Itinerary
- Day 1
Cairo
You'll arrive in Cairo today and get settled into your hotel. This is your chance to shake off travel fatigue and prepare for the journey ahead through ancient Egypt. Take some time to rest, walk around your hotel area if you feel up to it, and maybe grab dinner at a local restaurant to start adjusting to the time zone.
- Day 2
Cairo
Start your day at the Saladin Citadel for views across Cairo from above. From there, you'll see the Alabaster Mosque and Sultan Hassan Mosque before heading to the Grand Egyptian Museum to walk through 5,000 years of history. After lunch, wander through Khan el-Khalili Bazaar and along al-Muizz Street in the Old City where Naguib Mahfouz set his stories. Later, catch folk dancing at Wekalet El Ghouri Arts Center and end with dinner on a rooftop terrace overlooking the old city center.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner on rooftop terrace in Old Town with panoramic view of historic center)
Included Activities
- Visit Saladin Citadel
- Visit Alabaster Mosque
- Visit Sultan Hassan Mosque
- Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) entrance
- Walk through Khan el-Khalili Bazaar
- Walk along al-Muizz Street
- Folk dance performance at Wekalet El Ghouri Arts Center
- Dinner on rooftop terrace in Old Town
Landmarks Saladin Citadel Alabaster Mosque Sultan Hassan Mosque Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) Khan el-Khalili Bazaar Al-Muizz Street Wekalet El Ghouri Arts Center - Day 3
Giza
This morning you'll head to Saqqara to see the Step Pyramid of Djoser, the oldest pyramid around, and explore the underground Serapeum. The drive takes you through about 100 km of Egyptian landscape. Later, you'll reach Giza to see the Pyramids of Giza, the Great Sphinx, and Khafre's mortuary temple. It's a long day of travel and exploration, so pace yourself and bring plenty of water and sun protection.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Saqqara necropolis
- Visit Step Pyramid of Djoser
- Visit underground Serapeum
- Visit Pyramids of Giza
- Visit Great Sphinx
- Visit mortuary temple of Chefren
Landmarks Saqqara Necropolis Step Pyramid of Djoser Serapeum Pyramids of Giza Great Sphinx Mortuary Temple of Chefren - Day 4
Cairo to Luxor
You'll fly from Cairo to Luxor this morning. Once there, check out the Luxor Temple and the Karnak Temple Complex, which are connected by the Avenue of Sphinxes. Your guide will explain the imperial god Amun and how the temples connected through festival routes. By evening, you'll board your 5-star cruise ship for your first night on the Nile, so pack a bag with essentials and settle in.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Domestic flight Cairo to Luxor
- Visit Luxor Temple
- Visit Karnak Temple Complex
- Visit Avenue of Sphinxes
Landmarks Luxor Temple Karnak Temple Complex Avenue of Sphinxes - Day 5
Edfu
After breakfast on your ship, head to the West Bank to see the Terrace Temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon standing as remains of royal mortuary temples. Then explore the Valley of the Kings where you'll walk into rock tombs and read inscriptions and carvings from the pharaohs. By late afternoon, return to your cruise ship as it sets sail south toward Edfu. Dinner is served on board as you float along the Nile.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Terrace Temple of Hatshepsut
- Visit Colossi of Memnon
- Visit Valley of the Kings
Landmarks Terrace Temple of Hatshepsut Colossi of Memnon Valley of the Kings - Day 6
Kom Ombo
Cruise at a relaxed pace toward Edfu and visit the Temple of Horus, one of the best-preserved temples from ancient times with granite falcon statues at the entrance. Your guide will talk about the falcon-headed god Horus and his significance. Later, continue by boat to Kom Ombo to see the unusual double sanctuary for the crocodile god Sobek and the falcon god Haroeris. Throughout the day, you can relax on deck, take in the changing Nile Valley landscape, and grab a drink at the ship's bar.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Temple of Horus in Edfu
- Visit double sanctuary at Kom Ombo
Landmarks Temple of Horus Kom Ombo Temple 
- Day 7
Aswan
You'll arrive in Aswan and spend the full day exploring. See the Aswan High Dam on Lake Nasser and walk to the Unfinished Obelisk to understand how ancient Egyptians built these massive stones. Head to Kitchener Island's Botanical Garden to see the region's plant variety. Then take a boat to the Temple of Isis on Philae Island to see the latest phase of ancient Egyptian culture. By late afternoon, head to the spice market souk for tea and conversation with locals learning about Nubian daily life.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Aswan High Dam
- Visit Unfinished Obelisk
- Visit Botanical Garden on Kitchener Island
- Visit Temple of Isis on Philae Island
- Tea with Nubian locals at spice market souk
Landmarks Aswan High Dam Unfinished Obelisk Botanical Garden (Kitchener Island) Temple of Isis (Philae Island) - Day 8
Aswan to Abu Simbel
Leave Aswan early this morning by bus for the 3-hour drive to Abu Simbel, covering about 300 km. You'll see the monumental Abu Simbel temple with its four colossal statues of Ramses II, each standing 20 meters high and aligned so the sun hits them twice yearly. Visit the smaller Hathor Temple nearby dedicated to Ramses II's wife Nefertari. You'll switch to your second cruise ship here and spend the night with views of this architectural wonder from your cabin.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Temple of Ramses II at Abu Simbel
- Visit Hathor Temple at Abu Simbel
Landmarks Temple of Ramses II (Abu Simbel) Hathor Temple (Abu Simbel) - Day 9
Wadi es-Sebou
Start early with breakfast on your sun deck watching the scenery go by. You'll see Kasr Ibrim from the ship as you cruise. Later, disembark at Amada to visit the Amada Temple built for the god Amun-Ra. Grab lunch on board and continue toward Wadi es-Sebou. End the day with dinner on the ship and settle in for the night as you cruise the Nile.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast on board), Lunch, Dinner (Delicious dinner on board)
Included Activities
- View Kasr Ibrim from ship
- Visit Amada Temple
Landmarks Kasr Ibrim Amada Temple - Day 10
Aswan
Have a hearty breakfast on board at Wadi es-Sebou, a valley whose Arabic name means Valley of the Lions from the sphinxes standing in front. Spend time exploring the archaeological sites here at your own pace and take photos. You'll have lunch on board as the ship continues south, and by afternoon you'll arrive in Aswan to dock. Dinner is served on the ship and you'll stay on board for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hearty breakfast on board), Lunch (Delicious lunch on board), Dinner (Relaxed dinner on board)
Included Activities
- Visit Wadi es-Sebou temple
Landmarks Wadi es-Sebou Temple - Day 11
Aswan to Cairo to Frankfurt
This morning marks the end of your trip through Egypt. You'll travel by bus to Aswan Airport and begin your journey home via Cairo. Depending on your flight schedule, you may have an overnight flight that gets you back to Germany early in the morning. Take time to reflect on the temples, Nile landscapes, and ancient sites you've experienced over the past week.
- Meals
- Breakfast
