Family Dive Adventure in Egypt: From Cairo to Hurghada
Rachel and Jamie are here to help give you the inside track.
Your family's ten-day Egyptian escape begins in Cairo, touring the pyramids, visiting the Grand Egyptian Museum and souq shopping for souvenirs. Then it's onwards to Luxor, for an insider's perspective of the magnificent temples with a private guide and a bike tour through the surrounding villages and countryside.
Your final stop takes you down to Hurghada for several days of pristine Red Sea diving. If the little ones are new to diving, kick off your stay with a Discover Scuba Diving course so they can learn some theory and how to use the equipment, before getting their first taste of the underwater world. Once you're all prepped, spend a couple of days slipping into gin-clear waters filled with colourful corals that buzz with all manner of life from turtles to sharks. End your days sipping cocktails or mocktails as you watch the sky turn from blue to blood orange over the Red Sea.
Itinerary at a Glance:
- Explore Cairo's iconic pyramids with a private guide, followed by an educational afternoon at the Grand Egyptian Museum
- Learn about the history of hieroglyphics in a private session
- Whizz around Luxor's countryside on bikes
- Wander around the Valley of the Queens in Luxor before being dwarfed by the statues of Luxor Temple
- Enjoy boat dives in the Red Sear near Hurghada, diving over colourful corals at your resort's house reef
Why Book with Original Diving?
- 100% Carbon Off-setting
- UK Departure Assistance
- Fast Track UK Check-in
- Fast Track UK Security
- UK Airport Lounge Access
- Pre-booked Airline Seats
When To Travel
All of the holidays we create are completely tailor-made to you
Day 1: Travel to Cairo
Hustle the children, grab your sunglasses and make sure you've packed our family travel pack, because your Egyptian adventure starts today with an afternoon flight to Cairo. The flight from the UK is just shy of five hours (four hours and 55 minutes, to be precise), so make sure you have some tasty snacks and the children's favourite TV show downloaded.
On arrival, you'll be met by one of our local representatives who will assist you through the visa process. You'll then be transferred around 45 minutes by car to your hotel, which overlooks the Nile. Settle into your room and enjoy a tasty dinner in the restaurant, before slipping between the Egyptian cotton sheets for a sleep fit for a Pharaoh.
Day 2: Visit the Pyramids
Today, for the first full day of your Egyptian adventure, you'll visit the famous Pyramids of Giza. Led by an expert private guide, the whole family can enjoy an educational day visiting iconic landmarks such as the Sphinx, the Giza necropolis and the majestic temple of the valley. Delve into the mysteries of the past and stand in awe before the legendary pyramids of Khufu, Chephren and Mycerinus.
Come lunchtime, savour the flavours of Egypt with lunch at a local restaurant, where the children can try authentic hummus, falafel and shawarma.
In the afternoon, immerse yourself in the vibrant tapestry of Islamic Cairo, where historic mosques and bustling souqs await. Marvel at architectural wonders such as the citadel of Saladin and the Great Mosque of Mohamed Ali, before wandering through the enchanting streets of Khan el-Khalili, Cairo's most picturesque souq.
Once you have collected some souvenirs, it's onwards for an educational trip to the Grand Egyptian Museum. As one of the largest museums in the world, it's full to the brim with history and you'll have the chance to learn about the conservation of over 100,000 ancient Egyptian artefacts. We're sure that your young ones will have plenty to write about for their next school report.
Day 3: Hieroglyphics and onwards to Hurghada
Wake up with an Egyptian coffee - be warned: they're strong, so be sure to order it arrih (sweet) - before enjoying a slow morning at your hotel, quizzing the children on what they remember from the previous day's tour or pop out for some more souq souvenir shopping. In the afternoon, enjoy a private introduction to hieroglyphics, learning about this ancient form of writing that decorates the temples and walls of Egypt.
Later this afternoon, you'll be collected from your hotel and driven back to the airport for a one-hour flight to Luxor. You'll land in the evening and will be driven 30 minutes to your boutique hotel. Settle into your rooms before enjoying an atmospheric dinner nestled in the garden, admiring the backdrop of the surrounding fields and mountains.
Day 4: Visit ancient sites around Luxor
Wake up and enjoy some of the freshly baked goods to fill your bellies before a day of rich history. We recommend trying the sun bread, which is made from wheat grown on the hotel's farm. After breakfast, you'll be met by your guide for a tour of the Theban necropolis. Listen to stories about the history of the Valley of the Queens and visit the secret necropolis of the royal wives. Wander through the brightly coloured tombs of Artisans Valley and let your children find their favourite scenes depicting daily life.
