It was a very pleasant flight to Egypt due to British Air’s entertainment system and mini bar. We got into Cairo very happy at around midnight. After getting our visa we were picked up by the tour company ‘Egypt Explore’ and taken to our hotel. We reached the hotel and were pleased to be put in a room with a view of the pyramids, but not pleased to discover there was no hot water. 
Day 1: Cairo
Arrive in Cairo airport, you will be met by our representative who will assist you through the formalities and then transferred to your hotel to meet your guide for briefing about the tour package; overnight at your hotel in Cairo.
We had a good sleep in the next day by finally got up to find some food. This resulted in a very long walk around the neighbourhood as the reception girls couldn’t give us a map and insisted a supermarket was too far to walk to. We did eventually find some water but had given up on food so ate in the hotel instead. This left us time to have a swim before getting ready to meet the tour group at 5pm.
T
his is the second tour we have been outnumbered by Kiwi’s. We were actually the only Australian’s which is nice for a change. The rest of the group consisted of a kiwi couple we got to know quite well, an older kiwi couple, a Saffa/English couple, the tour guides girlfriend and a Columbian girl. Everyone was very nice which made the trip more enjoyable.
For dinner that night we headed to the Nile River for a dinner cruise with live entertainment. This was a belly dancer and a male dancer who wears a very colourful cloak as a skirt and spends the whole time spinning in circles. I don’t know how he doesn’t fall over as he was spinning for around half an hour. The food was a nice combination of western and Egyptian. Our guide wisely recommended we hit the dessert bar quickly, before the bus loads of Indians cleared it out!
Day 2: Cairo - Giza Pyramids - Aswan
After breakfast you will start the tour by visiting the awe inspiring Great Pyramids and the Sphinx at Giza plateau, then head to Sakkara to visit the Step Pyramid- the first completed Pyramid in Egypt and some other amazing tombs. After a day of seeing 4500 year old ancient structures, you will take the overnight first class train up the River Nile to Aswan.
Our first day in Cairo was spent exploring the Pyramids. First stop was the Sakkara Step Pyramid. This pyramid was actually the first to be completed in Egypt. It is a tomb from the old dynasty. Originally it was to be a simple rectangle shape, about 5 meters high. This however would never be grand enough for a king, so an extra 5 or so smaller rectangles were layered on top, forming ‘steps’ in a pyramid shape. The entry was through a columnade, like a hallway with heaps of old limestone pillars and columns.
It was then off to a perfume shop for a drink. The guy who runs the store was pretty funny, he kept saying ‘get high before you die’, ‘
hubbly bubbly’ and other random phrases in a very thick Egyptian accent. Damien’s sneezing ensured the guy didn’t get a sale from us!
The Great Pyramids were our next stop. These are the 3 biggest and most famous in Egypt. They are surprisingly close to Cairo, that or our hotel (Pyramid View Hotel) is a long way from the centre of Cairo, a bit of both I think!
Our guid
e, Peter, explained a bit about the history and why they were built (apparently their not built by aliens, who would have guessed!). They are tombs for the kings with 3 smaller pyramids nearby for the queens. We were then free to walk around the first pyramid. This really is an amazing experience, not an easy one to explain. Damien actually got to go over and pose against it, although this cost him 5 pound ($1AUD) Egyptian to the Tourist Police who let him through in the first place. We quickly learnt that Westerners are looked upon as walking dollar signs and the Egyptians have had years of tourism to find the best ways to make you part with your money.
Back on the bus, we drove past the second Pyramid and stopped on a sand dune just past the third pyramid. This has a great view of the 3 big Pyramids as well as the 3 smaller Pyramids. It was also very exciting as we had vouchers for a free camel ride. It was cool to ride a camel at the pyramids, although it was a bit brief and very touristy (get on the camel, ride a few hundred meters, photo, ride back, get off camel).
As if this wasn’t enough for one day, we headed on to the Sphinx. That funny looking lion cat with a person’s head. Cool to look at from a distance, but the closer you get, the more tourists in a very small viewing platform.
Dinner was at a nearby restaurant, another buffet, similar food to last night maybe a bit nicer. It also caused a few concerns later that night on the overnight train. The first cases of ‘Pharaohs Curse’ for our tour!
