The A to Z of the Best of Egypt Tour
We have decided to go back to basics and use the alphabet to walk you through some of the experiences you will gain from taking part in the Best of Egypt Tour!
A – Aswan
We will visit the beautiful town of Aswan where we will start our Nile Cruise. In Aswan we will take a short boat ride to Agelika Island to explore the romantic Temple of Philae, a majestic Greco-Roman Egyptian temple dedicated to the goddess Auset (Isis), the goddess of love. We will also visit the awesome Nubian Village of Aswan with its colourful markets for a bit of retail therapy.
B – Hot Air Ballooning over the West Bank of Luxor
As an optional activity, awake before the sunrise and drifting peacefully over the west Bank of Luxor, where you can see most of the monuments of Wasset (Thebes). Enjoy the unique opportunity to view the magnificent panorama of Luxor town and the Nile River from above.
We will cruise down the Nile on a 5 Star Nile Cruise ship where you
D – Desert excursions
During your stay in Hurgharda, you will have the opportunity to take part in an optional tour to the Egyptian desert. Take part in an off-road quad-biking and 4×4 adventure tour to see the spectacular desert scenery and meet the Bedouin people and learn about their lives and culture.
E – Education and Entertainment
This is a once in a lifetime educational experience not to be missed. Visiting the magnificent monuments in Egypt does not compare to the pictures in books. We have award winning guides and Black History Studies to provide you with the knowledge on Ancient Egypt and the contributions to World History that this civilisation made and continues to make.
F – Food and Drink
Three meals a day are included on this tour with a mixture of Egyptian and international dishes – something for everyone. Drinks are not included on this tour so you will have to purchase your drinks, except when we are in Hurghada where all drinks are free!
G – Tour Guides
Our guides on the Best of Egypt Tour are degree qualified Egyptologists and will give you an experience to be remembered.
H – Hurghada
We will have two days free time in Hurghada. Hurghada is one of Egypt’s most popular resort towns on the Red Sea coast. This will be your chance to rest and relax after all the walking you will do, engage in some sunbathing and swimming in the Red Sea. The resort has some excellent aquatic facilities for scuba diving and snorkelling. Hurghada’s central location provides a gateway to prime offshore reefs, which are some of the finest in the world.
I – Itinerary
We have planned the itinerary based on years of research and experience so that each traveller will get a mixture of sightseeing, cultural activities and some free time to do your own thing.
J – Journey through Egypt
Embark on a one-of-a-kind journey through Egypt which is fun filled and packed with the best of Ancient Egyptian history, culture and adventure over 10 days. Enjoy this journey through the land of the pharaohs as you visit some of the most impressive archaeological sites known to man.
K – The Old, Middle and New Kingdom
African scholars generally see the Ancient Egyptian culture as the rise and fall of four great cultural periods
- The Old Kingdom (5660 to 4188 BC)
- The Middle Kingdom (3448 to 3182 BC)
- The New Kingdom (1709 to 1095 BC) and
- The Renaissance (716 to 664 BC)
We will visit the many monuments from these periods of Ancient Egyptian History. Instead of learning from images in books, you will get the opportunity to visit the many sites and monuments live and direct. Believe me, the pictures in books don’t compare to seeing our history for yourself.
L – Luxor
We will visit Luxor which grew out of the ruins of Waset (Thebes), the once capital of Ancient Egypt’s New Kingdom (1709 to 1095 BC).On the East Bank of Luxor, we will visit the complex Karnak temple and the historic Luxor temple. Karnak temple is actually a gigantic temple complex which is over 3500 years old and dedicated the greatly powerful Ram Headed god Amen. Luxor temple is an important temple in that it was dedicated to 3 gods; Amen, his wife Mut and his son Khons.
On the West Bank of Luxor, we will visit the world famous Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatshepsut (Deir al-Bahri) and the great Colossi of Memnon.
