Egypt by Train, Boat & Plane

This morning, after breakfast, you’ll board your private coach to see two of the world’s most iconic sights – the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx. Standing 138 metres tall, The Great Pyramid of Giza was built for Pharaoh Khufu (2589–2566 BC) and served as his burial tomb. The pyramid is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the only wonder that has remained largely intact. The Sphinx at 73 metres long from paw to tail, 20 metres high from the base to the top of the head and 19 metres wide at its rear haunches, is one of the most recognisable statues in the world. There will be time to explore these 4,500 year-old structures and for an additional charge, you may be able to go inside the Great Pyramid of Khufu to be amazed by more discoveries. We’ll return to the city centre for lunch at Abou El Sid for a quintessential Egyptian culinary experience.

After lunch your adventure continues to the Egyptian Museum. Home to 120,000 items, it houses the world’s largest collection of Egyptian antiquities and is recognised as one of the world’s great museums. Its star collection is the haul of golden treasures unearthed from Pharaoh Tutankhamen’s tomb in the Valley of the Kings in Luxor, including his iconic gold burial mask and gilded sarcophagi.

You’ll return to your hotel in the late afternoon where the rest of your day and evening is at leisure. There are numerous dinner options in our hotel, if you’d rather not venture out.

Tonight, after dinner, there is the option to take part in the Pyramids and the Sphinx Sound and Light Show at your own expense. Please inform your tour leader at the welcome dinner if you’d like to take part in this activity.

Overnight: Kempinski Nile Hotel, Cairo (B, L)

Today you’ll explore the city travelling on the Cairo Metro. This modern Metro was the first ever metro network opened in Africa and the Middle East and has been operational since 1990. Starting at Sadat Metro, you’ll travel via the major stops of Attaba and Nasser before arriving at Mar Girgis metro station in Coptic Cairo.

Coptic Cairo is located in Old Cairo and was a stronghold for Christianity in Egypt both before and during the Islamic era, as most of its churches were built after the Muslim conquest of Egypt in the 7th century. Christian tradition believes that the Holy Family visited this area and stayed at the site of Saints Sergius and Bacchus Church. Upon arrival, you’ll tour the Greek Orthodox Monastery, the Church of St George and the 7th century Hanging Church.

After lunch in a local restaurant, we’ll travel by coach to Islamic Cairo. This area is full of atmospheric backstreets crammed full of mosques, madrassas (Islamic schools of learning), and monuments dating from the Fatimid through to the Mamluk eras. You’ll enter at Bab El Nasr, one of three remaining gates in the historic city wall of 11th century Fatimid Cairo and wander through the old town to the labyrinth shopping souq of Khan el-Khalili, where coppersmiths and artisans still have their tiny workshops, and stalls are laden with ceramics, textiles, spices and perfume. During your tour, you’ll also visit the atmospheric El Fishawy, one of Cairo’s oldest cafes (it has operated continuously for more than 200 years) to unwind with a cold, or hot glass of Karkadey hibiscus tea.

Later, visit the Al Azhar Mosque to learn about Islam in Egypt, before a stop at the Beit Zeinab Khatoon cultural centre, an Ottoman-era palazzo with a 15th-century decorative tiled interior, for shisha, tea and coffee while enjoying the historical architecture. You’ll then continue through the market to Bab Zuweila, the last remaining southern gate from the old city walls.

We’ll return to our hotel in the late afternoon to freshen up, check out and enjoy an early dinner before transferring the short distance to the Ramses Train Station in Cairo for the 7.45pm Watania Sleeper Train, on which you’ll travel 900 kilometres south to the Nubian city of Aswan.

The sleeping-cars used on these trains were built in East Germany in the 1980s, and a few cars retain their original classy German interiors. There is a refurbished old-fashioned lounge car in the centre of the train serving drinks and snacks.

