This trip has a very full itinerary but offers a pleasant balance between relaxation and activity – we don’t overload children with too many sites. It is not a luxury trip – conditions on the felucca sailboats and the overnight train are very simple, but accommodation elsewhere is modest, clean and comfortable. There are some early starts on this trip and it can be very hot in the summer months, which children and adults alike can find tiring. Please note some road journeys in Egypt are operated by the authorities in convoys. This means that travelling times will be fixed and arrival times into destinations may vary to those described here, with sightseeing adjusted accordingly. Minimum age: 5 years.

Wet wipes are very useful on the felucca and, for ladies; a two piece swimming costume is much easier than a one piece! Please Note: Swimming pools at the hotels are often unheated and so can be cold in the winter months.
Suggested reading:
Your Child’s Health Abroad - Matthew Ellis and Jane Wilson-Howarth, (Bradt publications)
Travel with Children – Maureen Wheeler (Lonely Planet)
For younger readers:
The Awesome Egyptians – Terry Deary & Martin Brown
The Egyptians – Rachel Wright & Nicola Baxter

Your flight will have the largest environmental impact on your holiday. Climate Care offers you the opportunity to offset your carbon dioxide emissions with set amounts from £5. If you would like to offset the carbon emissions generated by your flight, please go to www.climatecare.org

Since the increase in popularity of bottled water, many countries are experiencing a problem of litter especially where adequate recycling is not available. Please could you try, where possible, to use purification tablets or filters for water or buy bigger bottles of water between group members and decant into your individual water bottles.

The evening spent with our Nubian friends not only allows you to see something of Nubian life, but also provides a source of income directly to the family.

We have joined forces with the Sunshine International Project, Luxor, to assist in providing education and a home for children in Egypt. You will have the opportunity to visit the home during your stay in Luxor and meet the residents, where you’ll be assured of a cheery welcome!

If you would like to go, please speak to your Group Leader early on in your trip and they will give you the details so you can arrange your visit. A taxi to the home will cost approximately EGP 10 (tell the taxi driver it’s directly across from The International Hospital in Television Street, if they haven’t heard of it). Please also be aware that there maybe times that you can’t visit, for example because of itinerary timings or opening times of the Sunshine International Project.

If you would like to give a gift they would be delighted to receive the following; children’s winter clothing – for boys and girls aged between one month and 14 years, i.e. long trousers, sweatshirts, cardigans & long-sleeved dresses. They’d also like white glue, glitter, colouring books and educational or children’s film DVDs to play with! Long-sleeved pyjamas, disposable nappies, milk formula and baby shampoo are also always needed. These goods are available to buy cheaply locally (helping the local economy) and your Group Leader will be able to advise on where to buy things.

For further details please see www.sunshine-international.org.uk, where the children have placed a wish-list!

Although you may see other travellers dressed otherwise, as in any Muslim country, tight or skimpy clothing should not be worn by adults out of respect for local customs. Long, loose shorts are acceptable but you should be aware of local sensibilities. For women no halter neck or sleeveless tops, whilst a headscarf is useful – it’s both a local custom and useful for shielding against the strong sun. Hurghada is different at it's an international beach resort and as such more liberal dress is acceptable. Below is a suggestion of what you might find useful to take on this trip. It is not an exhaustive packing list. If you need further advice, please call us or consult your nearest specialist outdoor clothing and equipment store.
In summer (Apr-Oct), light cotton clothing is adequate for kids and adults alike, with a light sweater or sweatshirt, just in case. Remember long sleeved shirts and long trousers to guard against the sun!
In winter (Nov-Mar), night-time temperatures are low – perhaps as cold as 4°C and it can be windy, making it feel even cooler. Given this you should pack accordingly - a windproof outer layer, a warm mid-layer (wool or fleece) is essential, as are long, warm, trousers. If you particularly feel the cold you may also wish to take a hat and gloves.

• Comfortable shoes or trainers
• Sandals/flip-flops for relaxing
• Sun-hat

Sleeping bag (Mar to Nov - 2-3 season; Dec to Feb – 4-season) Please note that in desert countries like Egypt, summer temperatures can fall to almost freezing point at night. Although you may not experience such low temperatures, it is the reason we strongly advise you to take a sleeping bag of a suitable rating. It is possible to hire a sleeping bag locally in Cairo at a cost of UK£10 (payable in cash to your Group Leader in Cairo) per person, per trip. Please advise us at the time of booking.

