Plan Your Escape
Plan Your Escape
North Africa — Guide
Pyramids at dawn, a slow drift down the Nile, and five thousand years of history that still feels close enough to touch.
Egypt rewards those who go deeper than the coach-tour version. Yes, the Pyramids of Giza at sunrise, before the heat and the crowds arrive — but also the hush inside a painted tomb in the Valley of the Kings, and a felucca drifting past Aswan with nothing but the sound of the water.
Split your time: two or three days in Cairo for the Pyramids, the Museum and the old city; then a private Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan for the temples, tombs and the river itself. Alexandria, on the Mediterranean coast, rewards an extra day if you have it.
Where We've Been
The Pyramids at first light, a felucca drifting past Aswan, a temple lit up after dark — a private trip through Egypt isn't an add-on, it's the whole point. Real footage, exactly as it looked.
Let Us Arrange Your Trip
We work directly with a small number of trusted guides, drivers and boutique Nile cruise operators — a licensed Egyptologist at every site, a private suite on the river, and a driver waiting wherever you land.
Top Experiences
Two very different sides of Egypt — expand each to find the experiences worth booking in advance.
Cairo
A full day covering the new Grand Egyptian Museum's vast collection, the Giza Pyramids and the Sphinx, with a proper sit-down lunch built in — the most complete first introduction to ancient Egypt in a single outing.
Book on GetYourGuide →A private guide walks you across the Giza Plateau to the Pyramids and the Great Sphinx, finished with a camel ride out onto the sand for the panoramic shot everyone comes for. Straightforward to book, nothing to arrange on your end.
Book Here →The world's oldest large stone monument at Saqqara, the ancient capital of Memphis, and the striking Bent Pyramid at Dahshur — a quieter, equally remarkable morning away from the Giza crowds, with an optional felucca ride included. Prefer complete flexibility? We can arrange a private, trusted driver via Concierge to take you between all three sites at your own pace, stopping wherever you like.
Book on GetYourGuide → Or Arrange a Private Driver →Cairo's centuries-old bazaar for spice, gold and mint tea — best done with a trusted local guide who speaks fluent English and knows how to negotiate. What you pay for the service, you'll more than make back in the prices they get you, without the back-and-forth.
Book via Concierge →A private table on a Nile dinner boat as the city lights come on across both banks — live music and a Tanoura folk dance performance included.
Book on GetYourGuide →An afternoon or evening out into the desert on quad bikes, with a Bedouin tea stop along the way — add a short camel ride at the end for the classic photo, entirely optional.
Book on GetYourGuide →Sharm El Sheikh
Some of the best-preserved coral reefs in the Red Sea, at the tip of the Sinai Peninsula, plus a stop at the postcard-white sandbar of White Island — a full day by boat with snorkelling among reef sharks, turtles and vast coral walls, lunch included.
Book on GetYourGuide →A 4x4 jeep day out along the coast — the world-famous Blue Hole, the striking Coloured Canyon, and time in laid-back Dahab itself, all in a single well-paced day.
Book on GetYourGuide →Low cushions right on the water in Dahab, and one of the best sunsets on this coast — free entrance, but go around four hours ahead of sunset to secure a spot before the queue forms.
Get Me There
Sail the Nile
The most memorable way to cover the distance between Luxor and Aswan — the temples arriving at the water's edge, in order, exactly as they should.
Sanctuary on the Nile
Our preferred partner for the Luxor–Aswan crossing — a boutique fleet built around quiet, understated luxury rather than scale. Private suites, a dedicated Egyptologist onboard, and the temples arriving at the water's edge exactly when they should.
Visit Soleil Cruise →Floating Sanctuary on the Nile
A short look at the sailing itself — the suites, the sun deck, the temples as they pass.
Before You Go
Everything to sort before you land — five minutes, max.
e-Visa required for most nationalities — apply in advance via the official Egypt e-Visa portal, or purchase a visa-on-arrival stamp for $25 at Cairo Airport.
October–April for cooler, comfortable temperatures. Summer months bring intense desert heat, especially in Upper Egypt.
Egyptian Pound (EGP). ATMs widely available in Cairo and Luxor; carry small notes for tipping ("baksheesh").
Arabic is the official language; English is widely spoken across hotels, sites and tourist areas.
Drink bottled or filtered water only, use sun protection year-round, and consider a pre-trip travel consultation for vaccinations.
A private driver and licensed guide is the standard, and by far the easiest way to move between sites in Cairo — we arrange this for every guest.
Modest, breathable clothing is recommended — shoulders and knees covered at mosques and religious sites.
220V/50Hz, type C and F plugs (Europlug). Bring a universal adapter.
Good To Know
Where to Eat
A table for every city — the rooftop overlooking the Nile, the century-old koshary institution, the felucca-side grill worth the detour.
