
Marie Collins Vaughan
Based in Luxor and Cairo in Egypt & Cork in Ireland
English
Trip budgets start at $500/night
Marie Collins Vaughan
Ask me about
My Story
I first came to Egypt as a tour leader. The instant the warm air hit my face as I stepped off the plane, I instinctively knew: I’m home! Sounds crazy, I know, but that’s how it happened. In 2003 I moved here, and twenty-five years later, I still live and work here, hosting special guests and organizing every journey personally—end to end—through a country I know not as a visitor, but from the inside.
Egypt isn’t somewhere I sell. It’s somewhere I’ve built a life, a business, and a long web of trusted relationships. I’ve watched sites open, close, change, and reopen. Egypt is a country I have always felt safe in. I know how access really works, how timing matters, and how a journey can either skim the surface or quietly transform someone. It saddens me to see stories on social media of people having frustrating experiences through poor planning—or thinking they can hop on a plane and figure it out as they go. It’s not that simple.
Alongside Egypt, Ireland remains my other true home. I was born and raised there, and arranging journeys through Ireland is second nature—rooted and intuitive. Going over the options with you until we find the perfect routes and locations that match your interests is one of the most satisfying parts of my work—especially if you’re drawn to faeries, history, or folklore.
Travel Style
I design journeys in Egypt and Ireland only—the two places I know completely.
I start by working with you to create an itinerary that matches your interests, pace, and curiosity. From there, I take care of everything—planning, bookings, timing, transport, drivers, guides, and on-the-ground coordination—so the journey runs smoothly from arrival to departure. Apart from the usual access to major sites, when requested I arrange private or out-of-hours visits to key locations—from the Great Pyramid and the Sphinx to the Osirion at Abydos and the Sekhmet Chapel at Karnak—so you experience Egypt in a way most visitors never do. Decisions are made calmly and in real time, based on lived experience rather than headlines, giving you confidence every step of the way.
I also provide practical guidance before you arrive, covering the everyday questions—what to wear, how and when to tip, and local customs and expectations—so nothing feels uncertain once you’re here.
I can arrange to have your entry visa ready on arrival, fast-track you through airport procedures, and clarify all essential details in advance.
Ireland is approached with the same care—stories, landscape, and atmosphere rather than box-ticking. Routes flow naturally, my contacts welcome you, and places are experienced as personal rather than just viewed.
I don’t offer global planning. I offer a truly personalized itinerary, certainty, and continuous care on the ground in two countries where those things genuinely matter.
Travel ideas (4)

The Art of Finding Irish Roots: A Genealogy Trail Through Ireland
Many people think an Irish ancestral journey begins on Irish soil—a flight, a rental car, a churchyard, a grave, maybe a pint “in honor of the ancestors.” It is meaningful. But after more than fifteen years of researching my own Irish family history, I know that without careful preparation, those moments rarely reach their full depth. The emotional moment should not be the beginning—it should be the reward.

The Art of Finding Irish Roots: A Genealogy Trail Through Ireland
Many people think an Irish ancestral journey begins on Irish soil—a flight, a rental car, a churchyard, a grave, maybe a pint “in honor of the ancestors.” It is meaningful. But after more than fifteen years of researching my own Irish family history, I know that without careful preparation, those moments rarely reach their full depth. The emotional moment should not be the beginning—it should be the reward.

The Perfect 6-Day Egypt Itinerary: Cairo & Luxor in 2026
Is six Days in Egypt enough in 2026? Not nearly! But if six days is all you have, then this itinerary is the exact flow I use for my private clients and for my Fora travelers—the highlights, the right pacing, zero scams, and none of the “shopping tour detours.” Just real Egypt, 2026-ready. Why six days—and why three days in Cairo and three days in Luxor? With six days—and an internal flight—you get: the icons of Cairo (Giza Plateau, the Grand Egyptian Museum, Saqqara, and the antiquities at Tahrir Square); Luxor’s East and West Bank must-sees; the unique masterpieces that are the temples of Abydos and Dendera; and time to breathe, absorb, and actually enjoy it all.

The Perfect 6-Day Egypt Itinerary: Cairo & Luxor in 2026
Is six Days in Egypt enough in 2026? Not nearly! But if six days is all you have, then this itinerary is the exact flow I use for my private clients and for my Fora travelers—the highlights, the right pacing, zero scams, and none of the “shopping tour detours.” Just real Egypt, 2026-ready. Why six days—and why three days in Cairo and three days in Luxor? With six days—and an internal flight—you get: the icons of Cairo (Giza Plateau, the Grand Egyptian Museum, Saqqara, and the antiquities at Tahrir Square); Luxor’s East and West Bank must-sees; the unique masterpieces that are the temples of Abydos and Dendera; and time to breathe, absorb, and actually enjoy it all.

