Egypt Family Friendly Vacation

Explore the amazing Pyramids of Giza, which have stood tall for 4,500 years. Afterward, make your way to the Egyptian Museum, home to one of the world’s great collections of antiquities. Wander the treasure-filled halls of the museum, and be sure to check out the Mummies Hall (optional) for a close encounter with some of the country’s most important queens and pharaohs. You will have plenty of time to explore the sites today (approximately 3 hours for the pyramids and 3 hours for the museum). In the evening, you will board an overnight train to the southern city of Aswan (approximately 13 hours).

Arrive in Aswan in the morning. Here the Nile runs deep and fast between granite rocks as the desert encroaches on the river. Even to travelers in ancient times, Aswan was known as the legendary gateway to the kingdom of Nubia. Today it is still something of a frontier town, where the Arab Middle East meets black Africa. Visiting the packed bazaar is highly recommended – here you will find exotic spices, carpets, leather goods, and countless other wares. Enjoy the sights of donkey carts and men in flowing robes and turbans. In the afternoon, there may be time to take a taxi out to visit the Temple of Isis at Philae (optional). There are many other sites to be seen around Aswan and your leader should be able to organize some excursions – perhaps a camel ride or a trip to the Unfinished Obelisk. In the evening, you will take a trip across the river to a Nubian village and enjoy dinner at one of the local houses.

Perhaps rise early to visit the magnificent temples of Abu Simbel (minimum of 4 people). Later in the day, you and your family will board feluccas (traditional wooden boats with broad canvas sails) to spend a day out on the Nile river and then a night under the stars. Watching the sunset across the Nile is unforgettable, and this part of the trip is sure to be a highlight. Your Nubian sailing crew will prepare all meals. While there is no cabin or enclosed section on the felucca, a canopy offers shade and protection from the elements. Conditions are basic, and you will sleep outside on the deck on a mattress. While blankets are provided, a sleeping sheet is recommended. There is a very clean toilet on board. During the colder months (October to March) it can get very cold at night (as low as 5°C) so a sleeping bag is highly recommended.

This morning you will visit the temple at Kom Ombo. The temple is dedicated to two gods: Haroeris (Horus the elder) and the crocodile-headed Sobek, the Egyptian god of the Nile. Check out the many mummified crocodiles on display. On the east bank around Kom Ombo, canals to keep the desert at bay feed reclaimed land. It supports not only crops of sugar cane but also a large Nubian community displaced from their homeland by the rising waters of Lake Nasser. Transfer by bus to Luxor (approximately 4 hours), tracing the path of the Nile northward. Upon arrival, you will have time to look around the town’s monuments and museums, and it may be possible to visit Karnak temple to witness the memorable sound and light show (optional) which dramatically relates its history.

Visit the ancient tombs of the pharaohs in the Valley of the Kings. Rising early, cross the Nile and drive to the secluded valley where 63 pharaohs were buried as part of their journey to the afterlife. In the company of a local guide, you will explore (for approximately 2 hours) some of the exquisitely decorated tombs of these rulers of long ago. It is here that the burial site of the boy-king, Tutankhamun, discovered by British archaeologist Howard Carter in 1922, can be found. This visit to the Valley of the Kings brings to life much of what you saw in the Egyptian Museum. If you would like to organize a visit to King Tut’s tomb today, this can be arranged with advance notice – ask your leader for details. On your way back to the river, you can see the funerary temple of Queen Hatshepsut, Egypt’s first female ruler, and you’ll spend about an hour here. This afternoon you are free to explore Luxor or perhaps just relax by the hotel pool.

Early this morning, take a horse-drawn carriage to the historic temple of Karnak (approximately 1 hour), which you will explore with a local guide. Explore the magnificent Karnak Temple, perhaps the most impressive of all the ancient Pharoahs’ monumental works. In the afternoon, bid farewell to the Nile and drive east to Hurghada (approximately 5 hours). The green Nile valley is soon left behind as you head out into the barren Eastern Desert. Passing through rocky hills, the glittering waters of the Red Sea soon come into view and the rugged bulk of the Sinai Peninsula looms through the haze on the opposite shore. A vibrant beach resort, Hurghada is by no means a typical ‘adventure destination’, and snorkeling here is a great way to round off the trip.

Take to the waves this morning, heading to some offshore reefs where you can swim and snorkel to see the abundance of vividly colored marine life that inhabit these waters. You’ll have around four hours to explore this underwater world. The young ones will love this part of the trip. Afterward, enjoy some free time to relax. If you’ve had enough of the sea and sand, you might like to take this opportunity to explore the town. In the northern part of town, you’ll find the proper Egyptian part of the city – this is where the souq is. It’s a good place to mingle with the locals and get a sense of everyday life.

Your adventure ends. There are no activities planned for the final day and you can depart your accommodation at any time. Please check the ‘Finishing Point Hotel’ section for checkout times and luggage storage possibilities.