EGYPT: Temples, Tan Lines & Tales
An 11-day sweep from Cairo’s skyline to the Red Sea’s glow—curated the Afrigay way. Open with a private dahabiya sunset sail and the icons (Pyramids, Sphinx, GEM), then drift south for a three-night Nile cruise taking in Kom Ombo, Edfu, and Luxor by golden hour. Walk the West Bank’s greats (Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut) before two all-inclusive days in Hurghada to snorkel, spa, or simply exhale. Optional Abu Simbel, inclusive hosting throughout, zero faff.
From Cairo’s skyline to the Red Sea’s cobalt glow, this Afrigay journey threads Egypt’s greatest hits with thoughtful pacing and inclusive hosting. Touch down to meet-and-assist, then ease into the adventure with a private sunset sail and welcome dinner on a classic dahabiya. Spend your Cairo days up close with the icons — the Great Pyramids and Sphinx — and inside the Grand Egyptian Museum’s treasure halls, balanced with modern perspective at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation. There’s time to wander Khan el-Khalili’s lantern-lit alleys and settle into a long, lazy lunch at Naguib Mahfouz. Expect seamless logistics, expert guiding, and a calm rhythm that lets the stories (and the photos) breathe.
Flying south to Aswan, you’ll explore the island grace of Philae Temple and the scale of the Unfinished Obelisk before boarding a three-night Nile cruise. River days drift between Kom Ombo and Edfu; evenings bring golden-hour drama at Karnak and Luxor Temple. Disembark for the West Bank’s heavyweights — the Valley of the Kings, Queen Hatshepsut’s terraces, the Colossi of Memnon — then cross the desert to Hurghada for two sun-soaked days on an all-inclusive coastline: snorkelling, spa, or simply poolside exhale.
It’s Egypt, curated the Afrigay way — warm, well-timed, and wonderfully easy — so you can travel out, proud, and perfectly looked after.
Day 1 — Cairo arrival • Sunset on the Nile
Welcome to Egypt! Glide through airport formalities with our meet-and-assist team and settle into your hotel with private transfers. Tonight we step straight into the magic: a private two-hour sail on a classic dahabiya, with a welcome dinner on the Nile as Cairo’s skyline drifts by — a gentle, golden start to our journey together.
Day 2 — Icons of Giza • The Grand Egyptian Museum
After breakfast, stand face to face with the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx before we dive into curated highlights at the Grand Egyptian Museum with our expert guide. Lunch is reserved at 9 Pyramids Lounge — front-row views for those once-in-a-lifetime shots — and then it’s back to the hotel by private vehicle to decompress and relive the day.
Day 3 — Ancient & modern Cairo
We connect 5,000 years of story at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation, then wander the lanes of Khan el-Khalili — brass lamps, spices and shimmering textiles — pausing for a relaxed local lunch at the historic Naguib Mahfouz restaurant. The afternoon is yours to roam, rest or explore at your own pace, with our guide and vehicle on hand earlier in the day.
Day 4 — Cairo → Aswan • Philae Temple & the Unfinished Obelisk
Fly south to Aswan, where the Nile widens and the pace softens. This afternoon we visit the island sanctuary of Philae Temple — all light, water and myth — and the awe-scale Unfinished Obelisk, travelling throughout with our private guide and transport. Settle riverside this evening and feel the shift into slower Nile time.
Day 5 — Nubian colour • Embark the Nile cruise
A colourful visit to a Nubian village sets the tone — vivid façades, warm welcomes, stories in every doorway — before we board our Nile cruise. Unpack once and exhale: lunches and dinners are served on board, and the top deck is perfect for watching feluccas glide past as river life unfolds.
Day 6 — Kom Ombo • Sail to Edfu (Abu Simbel optional)
Early risers can opt for the Abu Simbel road excursion — powerful and unforgettable — before rejoining the cruise. We call at Kom Ombo to explore its unique double temple and then sail upriver to Edfu. Between ports, claim a lounger, a book or a breezy nap; this is the Nile at its most soothing, with all meals on board.
Day 7 — Edfu • Esna Lock • Twilight Luxor
Step into the grand courts of Edfu Temple with our guide, then drift through the Esna Lock en route to Luxor. We time our East Bank visit for atmosphere — Karnak and Luxor Temple glowing in late-day light — before returning to the ship for dinner and a quiet evening under the stars.
Day 8 — West Bank wonders • Road to the Red Sea
Disembark after breakfast and cross the Nile to explore Luxor’s West Bank: the Valley of the Kings, the elegant terraces of Queen Hatshepsut’s Temple, and the steadfast Colossi of Memnon. After lunch (own account), trade sandstone for shoreline with a private drive to the Red Sea and check in at our Hurghada resort.
Day 9 — Hurghada at leisure
A full day to reset by the sea. Choose a quiet stretch of beach, a snorkel over coral gardens, spa time, or simply a book and a lounger — your resort’s all-inclusive plan keeps everything effortless.
Day 10 — One more dip • Farewell dinner
Savour one last easy morning by the water. Tonight we gather for a relaxed farewell dinner at the hotel — stories, laughter and a celebratory clink with new friends — the perfect finale to our Egypt chapter.
Day 11 — Departure
After breakfast, check out and take a private transfer to Hurghada Airport for onward flights. We’ll coordinate timings behind the scenes to keep everything smooth and stress-free.
Egypt
- Capital: Cairo. Major gateways: Cairo (CAI), with domestic hubs at Luxor (LXR), Aswan (ASW), Hurghada (HRG), Sharm el-Sheikh (SSH).
- Language: Arabic (Egyptian Arabic). English widely used in tourism.
- Currency: Egyptian Pound (EGP). Cards accepted at hotels/major venues; carry cash for markets, tips and small shops. ATMs common in cities.
