Intrepid Egypt Adventure review: is a group tour worth it?

Thinking about booking Intrepid’s Egypt Adventure? Here’s an honest review of the eight-day group tour from Cairo to Aswan, the Nile and Luxor and back: what’s included, what it costs, what the sleeper trains and felucca night are really like, who it suits, and whether it’s worth it.

Some of you will have all the feels about group tours. That’s fine: I used to be one of you. In fact, Intrepid’s Egypt Adventure was the first group tour I ever took.

I joined it in late May for eight days, starting and ending in Cairo, and it took me from the Pyramids of Giza to Aswan by overnight sleeper train, onto a felucca for a night on the Nile, and on to Luxor before the sleeper back north. Along the way, I added Abu Simbel and a sunrise hot air balloon flight as optional extras, and explored a few places on my own.

Here’s my review, with what the trip includes today, what it costs and who I think it’s right for.

Quick verdict

The Egypt Adventure packs the country’s greatest hits (the pyramids, Aswan, a felucca night, Karnak and the Valley of the Kings) into a week, with a local guide, sleeper trains that save on hotel nights and plenty of free time for add-ons. It suits first-time visitors, solo travellers and anyone who wants the context a guide brings without paying for a private tour. If you hate early starts, moving on every night or two, or sharing your holiday with strangers, it’s not for you.

My rating: 4/5

I wasn’t a fan of the hotels, but it’s a very affordable itinerary and my guide was incredible.

At a glance

• Trip: Intrepid Travel’s Egypt Adventure (trip code XESB), in its Original style.
• Length: eight days, starting and ending in Cairo.
• Route: Cairo and Giza, overnight sleeper train to Aswan, a night on a felucca, Luxor, overnight sleeper train back to Cairo.
• Accommodation: four nights in hotels, one night on a felucca and two nights on the sleeper train. On my trip, the hotels were the Pharaohs Hotel in Dokki, the Obelisk Nile Hotel in Aswan and El Mesala Hotel in Luxor.
• Meals: seven breakfasts, three lunches and four dinners.
• Group size: up to 14, with a minimum age of 15.
• Price: from about £984 per person, before flights, depending on the departure date. I paid £769.25 when I booked.
• Included highlights: Khan el-Khalili, the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, the Grand Egyptian Museum, a Nubian family dinner in Aswan, the felucca, Karnak, the Colossi of Memnon and three tombs in the Valley of the Kings.
• Best for: first-timers, solo travellers and history lovers who want a guide without the price of a private tour.

Why I chose a group tour for Egypt

Firstly (and I know it will come as a big surprise to you guys), I am a geek. There is no niche historical fact that I don’t want to know and no obscure piece of trivia that I won’t find interesting, so there was no way I was going to Egypt, home of one of the most important ancient civilisations, without a guide.

Did I need a guide for the whole trip? No. Would my visits to the Pyramids of Giza, Karnak, Philae and Abu Simbel have been the same without one? Not at all. Given that I was going to hire a guide in pretty much every place I visited, it made sense to book onto a group tour with a professional local guide leading the trip.

I also had to find an itinerary that covered the things I wanted to see. I opted for the Egypt Adventure because it had a lot of free time that you could pack with optional add-ons or do whatever you wanted with. For me, it was the perfect blend of doing things solo with the structure and knowledge of a guide.

The itinerary, day by day

The route has changed a little since I went (the Grand Egyptian Museum has replaced the old Egyptian Museum on day two, for a start), so here’s what the trip includes now, with what I made of each stop.

Day 1: arrive in Cairo and explore Khan el-Khalili

The trip starts with a welcome meeting at 4pm, so you have time to arrive and check in first. Afterwards, the group heads into Islamic Cairo for a first evening in the lanes of Khan el-Khalili, the city’s great medieval bazaar, all lanterns, spices and copperware. My guide to the best things to do in Cairo covers the rest of Islamic Cairo if you have time to add a day.

Day 2: the pyramids, the Grand Egyptian Museum and the sleeper train

Day two is the big one. You spend the morning at the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, a striking triumvirate that I am not ashamed to say I lost my sht over. Your ticket gets you into the complex, but going inside the Great Pyramid costs extra. I paid for it, and I’d recommend it: you crawl upwards through a tunnel about a metre high and a metre wide, in the sweltering heat, before you emerge into the Grand Gallery and the King’s Chamber with its long-empty sarcophagus. Probably not one for the claustrophobic. My guide to the Pyramids of Giza has the details.

When I went, I spent the afternoon at the old Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square, about three hours in all. Today, the trip visits the Grand Egyptian Museum instead, which has been fully open since November 2025 and now holds Tutankhamun’s treasures. See my guide to the best museums in Cairo for how they compare.