Day 1: CairoArrive in Cairo airport, you will be met by our representative who will assist you through the formalities and then transferred to your hotel to meet your guide for briefing about the tour package; overnight at your hotel in Cairo.
We had a good sleep in the next day by finally got up to find some food. This resulted in a very long walk around the neighbourhood as the reception girls couldn’t give us a map and insisted a supermarket was too far to walk to. We did eventually find some water but had given up on food so ate in the hotel instead. This left us time to have a swim before getting ready to meet the tour group at 5pm.
T
his is the second tour we have been outnumbered by Kiwi’s. We were actually the only Australian’s which is nice for a change. The rest of the group consisted of a kiwi couple we got to know quite well, an older kiwi couple, a Saffa/English couple, the tour guides girlfriend and a Columbian girl. Everyone was very nice which made the trip more enjoyable.For dinner that night we headed to the Nile River for a dinner cruise with live entertainment. This was a belly dancer and a male dancer who wears a very colourful cloak as a skirt and spends the whole time spinning in circles. I don’t know how he doesn’t fall over as he was spinning for around half an hour. The food was a nice combination of western and Egyptian. Our guide wisely recommended we hit the dessert bar quickly, before the bus loads of Indians cleared it out!
Day 2: Cairo - Giza Pyramids - Aswan
After breakfast you will start the tour by visiting the awe inspiring Great Pyramids and the Sphinx at Giza plateau, then head to Sakkara to visit the Step Pyramid- the first completed Pyramid in Egypt and some other amazing tombs. After a day of seeing 4500 year old ancient structures, you will take the overnight first class train up the River Nile to Aswan.
Our first day in Cairo was spent exploring the Pyramids. First stop was the Sakkara Step Pyramid. This pyramid was actually the first to be completed in Egypt. It is a tomb from the old dynasty. Originally it was to be a simple rectangle shape, about 5 meters high. This however would never be grand enough for a king, so an extra 5 or so smaller rectangles were layered on top, forming ‘steps’ in a pyramid shape. The entry was through a columnade, like a hallway with heaps of old limestone pillars and columns.It was then off to a perfume shop for a drink. The guy who runs the store was pretty funny, he kept saying ‘get high before you die’, ‘
hubbly bubbly’ and other random phrases in a very thick Egyptian accent. Damien’s sneezing ensured the guy didn’t get a sale from us!The Great Pyramids were our next stop. These are the 3 biggest and most famous in Egypt. They are surprisingly close to Cairo, that or our hotel (Pyramid View Hotel) is a long way from the centre of Cairo, a bit of both I think!
Our guid
e, Peter, explained a bit about the history and why they were built (apparently their not built by aliens, who would have guessed!). They are tombs for the kings with 3 smaller pyramids nearby for the queens. We were then free to walk around the first pyramid. This really is an amazing experience, not an easy one to explain. Damien actually got to go over and pose against it, although this cost him 5 pound ($1AUD) Egyptian to the Tourist Police who let him through in the first place. We quickly learnt that Westerners are looked upon as walking dollar signs and the Egyptians have had years of tourism to find the best ways to make you part with your money.Back on the bus, we drove past the second Pyramid and stopped on a sand dune just past the third pyramid. This has a great view of the 3 big Pyramids as well as the 3 smaller Pyramids. It was also very exciting as we had vouchers for a free camel ride. It was cool to ride a camel at the pyramids, although it was a bit brief and very touristy (get on the camel, ride a few hundred meters, photo, ride back, get off camel).
As if this wasn’t enough for one day, we headed on to the Sphinx. That funny looking lion cat with a person’s head. Cool to look at from a distance, but the closer you get, the more tourists in a very small viewing platform.Dinner was at a nearby restaurant, another buffet, similar food to last night maybe a bit nicer. It also caused a few concerns later that night on the overnight train. The first cases of ‘Pharaohs Curse’ for our tour!
Day 3: Aswan
Arrive in Aswan around 10:00, you will be transferred to your hotel in Aswan and start your Nile quest by visiting the Philae Temple, the Unfinished Obelisk and the famous High Dam of Aswan which after completion in 1971, created Lake Nasser. Free evening at your leisure, overnight at your hotel in Aswan.
