An unrivalled tour covering Pyramids, the Nile Cruise and Lake Nasser Cruise. Discover Cairo and it’s Pharaonic wonders such as the Pyramids and Sphinx, Egyptian Museum, Coptic Cairo and Islamic Cairo to the River Nile by Cruise and the splendors of Lake Nasser and scenic surroundings also by Cruise. Both cruises are of grand design, offering all the luxury one could wish for, and how completely satisfying to know that all the wonderful Ancient sites of Upper Egypt are included both in Luxor with the Valley of the Kings and Temples along the Nile and colourful attractions awaiting you in Aswan including more activities and sites and still the beauty of Lake Nasser and the Great complex of Abu Simbel.
Your tour manager will meet and assist you at Cairo International Airport then escort you to your hotel by exclusive air-conditioned deluxe vehicle. At the hotel, your tour manager will assist with a smooth check-in and review your holiday itinerary with you to establish and confirm pick-up times for each tour. This would be a good time to do an optional excursion to the Sound and Light Show on Giza Plateau, by the magnificent pyramids.
Overnight in Cairo.
Welcome Drink.
Visits: Optional excursion to the Sound and Light Show at the Giza Plateau.
After your breakfast at the hotel you will visit Sakkara, the first Pyramid ever built in Egypt followed by the Step Pyramid of King Djoser and the Teti Pyramid. Then, on to the famous Giza Plateau to visit the only remaining wonder from the original Seven Wonders of the Ancient World - the Great Pyramids of Khufu (called Cheops by the Ancient Greeks). Also on the plateau are the pyramids of Khafre (Chephren) and the smallest Pyramid Menkaure (Mykerinos). The plateau is as famous for the mysterious structure 'the Sphinx' as it is for the Pyramids, where you will visit the Valley Temple. Later on you will be transferred back to your hotel.
Overnight in Cairo.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
Visits: Sakkara, Step Pyramid of King Djoser, the Teti Pyramid, Great Pyramids of Giza, Sphinx, Valley Temple.
After early breakfast, your tour guide will transfer you to Cairo Airport for your flight to Luxor. On arrival, you will be met by your representative to check in to your Nile Cruise in Luxor. After this, you will head off with your tour guide to explore Karnak Temple, which is the world's largest ancient religious site. The hypostyle hall with its colossal granite columns is one of Egypt’s infamous landmarks. There will be free time to explore the different parts of the huge complex built during the reigns of various Pharaohs, then moving to Luxor Temple which was built by Amenhotep III and Ramses II for ritual and festivals that was dedicated to the God Amon and you may wish to return in the evening for the highly recommended optional tour, the Sound and Light show which tells the glorious Pharaonic historical story of Luxor and Karnak. Return to your Nile cruise.
Overnight aboard your Nile cruise in Luxor.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Visits: Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, Optional night visit to the Karnak and Luxor Temples Sound and Light Show.
Breakfast is served on board in Luxor before being escorted by your guide to cross to the West Bank of the Nile to the sites of Ancient Thebes, overall one of the most important archaeological sites in the world. Visit the two colossal statues of Amenhotep III (Colossi of Memnon), and the visit the impressive colonnaded and terraced Temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahri, which was built into a high cliff face and has graphics telling the story of Hatshepsut’s expeditions to the mysterious land of Punt. Then you go to the Valley of the Kings to see a selection of the beautifully decorated rock-cut tombs, many of which still display vibrant colour and breathtaking detail of deities and scenes from the Book of the Underworld with a visit to 3 tombs. (The three tombs visited are determined by the Egyptian Government as to preserve them from the large flow of visitors, therefore are rotated throughout the year and cannot be confirmed as to which tombs prior to your visit). The most visited tombs have walkways and electric lighting, and the internal walls are protected by glass. Sailing to Edfu via Esna Lock and enjoying dinner on board.
Please Note: There is an additional Charge to enter the Tombs of King Tutankhamun and Ramses VI.
Overnight aboard your Nile cruise in Edfu.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Visits: Colossi of Memnon, Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, Valley of the Kings.
After enjoying breakfast onboard your Nile cruise in Aswan you sail to see Kom Ombo Temple. Of all the ancient temples in Egypt, this is the only one which is divided into two, to reflect that it is dedicated to two Gods: Sobek, the Crocodile God of fertility; and the falcon-headed Horus, God of the sky. Kom Ombo is also famous for the depictions of surgeon's instruments, giving us an early record of medicine and surgery in Ancient Egypt.
