SEKEM plus Luxor

Following a visit to the inspiring and powerful SEKEM Sustainable Development project, you will have the chance to plunge deep into Ancient Egypt by adding a 4-day vacation in majestic Luxor, staying on the Westbank.

The very experienced ex-tour guide Gamal Hassan, who now runs two hotels along the Westbank is responsible for choosing qualified tour guides to help you understand the most important artefacts and inspirations of Ancient Egypt, all concentrated here in this magical destination.

Luxor is a city on the banks of the Nile River in southern Egypt, characterised as the “world’s greatest open-air museum”. Luxor is the site of the Ancient Egyptian city of Thebes, the pharaohs’ capital at the height of their power, during the 16th - 11th centuries B.C. Luxor is home to some of the world’s greatest surviving ancient monuments, such as the graceful Luxor Temple and Karnak Temple, standing tall within the modern Luxor city. Directly opposite, across the River Nile are the monuments, temples and tombs of the West Bank Necropolis, which includes the Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens.

SEKEM PLUS LUXOR Daily Itinerary

DAY 1 – Sunday: Flight (not included) to Cairo. Transfer from CAI Intl. Airport to SEKEM. Welcome and check in to your room. Meal according to your arrival time.

DAY 2 – Monday: Getting accustomed to the outstretched farm by a guided tour. Relax amidst this man-made paradise, kept alive and thriving by the traditional art of irrigating desert land. Enjoy walking in the shade of more than 1,000 date palms, Australian Pine trees (casuarina equisetifolia) neem- and orange-trees, caressed by the breeze. After lunch you will be taken to visit the SEKEM run HU (Heliopolis University) possibly enjoying an art-performance, if given. Dinner in SEKEM.

DAY 3 – Tuesday: Excursion to the famous and oldest of the 7 Ancient Wonders of the World, the Giza Pyramids. Visit the Pyramids and the Sphinx. Continuing to the Step Pyramid of Sakkara and visit Mastabas with very well preserved wall paintings. Lunch in a shady restaurant (food and beverages at your own cost). Back to SEKEM for a relaxing evening dinner.

DAY 4 – Wednesday: A relaxed Cairo sightseeing day. Guided tour through the world-famous Egyptian Museum, which is home to an extensive collection of ancient Egyptian antiquities and some of the world's most unique treasures, such as the golden masks of Tutankhamun, Grave Mask of king Amenemope, Mummy mask of Psusennes I, and Figurine of Khufu, mummies, hieroglyphics, among other. Lunch at a nice restaurant (food and beverages at your own cost). After lunch you will have the opportunity to stroll along Cairo’s most famous Basar Khan-el-Khalili, with all the diverse and colourful offers. Accompanied by your guide to be sure the exhibits and the bargaining stays somewhat fair for both parties! Dinner awaits for you back at the SEKEM farm.

Interesting to note: eating and drinking in Egypt is more than likely much cheaper than in your home country. Cost for food/drinks would likely be around 40 euro / 30 GBP / 50 USD for the 2 days.

DAY 5 – Thursday: Comprehensive guided tour through some production lines of the SEKEM Farm, e.g. the workshops of Naturetex, where hundreds of people are sewing. You will participate at the weekly assembly of the school, where children of many classes show each other and the many ever present visitors what they’re actually learning. Enjoy a nice lunch. At about 4 p.m. you are invited to share in the weekend circle, together with about 800 SEKEM locals/employees, saying farewell to the Abouleish Family. Late afternoon or evening flight (not included) to Luxor, transfer to your Gezira Garden Hotel, Westbank.

DAY 6 – Friday: After breakfast, briefing of the tour programme with the hotel owner, Gamal Hassan, who cares for the good English (or other languages, if necessary)-speaking guides. Crossing the Nile to the Eastbank by boat to the graceful Luxor Temple (14th C. BC). Lunch (food and beverages at your own cost) near the temple, such as in the garden restaurant Sindbad. After lunch again by boat to Karnak Temple (Theban 14^th C. BC), with the famous passage between the Holy Rams of God Amun, the magnificent columns and the Holy Lake. End the day soaking up the atmosphere of this magical destination with dinner on the roof deck of the Hotel Gezira Garden (should the hotel Gezira Garden and El Gezira, the older one, be booked out, you'll stay in Iberotel on the other side of the Nile, but having dinner at the Gezira Garden, incl. the personal ferry to and fro).

DAY 7 – Saturday: Today you’ll see the Colossi of Memnon on your way to the Valley of the Kings with the burial chamber/Tomb of King Tutankhamun (Tut), son of Echnaton and Nefertiti. A visit to the Temple of Amenophis III follows and the Ramesseum (Mortuary Temple of Ramses II); tea break here. Later visit and marvel at the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut. Relax with dinner back at the roof deck of Gezira Garden Hotel.

