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Egypt tours, trips & holidays
Kenya conjures images of dry, barren deserts, jeeps scouring vast landscapes, thundering stampedes and romanticised scenes right out of the Lion King. An adventure seekers paradise and a wildlife lovers dream; from delving into the depths of the wild searching for the big 5 to drifting on the lakes waiting for submerged hippos to pop back up.


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Witness the great migration of wildebeest, gazelle and zebra, or communicate with the ancient tribes of the Maasai. Snorkel amongst rich coral reefs and relax on a string of pristine beaches lining the coast. Explore tropical islands, taste home-cooked food and hike the grand gorges, epic landscapes and intimidating mountain ranges. A holiday to Kenya is nothing short of an adventure.
Group Tours of Egypt with Tucan Travel
Tucan Travel have a total of 3 group tours to Egypt, some of which are combined with visiting the neighbouring countries of Jordan and Israel. All of our tours are modular, giving you the chance to combine a few and pick the areas that you want to see. Our longest tour to Egypt (Egypt, Jordan & Israel) lasts 22 days, hitting all the highlights along the way. If you only have a short time, the 9 day Egypt Adventure tour focuses on really getting under the skin of this fascinating country. All of our tours are accompanied by an expert Tucan Travel tour leader and includes all transport and accommodation.
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Top 10 places to visit in Egypt
Egypt has long been a source of wonder and has enchanted generations of travelers. With one of the oldest recorded written languages and home to the last of the seven Wonders of the Ancient World, Egypt offers much and never disappoints. Whether your passion is ancient temples or the bustle of a modern city, vast open desert or glittering blue lakes, Egypt has it all. So, where to begin?
1. The Sphinx
The Great Sphinx of Egypt rests majestically in front of the Pyramids of Giza. Thought to be carved during the reign of the Pharaoh Khafre, the limestone statue has the body of a lion with the head of a man.
It was originally known as Hor-em-akhet, meaning Horus in the horizon. Horus was the Egyptian god of the sky. It was called The Sphinx by the ancient Greeks who thought it resembled a mythical winged monster of the same name.
Scholars argue about when it lost its nose, with some blaming Napoleon, though it is thought it has been missing for hundreds of years before he came to Egypt. You can visit the Sphinx on all of our escorted tours to
Did You Know?
The Great Sphinx was said to have asked travellers a riddle. If they answered correctly, she let them pass. If they got it wrong, she ate them!
2. The River Nile
At over 6600 KM ( more than 4100 miles) this incredible river is the longest in Africa, rising in south of the Equator and draining into the Mediterranean Sea. The River flows northward from Lake Victoria. This vast Lake has shores in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania and is fed by rivers from Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda. Starting its journey as the Victoria Nile, the river becomes the Albert Nile as it leaves Lake Albert in Uganda. Continuing its journey on through Sudan, becoming first the White and then the Blue Nile before it enters Egypt at Lake Nasser.
Before Lake Nassar and the Aswan Dam were built, the river’s annual floods would bring rich, fertile soil to the farmland along the river bank. This cycle of drought and flood, of death and rebirth, is mirrored in the rituals of the pharaohs.
3. Valley of the Kings
A short journey out of Luxor on the West Bank of the River Nile, is the Valley of the Kings. So much has been written about the Valley, but little can prepare you for the scale and grandeur of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
For nearly 500 years, it has been the burial site for the pharaohs and powerful nobles of the New Kingdom. 63 tombs have been identified and almost all have been ransacked in antiquity. One of the most famous tombs is that of Tutankhamun. Discovered by the archaeologist Howard Carter in 1992, the tomb was relatively intact. Tutankhamun’s treasures, including his tomb and golden death mask can be seen in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
The walls of many of the tombs are covered in images and hieroglyphs that glorify gods and pharaohs alike. With unexpectedly vibrant colors and intricate carvings, the insides of the tombs are as breathtaking as the valley without.
One of the must see destinations on our group tours to Egypt, The Valley of the Kings has been a draw for tourists for thousands of years, with the earliest graffiti dated to 278 BCE. All of our group tours to Egypt include entrance to the Valley.
4. The Pyramids of Giza
The Pyramids have been constructed in Egypt for millennia. Built as tombs for the Pharaohs, they have come to symbolise all that is wonderful and mysterious about this amazing country. The earliest pyramids of Egypt are found at Saqqara, south of Giza. Among these is the stepped Pyramid of Djoser, built over 4000 years ago.
The Great Pyramid of Khufu, and those of Khafre and Menkaure those found at Giza, on the outskirts of Cairo. These ancient monuments are aligned to true north, and it thought that the Egyptian architects used the stars to achieve this. Khufu’s tomb is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Egypt’s Pharaohs wanted to be immortal. While we continue to know their names, and visit their amazing tombs, the Pharaohs of Egypt have become truly immortal.
