Cairo Luxury Hotel Break
4 Days Starting and ending in Cairo, Cairo Governorate, Egypt
Visiting: Cairo, Great Sphinx of Giza
Tour operator:
Tour code:
338
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 20
Age range:
8-95
Special diets catered:
Request dietary needs
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Activities:
Tour Overview
There is no city in the world like Cairo. It has been the largest city in Africa and the Middle East for 750 years and has been attractive to tourists throughout the ages. This short tour gives you a taste of Egypt's bustling capital city and home to the Pyramids, Sphinx and Egyptian Museum, and is ideal for those short of time or who may have visited other parts of Egypt already. The tour begins with a guided sightseeing tour to Egypt's most well-known landmark - the Great Pyramids of Giza and the enigmatic Sphinx and learn about the history and evolution of pyramid building. Next we explore the sprawling Egyptian Museum of antiquities with it's famous Tutunkhamun display. Your next day is then free to explore independently, relax in your hotel or take an additional tour. These include a city tour to the Citadel, Coptic Cairo and the Khan-el-Khalili bazaar, a day trip to the colonial Mediterranean city of Alexandria, or a tour to see more pyramids at Dashour, Saqqara and Memphis. Dinner cruise and felucca trips on the Nile are also available.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Arrive In Egypt & Transfer To Hotel
Location: Cairo
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Cairo 5-star hotel
Meals Included: No Meals
You arrive at Cairo airport where we greet you, assist with visa formalities and in collecting your luggage, and then transfer you to your 5-star hotel. Our local rep. will help you check in and settle in and outline the plan for the next few days.
Day 2 : Visit The Pyramids: Sphinx & Egyptian Museum
Location: Great Sphinx of Giza, Cairo
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Cairo 5-star hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, No Meals
After breakfast we have a brief pre-tour briefing before we take you on a tour of Gisa and Saqqara. Gisa was built around 4600 years ago as a necropolis (cemetery) for the pharaoh Khufu (Cheops). The successor of Sneferu, Khufu was known as a tyrant and in his arrogance decided to have built a tomb that was bigger and better than all others. Standing 500 feet high and 750 feet at its base the Pyramid of Khufu is an awesome man-made structure constructed of giant blocks of stone covered in a hard limestone casing. The casing has, over the years, been stripped away to leave exposed the inner block structure. Together with the smaller pyramids of Khafre (Chephern) and Menkaure (Mycerinus), the majestic sight of these enormous structures rising out of the desert is a breathtaking spectacle. Here you have the chance to climb inside one of the pyramids (there are a limited number of tickets available, so we cannot guarantee this), and also to take a camel ride. Close by, the mysterious Sphinx stands guard, as it has done so for thousands of years. You have another guided tour around the sphinx and some free time to walk around and take photos.
We'll then head into the city and visit the Egyptian Museum (which houses a vast collection of artefacts from Egypt's past, including the famous King Tutunkhamun display)
Day 3 : Cairo Free Time Or Optional Tours
Location: Cairo
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Cairo hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast,
While the ancient Pharaohs had important settlements here, what can be considered the city of Cairo today was founded in 969 AD by Gohar, a Fatimid army leader, and El Kahera (Cairo) soon became the capital of Egypt. Subsequent additions like the El Azhar mosque, the Islamic University, and defensive walls and a citadel, built by Saladin in 1179, have helped Cairo remain Egypt's principal city. The 16-year reign of Ismail (1830-1895) ushered in a new period of expansion and modernisation in Cairo. Areas like Heliopolis, Dokki and Roda were added, while gardens, Opera houses, large hotels and wide, tree lined avenues were built. Further post revolutionary, urban expansion has left Cairo as one of the world's largest cities. Today it is a bustling metropolis of over 20 million people, a strange mix of modern and old, a unique blend of diverse cultures and a gateway to Egypt's past. You have a free day in the city today to either relax in your hotel, explore independently or take an optional tour.
Tours available include:
- a day trip to the colonial city of Alexandria on the Mediterranean coast, around 2 1/2 hours drive away. Here you'll see Pompey's Pillar, the Catacombs,Fort Qaitbey (which is built on the site of the ancient Pharos), the modern library, and enjoy a seafood lunch at one of the city's many fish restaurants
- a half day tour in Cairo to the Citadel (a collection of mosques and palaces, with a great view over the city), the narrow streets and churches of Coptic Cairo, and the Khan al Khalili bazaar (a mazy market that offers a window to the past and a guaranteed souvenir).
- a half day tour in Cairo to learn more about the history of Pyramid building, visiting pyramids and other ancient sites at Saqqara, Memphis and Dashour
- a dinner cruise on the River Nile, with a multi-course buffet meal accompanied by Sufi dancers and belly dancers
- a spectacular Sound and Light show at the Pyramids in the evening.