Downtown Cairo's most celebrated rooftop — a modern Egyptian and Mediterranean menu with the Nile and the citadel lit up below.
Cairo's most famous koshary house, four floors deep — the national dish done exactly as it should be, no frills, no menu needed.
A sprawling open-air terrace on the northern tip of Zamalek island — mezze and grilled fish with the river running right past your table.
A colonial-era dining room dressed in white linen and gilt mirrors — French-Egyptian cooking, and a wine list to match the setting. Book well ahead.
A lantern-lit rooftop above the souk with the temples of Karnak visible in the distance — traditional Egyptian dishes and a genuinely warm welcome.
Reached by boat to Elephantine Island — Nubian home-cooking on a rooftop terrace looking straight across the Nile at the Old Cataract.
Moorish-domed dining room where Agatha Christie once stayed — a set Egyptian menu served under the same arches, the Nile just beyond the terrace.
Pick your catch straight from the ice on the Corniche, grilled to order — the freshest seafood on the Mediterranean coast, no exceptions.
A grand Belle Époque café dating to 1905 — pastries, strong coffee, and the same painted ceiling that welcomed Alexandria's literary set.
How Long You Have
Three days keeps you in Cairo and Giza. Ten lets you add a full Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan, and a day in Alexandria besides.
Morning
Your driver meets you at arrivals. Check in, rest, and let the jet lag pass before the city asks anything of you.
Afternoon
A gentle first outing through the walled churches and narrow lanes of Old Cairo — a quiet counterpoint to the pyramids to come.
Evening
Dinner on a terrace above the river, the city lighting up as the call to prayer drifts across it.
Morning
Private early access to the Great Pyramid, Khafre, and the Sphinx — the light is softest and the crowds are still asleep.
Afternoon
Tutankhamun's treasures and the Royal Mummy Room with a licensed Egyptologist to bring the collection to life.
Evening
Cairo's centuries-old market — spice, gold, lanterns, and mint tea at a café that's been pouring it since the 1700s.
Morning
The world's oldest large stone monument, and far fewer visitors than Giza — a quieter, equally striking morning.
Afternoon
A final pass through Zamalek's galleries and boutiques before the airport transfer.
Evening
Cairo International Airport is roughly 45 minutes from downtown — leave with time to spare for evening connections.
Morning
Driver waiting at arrivals, straight to the hotel. No plans for the rest of the day — let the journey settle first.
Afternoon
A slow first walk through the walled churches and narrow lanes — a gentle introduction to the city.
Evening
Dinner above the river as the city lights come on across both banks.
Morning
Early private access to the Great Pyramid, Khafre and the Sphinx, before the general gates open.
Afternoon
Tutankhamun's treasures and the Royal Mummy Room, guided by a licensed Egyptologist.
Evening
Cairo's oldest market — lanterns, spice, gold, and centuries-old tea houses.
Morning
A quieter counterpoint to Giza — the world's oldest large stone monument, with far fewer visitors.
Afternoon
A short domestic flight south — arrive by early evening and settle into the Winter Palace on the Nile Corniche.
Evening
The vast temple complex illuminated after dark — one of the more theatrical ways to see it for the first time.
Morning
The West Bank's royal tombs, painted walls still vivid after 3,000 years — go early, before the heat sets in.
Afternoon
A terraced mortuary temple cut into the cliffs, then the two weathered stone giants that once guarded it from the plain below.
Evening
A quiet sail as the sun drops behind the West Bank hills — no engine, just wind and water.
Morning
Return in the morning light to properly take in the hypostyle hall's 134 columns — easy to rush the night before.
Afternoon
A shorter, walkable site right on the Corniche — an easy final stop before the airport.
Evening
Fly home directly from Luxor, or connect back through Cairo — we arrange either.
Morning
Driver waiting at arrivals. No agenda for the rest of the day — let the journey settle first.
Afternoon
A slow first walk through the walled churches and narrow lanes of the old city.
Evening
Dinner above the river as the city lights come on across both banks.
Morning
Early private access to the Great Pyramid, Khafre and the Sphinx, before the crowds arrive.
Afternoon
Tutankhamun's treasures and the Royal Mummy Room, with a licensed Egyptologist guiding you through.
Evening
Cairo's oldest market — lanterns, spice, gold, and tea houses that have poured it for centuries.
Morning
The world's oldest large stone monument, with far fewer visitors than Giza.
Afternoon
A short domestic flight south — check into your riverside hotel by early evening.
Evening
The vast temple complex illuminated after dark — a striking first impression of Luxor.
Morning
The West Bank's royal tombs, painted walls still vivid after 3,000 years — go early, before the heat sets in.
Afternoon
A terraced mortuary temple cut directly into the cliffs — one of Egypt's most striking pieces of architecture.
