Itinerary - Egypt 360°: From the Giza Pyramids to the Red Sea

Round trip flights are not included in the package, so you can choose from where and when you want to fly. This is to give you maximum freedom of choice!

It’s impossible to arrive in Cairo and not be captivated by this ancient city. The first settlement here dates back to Roman times, but just a bit further south, we find the ruins of Memphis, the ancient capital of Egypt, founded in 3,100 BC. In short, you can feel the weight of history the moment you set foot here.

We’ll take this opportunity to get to know each other better during our first dinner together – the perfect chance to taste the local cuisine and kick off this adventure on the right foot!

Today begins with an undeniable symbol: we’re heading to Giza, the first of many UNESCO World Heritage sites we'll visit on this trip, and certainly the most famous historical and archaeological site in all of Egypt. Here, we’ll stand before the Pyramids of Cheops, Chephren, and Mykerinos—the three most iconic Egyptian pyramids in the world. However, the true star of the day is the legendary Sphinx, perhaps the most renowned attraction.

It will be awe-inspiring to finally see these colossal monuments with our own eyes, the ones we’ve only ever glimpsed in schoolbook photos. These remarkable structures have stood the test of time, and we’ll take all the time we need to truly appreciate their breathtaking beauty.

In the afternoon, we’ll explore the necropolis of Saqqara, where less than two years ago an incredibly well-preserved tomb was discovered, believed to belong to an Egyptian official who lived 4,400 years ago. While some parts of the site remain closed to visitors, the atmosphere is still undeniably captivating. Here, we’ll encounter the Pyramid of Djoser, the oldest pyramid in the country, and the final resting place of a total of 17 pharaohs. Truly a royal site!

If time allows, we won’t miss a visit to nearby Dashur, always guided by a knowledgeable local guide who will unveil the secrets of these ancient places.

After exploring this fascinating corner of Egypt far and wide, we head to the train station and board a night train. Tonight, we’ll travel across half of Egypt, and by tomorrow morning, we’ll wake up in Aswan, ready for new adventures. We’ll have dinner on board, settle into our bunks, and enjoy the evening together. Who knows, maybe we’ll all squeeze into one compartment for a game of cards!

We wake up far south of the capital: during the night, our train has taken us from Cairo to Aswan, a city along the Nile, just beyond Lake Nasser. Aswan, like much of Egypt, has ancient roots. In fact, during ancient Egypt, stone caravans departed from here to supply the materials used in constructing the Giza Necropolis, which we visited just yesterday. After dropping off our backpacks at the hotel, we’ll decide together how to spend the day.

One idea is to take a transfer to Elephantine Island, situated in the middle of the Nile near Aswan. Here, as in much of Egypt, we’ll encounter noteworthy archaeological remains—including evidence that a Jewish colony may have taken refuge here to escape deportation to Babylon. Later, we’ll visit a Nubian village, where we’ll be welcomed by a local family, enjoy a traditional meal, and share a special dinner, allowing us to immerse ourselves in the local culture and connect with the people of the region.

This morning, the alarm will ring at dawn… or maybe not! Today, we have the chance to visit the stunning Temple of Abu Simbel, but it means sacrificing a few hours of sleep. The excursion is completely optional, so it’s up to us to decide whether we choose the pillow or history. Trust us, getting up early is absolutely worth it!

The Temple of Abu Simbel is one of the most significant monuments in Egyptian history and culture, especially from the Pharaonic era, built around 3,000 years ago. The site features two main temples carved into the rock, but the Great Temple is the most famous. It was commissioned by Ramses II to deify himself, and on its facade, we see the imposing 20-meter-high statues of Ramses II.

What’s fascinating is that we’re not standing in the exact spot where Abu Simbel was originally built. In 1964, the entire archaeological site was moved by UNESCO after Egypt's president announced plans to construct a dam and artificial lake near the temples, which could have damaged them. The site was carefully dismantled and rebuilt 65 meters higher and 210 meters further back, where we see it today. We admire it in all its glory, grateful for the efforts to protect and preserve such beauty.

We’ll return to Aswan in the late afternoon, where we can relax and enjoy the evening together.

Goodbye, Aswan, it’s been a real pleasure! Today, we’re heading towards Edfu, but along the way, we’ll make a quick stop at Kom Ombo, a place of worship built during the Ptolemaic dynasty. We’ll stretch our legs while getting our daily dose of history!

We’ll then continue on to Edfu, where we’ll once again stand before an ancient place of worship, dating back to the Old Kingdom but having undergone several restorations. The structure here is unique and is called the "Telescope"—and it won’t take long to see why!

We hit the road again, this time heading to a destination that’s impossible not to know—or at least not to have heard of: Luxor, here we come!

We’ve arrived at the site of Egypt's capital during the Middle Kingdom—the ancient city of Thebes. Even today, Luxor remains one of the most important archaeological sites in the world. In the afternoon, we’ll focus on exploring the magnificent Karnak Temple complex, located on the east bank of the Nile. The uniqueness of this site lies in the fact that over the span of 1,600 years, every pharaoh or king left their mark, making what we see today practically an open-air history book.

Good morning, Luxor! We’re ready to be captivated by your history, secrets, and beauty! And what better way to start the day than with a hot air balloon flight at dawn? It’s sure to be a Bucket List experience—something to do once in a lifetime!

If yesterday we explored Luxor on the east bank, today we’re shifting to the west bank. After so many days of exploring these incredible archaeological sites, we’ll feel like little Indiana Joneses, ready to uncover more treasures, and today will be no exception! Our guide will lead us to the impressive Colossi of Memnon, which have stood tall for over 3,400 years, and then on to the Valley of the Kings, where the tombs of numerous pharaohs are housed. For 500 years, this was the final resting place chosen by Egypt’s sovereigns.

We continue our exploration of Ancient Egypt with a visit to the funerary temple of Hatshepsut, also known as Djeser-Djeseru. Dedicated to the solar deity Amun-Ra, this remarkable site is also where Howard Carter, the famous archaeologist, once lived. Carter is renowned for discovering the tomb of Tutankhamun, the pharaoh who reigned at the end of the XVIII dynasty and is famously associated with the alleged curses that befell the archaeologists involved in unearthing his tomb!

We’re nearing the end of our journey through Egypt, but there’s still something missing, right? Something like sand, a crystal-clear sea, and some much-needed relaxation! We’ll leave early in the morning from Luxor to head to Hurghada, where 24 hours of all-inclusive relaxation await us. Have you already dug your swimsuit out of your suitcase?

In the afternoon, we’ll have free time to unwind on the beach or join one of the many available excursions!

We still have a morning of total relaxation ahead of us before we pick up our backpacks and prepare for the final transfer of the trip: we’re heading back to Cairo! Although the travel hours are quite long, we can use this time to reminisce about all the moments we’ve shared together—filled with history, adventure, and incredible monuments.

Surely, our last dinner together will carry a significant emotional impact: from strangers to friends in just a few days. Let’s raise a toast to ourselves and to this fantastic adventure!

Check-out and goodbye – until your next WeRoad adventure!