EGYPT ROUTE GUIDE | 13 DAY TRAVEL ITINERARY
We have just finished up on one of the most epic adventures we have ever done - two weeks exploring Egypt!
Since we were kids we had always dreamt of visiting this magical place. Learning about ancient Egypt, pharaohs and the Nile back in primary school helped spark our desire to travel - and here we are years later finally ticking off this major bucket list country.
For this trip of a lifetime we decided to visit on a tour and after a little googling we found On The Go Tours King Ramses 13 day tour ... it was exactly what we were looking for!
Our Route: 13 Day Egypt Itinerary
Day 1: Cairo
After flying into Cairo in the early hours of the morning and having the ultimate sleep-in we decided we should get out of the hotel for at least a couple of hours. As day 1 of the tour is the arrival day, were On The Go Tours spends the day helping fellow travellers get through customs and to the hotel, there are no set plans.
We decided to head out with the group who had also arrived the night before and check out the pyramids for sunset. After sunset they have their Sound & Light Show so we decided to stay for that. We ended day 1 going out to dinner together to get to know each other a little more.
Day 2: Cairo to Aswan
Today was the day - we were finally going to explore the pyramids! We spent all morning marvelling at these ancient wonders as our guide shared stories about their mystical past. To our surprise we were even able to go inside one of the pyramids. We continued to the necropolis of Saqqara, where we explored the myriad tombs and temples at this site and marvelled at Zhoser’s step pyramid - the oldest pyramid in Egypt. We then had lunch at a beautiful an outdoor restaurant, devouring a delicious Egyptian feast as musicians played.
Our final stop for the day was to visit a government supervised papyrus emporium where you can buy genuine papyrus. As we were about to celebrate our one year wedding anniversary (also known as the paper anniversary) we had to pick one up.
After a long day we freshened up and made our way to the Cairo train station. We spent the night on an overnight sleeper train headed to Aswan. If your interested in what an overnight train experience is like in Egypt we highly recommend watching our video where we show you the in's and out's on the Egypt trains.
Read more:Guide to Visiting the Pyramids of Giza
Day 3: Aswan
After our 12 hour train journey (which felt like 3 hours, as we slept for most of the journey) we arrived in Aswan. Before we knew it we were off on the next adventure, jumping on a short boat ride to Agilika Island to visit Philae Temple - dedicated to the goddess Isis. The Philae Temple dates back to 4th century BC!
After taking way too many photos we headed to our hotel and had a few hours to freshen up, take a dip in the pool and grab some lunch before heading out for a spot of shopping. Aswan is known for its colourful souks and markets - it is something we did not want to miss!
After practicing our bartering skills, we headed to dinner via a boat ride along the Nile. We really wanted to try some Nubian cuisine and found a restaurant that served the most delicious fish tagine.
Read more:Top Things to do in Aswan, Egypt
Day 4-5: Aswan (Nile Felucca Cruise)
This morning we woke up at 3.30am to head out to Abu Simbel. We travelled south as we watched the sunrise over the vast sandy desert. Being able to finally marvel at Abu Simbel with our own eyes was one of those moments we will never forget! This massive rock-cut temple of King Ramses II is possibley the most awe-inspiring temple in all of ancient Egypt. Guarding the entrance to the temple are four gigantic statues of Ramses II, staring out across the desert. This is well worth the early wake up call - trust us!
After exploring and learning about the history of Abu Simbel we made our way back to Aswan, ready for our next adventure. We were about to spend the next two nights onboard a wind-powered Nile felucca sailing along the Nile River. Our felucca experience is like nothing we have ever down before and we highly recommend you watch our videos which really capture what a felucca trip is all about. We have also put a blog post together answering any questions you may have about this unique sailing experience.
Read more:Sailing on the Nile River | 2 nights on board a Felucca
Day 6: Aswan to Luxor
This morning we said our goodbyes to Aswan and jumped back on the bus to visit the Temple of Horus at Edfu. Known as being the largest and most preserved pharaonic temple in Egypt, the Temple of Horus was one of the very last monumental temples built on a large scale. Here you can also see mummified crocodiles, and we were shocked at how well preserved these 2000 year old crocodiles are!
Back on the bus, we drove north to Luxor and checked into our beautiful 5 star hotel. The afternoon was spent swimming and relaxing by the pool before heading for dinner.
Day 7: Luxor
This morning was spent exploring the famous Valley of the Kings. This valley is studded with highly decorated pharaoh tombs - and yes, we were able to enter them. Some of the tombs are so well preserved they are just as colourful as the day they were painted!
Day 8-11: Hurghada
On day 8 we made the drive from Luxor to Hurghada, ready to spend the next few days relaxing, swimming and simply going into 'holiday mode'. We checked into an incredible resort which had its very own private beach just for the guests to enjoy. Hurghada is one of the Red Sea's most popular resorts and it is easy to see why. The red sea is stunning, full of sealife and amazing for snorkelling.
One day we decided to go out on a snorkelling tour and spent the day swimming with dolphins and colourful coral and fish. This was the perfect way to end our tour here in Egypt.
Day 12: Hurghada to Cairo
This morning we reluctantly said our goodbyes to Hurghada and headed back to Cairo.
Once arriving back in the city we headed out to the Egyptian Museum before checking into our hotel for the night. This is an incredible museum full of relics and antiquities from almost every period of ancient Egyptian history. Arguably the most famous exhibit is the solid gold funerary mask of King Tutankhamun - made of solid gold and weighing 11kg, the mask was found covering the head of mummy, where it lay inside a series of 3 sarcophagi!
Day 13: Cairo
After having one last final breakfast with our On The Go family we said our goodbyes and were transferred back to the Cairo airport.
What does a tour like this cost?
The exact tour we did - On The Go Tours King Ramses 13 day tour - averages at around 1000€ per person.
What's Included?
Breakfast daily, 2 lunches, 2 dinners
Airport arrival and departure transfers
Escorted by an Egyptian tour guide degree qualified in Egyptology
9 nights 4 - 5 star hotels, 2 nights aboard felucca (open deck)
1 overnight train: Cairo - Aswan (Private 2 berth sleeper cabin)
Touring of Cairo, Giza, Saqqara, Aswan, Edfu Luxor and Hurghada
All relevant transfer and transportation in private modern air-conditioned vehicles
Additionals
So in terms of what else you need to cover;
International flights and visa
Entrance Fees: USD$90-110, paid in local currency
Tip for your tour guide. We recommend you allow $3 - 5 USD per day, per traveller. (Tipping your guide is an entirely personal gesture)
Tipping Kitty: USD$50-70, paid in local currency
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READ MORE: TRYING STREET FOOD IN EGYPT
A big thank you to On The Go Tours for inviting Flying The Nest to visit Egypt and sponsoring this incredible trip, as always all opinions are our own.