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Enjoy one of the most fascinating journeys through 8 Day Best of Egypt by Train. Visit an ancient past and view temples, burial tombs and of course the famous Pyramids of Giza! We take you on a slow-paced guided tour travelling by overnight sleeper train as well as cruising on the Nile River by luxury boat.
The Nile is a major north-flowing river in north-eastern Africa, generally regarded as one of the longest rivers in the world. Commonly referred to as the 'mother of civilization', it has attracted pilgrims and travellers since the 16th century BC. Set sail on a Nile Cruiser along this historic waterway in comfort, meandering past wonders of the ancient world.
Learn about the history of the Egyptians spanning from the Old Kingdom to the New Kingdom including other major tourist attractions such as the Sphinx, Valley of the Kings, Temple of Philae, Kom Ombo Temple and a whole lot more on the 8-Day Best of Egypt by Train! This is an All-in-One Egypt by train package designed to for those seeking a timeless adventure.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- The Great Pyramids and Sphinx, of course!
- Egyptian Museum (Mummies & Tut Ankh Amon treasures)
- Visit Khan El Khalili bazaars in Cairo
- Full Day tour of Alexandria
- Philae Temple visit by motor boat in Aswan
- Kom Ombo Temple & High Dam visit in Aswan
- Edfu Temple visit by horse carriage during cruise
- Hatshepsut Temple, Colossi of Memnon, Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple
- Tombs at the Valley of the Kings
- Cruise down the Nile River
- Experience Egypt by train (overnight journeys)
*Abu Simbel & Hot Air Balloon excursions available as an optional extra
This tour includes all flights, accommodation, most meals, local guides, transport by private minibus and 24-hour assistance while on tour.
Our standard package includes flights from Johannesburg, however, it can be tailored with flights from Cape Town, Durban or other major airports in South Africa.
The itinerary shown is only used as a template as the exact order of the activities depends on your dates and cruise line schedules.
As an alternative to the overnight train to and from the Nile Cruise ports, you can also opt to fly with our 7 Day Best of Egypt Tour.
Summary
Most Meals Included
7 Nights/ 8 Days
Egypt
Day 01- Arrival Cairo (D)
Upon arrival at Cairo International Airport, a representative welcomes you and assists you through the immigration process. Escorted transfer by a modern air-conditioned coach will take you to the hotel through Old Cairo to enjoy the panoramic view of the citadel with the towering mosque of Mohamed Ali pass by Sultan Hassan & El Refaie mosques.
Check in the hotel upon arrival & free time to refresh.
Dinner in an oriental restaurant & optional tour of the Sound & Light Show by the Pyramids.
Back to the hotel & overnight in Cairo.
Day 02- Full-day tour to Alexandria (B-L-D)
Early breakfast at the hotel in Cairo then transfer to Alexandria via the desert road –about 225 km– where you will start a guided tour to visit Bombay’s’ pillars, the Catacombs & Montazah Gardens. You will also pass by Alexandrina Bibliotheca & overview Qaite Bay citadel from outside.
Pompeii Column and Kom el-Shuqafa Catacombs Thirty meters high and built from Aswan pink granite, the Pompeii Column is thought to have been present from the people of Alexandria to Emperor Diocletian. The majority of the remains found around the column can be found at the Greco-Roman Museum. At the top of the hill lies the entrance to the Kom al-Shuqafa Catacombs dating from the first and second centuries. They were discovered by chance at the beginning of the 20th, century.
Montazah Gardens; is about a 150-hectare park surrounding the palace of Khedive Abbas with its amazing architecture worth of Walt Disney. Visitors enjoy strolling in the gardens or swimming on the nice sandy beaches.
Alexandrina Bibliotheca; the New Library of Alexandria, the New Bibliotheca Alexandrina is dedicated to recapturing the spirit of openness and scholarship of the original Bibliotheca Alexandrina. It is much more than a library as it contains 13 different departments. Besides, the New Library also hosts a number of institutions which is growing, and it is becoming the nerve center of many international and regional networks.
Qaite Bay Fort has been guarding the bay for centuries; at the end of the Cornish rises the crenellated walls of the Mameluk fortress built in 1480 on the site of the Alexandria lighthouse.
Lunch will be served during the tour in a local restaurant.
Drive back to Cairo, dinner at a restaurant & overnight at the hotel.
Day 03- Pyramids, Sphinx, Museum, Khan El Khalili (B-L-D)
Early breakfast at the hotel in Cairo then start a guided tour to visit one of the Seven Wonders the great Pyramids of Giza; (Cheops, Chephren and Mycerinus) were reckoned by the Greeks to be one of the Seven Wonders of the World. A single pyramid is built with 2.300.000 blocks, each weighing an average of two and a half tons. In the face of such immensity, one cannot help but feel the wonder and awe that, so many writers and artists have sought to convey over the centuries. The Cheops Pyramid is more interesting because its interior burial chambers are open for inspection by the public. Not far from the Pyramids is the Great Sphinx of Giza, which dates from the time of Chephren (2620 BC). Hewn from natural yellowish limestone and standing 65 feet high and 187 feet long, this unforgettable statue combines the head of a Pharaoh with a lion's body. A quick visit to Papyrus Institute or a perfume shop can be arranged after the visit.
Lunch at an oriental restaurant then start an afternoon visit to the Egyptian Museum for another tour Egyptian Museum; was established by the Egyptian government in 1835. The present museum building was built in 1900, in the new classical style by the French architect Marcel Dourgnon. The museum's exhibited collections now exceed 120,000 objects ranging from the pre-historic era to the Greco-Roman period. It has 107 halls, and the ground floor houses huge statues. The upper floor houses small statues, jewels, Tutankhamen treasures and the mummies. The museum also comprises a photography section and a large library. A hall for the Royal Mummies was opened at the museum, housing eleven kings and queens.
