Itinerary
- Day 1
Cairo
You'll arrive in Cairo today at your own pace, and your tour leader will meet you at the hotel at 6pm for a welcome meeting. If you get there early, the Nile promenade is right there for a walk, or head to Khan el Khalili market to start getting a feel for the city. Either way, you'll have some time to settle in before that evening meeting.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Novotel Cairo El Borg)
Optional Activities
- Visit Khan el Khalili medieval market
- Stroll along the Nile promenade
- Dinner with tour group
Landmarks/POIs Khan el Khalili River Nile - Day 2
Cairo
This morning you'll head to Giza with a local guide to see the pyramids and sphinx up close. After that, the Egyptian Museum in Giza has over 100,000 items including Tutankhamun's golden treasures, which takes a few hours to get through. Back in Cairo by afternoon, you've got free time to visit Khan el Khalili market again, use the hotel pool, or just relax on the rooftop terrace with Nile views.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Novotel Cairo El Borg)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Giza pyramid complex including the Great Sphinx
- Visit to Granite Temple
- Tour of Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza
Optional Activities
- Lunch at museum restaurants
- Visit Khan el Khalili market
- Hotel pool and rooftop terrace
Landmarks/POIs Great Pyramids of Giza Great Sphinx of Giza Granite Temple Grand Egyptian Museum Khan el Khalili 
- Day 3
Cairo to Minya
You'll head south from Cairo on a private air-conditioned bus toward Minya, a 270-kilometer journey that takes roughly four hours. Along the way, you'll pass through rural villages and see the fertile landscape along the Nile's banks. Once you arrive, you'll check out Tel el-Amarna, the ancient capital city founded by Pharaoh Akhenaten around 1346 BC. The site has temples, tombs, and palaces that show what this important period in Egyptian history was like. By mid-afternoon you'll reach your hotel in Minya, giving you time to settle in and rest.
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Savoy El-Minya Hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Tel el-Amarna archaeological site
- Explore temples, tombs, and palaces at Tel el-Amarna
- Guided tour of Tel el-Amarna with Explore Tour Leader
Landmarks/POIs Tel el-Amarna - Day 4
Minya
After breakfast, it's about 25 minutes to Beni Hassan, an archaeological site with beautifully decorated tombs featuring vibrant wall paintings, inscriptions, and well-preserved burial chambers. You'll spend a few hours exploring, then have the afternoon free to do whatever you'd like.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Savoy El-Minya Hotel)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Beni Hassan archaeological site with 39 decorated tombs
Landmarks/POIs Beni Hassan - Day 5
Minya to Aswan
After breakfast, you'll head to the Aton Hotel situated on the Nile banks for an exclusive solar eclipse viewing. The partial phase kicks off at 11:40 am, and you'll experience totality from 1:05 pm, lasting around 6 minutes and 22 seconds before wrapping up near 2:26 pm. Eclipse glasses are provided for safe viewing, and the hotel has set up canopies and shaded areas so you're comfortable throughout. Lunch happens at the hotel afterward. From there, you've got a few hours to either explore Minya or simply relax before heading to the train station. You'll board your overnight train at 8:35 pm, arriving in Aswan at 6:00 am the following morning.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at Aton Hotel)
- Accommodation
- Sleeper Train (Overnight Train: Minya to Aswan)
Included Activities
- Solar eclipse viewing at Aton Hotel with exclusive use of outside sundeck
- Lunch at Aton Hotel
Optional Activities
- Explore Minya
- Relax at Aton Hotel after eclipse viewing
Landmarks/POIs Aton Hotel Nile - Day 6
Aswan
You'll arrive early in Aswan and take a motorboat out to Philae Temple on an island with some of Egypt's finest carvings. By lunchtime you're back at your hotel on the Nile's banks with free time to relax by the pool, visit the Nubian bazaar, or see the Unfinished Obelisk. This evening, head by motorboat across the Nile to a traditional Nubian village for a home-cooked dinner with a local family.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Home-cooked dinner with local Nubian family)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Obelisk Nile Hotel)
