Egypt Rediscovered – PRIVATE DEPARTURES ONLY

Following breakfast in your hotel, start the day with exclusive behind-the-scenes access to the restoration lab at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization before exploring its vast collection. Next, visit the imposing Citadel and the stunning Mohamed Ali Mosque, where history and architecture blend seamlessly. Enjoy lunch at Zeyara restaurant, enjoying the local flavours (beverages not included). This evening, immerse yourself in the vibrant energy of Khan El Khalili Bazaar, a maze of alleyways filled with spices, silver, textiles, and hidden treasures. (B,L)

Overnight – Four Seasons Nile Plaza Hotel or similar

At Crooked Compass, we do the Pyramids of Giza differently. The experience we offer is not just about avoiding crowds. It’s about restoring reverence to one of the world’s most sacred places, and doing so with grace, comfort, and a deep respect for both the destination and the traveller.

Your morning begins in a private VIP arrivals lounge, far from the chaos of the main entrance. Here, you’ll be welcomed with Egyptian hospitality, fresh juice, tea, coffee and light refreshments, in a beautiful and peaceful setting where time slows down. This quiet start sets the tone for everything that follows.

At your scheduled time, a private 4WD golf buggy and personal driver will meet you at the back VIP gate. Onboard, you’ll find chilled drinks to sip on as you explore the plateau entirely at your own pace. No being herded, no loudspeaker commentary, no jostling for space. Just uninterrupted views, quiet approach, and the freedom to linger where others are rushed.

Your expert Crooked Compass guide travels with you throughout, weaving together the history, mythology and engineering behind the pyramids and the Sphinx, tailoring the storytelling to your interests, not a pre-written script. If you wish, time can be built in to enter the Great Pyramid, all without the pressure of a group schedule.

And then comes the finale: a long, luxurious lunch at Khufu Restaurant, one of Cairo’s finest. Overlooking the pyramids from an exclusive terrace, you’ll enjoy a traditional Egyptian banquet-style spread, crafted from fresh, local ingredients. This is not a rushed post-tour meal, it’s a sensory celebration, paired with panoramic views overlooking the pyramids that bring the morning full circle.

This is not simply a visit to Giza.

It’s a deeply considered, intimate and elevated encounter with one of the world’s most extraordinary cultural sites.

This afternoon, explore the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), set on the Giza Plateau with views toward the Pyramids. As the largest archaeological museum in the world dedicated to a single civilisation, the GEM presents Egypt’s ancient history within a purpose-built, contemporary setting.

The museum’s galleries trace Egypt’s story from its earliest beginnings through the Pharaonic and Greco-Roman periods, featuring monumental sculpture, royal artefacts, and everyday objects displayed with clear historical context. Spacious halls and carefully structured interpretation allow for a cohesive understanding of chronology, belief systems, and craftsmanship.

The Grand Egyptian Museum provides a natural orientation to Egypt’s archaeological heritage and serves as a central cultural anchor for the journey.(B,L)

Overnight – Four Seasons Nile Plaza Hotel or similar

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at your hotel this morning before you are transferred to the airport for your flight to Luxor (1hr). Luxor, once an Ancient Egyptian capital, is known today as the world’s ‘greatest open-air museum’. From the tomb of Tutankhamun in the Valley of the Kings and the magnificent sunset views at the majestic temple complexes of Karnak and Luxor, this city is the perfect choice for cultural vultures. Luxor is divided by the Nile into two areas commonly called the East Bank and West Bank which were considered in Ancient Egyptian times as symbolizing respectively life and death.

While the East Bank has grown to become a modern city, it has retained its lush green setting, its traditional bazaar and stunning view of the Nile. The West Bank is known for its necropolis and mortuary temples: the Valley of the Kings, the Valley of the Queens, the Workers Village, and the Temple of Medinet Habu are the highlights of Luxor’s West Bank. In Ancient Egyptian mythology, the setting sun to the west symbolised the journey to the afterlife, so it was fitting symbolism to bury the dead west of the Nile.

This afternoon, you will visit Midnet Habu and the tombs workers village on the West Bank.  Medinet Habu is the Arabic name for the Mortuary Temple of Ramses III, a huge complex second only to Karnak in size and better preserved. Medinet Habu is among the least visited of the major sights at Luxor.

The ancient village of Deir el-Medina, known as the tomb workers village, is situated in a small valley on the west bank of Luxor in Upper Egypt in a desert area, just south of Thebes in a valley behind Gurnet Murai hill. The remaining foundations of this village have been well preserved, and it has been concluded that the village was in use for about 500 years during the period of the New Kingdom (18th to 20th Dynasties).  Deir el-Medina was first thought to be started by the pharaoh Amenhotep I and his mother, Ahmose-Nefertari. They established the village in order to have sufficient housing for the tomb workers that gave their labour to the Valley of the Kings. This was its only purpose.

