Egypt Family Journey: Ancient Pyramids and the Mighty Nile - 9 Days

Itinerary

• Days 1-0: CairoArrival Day

  Welcome to Cairo–your arrival transfer to the hotel is included. Check in and get excited to meet your fellow travelers during a welcome meeting this evening where all families can bond before the journey ahead.

• Days 2-1: Cairo

  Yalla! Set off for a visit to the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx. Prepare for excitement and awe as you first glimpse these marvels of the ancient world. Share in the joy with your children as you yourself feel like a young adventurer at heart. As a qualified Egyptologist certified by the Ministry of Antiquities, your Expedition Leader will share their knowledge about these massive structures while you get the chance to wander around them. From here, travel to a nearby local farm supported by Nawaya, a community-led project which helps small-scale farming families generate new income streams in the tourism industry. Together as a family, you will learn how to prepare culturally important dishes that can be made back home, and experience firsthand the sustainable cultivation practices and traditional food-cultural preservation work being carried out on nearby farms. Lunch will be shared in the female-led community kitchen. Arrive back to the hotel in Cairo for an evening at leisure.

• Days 3-2: Cairo/Aswan

  Travel by plane this morning from Cairo to Aswan. Grab those archaeologist hats and begin your time here with a visit to High Dam, which has a significant role in controlling the Nile’s annual floods, providing water for irrigation, and generating hydroelectric power. Then, continue onwards to visit Philae Temple, built as a dedication to the Goddess Isis with temple walls adorned with scenes from Egyptian mythology. Try your hand at spotting representations of dogs in the temple complex. According to an article by National Geographic, “Ancient Egyptians of all social statuses kept dogs as family pets. Whenever a dog died, the family would mummify their pet and bury it in family tombs, so they could meet again in the afterlife.” These mighty canines held as much importance to families then as they do today in modern times. After, board the ship on the Nile for your 3-night cruise and have an included lunch. Following lunch, enjoy some free time at the pool with your family. This evening, embark on a sunset felucca ride on the Nile to a Nubian Village. Walk through the village, learning about local customs while listening to the Nubian People's own distinct language, which does not have an alphabet and was thus never written down. Enjoy tea and return to the ship for dinner together on board.

• Days 4-3: Aswan/Edfu

  Choose between a free morning aboard the ship or opt to pre-book a visit to the two rock-cut temples of Abu Simbel. This optional excursion does include flights. After lunch, the whole group will sail to Kom Ombo, passing local villages and farmland to the top of the Temple. Built along the riverbank, the temple is dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek. Enjoy an immersive visit with your family and channel your inner archeologist while exploring this ancient place. Return to the ship and sail to Edfu where you will dock for the night. Dinner will be served onboard this evening.

• Days 5-4: Edfu/Luxor

  Witness the excitement on your kids’ faces as you enjoy a morning visit to Edfu Temple. It took nearly 200 years to build and was dedicated to the God of War and Sky, Horus. Only recently discovered, “it wore a shroud of sand that had accumulated for centuries”. According to an in-depth article by National Geographic, the structure of Edfu was never intended for a tomb. Instead, the pyramid and its six counterparts are suspected to have been symbols of power held by royals. The king ruled from farther north and it was important then to show that Egypt was unified under one political state. Return to the ship and sail to Luxor where you will dock for the evening. Enjoy lunch and dinner onboard and perhaps take time to enjoy some fun family games as you pass by the scenery along the banks of the Nile.

• Days 6-5: Luxor

  The morning begins with a visit to the West Bank of Luxor where the group will enjoy a short bike ride led by a student guide to visit Funtasia, a the tour operator-supported project. Stop for tea in the village and learn more about the project and community through a group discussion. Then proceed to the temple of Hatshepsut, dedicated to the powerful queen that ruled for 21 years. She is one of only a few female pharaohs to rule in thousands of years of Egypt’s ancient history and stands as a true hero for young travelers. See how her temple has been restored before visiting the Colossi of Memnon, which guarded the entrance to King Amenhotep III’s massive temple on Luxor’s West Bank. Enjoy a late lunch in the home of a local family that has been hosting the tour operator' travelers for 15 years. Experience delicious, traditional dishes, featuring homemade staples and authentic flavors of Egypt.

  From here, travel to explore the famed Valley of the Kings—a UNESCO World Heritage Site and active archaeological site of over 63 tombs–many still in excavation. Descend inside a few tombs with the option to visit Tutankhamen’s resting site.

• Days 7-6: Luxor/Cairo

  Amon Ra is known as the King of the Gods and the kids will no doubt be enamoured with a visit this morning to Karnak Temple and its Great Hypostyle Hall which includes 134 massive columns and is still considered the largest religious room in the world. Lunch will be on your own back in Luxor before boarding the flight to Cairo. Get settled at the hotel here before joining the group and a local expert for an Egyptian foodie experience. Visit urban local food counters and small specialty restaurants while you learn about traditional dishes and their connection to Egyptian culture. Food, after all, is something that can connect families and cultures from around the world.

• Days 8-7: Cairo

  It’s time to bring everything you saw together and into context with a family-focused visit to the Grand Egyptian Museum this morning. Enjoy a short scavenger hunt here for an interactive experience of over 100,000 of Egypt’s historical artifacts. In the afternoon, visit Islamic Cairo and walk the back roads to the oldest market in the city, Khan el-Khalili. Take time to explore the lively atmosphere here before enjoying a farewell dinner near the hotel. Gather together and share stories of what will certainly be a memorable family vacation.

• Days 9-8: Cairo

  Depart at any time.