It’s hard to put into words just how incredible this journey was. Egypt has been on my bucket list since ancientl history lessons at school, and this trip was even more amazing than we imagined.
The main part of our adventure was with Viking on the 12-day Pharaohs and Pyramids land and cruise tour. We found it the perfect way to experience Egypt: the days are busy and full of sightseeing, but once on the cruise you only unpack just once and still travel to multiple towns.
We arrived a day before the tour began, and I had pre-booked a private Egyptologist to take us to the new Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM). The GEM was closing during our Viking tour in preparation for the grand opening, and I didn’t want to miss it! More on the GEM later.
Next, our private guide took us to the Khan El Khalili markets. A huge sensory overload—but very exciting for a shopper like me! The markets are packed with every Egyptian souvenir imaginable, and vendors battle for your attention. We found that being polite but firm, and having a laugh with them, made it a fun experience.
Cairo
The Viking tour begins with three nights in Cairo at a luxury hotel. We stayed at the Fairmont on the Nile in a Nile View room. This is a beautiful hotel and the view was gorgeous.
Cairo is a chaotic city—as you’d expect with 28 million people living there. The traffic is wild, but the locals seem to know exactly what’s going on, so we felt very comfortable travelling in Viking’s luxury air-conditioned coaches.
Our Cairo sightseeing included:
The Step Pyramid of Saqqara
Built in 2700 BC, it is the world’s oldest stone pyramid. The surrounding area holds beautifully decorated tombs from the Old Kingdom. We were able to enter one of the tombs with our Viking Egyptologist, who explained the story behind the hieroglyphics. It was incredible.
The Great Pyramid of Giza
The last surviving Wonder of the Ancient World, built around 2560 BC for Pharaoh Khufu, rising 146 metres. Standing beside it fills you with awe (and maybe wondering if it was the Egyptians or aliens who built them!). With Viking you have the option of a short camel ride and some touristy photos. I was hesitant due to concerns about animal welfare, but the camels were healthy and loved by their handlers. It ended up being a highlight- full of laughs with fellow Viking guests.
The Sphinx
Another mind-blowing monument, so surreal to see with the pyramids as the backdrop.
The Citadel and the Mohammed Ali Mosque
The Citadel offers sweeping views over Cairo. The Mohammed Ali Mosque—also known as the Alabaster Mosque—is incredibly beautiful inside and out.
Cairo’s Museums
We visited three museums and loved them all. There is so much to see, and it’s genuinely fascinating.
The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM)
Over 20 years in the making, the GEM spans 500,000 square metres (around 70 soccer fields) and is the largest archaeological museum in the world. It houses over 100,000 artefacts covering more than 2,000 years of ancient Egyptian history.
You are greeted in the atrium by an 11-metre granite statue of King Ramses III. The museum is thoughtfully designed along spatial axes that align with the three pyramids which are visible through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows.
The Egyptian Museum
When we visited in early October, this museum still housed the treasures of King Tutankhamun, including his golden funerary mask, gold coffins, throne and jewellery which was so exciting to see. These artefacts have now been relocated to the GEM.
NMEC – National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation
Another excellent museum. The highlight is the Mummy Hall, home to 20 royal mummies—18 kings and 2 queens—dating from the 17th to the 20th dynasties. The most famous include Pharaoh Hatshepsut, Thutmose III and Seqenenre Taa II. Seeing the mummies, so incredibly well preserved, was emotional. No photos are allowed, and the quiet atmosphere adds to the experience.
Luxor and the Viking Nile Cruise
On Day 4, after extensive sightseeing in Cairo, we flew to Luxor. Located on the east bank of the Nile, Luxor is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to some of Egypt’s most significant ruins. The west bank contains the Valley of the Kings. Luxor has a more relaxed pace than Cairo, with greenery along the river in contrast to Cairo’s desert landscapes.
This is where we boarded our river ship for eight nights. The Viking Aton is a beautiful vessel with an elegant Scandinavian aesthetic, plenty of relaxation areas, and exceptionally attentive staff (I was handed a glass of bubbles every time I entered the dining room!).
The food was delicious, with local and classic dishes available. Each evening the Chef talked through the menu and his recommendations. Breakfast and lunch were buffet or à la carte, and dinner was à la carte.
Egyptian brand alcoholic drinks are included during meals as well as soft drinks, but not outside these times and unlike Viking’s ocean and European river cruises, there is no drinks package available. Imported alcohol was expensive but you can bring your own alcohol onboard, so duty-free is recommended as bottle shops are limited. We found the Egyptian beer and sparkling wine surprisingly palatable!
Each evening before dinner, one of the Egyptologists hosted a Port Talk to explain the next day’s activities, clothing suggestions, and what to bring. A Daily Newsletter was also left in our cabin each evening.
While daytime cruising, Egyptologists offered classes on Arabic words, writing hieroglyphics, making falafel, and Egyptian history. Although many people rested ready for the next sightseeing adventure.
Our veranda suite was comfortable and well appointed. Having a balcony to watch the Nile drift by was lovely, though you can also enjoy the view from the Sun Deck or air-conditioned lounge.
Viking has its own private docks at each stop—a bonus compared with seeing ships stacked eight deep along a wharf.
The small pool at the aft of the ship was perfect for cooling down with a drink, meeting fellow guests, and watching life on the Nile.
Luxor Sightseeing Highlights
Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple with the Avenue of Sphinxes that once linked them
Hot Air Ballooning over the Valley of the Kings An unexpected holiday highlight! Floating at sunrise with 50 other balloons over the Valley of the Kings was surreal. This optional excursion is well worth the early 4 am start and cost. The baskets are large (28 people), and the pilots are very experienced. I felt safe at all times.
