Egypt: The Ultimate Luxury Journey

Arrive in Cairo, where a private driver meets you at the airport and takes you directly to your hotel. Depending on what matters most, we can position you beside the Nile at one of the city’s leading luxury hotels or closer to Giza, where Marriott Mena House offers extraordinary views of the pyramids.

Over the following days, explore the Giza Plateau privately with an expert Egyptologist, taking in the Great Pyramid, the Sphinx and the wider complex before continuing to Saqqara and the Step Pyramid of Djoser.

Another day is devoted to the Grand Egyptian Museum, where a specialist guide can make sense of a collection too large to approach indiscriminately.

There should also be time for Cairo beyond ancient Egypt: the medieval streets and mosques of Islamic Cairo, Manial Palace, Coptic Cairo, or a long lunch and gallery-hopping in Zamalek.

Board a carefully selected luxury Nile vessel for the journey north toward Luxor.

For travelers who value privacy, we particularly like the idea of a high-end dahabiya. These smaller traditional sailing vessels offer a much more intimate experience than the larger cruise ships, with fewer guests, a slower rhythm and greater flexibility along the river.

The days unfold between time on deck and visits to temples along the Nile. Stop at Kom Ombo, dramatically positioned beside the water, and continue to Edfu, where the Temple of Horus survives in remarkable condition.

Some of the most memorable hours, however, happen between the archaeological sites. The river passes villages, fields, palms and stretches of desert that have defined this landscape for millennia. A good Nile journey gives you time to actually watch Egypt go by.

Return to Cairo for your onward journey, with private transfers arranged around your flight schedule.

For longer trips, we can easily add another night in Cairo, continue to the Red Sea for a few days of complete downtime or extend the journey into Alexandria and the Mediterranean north.