Your sleeper train has air-conditioned two berth sleeping compartments equipped with a washbasin, soap, towels and clean fresh bedding. There’s a 2-pin socket near the sink which can be used to recharge cameras and mobiles with a suitable adaptor. Luggage goes in your compartment with you, there’s a recess over the door for large bags so they don’t have to go on the floor. The sleeping-cars have secure and lockable compartments and the berths fold away to reveal a sofa for evening and morning use, the middle of the three sofa seats folds down to form a table. Single supplement travellers will have their own private 2-berth compartment.

Overnight: Watania Sleeper Train from Cairo to Aswan (B, L, D)

If you’re an early bird and happy to wake at 6am, you’ll be able to watch the sun rise over the Nile River from your sleeper cabin window.

After our arrival at Aswan train station around 10am, you’ll be transferred to your hotel. Located on Elephantine Island in the middle of the River Nile, the 5 star Mövenpick Resort Aswan is a world of green in harmony with nature. A true haven of comfort and relaxation for those who want the best in a quiet and peaceful place. Aswan’s peaceful easy-going charm is due in no small part to its large and vibrant Nubian population – a Nilo-Saharan ethnic group indigenous to the region which is now Northern Sudan and Southern Egypt.

After settling into your room and some down-time, we’ll gather to enjoy lunch at the hotel before taking a walk through Sharia el Souk, a sprawling and bustling marketplace. Your tour leader will guide you through a colourful array of stalls selling everything from baked goods to Nubian crafts.

In the late afternoon, you’ll visit the historic British colonial-era 5-star luxury Old Cataract Hotel located on the banks of River Nile. Built in 1899 by Thomas Cook to house European travellers, its guests have included Winston Churchill, British archaeologist Howard Carter, Margaret Thatcher, Jimmy Carter, François Mitterrand, Princess Diana and Agatha Christie, who set portions of her novel ‘Death on the Nile’ at the hotel. The 1978 movie of this novel was actually filmed at the hotel.

While there, you will soak up old-world glamour while enjoying tiered trays of finger food and a delightful selection of tea before later enjoying drinks and dinner. The setting here is up there with the best of them – drinks at dusk in gorgeous grounds overlooking the Nile and dinner will rate as a highlight of your stay in Aswan.

Overnight: Mövenpick Aswan Resort, Aswan (B, L, D)

This morning, there’ll be a bit of free time after breakfast before we embark on a tour of the outstanding Nubian Museum, showcasing the history, art and culture of the Nubians. Established in 1997 in cooperation with UNESCO, the museum also serves as a reminder of the culture and communities that were lost when they were flooded to create Lake Nasser during the construction  of the Aswan High Dam.

You’ll then take a public ferry across the Nile River to the King Jamaica Restaurant & Cafe on Elephantine Island for lunch and a taste of Caribbean, African and Nubian cuisine. Jamaican and Rastafarian culture is strong in Aswan due to the links with Ethiopia where Rastafarianism originates. Among the Nubians, Bob Marley is an icon. Enjoy lunch which may include camel, goat or chicken tagine!

Elephantine Island’s name means both ‘elephant’ and ‘ivory’ in ancient Egyptian, a reminder of the important role the island once played in the lucrative ivory trade. After your tour, enjoy a leisurely sailing trip on a traditional felucca (Egypt’s lateen-sailed wooden boats) along the Nile enjoying the scenery along the way.

Later in the afternoon, you’ll experience modern Nubian culture firsthand by joining a local family for a memorable dinner where you’ll swap stories with your welcoming hosts, watch some dancers or have women decorate your hands with henna. The act of giving intricate (temporary) henna tattoos is called Mehndi and is traditionally only done by women on women — never men. As an optional activity, there may be an opportunity to ride a camel in the desert during your time here.

Return to your hotel after dinner where you might like a nightcap in the hotel’s Panorama Bar with spectacular views of the magnificent Nile River.

