Alexandria to Luxor Explorer

Welcome to Egypt! Upon arrival at Cairo Airport you'll be met and escorted to our hotel. Your Egyptian adventure begins here! This evening a Welcome meeting will be held at 7pm.

We start our day bright and early as we drive to the portside city of Alexandria on the Mediterranean Coast. Here begins our guided tour of the Roman catacombs. We head underground to see the largest known Roman burial site in Egypt. Our next visit is Pompey's Pillar and the beautiful Library of Alexandria (exterior) and lastly, we visit the Citadel of Qaitbay. This fortress was built on the site of the famous Lighthouse of Alexandria which was destroyed by a powerful earthquake in 1323AD. Once our guided tour ends, we head back to our hotel to freshen up before heading out for dinner. (B/D)

This morning takes us to the grounds of El Alamein, a commonwealth war grave. It was here that two bloody battles took place during World War II. During our tour, we pay respect to the 13,000 fallen allied soldiers who were killed in battle. Our tour continues with a visit to the El Alamein Military Museum, which houses many war relics, and where we will learn more about the history of World War II in North Africa. After our visit, it's time to return to Cairo. (B)

Today is spent at leisure, relax by the hotel pool or explore Egypt's capital. Perhaps take our optional Backstreet of Cairo excursion, where you can visit the lesser-known sights of the city including El Moez street in Islamic Cairo, visit Garbage City and the famous cave church of St. Simon. (B)

This morning we get ready for a full day of touring, starting with a visit to the glorious pyramids and the iconic Sphinx at the Giza Plateau. The pyramids are the oldest tourist attraction and the only surviving wonder from the ancient Greek listed Seven Wonders of the World. Leaving the Pyramids of Giza, we make a short stop at a papyrus emporium before heading to the necropolis of Saqqara. We explore the myriad tombs and temples at this site and see Zhoser's step pyramid. (B)

This morning our guided tour takes us on a journey to the extraordinary Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza. The brand-new museum showcases an incredible collection of relics and antiquities from most of ancient Egyptian history, including King Tutankhamun's treasures. Many of the artifacts and exhibits will be displayed at this museum for the very first time and the use of new technology including virtual reality brings the history of ancient Egypt to life.

Later, we visit the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization to see the incredible Royal Mummies' Hall, where the well-preserved bodies of 20 ancient kings and queens are displayed. Once our excursion ends, we return to our hotel for a little relaxation before boarding our overnight sleeper train bound for Luxor.

Please Note: The Grand Egyptian Museum is scheduled to open in late 2024, though an official opening date has yet to be released. If travelling prior to the opening of the new facility, we'll visit the Egyptian Museum instead. (B)