After the visit to the museum, a short drive through the downtown will take you to Khan El Khalili bazaars; which is one of the most famous worldwide with its amazing narrow alleyways.
Free time at leisure till departure time to the station to board the sleeping train to Aswan.
Dinner and Overnight in the sleeping train.
Day 04- Train - Aswan- Cruise (Friday) (B, L, D)
Breakfast onboard the train and meet & assist upon arriving at Aswan Station and transfer to the Nile cruise.
11:00 Check-In
12:30 Lunch on board
13:30 Visit the High Dam, the Temple of Philae
19:30 Dinner on board.
Overnight in Aswan
Day 05- Aswan – Kom Embo – Edfu (B, L, D)
07:00 Breakfast on board (Optional tour to Abu Simble)
12:30 Lunch on board
13:00 Sailing to Kom Ombo
17:00 Visit the Temple shared by two gods Sobek & Haeroris in Kom Ombo
18:30 Sailing to Edfu.
19:30 Dinner on board.
Overnight in Edfu.
Day 06: Edfu – Luxor (B, L, D)
06:00 Tea and Coffee Before the visit to the Edfu temple
06:30 Visit of Horus Temple in Edfu.
08:00 Breakfast on board.
08:30 sailing to Luxor via Esna
13:00 Lunch on board.
Visit Karnak temple upon arrival & overview Luxor temple from the outside as it is like an open museum
20:00 Dinner on board.
Overnight in Luxor.
Day 07- West bank – Sleeping Train (B, D)
07:00 Breakfast on board
08:00 Check- out after breakfast
08:00 Visit West Bank - Valley of the Kings, and Temple of Queen Hatshepsut
After the visit, transfer to Luxor train station to Cairo.
Dinner and Overnight in the sleeping train.
Day 08- Cairo (B)
Meet & assist upon arriving at Cairo Station and transfer to Cairo Airport for the final departure.
Best of Egypt by Train |
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| Fully Guided Private Tour including flights from JNB | ||||
| Rates in SA Rand |
Size of Group | |||
| 2 Adults | 4 Adults | 6 Adults | 10 Adults | |
| Jun'24 | R 38,455 pp sharing |
R 32,690 pp sharing |
R 30,785 pp sharing |
R 30,075 pp sharing |
| Jul - Aug'24 | R 41,135 pp sharing |
R 35,370 pp sharing |
R 33,465 pp sharing |
R 32,755 pp sharing |
| 01 - 26 Sep'24 | R 40,255 pp sharing |
R 34,490 pp sharing |
R 32,585 pp sharing |
R 31,870 pp sharing |
| Oct'24 | R 37,440 pp sharing |
R 32,585 pp sharing |
R 30,995 pp sharing |
R 30,815 pp sharing |
| Nov - 20 Dec'24 | R 38,620 pp sharing |
R 33,765 pp sharing |
R 32,175 pp sharing |
R 31,995 pp sharing |
| Christmas/NY | R 48,380 pp sharing |
R 43,500 pp sharing |
R 41,930 pp sharing |
R 41,730 pp sharing |
| Jan'25 | R 37,415 pp sharing |
R 32,560 pp sharing |
R 30,970 pp sharing |
R 41,730 pp sharing |
| Feb - 14 Apr'25 | R 36,615 pp sharing |
R 31,760 pp sharing |
R 30,170 pp sharing |
R 29,990 pp sharing |
| 15 - 25 Apr'25 | R 42,035 pp sharing |
R 31,760 pp sharing |
R 35,585 pp sharing |
R 35,385 pp sharing |
| Child (4-12yrs) | 70% of Adult Rate | |||
| Upgrade to 5-star Hotel & Superior Cruise from R 8,250 pp more |
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BOOK NOW*Rates are based on the size of the group and can vary |
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Package rates include:
Package rates exclude:
Train/Flight? |
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Prices are subject to change due to any changes in airfare, currency exchange, fluctuations and any unforeseen circumstances, without prior notice. |
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Below are a few optional extra tours that can be added to your itinerary:
*Rates vary as per the size of the group and is subject to ROE
Cairo Extra Tours
- Coptic region, Coptic Museum & Bazaars - R1,730 pp
- Cairo Tower - R 1,710 pp
- Pharonic Village - R 1,785 pp
- Memphis & Sakkara - R 2,650 pp
- Dahshure Pyramid - R 2,300 pp
- Sound & light Show at the Pyramids - R 1,400 pp
- Dinner Cruise (5* like Pharos or Maxim) - R1,8,60 pp
Aswan Extra Tours
- Botanical Island & Agh Khan by felucca - R 940 pp
- Elephantine Island & Aswan Museum - R 1,250 pp
- Nubian Museum - R 1,415 pp
- Kalabsha, Kertasi & Beit El Wali - R 2,025 pp
- Abu Simble by bus - R 8,960 pp
- Abu Simble by flight - R 14,185 pp
Luxor Extra Tours
- Denderah & Abydous - R 3,940 pp
- Luxor Hot Air Balloon Ride - On request
Tipping in Egypt
Please take note that tipping is a custom in Egypt. Many of the locals may expect a tip for their services from carrying your luggage, taking a photo or transport by horse carriage of motorboat. Generally, a 10 to 20 Egyptian Pound tip is sufficient for most services. We recommend you keep some small notes on you while travelling for this (preferably Egyptian Pounds).
Post-Covid-19
Any traveller arriving in Cairo will need to present the following.
Please contact us for more information on new regulations in Egypt.
- Declaration form.
- We want you super fit for an enjoyable stay in Egypt. Please make sure you have a negative PCR test done within 72 hours before arrival.
- Travel Medical Insurance covering COVID 19.