Overnight: Mövenpick Aswan Resort, Aswan (B, L, D)

After an early breakfast and check out this morning, you’ll take a short flight from Aswan to Abu Simbel where you’ll explore the great temple of the greatest of all the pharaohs, Ramesses II.

Abu Simbel Temple, adorned with colossal statuary guarding the doorway and with an interior beautifully decorated with wall paintings, was created to convey the power of Egypt’s rulers to anyone who laid eyes upon them. They are the largest sculptures that survived the Pharaonic era and were built to serve as a lasting monument to the king and his queen Nefertari, and to commemorate his victory at the Battle of Kadesh. Abu Simbel is also known for the incredible engineering feat carried out by UNESCO in the 1960s, which saw the entire temple moved from its original setting to save it from disappearing under the rising water of the Aswan Dam. You’ll have two hours to explore Abu Simbel before flying back to Aswan, where you’ll board the MS Nile Premium Cruise boat.

There’s no better way to soak in the ancient history of the Nile and the incredible sights along its banks than by travelling on a cruise boat. Enjoy all the comforts of a premier hotel, including a swimming pool, sundeck, restaurant and cabins with panoramic windows to watch riverside life stream in between your off-boat excursions.

After a late lunch on board the ship, you’ll stop to visit a modern example of Egyptian engineering – the Aswan High Dam. Egyptians have always known that they needed to control the devastating effects of the annual flooding of the Nile – the earliest recorded attempt to build a dam near Aswan was in the 11th century. The British began construction of the first dam across the Nile in 1898. Known as the Aswan Low Dam, it opened on 10 December 1902. Then in 1959, Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser, commissioned the building of the Aswan High Dam, controversially requiring the flooding and relocation of vibrant Nubian communities and the culturally significant Abu Simbel Temple. The controversy extended to political relations – in an attempt to prevent communism from spreading into the Middle East, the United Kingdom and the USA competed with the USSR to fund the construction of the dam. Nasser went with the Soviets, creating much tension in the ensuing years.

You’ll then transfer by motorboat to the island temple complex of Philae, home to the stunning Temple of Isis. Built during the reign of Ptolemy II (Egypt’s Greco-Roman Period), the Temple of Isis is dedicated to the Egyptian Gods – Isis, Osiris, and Horus. Moving on, you will visit the Unfinished Obelisk, a granite ‘would-be’ monument. Abandoned thousands of years ago in the quarries of Aswan, it is one of the most important archaeological finds in Egypt for the insight it has provided into ancient stone-masonry methods. After touring the site you’ll return to your ship for drinks and dinner.

Overnight: MS Nile Premium Cruise (B, L, D)

After breakfast on board, you’ll set sail for your first stop – Kom Ombo Temple. Built in the Ptolemaic period, this second century BC complex is one of the more unusual temples in Egypt as it honoured two deities: the crocodile god Sobek and the falcon god Horus. Due to the conflict between Sobek and Horus, the ancient Egyptians felt it necessary to separate their temple spaces within one temple.

After touring the temple, return to the boat for lunch and travel up river, with free time relaxing on the sundeck and taking in the surrounding sights – desert hills forming a backdrop to lush riverbanks, fishermen casting their nets and farmers working their land.

This afternoon the ship will dock near the Temple of Edfu, a beautifully preserved Ptolemaic temple also dedicated to Horus, the falcon-headed god, the avenging son of Isis and Osiris. The Temple of Edfu was buried under centuries of sand and silt until the 19th century, when French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette rediscovered the site. The complex is one of the most well-preserved sites in Egypt today; its architecture is very much intact, and the building contains a wealth of hieroglyphs on its walls. You will have the opportunity to disembark and tour this magnificent site.

Later in the afternoon, in the lead up to dinner, your ship will sail onwards to Luxor, passing through Esna Lock, a lock and dam system, built in 1908 and located near the Nile River town of Esna. Ships often have to queue to proceed through the locks, and you’ll have a great opportunity to check out the process from the deck with a cold drink in hand, listening to the shouts of the many ship captains as they navigate their way through hordes of small boats of merchants selling their wares to a captive audience!

