Egypt: Cairo, Luxor, and a Nile Felucca

Arrive at any time into Cairo. Most international flights land by afternoon, leaving enough time to navigate the city's traffic and settle into your hotel. For a first visit, arranging an airport transfer is a reliable way to get your bearings. The first day is best used for acclimatizing before the real work begins.

The day begins at the Giza plateau, standing before the Great Pyramid and the Sphinx. After absorbing the scale of the ancient world's most iconic structures, the focus shifts to their contents with a visit to the vast collection at the Grand Egyptian Museum. In the evening, the journey turns south. Board the overnight sleeper train bound for Aswan. The sleeper cars are functional, with twin-berth beds, a small sink, and a shared toilet at the end of the carriage. Expect a basic airline-style tray meal for dinner and breakfast as the desert scrolls by outside. Note on timing: during Ramadan the museum and Giza pyramid sites close at 3pm, which compresses the daytime schedule; confirm the order of activities if travelling that month.

The train from Cairo usually arrives in Aswan early, but delays are common on this line. Once checked in, the morning is free to explore the city's relaxed river-town atmosphere. It's an easy walk to the main souk or along the Nile corniche. Later, a small boat motors out to one of the islands to visit a Nubian village. The walk through the community's fields and brightly painted houses ends with a traditional home-cooked dinner with a local family.

A full day to explore Aswan and its surroundings. The main draw is the optional, early-morning convoy to the monumental temples of Abu Simbel, a significant excursion south near the Sudanese border. Closer to town, a half-day trip can cover the High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk, and the relocated Philae Temple. For a deeper look at the local culture, the modern Nubian Museum is a worthwhile stop.

The morning is spent on the water, sailing the Nile on a traditional felucca. After a few hours on the river, the journey continues overland, heading north towards Luxor. The route breaks at Kom Ombo to visit the unique double temple dedicated to the gods Sobek and Horus, located right on the riverbank. From there, it's a few more hours by road to Luxor, arriving in time for dinner at a local market.

An early start is required to cross the Nile to the West Bank, the necropolis of ancient Thebes. The day is dedicated to its main sites, beginning with a descent into the painted tombs of the pharaohs in the Valley of the Kings. Photography inside the Valley of the Kings tombs carries an additional 300 EGP fee on top of the standard entry — paid at the gate. From there, visit the striking, terraced Funerary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut and stop to see the two 18-meter-high Colossi of Memnon. A break for lunch with a local family on the West Bank divides the day before a free afternoon back in Luxor.

The morning is spent at the Karnak Temple, a colossal complex of sanctuaries, pylons, and obelisks that was the center of religious life in ancient Egypt for centuries. Afterwards, a ferry crosses back to the West Bank for a different perspective: a bike ride through a village and a visit to a local non-profit youth centre that offers vocational training, with tea served on arrival. The rest of the afternoon is open for independent exploration of Luxor's bustling bazaar.

The route concludes with a morning flight from Luxor back to Cairo. The trip officially ends upon arrival at Cairo International Airport. Be aware that flight delays are possible, so G Adventures' own guidance is to not book any onward international flight before 2pm.