This evening, head to the East Bank to immerse yourself in the awe-inspiring Karnak Temple, home to the massive hypostyle hall with your private guide. Next, wander through Luxor Temple, famous for its towering obelisks and statues that have stood the test of time. (B)

Overnight – Al Moudira or similar

This morning you will visit Dendera. Dendera is located about 67 kilometres (1hr, 15m) north of Luxor on the west bank of the Nile River opposite the provincial modern town of Qena.

Ancient Egyptian Lunet or Tantere, known to the Greeks as Tentyris, was the capital of the 6th nome of Upper Egypt and a town of some importance. Today, we know it as Dendera, though the population of the town has, since antiquity, moved to Qena across the Nile on the east bank. Now, the ancient temple lies isolated on the desert edge. Along with the temple itself, there is also a necropolis that includes tombs from the Early Dynastic Period, but the most important phase that has been identified was the end of the Old Kingdom and the 1st Intermediate Period. The provinces were virtually autonomous at that time and, although Dendera was not a leading political force in Upper Egypt, its notables built a number of mastabas of some size, though only one had any decoration apart from stelae and false doors. On the west end of the site are brick-vaulted catacombs of Late Period animal burials, primarily birds and dogs, while cow burials have been found at various points in the necropolis. Of course, this was a significant site for the Hathor cult, whose forms included a cow.

Continuing on, you will also visit Abydos Temples (105km,1.5hrs). Abydos was the epicentre for the pharaoh’s cult worship of Osiris and became the most important burial centre in ancient Egypt. Here, Seti I raised a glorious temple dedicated to Osiris and a pantheon of other gods that remains a beautiful and unique central point to this necropolis. For travellers interested in the artistry of the Pharaonic period, the Temple of Seti I’s colourful wall and ceiling paintings and sculpted column work are a highlight of any Nile temple itinerary and shouldn’t be missed. (B)

Overnight – Al Moudira or similar

This morning you will transfer from your Luxor accommodation to board your Dahabeya, for your Nile River cruise.

Dahabeya’s don’t operate on structured cruise line schedules, which means travellers can avoid peak-hour site visits and the crowds that come with convoy-style Nile cruising. They offer far more freedom and a significantly more pleasant onboard experience. They also support local villages and families along the Nile, by stopping for meals and engaging with the communities for various experiences. This is an added experience of connection and culture that is missed when on a regular Nile cruise. Dahabeyas are the most sustainable vessel on the Nile – beautiful, wind-powered vessels (supported by a tug when needed).

Enjoy breakfast on board before heading to the West Bank with your private guide, where you’ll wander through the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens, then marvel at the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut (El-Deir El-Bahari), a jaw-dropping feat of architecture dedicated to Egypt’s only female pharaoh. Afterward, return to the cruise for lunch while sailing to Esna. Sip on sundowners as the sun dips, enjoy dinner while sailing, and overnight beside a small island. (B,L,D)

Overnight – Dahabeya 

Enjoy breakfast while crossing Esna Lock, followed by lunch as you sail to Edfu. Visit Edfu Temple with your private guide, one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt, before tea at sunset while continuing to El Ramadi Island. Dinner is served beside an island, accompanied by an exclusive Egyptian Rabab show. (B,L,D)

Overnight – Dahabeya 

Visit Gebel El Silsila early in the morning, a unique temple set within the mountains. This exclusive experience is only accessible to Dahabiyas, as larger ships cannot reach this site. Enjoy breakfast on board before setting sail to Kom Ombo. Upon arrival, visit the Temple of Kom Ombo with your private guide, dedicated to both the crocodile god Sobek and the falcon-headed god Haroeris. Enjoy lunch while crossing Shekh Fadl Island. At Hor Diab Island, enjoy a swim in the cleanest waters of the Nile. Dinner is served on board while sailing to Aswan, where you will overnight. (B,L,D)

Overnight – Dahabeya 

Visit the stunning Philae Temple with your private guide, dedicated to the goddess Isis. In the afternoon, explore the High Dam, an impressive feat of engineering. Overnight docked in Aswan. (B,L,D)

Overnight – Dahabeya 

Start the day with breakfast on board before disembarking and transferring to Aswan airport for your flight to Abu Simbel. Once there, enjoy a private tour of the awe-inspiring Abu Simbel Temple. The Temples of Abu Simbel, among the most interesting in Egypt, are located 280 km south of Aswan near the southern border with Sudan. These two rock-cut temples, dating back to the reign of King Ramses II (1290-1223 BC), were partially damaged by the rising waters of Lake Nasser during the construction of the High Dam. With the help of UNESCO and other countries, Egypt successfully saved these remarkable structures. After your tour of Abu Simbel, you will return to Aswan and transfer to your hotel.

Built in 1899 and famously where Agatha Christie wrote Death on the Nile, the Old Cataract Hotel is classic, cinematic Egypt at its best. (B,L,D)

Overnight Old Cataract Hotel (or similar)

Today, you will travel by motorboat from your hotel to Aswan’s west bank, where you’ll enjoy a short camel ride to the St. Simon Cave Monastery.

