areas, you should familiarise yourself with your local government’s advice if you are planning any pre- or post-trip travel. Any independent travel to areas currently against your local government advice is entirely at your own risk and unlikely to be covered by your travel insurance.
Important Information
Your safe participation
When booking this trip, you should be confident in your ability to participate in all activities described in these Trip Notes. If you have any doubt about your suitability, please call us and ask to speak to one of the experts on this itinerary.
Although our leaders are well trained to deal with different capabilities, if they have any concerns about someone’s ability to safely take part in an activity, or their impact on other people’s enjoyment, we authorise them to take necessary action which, in some circumstances, may involve asking someone to miss that activity.
By booking this trip you agree to our Booking Conditions which clearly state that our leaders have the authority to do this. In these rare instances we will ensure anyone sitting out is safely provided for and offered alternative options where possible. Refunds will not be provided for activities missed and customers may be liable for additional costs incurred.
Seatbelts
All vehicles used by us should be equipped with working seatbelts, except where approved by us based on the vehicle type or journey. Wherever seatbelts are available, we require our customers to use them for their own safety, even where it may not be a legal requirement.
How to Book
- Check availability: Go online to check availability, or contact us by phone or email.
- Secure your place: You can provisionally hold a place on this trip, usually for between three and seven days.
- Complete your booking and payment
When you’re ready to book, go to our website for online bookings, book over the phone or you can complete a booking form (available online or on request by calling us). We accept all major credit and debit cards, or you can pay be cheque.
After booking
You will receive your booking confirmation letter and invoice, which includes extra information and guidance about your travel arrangements.
Full joining instructions, including local emergency numbers and details of how to reach the start point, will be sent to you approximately two to three weeks prior to departure. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier, please contact our office or your travel agent.
Trip Note validity
These Trip Notes are valid from the “Current as” date on page one. They will occasionally be updated after booking and before departure; if there are any updates that significantly impact the inclusions or itinerary, customers will be written to separately. They will also receive a link to the most up-to-date Trip Notes with their Final Joining Instructions before travelling.
The information in these Trip Notes is given in good faith. Where differences exist between the Trip Notes and our current brochure or website, the Trip Notes supersede the brochure and website. All holidays can be subject to unexpected changes; to enjoy them you should be prepared to be flexible where necessary. Occasionally, it may not be possible to follow the itinerary as planned. This may be for a variety of reasons – climatic, political, physical or other. In these circumstances we will make the best-possible alternative arrangements that maintain the integrity of the original itinerary.
