Backroads is bringing its active-travel approach to Egypt for the first time in 2027, combining hiking, biking and kayaking with luxury stays and a multi-day journey along the Nile. The new Multi-Adventure Tour travels from Cairo to Luxor and Aswan, offering a more active way to experience Egypt’s most iconic landscapes, from the Pyramids of Giza and the temples of Abu Simbel to the tombs and desert terrain of Luxor’s West Bank. Guests will also kayak along the Nile, explore by felucca and motorboat, and meet local communities, with Egyptologists providing context throughout the journey.

The eight-day-style itinerary pairs active exploration with stays at properties including Aswan’s Mandarin Oriental Old Cataract and Luxor’s Al Moudira Hotel, a Relais & Châteaux property, along with four nights aboard the all-suite Sanctuary Serai riverboat. Cultural experiences extend beyond the ancient monuments, including time with Nubian families, traditional music, Egyptian cooking and a Galabeya celebration. The trips will operate from October through December 2027 and January through March 2028.

The Curated Take

Egypt is hardly short on organized tours, which makes Backroads’ approach particularly interesting. Rather than treating the country’s ancient monuments as a sequence of sightseeing stops, the itinerary uses movement to connect them, whether by bike through the desert, on foot along historic avenues or from the water. Add in some genuinely memorable hotels and an all-suite Nile cruise, and this is an appealing option for travelers who want their Egypt experience to feel as active as it is cultural.