Egypt holidays

Enjoy a short flight south to Abu Simbel, an archaeological site on the banks of Lake Nasser. During this half day tour, you’ll discover The Great Temple and four colossal statues of Ramses II. On 22 February and 22 October each year – allegedly the king’s birthday and coronation – the sun's rays strike through the temple and illuminate the inner shrine. You'll also learn of the the skill used to carve these monuments and the astonishing relocation of Abu Simbel’s temples during the construction of the Aswan High Dam.

An early-morning departure from your ship or hotel in Aswan, through the spectacular desert scenery to the banks of Lake Nasser. During a guided tour of Abu Simbel you’ll discover The Great Temple and four colossal statues of Ramses II and find out how Abu Simbel’s temples were moved during the construction of the Aswan High Dam and the skill used to carve these monuments. Return by road to Aswan. This trip departs twice a day and travels by convoy through the desert. First departure is at 4.30am, returning at 1pm, the second at 11am and returns at 6.30pm.

Stunning from the ground and magical from the air – a balloon flight showcases truly unique views of Luxor. Drift over the ancient city – particularly breathtaking at sunrise – and glide over temples, centuries-old villages and the winding Nile for many postcard-perfect photo opportunities.

Experience the beauty of the desert by night and dine in a traditional Bedouin camp. You’ll be picked up from your hotel in Sharm el Sheikh and driven to the Wadi Mandr, where camels will be waiting to transport you to the Bedouin village. Take a seat around the campfire and enjoy Bedouin tea before a simple buffet dinner is served under a mesmerising starlit sky with the flickering firelight adding to the romance.

This great value bundle of Cairo experiences includes a half-day tour to the Egyptian Museum, a half-day Pyramids & Sphinx tour and the Pyramid Sound & Light Show. Please see the indivdual tours for details.

This tour visits the Islamic quarter of Cairo, which is home to the famous Citadel. Its massive ramparts never had to resist foreign attack but were frequently subjected to the cannonballs of rival factions contesting the sultan’s throne. Today its silhouette is dominated by the domes and minarets of the Turkish-style mosque of Mohammed Ali, completed in 1857. Finally, stroll through Khan El Kalili bazaar, where you can bargain for wares from stalls selling handmade gifts and souvenirs.

Housing an impressive collection of ancient Egyptian antiques and many treasures of King Tutankhamen, the Egyptian Museum in Cairo makes for a thrilling half-day tour. From a collection of papyrus and coins to coffins and Tutankhamen's famous gold mask, you'll discover much of the country's ancient past and be visually amazed by the richness of the artefacts on display.

Housing an impressive collection of ancient Egyptian antiques and many treasures of King Tutankhamen, the Egyptian Museum in Cairo makes for a thrilling half-dday tour. From a collection of papyrus and coins to coffins and Tutankhamen's famous gold mask, you will discover much of the country's ancient past and be visually amazed by the richness of the artefacts on display.

This full day Cairo tour begins with a visit to the fascinating Egyptian museum, where over 100,000 Egyptian artefacts are on display. The tour then continues to the heart of Cairo to visit the fine Mosque and Madrasah of Hassan before continuing to Cairo’s Islamic quarter to enter the Citadel of Saladin. Built to protect the city from the Crusaders, the Citadel is a striking landmark located on a spur of limestone that provides a panoramic view of the city from the Moqattam Hills. Finally, bargain hunters can stroll around the city’s famous Khan El Khalili bazaar with its unusual, typically oriental souvenirs and handmade crafts. Absorb the medieval atmospheres of this traditional market and try your hand at haggling for any of the handmade gifts you wish to purchase. The day includes lunch at a local Egyptian restaurant.

This morning marvel at the modern wonder of Egypt – the enormous Aswan High Dam, a truly miraculous feat of engineering. Massive in every sense, the dam stands over two miles long, 111 metres tall and up to 980 metres thick. The amount of materials used to construct it was 18 times the amount used to build the great Pyramid at Giza. Next, visit the the island of Agilkia, which now houses the temple with its relics of Philae Island – it was relocated before its original location was submerged by the waters of the high dam. Finally, see a huge unfinished obelisk that perfectly illustrates the ancient techniques used when creating these huge monoliths.