Included Activities
- Motorboat excursion to Philae Temple
- Visit to Unfinished Obelisk
- Home-cooked dinner with local Nubian family
Optional Activities
- Visit Nubian bazaar with perfume shops and papyrus institute
- Hotel pool on the Nile banks
Landmarks/POIs Philae Temple Unfinished Obelisk Nubian Bazaar - Day 7
Aswan
Rise very early for a bus drive south to Abu Simbel, a rock-hewn temple carved from solid sandstone on the Nile's west bank. Built by Ramses II in the 13th century BCE, it has 20-metre colossal statues at the entrance and intricate carvings inside. You'll return to Aswan in the early afternoon for lunch, then have free time to relax by the pool, explore independently, or take an optional felucca boat ride.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Obelisk Nile Hotel)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Abu Simbel rock-hewn temple
Optional Activities
- Traditional wooden felucca boat ride on the Nile
- Visit Nubian bazaar
- Tour of Aswan High Dam
- Visit Unfinished Obelisk
- Hotel pool
Landmarks/POIs Abu Simbel Aswan High Dam Nubian Bazaar 
- Day 8
Aswan to Luxor
After breakfast you'll drive to Luxor with stops at two temple sites. First is Kom Ombo Temple on the Nile banks, dedicated to two gods: Haroeris the falcon-headed sky god and Sobek the crocodile god. Then comes Edfu Temple, one of Egypt's best-preserved temples dedicated to the falcon god Horus, with intricate carvings and inscriptions throughout. You'll arrive in Luxor mid-afternoon with time to check in.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Aracan Eatabe Luxor Hotel)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Kom Ombo Temple
- Guided tour of Edfu Temple
Landmarks/POIs Kom Ombo Temple Edfu Temple 
- Day 9
Luxor
Start early to visit Karnak Temple, one of Egypt's most celebrated temple complexes with parts dating back to 2000 BC. Then explore Luxor Temple complex, the ancient crowning place of pharaohs that later became a legionary fortress and then churches. Back at your hotel around noon, the afternoon is free to relax or visit nearby museums. An optional hot air balloon ride is available if you're interested, with pickup between 4:30-5:00 am.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Aracan Eatabe Luxor Hotel)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Karnak Temple complex
- Guided tour of Luxor Temple complex
Optional Activities
- Luxor Museum visit
- Luxor Mummification Museum visit
- Hot air balloon ride over Luxor, Valley of the Kings, and temples
Landmarks/POIs Karnak Temple Luxor Temple Luxor Museum Luxor Mummification Museum 
- Day 10
Luxor
Start early for the Valley of the Kings, burial site of Tutankhamun and 62 other royal tombs. You'll visit three tombs selected on the day, and there's an optional supplement if you want to see Tutankhamun's tomb specifically. Next is the Temple of Hatshepsut, dedicated to Egypt's most successful female pharaoh and carved into limestone cliffs. Then explore Habu Temple and Ramses III's mortuary temple. Lunch is a home-cooked meal with a local family featuring okra stew, koshari, and tagen. Back at your hotel mid-afternoon with free time to relax, swim, or explore the markets.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Home-cooked meal with local family including okra stew, koshari (rice, lentils, pasta and chickpeas), tagen (tomato-based dish) and freshly baked bread)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Aracan Eatabe Luxor Hotel)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Valley of the Kings with entrance to three tombs
- Guided tour of Temple of Hatshepsut
- Guided tour of Habu Temple
- Home-cooked lunch with local family
Optional Activities
- Supplement to visit Tutankhamun's tomb
- Hotel pool
- Explore Luxor markets
Landmarks/POIs Valley of the Kings Temple of Hatshepsut Habu Temple 
- Day 11
Luxor
The trip ends after breakfast at your hotel. You're free to depart at any time. If your flight is later in the day, luggage storage is available at the hotel so you can explore more of Luxor before heading to the airport.
- Meals
- Breakfast
