Itinerary
- Day 1
Cairo
You'll arrive at Cairo Airport where an On The Go Tours representative meets you. The day is pretty open after that, so you can settle into your hotel or catch the optional Backstreets Tour of Cairo if you arrive early enough (that leaves at 10am). By 7pm, you'll meet your guide and the other travelers for a welcome meeting to kick things off.
Optional Activities
- Backstreets Tour of Cairo (departing hotel at 10am)
- Day 2
Giza - Saqqara
This morning takes you to Giza Plateau to see the pyramids and the Sphinx, and you can ride a camel here if you want. After that, you'll head to Saqqara to walk through various tombs and temples, including the step pyramid that Imhotep designed back in 2700 BC.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Giza Plateau with pyramids and Sphinx
- Guided tour of Saqqara temples and tombs including Zhoser's step pyramid
Optional Activities
- Camel ride at Giza Plateau
Landmarks/POIs Great Pyramid of Khufu Great Sphinx of Giza Pyramid of Djoser - Day 3
Cairo to Luxor
You start with a guided tour of the Grand Egyptian Museum, which is massive and holds over 100,000 artifacts. Then it's over to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo to check out mummies, statues, jewelry, and sarcophagi. You'll have some downtime to relax by the pool before boarding the overnight sleeper train to Luxor this evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Grand Egyptian Museum
- Guided tour of Egyptian Museum in Cairo
Landmarks/POIs Grand Egyptian Museum Egyptian Museum - Day 4
Dendera
You'll arrive in Luxor this morning and drive about 60km north to Dendera, where one of Egypt's best preserved temple complexes sits. The guided tour covers the 40,000 square meter site, with special attention to the 2000-year-old Temple of Hathor and its decorations. Later, you're back in Luxor for a relaxed afternoon, and there's an optional evening visit to the illuminated Temple of Luxor if you're interested.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Dendera temple complex and Temple of Hathor
Optional Activities
- Evening visit to Temple of Luxor illuminated at night (book and pay locally)
Landmarks/POIs Temple of Hathor at Dendera - Day 5
West Bank - Nile Cruise
This morning you'll explore Luxor's West Bank starting with the Valley of the Kings to see decorated pharaoh tombs. Then you'll visit the Temple of Hatshepsut and see the Colossi of Memnon. After returning to the East Bank, you'll board your 5-star Nile cruiser, settle in with lunch, and then visit the Temple of Karnak this afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Valley of the Kings
- Guided tour of Temple of Hatshepsut
- Visit to Colossi of Memnon
- Guided tour of Temple of Karnak
Landmarks/POIs Valley of the Kings Temple of Hatshepsut Colossi of Memnon Temple of Karnak - Day 6
Nile Cruise
Today is all about relaxing on the Nile. You can spend time on the deck watching the scenery pass by, take a swim, and just enjoy the sun as you cruise downstream on the 5-star cruiser.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Nile River cruise
- Day 7
Aswan
The cruise continues and you'll stop to see the Temple of Kom Ombo with its unusual symmetrical layout. The temple is dedicated to both Sobek the crocodile god and Horus the falcon-headed god, which you'll learn about on the guided tour. After that, you'll keep sailing toward Aswan, arriving by evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Temple of Kom Ombo
Landmarks/POIs Temple of Kom Ombo - Day 8
Philae Temple
Your morning has two options: take an early trip to the Temples of Ramses II at Abu Simbel, or stay on board and relax. In the afternoon, you'll take a short motorboat ride to Philae Temple, which sits on Agilika Island. The temple was moved there in 1972 to protect it from Lake Nasser's rising waters, and it originally dates back to the 4th century BC as a site dedicated to the goddess Isis.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Motorboat trip to Philae Temple
Optional Activities
- Early morning excursion to Temples of Ramses II at Abu Simbel
Landmarks/POIs Philae Temple Abu Simbel Temples - Day 9
Aswan to Cairo
You have the morning free to explore Aswan on your own. Some travelers visit the Old Cataract Hotel, which is famous as the place where Agatha Christie wrote Death on the Nile, or you might check out the Nubian Museum. Later this afternoon, you'll board the overnight train back to Cairo in your private 2 berth sleeper cabin.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit to Old Cataract Hotel
- Visit to Nubian Museum
Landmarks/POIs Old Cataract Hotel Nubian Museum - Day 10
Cairo
You arrive back in Cairo this morning and head to your hotel to check in. The rest of the day is yours to use however you like, whether that's relaxing at the hotel facilities or joining the optional tour of Old Cairo, Coptic Cairo, and the Citadel of Saladin (which you can book when you get there).
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Optional tour of Old Cairo, Coptic Cairo and Citadel of Saladin (book locally)
Landmarks/POIs Citadel of Saladin - Day 11
Cairo Departure
Your tour ends today. You'll transfer to the airport for your onward flight.
