Basix
18 to 35s
Essential Egypt
9 days • 4.9
5
Excellent
243 reviews
9 days
Start
Cairo, Egypt
Finish
Cairo, Egypt
Trip Code
XEYE
Min Age
18
Trip Size
1 - 16
Physical Rating
Meals
8 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 4 dinners
Transport
Private vehicle, Felucca, Overnight sleeper train
Accommodation
Hotel (5 nights), Overnight train (2 nights), Felucca (1 night)
From £579(9 days)
Trip Informations
Why you’ll love this trip
Spend a night cruising the Nile in a traditional felucca boat (a bit like a floating living room) stopping at colourful villages and temples by day and stargazing by night.
Witness some epic sights in Cairo, like the mysterious Sphinx and one of the Seven Wonders of the World – the Great Pyramids of Giza. Maybe even learn how to spell your name in hieroglyphics!
Kayak along the Nile, paddling through ancient landscapes and getting a glimpse into local life along the shores.
Discover the Valley of the Kings with a tour through three burial sites of ancient Pharaohs and the option to check out the fascinating lost tomb of Tutankhamun.
Squeeze between stalls at an Aswan bazaar and discover the open-air museum of Luxor with loads of free time to see the sights at your own pace and a local leader with all the hot tips.
Is this trip right for you?
It gets pretty warm in July and August in Egypt. The good news is, its mostly dry heat, so easier to handle than humidity. Egypt nights can be chillier than expected, especially from December to February, so it’s important to pack clothes that can be layered.
The terrain at some historic sites can be rocky and steep. Solid walking shoes are essential, plus anything to shade you from those rays – a hat, sunscreen and long sleeves. If you don't feel up to it on a hot day, you can decide to not take part, or wander at your own pace.
This trip includes the adventure of overnight train travel, one of the most unique ways to wake up in a new and strange place. You’ll get a small bed and air conditioning in a shared room, but the train might not be as clean as you’re used to.
This trip is a great way to see a lot in a short period of time and it can be part of a longer itinerary if you have more time to explore. You might like to check out Real Egypt & Jordan.
Itinerary
Wander through an ancient Wonder of the World, discover temples and sail the Nile
Ancient history, golden sands and crowded souqs – Egypt is the ultimate destination for any adventurous traveller. This nine-day trip is the perfect mix of blockbuster wonders and intimate moments, with loads of planned activities and plenty of time to wander at your own pace. Your local leader will take you to bucket list icons like the Pyramids of Giza (one of the Seven Wonders of the World) in Cairo and the Valley of the Kings in Luxor, then guide you off the beaten path to eat koshari in a local downtown joint, or into a bazaar to meet a perfume merchant. Kayak along the Nile, spend a night on a traditional felucca under starry skies and drink your body weight in mint tea. The best part? You’ll do it all with like-minded travellers your own age.
Inclusions
Meals
8 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 4 dinners
Transport
Private vehicle, Felucca, Overnight sleeper train
Accommodation
Hotel (5 nights), Overnight train (2 nights), Felucca (1 night)
Included activities
Cairo - Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx
Aswan - Kayaking
Aswan - Orientation walk & bazaar visit
Nile - Felucca overnight sailing trip
Nile - Dinner and Music Felucca
Luxor - Valley of the Kings (entrance to 3 tombs)
Luxor - Animal Care in Egypt (The Tuuur Foundation Partner) visit
Cairo - Khan Al-Khalili Bazaar
Optional activities
Cairo - Saqqara and Memphis Urban Adventure - USD49
Cairo - Coptic Museum (entrance fee) - EGP280
Cairo - Islamic Art Museum (entrance fee) - EGP340
Cairo - The Citadel (entrance fee) - EGP550
Cairo - The 3rd Pyramid of Menkawre (entrance fee) - EGP280
Cairo - The Great Pyramid of Cheops (entrance fee) - EGP1000
Cairo - The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization & The Royal Mummy Room (entrance fee) - EGP550
Cairo - The Egyptian Museum (minimum 2 people) - USD50
Aswan - Philae Temple (entrance fee) - EGP550
Aswan - Unfinished Obelisk (entrance fee) - EGP220
Aswan - Nubian Village Visit and Dinner (minimum 4 people) - USD20
Aswan - Philae Temple Sound & Light Show Tour (minimum 2 people) (entrance, guide & transport) - USD55
Aswan - Philae Temple Tour (minimum 2 people) - USD40
