Egypt has just celebrated one of the most significant cultural moments of the century with the official opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) on Saturday 1 November 2025. After a two-decade build costing around $1bn, the GEM is now fully open beside the Pyramids of Giza and showcases the entire contents of Tutankhamun’s tomb together for the first time in history. Egyptologists are calling this the start of a “new golden age of Egyptology”, and the launch is expected to draw millions of visitors in the coming year.
With this renewed focus on Cairo, Friendship Travel’s Cairo & Nile Cruise is perfect as a sociable small-group holiday for independent travellers that includes a half-day guided visit to the Grand Egyptian Museum.
Why now:
- Full public opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum on 1 November 2025
- Complete Tutankhamun collection (5,500+ artefacts) displayed together for the first time
- A renewed surge of interest in Egypt from UK travellers
- Strong visual and cultural storytelling potential for travel features
About Friendship Travel’s Cairo & Nile Cruise:
A 10-day itinerary combining Cairo’s most important sites with a classic Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan. Designed for solo travellers who like company but want their own room or cabin with no single supplement.
Trip highlights include:
- Half-day guided visit to the Grand Egyptian Museum
- The Pyramids of Giza, Sphinx, and Museum of Egyptian Antiquities
- Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut, and Colossi of Memnon
- Visits to Edfu, Kom Ombo, Aswan’s High Dam, Philae Temple, and a traditional felucca sail
- Host support throughout to arrange sociable dinners and help with logistics
- 4-star Ramses Hilton stay in Cairo (private room)
- MS Royal Viking cruise (private middle-deck cabin)
- Internal flights, transfers, guided tours (unless optional), and virtually all meals included
Practical Details
- Price: from £2,595–£3,575 including flights
- Departure dates: 20 Dec 2025, 21 Feb 2026, 18 Apr 2026
- Includes: ATOL-bonded flights (Heathrow–Cairo–Luxor–Heathrow), accommodation, cruise, meals as specified, entrance fees, Egyptologist-led tours, host throughout
With the fanfare surrounding the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum and Tutankhamun’s full collection on display for the first time, this itinerary offers a highly topical experience for people planning cultural holidays in 2025/26.
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