Iconic Family Trip to Egypt

Welcome to Egypt. From millennia-old churches to buzzing modern cafes, Cairo offers a heady mix of the sacred and the everyday where history hums around every corner. After VIP assistance through immigration, you’ll be transferred to Hilton Cairo Heliopolis for a night of rest. It’s a convenient, comfortable stop to ease into your Egypt family vacation after a long flight. 

Fly to Luxor and board the Merit Dahabiya. The dahabiya experience is Egypt in slow motion. With just a handful of cabins, no engines, and a traditional sail, this is the Nile at its most intimate. After lunch onboard, visit Karnak Temple, a vast warren of stone columns and sacred spaces, followed by Luxor Temple, illuminated beautifully at dusk. Dock on the West Bank overnight. 

Today, head into the desert hills to the Valley of the Kings, the final resting place of Egypt’s legendary kings and queens. There are few places in the world imbued with such an ancient, sacred sense of mystery. Visit Tutankhamen’s tomb, the Temple of Hatshepsut, a rare monument to a female ruler, and stand before the towering Colossi of Memnon. Return to the boat for lunch and sail south toward Esna. 

Over the next two days, you’ll visit Edfu Temple, one of Egypt’s best-preserved temples, where your teens can trace ancient stories carved in stone. In the afternoon, cruise to the peaceful shores of Al Ramady Island. The next day, explore Gebel el-Silsila, an ancient quarry site dotted with rock shrines and royal graffiti. Then it’s on to Kom Ombo, a unique double temple dedicated to Sobek, the crocodile god, and Horus, the falcon god. Don’t miss the nearby Crocodile Museum, home to mummified crocodiles.

After disembarking in Aswan, visit the High Dam and the relocated island sanctuary of Philae Temple, dedicated to the goddess Isis. Then, fly back to Cairo and settle in at the luxurious Marriott Mena House, just steps from the pyramids in Giza. There’s nowhere on Earth like the Giza Plateau: the towering pyramids of Egypt, the enigmatic Great Sphinx, and the energy of ancient ambition make this a bucket-list destination that lives up to the hype. 

Explore the new Grand Egyptian Museum, which houses a staggering collection spanning 5,000 years of civilization. Teens will love the giant hanging obelisk and interactive exhibits that bring ancient Egypt to life. The next day, venture out to Saqqara, home of the world’s first pyramid. Enjoy lunch with views of the pyramids at 9 Pyramids Lounge and then cap the day off with a visit to the Great Pyramids of Giza once the crowds have dissipated. Your private Egyptologist will guide you through the Pyramid of Khufu and to the iconic Sphinx. 

Your epic family trip to Egypt has come to an end. After a last breakfast overlooking the pyramids, transfer to the airport for your international flight home.