Ancient Egyptian Secrets

B - Breakfast | L - Lunch | D - Dinner

Day 1 Cairo

Welcome to Egypt! We will arrive at the airport and transfer to the comfortable hotel. The rest of the day is free until our group meeting in the evening.

Day 2 Alexandria (B)

We will travel to the monasteries of Wadi Naturn, one of the most important sites for Coptic Christians, dating back to the fourth century AD. We will visit the famous monasteries in the company of one of the monks, for a very special guided tour. We will continue on to the seaside city of Alexandria for the night.

Day 3 Alexandria, Cairo (B)

We will enjoy a city tour of the ancient metropolis of Alexandria, visiting Pompey’s Pillar, the Catacombs, the Roman Amphitheatre, the Citadel of Qait Bay, the Montazah Palace and the modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina (Alexandria Library). We get the option to try a tasty fresh seafood lunch before heading back to Cairo.

Day 4 Cairo (B,D)

We will visit the old kingdom necropolis of Saqqara to see the oldest pyramid of ancient Egypt with its marvelous wall reliefs. We will head to Dahshour with its Pyramid of Senfru and enjoy a chance to go inside the Red Pyramid, one of the most mysterious structures of all. After lunch, we will visit the jewel in Egypt's crown, the Great Pyramids of Giza and the statue of the Sphinx before heading to the Cairo rail station to board the evening sleeper train south to Aswan.

Day 5 Aswan (B,D)

We will board a Felucca (traditional Nile boat) for a relaxing tour around the islands on the Nile: Elephantine Island, Agha Khan Mausoleum and the botanical gardens on Kitchener Island. We will visit a local Nubian village and enjoy a traditional dinner at a local home for a unique experience.

Day 6 Abu Simbel, Nile Cruise Boat (B,L,D)

We will take an early morning flight to the spectacular Abu Simbel. Not only are the two temples located at Abu Simbel among the most magnificent monuments in the world but also their removal and reconstruction was an historic event in itself. We’ll learn about the ancient history of the site and the modern engineering feats required to save it for posterity. We fly back to Aswan in the afternoon to check-in to the Nile cruise boat, our floating home for the next three nights.

Day 7-8 Nile Cruise (2B,2L,2D)

During the time on board, we will cruise the spectacular Nile, the greatest river in the world. En route we’ll embark on-shore excursions to the temples of Kom Ombo and Edfu before crossing the locks of Esna and sailing into Luxor on the evening of Day 8.

Day 9 Luxor (B)

We will disembark in Luxor and explore the secrets of the magnificent Karnak and Luxor temples, before getting the low down on ancient embalming techniques during a visit to the world's only Mummification Museum.

Day 10 Valley of the Kings, Luxor (B,D)

We will visit the famous Valley of the Kings, to explore a few of the ancient tombs, including the incredible Colossus of Memnon and the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut. We’ll have dinner at a traditional Egyptian restaurant where we sample the local version of "pizza"!

Day 11 St Katherine's, Mount Sinai (B,D)

We will catch a short flight to Sharm el Sheik and transfer to St Katherine's, at the foot of Mount Sinai. We get to relax before heading to Mount Sinai to make an early morning ascent and view a glorious sunrise - a truly unforgettable experience

Day 12-13 Dahab (2B)

The Monastery of St Katherine is the smallest diocese and oldest Christian monastery still in use in the world. It houses not only a rich collection of icons and precious manuscripts but also the only existing relative of Moses' biblical burning bush! We’ll continue to Dahab for a relaxing stay on the shores of the Red Sea, with plenty of time for snorkeling, swimming, or just hanging out on the beach.

Day 14 Cairo (B,L)

We will take a short flight to Cairo, arriving in time for a fascinating visit with a local specialist to the marvelous Egyptian Museum. We will enjoy a local lunch at an authentic kushari restaurant before taking the opportunity for some last minute shopping in the legendary Khan el Khalili Bazaar.

Day 15 Departure (B)

After choosing your desired tour, you will need to select a departure date that works for you. You can view all of our dates and prices on any tour page. You may also want to consider the need for a private room during the tour. Please remember to ask for an air quote. It is important however that you do not purchase tickets that carry cancellations penalties until your trip is guaranteed to run.

