A LONG WEEKEND IN CAIRO

Day 1 Arrival in Cairo

Arrive in Cairo, where you will be welcomed by a local representative and transferred privately to the St Regis Cairo to unwind for the evening.

Overnight: The St Regis Cairo

Day 2 The Pyramids of Giza & the Grand Egyptian Museum

Accompanied by your private Egyptologist guide, visit the famous Pyramids of Giza, built for some of the mightiest pharaohs. Taking 20 years to build, and consisting of 2.3 million blocks, the Great Pyramid of Giza remained the tallest man-made structure in the world for 3,800 years. To put these massive edifices into perspective, when the first stones of the Great Wall of China were being laid, the Great Pyramid of Cheops had already stood for 800 years. In addition to a comprehensive tour of the Pyramids you will also discover the magnificent Sphinx, which acts as guardian to the Pharaoh's enormous funerary monument.

After lunch overlooking the pyramids, visit the architecturally stunning Grand Egyptian Museum, housing over 100,000 artefacts. Now fully open after nearly two decades of restoration, the GEM claims its position as one of the world's greatest museums. It is a stunning site both inside and out, and the latest technology makes it possible not only to see these exhibits, but also understand how they were made. Most importantly, for the first time ever, the entire Tut-Ankh-Amun collection of over 5,000 objects is on display.

Overnight: The St Regis Cairo

Day 3 Old Cairo & Khan el Khalili Bazaar

Embark upon a fascinating journey through Old Cairo, beginning at the magnificent Citadel, located in the Muqattam Hills. Dominating Cairo's skyline, this medieval Islamic fortification was the nerve centre of the city, and the rest of the country, for nearly 700 years. Continue to the vast Mosque of Sultan Hassan, the most majestic monument of Arab architecture in Egypt, before venturing into the heart of the old town to discover Cairo's fascinating Coptic churches.

The next phase of your private journey takes you to Khan el Khalili, the largest bazaar in the Middle East. Explore the gold market, wander the spice and perfume stalls and haggle over myriad handmade products from vases to papyrus, jewellery, and the essential Egyptian Galabeya. Being able to soak up the frenetic atmosphere of traders hawking their wares against a backdrop of almost medieval sights and sounds is, quite literally, a feast for the senses.

Overnight: The St Regis Cairo

Day 4 Dahshur Pyramids & Saqqara

Your guide will join you this morning for a journey to the edge of the desert south of Cairo, to visit the pyramids of Dahshur. These pyramids offer a quieter contrast to Giza, yet hold immense architectural and historical importance. Here, the evolution of pyramid design can be seen in remarkable clarity - most notably in the 'Bent Pyramid', with its unusual change in angle midway up.

Continue on to Saqqara, a massive necropolis and one of Egypt's most exciting historical and archaeological sites. It once attracted the devout and the faithful, who came for burials or to make offerings to Osiris, the god of the afterlife. The entire area is dominated by the famous step pyramid of King Djoser, which predates the pyramids at Giza by several decades. This pyramid was one of the world's earliest large-scale stone monuments, originally standing at over 200ft tall, and providing the architectural blueprint for all pyramids that followed.

Option: Extend your tour to include further sites such as the Red Pyramid, the Pyramid of Senusret, and the White Pyramid

Overnight: The St Regis Cairo

Day 5 Depart

This morning, transfer back to Cairo Airport, where you will be assisted to the departure gate of your flight home.

Overnight: Home