• Torch
• High-factor sunscreen & lipsalve
• Waterbottle
• Insect repellent
• Sunglasses
• Towel
• Personal first aid kit
• Toilet paper for the felucca section of the trip
• Although there are not great numbers of mosquitoes, you may wish to bring a mosquito net for the felucca section of the trip
• Waterproof bags for valuable items like passports, cameras etc
• A laundry service may be available in some hotels, but we recommend taking biodegradable travel detergent clothes can be washed as you wish.
Please note: Although snorkelling equipment (mask, snorkel and fins) is provided, these are generally in adult sizes. We recommend that you bring these from home for children intending to snorkel. Alternatively, equipment can usually be purchased locally, though the price and quality may vary.

For your comfort we recommend you travel as light as possible; many airlines impose a maximum weight limit of 20kg – we advise you to take 10kg as you will be on the move a good deal! For domestic flights using light aircraft the usual weight limit is 15 kg.
One main piece (a soft bag or rucksack, not a hard suitcase).
A daypack (25-30 litres), large enough to carry what you need for the day including camera, water, etc.

Rooming at hotels
Family of two - All family groupings of two will be put
into a twin room.

Family of three - Wherever possible we will put you in a triple room.
Please be aware that in some places triple rooms are in short supply.
This means that, in practice, a triple room will often simply be a twin
room with a mattress on the floor or a further bed squashed in. Where it
is impossible to provide a triple room, you will have to decide which of
your party takes the single room.

Family of four or more - Wherever possible we will put you in a quadruple room.
For larger families, we will provide twin/or quadruple rooms
as standard, with a triple room if there is an odd number.
Whilst we will do our very best to ensure that families are roomed close
together (in some cases, we can arrange adjoining rooms), we can’t
guarantee this. Most family holidays occur during peak season and we
sometimes have little to no control over where you will be put. You
need to come prepared for this.

Single Accommodation
There may be instances when you specifically want a single room.
Perhaps Granny needs one or parents of a family of three or five want to
ensure they get a bit of space! You only need to pay for this if you want
to ensure a single room.

The underwater world is a very fragile environment.
Please take these simple measures to help protect the area's delicate reef system for future years:

• Touching coral, even unintentionally, will create lasting damage. Fragile corals can be poisoned with a dose of oily sunscreen.
• Avoid touching anything with your fins and try not to stir up sediment.
• Only tread water in deeper parts, away from the coral, to avoid accidental kicking.
• Do not take coral or any other item (e.g. shells) as souvenirs.
• Do not rest or stand on coral.
• If you are a beginner, practice snorkelling away from coral first until you have mastered buoyancy control.

Following your flight you transfer to your first night’s accommodation and check in. This family friendly hotel is close to the pyramids, so while it is a fair way from the airport, there is less distance to cover for the sightseeing the next day. The rooms are comfortable and spacious with air conditioning. The swimming pool is one of the largest in Cairo and if you fancy a stroll, why not go for a wander in the hotel's beautiful garden. Hotel – 1 night (Swimming Pool)

With a population of around eighteen million people, Cairo is Africa’s largest city by far. Yet despite its size, Cairo retains a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. Its long and colourful history dates from the 7th century AD, when it was established by the Arab leader Amr ibn al-As, and called Fustat (the tent). Today you’ll enjoy a half-day sightseeing tour of two of the city’s most celebrated sights. At Giza, to the west of the city, the enigmatic Sphinx and great pyramids still stand on the edge of the empty desert overlooking the city. More than 4000 years old, the pyramids are the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World that remain intact – a testimony to the ingenuity and skill of their builders. The famed Egyptian Museum holds many thousands of exhibits; your local guide will focus on the Tutankhamun collection – probably the world’s greatest archaeological find. You’ll see the treasure found in the tomb of the boy-king: the jewel-encrusted golden mask, the golden sarcophagus and throne, plus many everyday articles, which were entombed with him to be used in the afterlife. Although a wonderful experience for all, it will bring together all the things the kids have been learning about at school … and give you a taste for what’s to come at the Valley of the Kings, the burial place of Tutankhamun! In the evening you board the overnight train to the southern city of Aswan. Overnight sleeper train – 1 night (BD)

Arriving in Aswan in the morning, you see that it is here that the Nile runs deep and fast between granite rocks as the desert encroaches on the river. Even to travellers in ancient times, the town was legendary as the entrance to the kingdom of Nubia. Today it’s still something of a frontier town, where the Arab Middle East meets black Africa. With its mixed population of Egyptians and Nubians, Aswan is quite unlike any other town in the country. By virtue of its position on the old caravan route, it has always been a trading centre and we thoroughly recommend a visit to the packed bazaar where merchants display a wealth of exotic spices, carpets, leather goods and countless other wares. Kids will be thrilled by the sight of donkey carts and men in flowing robes and turbans. The climate in winter is almost perfect – hardly a drop of rain falls here and the temperature hovers around 25C. In the afternoon there may be time to take a taxi out to visit the temple of Isis at Philae. There are many other sites to be seen around Aswan and your Group Leader may be able to organise some, for example to the remarkable Unfinished Obelisk or a fun camel ride (all additional charge). In the evening there is a trip across the river to a Nubian village where you enjoy dinner at one of the local houses.
Hotel - 1 night (Swimming Pool) (BD)

