- Egypt Private Tours
- Grand Tour of Egypt - Private Tour
One of the great cradles of civilisation, there is no other destination like Egypt; the Great Pyramids, the magnificent Nile, ancient Alexandria, the legend of Tutankhamun, the engineering marvel of Luxor Dam and second World War battles in the desert at El Alamein.
Depart the UK on your scheduled flight to Cairo. On arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel.
If you are arranging your own international flights, free airport transfers are available and included in the price. Transfers need to be booked with us at least two weeks before the tour starts and you will need to provide your inbound and outbound flight details.
Breakfast & Lunch
The past and present intertwine in Cairo, a sprawling city stepped in millennia of history. African in location but Middle Eastern in its cultural leanings, Egypt’s traditions, food, and history offer a unique experience as you embark on today’s full-day city tour. Gain an insight into Egypt as a professional Egyptology guide leads the way, with your first stop at the mighty Giza Pyramids. Inspiring movies, books and conspiracy theories, these nine iconic pyramids tower over the desert landscape, with the Great Pyramid standing taller than the Statue of Liberty. Explore these amazingly constructed structures, built using techniques beyond their time, then marvel at the massive half-lion, half-human form of the Sphinx, as it guards the temples and tombs of Ancient Egypt. Explore the country’s history at The Grand Egyptian Museum, where unbelievable exhibits showcase over 120,000 artefacts, including Egypt’s earliest hieroglyphic engravings and its most iconic relic - Tutankhamun’s gleaming golden mask.
Breakfast & Lunch
After checking out of your hotel in Cairo, you will visit Coptic Cairo, the historic heart of the city. Here, you will explore the Babylon Fortress, the Hanging Church, and other significant sites that offer a glimpse into the rich history and heritage of the Coptic Christian community. Following this morning of exploration, you will have lunch before transferring to Alexandria in the afternoon. This journey will take you to Egypt's beautiful Mediterranean coast, where you can look forward to discovering the unique charm and historical treasures of Alexandria.
Breakfast & Lunch
After breakfast, you will embark on a full-day tour to El Alamein, a site renowned for one of the most decisive battles of the Second World War campaign in North Africa. Here, you will visit the Battlefield Cemetery, where you can pay respects to the soldiers who fought and lost their lives in this historic conflict. The tour also includes a visit to the Military Museum, which houses a collection of artifacts, exhibits, and displays that provide a comprehensive overview of the battle and its significance. After a day filled with historical exploration, you will return to Alexandria, reflecting on the profound impact of the events that took place at El Alamein.
Breakfast & Dinner
Visit the impressive Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the library built to keep alive the centre of learning, which was Alexandria’s world-famous Ancient Library. Explore Fort Qaitbey, built beside the sea out of the ruins of the legendary Pharos Lighthouse, one of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World. It now guards the harbour of this great city. Visit the lush, extensive gardens of the 19th century Montazah Palace, covered with all kinds of attractive trees and shrubs and walkways lined with palm trees. In the afternoon transfer from Alexandria to Cairo. Have a meal before embarking on your overnight train to Aswan, a fascinating opportunity to travel as the locals do!
Breakfast
Transfer from the train station to Nubian Kalabsha Temple, situated on an island in Lake Nasser near the Aswan High Dam. This ancient temple, dedicated to the sun god Mandulis, offers a fascinating glimpse into Nubian history and culture. The serene setting and impressive architecture make it a memorable highlight of your visit to Aswan.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Transfer from your hotel to board your Nile River Cruise ship. After lunch onboard, enjoy your first excursion, and witness a pioneering example of hydro-engineering on the banks of the River Nile at the High Dam. Later, gain a fascinating insight into ancient Egyptian stone-work techniques with a visit to the Unfinished Obelisk in the Northern Quarries. Finally, take in the splendid Temple of Philae, built in 690 B.C in honour of the goddess of health and marriage; known as the last temple of classical Egyptian design, marvel at the domineering Pylons embellished with traditional hieroglyphs from its new position upon Agilkia Island, having been rescued from a watery grave on Philae Island during the dramatic flooding of Lake Nasser. Return to your vessel, for dinner onboard and your first night on the Nile.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Early this morning, visit the iconic temples of Abu Simbel. Intricately carved into a golden sandstone cliff overlooking the Nile, wonder at the mesmerising 66-foot seated figures of King Ramses, before returning to the boat. This afternoon, glide along the Nile and sail into Kom Ombo for an unforgettable visit to the impressive Temple of Kom Ombo. Unique in its design, the symmetrical rooms, courts, and halls were identically duplicated and dedicated to two sets of gods: Sobek, the god of fertility, and Haroeris, the god of the sky.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Pass through the Esna Lock and soak in incredible views as you sail towards the ancient settlement city of Edfu, disembarking for the chance to visit the Temple of Horus. Guarded by gargantuan granite statues of Horus, enter through the towering gateway, and discover the halls and chambers of this spellbinding ode to the gods which was once concealed under a blanket of sand. Upon arrival in Luxor, you will have the afternoon free to explore the city, relax or take in the optional Sound & Light Show in Karnak Temple (at an additional cost).
