Charms of Egypt: Cairo to Sharm El Sheikh

Cairo

Day 1: Arrival into Cairo

Welcome to Cairo! Arrive into Cairo International Airport, where you'll be met by a local representative for a private transfer to your hotel. Check into your room for an overnight stay and relax after your travels.

If you have energy to burn, the city awaits! Head out to explore at your own pace, touring the souks and settling down to enjoy some of the delicious local flavors - don't miss your chance to try hawawshi (a type of pita bread stuffed with minced meat, onions and peppers) or moussaka, a baked eggplant-based dish.

Cairo - Memphis - Cairo

Day 2: Take a tour of Memphis, the Great Pyramids & more

After breakfast at your hotel, you'll be picked up to visit Memphis, the ancient capital of the Old Kingdom of Egypt, home to the colossal statue of Ramesses II and the Alabaster Sphinx. Later, continue to the Cemetery City of Sakkara to view the Step Pyramid of King Zoser, the oldest of all pyramids.

You'll then stop for lunch at a local restaurant, followed by a visit to the Great Pyramids of Giza - the only present-day survivor of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Nearby, the mystical Sphinx surveys the plains of Giza, and was built to guard the entrance to the Pyramids.

After a day of thrilling pursuits, you'll return to your hotel to relax for an overnight stay.

Cairo - Alexandria

Day 3: Journey to Alexandria

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and transfer to Alexandria by private air-conditioned coach, with a journey time of up to three hours. There, you'll begin your tour by visiting the Qaitbay Fort, a 15th-century defensive fortress on the Mediterranean Sea coast.

Soak up the scenic coastal views before heading on to lunch at a local restaurant. Take a moment to feel calm as you tour the Library of Alexandria, before heading into the city streets to enjoy its nightlife ahead of an overnight stay.

Alexandria - Siwa

Day 4: Swim in the waters of Lake Siwa

Good morning! After breakfast at your hotel, check out for a transfer to Siwa, an urban oasis between the Qattara Depression and the Great Sand Sea in Egypt's Western Desert. Upon your arrival, check into your hotel and get ready for a swim in the saline Lake Siwa - a wonderfully relaxing and invigorating experience. It's then back to your hotel for a quick shower, followed by dinner at a local restaurant.

Siwa

Day 5: Outdoor pursuits & sand dunes in Siwa

After breakfast, set out on today's first excursion: a visit to the Mountain of the Dead, which earned its nickname due to the large number of Pharaonic tombs found in the mountain. Continue with a trip to the Oracle Temple, also known as the temple of Alexander the Great, before pausing for lunch.

In the afternoon, you'll pay a visit to the Siwa House Museum and Old Fortress of Shali, followed by a refreshing swim in Cleopatra's Pool - a highly favored spring in the Siwa Oasis area. You'll then take a drive over the high sand dunes in the Western Desert, heading towards a fun-filled activity: sandboarding! Watch the sunset over the desert dunes from a prime elevated position, then continue to a local campsite for tea and dinner. Feeling satiated and refreshed, you'll journey back to your hotel in Siwa for an overnight stay.

Siwa - Cairo

Day 6: Watch a mesmerizing tanoura show

After breakfast, you'll transfer on to Cairo, where you'll reach your hotel for check-in. Spend the day at leisure, relaxing or exploring the city at your own pace. Then, come evening, you'll be picked up at the hotel and transferred to Wekalet El Ghoury, a mosque built in 1504 AD. It will be the setting for a fantastic tanoura show, showcasing Cairo's rich cultural heritage through dance and folkloric music. The very special, spiritual whirling dervish performance is a sight you won't want to miss!

Cairo - Sharm El Sheikh

Day 7: Journey to Sharm El Sheikh

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and transfer to the airport in Cairo, ready for your flight to Sharm El Sheikh - the coastal city on the Sinai Peninsula that's known for its soft sands, beautiful waters, and water sports activities. On arrival at the airport, you'll transfer to your accommodation for check-in and an overnight stay at leisure. Be sure to take a moment to relax - you're in paradise now, after all!

Sharm El Sheikh

Day 8: A day of relaxation in Sharm El Sheikh

Spend today at leisure in Sharm El Sheikh, with a program that's entirely suited to your needs. Relax to your heart's content at your accommodation, making the most of the on-site facilities, or sign up for an optional excursion: glass boating and parasailing are popular picks, while marine wildlife lovers can try their hand at snorkeling or diving to new depths.

Sharm El Sheikh

Day 9: One more day in paradise

On your last full day at leisure in Sharm El Sheikh, make sure to fill your time with all the activities you've not yet had the chance to try. For a change of scene, make for the desert to embark on a quad biking adventure! Alternatively, simply recline on soft sands, soaking up the sunshine for the final hours of your time on vacation.

Sharm El Sheikh

Day 10: Goodbye, Egypt!

It's sadly time to say goodbye to Egypt: after breakfast, check out of your accommodation and transfer to the airport, in time for your onward flight home.