Itinerary
- Day 1
Cairo
You'll arrive at Cairo Airport and get transferred to your hotel. The afternoon is open, so you can relax by the pool or join an optional backstreets tour at 10 am if you land early enough. That tour takes you through Downtown Cairo, Islamic Cairo's mosques and monuments, plus the Cave Church of St. Simon. There's a welcome meeting with your guide and group at 7 pm to go over what's ahead.
- Start point
- Cairo, Cairo, Egypt (Airport)
Optional Activities
- Backstreets tour of Cairo - explore Downtown Cairo, El Moez Street's mosques and monuments in Islamic Cairo, and the Cave Church of St. Simon (departing hotel at 10 am)
Landmarks Downtown Cairo El Moez Street Cave Church of St. Simon 
- Day 2
Cairo
Head out to the Giza Plateau to see the Pyramids and Sphinx, including the Cheops, Chephren, and Mycerinus pyramids that are over 2,000 years old. From there, you'll go to Saqqara necropolis to walk through tombs and temples, with Zoser's Step Pyramid being the main highlight from around 2700 BC. The rest of your day is free to do as you like.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx
- Exploration of Saqqara necropolis, tombs, and temples including Zoser's Step Pyramid
Landmarks Great Pyramid of Cheops Great Sphinx of Giza Pyramid of Chephren Pyramid of Mycerinus Saqqara Step Pyramid of Zoser - Day 3
Cairo to Luxor
Start this morning at the new Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, a 490,000 square meter space filled with artifacts spanning Egyptian history, including King Tutankhamun's treasures. After that, check out the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization to see the Royal Mummies' Hall with 20 preserved mummies showing visible hair, fingernails, and darkened skin. You'll check out of your hotel and board an overnight sleeper train to Luxor later in the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza
- Exploration of the Royal Mummies' Hall at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization
Landmarks Grand Egyptian Museum National Museum of Egyptian Civilization - Day 4
Luxor
You arrive in Luxor and get a guided tour of Temple of Karnak, which includes temples built during different time periods. Walk the Avenue of Sphinxes past the Hypostyle Hall with 134 massive columns, see the obelisks from Queen Hatshepsut and Tutomosis III, and visit the temple of Amon with its lotus and papyrus carvings. The Granite Scarabaeus and Sacred Lake are also on the route. Later, head to Luxor Temple, which blends ancient Egyptian, Christian, and Islamic architectural styles.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Temple of Karnak including Avenue of Sphinxes, Unfinished Propylon, Hypostyle Hall, Obelisks of Queen Hatshepsut and Tutomosis III, temple of Amon, Granite Scarabaeus of Amenophis III, and Sacred Lake
- Visit to Luxor Temple
Landmarks Temple of Karnak Luxor Temple 
- Day 5
Luxor
Wake up around 4:30 am for a hot air balloon ride over Luxor's West Bank. You'll spend 40 to 55 minutes in the air watching the sunrise over the temples and mountains. After landing and breakfast, explore the Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el Bahari, then move to the Valley of the Kings to see pharaonic tombs including those of Merneptah and Ramesses III. Before heading back, stop for photos of the Colossi of Memnon, two 60-foot sandstone statues at the entrance to Amenhotep III's mortuary temple.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Hot air balloon ride over Luxor's West Bank (approximately 4:30 AM departure, 40 to 55-minute duration)
- Visit to Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el Bahari
- Exploration of Valley of the Kings
- View of Colossi of Memnon
Landmarks Temple of Hatshepsut Valley of the Kings Colossi of Memnon 
- Day 6
Luxor
Transfer to Luxor Airport for your onward flight. If you'd rather stay longer, the tour company can help arrange post-tour accommodation so you can continue exploring Luxor's archaeological sites.
- End point
- Luxor, Luxor, Egypt (Airport)
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Post-tour accommodation booking assistance for extended stay in Luxor