Breakfast
After breakfast, disembark the cruise ship and cross over to the west bank of Luxor. Here, you will visit the Valley of the Kings, renowned for its ancient tombs of pharaohs and nobles, offering a glimpse into Egypt's storied past. Continue to the Temple of Hatshepsut, a magnificent memorial temple built into the cliffs of this sacred valley, showcasing impressive architecture and historical significance. On the return journey, stop at the Colossi of Memnon, massive twin statues that serve as the gatekeepers of the valley, standing as a testament to ancient craftsmanship. Finally, check into your Luxor hotel, where you can unwind and reflect on the day's explorations.
Breakfast
Visit the east bank of Luxor including the expansive Karnak Temple scattered across a 200-acre site, and the strikingly graceful Luxor Temple. Enjoy some time at leisure in the afternoon.
Breakfast
This morning, transfer to the airport for your return flight.
If you are arranging your own international flights, free airport transfers are available and included in the price. Transfers need to be booked with us at least two weeks before the tour starts and you will need to provide your inbound and outbound flight details.
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Comprehensive itinerary with a very experienced and helpful guide who arranged everything to make the busy schedule go smoothly, there was no waiting for entry tickets, and the coaches were always there to pick us up to avoid waiting, excellent service from Osama.
Carole Rivers
29 OctoberI would definitely recommend this escorted holiday if you want to see and experience the best of Egypt and you don’t want a too challenging pace. All the hotels were of top quality and first-class rating. The Nile cruise was so relaxing, and saw all the major ancient sites.
Jeffrey Karacs
28 AprilThe order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions or for operational purposes. The schedules of the domestic airlines in country are subject to frequent changes. For this reason, we have indicated approximate times only. Your local guide will inform you of any schedule changes as they are informed of them. The driving times listed are point to point and do not include the duration of excursions or stops en route. Some road construction and/or weather conditions may lengthen the driving times. Our intention is to adhere to the day-to-day itinerary as printed; however, order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions.
If booking more than 12 weeks before departure a deposit of £295.00pp will need to be paid at the time of booking with the full amount payable at 12 weeks prior to departure. The deposit applies to adults and children. If you are within 12 weeks of travel then the full balance of the holiday will be payable.
Your passport should be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the date of entry into Egypt.
A visa is required for entry into Egypt. British passport holders need a visa for visits of up to 30 days. You can apply for an e-visa from the official Visa2Egypt portal. Tourist visas granted using the e-visa system are valid for a maximum of 3 months. You can also get a visa on arrival by payment in Sterling, US Dollars or Euros; the visa fee is US$25 at approved bank kiosks within airport arrival halls, before reaching immigration counters, but this process may take one to two hours, so we strongly suggest getting the visa prior to travel.
Alternatively, we work closely with The Travel Visa Company who will be able to arrange your visa on your behalf. Please call them on 01270 250 590 and quote 'Mercury Holidays'. Visa requirements are subject to change and obtaining a visa is the responsibility of the traveller and not Mercury Holidays. We recommend you check with your destination's tourist board or embassy prior to departure for the most up to date guidelines regarding visas and passport validity.
We strongly recommend that you and all members of your party are suitably insured as soon as you book your holiday. It is a condition of booking that you must have suitable travel insurance. It is important that you purchase travel insurance that suitably covers your participation in whatever activities you may undertake at the time that you make your booking. To assist you with this, we have arranged travel insurance in partnership with Holiday Extras, including up to a 20% discount, which is given to all Mercury Holidays customers. To arrange your insurance with Holiday Extras, please visit https://www.mercuryholidays.co.uk/info/insurance for more details. Please ensure you provide us with the name of your insurer, policy number and their 24 hour emergency contact number as soon as possible. Mercury Holidays will not be liable for any costs incurred by you due to your failure to take out suitable travel insurance from the date of booking.
It is your responsibility to check any health and vaccination requirements applicable to your booked arrangements. We can only provide general information about this. Health and hygiene facilities and disease risks vary from country to country. You should take health advice about your own needs as early as possible and in good time before your departure. Sources of information include; www.fco.gov.uk, http://travelhealthpro.org.uk/, www.hpa.org.uk, your General Practitioner or a specialist clinic.