This evening you’ll be moored in Luxor and enjoy dinner on board, entertained by Egyptian traditional dancers.

Overnight: MS Nile Premium Cruise (B, L, D)

After breakfast, you’ll hop into a private minivan to tour the ancient city of Thebes, now known as Luxor. Travelling to Luxor’s West Bank, your first stop is the Colossi of Memnon – two 17-metre-high stone statues of the Pharaoh Amenhotep III, which stand at the front of the ruined Mortuary Temple of Amenhotep III, the largest temple in the Theban Necropolis.

You’ll then continue on to the truly superb, The Valley of the Kings. During Egypt’s New Kingdom (1539-1075 B.C.), the valley became a royal burial ground for pharaohs such as Tutankhamun and Seti I. Buried under the arid hills are over 60 tombs of pharaohs, many richly decorated with reliefs and paintings. Your expert Egyptologist tour leader will explain the history and legends of these remarkable people and the significance of the many paintings and hieroglyphics, still well preserved in the deepest tombs. You’ll visit three of the royal tombs, including Tutankhamun’s tomb where the former boy king is buried, then continue to the mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut – a colonnaded building with three massive terraces rise above the desert floor and into the surrounding cliffs, and considered to be a masterpiece of ancient architecture.

Afterwards, visit the family home of our Egyptian guide for a delicious lunch and to learn about the way of life for everyday Egyptians. The rest of your afternoon is free to explore the town or you can return to the ship to relax by the pool. For those wishing to explore more of the city, you can discover some of the secrets of pharaonic preservation at the Luxor Museum and the Mummification Museum.

This evening, enjoy your last dinner on board your cruise ship.

Overnight: MS Nile Premium Cruise (B, L, D)

Enjoy breakfast on the ship, checkout and transfer the short distance by coach to your hotel in Luxor.  Your hotel for the next two nights will be the 5 star Steigenberger Nile Palace Hotel.

Enjoy some free time and transfer to the Old Winter Palace, a historic British colonial-era 5-star luxury hotel located on the banks of the Nile The hotel was built in 1907 by Cairo hoteliers in collaboration with English tour operator Thomas Cook. Howard Carter, who discovered the intact tomb of Tutankhamun in Luxor in 1922 was staying at the hotel at the time of his discovery. Soon afterwards, the hotel played host to the international press corps and foreign visitors there to follow the story.

Enjoy lunch in the grounds of the hotel, and set off with your tour leaders to uncover the mysteries of Karnak Temple, the modern-day name for the site of the Temple of Amun which some say is the most impressive of all ancient Egypt’s monumental works. The temple is the largest religious building in the world and honours not only Amun but other gods such as Osiris and Isis, and the Egyptian rulers who wished to be remembered for their contributions to the site. Your guided tour visits the temple’s enormous pylons, obelisks and chapels as well as the Avenue of Sphinxes and the Great Temple of Amun before returning to the hotel mid-afternoon.

The rest of the day is free for you to relax, shop in Luxor’s bazaar (open until quite late) or perhaps experience the atmosphere of a local teahouse. There are many excellent restaurant choices close to your hotel for dinner – just ask your tour leader for some recommendations. You can also unwind in your hotel and enjoy dinner there.

Tonight, there’s also the option to take part in the Karnak Temple Sound and Light Show at your own expense. Please let your tour leader know on the day and they’ll assist with organising the tickets.

Overnight: Steigenberger Nile Palace Hotel, Luxor (B, L)

There is the option to do something very special this morning if you’re up for it. At your own cost, you can experience a truly memorable hot air balloon ride over the Valley of the Kings. Please know that Railway Adventures, through our operator in Cairo, only uses providers that have been fully risk assessed. If you wish to take this option, you will be collected between 4.30 and 5am from your hotel and transferred to the balloon airstrip, returning to the hotel at around 8am in time for our morning tour. Balloon capacity is maximum of 25 people and cameras are prohibited in the basket (but mobile phones are acceptable as is taking photos!). This activity runs subject to weather conditions. Let your tour leader know if you’re interested at the welcome dinner in Cairo on our first evening together.