5. Luxor
Known to the ancient Egyptians as Thebes, the modern city of Luxor was the heart of ancient Egypt. Luxor Temple, on the banks of the River Nile, is at the centre of modern Luxor and is the largest Egyptian temple complex. Begun by Amenhotep III, the site was added to by Tutankhamun and Ramses II and is thought to be where all of the great Pharaohs of Egypt were crowned. Karnak was once the religious heart of ancient Thebes and was linked to the town of Luxor by an avenue of sphinxes. The temple itself was linked to the Nile via a canal. Here you can marvel at the intricately carved columns that towers the Hypostyle hall. Outside of Luxor are the Colossi of Memnon, which have stood for more than 3,000 years in the hot desert sun. These gigantic statues were built to guard the entrance to the mortuary temple of Amenhotep III. One of our favourite destinations on our group tours to Egypt, we know you will fall in love with this amazing city.
6. Abu Simbel
Built by Ramses II, one of Egypt’s greatest Pharaohs, the temple complex at Abu Simbel is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Resting above the banks of Lake Nassar, the vast complex was built in the 13th Century BCE and includes two magnificent temples. On the left of the complex is ‘The Grand Temple’ which is guarded by four massive statues of the Pharaoh. Alongside this is the smaller, yet equally enthralling temple built in honour of his favourite wife, Queen Nefertari. Nefertari’s temple is guarded by smaller but equally impressive statues of the Pharaoh and his Queen. Over time the complex fell into disuse and ruin, eventually becoming submerged by the desert sands. It was rediscovered by Italian explorer Giovanni Belzoni in 1817. The entire complex was dismantled and rebuilt by the Egyptian government as part of the preparation for the construction of the Aswan High Dam.
7. Cairo
Founded in the 9th Century CE Egypt’s capital, Cairo is a city of contrasts, where ancient and modern collide. Our small group tours offer the opportunity to visit a number of historic and culturally significant sites including the Muhammad Ali Mosque. The mosque is stunning inside and out and its terrace offers one of the best views of the city. On a clear day, you can catch a glimpse of the Pyramids at Giza.
Travel through time as you explore the crowded streets of the Khan El-Khalili bazaar where you can haggle for a bargain or enjoy a delicious cup of sweet sahlab (vanilla and milk). No visit to Cairo would be complete without a visit to the Egyptian Museum which is famous for being the permanent site of Tutankhamun’s tomb and grave goods. The Museum is also home to amazing exhibits from royal mummies to towering statues where you can come face to face with the Pharaohs of Egypt.
8. Aswan
The city of Aswan, on the banks of the River Nile, was once home to the granite quarries that supplied stone for the Obelisks of ancient Egypt. One such obelisk remains still firmly attached to the bedrock. The Unfinished Obelisk is more than 3000 years old and offers a fascinating insight into how the Ancient Egyptians quarried these enormous monuments. The Obelisk is carved from one piece of granite. Aswan is also the site of the The High Dam. One of the largest dams in the world, it was built to save water and protect farmland from the annual inundation, the Nile floods. Built at over 100 meters above sea-level, the Dam is 3,600 meters long and 40 meters wide at the top. Just a short boat ride away, Philae Temple sits on Agilika Island. The whole temple complex was dismantled and rebuilt block by block when its original location was due to be flooded during the building of the High Dam and reservoir. All of our group tours to Egypt take the sleeper train overnight from Cairo to Aswan. An experience not to be missed!
9. Edfu
Less well known, but as beautiful as any site, is the temple at Edfu. Built between 237 and 50 BCE, this is one of the best preserved ancient temples in Egypt due to it being almost completely buried in over 30 feet of sand and silt from the Nile. The upper levels of the pylons were sighted by French expedition in 1798, but the complex remained hidden until 1860 when it was excavated by French archaeologist Auguste Mariette.
The entrance to the complex is through a gateway, over 30 meters high. The walls are decorated with colossal reliefs of Ptolemy XII, who is shown smiting his enemies, a classic propaganda pose of the pharaohs! The entrance is fitting, guarded by two granite statues of Horus who the temple is largely dedicated to. Patron of the pharaohs, Horus is shown in the form of a man with the head of a falcon.
10. Kom Ombo
Between Edfu and Aswan, the temple at Kom Ombo rests on the banks of the River Nile and is home to a unique collection of mummies.
Built by Thutmose III in the 2nd Century BCE the temple was dedicated to the worship of two Egyptian gods; Horus the Elder and Sobek, who took the form of a man with a crocodile’s head. On the temple complex is the modern crocodile museum where you can come face to face with the mummified remains of some of the sacred crocodiles that roamed the temples. Up to five meters in length, these majestic animals are still awesome to see.
Kom Ombo is also home to what are thought to be the oldest images of medical instruments used for surgery. The carvings, on the temple walls, date from the early days of Roman occupation of Egypt and include images of birthing chairs used at the time.
Why Tucan Travel
A holiday to Egypt doesn’t need to cost a fortune. Group tours with Tucan Travel provide an excellent way to explore everything Kenya has to offer, even if you’re on a budget. Our tours to Kenya are designed to be the perfect balance of value for money, authenticity and unforgettable experiences, providing an in-depth look into Kenyan culture.
As an adventure tour specialist, we work hard to maintain our strong relationships with local suppliers and guides, taking care to support local businesses ethically and sustainably. Where possible, we use family-run hotels and guest houses and avoid large chains. And if you still need more reasons to book a tour with Tucan Travel, we’ve won numerous awards for our tours which you can read about here. But don’t take our word for it – here what our customers say on Trustpilot.
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