Egypt's 2027 Total Solar Eclipse: A Curated Journey
For the 2027 eclipse, demand in Egypt is unprecedented, with Luxor completely sold out. This curated itinerary is built around secured, exclusive access to five-star Cairo hotel rooms and a private Nile charter. A limited number of spaces remain for this journey, which is designed for witnessing a celestial marvel from the most magical places on earth. From VIP airport meets to private visits inside the Great Pyramids, every detail has been pre-arranged for a seamless and profound adventure.

Egypt's 2027 Total Solar Eclipse: A Curated Journey
For the 2027 eclipse, demand in Egypt is unprecedented, with Luxor completely sold out. This curated itinerary is built around secured, exclusive access to five-star Cairo hotel rooms and a private Nile charter. A limited number of spaces remain for this journey, which is designed for witnessing a celestial marvel from the most magical places on earth. From VIP airport meets to private visits inside the Great Pyramids, every detail has been pre-arranged for a seamless and profound adventure.

From Early Morning at the Sphinx to a Private Night in the Great Pyramid
The Great Pyramid gives me goosebumps every time. But a private entry transforms that awe into a story you’ll tell for years. I’ve spent over two decades in Egypt making this rare access possible, and I never tire of seeing the happy glow on faces exiting the Great Pyramid of Cheops. This isn’t just a tour—it’s a passage into time/space itself.

From Early Morning at the Sphinx to a Private Night in the Great Pyramid
The Great Pyramid gives me goosebumps every time. But a private entry transforms that awe into a story you’ll tell for years. I’ve spent over two decades in Egypt making this rare access possible, and I never tire of seeing the happy glow on faces exiting the Great Pyramid of Cheops. This isn’t just a tour—it’s a passage into time/space itself.

The Art of Finding Irish Roots: A Genealogy Trail Through Ireland
Many people think an Irish ancestral journey begins on Irish soil—a flight, a rental car, a churchyard, a grave, maybe a pint “in honor of the ancestors.” It is meaningful. But after more than fifteen years of researching my own Irish family history, I know that without careful preparation, those moments rarely reach their full depth. The emotional moment should not be the beginning—it should be the reward.

The Art of Finding Irish Roots: A Genealogy Trail Through Ireland
Many people think an Irish ancestral journey begins on Irish soil—a flight, a rental car, a churchyard, a grave, maybe a pint “in honor of the ancestors.” It is meaningful. But after more than fifteen years of researching my own Irish family history, I know that without careful preparation, those moments rarely reach their full depth. The emotional moment should not be the beginning—it should be the reward.

The Perfect 6-Day Egypt Itinerary: Cairo & Luxor in 2026
Is six Days in Egypt enough in 2026? Not nearly! But if six days is all you have, then this itinerary is the exact flow I use for my private clients and for my Fora travelers—the highlights, the right pacing, zero scams, and none of the “shopping tour detours.” Just real Egypt, 2026-ready. Why six days—and why three days in Cairo and three days in Luxor? With six days—and an internal flight—you get: the icons of Cairo (Giza Plateau, the Grand Egyptian Museum, Saqqara, and the antiquities at Tahrir Square); Luxor’s East and West Bank must-sees; the unique masterpieces that are the temples of Abydos and Dendera; and time to breathe, absorb, and actually enjoy it all.

The Perfect 6-Day Egypt Itinerary: Cairo & Luxor in 2026
Is six Days in Egypt enough in 2026? Not nearly! But if six days is all you have, then this itinerary is the exact flow I use for my private clients and for my Fora travelers—the highlights, the right pacing, zero scams, and none of the “shopping tour detours.” Just real Egypt, 2026-ready. Why six days—and why three days in Cairo and three days in Luxor? With six days—and an internal flight—you get: the icons of Cairo (Giza Plateau, the Grand Egyptian Museum, Saqqara, and the antiquities at Tahrir Square); Luxor’s East and West Bank must-sees; the unique masterpieces that are the temples of Abydos and Dendera; and time to breathe, absorb, and actually enjoy it all.

Egypt's 2027 Total Solar Eclipse: A Curated Journey
For the 2027 eclipse, demand in Egypt is unprecedented, with Luxor completely sold out. This curated itinerary is built around secured, exclusive access to five-star Cairo hotel rooms and a private Nile charter. A limited number of spaces remain for this journey, which is designed for witnessing a celestial marvel from the most magical places on earth. From VIP airport meets to private visits inside the Great Pyramids, every detail has been pre-arranged for a seamless and profound adventure.

Egypt's 2027 Total Solar Eclipse: A Curated Journey
For the 2027 eclipse, demand in Egypt is unprecedented, with Luxor completely sold out. This curated itinerary is built around secured, exclusive access to five-star Cairo hotel rooms and a private Nile charter. A limited number of spaces remain for this journey, which is designed for witnessing a celestial marvel from the most magical places on earth. From VIP airport meets to private visits inside the Great Pyramids, every detail has been pre-arranged for a seamless and profound adventure.
Travel photos