This tour is accessible to most people with a good level of fitness and normal mobility but not to people with walking difficulties. To travel on any of our tours requires unaided mobility and the ability. All our tours feature a “Tour Pace” to help find the right holiday for you. The tour pace for this tour is intermediate. A good level of fitness is required as you may be on your feet for approximately four hours in a day, though this will be interspersed with regular breaks and will vary from day to day. You will be walking around the sights, and may be getting on and off coaches, trains and boats and climbing steps which may be steep and irregular. You will stay in variety of hotels throughout the tour. Our guides will always endeavour to provide the highest level of service and assistance; however, they cannot be expected to cater for customers who are unfit to complete the itinerary.
The local currency in Egypt is the Egyptian Pound (EGP). While most hotels, larger restaurants, and tourist sites accept card payments, cash is still widely used, particularly in markets, small shops, and for tipping. Although Egypt has its own currecy you can also use GBP, USD and EURO.
You’ll find ATMs readily available in cities and tourist areas, but please note that some may have withdrawal limits and international transaction fees — it’s a good idea to check with your bank before you travel. When exchanging money, always use banks, hotel exchange desks, or official currency exchange offices to ensure the best rates.
Visa and Mastercard are generally accepted across major establishments, though we recommend notifying your bank before you travel to prevent any temporary card blocks while abroad.
As normal practice you may be asked for your credit card details on check-in at the hotel in order to cover any extras incurred during your stay. If you do not have a credit card, you may be asked for a cash deposit. MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted in hotels but a 3% charge may be added.
You will need to take money with you to cover any personal purchases such as souvenirs, laundry, any meals not included in the itinerary as well as drinks and any additional snacks. Approximately £400- £500 per person will be sufficient for the duration of the tour.
Tipping
It is a good idea to try and maintain a supply of small notes and change in the local currency for tipping or small purchases. It is at your discretion to tip both your driver, guide and crew members. We would recommend to tip approximately £5. Tips are accepted in the local currency or Euros, Sterling or Dollars.
If you book a group of 6 or more passengers, you will have an escort with you throughout the tour. If you are a group of less than 6, you will have multiple local guides/drivers throughout the tour. Your transfers will be with an English-Speaking Driver. During your excursion/s in Cairo, this will be with an English-Speaking Guide. Your cruise and excursions are not exclusive to Mercury Holidays and will be shared with other travellers with an English-Speaking Driver.
Your accommodation is selected for convenience, location, comfort or character, and can range from business hotels to leisure hotels. Hotel accommodation is generally rated as local three to four-star standard, but please note there is no international classification system for hotels, and differences in facilities and quality do exist compared to what you might expect in the UK. All group tours hotels have private bathroom facilities and air-conditioning, where needed. Rest assured that all accommodation used by Mercury Holidays is regularly inspected by our staff and partners to ensure that standards meet your needs.
On the overnight train from Cairo to Aswan you will have a twin cabin with seats that fold down to become beds. Pillows and bedding are provided and there is a small sink to freshen up. Toilets are situated at each end of the carriage.
Breakfast is always western style and served in the hotel each morning. Dinner (when included) will be taken in local restaurants or at the hotel. A variety of restaurants are visited giving you the chance to experience a range of dishes and flavours. During your cruise, all meals will be taken onboard the ship.
Please contact Customer Experience for questions about other dietary requirements or allergy information.
It is not recommended to drink the tap water, even in developed countries water may contain unfamiliar elements that can cause upset stomachs. In less developed countries water is not filtered in the same way, so to ensure your comfort and well-being, one bottle of drinking water will be provided on touring days
Ramadan is the most important month in the Muslim Calendar, and it is a time for people to be with their loved ones, self-reflect and renew their faith. During this time Muslims fast from dawn until dusk and abstain from eating, drinking, smoking and chewing gum. If you are a tourist visiting Egypt, you will not be expected to fast. While eating, drinking and smoking is strictly prohibited in public places, hotels/cruises will offer meals and non-alcoholic/alcoholic drinks at many of their restaurants and bars. Your guide during your tour will be on hand to give you any additional information that you require.
A head scarf for women is recommended for entry into any Islamic religious site as well as for everyone to cover shoulders and knees.
On your arrival in Cairo you will be met by a representative from our local agent, Travco Egypt, holding a sign displaying: “Mercury Holidays”. The Mercury Holidays/Touring International representative will show you to your transfer vehicle. Your guide will be able to answer any queries.
If you need to contact Touring International during your stay the details are:
Travco Egypt: Travco Centre, 26th July Corridor, El Sheikh Zayed City, 6th October 12588, Giza. Egypt. Contact number: 00201221107303 E-mail: alaa.berzi@travco.com
Emergency contact information: Please find below the emergency contact details for Travco Egypt 24 hour telephone 00201221107303 24 hour E-mail alaa.berzi@travco.com