The train, first class, by Egyptian standards, was ok, but hard to sleep. There were 6 seats in the little compartment, we shared with the Dianna, the Columbian girl, and 3 guys from a different tour group. The train was also 2-3 hours late to arrive to Aswan, although this is a reasonable time to arrive according to our guide, some days it takes longer.
We had an hour to check in, shower and relax before heading out to do the sightseeing. Damien opted out, still not feeling great. The group visited the unfinished Obelisk, which by all reports was a few rocks lying in the dessert (bit like an aboriginal watering hole, Dad might like it!). The High Dam of Aswan is quite amazing, although not to look at. It was built to control the Nile water, which previously would flood numerous cities for 3-4 months of the year. Not only this but all of the Crocodiles which were living in the Nile, on the northern side of the dam (all the way to Cairo), were relocated to the south side of the dam.
The highlight of the day was the Philae Temple. This was a temple in the middle of an island. After a short boat ride, Peter gave us a rundown of what its all about before leaving us to explore. The walls are very well preserved, covered in carvings and hieroglyphics. Day 3 of the tour and everyone is exhausted! But no rest for the wicked, tomorrow morning is the side trip to Abu Simbel, with a 4am wakeup call! An early night and looking forward to a relaxing few days on the felucca. 
Day 4: Felucca cruise from Aswan
After breakfast start exploring the Nile by boarding a traditional felucca, on which you will spend the next two nights. Onboard the felucca you will sail around the Elephantine and Kitchener islands, overnight on the felucca
We were up early, really early! The bus picked us up and we headed to Aswan to join the convoy. All the tours going to Abu Simbel must do so in convoy, surrounded by military vehicles. Some buses, not ours, even have soldiers riding in the bus. If your late to meet the convoy, the road is closed and you cant go. It was a 3 hour drive from Aswan to Abu Simbel, through the dessert with nothing to see except sand and the rising sun. Our driver was fast, very fast. This was a good thing. On the long straight roads, we passed many of the other tours, meaning when we arrived it was not as crowded as it would soon become.
Abu Simbel is another Kings temple. It is made even more extraordinary by the fact that where it is today, is not where it was built. It was originally in the side of a mountain that is now covered in water, under the dam water. When the dam was being built this temple was also relocated brick by brick. Not that we saw it back in the day, but it looks like they put it back together prop
erly, everything in the right spot and no damage, amazing. There is some damage to the exterior statues, however this occurred much later, during an earthquake.
So what is at Abu Simbel? Two tombs, the king and queen. The Kings has 4 giant (20m) statues on the outside. These are of the gods that are protecting him. The queens has 6 slightly smaller statues. They are built into the side of a hill, and the inside is filled with yet more statues and hieroglyphics and carvings. Very well preserved and full of tourists. A long journey but definitely worth going for a look.
Back in Aswan it was another quick shower in preparation to board out felucca sail boat. We were on board by about 3pm and 
heading down the Nile out of Aswan by 4pm. After a short sail we pulled up on the banks of the Nile for a swim, an Egyptian feed on board and to stay the night.
Day 5: Felucca Cruise
Free day for leisure sailing down the River Nile enjoy the amazing view of the River, overnight on the Felucca. (All meals served on the Felucca)
A Felucca is a old traditional Egyptian sail boat. It is basic, very basic. No cabin, no shower and no toilet. The deck is covered in mattresses and cushions. We spent the day relaxing on the deck, and the night sleeping on the deck. There are two crew who sailed the boat and prepared the meals for us. 
We sailed most of the day which was nice and very relaxing, with nothing to do but sleep, read and listen to music. We stopped on the banks for lunch, a swim and to build a sand pyramid. The cold beers on board helped us pass t
he afternoon as we continued to sail and relax. Then before sunset we pulled up on the banks again for more swimming, drinking and eating.
The felucca was amazing one of many highlights of our Egypt tour. Sadly we felt it was a bit short, the 3 days on felucca is shortened by the late start the first day and the sailing finishes at 9am the last day. Each night we were also parked up in the same place as the other felucca tours (10-12 in total), which sort of takes away from the whole ‘traditional’ experience.
Arrive in Aswan around 10:00, you will be transferred to your hotel in Aswan and start your Nile quest by visiting the Philae Temple, the Unfinished Obelisk and the famous High Dam of Aswan which after completion in 1971, created Lake Nasser. Free evening at your leisure, overnight at your hotel in Aswan.