In the evening, you board the overnight sleeper train from Giza to Aswan, which takes about 13 hours, with dinner and breakfast served in your cabin. It’s a bit rattly, if we’re honest, but I enjoyed it: it was really comfortable, and it was lovely waking up to those views when I was almost in Aswan. It’s one of the things that makes this trip feel like a proper journey.

Day 3: a free day in Aswan and a Nubian family dinner

You arrive in Aswan in the morning, and the rest of the day is yours until the evening. I used mine to head out by boat to Philae Temple, which is an optional extra on the trip today, and I promise that the first glimpse of it, its golden columns set against the blue of the water and sky, will be one to remember.

In the evening, the group heads to a Nubian village for a traditional dinner with a local family, which I’d recommend. Aswan was the place on the trip that I knew least about, and by the time I left, it was a close contender for my favourite spot. My guide to things to do in Aswan has everything else.

Day 4: Abu Simbel (or a lazy day by the river)

Day four is a free day, and the big optional extra is a day trip to Abu Simbel, the two temples Ramses II carved into the cliffs near the Sudanese border. For me, it felt like a no-brainer. Sure, the Great Temple feels a little bit like an ego trip, but my god, it’s stunning.

It does involve either a horrendously early start or a kind of early start, depending on whether you go by road or fly. I flew, which is the kind of early start. Intrepid currently lists the minivan trip at US$110 per person (with a minimum of four people), and the flight from about US$596.

I got back in time for an afternoon at the Nubian Museum, which I visited on my own. Chances are, you learnt something about the ancient Egyptians at school, but what about the Nubians? I’ll forgive you if you draw a blank: I certainly did.

Day 5: sail the Nile on a felucca

Before the felucca left, I squeezed in a solo trip to the Aswan Botanical Garden on Kitchener’s Island, by boat from the jetty next to the McDonald’s on the Corniche.

Then it’s time to board a traditional felucca and sail north on the Nile. You spend the afternoon drifting downstream, with meals provided, and sleep on the deck. Waking up on a remote part of the river as the sun rises over the desert is worth the trip alone.

Feluccas can’t pass the Esna lock, so the sailing ends with a private van the rest of the way to Luxor the next morning. If you’re booking a felucca yourself, check the facilities and reviews first, preferably for one with a Nubian crew. My guide to Nile cruises compares feluccas, dahabiyas and cruise ships.

Day 6: Karnak and a free afternoon in Luxor

Arriving in Luxor, the group visits Karnak. It. Is. Vast. To put it bluntly, if you’re going to skip anything on a trip to Egypt, Karnak is not it. Take at least a few hours to explore, and wear a hat and bring plenty of water.

The trip now also includes a visit to Animal Care in Egypt, a Luxor charity supported by The Intrepid Foundation that treats working animals, and the rest of the afternoon is free.

Day 7: the West Bank and the sleeper back north

Day seven takes in the Colossi of Memnon and the Valley of the Kings, with entry to three tombs, plus a home-cooked lunch with a local family.

My day started before dawn with a sunrise hot air balloon flight, which I booked through Intrepid as an optional extra. It was not only one of the highlights of my time in Luxor but one of the highlights of the whole trip. Then it was on to the Valley of the Kings with the group. I chose Ramses IX, Merenptah, and Tausert and Setnakht for my three tombs, and paid extra for Tutankhamun’s.

That evening, the group takes the overnight sleeper back north, which takes about ten hours. I enjoyed the train, but if I did the trip again, I’d consider skipping this second night on the rails and flying back instead (ask Intrepid how that works with the trip).

Day 8: back in Cairo

The train arrives early in the morning, and the trip ends after breakfast. I’d recommend staying on for at least one more night. I spent my last night at the Kempinski Nile Hotel in Garden City and used the day for the Citadel, Coptic Cairo and the royal mummies at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation, which I wasn’t sure would be worth the effort after the Egyptian Museum. It is.

My guide

A group tour is only as good as its leader, and mine was straight up brilliant: professional, knowledgeable, fricking hilarious, and full of local insight that it would have been difficult to pick up otherwise. He was also the source of some of the most useful tips I picked up, from turning up an hour to an hour and a half early for the train (“Egyptian time”) to the reminder that, in Egypt, nothing is free: the “gifts” and camel photos at the pyramids all come with a price.

What I loved

• The context: for a history geek, having a guide at the pyramids, Karnak and the Valley of the Kings made all the difference.
• The free time: enough of it to add Abu Simbel and the balloon, and to visit the Nubian Museum and the Botanical Garden on my own.
• The price: for everything it covers, it’s a very affordable itinerary.
• The felucca night: sleeping on the deck and waking up on a quiet stretch of the Nile at sunrise.
• The Nubian family dinner: a lovely evening, and one I’d recommend.
• The logistics: the sleeper trains, the felucca and the transfers are all arranged for you, which is a big help in a country where getting from A to B takes some planning.