This morning after breakfast you’ll travel by coach past scenic Nile villages to the Temple of Dendera, one of the best-preserved temple complexes of ancient Egypt. The temple that dominates this complex, the structure that really commands the attention of those who visit, is the Temple of Hathor. Although built during the Greek rule in Egypt, the Ptolemaic Dynasty, and completed under the Roman emperor Trajan, the Temple of Hathor is one of the most iconic Egyptian buildings and one of the most well-preserved sites in the country. The temple remains largely intact, with a great stone roof and columns, underground crypts, dark chambers and twisting stairways, all carved with hieroglyphs.

After lunch, you’ll travel through several rural villages to Abydos Temple, one of the most beautiful temples in Egypt. The Great Temple of Abydos was ancient Egypt’s most important burial centres and was once the epicentre of the cult worship of Osiris, the god of fertility, agriculture, the afterlife, the dead, and resurrection in ancient Egypt. The ruling Pharaoh at the time, Seti I, raised the glorious temple here dedicated to him. The vibrantly coloured wall and ceiling paintings and the sculpted column work are a highlight of a Nile journey and cannot be missed.

Return to your hotel in Luxor in time for dinner at leisure.

Overnight: Steigenberger Nile Palace Hotel, Luxor (B, L)

This morning, you’ll transfer by coach to the Luxor train station for the 9.00am “Top VIP” train to Cairo. In 2021, The Egyptian National Railway authority introduced a “Top VIP” service on lines between Cairo and Aswan. The VIP railcars are distinguished from the rest of the air-conditioned train coaches by a separate buffet eating area and LCD screens fixed into the seats featuring a large selection of movies and entertainment.

On this epic 700 km, 11-hour rail journey you’ll pass through the colourful Nile River towns of Sohag, Asyut, Minya and Beni Suef en route to Cairo. There are several ways to travel between Luxor to Cairo, but by far the most picturesque and enjoyable choice is by local train where you can see rural life, fascinating villages and desert plains. On your journey, you’ll enjoy lunch and dinner in the buffet railcar, all included in your ticket.

Egyptian Railways is the backbone of passenger transportation in Egypt with 1.4 billion passenger kilometres annually. They operate 5,630 kilometres of standard gauge track with most of the rail system focused on the Nile Delta with lines essentially fanning out from Cairo. In addition, there is a line to the west along the coast that eventually could link to Libya as it did during World War II. As of today, the total length of railways in Egypt is 10,500 kilometres, with another 5,500 kilometres of railway lines currently under construction.

We’ll arrive at Ramses train station in Cairo at around 7.30pm and transfer directly to your hotel, where we’ll enjoy a late dinner together.

Overnight: Kempinski Nile Hotel, Cairo (B, L, D)

This morning you’ll pick up where you left off earlier in the tour and uncover the real Cairo on a walking tour of the downtown area of the city. Starting at New Opera Square on the island of Zamalek, our guide will guide you through Cairo’s ancient and recent history to Old Opera Square at Attaba Square. From the city’s most beautiful bridge spanning the Nile River, we’ll head along the key thoroughfare of Talaat Harb, past sheesa cafes and colourful market streets to Café Riche, the most famous restaurant cafe-bar in downtown Cairo. Opened in 1908, this French style café is known for being a beloved meeting place of historical revolutionaries, intellectuals and prominent figures in modern Egyptian history. It sits among stately buildings from Cairo’s belle époque, conceived by European architects as a “Paris on the Nile”.