Sit down for a bite of lunch to recharge before heading onwards to the Temple of Hatshepsut, one of the most remarkable temples in pharaonic Egypt. End your day with a tour of Luxor Temple and encourage the children to stand below the statues of Ramesses II to appreciate the grandeur of this entrance.
Back at your hotel, gather in the garden to enjoy a sunset drink and be sure to savour one of the fresh fish dishes for dinner, all daily catches from Lake Nasser.
Day 5: Explore Luxor like a local
Enjoy a slow breakfast, after which you'll be met by your tour guide to explore the unseen parts of Luxor, the scenes that are normally missed without the expertise of a local. Begin with a tour of the village of Hassan Fathy where the children can practice their performances in an amphitheatre. Visit the souqs for more souvenirs and stop at small workshops to learn how men work with palm wood to make furniture. For some religious exploration, visit the mosque, ensuring you are appropriately covered up before entering. Towards the end of the tour, explore the Luxor Art Gallery to learn about local contemporary artists before ending with lunch at one of our favourite spots.
This afternoon head back out with your guide, this time by bike. Cycle through the villages and fertile fields on the banks of the Nile, taking in the scenery of Luxor's countryside.
After some downtime at the hotel, round off the day with a private sunset felucca ride on the Nile River, stopping at Banana Island to admire the lush plantations and sipping drinks as you soak in the scenic splendour.
Day 6: Back on the road from Luxor to Hurghada
Take in the last of those mountain views and fill up on freshly baked goods at breakfast, before hopping into your private transfer to Hurghada. The journey will take around four-and-a-half hours, and while the rugged mountainous landscape could provide enough entertainment, be sure to have charged up the family iPad for the journey, just in case.
On arrival, settle into your rooms and then head straight outside to jump into the swimming pool that overlooks the Red Sea. After your days of educational tours, spend this afternoon relaxing with a good book on the hotel's private beach, while the children practice handstands in the sea.
Days 7-8: Boat diving delights
Over the next two days, you'll experience all that the Red Sea has to offer, with two boat dives each day. With access to more than 40 dive sites, you'll be overwhelmed with options when it comes to marine life, kaleidoscopic corals and daring drift dives.
If you or the children are dive newbies, start your first day with a Discover Scuba Diving course, which includes some theory and an explanation of how all the equipment works. It won't be long before you're putting the skills into motion and heading underwater.
Depending on your experience, your dive guide will then take you to the most suitable sites. Drift over corals that come in every hue while encountering turtles that are enjoying the sun's rays piercing through the clear waters, and if you're lucky, you may even come across a shark or two. Wrecks more your thing? Opt for a day trip to the world-famous Thistlegorm and Giannis D wrecks.
For some added adventure, head out on night dives each evening. As night falls, the house reef reveals a quieter, more mysterious side. Under torchlight, soft corals unfurl, lionfish glide through the shadows and flecks of bioluminescence sparkle with each movement - offering a calm, mesmerising glimpse into the reef's nocturnal world.
Day 9: Day at leisure
The final full day of your Egyptian escape is yours to enjoy at leisure. The children can play on the beach or in the pool, while you sneak off to take advantage of the hotel's spa treatments. If you fancy another outing, pop into the old town of Hurghada to wander the Al Mina Mosque, or if you're an animal lover, you could enjoy a camel ride in the desert. However you choose to spend your day, make sure to end it with a private family dinner under the stars on the pier.
Day 10: Homeward bound
Almost too quickly, it's time to head back to the airport. After a final breakfast under the warm sun, you'll be driven back to the airport for your midday flight from Hurghada to Cairo. Steal those last glances of the Egyptian landscape, and during your layover, scroll back through your phone's (now full) photo album. From Cairo, head home, hopefully with your hand luggage full of souq souvenirs and a dive book bursting with entries.
All of the holidays we create are completely tailor-made to you
A Rough Idea of Price
This Itinerary
If you would like to book the exact itinerary mentioned above, with economy flights, during mid-season and staying in our preferred room category at our preferred hotels.
From
£3,500pp
Bare Necessities
If you would like to pare back the above itinerary by travelling at non-peak times, staying in a standard room and removing some or all of the guided activities.
From
£3,050pp
Bells & Whistles
If you are looking for something extra special and would like to add business or first class flights, stay in top room categories at some of the most luxurious hotels we work with, and add more activities and guiding.
From
£4,350pp
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Rachel and Jamie are our experts for this itinerary and as seasoned travellers they have the inside track on the most memorable adventures.