HIGHLIGHTS: Cairo - Luxor - Aswan

We begin in Cairo, where we spend a morning exploring the great pyramids and the nearby Sphinx before taking the Overnight Train to Luxor. Here we have ample time to check out the bazaar and the numerous sights on the east bank. Crossing the Nile, we ride donkeys up into the Valley of the Kings and later we continue our journey to Aswan. Aswan has an easygoing charm and we soon find ourselves slipping into its laid - back rhythm.

While here we head out on a traditional felucca, sailing around the islands and on the far bank we can ride camels to the Monastery of St. Simeon - always great fun We then continue upriver to a nearby Nubian village where we enjoy some local specialities for dinner. Back in Cairo, we have a free day for further exploration and most of us will head to the fabulous Khan al - Khalili bazaar. Our trip ends in Cairo.

Day 1 Cairo. Your trip starts today in Cairo. No activities are planned so you may arrive at any time. Rooms are generally available after 1.00 pm. Please refer to your for the joining hotel name and address. If you have not pre-booked an arrival transfer you will find taxis available on arrival at Cairo Airport. Make sure you agree the price before you set off into town Your tour guide may make contact tonight, otherwise you will see him tomorrow morning at the tour briefing, which usually takes place after breakfast.

Day 2 Cairo - Luxor. With a population of around 16 million people, Cairo is one of the world's biggest cities, and there's a lot to see and do. With our local site guide we may visit the pyramids and the Sphinx, and we also see the wonderful Valley Temple of King Khafre (Chephren). (entrance fees not included) The afternoon is free to explore further and many will want to check out the Egyptian Museum (just a short taxi ride away on the other side of the river… depending on Cairo traffic). In the evening we head to the train station for the Overnight Train to Luxor - always a fun experience. Our air - conditioned carriage has large, comfortable seats (similar to business class seats on a plane) that recline back at about 45 degrees. Dinner is taken at the hotel prior to departure. There is a toilet located at the end of the carriage.

Day 3 Luxor. Luxor boasts the greatest quantity of ancient sites anywhere in the world, and there's heaps to see and do while here. After checking our gear in to the hotel, just near the bazaar, we have time for a quick breakfast and then we are off to explore our surroundings - or perhaps enjoy a swim in the rooftop pool. The bazaar is pretty big and will keep shopaholics busy for hours. Alternatively you can visit the excellent little Luxor Museum - or take a stroll around Luxor Temple, dominating the centre of town. Entrance fees for these two options are listed below. Another popular activity is to take a horse - carriage ride to Karnak Temple, dedicated to the great God Amon, and considered one of the greatest of Ancient Egyptian monuments. Your tour guide can help organise the carriages. Don't miss the sunset tonight over the West Bank.

Day 4 Luxor - Aswan. We wake early and may take the very popular option to cross the Nile where our donkeys are waiting to take us into the Valley of the Kings. After matching up the donkeys to our riders we head off, just as the sun begins to rise in the eastern skies. It's great fun and one of the highlights of our visit to Egypt. (all costs extra) Around midday we return to east bank where the rest of the day is at leisure. In the evening we take the train down to Aswan, where we spend the night.

Day 5 Aswan. Those who have booked the optional excursion to Abu Simbel will rise early and travel by road along the shores of Lake Nasser to the great Temple of Ramses II, one of the most impressive ever built. For the rest of us, there's heaps of things to do in and around Aswan. It's one of our favourite places and very popular with travellers. It has an easy - going charm and the locals are very friendly. We can visit the beautiful Temple of Isis at Philae, saved from the rising waters of the Nile, or just hang around in town, exploring the vibrant Nubian bazaar and checking out the excellent Nubian Museum. In the afternoon we board our traditional felucca and sail around the islands. We stop on the west bank, where there's time for an optional camel ride, just as the sun is tinting the evening sky. We then head to a nearby Nubian village for a traditional dinner.

Day 6 Aswan - Cairo. We make our way back to Aswan where the rest of the day is free to explore further, or shop in the Nubian bazaar. In the late afternoon we have an early dinner and are transferred to the train station for the overnight recliner train back to Cairo.

Day 7 Cairo. Arriving back in Cairo we are met with breakfast boxes and transferred to our hotel. The rest of the day is free to explore. In the older part of the city there is a lot to see, including some beautiful old mosques and, of course, the fantastic Khan al - Khalili bazaar - an amazing mix of shops and stalls that have traded goods and gossip since the Middle Ages. There's time for everything both and our tour guide can help organise taxis: but be prepared to bargain Tonight we can enjoy a final evening together.

Day 8 Cairo. Your trip ends today, after breakfast. Check - out time is usually around 12.00 noon and you are free to leave at any time. Additional accommodation can be pre-booked if you wish to spend more time exploring Cairo.