Benben by Dhara Hotels

Highlights of Egypt

Classic Cruise + 3 more + 3 more

Culture in Cairo, cruising the Nile and relaxation by the Red Sea

11 days

from £3,415 pp

Egypt's Modern History

Off-the-beaten-track Cruise + 2 more + 3 more

A delightful introduction to the fascinating events that have shaped Egypt since Biblical times

10 days

from £3,915 pp

Classic Ultimate + 2 more + 3 more

Egypt and Jordan Discovery

Jordan, Egypt

Experience the best of Egypt and Jordan in one unforgettable trip.

13 days

from £4,815 pp

Simply Egypt

Express Beach + 2 more + 3 more

Cairo's iconic sights paired with pure Red Sea relaxation.

11 days

from £3,520 pp

Ultimate Egypt

Ultimate Cruise + 1 more + 2 more

Egypt’s exceptional diversity of attractions makes long itineraries extremely rewarding, and there is plenty of luxury for those looking to splash out on a once-in-a-lifetime trip.

16 days

from £4,960 pp

Impressions of the Desert

Off-the-beaten-track Adventure + 1 more + 2 more

Visit one of the Western Desert’s most fascinating oases on a circular itinerary from Cairo.

10 days

from £4,560 pp

Quirky excursions

View all excursions in Egypt

Birdwatching on the Nile

Aswan is renowned as one of the most picturesque towns in Egypt, where the Nile, met on both sides by the scorched golden sands of the Sahara desert, is dotted by dozens of lush islands that are each corralled by tall reedbeds. Emblematic of life in the town itself, the river here moves at an altogether slower pace than in the rest of Egypt, and taking to the water is the perfect way to view some of the myriad bird species that inhabit the verdant riverbanks. A local birdwatching expert will take you through the maze of islands around the cataracts as herons, kingfishers and falcons soar above and around you in a language of flight and movement that is as old as the river itself.

Abu Simbel

Avid amateur Egyptologists will be familiar with the rush to save the original temple of Abu Simbel from the rising waters of Lake Nasser. Requiring the support of UNESCO, superhuman effort and painstaking care, teams of archaeologists, engineers and local labourers dismembered and reassembled the colossal site, effectively completing a massive 3D jigsaw from 1964-68. The temple itself had originally required over 20 years of construction from around 1,260BC. While ostensibly intended by Ramesses II to pay homage to the gods Amun, Ra-Horakhty and Ptah, it would have been hard even 2,200 years ago to reject the idea that self-deification was his true ambition. The mammoth façade is composed of four colossal statues of the pharaoh, dwarfing the altogether more humble reliefs of the gods themselves, a theme that continues throughout. Whatever the politics and personal ambitions that envelop the temple’s creation, a visit here is one of the absolute highlights in a country that isn’t short of jaw-dropping sights. Visitors from Aswan usually set off early in the morning on a daily return flight, allowing for around 90 minutes at the temple site, with groups of other passengers and various guides. This is arguably something of a rushed visit given the extensive array of treasures, but one that allows visitors on a limited timescale to see one of the finest representations of Ancient Egypt without booking a full Lake Nasser cruise.

Unfinished Obelisk

Located in a quarry to the south of the city, the Unfinished Obelisk is the world’s largest known ancient obelisk. Carving these vast monoliths out of the bedrock of the stone quarries of the Nile Valley was all the rage in Ancient Egypt, and impressive obelisks can be seen at some of the most renowned temples in the country, including Karnak and Abu Simbel. This one would have dwarfed them all, had faults not become apparent in the granite during the construction process. Estimates suggest that it would have towered close to a staggering 50 metres in height and weighed over 1,000 tonnes! The scale of this endeavour is apparent today, even when viewing the obelisk lying horizontal in its quarry. Classed as an open air museum with protected status, the obelisk is often combined with visits to the Temple of Philae and the Aswan High Dam.

Felucca on the Nile

A felucca is a traditional Egyptian sailing boat, and any visitor to this corridor of the Nile will see numerous feluccas along the way, their unfurled white sails providing a pleasant, historic feel to travel on the river. Some offer overnight expeditions on board, with little more than a blanket and some simple hot meals in the way of creature comforts, but this is very much a basic way to see the sights, mainly taken up by backpackers. Our preferred way to enjoy this timeless, tranquil method of travel is to take a short cruise and get an intimate feel for the Nile while seeing some of the major sights from the water. Sampling the experience in Luxor is a delight, as you sail past the Temple of Luxor, watch life go by on the West Bank and perhaps drift out to a Nile island. We tend to find that the late afternoon is a beautiful time to enjoy a sunset cruise with a drink in hand, and this is included in many Nile cruise itineraries, but it’s also easy for us to book for anybody staying at a hotel in Luxor. However, our favourite spot to head out on a felucca from is Aswan, with its evocative, picturesque scenery as you drift out from the First Cataract, past the Botanical Gardens, the Tombs of the Nobles and St Simeon’s Monastery. We tend to find that the late afternoon is a beautiful time to enjoy a sunset cruise with a drink in hand, and this is included in many Nile cruise itineraries, but it’s also easy for us to book a cruise for anybody staying at a hotel on land, just chat to your expert.

Nubian Museum

Opened in 1997, the International Museum of Nubia is located a short walk from the Old Cataract and Basma hotels on the east bank of the Nile. Cool, peaceful and intimate, it is definitely worth a few hours of anyone’s time. While its collection may lack the Pharaonic grandeur of the iconic pieces in the larger museums in Cairo and Luxor, it still contains a number of extremely impressive exhibits, such as the huge statue of Ramesses II and a gorgeously detailed collection of Nubian soldier statuettes. There is also plenty of local flavour, and anyone who has previously visited the older – and rather chaotic - museum in Cairo will appreciate the way in which the Nubian Museum has been designed and curated to give a linear narrative through the history of the Nubian people. The museum also benefits from an attractive garden outside, which itself contains some interesting items.