Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Cairo
You'll arrive in Cairo and our staff will meet you at the airport to help with your visa and bags before driving you to your hotel. Spend some time getting familiar with the neighborhood and settling in. Your evening is open, so if you land with time to spare, you can book an optional Nile dinner cruise or catch the sound and light show at the pyramids.
Optional Activities
- Evening dinner cruise on the Nile
- Sound and light show at the pyramids
- Day 2
Cairo to Aswan
Begin with a guided tour through the Egyptian Museum to see the Tutankhamun exhibit and various ancient artifacts. From there, head to Giza to walk around the Great Sphinx and view the three great pyramids. You'll have the option to climb inside if tickets are available. Later in the evening, you'll board an overnight sleeper train heading to Aswan, which takes about nine hours.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Egyptian Museum with local Egyptologist guide
- Visit to the Sphinx and the three great pyramids of Giza
- Overnight sleeper train to Aswan
Optional Activities
- Climbing inside the pyramids (limited tickets available)
Landmarks/POIs Egyptian Museum Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops) Pyramid of Khafre Pyramid of Menkaure Great Sphinx of Giza - Day 3
Aswan
You'll arrive in Aswan and transfer to your hotel with views of the Nile. In the afternoon, take a boat out to Philae Temple on an island dedicated to the goddess Isis, then see the massive Aswan Dam. The rest of your day is yours to spend walking through the spice markets or strolling along the Corniche. An optional camel ride to St. Simeon's Monastery is available if interested.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Boat trip to Philae Temple
- Tour of Aswan Dam
Optional Activities
- Camel ride through the sands to St. Simeon's Monastery
Landmarks/POIs Philae Temple Aswan Dam St. Simeon's Monastery - Day 4
Aswan
You'll spend time in a local Nubian village to see colorful homes and learn about their culture, followed by a traditional lunch. After that, visit the Nubian Museum to explore more about the region's history. Then check out the Unfinished Obelisk to see how ancient workers cut stone. Head to bed early since tomorrow's trip to Abu Simbel starts before dawn.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Traditional Nubian lunch)
Included Activities
- Visit to local Nubian village
- Traditional Nubian lunch
- Tour of Nubian Museum
- Visit to Unfinished Obelisk site
Landmarks/POIs Nubian Museum Unfinished Obelisk - Day 5
Abu Simbel to Felucca
Leave very early for the three-hour drive to Abu Simbel temples built by Ramses II. You'll arrive at sunrise to see three of the four colossal statues lit up (one stays in shadow). Back in Aswan by lunch, you'll board a traditional felucca to sail downriver and watch rural life along the banks. Sleep on deck with provided comforts, though a hotel upgrade is an option.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Evening meal prepared by felucca crew)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Abu Simbel temples at sunrise with Egyptologist
- Nile felucca sailboat cruise with Nubian crew
- Meals prepared by felucca crew
- Support boat with facilities for kitchen, toilet, and showers
Optional Activities
- Upgrade to additional night in Aswan hotel instead of felucca (rejoin group next morning)
Landmarks/POIs Abu Simbel Temples - Day 6
Edfu to Luxor
After breakfast, you'll leave the felucca and visit Edfu Temple, one of Egypt's best-preserved sites. Continue traveling north to Luxor, which sits at the ancient city of Thebes and holds the largest collection of ancient ruins in the Nile Valley. Later, walk through the illuminated Luxor Temple in town.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Edfu Temple
- Walking tour of Luxor Temple (evening illuminated)
Landmarks/POIs Edfu Temple Luxor Temple - Day 7
Luxor West Bank to Cairo
Cross to Luxor's West Bank to explore the Valley of the Kings, an ancient burial site with pharaonic tombs. You'll also see Queen Hatshepsut Temple and Deir El-Medina. An optional sunrise hot air balloon flight over the West Bank is available. In the afternoon, visit the massive Karnak Temple with its enormous pillars and columns. Evening transfer to the train station for the nine-hour overnight sleeper back to Cairo.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Valley of the Kings tour
- Queen Hatshepsut Temple visit
- Deir El-Medina (Valley of the Artisans) tour
- Karnak Temple complex tour
Optional Activities
- Sunrise hot air balloon flight over West Bank
Landmarks/POIs Valley of the Kings Temple of Hatshepsut Deir El-Medina Karnak Temple - Day 8
Cairo
You'll arrive back in Cairo and transfer to your hotel. Most of the day is free for your own exploration, though you can book optional tours like Coptic Cairo and the Citadel, half-day trips to Saqqara and Memphis, or full-day journeys to Alexandria or Wadi Rayan. Later in the afternoon, take a guided walk through central Cairo's backstreets and bazaars past the Bab al-Futuh gateway into Khan-el-Khalili. Stop for tea and shisha, then grab an early dinner of Kushari before heading back.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided walking tour of central Cairo backstreets and bazaars
- Tea and shisha break
- Egyptian Kushari dinner
Optional Activities
- City tour of Coptic Cairo, the Citadel, and Mohamed Ali Mosque
- Half-day tour to Saqqara, Dashour, and Memphis
- Full-day trip to Alexandria on the Mediterranean
- Full-day trip to World Heritage Site of Valley of the Whales at Wadi Rayan
Landmarks/POIs Coptic Cairo Citadel of Cairo Mohamed Ali Mosque Bab al-Futuh Khan-el-Khalili Bazaar - Day 9
Departure from Cairo
Your last day is completely free to do what you want. You can fit in final sightseeing or shopping in Cairo before the airport transfer for your flight home. Whether you're checking out historical sites or picking up souvenirs, you'll have time to wrap up your trip to Egypt.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Last-minute sightseeing in Cairo
- Last-minute shopping in Cairo