The Zabbaleen, meaning “garbage collectors,” established their settlement at the base of the Mokattam cliffs around 1969, following a decision by Cairo’s governor to relocate all garbage collectors to a single area. The majority of the Zabbaleen were Coptic Christians, and as their community grew, so did the need for a centralised place of worship. In 1975, the first Christian church was built in the village. However, after a large fire broke out nearby, construction began on a monastery carved directly into the cliffs.

The Monastery of Saint Simon was the result of this new project. Simon the Tanner was a craftsman saint who lived during the 10th century and the cave church that was dedicated to him seems as though it might last for 10 more. Using a pre-existing cave and the slope that led into it, the current monastery seats 20,000 people around a central pulpit. Other nearby caves have also been built into separate church spaces and all of them have been linked to create a massive Christian complex in the heart of garbage city.

After your visit, camels will take you to Nobles Tomb for a short visit before returning to your hotel by motorboat. Later this afternoon, you will be transferred to Aswan airport and fly to Cairo (approx 90 min flight). Upon arrival in Cairo, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. (B)

Overnight – Four Seasons Nile Plaza or similar

After breakfast, you will depart for Alexandria (260km, 3.5hrs) where you will experience a trip into the catacombs (Kom el Shoqafa), where the early Christians were buried; and Pompey’s Pillar, the biggest memorial column in Egypt, made of red granite and standing about 28 metres high, with a base diameter of 2.7 metres.

Next you will visit the Alexandria National Museum, built in a former palace and now housing almost 2000 artefacts, which tell the story of the city, including the recent finds from the sunken part of the city; the Citadel of Qaitbay, wherein about 1480 AD the Mameluke Sultan Al-Ashraf Qaitbay fortified the site that held the ruins of the Alexandria Lighthouse, and with successive improvements it now stands as a very prominent Citadel on the Mediterranean coastline. Time permitting, you may also have the chance to visit the WWII battlefield sites and Australian cemetery. (B)

Overnight – Cecil Alexandria or similar

This morning you will visit the New Alexandria Library, with shelf space for eight million books and the main reading room on 11 levels as well as the Roman Amphitheatre, which every town in the ancient Roman Empire had. Continue for approx 6hrs to the fascinating Siwa Oasis.

Tucked deep in Egypt’s western desert near the Libyan border, Siwa Oasis feels less like a destination and more like a secret granted. Reaching it requires military permits and considered planning, yet the reward is profound: an oasis suspended in time, untouched by mass tourism and defined by extraordinary silence. Salt lakes shimmer beneath layered limestone mesas that shift in colour with the moving sun, while freshwater springs bubble up from the underground aquifer, nourishing date palms and vivid green crops against an otherwise stark, endless desert. Buildings rise from salt and mud, reinforced with olive branches, blending seamlessly into the landscape. Here, a distinct desert language is spoken, passed down orally through generations, and locals proudly identify as desert people rather than Bedouin. Donkeys outnumber cars, there are no souvenir stalls, no crowds, no intrusion.

At your candlelit, off-grid retreat, even the pool is fed by a natural spring, its gentle gurgle one of the only sounds to break the stillness. With no power, no phone signal and no Wi-Fi, Siwa offers something increasingly rare – absolute quiet, raw beauty, and the feeling of stepping into a world that has remained defiantly, magnificently its own. (B,L,D)

Overnight – Adrére Amellal

Today you will uncover the layered history and surreal beauty of Siwa. Begin at the ancient Shali Fortress, rising from the heart of town in sculpted salt and mud brick. Once a defensive stronghold, its walls were repurposed in 1942 when Italian forces occupied the region, using the crumbling citadel as protection during their conflict with the British. Wandering its narrow passageways and weathered towers offers insight into both Siwa’s strategic importance and its remarkable architectural ingenuity.

From history to the elemental, continue into Siwa’s extraordinary salt flats and working salt mines, where vivid turquoise pools shimmer against a stark white landscape. Locals float effortlessly in mineral-rich waters while, in the distance, machinery quietly harvests crystalline salt. As day softens into evening, the desert sky performs its own quiet spectacle. Date palms stand silhouetted against an ever-changing canvas of colour, and as the full moon slowly rises above the horizon, the vast silence of the Sahara settles in.

Overnight – Adrére Amellal

Today you will venture back to Cairo (approx 8hrs). Enroute, you will stop at Wadi El Natroun monastery and visit Abu Makar monastery and El Baramous monastery where we will try to arrange for a light lunch with the monks – this is dependent on their study schedules.

Wadi Natroun is known for its Coptic monasteries where thousands of Christians escaped from Roman persecution in the 4th century. Of the 60 or so original compounds in the valley, only four remain. These monastery buildings are impressive, as they were fortified after Arab raids in 817. The area was also important to the ancient Egyptians because the valley’s salt lakes dry up in the summer and leave natron, a substance crucial to the mummification process. (B)

Overnight – Four Seasons Nile Plaza or similar

This morning following breakfast, you will be transferred to Cairo Airport for your onward flight to your next destination. (B)