Day 8 – Sunday: A casual stroll among the fertile fields and pleasant farmland along the Nile valley to the Mortuary Temple of Ramesses III at Medinet Habu or you'll travel there by minibus. If you want a camel or horseback ride, please ask Gamal. Then you’ll visit the Valley of the Workers and the burial sites of the Noblemen, who were Ramose, Vizier of Amenophis III and IV, Usherhet, Royal Scribe of Amenophis II, and Chaemhet, High Supervisor of the Granaries for Upper and Lower Egypt under Amenophis III. All tours are guided by an English(or other languages, if necessary)-speaking guide. The afternoon is free, with options to take a ferry to the Luxor side for a stroll through the Bazaar and/or a visit to the small, but cosy Luxor Museum. Up to 4 people Gamal will provide you with a personal boat to Luxor Museum and back incl. the time you might spend there for 10 €. 

DAY 9 – Monday: The following day Nile boat trip is optional, with payment there on the day. It would be wise to express your interest for this option to the owner of Gezira Garden Hotel in advance during your first days in Luxor, as many times the ship is booked-out. Embarking usually is very early, usually 7 a.m. The cruise visits the Temple of Hathor in Dendera Complex. The cruise will take you leisurely down the Nile, passing many riverbank villages, fields and waving villagers, namely children. The guide at the Temple will speak English. On the return, you will be offered a rich buffet meal. (You might as well go by minibus.) Arrival back in Luxor at about 7 p.m. The alternative to this tour is spending a relaxing and calm day at the hotel’s leisure facilities, book a very early ballooning ride, (also paid on the spot), or free time to explore some of the very visible and hidden treasures of Luxor at your own pace. Dinner back at Gezira Garden Hotel roof deck. You also may want to have a 50 min. Balloon ride very early morning. In both cases Gamal will help you arrange the event.

DAY 10 – Tuesday: Flying back home via Cairo.

Note: the course of the programme can differ due to actual local necessities

Tour available every Sunday throughout the year

Duration: 10 days / 9 Nights - Min number: 2 participants

Prices: 1,630 euro pp in DBL-Room / 1,750 euro pp in 2-room-Apartment; SGL-Room 1,740 euro pp

Booking Aspects

What's Included: All transfers in Egypt and all entrance fees to the sights, as detailed in the itinerary; bio-dynamic Full Board menues at SEKEM (tea, coffee and non-alcoholic juices included), if not stated otherwise in the itinerary.

Transfer to nonstop-flight CAILXR, transfer to/from Gezira Garden Hotel in Theben, Half Board. The owner of the hotel also manages your visiting programme, Mr Gamal Hassan speaks fluent English. Transfers, entrance fees, all English speaking guides are examined/qualified Archaeologist by the Egyptian Government. Transfers back to Luxor airport for flight home (likely via Cairo).

Optional extras: day Nile-cruise to the Temple of Dendera (English speaking guide) or ride on donkey, camel or horse to the Temple of Medinet Habu. Or, wind provided, sailing cruise on a feluka e.g. to Banana Island (the one with the crocodile). Or going on a hot air balloon ride – all options are to be paid then and there.

What's not Included: Flights. SEKEM Reisen can help book flights from/to all Intl./National Airports you wish to depart/return to. We will book the flights with renowned airlines, in close coordination with you, preferring direct flights at decent times or flights with the least stops possible. The service charge for thee bookings will be 10 % pp.

Accommodation Options

SEKEM provides accommodation for visitors, with fully equipped rooms. The 33 rooms available at the farm are all Double Rooms, with 2 having adjacent doors, ideal for families, or helpers. All rooms have a bathroom with shower and WC, as well as mosquito nets. Rooms are either on the ground level or first floor, looking out to the lawns and gardens in front and behind the building.

In Luxor, staying at Gezira Garden Hotel, Westbank. This hotel is a small family-operated establishment. Featuring swimming pool with sun loungers and a bar, this hotel in Luxor offers air-conditioned accommodation and free Wi-Fi. All rooms have simple décor with warm colours. Each unit includes an en suite bathroom and a balcony overlooking the pool, garden or village. The apartments are furnished with a kitchen, dining area and living room.

For for food and drinks, the rooftop restaurant features Egyptian and international cuisine, as well as alcoholic beverages. Food and drinks are also offered in the garden, which offers a view of the mountains. Valley of the Kings and Temple of Hatshepsut are 10 minutes’ drive away; the airport is 30 minutes away.

Travel Tips

Before travelling to any country its also always a good idea to do a little research and learn more about the destination; its climate, culture, and general environment. We've prepared an introduction to general practical information about travelling to Egypt

Travel insurance is always advisable. Either you can arrange with us, speak to SEKEM Reisen for more information, or book itself yourself directly using the below link.

• Book travel insurance directly online
• Read more information on our partner travel insurance company

Booking Info

Tour prices

1,630 euro pp in DBL-Room

1,750 euro pp in Apartment (2 separate bedrooms) 

1,740 euro pp in SGL-Room

 

Peak season prices (PS) 22nd DEC 2024 thru 7th JAN 2025 and 12th thru 27th April 2025

1,890 euro pp in DBL-Room 

1,990 euro pp in Apartment

 1,990 euro pp in SGL-Room

 

All tour prices valid/guaranteed until 31st AUG 2025

 

I make a voluntary CO2 compensation payment for 1 ton of CO2 from my flight emissions for the round trip from Germany/Switzerland/Austriato Cairo for the SEKEM project “Greening the Desert”, an overview can be found here:

https://sekem.com/en/offset-your-co2-footprint-with-sekem/