Availability Options

• Available – Trips marked as available means there are at least 4 spots left on your tour.
• On Request– Less than 4 spaces are left, or we need to contact a local supplier, especially in the case of independent tours.
• Waitlist – There is currently no space available, but you can ask to be contacted if anything opens up.

Guaranteed - We guarantee our tours 60 days before departure. Some popular tours are guaranteed before this date. If your tour indicates it is guaranteed, you can proceed to book your international airfare once you receive your booking confirmation.

Inca Trail Status - For Peru trips that involve hiking the Inca Trail permits often sell out many months in advance. Permits can either be available, on request or sold out. If sold out, then you can either take a different hiking route to Machu Picchu or extend your stay in Cuzco and visit Machu Picchu by train. We recommend the sooner you book your trip the better.

Book your Tour Online

When you decide to “book now” you will proceed to our secure, online booking pages that are encrypted for online purchases. The processing steps are explained below. Essential information comes first. Let us know who you are and whom you are traveling with.

• Add your personal information for our “passenger” section, such as name (as it appears on your passport), email, date of birth and save that information.
• Please advise us of any medical or meal requirements at this time.
• If you are travelling with anyone else, enter their personal information next, and continue doing this for any passengers you are booking and paying for.
• Review our insurance section so that you’re aware of our requirements.

Note: Discovery Adventures can book your insurance for you.

Proceed to the checkout...

• Please refer to your invoice for a recap of the total cost of services and tours you have requested. Once you have confirmed that your booking details are correct, it is time to book.
• “Hold an option,” means you will have 48 hours to decide, without being charged on your credit card. If you do not confirm, we will release your space for someone else.
• On most tours you can “hold an option” with a credit card or “confirm a booking”.
• Confirming a booking means your credit card will be charged the deposit amount of your tour. The following are the amounts: CAD 250, AUD 250, NZD 250, USD 250, GBP 100, EUR 250.
• Note that you will be charged the full tour amount if your booking request is within 60 days of departure.
• Enter your credit card information as requested and submit the booking to complete your transaction!
• It is a good idea to record your Booking Number and ID for future reference.

We'll be in touch!

Upon receipt of your request, our reservations team will prepare your invoices and documents, and review any special requirements for the tour(s) and services you have requested. You will hear from us within 24 hours of your request by email.

• Please note, even if your online booking went through and you’ve received your booking number, a quality control check is required for all bookings before we can advise to book airfare or extra services.
• We will answer any questions you may have, and provide competitive quotes on both insurance and airfare over the phone.

Any other questions you may have before then can probably be answered by visiting our FAQs and links to our Terms and Conditions.

Good things to know before you go on your Discovery Adventures trip.

Our Discovery Adventures Specialists will take care of all the details of your trip, however some travelers enjoy doing a little research on their own to be ahead of the game. Here are some tips and links to get you started.

• Passport: Make sure your passport is valid up to 6 months from your return date.
• Travel Visas - Requirements change frequently and are dependent upon your nationality and your destination. You are responsible for obtaining your own Visas. Check the Plan Your Trip page to determine if a Visa is required for your specific trip.
• Travel Reports: Most governments have websites dedicated to providing the most up-to-date travel information including recent news and background information on every country. Please visit the US State site for information about your destination and international travel
• Arrival and Departure taxes/fees: Check your tour confirmation documents and speak with a Discovery Adventure Specialist if you have any questions.
• Immunizations and travel health issues: Be sure to get the most accurate and up-to-date health information for the region you will be visiting. Check with your general physician or a specialist from your local travel health clinic.
• Good Health Practices: Adjusting to new climates and cultural conditions can cause some minor complications. This guide will help you stay healthy while you travel.
• Travel Insurance: Be sure to acquire the necessary travel insurance before your trip. You will not be allowed to participate without showing proof of adequate coverage.
• Packing Tips: Create your own packing list based on your destination, accommodations, weather and tour activities. Leave jewelery at home and keep makeup to a minimum. Travel size toiletries stored in a waterproof kit are recommended. Pack once…divide it in half and pack again. (Please verify weight and carry on restrictions with your airline carrier.)