Egypt vacations

Egypt is the cradle of more than 5,000 years of history and culture, a sophisticated civilisation far older than those of Greece and Rome. But it’s not all dusty museums and dark chambers – Our Egypt vacations bring the stories and culture of Ancient Egypt vividly to life. It may be ancient but it's never dull.

Our local guides, who care deeply about preserving these precious sites, will illuminate temples, monuments and tombs that have weathered the sands and stood the test of time, revealing the truth behind pharaohs, people and gods. Many of them have degrees in Egyptology, so who better to introduce you to the Luxor area, which has been settled since Homer’s time? Luxor Temple occupies the center of the city, while the vast Temple of Karnak, one of the largest religious complexes in the world, stands in the desert just outside. Then there’s the labyrinthine Valley of the Kings, where many of Egypt’s best-known rulers were entombed, including Ramses II and Tutankhamun.

The most iconic symbol of Egypt, and among the most recognisable monuments on Earth, the Pyramids of Giza would be a stunning feat of architecture and engineering today, let alone when they were built, nearly 5,000 years ago. Testament to the sophisticated civilisation of the ancient Egyptians, the three Giza pyramids stand just outside Cairo, and are joined by dozens more in the surrounding desert, as well as the enigmatic Sphinx. This huge limestone statue has the body of a lion and the head of a man, though no-one knows where its nose has got to. You will have the opportunity to climb down right inside the pyramids if you wish, although your guide will not be able to join you, due to limited numbers.

The pyramids, the Sphinx, and Valley of the Kings are not only iconic but also highly protected by UNESCO. But these archaeological wonders can get packed with coach loads, which is why our responsible vacations aim to arrive early or stay late, avoid the light shows, and absorb their greatness in a tranquil way. They are vast so there is always somewhere to sit in silence. It is also worth noting that a lot of Egypt’s ancient sites have been made a lot more accessible in recent years – people with mobility issues can now get around without too much difficulty.

Cruising the Nile is without doubt the most convenient and relaxing way to appreciate Egypt’s many ancient sites, not to mention scenes of everyday life along the riverbanks. In bygone days, Victorian tourists sailed along the Nile in style and our river cruises today can still be as sedate, opulent and romantic – because we stick to small ships that don’t create a wake that erodes the riverbanks, or disgorge hundreds of passengers and swamp the ancient sites. Our cruises usually encompass Edfu, Kom Ombo and Abu Simbel on their voyages between Luxor and Aswan, and last up to a week.

For an altogether different take on Nile cruising, spend a few days aboard one of our sail-powered feluccas: a traditional and completely eco-friendly way to travel the Nile. These small wooden boats go as fast as the wind takes them, although sometimes it’s necessary to break out the oars. Feluccas became popular on the Nile because of the cataracts, or shallow sand banks, that appear at certain locations and are only navigable by sailboat. You will see lots of white sails wafting along the river, particularly around Aswan, taking people either for a day trip, or for a few days along the world’s most famous river. Feluccas have minimal comforts; you’ll sleep on deck, and toilet tents are erected on the banks for comfort. But this experience is usually a part of a longer small ship cruise, so you’ll be back in your cabin after a night or two.

One of the most popular cultural stops when cruising the Nile is a Nubian village on Elephantine Island, near Aswan. The construction of the Aswan High Dam submerged much of the Nubia region, along with many places of great historic significance, and thousands of people were resettled. Displaced and discriminated against, Nubians' culture is being revived in no small part because of the interest they have received from responsible tourists. Our Egypt vacations will often spend an evening with a Nubian family, giving you the opportunity to enjoy a homecooked meal with them and learn about their lives and traditions. And if you can hear them sing, you will hear what fine voices they have too.

Cruises typically begin in either Aswan or Luxor. Either can be reached by an internal flight from Cairo taking just an hour or so. The overnight train from the capital is also convenient and has a certain romantic allure to it, but it’s not the most comfortable journey in the world. While we would always recommend traveling by rail over air if you can, to minimise your trip’s carbon footprint, this is one of those occasions where most people do opt to fly. And for those with mobility issues, we do have wheelchair accessible cruises, with suitable accommodation and vehicles being used, as well as additional support for shore excursions where required.

It’s easy to lose yourself in Egypt’s astounding history, but the Red Sea – known for its shallow shelves that play host to all sorts of marine life and coral – is more than worth exploring over a couple of days, or longer. Visibility here is said to be triple the distance you get on the Great Barrier Reef, and so it merits its status as one of the best places to dive in the world. You don’t have to go to busy Sharm El-Sheikh to scuba dive either. Our Egypt vacations seek out some of the smaller places such as Dahab that are enduringly popular with families and beginners because you can start off on shore and progress very quickly, as the depths drop sufficiently without having to go out to sea.

Kids will be entranced by the Pyramids of Giza and the temples of Luxor. Crack mummy jokes together at the pyramids and listen while our expert guides entertain and inform with tales from Ancient Egypt. Enjoy the breeze tickling your hair as you sleep on deck with a felucca cruise on the Nile. Or take scuba diving lessons in the Red Sea, where our family dive vacations only use very small groups, to minimise damage to the reef. Plus your kids will learn to remove plastic and help tidy the reef, whilst also meeting all their amazing colourful inhabitants.