Egypt: Ancient Cities and Desert Sands

Arrive in Cairo and enjoy a private transfer to the Kempinski Nile Hotel. Egypt's capital city is a cultural palimpsest  where layers of ancient, Islamic, and modern heritage coexist in a bustling metropolis flanked by the Nile. From Coptic churches that trace Christianity's earliest roots to lively neighborhoods echoing with the call to prayer and the din of street vendors, every corner holds a story. Unwind after your flight or take a short walk along the Nile promenade. 

Today you’ll explore the Giza Plateau with your private Egyptologist guide who will bring the area’s ancient wonders to life. Stand before the Great Pyramid of Khufu, visit lesser-known tombs in the Eastern Cemetery, and end your walk at the enigmatic Great Sphinx. After lunch overlooking the pyramids, spend your afternoon at the much-anticipated Grand Egyptian Museum, home to treasures that span millennia. 

Dive into the diverse layers of the city on a full-day Cairo city tour. Walk through Coptic Cairo, where ancient churches and quiet alleyways speak of refuge and resilience. Then contrast this with Islamic Cairo, exploring the monumental Mosque of Sultan Hassan and the vibrant Khan el-Khalili bazaar. The day is flexible and will be tailored by your Egyptologist to suit your pace and interests. 

Often called the world’s greatest open-air museum, Luxor is built upon the ruins of ancient Thebes. On the banks of the Nile, colossal temples and hidden tombs offer glimpses into the rituals, beliefs, and power structures of ancient Egypt. After a short flight, arrive and head straight to Karnak, a complex so vast it feels like a city. Afterward, check in at the storied Sofitel Winter Palace.

Cross to the Nile’s West Bank to explore the Valley of the Kings. Visit several tombs, including lesser known but vividly painted sites. Your guide can take you off the beaten path to the tombs of the workers or nobles, offering a more intimate perspective on ancient life and death. End with King Tut’s tomb, the striking Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, and the towering Colossi of Memnon. 

Journey north and arrive in Alexandria. Founded by Alexander the Great, the coastal city was once the intellectual heart of the ancient world and exudes faded grandeur and Mediterranean charm. Tour the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, a bold reimagining of the ancient Library of Alexandria, and take in sea views from the Citadel of Qaitbay, built on the site of the original Lighthouse of Alexandria. Walk the corniche and discover the city’s best coffee and falafel.

Today, drive from Alexandria to the Siwa Oasis. Remote and mysterious, Siwa lies deep in Egypt's Western Desert. Here, Berber culture endures, oracle temples whisper the stories of Alexander the Great, and the rhythm of desert life slows everything down. Your stay at Adrère Amellal Ecolodge redefines luxury. There’s no electricity and no WiFi, just candlelight, salt rock walls, and desert silence.

Siwa isn’t about checking boxes, it’s about sinking into stillness and experiencing a radically different pace of life. Weave through the labyrinthine Shali Fortress, visit Gebel al-Mawta (the Mountain of the Dead), where you’ll find 2,000-year-old tombs, and follow in the footsteps of Alexander the Great at the Temple of the Oracle. Spend another day floating in surreal, turquoise salt lakes under the desert sun or embark on a sand dune safari and then savor sunset tea in the Great Sand Sea.

Drive back to Cairo and check in at Le Méridien Airport Hotel for a restful night before your flight. There’s the option to stop at El Alamein en route, a poignant World War II battlefield that adds a very different layer to your Egyptian journey. The next day, depart Egypt, carrying with you the echoes of ancient voices, the hush of the desert, and the pulse of Cairo.