The train, first class, by Egyptian standards, was ok, but hard to sleep. There were 6 seats in the little compartment, we shared with the Dianna, the Columbian girl, and 3 guys from a different tour group. The train was also 2-3 hours late to arrive to Aswan, although this is a reasonable time to arrive according to our guide, some days it takes longer.
We had an hour to check in, shower and relax before heading out to do the sightseeing. Damien opted out, still not feeling great. The group visited the unfinished Obelisk, which by all reports was a few rocks lying in the dessert (bit like an aboriginal watering hole, Dad might like it!). The High Dam of Aswan is quite amazing, although not to look at. It was built to control the Nile water, which previously would flood numerous cities for 3-4 months of the year. Not only this but all of the Crocodiles which were living in the Nile, on the northern side of the dam (all the way to Cairo), were relocated to the south side of the dam.
The highlight of the day was the Philae Temple. This was a temple in the middle of an island. After a short boat ride, Peter gave us a rundown of what its all about before leaving us to explore. The walls are very well preserved, covered in carvings and hieroglyphics. Day 3 of the tour and everyone is exhausted! But no rest for the wicked, tomorrow morning is the side trip to Abu Simbel, with a 4am wakeup call! An early night and looking forward to a relaxing few days on the felucca. Day 4: Felucca cruise from Aswan
After breakfast start exploring the Nile by boarding a traditional felucca, on which you will spend the next two nights. Onboard the felucca you will sail around the Elephantine and Kitchener islands, overnight on the felucca
We were up early, really early! The bus picked us up and we headed to Aswan to join the convoy. All the tours going to Abu Simbel must do so in convoy, surrounded by military vehicles. Some buses, not ours, even have soldiers riding in the bus. If your late to meet the convoy, the road is closed and you cant go. It was a 3 hour drive from Aswan to Abu Simbel, through the dessert with nothing to see except sand and the rising sun. Our driver was fast, very fast. This was a good thing. On the long straight roads, we passed many of the other tours, meaning when we arrived it was not as crowded as it would soon become.
Abu Simbel is another Kings temple. It is made even more extraordinary by the fact that where it is today, is not where it was built. It was originally in the side of a mountain that is now covered in water, under the dam water. When the dam was being built this temple was also relocated brick by brick. Not that we saw it back in the day, but it looks like they put it back together prop
erly, everything in the right spot and no damage, amazing. There is some damage to the exterior statues, however this occurred much later, during an earthquake.So what is at Abu Simbel? Two tombs, the king and queen. The Kings has 4 giant (20m) statues on the outside. These are of the gods that are protecting him. The queens has 6 slightly smaller statues. They are built into the side of a hill, and the inside is filled with yet more statues and hieroglyphics and carvings. Very well preserved and full of tourists. A long journey but definitely worth going for a look.
Back in Aswan it was another quick shower in preparation to board out felucca sail boat. We were on board by about 3pm and 
heading down the Nile out of Aswan by 4pm. After a short sail we pulled up on the banks of the Nile for a swim, an Egyptian feed on board and to stay the night.Day 5: Felucca Cruise
Free day for leisure sailing down the River Nile enjoy the amazing view of the River, overnight on the Felucca. (All meals served on the Felucca)
A Felucca is a old traditional Egyptian sail boat. It is basic, very basic. No cabin, no shower and no toilet. The deck is covered in mattresses and cushions. We spent the day relaxing on the deck, and the night sleeping on the deck. There are two crew who sailed the boat and prepared the meals for us. We sailed most of the day which was nice and very relaxing, with nothing to do but sleep, read and listen to music. We stopped on the banks for lunch, a swim and to build a sand pyramid. The cold beers on board helped us pass t
he afternoon as we continued to sail and relax. Then before sunset we pulled up on the banks again for more swimming, drinking and eating.The felucca was amazing one of many highlights of our Egypt tour. Sadly we felt it was a bit short, the 3 days on felucca is shortened by the late start the first day and the sailing finishes at 9am the last day. Each night we were also parked up in the same place as the other felucca tours (10-12 in total), which sort of takes away from the whole ‘traditional’ experience.
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