Itinerary
- Day 1
Cairo
You'll arrive in Cairo and meet your Ancient Egypt Tours representative at the airport. A private air-conditioned car will take you to your hotel where check-in happens at 14:00. If you land early, you can relax at the hotel or arrange a pre-tour extra night for immediate access to your room.
Optional Activities
- 2-hour open buffet dinner Nile cruise including belly dancer, local band and skirt rotation performer
- Sound and Light show
- Day 2
Cairo
After breakfast at your hotel, your personal guide meets you for a full day on the Giza Plateau. You'll see the Great Pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure, then check out the Great Sphinx and Valley Temple. There's a photo stop where you can capture the three pyramids with Cairo's skyline in the background. Lunch happens at a local restaurant before heading to the Egyptian Museum to see Tutankhamun's golden treasures and thousands of other pharaonic artifacts.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel), Lunch (Lunch at local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Great Pyramids of Giza (Khufu, Khafre, Menkaure pyramids)
- Visit Valley Temple
- Photo opportunity - three pyramids with Cairo skyline
- Visit Egyptian Museum (Museum of Egyptian Antiquities) including Tutankhamun's golden treasures
Landmarks/POIs Great Pyramids of Giza Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops) Pyramid of Khafre Pyramid of Menkaure Great Sphinx of Giza Valley Temple of Khafre Egyptian Museum - Day 3
Cairo to Luxor
Breakfast comes first at your hotel, then you'll head to the airport for your domestic flight to Luxor. Once you arrive, you'll transfer to your Nile cruise ship and settle in. Lunch is served on board as you begin your cruise experience.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch on board), Dinner
- Day 4
Luxor
You'll have breakfast on board before transferring to Karnak Temple, the largest place of worship ever built. This vast complex spreads across 100 hectares with three main temples to explore. From there you'll visit Luxor Temple, built by Amunhotep III and finished by Ramesses II, where you can see the Obelisk of Ramses II. After that, you'll head back to your cruise ship for lunch on board.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast on board), Lunch (Lunch on board), Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Karnak Temple complex
- Visit Luxor Temple with Obelisk of Ramses II
Landmarks/POIs Karnak Temple Luxor Temple Obelisk of Ramses II Mosque of Abu el-Haggag - Day 5
Luxor to Kom Ombo
Breakfast is served on board, then you'll visit the Temple of Esna dedicated to the triad of Latopolis with its small Ptolemaic zodiac. Sailing continues to Edfu where you'll see the Temple of Horus, the second-largest temple in Egypt. You'll have lunch on board and keep sailing toward Kom Ombo. The evening includes afternoon tea and a disco party for entertainment.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast on board), Lunch (Lunch on board), Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Temple of Esna
- Visit Temple of Horus at Edfu
Landmarks/POIs Temple of Esna Temple of Horus at Edfu - Day 6
Kom Ombo to Aswan
You'll sail to Aswan while eating breakfast on board. Your tour starts at the High Dam, an engineering project completed between 1960 and 1970. Next comes the Unfinished Obelisk, the largest known ancient obelisk, followed by the Temple of Philae on Isis Island which honors goddesses Isis and Hathor. You'll also see the Granite Quarries. Afternoon tea and a Galabya party dinner on board round out the day.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast on board), Lunch, Dinner (Galabya party Dinner on board)
Included Activities
- Visit High Dam
- Visit Unfinished Obelisk
- Visit Temple of Philae
- Visit Granite Quarries
Landmarks/POIs Aswan High Dam Unfinished Obelisk Temple of Philae Granite Quarries - Day 7
Aswan
After breakfast on board, you have the option to go felucca sailing around Kitchener's Island and the Agha Khan Mausoleum. The rest of the day is relaxed with lunch and afternoon tea served on board, followed by evening games and entertainment.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast on board), Lunch (Lunch on board), Dinner
Optional Activities
- Sail on Nile by Felucca around Kitchener's Island and Agha Khan Mausoleum
Landmarks/POIs Kitchener's Island Agha Khan Mausoleum - Day 8
Aswan to Luxor
You'll sail back to Kom Ombo after breakfast on board. The Temple of Kom Ombo has a unique double dedication to Sobek the crocodile god and Haroeris, a form of Horus. Built during the Ptolemaic era with Roman additions later on, it's worth exploring at a good pace. Lunch is on board before dinner service as your cruise heads back toward Luxor.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast on board), Lunch (Lunch on board), Dinner (Dinner on board)
Included Activities
- Visit Temple of Kom Ombo
Landmarks/POIs Temple of Kom Ombo - Day 9
Luxor