In the afternoon, you will sail down the Nile to visit the huge Ptolemaic Temple of Horus at Edfu, which is the most complete and best-preserved of the Egyptian Temples, consisting of many columns, halls, chambers and chapels. Two statues of Horus flank the twin towered entrance gate; and inside, one of the interesting inscriptions lists the titles of books (scrolls) held in the library .Back to your Nile cruise for dinner, afternoon tea is served on the sundeck with dinner sailing to Aswan.
Overnight aboard your Nile cruise in Aswan.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Visits: Kom Ombo Temple, Temple of Horus at Edfu.
After enjoying breakfast onboard your cruise ship in Aswan, you will be met by your guide to visit the ‘Unfinished Obelisk’ which still lies in the granite quarries which provided ancient Egypt with building materials.
It would have been the largest piece of stone ever handled but when a crack was discovered it was abandoned where it was being hewn. Cross by boat to Angilika Island, to see Philae Temple which is one of the Nubian Temples rescued before the High Dam was built. Enjoy Philae’s long colonnades, towers and reliefs which include the last surviving hieroglyphic and demotic inscriptions in Egypt. Return to your Nile cruise ship for lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and leisurely free time in Aswan.
Overnight aboard your Nile cruise in Aswan.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Visits: Unfinished Obelisk, Philae Temple, Aswan City.
Disembark after breakfast. Then, join our group transfer to Abu Simbel (approximately 3.5 hours). Upon arrival at Abu Simbel, you will be transferred to embark on your 5-star Lake Nasser cruise. Check-in at Abu Simbel with lunch on board then your fascinating exploration of these enormous twin Temples of Abu Simbel.
Note* Optional flight from Aswan to Abu Simbel as the upgrade is available upon request
Overnight onboard the Lake Nasser Cruise.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Visits: Abu Simbel.
Enjoy breakfast while sailing to Kasr Ibrim. View Kasr Ibrim Fortress from the sun deck sailing to Amada where you will visit the Temple of Amada, Ed Deir and the Tomb of Pennut. Return to ship for lunch while sailing to Wadi El Seboua. Enjoy dinner on board.
Overnight on board the Lake Nasser Cruise.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Visits: Kasr Ibrim Fortress, Temple of Amada, Ed Deir, the Tomb of Pennut.
After Breakfast visit Wadi El Seboua, then take a camel ride or walk to El Dakka and Mehraka. Back to the ship to sail to Aswan. Enjoy dinner on board.
Overnight on board the Lake Nasser Cruise.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Visits: Wadi El Seboua, El Dakka and Mehraka.
After breakfast, disembark the Lake Cruise to visit Kalabsha Temple, dedicated to the Nubian God Mandulis then continue to Beit el Wali to visit the beautiful Kiosk of Kertassi to explore the Nubian style Temple dedicated to the Goddess Hathor. Finally, you will be transferred from your cruise by an air-conditioned vehicle to Aswan Airport for your flight back to Cairo.
Overnight at the hotel in Cairo.
Meals: Breakfast.
Visits: Kalabsha Temple, Kiosk of Kertassi.
Last day in Cairo, you will take breakfast at the hotel, then be escorted by your tour guide to visit the world-renowned Egyptian Museum in Cairo that was built in neo-classical style and designed by the French architect Marcel Dourgnon. The museum's vast collection of over 120,000 artifacts ranges from pre-dynastic era, through the Pharaonic era to the Greco-Roman period of Egypt. Visiting the museum is a great introduction to learning about the ancient Egyptian civilization, including their famous art of mummification.
Next will be an unusual opportunity to explore the Christian heritage in Coptic Cairo including some of the early religious monuments of the city such as the Hanging Church (or Suspended Church), this Basilica Church was named for its location on top of the south gate of the Fortress of Babylon. This Church became the centre of the Christian Church of Egypt. After relishing over the magnificent ancient Egyptian artifacts and treasures, you will be driven to Khan El Khalili, Cairo’s oldest bazaar, if there is time, and then enjoy free leisure time for the rest of the day.
Overnight in Cairo.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
Visits: Egyptian Museum, Coptic Cairo, Hanging Church, Basilica Church, Khan El Khalili.
After breakfast at your hotel in Cairo, you will be transferred to Cairo International Airport for your flight home.
Meals: Breakfast.