Itinerary
- Day 1
Cairo
You'll be picked up at Cairo Airport and taken to your hotel. The afternoon and evening are open, so you can relax or explore on your own. If you arrive early, there's an optional backstreets tour at 10am that covers Downtown Cairo, Islamic Cairo's mosques, Garbage City, and the Cave Church of St. Simon. Meet your guide and group at 7pm for a welcome meeting.
Optional Activities
- Backstreets tour of Cairo (Downtown Cairo, El Moez Street in Islamic Cairo, Garbage City, Cave Church of St. Simon)
- Alexandria Day Trip available on Saturday before tour starts (pre-tour extension)
Landmarks El Moez Street Cave Church of St. Simon - Day 2
Giza - Saqqara
Head out to see the Giza Plateau with its iconic pyramids and Sphinx. You can add on a camel ride if interested. After that, travel to Saqqara to walk through the tombs and temples, including Djoser's step pyramid built around 2700 BC by the pharaoh's chief architect Imhotep.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Giza Plateau - pyramids and Sphinx
- Guided tour of Saqqara - tombs, temples, and Djoser's step pyramid
Optional Activities
- Camel ride
Landmarks Giza Plateau Great Sphinx of Giza Saqqara Djoser's Step Pyramid - Day 3
Cairo to Luxor
Spend your day at the Grand Egyptian Museum, a massive 490,000 sq.m complex with over 100,000 artifacts. Walk through the galleries and see statues, sarcophagi, and restored antiquities from different periods. The highlight here is King Tutankhamun's collection, which includes his golden funerary mask, chariot, jewelry, and ceremonial pieces. After you've finished exploring (plan for several hours), head back to your hotel to cool off by the pool. Later in the evening, you'll board an overnight train to Luxor, so pack and have dinner before your departure.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of the Grand Egyptian Museum
Landmarks Grand Egyptian Museum - Day 4
Dendera
You'll arrive in Luxor this morning and drive to Dendera, about 60km north. This temple complex features the 2000-year-old Temple of Hathor with its decorated ceiling and was built over thousands of years. After your guided tour, return to Luxor for a free afternoon to explore town or swim. An optional evening visit to see the Temple of Luxor at night is available.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Dendera temple complex
- Visit Temple of Hathor
Optional Activities
- Evening visit to Temple of Luxor at night (book and pay locally)
Landmarks Dendera Temple Complex Temple of Hathor Temple of Luxor - Day 5
West Bank
Explore Luxor's West Bank starting at the Valley of the Kings with its beautifully decorated tombs including those of Ramses II, Seti I, Amenhotep II, and King Tutankhamun. Visit the limestone Temple of Hatshepsut built for one of Egypt's three ruling queens. See the Colossi of Memnon, 18m-high statues all that remain of Amenophis III's temple. Return to the East Bank and board a 5-star Nile cruiser. After lunch, visit the Temple of Karnak complex.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Valley of the Kings
- Visit Temple of Hatshepsut
- See Colossi of Memnon
- Check-in to 5-star Nile cruiser
- Visit Temple of Karnak
Landmarks Valley of the Kings Temple of Hatshepsut Colossi of Memnon Temple of Karnak - Day 6
Nile Cruising
Spend the day relaxing aboard your cruiser as you sail downstream on the Nile. You can relax on deck, take a swim, enjoy the sunshine, and watch the river landscape pass by.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Nile River cruise
- Day 7
Kom Ombo - Aswan
Continue sailing the Nile toward the Temple of Kom Ombo, dedicated to Sobek the crocodile god and Horus. The temple is known for its unique doubled architecture, with everything perfectly symmetrical including twin halls, courts, and sanctuaries. After your guided tour, keep sailing and arrive in Aswan this evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Temple of Kom Ombo
- Nile River cruise
Landmarks Temple of Kom Ombo - Day 8
Philae Temple
Start with a leisurely morning in Aswan or take an optional early excursion to the Temples of Ramses II at Abu Simbel. In the afternoon, take a short boat trip to Agilika Island to visit Philae Temple, dedicated to the goddess Isis. The temple was relocated 20m higher between 1972 and 1980 to save it from rising waters.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Boat trip to Agilika Island
- Visit Philae Temple
Optional Activities
- Early morning excursion to Temples of Ramses II at Abu Simbel (see Abu Simbel by Road add-on for details)
Landmarks Temple of Ramses II at Abu Simbel Philae Temple - Day 9
Aswan to Hurghada
Leave your cruiser and drive to Hurghada on the Red Sea coast, about 7 hours away. Check in for three nights by the sea.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Drive to Hurghada
Landmarks Red Sea - Days 10 - 11
Hurghada
You have two free days to relax by the Red Sea. Hurghada offers excellent facilities for sailing, yachting, deep-sea fishing, scuba diving, and snorkeling with access to prime offshore reefs. Soak up the sunshine by the pool or beach, swim, walk around town, or check out the nightlife.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Snorkeling trip (book locally on day 10)
- Sailboarding
- Yachting
- Deep-sea fishing
- SCUBA diving
Landmarks Hurghada - Days 12 - 13
Hurghada to Cairo to Departure
Fly back to Cairo and spend your last night at leisure in the capital. On day 13, the tour ends with a transfer to Cairo Airport for your onward flight.
Included Activities
- Flight from Hurghada to Cairo
