EGYPT
Egypt is one of the great original travel destinations, yet somehow it's too often relegated to being a social media photo-op. The pyramids are the architectural remains of a five-thousand-year-old civilization that essentially invented monumental building. The Nile continues to organize the rhythm of daily life along its banks in ways that have remained unchanged since the dawn of our species. Egypt is for the curious traveler who wants to feel the awe of greeting a civilization older than most languages still spoken, older than the concept of democracy, older than nearly every nation on Earth and yet somehow still alive, still breathing, still drinking tea beside the same river that carried the first stones to the pyramids.
A Taste of What's Possible
Private candlelit dinner set within an ancient temple
Farm-to-table culinary experience in a rural village
After-hours access inside the Giza Pyramids plateau
Where You'll Stay
We spend a lot of time obsessing over the perfect accommodations. Our favorites tend to be smaller, boutique properties with a unique sense of style and fantastic service.
Here are just a few of our favorites...
Three of Our Favorite Spots
Cairo
01
Few places on Earth pack as much history into one place as Cairo, a veritable timeline of human civilization brought to life. The pyramids of Giza sit at the city’s edge and stake their claim in the present skyline. The medieval streets of Islamic Cairo, the early Christian churches of the Coptic quarter, and the Grand Egyptian Museum, which houses more extraordinary objects than most countries produce in a millennium. Arrive prepared to walk and for all your senses to go into overdrive.
LUXOR
02
From the Valley of the Kings to the Valley of the Queens, the exquisite temples and tombs on Luxor’s West Bank date back to the 16th century BC and live up to their regal names. Karnak, one of the largest ancient religious sites in the world, was built upon by over thirty different pharaohs and justifies the journey here in and of itself. Arrive by dahabiya, sailing slowly up the Nile the way the ancients would have arrived. From the river, the whole thing makes a different kind of sense.
FAIYUM
03
Egypt’s largest oasis packs an unexpected range of history and landscapes. In the UNESCO-listed Wadi Al-Hitan, walk among 40-million-year-old fossilized whale skeletons; take in Wadi El Rayan’s Lake al-Mo'ejza shifting brilliant shades of blue throughout the day; sandboard and stargaze in the surrounding dunes; visit clay pottery villages perched above an ancient salt lake. Faiyum is for travelers who want to experience Egypt without the crowds.
"I had no idea of anything so wonderful. The pillars of Karnak, the temple of Edfou, the tombs of the kings, are far less impressive than the simple desert and the silent Sphinx. There is nothing more solemn in the whole world than the first sight of Karnak by moonlight, when the great pillars rise in the white light, and one feels alone with the past."
Florence Nightingale (from Letters from Egypt: A Journey on the Nile, 1849):
Sample Itinerary
Timeless Egypt: From Ancient Wonders to the Tranquil Nile
Day 1: Arrive in Cairo and private transfer to your accommodations in the heart of the city.
Day 2: Begin your exploration of Egypt with a visit to the iconic pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, followed by an expertly guided tour of the Grand Egyptian Museum. This evening, enjoy curated tastings of Egypt’s most authentic dishes.
Day 3: Discover the rich layers of Islamic Cairo today, wandering through historic mosques, bustling souks, and hidden architectural gems with exclusive access experiences that bring the city’s past vividly to life. In the evening, venture to a small building deep in the neighborhood of Sayeda Zeinab where an enigmatic troupe of musicians perform a blend of Sufi, Nubian, and Zikr music.
Day 4: Fly to Luxor and transfer to your hotel on the West Bank. Begin your immersion into ancient Thebes with a guided introduction to this area known as the world’s largest open-air museum.
Day 5: Spend the day exploring the Valley of the Kings, including some lesser-known tombs for a more intimate experience, along with visits to nearby temples and archaeological sites that reveal the grandeur of ancient Egypt.
Day 6: Board your luxurious dahabiya sailboat and embark on an elegant journey along the Nile. Settle into the rhythm of the river as you sail past timeless landscapes, enjoying the refined, intimate atmosphere onboard.
Days 7-9: Enjoy 3 full days sailing along the Nile, taking in the changing scenery and stopping to explore lesser-visited temples with an Egyptologist, tranquil riverside villages that flourish on the river’s banks, and more. Life on board offers a balance of discovery and relaxation, evoking the golden age of travel.
Day 10: Disembark in Aswan and transfer to your hotel. Visit the beautiful Philae Temple, and enjoy a relaxing afternoon soaking in the calm, southern atmosphere.
Day 11: Enjoy a full day in Aswan to relax by the Nile, and at sunset board a private felucca (traditional sailboat) for a ride past scenic islands and sand dunes.
Day 12: Travel to Sharm El-Sheikh on the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula for a couple of nights of R&R in an idyllic beach setting.
Day 13: A full day at leisure to relax, swim, or snorkel in the crystal-clear waters of the Red Sea, taking in the natural beauty and tranquility of this coastal retreat.
Day 14: Private transfer to the airport for your onward flight home.
