Join Emily Glankler and the Historical Travel Society on a 7-day journey through Egypt’s most iconic ancient wonders, from the legendary pyramids of Giza to the temples of Luxor. 

Begin your adventure in Cairo with a welcome dinner and guided visits to the Pyramids, Sphinx, and the Grand Egyptian Museum. Ride a sleeper train to Luxor to explore Karnak Temple, Valley of the Kings, and the majestic Hatshepsut Temple, topped off with a serene felucca sailing. Enjoy authentic home-cooked Egyptian cuisine and wander the vibrant Khan El-Khalili Bazaar before your farewell dinner. 

Welcome to Egypt! Please be prepared to meet in the lobby at 5:30pm for a welcome meeting with your guide then depart for your welcome dinner at a local restaurant.

Hotel will be Novotel Cairo El Borg or similar.

Take a private transfer from the hotel to Giza to visit the Three Pyramids and the Sphinx. Instantly familiar yet retaining a mystique and power, getting up close to these incredible pharaonic tombs is captivating. Approach the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx by camel, with panoramic views across the dunes.

That afternoon, visit the Grand Egyptian Museum, home to a stupendous collection of antiquities and the perfect introduction to your tour, exhibiting many of the region's treasures. Your expert guide will take you through Egypt's rich and fascinating dynastic history.

Take a private transfer from the hotel to Saqqara complex, located 30 kilometers south of Cairo. This ancient burial ground is home to the world's oldest step-shaped pyramid of Zoser, dating back to 2700 BC. (Spoiler: You'll get to go inside Emily's FAVORITE tomb!)

Immerse yourself in ancient history with a trip out to Memphis, the first capital of unified Egypt, dating  back to 3200 BC.

Head back to the hotel to freshen up and pack before departing to the train station for an overnight ride to Luxor.

Accommodation aboard the overnight train is in two-berth cabins which convert to bunk beds. All bedding is provided on board and western-style toilets are in each carriage. Your bags will be stored in your cabin, where airline-style dinner and breakfast will be served. However, it may worth bringing some additional snacks, especially if you are vegetarian or have dietary requirements. Your tour leader can help you to arrange this. Despite being a tourist class train facilities are basic. Please also keep in mind general train cleanliness may not be to the same standards you are accustomed to.

After arriving in Luxor via train in the morning, head East Bank of the Nile to see Karnak, one of the world's most celebrated temple complexes, built over a period of some 2000 years, and some of it dating back to 2,055 BC. Your guided tour of the temple reveals its finest sections.

In the late afternoon, visit Luxor temple, dedicated to the Gods Amun, Mut, and Khonsu. Luxor Temple was the focus of one of the most important religious festivals in ancient Egypt - the annual Opet Festival, the temple is lighted, so you may want to visit the temple at sunset.

Today we visit the West Bank of the Nile in Luxor to see three important sites:

The Valley of the Kings is the burial site of many pharaohs, including King Tutankhamun. Go inside a few tombs to learn more about their funerary rites and see incredibly well-preserved decorations.

Then, head to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, the most famous queen of Egypt, who ruled for 21 years. (Prepare yourself for Emily to nerd out the most here.)

Finally, stop to see the Colossi of Memnon, two 17 meters high statues used to flank the entrance of the funerary temple of king Amenhotep, the 3rd the grandfather of Tutankhamen.

After touring all morning, we'll join a local family for lunch and then board a traditional felucca to sail the Nile while enjoying High Tea and Egyptian cookies. 

We'll catch a short domestic flight back to Cairo before heading to the  famous Bazar of Khan El Khalili. We'll have plenty of time to lose yourself in the colors and aromas of this fascinating marketplace. one of the world’s oldest. We’ll learn how various vendors prepare popular food, explore the Al Attarin spice and El Sagha gold markets.

Then in the late afternoon, we'll gather with our group and guide for our farewell dinner.

All good things must come to an end! Today we'll head to the Cairo airport and make our way home (or onto the next adventure!)