16 to 27 December 2026

Egypt Xmas

Cairo 🐪 then Marsa Alam 🐢. Easy days. Lots of buffer.

Next up

Cairo, 16 December

Cairo

Loose plan. Uber everywhere. Traffic decides.

Wed 16 Dec · Cairo

Arrive

  • ✈️MS774 Zurich 13:55 → Cairo 18:50
  • 🛂Show e-visa. Passport. Bags.
  • 📱SIM or eSIM at arrivals.
  • 🚗Friend meets you. Uber to Maadi, 45 to 60 min (about 35 if the roads are clear).
  • 🍽️Easy dinner. Sleep.

⏳ Nothing else tonight.

Thu 17 Dec · Giza

Pyramids 🐪

  • 🚗Leave early. Uber to Giza, about 1 hour.
  • 🎟️Tickets online or at the gate. Card only.
  • 🔺Great Pyramid. Panorama point. Sphinx.
  • 🙅Touts: "la shukran". Keep walking.
  • 🍽️Long lunch with a pyramid view.
  • 🏛️Maybe: Grand Egyptian Museum next door.

⏳ Afternoon free. Home before rush hour (from 15:00).

Fri 18 Dec · Cairo

Nile day ⛵

  • ☕Slow morning. Coffee.
  • 🕌Friday prayers at noon. Shops open after.
  • 🛍️Afternoon: Khan el-Khalili. Tea at El Fishawy.
  • ⛵Felucca at sunset. Board around 16:00.
  • 🚢Or: Nile dinner cruise. Book a day ahead.

⏳ Skip anything. The felucca is the one to keep.

Sat 19 Dec · Cairo

Open day

  • 🔺Maybe: Saqqara and Dahshur. Quiet pyramids, half a day.
  • 🌳Or: Al-Azhar Park at sunset.
  • ☕Or: cafés in Zamalek. Walk by the Nile.
  • 🎒Pack tonight. Alarm 05:15.

⏳ Early night. Taxi at 05:45.

Sun 20 Dec · Fly south

To the Red Sea 🌊

  • 🚗05:45 Uber to Cairo airport. Check the terminal in the EgyptAir app.
  • ✈️MS184 Cairo 08:20 → Marsa Alam 09:40
  • 🚕Hotel pickup or taxi. About 10 min.
  • 🏖️Drop bags. Lunch. Beach. Room from ~14:00.
  • 👋Dad lands in the evening. TUI transfer to the hotel.

⏳ Nothing else. Dinner together.

Marsa Alam

No plan. Pick from the ideas each day. 🏃 Dan: sunrise run.

Mon 21 Dec · Marsa Alam

Settle in

  • 🤿Visit the dive centre. Ask where to get in.
  • 🐠First snorkel in the bay. Morning is calmest.
  • 🗓️Pick one trip at the tour desk.

Ideas →

Tue 22 Dec · Marsa Alam

Port Ghalib evening ⚓

  • 🚕~16:00 hotel taxi. 15 min.
  • 🌇Marina walk at sunset (~16:55).
  • 🍦Dinner or ice cream. Back in 1 to 2 hours.

⏳ Any evening works. Swap days if windy.

Ideas →

Thu 24 Dec · Christmas Eve

Free day 🎄

  • 🍽️Gala dinner? Check with the hotel. Book a table.
  • 👔Long trousers and a shirt.

Ideas →

Fri 25 Dec · Christmas Day

Happy Christmas 🎁

  • 📞Call home.
  • 🌊Christmas swim.

Ideas →

Sat 26 Dec · Marsa Alam

Last full day

  • 🐢One more snorkel.
  • 🎒Pack tonight. Ask about late checkout for Dad.

Ideas →

Sun 27 Dec · Home

Fly home ✈️

  • ☀️Breakfast. Last swim.
  • 🚕Dan: leave 10:30. Hotel taxi to the airport.
  • ✈️WK151 Marsa Alam 13:00 → Zurich 17:10
  • 🛏️Dad: late checkout. TUI transfer in the evening.
  • ✈️Dad flies to Gatwick in the evening.