Aswan - Philae Temple, High Dam and Unfinished Obelisk Tour (minimum 2 people) - USD65
Aswan - Philae Temple Sound and Light Show (entrance fee, minimum 2 people) - USD20
Aswan - Abu Simbel Tour (minimum 4 people) - USD110
Aswan - Nubian Museum (entrance fee) - EGP400
Aswan - Abu Simbel by Air - subject to availability - from (Per Person) - USD450
Luxor - Karnak Temple (entrance fee) - EGP600
Luxor - Karnak Temple Sound and Light Show (minimum 2 people) (entrance, guide & transport) - USD45
Aswan - Kom Ombo Temple (entrance fee) - EGP450
Edfu - Edfu Temple (entrance fee) - EGP550
Luxor - Hatshepsut Temple - EGP440
Luxor - Tomb of Tutankhamun (entrance fee) - EGP700
Luxor - Luxor Temple (entrance fee) - EGP500
Luxor - Luxor Museum (entrance fee) - EGP400
Luxor - Dinner with a local family (minimum 2 people) - USD25
Luxor - Hot Air Balloon over the Valley of the Kings (Per Person) - USD120
Cairo - Sound & Light Show at the Pyramids Tour (minimum 2 people) - USD55
Cairo - Sound & Light Show at the Pyramids (entrance fee) - USD20
Cairo - Sufi Dance Khan al-Khalili (entrance fee) - EGP180
Dates and availability
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Important notes
1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Day 5 (Felucca) where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. Following recent safety incidents we recommend that you check your government's advice for their latest information on travelling in Egypt before your departure and ensure that your travel insurance covers you for all areas of your itinerary. We have links to prominent government travel advisories and regular updates on issues affecting this trip on our Travel Alerts page -
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Reviews (237)
5 stars
224
4 stars
10
3 stars
1
1 star
2
Thalia
May 28, 2025
The Essential Egypt tour was amazing, thanks to our exceptional guide Sam. His local knowledge and passion brought every moment to life. Warm, organised, and thoughtful – he even surprised one of us with a birthday cake! Sam went above and beyond to make the trip truly unforgettable.
Matthew
May 28, 2025
Egypt is unlike any place I’ve travelled before - using Intrepid took the stress out of planning and allowed us to see another side of Egypt I wouldn’t have gotten the chance to see otherwise. Would highly recommend this adventure and our tour guide Sam was amazing and highly knowledgeable
Meg
May 28, 2025
Sam was an incredible guide—knowledgeable, organized, and genuinely passionate about Egypt. He made our 9-day tour seamless, fun, and unforgettable. We couldn’t have asked for a better experience.
Alexander
May 28, 2025
The Essential Egypt tour was incredible, made unforgettable by our guide Sam. His deep local knowledge brought every site to life. Warm, funny, and endlessly helpful, he went above and beyond to make the trip special. An outstanding guide who made an amazing tour truly exceptional.
Michael
May 28, 2025
Highly recommend the Egypt tour! A great balance of adventure and holiday - with options to pack it out with extra activities if preferred. Our Leader Sam certainly 'made' the tour as excellent as it was ensuring we were comfortable, safe, enjoying ourselves, understood the cultural significance and became a family of adventurers
Eliza
May 28, 2025
The Essential Egypt trip was amazing, especially the Nubian village and felucca ride. Sam, our guide, was incredible—knowledgeable, funny, and caring. He even organised a surprise birthday cake. Calling himself our magic genie, he made everything run smoothly and safe. Highly recommend Sam and this trip!
Thomas
May 28, 2025
The trip overall was great. I had fun at every step along the way thanks to Sam.
Erin
May 21, 2025
This tour exceeded my expectations greatly and I had the most amazing time. I am especially appreciative to our leader Sayed for being so helpful along the way! I was hesitant to go to Egypt alone and am so glad I made the choice to do this tour instead.
Ellie
May 21, 2025
As a solo female traveler I never thought travelling to Egypt would be possible. Intepid really made me feel safe, educated and respected throughout the entire trip!!!! A lot is jam packed into the 8 days and I saw SO much and made wonderful friends!!! Genuinely one of the best tours I’ve ever done!
Tony
May 21, 2025
The essential Egypt trip was excellent. our guide Sayed made sure everything was perfect and provided a lot of great insight and knowledge about different monuments and landmarks
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