Valley of the Kings- The ancient burial site of Egypt’s pharaohs and nobles. The richly decorated tombs were filled with treasures for the afterlife. All tombs were looted except King Tutankhamun’s, found almost intact in 1922. His treasures are now at the GEM, but his mummy remains onsite in a temperature-controlled case. Fact: Tutankhamun became pharaoh at nine years old and died at eighteen!
Your Viking ticket includes entry to five tombs, and your Egyptologist will advise which are best based on crowds and accessibility. We visited the tombs of Seti, Tutankhamun, Tausert & Setnakht (the only combined King and Queen tomb in the valley), and Thutmose IV. All incredible and unique.
Hatshepsut Temple- (Pronunciation tip: Hat-cheap-suit) She was Egypt’s first female pharaoh and one of its most successful rulers. Her temple is cut into a cliff and is unique and spectacular.
Cruising Ports of Call
Qena – Temple of Dendera famous for its astronomical ceiling and vibrant hieroglyphics.
Esna- A walking tour through the local village provided fantastic photo opportunities. We met local artisans—a tailor, barber, baker, and ironing man! Our Egyptologist recommends Esna markets for purchasing Egyptian-made goods- like galabeya’s, tablecloths, and T-shirts. It was intense, but polite firmness (and humour) goes a long way.
Aswan- once the northern border of ancient Nubia.
One of my favourite sightseeing days was here, we travelled by small motorboat along the Nile past feluccas and small villages of brightly painted homes to visit a Nubian village and home, and then on to the pretty Philae Temple. Spectacular photo opportunities along the way.
The Papyrus Institute- Here we learned how papyrus paper is made and browsed beautiful artwork—items ranged from $10 personalised bookmarks with your name in hieroglyphics to incredible $1000+ works.
Aswan Dam- this now controls the flow of the Nile River, which protects people living near the banks of the Nile from both floods and droughts. We were fortunate to spot a crocodile swimming in the upper dam!
Abu Simbel – A Trip Highlight. This is an optional tour with Viking. Seats are limited, so book early. We flew Aswan to Abu Simbel—one hour on a private Viking charter. These enormous temples were carved into the cliffs in the 13th century BC during Ramses II’s reign. One temple is dedicated to himself, the other to his beloved wife, Nefertari. Relocated in 1968 due to the construction of the Aswan Dam which would have flooded them, they are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s an expensive optional tour but worth every cent—truly one of the most awe-inspiring sights I’ve ever seen.
Edfu- Temple of Horus, said to be the site of Horus’s mythical battle with Seth.
Last cruising day
Our cruise ended back in Luxor for our early morning flight to Cairo, unfortunately our flight was substantially delayed which meant we were too late for our final tour of Old Cairo and the Coptic Quarter.
The last night in Cairo was at the Intercontinental Hotel near the airport, with a buffet dinner included. This is a stunning hotel but very busy with many groups staying here. We bid farewell to our fellow Viking guests, some heading home, others extending to various destinations.
Alexandria- I had arranged another private guide to take us to Alexandria on the northern coast. It’s between a 3–5 hour drive depending on traffic, with plenty of eye-opening sights along the way, mostly involving traffic, vehicles and cargo.
Founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BC, Alexandria became the capital of Greco-Roman Egypt. Today it’s a Mediterranean port city blending Egyptian and European heritage.
We stayed at the Rixos Montaza Resort, in a King Fouad sea view room with beautiful views of the Mediterranean. This is a stunning hotel within a luxury resort complex, a popular holiday destination for Egyptians during their summer. It was the perfect flop and drop after our busy adventure!
Why Viking?
- There are so many advantages to cruising Egypt rather than touring solely by land—you unpack once yet see multiple cities and regions. As you sail, you can relax and watch everyday life unfold along the Nile.
- The Viking ships are stylish with only 55–90 guests (depending on which ship). The food is safe, high-quality, and made entirely onboard. There were entertainers on a few evenings, and Egyptian Night, where guests could dress up, was full of fun, food and laughter.
- All excursions are led by qualified Egyptologists who speak fluent English. Understanding what you are seeing makes it mean so much more. The stories in the hieroglyphics are fascinating.
- We never felt unsafe. Viking travels with armed security throughout the tour—not intrusive, but reassuring. Security screening is required at all hotels, museums, and archaeological sites. Tourism is so vital to Egypt that everyone works together to keep visitors safe.
Tipping is a way of life in Egypt. With Viking it is included during the cruise, but it’s strongly encouraged to tip on land. We took $200 USD in $1 notes and used them all. I found most Egyptians would happily agree to a photo for a small tip.
We travelled in early October, which was still very warm (around 35°C). It felt closer to 45°C in the Valley of the Kings and Abu Simbel, so late October or November may be more comfortable.
I have many handy tips to make your trip to Egypt more comfortable and have provided the Home & Afar Travel team with these on tipping, shopping, clothing, medication to share with our clients.
Final Thoughts
Egypt was an incredible, emotional and utterly fascinating journey—one that has gifted us memories for a lifetime. I would definitely travel with Viking again, we saw everything we wanted to and had opportunities to interact with locals from the safety of our ‘Viking bubble’.
One of our guides said, “A visit to Egypt is not a holiday, it is a mission,” and that sums it up perfectly. It is busy, and can be tiring in the heat, there is lots of walking on uneven ground, so a reasonable fitness level helps. If you go well-prepared, I’ve no doubt you’ll feel the same joy we do from this extraordinary experience.
Feel free to contact me or any of the team if you would like to know more about this journey.
To view more of my photos take a look at our facebook page here. I took so many photos as it was so incredible! :