Egypt: Nubian New Year

We dedicate the whole day to the ancient world. Saqqarah gives you the first glimpse of the early pyramids, with Djoser’s step pyramid still holding its place after millennia. Then Dashour, with its Bent and Red Pyramids, quiet and impressive.
After lunch we move to Giza – the classic postcard view, the massive stones, and the Sphinx keeping watch. By evening we head to the bus station for the night bus to Luxor, a long ride but part of the Egyptian travel rhythm.

🛏️ Accommodation: Night bus to Luxor
🍽️ Meals: breakfast

We arrive in Luxor early and take a moment to settle before heading out. The East Bank is all about temples that once shaped the religious life of ancient Thebes. Karnak is huge, layered, and full of stories carved into its walls.
Later we walk through Luxor Temple, which feels more intimate and atmospheric. As evening falls, the columns light up and the city hums around us: a nice reminder that Luxor has always been a place of life, not just history.

🛏️ Accommodation: hotel in Luxor
🍽️ Meals: –

We start before sunrise with a hot-air balloon ride over the West Bank. Watching the first light hit the fields and the desert is something that stays with you for a long time. It’s peaceful in a way that contrasts with everything else in Egypt.
Then we dive into the Valley of the Kings, exploring tombs filled with colour and detail. We finish at the Temple of Hatshepsut, a powerful monument to one of Egypt’s most remarkable rulers.

🛏️ Accommodation: hotel in Luxor
🍽️ Meals: breakfast

After breakfast we drive south to Aswan and cross by boat to Elephantine Island. Life here moves at a slower pace, with narrow pathways, small houses painted in bright colours, and the sound of kids playing by the river.
We spend the afternoon exploring Nubian culture, learning about local traditions, and enjoying the relaxed rhythm that makes this island such a good break from the cities.

🛏️ Accommodation: Nubian home in Elephantine Island
🍽️ Meals: breakfast

We leave early towards Abu Simbel and reach the village around late morning. After checking in, we head straight to the temples for a first visit while the area is still relatively calm. It’s a good moment to walk through the chambers, see the reliefs up close and understand the scale of Ramses II’s project before the evening atmosphere takes over.

As the day cools down, we return to the site for sunset, when the light softens and the crowds thin out. The statues take on a warm glow, and the desert around them becomes quiet. If the schedule allows, we can also enjoy the light and sound show outside the temples — a simple but atmospheric way to end the visit.

We welcome the New Year right here in Nubia, in a small village by the lake, far from the city noise. It’s a peaceful, memorable way to start the year, surrounded by ancient history and the silence of the desert night.

🛏️ Accommodation: Nubian home in Abu Simbel
🍽️ Meals: breakfast and dinner

In the morning we return to Aswan and take a small boat to Philae Temple. Dedicated to Isis, it’s one of the most beautiful temples in the south, set on an island and surrounded by calm water.
After the visit we head back to Elephantine Island for another slow afternoon, a walk through the villages, or just a tea by the river.

🛏️ Accommodation: Nubian home in Elephantine Island
🍽️ Meals: breakfast

We take a domestic flight back to Cairo and reach the city in the late morning (friendly reminder: this internal flight isn’t included in your tour price – book early for best fares!). The rest of the day is free, perfect for wandering through Khan el-Khalili, checking a café, or simply resting after the long days in the south.

It’s also a good moment to soak in the final impressions of Egypt, a place that mixes chaos and charm in equal measure.

🛏️ Accommodation: hotel in Cairo
🍽️ Meals: breakfast

Free time until your airport transfer. Usually there’s a bit of last-minute shopping, a final tea, or a slow morning.
Departure from Cairo and the end of our New Year adventure.

🛏️ Accommodation: –
🍽️ Meals: breakfast