ULTIMATE EGYPT Loved by over 40s

After touching down at Cairo International Airport (CAI), you’ll be whisked off to your hotel where you’ll meet our Local Insider who will accompany the group throughout the trip. At 6pm, get to know your fellow travellers before sitting down to a welcome dinner together. Be sure to get a good night’s sleep ahead of an action-packed day at the pyramids tomorrow.

Explore two of the most iconic landmarks in Egypt today – the Sphinx and the Giza Pyramids, the largest of which is the last surviving Wonder of the Ancient World. It’s worth taking your time to fully appreciate these colossal feats of human endeavour. At lunch, sample local culinary delights such as koshari (a mix of rice, macaroni, lentils and spiced tomato sauce) and ful medames (crushed fava beans cooked with cumin, lemon, garlic and fresh herbs – typically served with bread). You’ll then visit the Grand Egyptian Museum in the afternoon.

Start the day with a yoga session before heading into the historic centre of Cairo. Admire the extensive array of Islamic architecture on Moez Street and embrace the chaos of the Khan Al-Khalili bazaar – a labyrinth of stalls selling jewellery, exotic spices, handcrafted souvenirs and much more. At an old bookbinding store, you’ll have the chance to treat yourself to a personalised leather notebook. Next, it’s time to board the overnight sleeper train from Giza station to Luxor.

No trip to Egypt would be complete without visiting several of the inspiring temples that form an integral part of the country’s heritage. Upon arrival in Luxor, you’ll be driven to the Dendera Temple Complex in the nearby city of Qena. The main temple, built in honour of Hathor, the goddess of love, joy and beauty, is one of the best preserved in Egypt. You’ll then return to Luxor and check into the hotel. Set out on an evening tour of the Luxor Temple, and witness the ancient sandstone glowing in the candlelight.

It’s an early start today as you’ll be exploring the Valley of the Kings, the royal burial ground of many pharaohs during the New Kingdom (1539BCE-1075BCE). Venture into the tomb of Tutankhamun before moving on to the temple of Hatshepsut, a striking tribute to one of the first female pharaohs. Next, stop by the Colossi of Memnon – two 18m (59ft) tall stone monuments depicting Pharaoh Amenhotep III – before hopping on the cruise ship for lunch and to begin your journey down the Nile.

After breakfast, your floating hotel will drop you off at Karnak Temple. This majestic 4,000-year-old temple, in a complex spanning more than 100ha (247 acres), is believed to be the largest religious building in the world – larger, even, than some entire ancient cities. Later in the morning, take a walking tour of the vibrant Souq of Luxor where you can shop for souvenirs and enjoy a refreshing hibiscus tea, known as karkade. Reboard the ship and continue your journey towards your next stop, Edfu.

Fancy taking it easy this morning? It’s entirely up to you – but if you’re keen for an adventure, the Temple of Edfu is worth seeing. Built between 237BCE and 57BCE, it’s relatively young by Egyptian temple standards and therefore extremely well preserved. You can get here on foot (approximately 30 minutes walk each way). On your return to the ship, you’ll sail to Kom Ombo, home to another impressive temple. Overlooking the Nile, it comprises two symmetrical temples split down the middle. Explore here for a couple of hours before setting off on the last leg of your cruise.

Wake up in Aswan, the southernmost Egyptian city and the final stop of your cruise. You can choose to take an early bus to the temples of Abu Simbel – around a 3.5hr journey each way through the desert. Carved into the mountainside, these spectacular temples – built by Ramses II during the 13th century BCE – were dismantled in the 1960s and relocated here, to prevent them from being flooded by Lake Nasser. If all that sounds too active, you may prefer to spend the day at leisure. Come evening, sip refreshing beverages on a felucca, a traditional sailboat, as the Nile glistens beneath the setting sun.

This morning, you’ll swap the cruise ship for a kayak in Aswan, allowing you to experience the Nile from a totally different perspective. Navigate the river waters and visit islands, such as Elephantine and Soheil, at your own pace. Post-kayak, round off your trip in style with an authentic Nubian dinner in the warm company of the locals.

The time has come to pack your bags and bid farewell to your fellow travellers. Check out of the hotel by midday and head to Aswan Airport (ASW) for your flight home. Alternatively, you can extend your travels in Egypt at your choosing. See you next time!