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We are able to vary the price of this trip considerably, simply by swapping out the lodges that it contains. This is likely to have a very significant effect on the level of polish of the trip, but in all cases it will remain cool and authentic. Make your selection here and the lodges will automatically change in the itinerary below.
Set on the Nile, around 200 km inland from the Mediterranean, Cairo is the vast and sprawling capital of Egypt, with a population of over 21 million people. Highlights include the pyramids of Giza, the monuments of Saqqara and the mediaeval Old City. Accommodation options are very limited and always compromised.
Day 1 , 2 , 3
Arrival : Cairo Airport CAI
lodge
Hyatt Regency Cairo West
Hyatt Regency Cairo West is located 7km north of the pyramids.
The location is rather bland, but you can just about see the pyramids on a clear day.
Guest accommodation is in 250 rooms of various specifications ...
... including 26 larger suites.
The great pyramids of Giza lie on the western periphery of Cairo.
These pyramids are amongst the oldest monuments in Egypt, dating back to the Old Kingdom, 2686-2181 BC.
The Sphinx is thought to pre-date the pyramids and previously had the head of a lion.
The Great Pyramid was built by Pharoah Khafre around 2570 BC ...
... and can be entered via the Robber Tunnel.
Exploring the pyramids by horse or camel is surprisingly good fun.
The Grand Egyptian Museum is home to an incredible collection of artefacts.
The relatively quiet area of Saqqara is usually visited as a day trip from Giza or Cairo.
The pyramids of this area are older prototypes of the better-known ones to the north.
The pyramid is at the centre of a large necropolis ...
... which is accessed through this reconstructed entrance.
The stepped Pyramid of Djoser dates all the way back to 2686-2648BC.
The Southern Entry is easy to flat, leading to this awesome burial chamber.
The original North Entry is by special permission only ...
... and leads to an extensive network of over 4km of tunnels in the bedrock below.
The adjacent museum has some interesting exhibits.
The short distance to the Serapeum is ideal for a taster camel ride.
The Serapeum is incredibly impressive ...
... with tunnels leading to remarkable granite sarcophagi for sacred bulls.
The Red Pyramid was the first to have that authentic geometrical shape and also contains a good network of tunnels and chambers.
Saving the best until last ... The Bent Pyramid was built by Pharaoh Sneferu (2575-2551BC) ...
... whose unusual shape may have been the result of a design failure.
The interior is by far the most exciting of the pyramids that are generally open to the public.
The view east from the Bent Pyramid to the mudbrick Black Pyramid.
The modern city of Cairo is a very hectic place, with incredible traffic issues.
The medieval Citadel of Saladin is an impressive landmark ...
... with a huge mosque from the late 1800s.
Far more interesting is the walled Old City ...
... which is largely pedestrianised.
If you have time, it's definitely worth exploring for a few hours.
The less interesting modern city lies between the Old City and the River Nile ...
... home to the Victorian era Old Cairo Museum ...
... which remains a pleasant aesthetic experience ...
... and still contains a good range of exhibits.
Wherever you go in Cairo, the skyline always seems to feature those iconic pyramids.
Luxor
Set alongside the River Nile in southern Egypt, Luxor is the beating heart of this ancient land, home to some of the most spectacular archaeological sites from the New Kingdom, including the remarkable Valley of the Kings and the prestigious temples of Luxor and Karnak. The usual start location for cruises up river to Aswan.
Day 4 , 5 , 6 , 7
Fly : Cairo CAI to Luxor LXR
lodge
Al Moudira Hotel
Day 8
Departure : Cairo International Airport
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