After enjoying a cup of coffee, you’ll continue to Midan Tahrir (Liberation Square), which hosted many events during the 2011 Egyptian Revolution and is a significant landmark in the city’s modern history. After viewing the infamous 1940s Mogamma building, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

This afternoon, those with an interest in the history of Africa’s first railway network, will enjoy a guided tour of the Egyptian Railway Museum to learn about the one of the oldest railway networks in the world. The first ever railway in Africa and the Middle East was built in Egypt in 1853, travelling between Alexandria and the Delta region, eventually expanding to Cairo in 1856 with the opening of the Ramses Train Station.

While the prize of the collection is undoubtedly the locomotive built for French Empress Eugénie on the occasion of the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, the museum also traces the history of transportation in Egypt from the Pharaonic era to the modern-age, utilising a series of models, replicas, documents and old photos. Later, you’ll tour the impressive station building itself. The first station to be opened in Cairo, the current building dates from 1892. The outside architecture was designed by British architect Edwin Patsey, in a neo-Classical style featuring Mamluk and Moorish accents. The inside is a mixture of Art Deco with an upside-down obelisk hanging from the centre of the ceiling, pointing down towards, and almost meeting the pyramid on the floor. After leaving the station, you’ll visit Orabi Square and stroll along the lively pedestrian passage at Mohammed Bek Al-Alfy Street, where we’ll stop for dinner at an outside restaurant.

After dinner, we’ll wander up to The Barrel Lounge in the old Windsor Hotel for drinks and a chance to step back in time. Founded in 1893, this bar was mainly known for being a British Officers Club during the First World War and got its name due to the seats being made of old wooden barrels. The bar and the hotel oozes atmosphere,and is a throwback to Colonial Cairo, where little has changed decor-wise since those days. Old books, pictures, and gramophones all tell tales of Cairo in the first half of the 20th century.

Overnight: Kempinski Nile Hotel, Cairo (B, L, D)

This morning after an early breakfast, you’ll travel on the 8.00am modern Spanish built Talgo fast train from Cairo to Alexandria, arriving at 10am, transferring directly to our hotel, the heritage property, Le Metropole hotel for check in. Situated in an 18th century building with classical decorations and stunning views of the Mediterranean, the 1902 built Le Metropole boasts a French fine dining restaurant and elegantly furnished rooms with a balcony.

The home of Cleopatra, the Mediterranean coastal city of Alexandria is Egypt’s second city with a population of 6 million people. Often referred to as the Pearl of the Mediterranean, it was built by the Greek architect Dinocrates in 331 BC under the orders of Alexander the Great. Immortalising Alexander’s name, the city quickly flourished into a prominent cultural, intellectual, political and economic metropolis. At one time, Alexandria was the second-most powerful city of the ancient Mediterranean region, after Rome. These days, this seafront city has an appealing ‘days-gone-by’ atmosphere that can’t be beaten. After checking into your hotel, we’ll enjoy lunch at Athineos, a place that lives and breathes nostalgia. This art deco European style restaurant was opened in 1900 has been the haunt for the city’s elite ever since.

Afterwards, you’ll wander through the delightful European style cafes from the early 20th century at Trianon, Délices Patisserie and Sofianopoulo for a nostalgic experience and to see where famous locals once frequented. From the late 19th century up until the 1960s, Alexandria was something of a bohemian tourist attraction, with a glittering cast of local and foreign writers, poets, and artists who made the city their home including Omar Sharif, Mohamed Al-Fayed, Demis Roussos and Dalida.

Moving on, you’ll visit Pompey’s Pillar, the name given to a Roman triumphal column in the city set up in honour of the Roman Emperor Diocletian, and then head underground to delve into the mysteries of the Catacombs of Kom ash-Shuqqafa, a Roman burial site dating back to the second century that wasn’t discovered until 1900. Later, stop by the modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina, once the Great Library of Alexandria, which was inspired by the original great library of Alexandria and built to hold over 8 million books.

