DISCOVER
EGYPT
With 7 offices and over 250 staff in Egypt, rely on your "Friends on the Ground" in Egypt to provide you with a breathtaking holiday full of memories. We specialize in tailor-made itineraries although we are able to offer a great selection of escorted departures to Egypt through our partner programme with National Geographic, Intrepid, G-Adventures and Riviera Travel.
Our Insider Access programme can arrange access to live archaeological digs, private openings of tombs or temples, lectures & meetings with prominent local figures and dinners in private palaces. We are also able to co-ordinate unique access to social projects and non-governmental organizations (NGO's) as well as projects working with women and children.
For millennia, travellers the world over have been fascinated by Egypt. The country’s monuments were ancient even in the days of Herodotus the Greek who journeyed to Egypt to see the Pyramids and other great temples of the Pharaohs. Today, Egypt’s rich history has created a tapestry of cultural and archaeological treasures unmatched anywhere in the world.
Filled with awe-inspiring monuments of ancient civilisation as well as some of the best preserved, Luxor is considered the world’s largest open air museum and home to one third of the world’s antiquities making it one of the main tourist attractions in Egypt.
Cairo, Egypt’s capital, is a destination in itself. A bustling and crowded metropolis full of intriguing contrasts – old and new, western and oriental, modern hotels next to traditional bazaars and coffee shops, 5,000-year-old pyramids and 19th century palaces. The Egyptian Museum of Antiquities houses the world’s greatest collection of Pharaonic treasure, including 12 rooms filled with the golden treasures of the boy king Tutankhamun. Travellers can also visit a host of beautiful mosques and churches that reflect Egypt’s rich cultural heritage.
Alexandria, sometimes known as the “Queen of the Mediterranean”, features some of Egypt’s most beautiful Greco-Roman ruins. The haunting wilderness of the Western Desert, with its vast expanses of sand dunes and spectacular desert scenery, is also host to an array of fascinating oasis towns and villages, each with their own culture and ancient monuments.
The Red Sea coast and the Sinai offer superb opportunities for diving and snorkeling, as well as spectacular desert safaris either in 4x4s or on camelback. Saint Catherine’s Monastery is the region’s main tourist attraction, while water sports, PGA-standard golf courses and world-class spas make a spell on Egypt’s coastline a treat for every visitor.
Whatever your tastes - be it snorkeling in the Red Sea, camping in the White Desert or haggling with sellers in the Khan Khalili bazaar - Egypt is a land blessed with diversity and can offer it all.
Getting your Bearings
The first step to planning your holiday is to understand the regions and how to get there. There are a multitude of direct flight options from London Airports to Cairo on both British Airways and Egypt Air. Regional connections are available with one-stop options on a number of airlines. Our Travel Team will be happy to assist you with your flight reservations.
Need Inspiration?
Where to Go
There is so much to do and see in Egypt you could spend weeks. We can develop a tailor-made itinerary to fit in with your time and dates or why not have a look at our Escort Tour Options.
Contact our Travel Team to get the ball rolling on your dream Egyptian Holiday.
CAIRO - THE CAPITAL CITY
Cairo, "Al Qahira", is Egypt's capital and usually the starting and ending point of all itineraries. The largest city in Africa, Cairo is home to 17 million people, and offers an incredible selection of shopping, leisure and nightlife activities. Shopping ranges from the famous bazaar Khan el-Khalili Souk, largely unchanged since the 14th century, to modern air-conditioned retail centres displaying the latest fashions.
Today the city throbs with ever increasing energy and has booming western-style nightlife with a wide variety of restaurants and bars, as well as more traditional entertainment such as local coffeehouses and Arabic nightclubs with belly dancers. Highlights of Cairo include the Great Pyramids of Giza, the Egyptian Museum and Khan El Khalili Bazaar.
LUXOR
Luxor is the most important and dramatic historical site in Egypt and has often been called the world's greatest open-air museum. Luxor is the modern name for Thebes, the ancient capital city of the New Kingdom Pharaohs (1550 BC - 1070 BC) whose glory still glowed in the memories of classical writers a thousand years after its decline.
Today, Luxor is home to more than half of all of Egypt's antiquities and is a must-see highlight on the itinerary of almost every visitor to Egypt. The town has a village atmosphere and a bustling local market, as well as an astonishing collection of ancient temples and relics including Karnak Temple, Valley of the Kings, Colossi of Memnon and the Temple of Luxor..
ASWAN
Lying at the southernmost border of Egypt's ancient empire, Aswan is truly the "Jewel of the Nile". Pink and grey granite thrusts upward through the Nubian sandstone, forming mountains, cliffs and jagged outcroppings. Aswan is home to the Aswan High Dam, where the Nile's flow is regulated to the whole of Egypt. The area was formerly known in ancient times as Nubia, and has its own unique heritage, crafts and folklore.
The Nubian language is still spoken today by many Aswan residents, and traditional Nubian folkloric performances are a must-see for any visitor. Several sites of outstanding world heritage were actually moved piece by piece to higher ground before the dam was made operational - including the Temple of Philae and the incredible temples of Abu Simbel to the south.
SHARM EL SHEIKH
With its combination of pristine sandy beaches, lively nightlife and wide range of hotels, Sharm El Sheikh offers the perfect starting point for almost all tours in the Sinai. The centre of the resort area is Naama Bay, where most of the early hotels were built.
For sea lovers, the oceans of Sharm El Sheikh are bursting with some of the most colourful and exotic marine life –a haven for divers. Highlights include St. Catherine's Monastery and Ras Mohamed National Park.
THE WESTERN DESERTS
The Western Desert is hard to describe, its rugged beauty has to be seen to be believed. One of the most arid regions on Earth, this haven is for those who prefer to explore the adventurous side of the desert. But don't be discouraged if you're a hesitant explorer.
The Western Desert holds many activities and resorts to tempt even the most reserved of travellers, including camel and jeep safaris, hiking, bird watching, fossil hunting and camping. In addition, it serves up adventures in degrees, so whether you're looking for a tame, intense, or extreme vacation, you will find it here. Highlights include the Valley of the Golden Mummies, as well as the oasis towns of Bahareya, Farafra, Dakhla, Kharga and Siwa.
ALEXANDRIA
The second largest city in Egypt, Alexandria, known as "The Pearl of the Mediterranean", has an atmosphere that is more Mediterranean than Middle Eastern despite being only 225 kilometres from Cairo. Founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BC, Alexandria became the capital of Greco-Roman Egypt. Its status as a beacon of culture was symbolised by Pharos, the legendary lighthouse that was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The setting for the stormy relationship between Cleopatra and Mark Antony, Alexandria was also the centre of learning in the ancient world.
Now a vibrant, bustling city, visitors can enjoy the relics of the ancient world, as well as any one of the myriad of exquisite fish restaurants that the city is famous for. Highlights of Alexandria include Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Fort Qaitbay, the Roman Amphitheatre, the Alexandria National Museum and Pompey's Pillar..
NILE CRUISES
The Nile was the lifeline of ancient Egyptian civilisation and today the banks of the river are dotted with ancient tombs and temples. What better to experience the incredible landscapes from the deck of a luxury Nile River Cruiser?
We have four stunning boats on the Nile, two operating on an exclusive charter basis and two operating regular itineraries.
Contact our Travel Team for more information on itineraries as well as our recommendations for your perfect Nile Cruise.
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Tour Ideas to get you thinking!