- VAT/Sales tax: Standard VAT ~14% is included in most prices; tourist VAT refunds are generally not available.
- Power: 220V / 50Hz. Plugs Type C & F (European two-pin). Bring a universal adaptor.
- Water: Tap water is not recommended for drinking—use sealed bottled water; consider using it for brushing teeth outside top hotels.
- Driving: Right-hand driving. Traffic is dense; self-drive is not advised—use our driver/guide.
- Time: UTC+2 (Egypt observes Daylight Saving—typically late Apr to late Oct → UTC+3).
- Health: No mandatory vaccines for most travellers. Yellow Fever certificate required if arriving from/through a Yellow Fever risk area. Hep A/Typhoid commonly recommended; bring insect repellent for Nile/Red Sea evenings.
- Local culture: Majority-Muslim, modest and friendly. Dress modestly (shoulders/knees covered) when visiting mosques and rural sites; shoes off in mosques; ask before photos; bargaining is normal in souks. Alcohol is served only in licensed venues.
- Food & drink: Think koshari, ful medames, ta’ameya (Egyptian falafel), grilled meats, coastal seafood, sweet basbousa—with great vegetarian options. Bottled water only.
International flights
- Not included unless specifically stated.
- We’ll confirm exactly which airport(s) to arrive/depart from (usually Cairo—CAI). Many itineraries finish in Luxor/Aswan or Red Sea—book an open-jaw ticket or add a domestic hop.
- Please wait for our written tour confirmation before booking personal international flights.
- Typical booking windows: best economy pricing ~3–5 months out; business class ~5–8 months.
- Check baggage rules carefully—some regional tickets are hand-luggage only unless you add a checked bag.
- Want us to handle it? We can book and ticket your international flights (service fee applies), align schedules to the land itinerary, present fare options, and assist if airlines adjust timings.
Domestic / regional flights (within your itinerary)
- Usually included in the package (unless otherwise stated) and ticketed in economy class.
- Allowances follow the operating carrier; details appear on your final docs.
- Fares remain subject to change until ticketed due to airport/government taxes and exchange-rate movements. Any third-party increases (or refunds) will be communicated promptly.
Good to know: Names must exactly match passports; check in 3 hours before international and 90 minutes before domestic departures.
Comprehensive travel insurance is mandatory—medical cover, trip cancellation/curtailment, lost property and any paid-for activities. Ensure your policy covers Nile cruising, hot-air ballooning (if you opt in), and medical evacuation.
Afrigay trips are hosted by Mike or a trusted Tour Leader, with licensed Egyptologist guides in each region. Your leader manages logistics, check-ins, safety briefings, day pacing and the little touches that make a trip feel special.
Solo travellers are very welcome. You can:
- Room solo (single supplement applies), or
- Opt to share—we’ll try to pair you with a traveller of similar profile to avoid the supplement. If we can’t match you, we’ll offer the best single rate available.
Inclusions vary by itinerary and are shown on the What’s included tab. We aim to include a Welcome Dinner and a Farewell Dinner so the group connects at the start and celebrates at the end. Not all meals are included—we leave space to explore local food. We happily cater for vegan/vegetarian, gluten-free and other needs—please advise in advance. Expect Egyptian classics, fresh mezze, grilled dishes—and on cruises, generous buffets; alcohol is available in licensed hotels/restaurants and on most ships.
Only the activities listed as Included on your trip page are part of your package. Anything else is optional and not included.
If you’d like extras, we can arrange them at additional cost—before travel or on tour—subject to availability, season, weather and any minimum numbers. Optional add-ons are usually paid direct to suppliers; if we pre-book, they’ll appear on your invoice. Your insurance must cover any optional activity you choose.
Tipping (“baksheesh”) is customary but always at your discretion. USD or EGP are both commonly accepted in tourism.
- Restaurants/Bars: 10–15% if service isn’t included (a service charge may appear on bills; adding 5–10% on top for great service is common).
- Taxis/E-hailing: round up.
- Hotel porters: about US$1–2 per bag (or local equivalent).
- Housekeeping: US$1–3 per room per night.
- Local guide (day touring): US$8–12 per person per day (group size dependent).
- Driver (day touring): US$3–6 per person per day.
- Tour Leader (multi-day Afrigay host): US$5–10 per person per day—aligned with common global norms.
Your Tour Leader will brief you on any ship/lodge-specific tipping pools.
- Passport & copies, visas/eVisa printout if applicable, insurance details.
- Bank cards + some small-denomination cash (USD and EGP) for tips/markets.
- Adapters (Type C/F), power bank, unlocked phone for eSIM/SIM.
- Modest clothing (shoulders/knees covered for mosques/temples); a scarf for mosque visits.
- Sun protection—hat, high-SPF, sunglasses; light long sleeves for sun days; comfortable walking shoes for stone/tomb floors.
- Warm layer for early mornings (balloon rides/Desert).
- Personal meds, basic first-aid, insect repellent.
We’ll send a tour-specific packing cue sheet with your final documents.
We may make reasonable changes to the itinerary, accommodation, transport or sequencing when required by weather, safety, governmental advice, availability or operational factors. Equivalent or higher-quality services will be substituted where possible. Afrigay Travel and its local partners operate within Egyptian law and industry standards (and applicable international standards); participation implies acceptance of our full Terms & Conditions issued at booking.
Egypt is conservative. Same-sex marriage is not recognised and public LGBTQ+ expression can attract unwanted attention; authorities have used morality/public-decency laws to target LGBTQ+ people. We travel with discretion, avoid public displays of affection, and protect privacy on tour (including guidance around social media and dating apps). We work only with vetted, discreet, welcoming suppliers and your Tour Leader will brief the group on safe, respectful conduct so the trip remains joyful and stress-free.
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