Five days, two cities, one Mediterranean overnight. Cairo for the Pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum, then Alexandria for the Mediterranean, the Catacombs, and the Bibliotheca. One night at a family hotel on the corniche.
Most Alexandria tours run as day trips from Cairo — 2.5 hours each way, 5 hours of driving in one day. That’s brutal on kids. We do it differently: overnight in Alexandria, pool time at the hotel, and a relaxed morning before driving back. The kids get a break, you get a sunset on the Mediterranean.
You stay at Steigenberger Pyramids for the Cairo nights and Hilton Alexandria Corniche for the Alexandria night. Family rooms, pool at both hotels.
What you actually see
Cairo — Days 1-2. Day 1 is arrival and pool time. Day 2 covers the Giza Plateau (with a camel ride) and the Grand Egyptian Museum. Slower pace, back at the hotel by 4 PM for pool time.
Alexandria — Day 3. Morning drive to Alexandria (2.5 hours). Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa (underground Roman tombs — kids either love the dark tunnels or hate them). Citadel of Qaitbay (a real castle on the Mediterranean). Check in at Hilton Alexandria Corniche. Pool and beach afternoon. Evening corniche walk.
Alexandria — Day 4. Morning at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina (if open) or Montaza Palace gardens. Seafood lunch on the corniche. Afternoon drive back to Cairo. Evening at Steigenberger Pyramids.
Cairo — Day 5. Free morning. Optional Egyptian Museum or Nile felucca. Airport transfer.
What makes this tour different for families
Overnight in Alexandria. Not a day trip. Kids get a pool, a real bed, and a relaxed pace. You get the Mediterranean at sunset.
Camel ride at Giza. 30 minutes around a marked path. Kids 5+ usually love it.
Castle exploration. Citadel of Qaitbay is a real castle. Kids can climb the ramparts, look out over the sea, and imagine defending Alexandria from pirates.
Slower mornings. Breakfast until 9:30 AM. First pickup at 9:00 AM, not 7:30. Kids need sleep.
Pool time at both hotels. Hilton Alexandria Corniche has a pool and beach access. Steigenberger Pyramids has a pool and kids’ area.
The hotels
Steigenberger Pyramids (Cairo, 3 nights). 5-star, family rooms with two beds plus a sofa bed. Pool, several restaurants. 10 minutes from the Giza plateau.
Hilton Alexandria Corniche (Alexandria, 1 night). 5-star on the Mediterranean corniche. Family rooms, pool, beach access, kids’ club. Walking distance to the Bibliotheca and the corniche restaurants.
Age recommendations
Ages 8+ — ideal. Kids can handle 2-3 hours of walking per day, enjoy the Catacombs, and get the most from the museums.
Ages 5-7 — doable. The camel ride and the Qaitbay castle are highlights. The Catacombs can be scary — narrow spiral stairs and dark tunnels. If your child is claustrophobic, we skip the Catacombs and add beach time instead.
Ages 3-4 — possible but harder. The 2.5-hour drive to Alexandria is long for toddlers. Bring car activities. Skip the Catacombs.
Under 3 — wait a few years.
About the drive
Cairo to Alexandria is 2.5 hours on the Cairo-Alexandria Desert Road (220 km). The road is boring but fast. We stop once for bathrooms and coffee. Kids should have snacks and activities for the drive. If your kids get carsick, take medication before leaving.
The return drive on Day 4 is the same route, 2.5 hours. We leave Alexandria after lunch and arrive in Cairo by late afternoon.
About pricing
The $1,300 base price is per person, double occupancy, low season (May-September). Peak season (October-April) is $1,500-1,700 per person. Kids under 12 sharing a room with two adults get 25% off. Infants under 2 travel free (no separate bed). Christmas and Easter weeks are higher — book early.
What’s included
- 3 nights at Steigenberger Pyramids (Cairo, family room)
- 1 night at Hilton Alexandria Corniche (Alexandria, family room)
- Daily breakfast
- Lunch on all 3 tour days (Days 2, 3, 4)
- All entrance fees (Giza Plateau, GEM, Catacombs, Qaitbay, Bibliotheca or Montaza)
- Camel ride at Giza (30 minutes, 1 per person)
- Private A/C vehicle in Cairo and Alexandria
- Kid-friendly English-speaking Egyptologist guide
- Airport pickup and drop-off
- Bottled water during tours
What’s not included
- International flights
- Visa ($25 per person, including kids)
- Dinner (both cities)
- Tips for guide and driver ($10-15 per person per day)
- Inside the Great Pyramid or Khafre’s Pyramid (extra ticket)
- Sound & Light Show at the Pyramids ($35, optional)
- Egyptian Museum in Tahrir ($20, optional on Day 5)
- Travel insurance (get one that covers kids’ medical needs)
Honest notes
The Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa have narrow spiral stairs. The descent is 100+ steps down a spiral staircase. The tunnels are dark and damp. Kids 8+ usually find it cool. Kids under 8 might get scared or uncomfortable. If your child is claustrophobic, skip it and add beach time at the Hilton.
Bibliotheca Alexandrina is closed on Fridays, Saturdays, and public holidays. If your Alexandria day lands on one of those, we swap it for the Royal Jewelry Museum or the Alexandria National Museum. Both are kid-friendly.
The drive to Alexandria is 2.5 hours each way. Bring snacks, activities, tablets — whatever keeps your kids occupied. If they get carsick, take medication before the drive.
Alexandria in winter (Dec-Feb) is cooler than Cairo. 16-19°C. The Mediterranean is too cold for swimming (18-20°C). The beach is for walking, not swimming. In summer (Jun-Aug), the water is 25-27°C and the beach is crowded with locals — it’s a different experience.
Seafood lunch in Alexandria. Fresh catch, grilled, with rice and tahina. If your kids don’t eat fish, we swap to a grill restaurant with chicken and kofta. Tell us in advance.
Day 4 timing depends on your schedule. We leave Alexandria after lunch and arrive in Cairo by 4-5 PM. Evening at Steigenberger Pyramids. If you want to skip the Bibliotheca and drive back earlier, that’s fine — we adjust.
Day 5 timing depends on your flight. If your international flight leaves Cairo in the late afternoon or evening, we can arrange the Egyptian Museum in the morning. If it leaves in the morning, direct transfer to the airport.
If you want a Nile cruise or Luxor, book the 8-day Egypt Family Tour with Nile Cruise instead. It adds four nights on the river.
Who this is for
- Families with kids 5-14 who want Cairo AND the Mediterranean
- Parents who want a mix of history and beach time
- Families who don’t want a 5-hour day-trip to Alexandria
- Anyone who wants a slower family itinerary with pool time every day
Who this is not for
- Families with kids under 5 (the drive to Alexandria is long)
- Travelers who want a pure Cairo-only trip (book the 5-day Cairo Family Tour)
- Anyone who wants a Nile cruise or Luxor
- Families who want a full beach resort vacation (this is a cultural tour with beach time, not a resort)
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.