Walk through a local market and stop at historic Farouk Café 1928, named after King Farouk of Egypt for some refreshments and to cool off. Continue strolling along the Corniche to view the many boats in the harbour and stop at Fort Qaitbay, a 14th century complex designed to defend Alexandria from the Ottoman empire. Enjoy the fresh Mediterranean air during an unforgettable seafood dinner on the waterfront at the White & Blue Greek Nautical Club.

Return to the hotel where you can enjoy a drink (Gin and Tonic anyone?) at the historic Monty Bar at the Steigenberger Cecil Hotel which was named after the famous Marshal Montgomery who commanded the British Eighth Army through the Second Battle of El Alamein in Egypt in World War II.

Overnight: Le Metropole Luxury Heritage Hotel, Alexandria (B, L, D)

This morning after breakfast, we’ll travel south west of Alexandria by road for a sombre experience at the historic battle site of El Alamein. Three major battles occurred around El Alamein between July and November 1942, and are considered to be the turning point of World War II in North Africa. The Australian 9th Division, led by Lieutenant General Leslie Morshead, played a key role in two of these battles, enhancing its reputation earned defending Tobruk in Libya during 1941.

The Axis forces comprised German and Italian troops and were known as Panzerarmee Afrika, led by Field Marshal Rommel, aka “The Desert Fox”. Opposing him was the British Eighth Army led by Marshal Montgomery and consisting of mostly British, Australian, New Zealand, South African and Indian troops. In the end, their soldiers fought a decisive Allied victory against the German Italian Afrika Korps, which defined the North African campaign. Both sides suffered heavy losses and the memorial commemorates nearly 12,000 Commonwealth servicemen who died in the Western Desert campaigns during the Second World War.

You’ll have a comprehensive tour of the site and enjoy lunch before travelling back to Alexandria by road along the Mediterranean Sea. Tonight, we’ll dine at Santa Lucia, known as the most low-key high-end restaurant in Alexandria. Owned by Italians since 1930, then Greeks since the 1950s, it was a hub for famous politicians and celebrities and was one of the most luxurious restaurants of its time. 

Overnight: Le Metropole Luxury Heritage Hotel, Alexandria  (B, L, D)

This morning, check out of your hotel and embark on a unique tour of the undiscovered suburbs of Alexandria by heritage tram! The hotel will store our luggage for collection later in the day.

Alexandria is famous for its heritage trams – first operated in 1863, they are still used by citizens to this very day. Locals and tourists alike can take a trip down memory lane by travelling in newly restored historical trams and that’s exactly what we’ll do today.

The Alexandria tramway network consists of 20 lines operating on 32 kilometres of 1,435 mm standard gauge tracks serving 140 stops. The trams were first electrified in 1902 and are one of only a few tram systems in the world that uses double-deck cars – other examples are Hong Kong and Blackpool in the UK. The current tram cars in use are originally from Japan, Hungary, Ukraine and Germany and the network consists of two systems, the Tram Al Ramleh route which are characterised by their blue and cream livery, and the Tram Al Madina route, which uses yellow-coloured tramcars. Start your tram journey at Place Saad Zaghloul and explore the city.

During your tour, enjoy lunch in a local restaurant and visit El Montazah Palace. Built at the beginning of the 20th century, and set in extensive gardens overlooking a truly beautiful stretch of the Mediterranean coast, the palace mixes Turkish and Florentine architecture – the central tower was inspired by the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence.

We’ll then return to our hotel to collect our luggage before going on to the Alexandria train station to board the 2pm Talgo fast train to Cairo, arriving at 4.30pm. We’ll transfer directly to our now familiar Cairo ‘home’.   

You’ll have time to rest and freshen up for our farewell dinner at Al Khal Egyptian Restaurant where you’ll indulge in the finest flavours and flair of traditional Egyptian dishes with a unique, modern twist and raise a glass or two to celebrate a wonderful journey together.

Overnight: Kempinski Nile Hotel, Cairo (B, L, D)

Check out of your hotel and depart. (B)

Airport departure transfers are included in your tour package.