Egypt Private Tours, Exclusive Visits & Extraordinary Experiences

I’m Marie Vaughan, founder of Mara House Luxor, and I live and work in Egypt year-round. I organise and personally oversee private Egypt journeys for travelers who want more than the usual sightseeing circuit. Through my experience, local relationships and access to opportunities that aren’t generally available to visitors, I can arrange everything from straightforward private itineraries to some quite extraordinary experiences.

Some people know exactly what they want, have their dates in mind and simply want me to put it all together. Others prefer a much more involved process, exploring possibilities, developing their ideas over time and having help with a bespoke itinerary for their Egypt trip.

For those who want to take the second approach and want something different with a higher price tag, I offer my Mara House Planning Pass my personal itinerary planning service for travelers who want to discover what Egypt might offer beyond anything they’ve already imagined.

I’m also increasingly hearing from people who have already booked with large tour operators but realise that some of the most interesting experiences are simply beyond what those operators can provide. Here’s why they come to me.

Why Travel with Mara

• Designed and personally overseen by Marie Vaughan (known as “Mara” in Egypt)
• Based in Luxor and on the ground year-round
• Personal journeys with small numbers and shared pacing
• Rare-access visits possible where approved
• Controlled calendars for high-demand sites such as the Great Pyramid, Sphinx, and Osirion
• Full-trip booking allows itinerary flexibility after confirmation

Whether you’re planning your first visit, returning with deeper questions, or wanting to show your children a world beyond the ordinary, Mara House Luxor is your gateway. If you’re still in the early planning stage, you’ll find everything you need in my full travel guide to Egypt.

Exclusive Experiences

These are exclusive, legally arranged private access visits with all required permits. From the emails I receive I see a swing that has visitors wanting to swop the cost of a luxury hotel for a private visit to the Gt. Pyramid or the Sphinx and several other sites across Egypt. Below are just two examples of these private visits that are available

• Could you survive an hour after dark in Tutankhamun’s tomb with his mummy beside you?
• Private Access to the Great Pyramid of Giza – understanding the difference between private access and a private tour

To the Person Who Has Done It All

The number of visitors seeking experiences beyond the usual tours and sightseeing is also growing rapidly. They are looking for something different: the opportunity to stand at Abu Ghorab, for example, looking out across the pyramids of Giza from an even greater height; or, for those with little time to spare, to have a private jet waiting at the airport rather than spend time in departure queues and terminals.

The interesting thing is that many of these people have no idea what is actually possible in Egypt. They cannot ask for something they don’t know exists. That is precisely where I come in: I know what doors can be opened, what arrangements can be made and, often, what they haven’t yet thought to ask for.

• An invitation to Egypt: Beyond the Expected
• Dahabiya or Nile Cruiser? Choosing how to sail the Nile can make or break your trip. I am notoriously strict about quality, which is why you can read my unfiltered thoughts on Why I have never recommended a Dahabiya until now before choosing between a traditional cruiser or an exclusive private ultra luxury sailing journey. 2026 and 2027 are seeing the arrival of some really special Dahabiyas on the Nile that are worthy of attention.

2027 Total Solar Eclipse in Luxor

For First-Timers to Egypt

Travel alone, with a partner or your own small group. These are the best itineraries to introduce you to Egypt. They are only a sample of what is possible and when you experience Egypt with my guides you are protected from most of the hassle and annoyances that so many speak about on the internet. Your experience is important to us and we want you to leave Egypt with a deep desire and determination to return for more in-depth explorations with us.

• 9 Nights Egypt with Nile Cruise – Luxor, Aswan, Nile cruise, and Cairo highlights.
• First-Time in Egypt (6 night Itinerary) – structured for its logical flow Cairo – Luxor – Cairo
• A 3-Night Luxor Itinerary – Designed Around How People Actually Experience Ancient Thebes
• A 2-Day Cairo Highlights Itinerary – for First-Time Visitors to Cairo

Transformative Travel – Where the Nile becomes your inner map

• Spiritual Chakra Tour of Egypt – Embark on a one-of-a-kind Chakra Tour through Egypt, tracing sacred energy centers from Abu Simbel to Alexandria. Private pyramid access, ancient temples, and a soul-awakening spiritual journey guided by Mara.
• Transformative Travel – Experience Ancient Egypt beyond sightseeing – temples, mythology, sacred landscapes, and first-hand journeys that reveal why Egypt still transforms those who travel deeply.

Family Travel

I took my 9-year-old grandson on a 16-day journey – and it inspired this programme.

• Egypt for Children – Family Journey – interactive, balanced, unforgettable.

Day Tours in Cairo

Why choose to do your day tours with Mara House Luxor tours?  Because you get real tours, expert licensed guides and most of all we do not participate in commission based shopping during our tours.

• A comprehensive list of my Tours in Cairo (more coming soon)

Luxor, Aswan & The West Bank

• Explore the riches of  Luxor’s East & West Banks, the ancient necropolis of Thebes and how to travel onwards to Aswan – Tours in Luxor

Staying in Hurghada and in need of something different?

By Day Five in Hurghada, You’ll Want This. Short Break in Luxor

Let’s start the conversation about your trip

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When are you planning on travelling to Egypt and how many nights do you have? *

Who is travelling with you?

• Spouse/Partner
• children
• also other adults apart from spouse/partner

Choose which option you prefer

• I prefer a totally private experience just for my and my companions
• If it means a lower price I am happy to share some experiences with a small group
• I am not sure and am happy to discuss options

My/Our priorities for the trip are:

• I prefer to save money with a good, new, comfortable hotel and spend on special experiences
• The standard of the hotel is higher on my priority list than experiences
• My main priority is history, monuments, stories and getting as much in as possible
• Both hotel and sightseeing experiences are equally important

Select all of the sites you would like to see/explore in Cairo

• Giza Plateau, Gt. Pyramid, Sphinx
• GEM Grand Egyptian Museum
• Saqqara incl Serapeum
• Memphis, Saqqara and Dashur
• Antiquities Museum at Tahrir Sq
• Civilization Museum
• Medieval Cairo
• Gayer Anderson House & Ibn Tulun Mosque
• Citadel of Salading & Mosques to Sultans Hassan & Rifai
• Coptic Cairo, Cave Church, Dwelling of the Hold Family
• Abdeen Palace
• Islamic Museum
• Manial Palace and Nileometer
• Overday to Alexandria
• Overnight in Alex & visit El Alamein

Cairo the like

Select all of the sites you would like to see/explore in Luxor

• Luxor Temple
• Karnak Temple
• Abydos and Dendera
• West Bank 6 sites incl Valley of Kings
• Overday to Aswan, stop at Edfu and Kom Ombo

Select all of the sites you would like to see/explore in Aswan

• Philae Temple
• Unfinished Oblisk and Aswan Dam
• Nubian Village
• Elephantine Island

Anything specific you would like to ask or add that might help me give the best response?

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