For those staying in Luxor, an evening 'Sound and Light' show at the spectacular Karnak Temple is the most impressive of its kind. Visitors walk through the dramatically lit temple as the story of Karnak is narrated. The second part of the show is viewed from the seated grandstand behind the temple's sacred lake with magnificent, distant views of the illuminated, grand temple complex.

Spend a day on a boat where you can sunbathe and relax along the Sinai coast. The colourful coral reefs are magnificent, with opportunities to investigate further with a snorkel and swim in the warm, crystal clear Red Sea.

Visit Luxor Museum to view an amazing range of exhibits discovered in the temples and archaeological sites around Luxor. Marvel at the craftsmanship on exhibits that lay undiscovered for over 2,000 years, including sculptures and alabaster statues, jewellery and treasures, and the fascinating Mummification Museum.

This fantastic package includes a include half-day West Bank tour – taking in the Valleys of the Kings & Queens and Hatshipsuaite Temple – and a half-day East Bank tour of Karnak and Luxor Temples. Visit the museums to view an amazing range of exhibits discovered in the temples and archaeological sites around Luxor. Marvel at the craftsmanship on exhibits that lay undiscovered for over 2,000 years, including sculptures and alabaster statues, jewellery and treasures, and the fascinating Mummification Museum.

From Cairo, explore Egypt's oldest capital, the royal city of Memphis. Uniting the Upper and Lower Nile kingdoms, you'll tour this ancient city. The highlight has to be the giant 13-metre, 120-ton colossus of King Ramses II. The tour then continues to Saqqara, one of the biggest archaeological sites in Egypt. It was here, in around 2630 BC, that King Djoser built Egypt's first ever pyramid – which is still standing.

The thrilling sound and light show at the Pyramids of Giza will give you goose-bumps. As night falls, the awe-inspiring Pyramids and Sphinx are brilliantly illuminated with a wonderfully creative light show. You'll be entertained and gain a unique perspective as the Sphinx plays the role of a storyteller, narrating the history of ancient Egypt.

Don't miss the spectacular and iconic Pyramids of Giza, guarded by the towering Sphinx lying close by. The Great Pyramid of Giza is the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World that remains largely intact, while the Sphinx is the largest monolith statue in the world. Your guide will give you a personal insight into these magnificent sites.

While in Cairo, enjoy a day visiting its spectacular pyramids and iconic Sphinx. These famous giant pyramids are the houses of eternity for the pharaohs of the old kingdom of Egypt. The Sphinx, with the body of a lion and the head of a man, stands as a guardian of the Giza Necropolis and faces the east to witness the return of life, represented by the rising sun. The tour then heads south away from Cairo to ancient Memphis, the original capital of Egypt. Memphis is host to the great statue of Ramses II and the intriguing ancient burial grounds of Saqqara.

View the spectacular rock formations, beaches and perhaps some of the local wildlife on a cruise around the coast off Sharm El Sheikh and Ras Mohammed - Egypt’s first Marine National Park. Visit the mangroves and Hidden Bay, sunbathe on deck and end the tour with a snorkel to discover the most stunning scenery of lush reef corals and hundreds of species of reef and pelagic fish.

The world-famous monastery at the foot of Gebel Musa is now slightly more accessible to visitors thanks to the construction of roads in the Sinai, but still proves to be quite an adventure to get there. Once there, you will visit the well preserved monastery of St Catherine and learn the mysterious story of Saint Catherine. The site is probably the oldest known monastery in the world, dating back to the 3rd Century. You will also see the Burning Bush, the Scales Room, the Icons Gallery and the church.

Visit two of Upper Egypt's most impressive temple sites on this half-day tour. Explore the Luxor Temple, parallel to the Nile's riverbank. Then walk along the Avenue of the Sphinx to enter what is said to be the largest ancient religious site in the world: the temple complex of Karnak, containing the Great Temple of Amen amongst ruined temples, chapels and an ancient sacred lake.

This half day tour from Luxor will take you to the Valley of the Kings, where new tombs are still being discovered. The tombs belong to the pharaohs of the New Kingdom, including Ramses the Great and Tutankhamen. You'll also discover the Valley of the Queens, which contains around 70 tombs of queens, princesses and nobles. Finally, explore the unique Temple at Deir El Bahari with its beautiful murals on the inner walls, built for the great Queen Hatshepsut.