Worth knowing before you book

• The hotels were the weak spot. Honestly, I wasn’t a fan of the hotels on my trip. If that matters to you, check the trip notes for the current hotels before you book, and treat yourself to a night somewhere nicer at the end.
• You’ll be spending a lot of time with people you’ve just met. It kind of goes without saying, but group travel isn’t all yes yes yes, and you have to be comfortable with that.
• You’ll have less freedom than travelling independently. You can’t see everything in your own time, and you don’t get to choose who you hang out with.
• It’s a fast pace. Between the two sleeper trains and the felucca, you’re changing beds every one to three nights, so pack light (see my Egypt packing list).
• Two nights on the train is a lot. I enjoyed the sleeper, but next time I’d take it one way and fly the other.
• The extras add up. Abu Simbel, Philae, extra tombs and the balloon are all on top of the tour price, so budget for them.

What it costs

The Egypt Adventure currently starts from about £984 per person, before flights, with prices that vary by departure date. I paid £769.25 for my place, booked only a week or so before I flew, and paid for the optional extras I added as I went.

The price includes your accommodation, the transport between stops (the sleeper trains, the felucca and a private van), the activities listed in the itinerary and the meals listed above. It doesn’t include international flights, travel insurance, most lunches and dinners, the optional activities or tips.

Intrepid currently lists these optional extras, among others:

• Abu Simbel: US$110 by minivan (minimum four people), or from about US$596 by air.
• Inside the Great Pyramid: EGP 1,500.
• Philae Temple: EGP 550 entry, or US$46 for a guided tour (minimum two people).
• Tutankhamun’s tomb: EGP 700.
• Hot air balloon over the Valley of the Kings: US$120.

Nefertari’s tomb, which was worth every penny of the extra ticket when I went, is currently closed indefinitely, so don’t count on it. For a full breakdown of what a trip to Egypt costs, from visas to tips, see my guide to how much a trip to Egypt costs.

Who it suits (and who should skip it)

Book it if:

• It’s your first time in Egypt and you want the big sights covered without the planning.
• You’re travelling solo and want company and security without giving up your free time.
• You want a guide’s context but don’t want to pay for a private tour.

Skip it if:

• You want to travel slowly or spend longer in one place.
• You’d rather not do two overnight sleeper trains in a week.
• You want to see Kom Ombo, Edfu or the sites around Cairo, like Saqqara, which aren’t on this itinerary.

Practical information

• Booking: directly on Intrepid’s website, where you can see all departure dates and prices.
• Flights: not included. Book your own flights into and out of Cairo, and add a night either side if you can.
• Visa: most nationalities need a visa: you can apply for an e-visa online before you travel or buy one on arrival. See my Egypt travel tips for the details.
• When to go: check the departure dates on Intrepid’s site. I went in late May, when it was hot but still bearable and quiet. The cooler months from October to April are the most comfortable, and the busiest.
• Comparing tours: if you want to compare a similar trip, G Adventures’ Best of Egypt also covers Cairo, Aswan and Luxor in eight days.

Tips for the trip

• Add a day at either end: the trip starts in the afternoon and ends after breakfast, so an extra night in Cairo lets you see the city properly.
• Decide on your extras early: the Abu Simbel flight is subject to availability, so ask about it when you book.
• Bring a card and small notes: ticket offices at the major sites are now largely cashless, but you’ll need cash for tips, toilets and boats.
• Pack for the sleeper and the felucca: a small overnight bag, earplugs, an eye mask and a scarf or layer for the evenings make both nights easier.

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Is the Intrepid Egypt Adventure worth it?

For a first trip to Egypt, yes. I joined it for eight days and absolutely loved it: it covered the sights I most wanted to see, gave me a brilliant guide, and left me enough free time to make the trip my own. If you’re comfortable with a fast pace and a group, it’s an easy way to see a lot of the country in a week. If you’d rather go slowly, or fly instead of taking two sleeper trains, plan it independently using my 10-day Egypt itinerary, which follows the same route.

My rating: 4/5

I wasn’t a fan of the hotels, but it’s a very affordable itinerary and my guide was incredible.

Map

Read next

• 10 days in Egypt: an Egypt itinerary by train and felucca
• Cairo to Aswan sleeper train: what to know before you book
• Egypt travel tips: 25 things to know before you go
• How much does it cost to travel to Egypt?
• Abu Simbel temples: is the early start worth it?
• Kempinski Nile Hotel review: a rooftop pool above the Nile

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