Day 1 Welcome to Cairo

Salām 'alaykum! Your tour awaits! Once you’ve arrived in Cairo, you will meet a representative at the airport and be transferred to your hotel.

Overnight: Concorde El Salam or similar, Cairo

Meals included: None

Day 2 Pyramids of Giza - Sphinx - Sakkara & Memphis Tour (B)

After breakfast, get ready to meet your Egyptologist guide for a visit to the enigmatic Sphinx and Pyramids of Giza. At 500 feet high and 750 feet wide at its base, the Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops), the only survivor of the Seven Great Wonders of the ancient world, is a breathtaking structure built from enormous stone blocks with a white limestone covering.

After taking some token pictures, it’s time to visit the Pyramid of Chephren. The top part retains the original facing of smoothly finished stone, showing how the pyramids would have appeared back in ancient Egyptian times. Besides the pyramid, you will see the Great Sphinx stretching out over 45 metres, carved out of a natural rocky outcrop. Afterwards, marvel at the pink granite slabs on the pyramid of Mycerinus, the smallest of the three pyramids.

Your tour continues with a visit to Memphis, one of the most important cities in Egypt. From the 3rd millennium BC, this 'City of the Dead’ was the capital of ancient Egypt when King Menes unified upper and lower Egypt. At the end of today’s tour, you will see the first real pyramid in ancient Egypt, the Pyramids of King Zoser in Saqqara. Look back on all the fantastic snaps from the day while you are transferred to your hotel.

Overnight: Concorde El Salam or similar, Cairo

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 3 Egyptian Museum - Salah El Deen Citadel - Muhammad Ali Mosque & Old Cairo (B)

Today is a big day filled with culture! In the morning, enjoy a guided tour of the famous Egyptian Museum in Cairo. It's the richest museum of Egyptian antiquities worldwide and contains pharaonic treasures from over 5,000 years ago. The rectangular building has a large dome on the ground floor containing massive exhibitions.

Afterwards, you will visit the medieval Salah El-din citadel, an Islamic-era fortification in Cairo against the Crusaders. Explore this ancient fortress and marvel at its brilliant domed ceilings, suspended lights, and commanding views of Cairo. The citadel houses the Alabaster mosque of Muhammad Ali.

You will then drive to Old Cairo and visit the Coptic Cairo, a part of Old Cairo which encompasses the Babylon Fortress, the Hanging Church, The Greek Church of St. George and many other Coptic churches and historical sites. It is believed in the Christian tradition that the Holy Family visited this area and stayed at the site of Saints Sergius Church (Abu Serga). In the evening, feel free to explore Cairo at your leisure.

Overnight: Concorde El Salam or similar, Cairo

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 4 Cairo - Aswan - Temple of Philae - Begin 3-Night 5-Star Nile Cruise (B/L/D)

Cairo Airport for your domestic flight to Aswan. Upon your arrival, enjoy a guided tour of the "Aswan High Dam”, an embankment dam built across the Nile in Aswan between 1960 and 1970.

Afterwards, you will visit the beautiful Temple of Philae, dedicated to worshipping the Goddess of Love, Isis. Take a short motorboat ride to the majestic Philae Temple on Philae Island. Philae Island is a rocky island in the middle of the River Nile, and the Temple was an ancient pilgrimage centre for the cult of Isis. This sacred site was revered from the Pharaonic era to the Greek, Roman, and Byzantine periods.

Later in the day, you will board the ‘MS Royal Esadora’ ship to begin your three-night 5-star cruise along the beautiful Nile River. Settle in and enjoy lunch as you watch the day go by. In the afternoon (if weather permits), enjoy a sailing cruise around Elephantine Island aboard a traditional wooden Felucca sailing boat. Once back on board, enjoy a traditional dinner.

Overnight: MS Royal Esadora ship or similar

Meals included: Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner

Day 5 Aswan - Kom Ombo - Edfu (B/L/D)

Relax on board or join an optional tour to Abu Simbel, the two famous massive rock temples on the western bank of Lake Nasser.

Optional Tour: Abu Simbel Tour
Early this morning, travel by coach from Aswan to the impressive Abu Simbel temples. Here, travellers may recognise the four colossus statues of Ramses guarding the Great Temple. This outstanding archaeological area contains monuments such as the Temples of Ramses II at Abu Simbel and the Sanctuary of Isis at Philae, which were saved from the rising waters of the Nile thanks to an international campaign launched by UNESCO. Once back onboard enjoy lunch while your ship sails to Kom Ombo. Visit the Temples of the Gods Sobek and Haroeris dedicated to both the crocodile god Sobek and the falcon-headed god Horus. Back to the cruise, and sail to Edfu. Please see current pricing in Important Information.

Overnight: MS Royal Esadora ship or similar

Meals included: Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner

Day 6 Edfu - Temple of Horus - Luxor - Karnak Temple (B/L/D)

After breakfast, join your tour guide and travel by horse carriage to visit the extraordinary Temple of Horus at Edfu. The Temple of Horus was the 'home' and cultural centre of the falcon god Horus of Behdet (the ancient name for Edfu).

Back on board, sail past Esna City and onwards to Luxor. Enjoy lunch on board before transferring to the East Bank of Luxor to visit the fantastic Abu Haggag Mosque, Luxor Temple, and the biggest temple in the world, Karnak Temple, dedicated to the worship of Almighty God of the New Empire "god Amun."

Overnight: MS Royal Esadora ship or similar

Meals included: Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner

Day 7 Luxor - Valley of The Kings Tour (B)

After breakfast, it's time to disembark your cruise and transfer to the West Bank of Luxor, where you will then enjoy a tour of the Valley of the Kings, known as the ‘Gateway to the Afterlife’. The ancient Egyptians built impressive tombs for their pharaohs, of which the most famous can be found in the Valley of the Kings. Rising out of the desert plain in a series of terraces, you will also see the Temple of Hatshepsut - often referred to as the Pharaoh Queen. On the way back to the river Nile, the road passes by the famed Colossi of Memnon, two massive stone statues of the Pharaoh Amenhotep III.

Overnight: Steigenberger Achti Hotel, Luxor or similar

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 8 Luxor - Dendera - Temple of Hathor & Abydos (B)

Today discover the ancient sites of the Dendera complex and visit the Temple of Hathor, goddess of love and joy. The temple is located in Dendera, north of Luxor. Afterwards, visit the Great Temple of Abydos, one of the main historical sites in Abydos. It was a cemetery for Egypt's earliest kings and later became a pilgrimage centre for worshipping the god Osiris.
In the afternoon, transfer back to Luxor for your overnight stay.
Today is approximately a 200 km travel day.

Overnight: Steigenberger Achti Hotel, Luxor or similar

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 9 Luxor - Cairo Free Day (B)

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Luxor Airport for your flight back to Cairo.

Upon arrival, be transferred to your hotel. Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure in the Egyptian capital on the Nile River.

This mega city's constant buzz and noise are a product of its 22 million inhabitants. Tap into the energy of the place Egyptians call Umm Ad Dunya – the mother of the World.

Overnight: Concorde El Salam or similar, Cairo

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 10 Cairo, Egypt - Depart (B)

Today at the appropriate time, be transferred to the airport for the return flight back home.

Please note: If your flight departs early, breakfast will be arranged for pick up from the hotel reception the night before (subject to availability).

Meals included: Breakfast; In-Flight