These tours may all be either booked in advance or arranged while you are in Cairo.
Day 4 : Transfer To The Airport For Departure
Location: Cairo
Accommodation:
Accommodation Name: N/A
Meals Included: Breakfast,
Your tour ends today and your time is free until we transfer you back to Cairo airport for your flight home. If you are booking this tour privately or joining a group date then we can still be flexible with the tour itinerary and extra nights in Cairo can be added as well as further day trips and tours.
What's Included
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Accommodation
4* -
All accommodation in a 5-star hotel
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All meals indicated in the itinerary (3 breakfasts)
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24/hour airport meet & greet and transfer service
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Sightseeing tour of the Pyramids, Sphinx and Egyptian Museum
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Professional Egyptologist guide for sightseeing tours
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Private AC vehicles for all road journeys
What's Not Included
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International flights (can be arranged on request)
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Travel insurance (compulsory, available on request)
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Egyptian Tourist Visa
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Tipping kitty (allow US$15)
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Entrance fees to sites visited (budget US$25)
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Tour guide tips
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Meals, drinks & snacks not mentioned in the itinerary
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Any other items not mentioned in the itinerary
More Info
There is no city in the world like Cairo. It has been the largest city in Africa and the Middle East for 750 years and has been attractive to tourists throughout the ages. This short tour gives you a taste of Egypt's bustling capital city and home to the Pyramids, Sphinx and Egyptian Museum, and is ideal for those short of time or who may have visited other parts of Egypt already. The tour begins with a guided sightseeing tour to Egypt's most well-known landmark - the Great Pyramids of Giza and the enigmatic Sphinx and learn about the history and evolution of pyramid building. Next we explore the sprawling Egyptian Museum of antiquities with it's famous Tutunkhamun display. Your next day is then free to explore independently, relax in your hotel or take an additional tour. These include a city tour to the Citadel, Coptic Cairo and the Khan-el-Khalili bazaar, a day trip to the colonial Mediterranean city of Alexandria, or a tour to see more pyramids at Dashour, Saqqara and Memphis. Dinner cruise and felucca trips on the Nile are also available.
Mode of Transport
A/C minibus
Accommodation
5-star Boutique
Check out our Q&As
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Are all the relevant entry visa’s included in the price of the tour?
Visa arrangements are the responsibility of the traveller, and requirements are subject to change by the local authorities. We recommend that you contact your closest Egyptian consulate or embassy for current information for your nationality. In general official advice is that all nationalities obtain their Egypt visas in advance, as we cannot guarantee that you can get them in the airport. An online e-visa is available through visa2egypt. Please do not use any other website as there are many scam sites offering Egypt e-visas. In practice however, many nationalities (including British and European, Australian, New Zealand, USA, Canadian) can and do obtain their visas on arrival in Cairo airport. The process is much quicker and simpler, the cost is currently US$25 p/p and must be paid in hard currency (i.e. GBP, USD or EUR) - you'll be given change in local currency if necessary. There are no forms to fill in and you don't need to bring passport photos. Visas are issued at one of the bank desks in the immigration hall, before you get to passport control. Our representative will have met you by this stage and will assist with the process. All African & Indian nationals, and some others, will need to obtain their visas in advance. For further information on your visa requirements, please either contact us or your local Egyptian embassy/consulate.
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What should I know before I travel?
It is important when considering and preparing to travel anywhere in the world that you have a good understanding of the country you are visiting, its laws and customs, and the possible risks and situations that may occur. This includes specific risks related to your itinerary (eg. does it involve water & can you swim, are you fit enough for the activities included), as well as more general risks such as terrorism and natural disasters. General details and links to more information about health risks, visa requirements, money, and travel insurance are given in these tour notes. We recommend that you re-read all these before your departure as well as the small print of your travel insurance policy so you know exactly what is covered and what is not. You should take copies of your important travel documents with you and ideally also store them online securely as a backup. Make sure that you have given us your emergency contact details and told that person where and when you are travelling. Ensure you take enough money with you and that you have access to emergency funds. Finally, you should read through and stay updated with the current official government travel advice for your destination. We are registered partners with the UK Foreign Office's 'Travel Aware' campaign which provides further useful and invaluable information.
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Is there a limit to luggage that can be brought on the tour?
There is no luggage limit for this tour. However, most airlines restrict you to between 20kg and 25kg for your hold luggage and between 5kg and 10kg for hand luggage. Please check with your airline before travelling to the airport.
