Welcome to Cairo, Egypt (Around the Clock)

Upon your arrival at Cairo International Airport, your Nile Holiday representative will meet and assist you through the formalities and escort you to your hotel by air-conditioned deluxe vehicle. Check-in and the rest of the day is free for you to settle into your hotel and relax

Meals: Welcome Drink

Breakfast at your hotel and then your Egyptologist tour guide will accompany you to visit the Giza Plateau, Enjoy fantastic introduction to the three pyramids of Cheops, Chephren and Mycerinus. This majestic sight of these enormous structures rising out of the desert is a breathtaking spectacle. Here you have the chance to climb inside the great pyramid, the Seven Wonders of the ancient World and the only one still in existence. (Extra ticket on spot). Drive to visit the Valley Temple of King Chephren and see the Great Sphinx.

Proceed to visit Memphis, the capital of ancient Egypt, founded by King Menes (almost 3000 B.C). Today, Memphis is an open-air museum highlighted by a giant statue of Ramses II and the Alabaster Sphinx.

Continue to Sakkara, an entire complex built by Imhotep, home of Egypt’s oldest pyramid, the Step Pyramid built in 2650 B.C., the oldest complete stone building complex known in history.

Lunch will serve at a good quality local restaurant during the tour. After finished, you will be transferred back to your hotel

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, start to visit the Egyptian Museum, home to the largest collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts, including the spectacular treasures of the boy king Tutankhamen founded in 1922 in his nearly discovered intact tomb in the Valley of the Kings. After a guided tour to the museum’s masterpieces, you will have extra time to explore at leisure.

Proceed to marvel at the highlights of Islamic Cairo, visit Muhammad Ali alabaster Mosque, built between 1828 -1848 AD, and dominate the summit of the Cairo Citadel.

Continue to visit Coptic Cairo and visit the Hanging Church, Saints Sergius and Bacchus Church and Ben Ezra Synagogue which, according to legend, was built on the site where the baby Moses was found in the reeds. Enjoy lunch before start to explore one of the world’s oldest marketplaces of Khan el-Khalili Bazaar, free time to explore at leisure and then transfer to your hotel and free time to relax.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

This morning, check out of your hotel and drive to the airport for your flight to Aswan. After landing in Aswan, take a sightseeing tour of the Aswan High Dam, an engineering miracle when originally constructed in the 1960s to control the Nile Floods and produce electricity.

And then enjoy return way motorboat ride to the Philae Temple beautiful island location between the old Aswan Dam and the Aswan High Dam near the first Cataract on the Nile River. The Temple was dedicated to the goddess Isis, the wife of Osiris and mother of Horus, enjoys walking tour through the temple of Isis, Hathor temple and then the Kiosk of Trajan. And then enjoy free time to explore at leisure

Transfer to embark your Nile Cruise, Lunch on board and afternoon enjoy the peace and tranquility of the felucca ride on the Nile, weather permits!

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast and free morning at leisure or choose an optional visit to the famous Abu Simbel temples built by Ramses II.

Afternoon, your Nile cruise will start slowly sail to the imposing Greco-Roman Temple of Kom Ombo. It is the only temple dedicated to two different gods: the crocodile god, Sobek and the hawk headed god, Haroeris (also known as Horus the elder). The temple is symmetrical with its own halls, anti-chamber and chapels mirroring on another in dedication to each god. You will then visit the crocodile mummy’s museum in your return way to the Nile Cruise & free time on board while sailing to Edfu

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today you will enjoy a Horse and Carriage return way ride to visit Edfu temple, one of the best preserved temples in Egypt. Edfu temple was dedicated to the falcon-headed god Horus. The massive walls display some of the most impressive art made during the Ptolemaic period, built and engraved between 237 and 57 BCE.

Back on board and continue towards Luxor passing through the Esna Locks. It is not uncommon to have to queue to proceed through the locks, a great opportunity to check out the process from deck with a cool drink in hand, and listen to the shouts of the many captains as they navigate their way through the various small boats of merchants selling their wares to a captive audience – life on the Nile. Chill out and make the most of the incredible views across one of the world’s greatest rivers and your last night onboard.

Upon your arrival to Luxor, you will start to visit the Karnak Temple, the largest religious temple complex ever built in Egypt. Walk along the avenue of sphinx to enter Karnak temple, discover this vast temple impressive pylons, the remarkable Hypostyle Hall has 134 towering columns, obelisks and chapels will reveal its finest sections. You will see each legacy left by the various pharaohs as the complex grew even larger, the oldest ruins dating back from 2100 BC to the Greco-roman times.

Continue to Luxor Temple which was once joined to the Karnak Temple by almost three kilometer long Avenue of Sphinx, a portion of which marks the entrance to the temple. Dominated by statues of the great pharaoh Ramses II, Luxor Temple has survived Nile floods, foreign invasion and thousands of years exposed to the elements. After finished, transfer to your Nile Cruise and overnight on board the Nile Cruise in Luxor

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Disembarkation after breakfast, then you will cross the River Nile to the west bank. Start at the Valley of the Kings, where you will visit three tombs of burial place of the kings of Thebes (ancient Luxor). Guides are not permitted inside the tombs, but your guide will tell you what to look for inside the elaborately decorated tombs. Whilst here, you will have time to visit the tomb of King Tutankhamun (an additional cost is payable direct).

Continue to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, one of the most striking monuments in Egypt. The Mortuary Temple is a colonnaded building set against high cliffs that create a spectacular natural amphitheater. Your guide will introduce you to the history of the temple and the story of Queen Hatshepsut, the famous female ruler of Egypt who posed as a male to gain the throne

Returning to Luxor there will be time for a brief photo stop at the two Colossi of Memnon, the only remains of the funerary temple of King Amenhotep III (1386 to 1349 BC).

After finished, you will be transferred to Luxor airport for your flight Luxor to Cairo. Where you will be met and assisted by Nile Holiday representative and transfer to your hotel in Cairo & free time at leisure to Relax

Note: A spectacular hot air balloon flight over the west bank of the Nile is also available today (expect another early start to catch sunrise as the balloon rises).

Meals: Breakfast

After 8 exhilarating days of your Cairo and 3 Night Nile Cruise package, it will be time to share your journey with people back home. A guide will be waiting for you after your breakfast and transfer to the Cairo International Airport for your Cairo departure flight.

Meals: Breakfast