Ahlan wa sahlan! Welcome to Egypt. When you arrive at the Cairo airport, an included transfer will take you to your hotel. Your adventure officially begins with a welcome meeting at 5 pm tonight. After your meeting, head out for an included dinner with the group. Your leader will introduce your family to Egyptian cuisine, known for being fresh, delicious and unique to the country. Best enjoyed shared, you’ll all tuck into an array of traditional dishes like fatta (a dish made with rice, bread and meat in a garlic and vinegar sauce) and kushari (a delicious mixture of pasta, rice, lentils and fried onions). It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information for each member of your family. If you are going to be late, please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.

This morning, get the family together and step into ancient Egypt. It’s a big day, with a visit to the mighty Pyramids of Giza – one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World – and the Sphinx. Your trip leader and an expert local guide will regale you and your kids with the stories behind these legendary landmarks and why they’ve captured imaginations for thousands of years. After lunch, continue to the Grand Egyptian Museum, where treasures from Tutankhamun’s tomb – from jewellery to his famous golden death mask and gilded sarcophagi – reveal just how richly this young pharaoh prepared for the afterlife. There are nearly 100,000 artefacts to explore, plus a children’s museum, where kids can make music on ancient drums or challenge you to a life-sized board game once enjoyed by King Tut.

Fly to Aswan this morning, where you’ll get out for a motorboat ride along the Nile between the old dam and the high dam to reach Philae Temple. Set on its own island, this beautiful temple dedicated to Isis – the goddess of health, marriage and wisdom – was carefully rescued from the rising waters of the Nile and relocated stone by stone. Notice the grand gateways and detailed carvings as your leader helps bring the stories of ancient Egypt to life. Tonight, experience modern Nubian culture firsthand with a visit to a nearby village. Join a local family for dinner, try traditional dishes and learn about daily life in this part of Egypt as you swap stories with your welcoming hosts. The kids will love the chance to see a different side of Egyptian life, and after dinner, you’ll enjoy Nubian dancing – with the chance for the whole family to try a few moves, too. Your travel time today will be approximately 4.5 hours.

Check in with the fam this morning and feel out their energy for an optional visit to the magnificent temples of Abu Simbel. If you go, you’ll experience one of Egypt’s most memorable sights. Four gargantuan statues of Ramses adorn the facade of Abu Simbel. Inside, see the Temple of Ramesses II and the small temple of his favourite wife, Queen Nefertari. Later, embark on your three-night Nile cruise. After lunch onboard, venture out from the ship on a felucca (traditional wooden boat) for a look at the landscape on nearby islands. Return to the cruise ship for a group dinner. It’s possible to book a morning excursion from Aswan to Abu Simbel, where you can explore some magnificent temples. Abu Simbel can be reached by plane or by road. For the flight, please speak to your booking agent to arrange this in advance (at least 21 days), as flights frequently sell out. Currently, flight times to Abu Simbel change frequently and may require a very early start. Abu Simbel visits by road can only be arranged locally. Please speak with your leader at the welcome meeting if you are interested in arranging this. The price listed is indicative only and will vary depending on the group size. Accommodation aboard the Nile riverboat is full board – breakfast, lunch and dinner are included. Drinks are offered from the bar area for an additional cost. An evening program is also available. Please note that you may sail on either the MS Ellie, Amwaj Nile Cruise, Nile Premium or Kahila Cruise depending on sailing dates.

Enjoy a peaceful morning on board your riverboat, then set out in the afternoon along the river, relaxing in the sun on deck and taking in the desert hills. Arrive at Kom Ombo Temple, where your leader will let you in on the secrets of this ancient sanctuary. Built in approximately 181 BC, Kom Ombo is dedicated to two gods – Horus (god of protection) and Sobek (the crocodile-headed god of fertility, linked to the Nile’s water). Each god has a dedicated section – north or south. If you have time, check out the Crocodile Museum next to the temple, where you can learn more about Sobek and see mummified Nile crocodiles, statues and burial displays that offer a fascinating look at how this powerful river animal was once honoured as sacred. After, return to your riverboat and continue to Edfu, where you’ll dock for the evening.

This morning, you’ll continue sailing towards Luxor passing through the Esna Locks. When you arrive, you’ll explore the Karnak Temple, one of the world’s most celebrated temple complexes. The ‘house of gods’ was built over a period of some 2000 years – some of it dating to 2055 BC. You’ll also head over to Tuuur Foundation partner, Animal Care in Egypt (ACE) – a local NGO dedicated to providing free veterinary care for wounded working animals in the region. Head back to the boat for your last night on the Nile.

Today, visit the Valley of the Kings. Spend a few hours with a guide exploring some of the beautifully decorated tombs of the 63 pharaohs who were buried here as part of their journey to the afterlife. Listen to the stories of the funerary rites of ancient Egyptians and the significance of the paintings and hieroglyphics you’ll see. It’s here that the burial site of the boy-king, Tutankhamun, was re-discovered by British archaeologist Howard Carter in 1922. After, get to know more about the Egyptian way of life with a visit to local Egyptian home for a delicious homecooked lunch. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy as you like. You can purchase a photo ticket that will entitle you to take photos in any of the tombs that you visit as part of your visit to the Valley of the Kings. The cost of the camera ticket is around EGP300. It’s possible to do a Valley of the Kings hot air balloon tour, which your leader can reserve for you. Tuuur only uses providers that have been risk-assessed. You will be picked up between 4.30 and 5 am from your hotel. Balloon capacity is maximum of 25 people and cameras are prohibited in the basket (mobile phones are acceptable). This activity runs subject to weather conditions. Please speak to your leader on Day 1 if you would like to book this activity.

Your trip will come to an end today after breakfast and you’re free to leave at any time after checkout. A complimentary airport transfer is included for those flying out of Luxor. If you would like to spend more time in Cairo or continue to the Red Sea for a few days of snorkelling and relaxation, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation.