Four nights in Cairo with a full day north to Alexandria — the catacombs, Pompey’s Pillar and the Qaitbay fort on the old lighthouse site — plus Giza and a Nile dinner cruise.
The route2 cities.
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5 days, 4 nightsDuration
2 citiesWhere you sleep
Breakfast includedMeals
Twin share · land only, flights extra
Why this journey
Cairo and Alexandria are two and a half hours apart and feel like different countries. One is Pharaonic and relentless; the other is Greco-Roman, Mediterranean, and salt-aired. Doing both in four nights is comfortable because Alexandria works as a single long day out and you sleep in the same Cairo hotel throughout.
The Alexandria day is the reason to choose this over the shorter Cairo break. The Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa run three storeys into the rock and were found by accident in 1900; Pompey's Pillar is a single 25-metre shaft of Aswan granite; and the Qaitbay fort stands on the exact spot where the Pharos lighthouse once did.
Giza and the Nile dinner cruise bookend the trip, and the private vehicle means the long coastal drive is yours rather than a coach's.
Trip highlights
01A full day on the Mediterranean at Alexandria
02The Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa, three storeys cut into rock
03Qaitbay Citadel, built where the Pharos lighthouse stood
04The Giza pyramids and the Sphinx with an Egyptologist
05Dinner aboard a Nile cruise boat
Day-by-day itinerary
What's included
Included in your trip6 items covered in this fare
Hotels1
Accommodation as named in the itinerary
Transport2
All transfers as named in the itinerary
All tours and transfers by private vehicle
Entrance Fees1
Tours and entrance fees as named in the itinerary
Guide1
An English-speaking Egyptologist guide
Meals1
One bottle of water per person during the tours
Plan and pay separately8 items not covered by this fare
Not included8
International flights
Domestic flights
Egyptian entry visa
All tipping for guides, drivers, representatives, restaurants and cruise staff (the supplier suggests about USD 7 per person per day)
Beverages of any kind
Personal items such as laundry, telephone calls and drinks
Bank transmitting fees
Anything not listed under the inclusions
Your hotels
Hotels are named on your confirmation — all are of the stated category.
Attractions we visit
3 go inside0 walk through0 exterior only
On the route3 places
CairoEntrance included in the fare
Goes inside
GizaEntrance included in the fare
Goes inside
AlexandriaEntrance included in the fare
Goes inside
When to Go
Egypt
IdealGoodFairAvoid
OctGood
Oct–Apr is the best time — comfortable temperatures for sightseeing. Avoid summer heat exceeding 40°C.
Cairo
Average High
30°C
Rainfall
0mm
Luxor
Average High
34°C
Rainfall
0mm
Hurghada
Average High
30°C
Rainfall
0mm
Sharm el-Sheikh
Average High
30°C
Rainfall
0mm
Before you go
Everything is private
All transfers throughout the trip are private, in air-conditioned deluxe vehicles.
All sightseeing is on a private basis and includes the entrance fees named in the itinerary.
Guiding is by a qualified English-speaking Egyptologist.
Tipping
Tipping is customary in Egypt and is not included in the package.
The supplier suggests budgeting around USD 7 per person per day to cover guides, drivers, representatives, restaurants and cruise staff.
What you give is at your discretion.
Documents and flights
International and domestic flights are not included unless stated otherwise on the tour.
The Egyptian entry visa is not included and is arranged by the traveller.
Carry a passport valid for the whole of your stay.
Meals on board
International menus are served on the Nile cruises and in the hotels.
Meals outside those named in the day-by-day plan are not included.
Drinks of any kind are not included, on board or ashore.
Common questions
How long is the drive to Alexandria?
About two and a half hours each way, in a private air-conditioned vehicle. It is a long day door to door, which is why the following day is a gentle one.
Do we go inside the Qaitbay fort and the library?
No. Both are photo and panoramic stops from outside on this itinerary. If you want to go into either, tell us in advance and we will look at the timings.
Are the catacombs difficult underground?
They descend by a spiral staircase around a central shaft and can be humid. There is no lift, so they are hard going if stairs are a problem.
Which nights are in Alexandria?
None. All four nights are in the same Cairo hotel and Alexandria is a day trip, so you unpack once.
Is lunch included on the Alexandria day?
No, only breakfast at the hotel. Your guide will suggest somewhere on the coast, paid locally.
Policies & booking terms
Booking terms
Full payment must be completed 30 days prior to departure, unless otherwise specified.
All bookings are subject to availability at the time of confirmation.
Travel insurance is mandatory and must be purchased prior to departure.
Prices are subject to change due to fluctuations in currency exchange rates, taxes, or supplier costs.
Guests are responsible for obtaining valid passports, visas, and any required vaccinations.
Cancellations or amendments are subject to the applicable cancellation policy outlined in the package.
The company is not liable for delays, cancellations, or changes due to unforeseen circumstances such as weather, strikes, or other force majeure events.
All travelers must adhere to the local laws and customs of the destinations visited.
No refunds will be issued for unused services, including but not limited to meals, accommodations, or activities.
The company reserves the right to modify the itinerary or substitute hotels of similar standards if necessary.
All special requests (e.g., room preferences, dietary requirements) are subject to availability and not guaranteed.
Guests are responsible for any additional costs incurred due to personal expenses, such as phone calls, laundry, or minibar charges.
Check-in and check-out times are subject to hotel policies and may vary by property.
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