Evening
Embark in Luxor as the sun sets — settle into your suite, dinner served as the ship casts off south. We recommend sailing with Soleil Cruise, our preferred partner for this crossing.
Morning
One of the best-preserved temples in Egypt, reached from the dock by horse-drawn carriage.
Afternoon
An easy afternoon on the sun deck as the riverbanks slide past — palm groves, water buffalo, village life.
Evening
A rare double temple dedicated to two gods, best seen as the light turns gold over the Nile.
Morning
Relocated stone by stone to save it from the flood waters — an island temple reached by short boat crossing.
Afternoon
Brightly painted homes and warm hospitality on the Nile's west bank — tea with a local family, time allowing.
Evening
A traditional sailboat past Elephantine Island as the sky turns copper — the quietest hour of the whole trip.
Morning
A final breakfast on board before checking out of your suite.
Afternoon
A short connecting flight north for your onward international departure.
Evening
Cairo International Airport — leave with time to spare for evening connections.
Morning
Driver waiting at arrivals. No agenda for the rest of the day — let the journey settle first.
Afternoon
A slow first walk through the walled churches and narrow lanes of the old city.
Evening
Dinner above the river as the city lights come on across both banks.
Morning
Early private access to the Great Pyramid, Khafre and the Sphinx, before the crowds arrive.
Afternoon
Tutankhamun's treasures and the Royal Mummy Room, with a licensed Egyptologist guiding you through.
Evening
Cairo's oldest market — lanterns, spice, gold, and tea houses that have poured it for centuries.
Morning
The world's oldest large stone monument, with far fewer visitors than Giza.
Afternoon
Roughly three hours to the Mediterranean coast — a change of pace after Cairo's density.
Evening
A walk along the seafront promenade, then fresh grilled seafood chosen straight off the ice.
Morning
The modern library built to honour the ancient one, followed by the Roman-era catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa.
Afternoon
A short flight back to Cairo, connecting on to Luxor the same afternoon.
Evening
The vast temple complex illuminated after dark — a striking first impression of Luxor.
Morning
The West Bank's royal tombs, painted walls still vivid after 3,000 years — go early, before the heat sets in.
Afternoon
A terraced mortuary temple cut into the cliffs, then the two weathered stone giants on the plain below.
Evening
Embark in Luxor as the sun sets — settle into your suite, dinner served as the ship casts off south. We recommend sailing with Soleil Cruise, our preferred partner for this crossing.
Morning
One of the best-preserved temples in Egypt, reached from the dock by horse-drawn carriage.
Afternoon
An easy afternoon on the sun deck — palm groves, water buffalo, village life sliding past.
Evening
A rare double temple dedicated to two gods, best seen as the light turns gold over the water.
Morning
Relocated stone by stone to save it from the flood waters — an island temple reached by short boat crossing.
Afternoon
Brightly painted homes and warm hospitality on the Nile's west bank.
Evening
A traditional sailboat past Elephantine Island as the sky turns copper.
Morning
A dawn flight to Ramesses II's colossal rock temples near the Sudanese border — the single most dramatic site in Egypt, if time allows.
Afternoon
Check out of your suite and fly north — back to the city for the final stretch of the trip.
Evening
An easy evening — dinner near the hotel, nothing else planned.
Morning
A flexible day with your private Egyptologist and driver — revisit a site, or see something new at a slower pace.
Afternoon
Panoramic views over the whole city from Cairo's medieval fortress.
Evening
One last dinner on the water — by now you'll have a favourite spot, go back to it.
Morning
A slow final breakfast, pack at leisure — your driver confirms the exact pickup time the evening before.
Afternoon
A final pass through Zamalek's galleries and boutiques before heading to the airport.
Evening
Cairo International Airport — leave with time to spare for most international connections.
Where Else We Go
Concierge
Pick a time.
We'll handle the rest.
Skip the spreadsheets and the forty open tabs. Tell us your dates and what you're after — we'll arrange the hotels, secure the upgrades, book the experiences and brief our contacts on the ground.
Schedule a 30-min intro call
Choose a slot that suits you — cal.com/createnowhere
Or reach us directly
[email protected]Cairo Concierge
Your own Egyptologist.
Your own driver.
Cairo rewards those who see it properly — the Pyramids explained by someone who has spent a lifetime studying them, a driver who knows exactly when the Giza plateau empties out and when Khan el-Khalili is at its best. We arrange a private, licensed Egyptologist and a personal driver for every guest, tailored entirely to your pace and your interests, from a single day at the Pyramids to a full bespoke itinerary across the city.
Book Cairo ConciergeLet's Get In Touch
Egyptologist & Driver Concierge
Private guides in Cairo · Airport pick-up & drop-off
Available for the right trip.
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