M – Egyptian Museum
Be dazzled the many antiquities on display from every period of Ancient Egyptian history. More than 12,000 items are on display. Amongst the many exhibits are the treasures of King Tutankhamen, the Narmer Palette, Statuette of Khufu, Ancient Egyptian jewellery and royal and animal mummies.
N – Nubians
The Nubians are believed to be the first human race on earth, and most of their customs and traditions were adopted by the ancient Egyptians. Nubians are the people of northern Sudan and southern Egypt. With a history and traditions which can be traced to the dawn of civilization, the Nubian first settled along the banks of the Nile from Aswan.
O – On your own?
Want to go to Egypt but have no one to share with? You don’t have to utilise the single supplements on our tour of Egypt. If you’re happy to share a room with a fellow traveller of the same sex, we will try our best to match you up.
P – Pyramids
Visit the prototype of pyramid construction, the Step Pyramid of Pharaoh Djoser at Saqqara, one of the richest archaeological sites in Egypt.
We will also visit the only surviving monument of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Great Pyramids of Giza. Marvel at the magnificent Hor-em-Akhet (Sphinx).
Q – Quality Accommodation
We have done the research ourselves and have selected quality hotels in Cairo and Hurghada and the Nile Cruise in Egypt. We aim to provide you with comfort, cleanliness and a good range of guest facilities on this tour.
R – Rest and Relaxation
After the intensive itinerary full of temples and monuments, you will have lots of opportunity to rest and relax in your hotel in Cairo, on the Cruise boat after visiting the various sites, as we travel to and from the sites in your air conditioned coach and during two days in Hurghada.
S – Shopping
T – Temples
Visit the impressive temples of Egypt, dedicated to the various gods and goddesses of Ancient Egypt. We will visit the magnificent temple complexes that Egypt has to offer such as the Temples of Philae, Karnak, Kom-Ombo, Edfu and Luxor.
Visit the mortuary temple of Pharoah/Queen Hatshepsut at Deir al-Bahri, an example of the original mortuary temple design.
As an optional excursion, visit the spectacular Sun Temple at Abu Simbel built in honour of Ramses II and the Temple of Hathor built by Ramses II for his favourite wife Queen Nefertari
U – UNESCO
The United Nations Organisation for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO) seeks to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity.
On this tour, we will visit the World Heritage Sites in Egypt such as the Step Pyramid in the necropolis of Saqqara, the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Hor-em-Akhet (Sphinx), the Sanctuary of Auset (Isis) at Philae and on the optional tour, the Temples of Ramses II and Nefertari at Abu Simbel.
V – Valley of the Kings
See for yourself the wonderful and vibrant tomb art of sacred texts and imagery at the Valley of the Kings, the final resting place for the many New Kingdom Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt on the West bank of Luxor.
There are 63 tombs that have been discovered in the area and it is believed that there are many more. You will be able to enter some of the incredible tombs of the Pharaohs such Thutmose II, Ramses II, Seti I, Amenhotep II and King Tutankhamen.
Walk through their dramatic corridors and burial chambers adorned with gilded paintings, carved bas-reliefs and astronomical ceilings.
W – Watersports
As an optional extra on arrival in Hurghada, you can take part in the many water sports on offer from the water sports centre such as water skiing, banana rides, fishing trips, glass bottom boats and quad runners.
X – Xcellent value for money
This tour has been put together with you in mind. The tour includes all your meals, flights from London, an internal flight to Aswan (most tours use an overnight sleeper train), all your entrance fees to all sites and museums and all transfers and pick-ups. All you will have to purchase is your drinks (except in Hurghada where everything is inclusive!).
Y – Youth
Young people aged 5-11 years old are welcome on this tour. This would be a unique opportunity to learn about Ancient Egypt from an African perspective and to see the monuments for themselves.
Zzz is what you will do once the day is finished. You go to bed with a mind that has been stimulated and educated on one of our great African civilisations.