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
Our Egypt tours include a 24-hour airport meet & assist service in Cairo airport, your arrival and departure airport-hotel transfers and all other transfers. Our representative will meet you in the immigration hall of Cairo airport before you get to passport control. They will assist with visa formalities before helping you collect your luggage and taking you to your hotel. Your airport transfers are only included on the first and last day of the set tour itinerary, plus on any additional days if you book your hotel room with us. If you make your own arrangements for additional accommodation at either the beginning or the end of the tour then you will need to arrange your own airport transfers on these days.
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What currencies are required for this tour?
The local currency in Egypt is the Egyptian Pound, often denoted 'LE'. The Egyptian Pound can vary significantly in value against the British Pound, but sticks fairly close to the value of the US Dollar. You do not need to arrange to bring any Egyptian Pounds with you to Egypt, as change facilities are available in all the hotels, airports and banks. You should try to obtain and keep hold of small denomination notes or coins on you during the tour as these are useful for toilets, tips and small purchases. ATMs are readily available in major towns and many local shops will accept VISA/Mastercard or Amex, but may charge fees of up to 10% - check before you pay. Travellers cheques are not recommended as they can not be changed in many places now, and can incur high fees. While in Egypt you will need sufficient funds to cover meals not included in the itinerary, drinks, snacks, souvenirs and personal expenses such as laundry. These should generally all be paid for in Egyptian Pounds. You may also need to pay for the tour Tipping Kitty and site Entrance Fees while you are in Egypt. Payments for these may be made to your tour guide in hard currency (USD, GBP, EUR) at the start of your tour. Please see your tour Included/Excluded details for more information and guideline amounts for these. It is difficult to recommend a level of personal spending money which will suit everyone as this can differ greatly, but as a guideline, we would suggest allowing USD 15-25 per person per day as a minimum. Allow more if you plan on doing lots of shopping, or buying many alcoholic drinks.
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Are all entrance fees included in the price?
Our Small Group tours do not include entrance fees to the tourist sites mentioned in the itinerary. We do however normally include these in prices for Tailor-Made and Escorted tours. Please check the Inclusions and Exclusions section below the tour itinerary for a details about your tour and the amount you may need to budget. This amount is subject to change and will be reconfirmed in Egypt at the start of your tour. A 50% discount for minors or ISIC card holders is often, but not always available. Your guide will be happy to collect payment for all the entrance fees at the start of the tour, and pay them for you as you go along if you wish. This payment is normally collected in US Dollars cash together with payment for any Tipping Kitty used on the tour, though you may also pay with Egyptian Pounds or other currencies, converted to USD. Local exchange rates are set on a monthly basis and based on local bank rates so may not match the exact rates you may find online on the day.
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Is travel insurance compulsory?
Yes! Travel insurance is compulsory on all of our tours and needs to cover personal accident & liability, medical expenses and repatriation, travel delay & abandonment. We also strongly recommend that you take out cover against cancellation and lost/stolen baggage. Personal medical insurance does not normally provide sufficient cover and is generally not suitable for travel on our tours. You will not be able to join your tour if you have not provided us with details of your insurance or if you arrive without cover in place (no refunds will be due in this event).
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
You are always able to change your travel date. However, some charges may apply depending on how long before your departure you make the change. Our flexible booking conditions and reduced charges will apply if you are changing date because of a Covid-19 reason or because your government is advising against travel to your destination. Please check our detailed booking conditions for full details.
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When is my balance payment due?
60 days prior to departure
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
On most of our group tours, solo travellers may choose to form a temporary 'tour bubble' and share a room with another traveller of the same sex in the group. If a room share is not available then a single room supplement may be payable, with the costs for these kept as low as possible. We have also removed compulsory single supplements from many of our tours, and are reducing the cost by 50% on s
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Can I transfer my booking to someone else?
Customers may transfer their booking or any Credit on File to another person who satisfies all the relevant conditions to the tour, provided that we are notified not less than 7 days before departure, and the transferee agrees to these booking conditions and all other terms of the contract between us. The Client and new booker are jointly and severally responsible for any outstanding payments and a transfer administration fee of GBP50 / USD75 / CAD100 / AUD100 / NZD100 / EUR75 / ZAR1000 / INR5000 or GBP100 / USD150 / CAD200 / AUD200 / NZD200 / EUR150 / ZAR2000 / INR10,000 if the transfer is made less than 60 days before departure. Important Note: Certain arrangements may not be amended or transferred after they have been confirmed (for example flight tickets, Gorilla Permits) and any alteration could incur a cancellation and rebooking charge of up to 100% of that part of the arrangements.
Reviews from travellers on this tour
Book with Confidence
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Encounters Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform encounters travel, 60 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Encounters Travel requires a minimum deposit of 150 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of encounters travel charges.
Up to 61 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 35% of booking price.
At 41 days before tour starts: Forfeit 70% of booking price.
At 27 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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