A very early start usually allows for an optional excursion to Abu Simbel, just 50 kilometres from the border with Sudan. Alternatively, kids will love the optional camel ride to St. Simeon’s Monastery - a real desert experience! By late morning you board the feluccas and settle down to relax. The Nile has a fascination all of its own and remains the principal focus for most visitors to Egypt. In ancient legend it was the very giver of life, and the rich silt deposited by its annual flooding created the fertile plain. This was cultivated intensely to sustain the population that lived along the river; even in modern times it both feeds and provides a livelihood for millions of people. Camping (sleeping on mattresses on the deck of the felucca) – 1 night. (BLD)

This morning you’ll visit the temple at Kom Ombo, uniquely dedicated to two gods: Haroeris (Horus the elder) and the crocodile-headed Sobek, god of the Nile. Kids (and adults?) will cringe at the mummified crocs on display!

On the east bank around Kom Ombo, reclaimed land is fed by canals to keep the desert at bay - it supports not only crops of sugar cane but also a large Nubian community displaced from their homeland by the rising waters of Lake Nasser. You transfer by bus to Luxor, travelling as part of a convoy – total time approximately four hours. Following the path of the Nile you retrace your route northwards. Known in ancient times as Thebes, Luxor was the capital of Egypt’s New Kingdom for some 500 years. Upon arrival, there will be time to look around the town’s monuments and museum, and it may be possible to visit Karnak temple to witness the memorable sound and light show (optional) which relates its history in suitably dramatic fashion. Hotel – 2 nights (Swimming Pool) (B)

This morning you visit the ancient tombs of the Pharaohs in the Valley of the Kings. Rising early, you cross the Nile and drive to the secluded valley where 63 Pharaohs were buried as part of their journey to the after-life. In the company of a local guide, you can explore some of the exquisitely decorated tombs of these rulers of long ago. It is here that the burial site of the boy-king Tutankhamun, discovered by British archaeologist Howard Carter in 1922, can be found (optional visit). This visit to the Valley of the Kings brings to life much of what you saw in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. On your way back to the river, you can see the imposing funerary temple of Queen Hatshepsut, Egypt’s first female ruler. This afternoon you’re free to explore Luxor, or perhaps just relax by the hotel swimming pool. It may also be possible to take an optional hot air balloon ride early one morning during your stay in Luxor. (B)

In the early morning, horse-drawn carriages drive you to the grandest of Egypt’s historic temples – Karnak, which you explore with a local guide. Many architects and engineers contributed to its construction, a task that spanned the reign of successive Pharaohs over a period of 1400 years. The highlights of its many wonders are the great hypostyle hall, which contains 134 huge columns, and the beautifully carved obelisk of Queen Hatshepsut. The sheer scale and massive bulk of these monuments testify to the wealth and the level of organisation of early Egyptian civilisation.

This afternoon you say farewell to the Nile and drive eastwards to Hurghada (5 hours). The green Nile valley is soon left behind as you head out into the barren Eastern Desert. Passing through rocky hills, the glittering waters of the Red Sea soon come into view and the rugged bulk of the Sinai Peninsula looms through the haze on the opposite shore. Hurghada is a vibrant beach resort. Although by no means a typical ‘adventure destination’, enjoying the superb snorkelling on offer here is a great way to round off your trip. Hotel – 2 nights (Swimming Pool) (BD)

This morning you take to the waves and head out to the lovely offshore reefs where you can swim and snorkel to see the abundance of vividly coloured marine life that inhabits the warm waters. You take snorkels, masks, and fins with you (although if you have a particular favourite we recommend you bring that from home – see notes also under “equipment” below) and lunch is provided on the boat. Pods of frolicking dolphins are not an unusual sight and there are colourful fish in abundance – snorkelling is a real highlight of your trip! (BLD)

Very early this morning, you make the short drive to Hurghada’s airport and take a flight back to Cairo. Once back in the capital, there should be time for further exploration on one of several optional trips that can be arranged. Later this evening your Group Leader will no doubt organise a traditional ‘last supper’. Hotel – 1 night (B) (Swimming Pool)

Clients travelling on our group flights transfer to airport and fly home. (B)