Breakfast happens on board before you head to the West Bank to explore the Valley of the Kings, home to roughly 60 tombs dating from 1539 to 1075 BC. You'll visit three tombs including King Tutankhamun's famous burial site discovered in 1922. Then you'll see the Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari with its three terraced levels, plus the Colossi of Memnon, two massive statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III. Lunch is served on board and you'll have a free afternoon to relax.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast on board), Lunch (Lunch on board), Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Valley of the Kings (3 tombs including King Tutankhamun's tomb)
- Visit Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari
- Visit Colossi of Memnon
Landmarks/POIs Valley of the Kings Tomb of King Tutankhamun (KV62) Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut Colossi of Memnon - Day 10
Luxor
You'll have breakfast on board before disembarking from your cruise ship. The rest of the day is yours to explore or rest. Optional activities are available if you want to arrange them.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast on board), Lunch, Dinner
- Day 11
Luxor
Breakfast comes at your hotel and the entire day is free for you to explore Luxor at your own pace or simply rest. If you're interested, optional activities can be booked for additional experiences.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 12
Luxor to Cairo
After breakfast, you'll transfer to Luxor airport for your domestic flight back to Cairo. When you arrive, you'll head to your hotel for check-in. The afternoon and evening are open with optional activities available if you'd like to do something extra.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 13
Cairo to Alexandria
Following breakfast, your guide picks you up from your hotel to travel about 240 kilometers north to Alexandria. You'll visit Montazah Palace and its 317-acre gardens filled with trees and flowers. There's a photo stop at the Bibliotheca of Alexandria before you see Pompey's Pillar, built in the 4th century for Emperor Diocletian. The Catacombs come next, the largest Roman cemetery with three levels carved into rock. Lunch is at a local Alexandria restaurant, then you'll drive along the Cornish to see modern Alexandria and cross the Stanley Bridge. You'll visit Qaitbay Citadel built where the ancient lighthouse of Alexandria once stood, and see the Bibliotheca Alexandrina before returning to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at local restaurant in Alexandria)
Included Activities
- Visit Montazah Palace and Gardens
- Visit Pompey's Pillar
- Visit Catacombs
- Drive along the Cornish
- Visit Qaitbay Citadel
- Visit Bibliotheca Alexandrina
Optional Activities
- Photo stop at Bibliotheca of Alexandria
Landmarks/POIs Montazah Palace and Gardens Bibliotheca Alexandrina Pompey's Pillar Catacombs of Alexandria Qaitbay Citadel Stanley Bridge - Day 14
Alexandria to El Alamein
Your guide picks you up after breakfast from your Alexandria hotel for a full day at El Alamein. You'll visit the War Museum to learn about the battle and see weapons, uniforms, and equipment from all participating forces. Then you'll pay respects at the Commonwealth Cemetery and the German Cemetery. Lunch is included in the day, and you'll return to your Alexandria hotel afterward.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit War Museum of El Alamein
- Visit Commonwealth Cemetery
- Visit German Cemetery
Landmarks/POIs War Museum of El Alamein El Alamein Commonwealth Cemetery El Alamein German Cemetery - Day 15
Alexandria to Cairo
After breakfast, you'll transfer by air-conditioned car from Alexandria back to Cairo. Upon arrival, you'll check in at your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to relax or explore. Optional activities are available if you want to arrange them.
- Day 16
Cairo to Saqqara and Memphis
Your guide picks you up after hotel breakfast to visit the Step Pyramid of Zoser, the world's oldest major stone structure built around 2630 BC for King Djoser during the 3rd Dynasty. You'll see the museum of Imhotep and tombs of other kings including Titi and Unas. From there you'll transfer to Memphis, Egypt's first capital founded by King Menes. This ancient center of power and culture ruled for over 3000 years and you'll explore the Temple of Ptah, the Alabaster Sphinx guarding it, and the 16-meter-high Statue of Ramses II. Lunch is at a local restaurant before you return to your Cairo hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel), Lunch (Lunch at local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Step Pyramid of Zoser
- Visit Museum of Imhotep
- Visit Pyramid of King Titi
- Visit Pyramid of King Unas
- Visit Memphis Temple of Ptah
- See Alabaster Sphinx
- See Statue of Ramses II
Landmarks/POIs Step Pyramid of Zoser Saqqara Memphis Alabaster Sphinx of Memphis Statue of Ramses II - Day 17
Cairo
You'll have breakfast at your hotel and the entire day is free to explore Cairo at your own pace, rest, or arrange optional activities if you're interested.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 18
Cairo Departure
After breakfast at your hotel, an Ancient Egypt Tours representative will pick you up and transfer you to Cairo airport for your international flight home. You'll have time for a peaceful goodbye to Egypt before you depart.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel)
