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Circuits
Classic Egypt: Cairo, Luxor & Aswan
The essential Pharaohs circuit: Giza, the Nile, Karnak, the West Bank and Philae — eight days, unhurried.
The journey
Journey overview
Siwa sits near the Libyan border, a Berber oasis of palms, salt and silence. We spend two nights in a lodge and one in the dunes.
Best from October to April. The drive from Cairo is long; a domestic flight to Marsa Matruh can be arranged to shorten the road.
Day by day
Detailed itinerary
Day 1
Cairo to Siwa
A full transfer day: the long road from Cairo, or a flight to Marsa Matruh plus the remaining drive. Siwa is near the Libyan border; the distance is the price of the silence.
Evening in the lodge, a first walk among the palms. Modest dress in the oasis; alcohol is not part of the culture. Dinner as listed.
Sleep. Tomorrow is the oracle, the fortress and the salt lakes — not another six hours of tarmac.
Day 2
Oracle, fortress & salt lakes
Temple of the Oracle of Amun — Alexander came here — then the ruined fortress of Shali above the old town. The story is Berber as much as pharaonic; we do not pretend otherwise.
Afternoon: a float in the salt lakes, denser than you expect, then sunset from a dune edge. Lunch included.
Evening at the lodge. Tomorrow the Great Sand Sea, which is why you came this far.
Day 3
Great Sand Sea camp
4x4 into the Great Sand Sea. Lunch, a swim in a desert spring if conditions allow, then camp and a sky without cities. This night is the point of the journey.
Camp is simple and cold in winter. We provide equipment; a warmer layer is yours. Not recommended in high summer.
No alcohol in the oasis culture, including at camp. The silence does the rest.
Day 4
Return
Breakfast in the dunes, return to the lodge to wash, then the road or flight toward Cairo. The transfer day is long again; we do not pretend it is a visit.
Arrival in Cairo in the evening if the road is kind. A hotel night can be added if you cannot face an airport the same day.
Dust, salt, silence — that is the souvenir. Hotel laundry on arrival.
What’s in the price
Inclusions & exclusions
Included
- Lodge and desert camp
- 4x4 in the dunes
- Guiding
- Meals as listed
- Salt-lake visit
Not included
- Flights or long-distance road from Cairo if arranged separately
- Alcohol (Siwa is conservative)
- Travel insurance
Good to know
Practical notes
Modest dress in the oasis. Desert nights are cold in winter. Not recommended in high summer.
Good to Know
Questions about this trip
Straight answers from the planning team — ask anything else and we reply within a working day.
How is this circuit paced?
Siwa Oasis & Desert Night is a starting point. Cairo, Luxor and Aswan need enough days so temples and museum hours do not pile up. We keep Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum on separate mornings, split Luxor’s East and West Banks, and leave Aswan slower (Philae, a felucca hour). Extra nights, a Nile cruise, or a Red Sea finish are added when you send your dates.
Are domestic flights included?
When the itinerary uses a domestic flight (for example Cairo–Luxor or Aswan–Cairo), it is listed under inclusions. We need passport names 72 hours before those flights. International flights to Egypt are not included unless the page says so.
Can we add a Nile cruise or the Red Sea?
Yes. Many guests add cruise nights between Luxor and Aswan, or a few quiet days on the Red Sea after the temples. We keep transfers, hotels and the boat in one booking so the days connect without a scramble.
What is a typical day on the ground?
Cultural days start reasonably early (especially in summer), with a licensed Egyptologist, bottled water and private car. Lunch is listed when it is included. Afternoons are often lighter so the itinerary does not become a checklist. Temple interiors, extra tombs and a pyramid climb are optional extras, not obligations.
How far in advance should I book?
For winter (October–April) and event dates — festivals, concerts, the 2027 eclipse — book as soon as you can. Shoulder season can often be arranged with a few weeks’ notice. Hotels in Luxor for 2 August 2027 sell out early.
Can this itinerary be customised?
Yes. Siwa Oasis & Desert Night is a starting point. We adjust days, hotels, meals and extras (Abu Simbel, balloon, a pyramid interior) once we know who is travelling and what you want to skip.
How do payments work?
Published trips can be reserved on the site. For a custom amount we send a secure payment link. You receive written confirmation, inclusions and our cancellation terms before you travel.
Who will be our guide?
A licensed Egyptologist or local specialist, in French or English as you prefer. We introduce them before the day whenever we can. Drivers are not substitutes for guides at ticketed sites.
What about visas, packing and insurance?
Most visitors need a tourist visa (e-visa or on arrival). Pack light layers, modest dress for mosques, and sun protection. Comprehensive medical insurance with evacuation is required and not included. Full notes: visa, packing, health and insurance pages.
Still have a question about Siwa Oasis & Desert Night?
Plan with confidence
Helpful reading
Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan
Three nights vs four, Edfu, Kom Ombo, and how the cabin fits the land days.
Read guide →
How a classic Egypt circuit is paced
Cairo, Luxor, the Nile and Aswan — why the order matters.
Read guide →
Practical travel information
Money, connectivity, transfers and arrival logistics.
Read guide →
