Steigenberger El Tahrir

Classic Egypt

Classic Express + 3 more + 3 more

Big-name ancient highlights and a classic Nile cruise

8 days

from £2,810 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

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

Luxor and the Red Sea

Family Beach + 1 more + 2 more

An enticing itinerary that allows for plenty of seaside relaxation in addition to the Nile sightseeing.

8 days

from £2,640 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

Family-Friendly Egypt

Family Beach + 1 more + 2 more

A journey through Egypt’s best bits, designed for all the family.

12 days

from £3,650 pp

Quirky excursions

View all excursions in Egypt

Cairo Citadel

Perched above the old city and containing a treasure trove of intriguing mosques and museums, the Citadel is one of Cairo’s most recognisable landmarks. Construction of the fortifications was commenced by Saladin in the 12th century, and many of the walls, gates and towers date back hundreds of years. In the time since, it has been regularly modified and enhanced, while being variously used as a base for military garrisons, a seat of government and a home for assorted Sultans. Today, its main purpose is as a tourist attraction. The most renowned site within the Citadel is the Muhammad Ali Mosque, built in the 19th century by one of Egypt’s most revered (and sometimes reviled) rulers. Constructed in the Turkish style, partly to wipe out any evidence of Mamluke influence in Cairo, the design was based on Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia, which is easily apparent from the outside. Inside, there is far more glitz and glamour than in your average mosque and it’s often very crowded with visitors. Despite this, the mosque is well worth a visit, and there are great spots outside to capture sweeping, panoramic photographs of Cairo. Other potential stopping points are the Al Gawhara Palace and the Military Museum, and an excursion to the Citadel combines well with a visit to the Khan El Khalili and Islamic Cairo.

Saqqara & the Step Pyramid of Djoser

Saqqara is an instructive place to visit, especially to gain an understanding of the development of the burial rituals and monuments of the pharaohs of Ancient Egypt. Around the site are numerous mastabas: single-storey structures with flat roofs and sloping sides which were built over one or more burial chambers cut into the bed rock. Inside these mastabas you’ll find beautiful painted scenes and hieroglyphics that echo but predate those found in the tombs of the Valley of the Kings in Luxor. As the pharaohs became wealthier and more grandiose, they began to stack layers of decreasing size onto their mastabas, a style that culminated with the Step Pyramid of Djoser, an impressive structure with an interesting attendant funerary temple. The logical development of the pyramid continued from Djoser’s Step Pyramid and reached its apogee with the Great Pyramid at nearby Giza. In addition to providing context to the development of tombs and pyramids, Saqqara fascinatingly combines large-scale monuments with smaller gems, like the tomb paintings.

Old Cairo

A tour of Old Cairo provides the chance to see some of the relatively little known but fascinating Christian and Jewish heritage of the city. The Copts (Coptic Christians), thrust into the limelight in 2012 with the election of their new pope, are an ancient Christian church whose language is the only descendent of the language of the Pharaohs. The Hanging Church is one of their most impressive constructions, built over a Roman gatehouse, with the nave situated directly over a passageway. As well as the dramatic setting, the interior holds an assortment of treasures, from ancient icons to delicate frescoes and impressive marble columns. The nearby Coptic Museum is home to many important artefacts, some 15,000 of which are on display and help to unveil the story behind this little-known Christian church. You can also see the Ben Ezra Synagogue, believed to be built on the spot where Moses was found in the bulrushes, a reminder that Egypt has a surprisingly prominent role in both Jewish and Christian history.

Mosques of Islamic Cairo

Make time to get inside some of the city’s oldest and most interesting buildings as you explore the evocative streets of Islamic Cairo. Cairo isn't a city short on mosques, and the views across the skyline from any elevated vantage point reveal countless spires and minarets clawing skywards beyond the urban fug of the teeming streets. Yet for many visitors, this is as close to the mosques as they get. Those that do make the effort to get closer are justly rewarded, for there is no quicker way to leave the dust and hassle of the city behind than to step inside one of these serene havens. Within easy reach of the Citadel lies the unmistakable double façade of the Sultan Hassan and Rifa’i mosques, which at first glance seem like part of the same structure, so similar is their outward appearance. However, while only the thinnest of paths separates the towering walls of these two mosques, so does over 500 years of history. Although the Sultan Hassan Mosque opened its doors to worshippers in around 1360, the Rifa’i Mosque was not built for another 550 years, designed to stylistically complement rather than oppose its neighbour. Both are exquisite in their conception and completion, the tiniest details of the intricately marbled floors and painstakingly carved mashrabiyya woodwork a marvel to the eye. Not far away is the stunning Mosque of Ibn Tulun, one of the oldest but most beautifully composed mosques in the Middle East. The structure is essentially a wide-open plaza that is the perfect antidote to this cramped city. With its distinctive spiral minaret inspired by the Great Mosque of Samarra, the complex feels almost suspended in time.

Memphis

Memphis is important for its past role as the capital of Ancient Egypt for nearly 1,000 years, and the city for which Saqqara was the royal necropolis. It was also the spiritual centre for the worship of Ptah, the god of creativity and art. The great temple to Ptah forms the heart of the open-air museum at Memphis; statues and sphinxes are dotted throughout the ruins and a large modern building covers a colossal statue of Ramesses II (the Great). Much of the city’s previous pomp and grandeur has been lost to the ages, but it still makes for a fascinating visit to complement the more renowned big hitters for history buffs and those with a hankering for all things Ancient Egypt.