Cairo, Luxor to Abu Simbel by Land Tours

Welcome to Luxor, Egypt, upon your arrival at Luxor international airport, we will meet, assist you and transfer to your hotel. (Some nationalities can obtain Egypt Visa upon arrival at Cairo airport for the connection flights to Luxor). The rest of the day is free for you to settle into your hotel and relax after your journey or if you arrive early you may like to take an evening spectacular sound and light show at Karnak temple (available to book locally on arrival).

Note: Private transfer from Hurghada to Luxor (almost 4 hour drive) is available at extra cost.

Meals: Welcome Drink

After breakfast at your hotel and then start to visit the largest religious temple ever built in Egypt, the Karnak temple complex is dedicated to Amun-Re, the chief deity of the Theban Triad. Enjoy walk along the avenue of Sphinxes each with Lion’s body and Ram’s head as your tour guide explains how the massive facade was constructed. Yu will enter the temple through the first pylon which is the last to be built at Karnak and the main entrance into the temple today. Proceed to the temple open court, the great hypostyle hall with 134 columns, the obelisks, and the sacred lake. And then enjoy free time to explore at leisure

Head out to visit Luxor temple, which was once joined to the Temple of Karnak by a three-kilometer long Avenue of Sphinxes, a portion of which marks the entrance to the temple of Luxor. Dominated by statues of the great warrior pharaoh Ramses II, (1290 –1223 BC). Luxor Temple has survived Nile floods, foreign invasion and thousands of years exposed to the elements. Luxor temple construction was started by Amenhotep III (1386 to 1349 BC), while other pharaohs like Tutankhamun, Hormohep and Alexander the great added to the Temple’s construction. After a fantastic guided tour to Luxor temple enjoy free time at leisure

Enjoy Lunch at good quality local restaurant and then head out to enjoy felucca ride on the Nile. Board your Felucca and relax on the soft cushions. Experience the peace and tranquility of the Nile water that has been the lifeblood of Egypt since Pharaonic times. learn about the sights from your guide, and visit Banana Island to savor fresh bananas and Egyptian tea. After finished, transfer to your hotel in Luxor. The rest of the day will be free to relax, shop in the bazaar (open until quite late).

Optional: Sound and light show at Karnak temple

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Breakfast at your hotel and then pick up to visit the west bank of the Nile, start with a short photo stop at the colossi of Memnon, marks the site of the funerary temple of Amenhotep III.

Then head out to the Valley of the Kings, here are over 162 tombs of pharaohs, Nobles and Queens are richly decorated with reliefs and paintings. You will visit 3 of the best-preserved tombs like Ramses I, III, and IV tombs, Tomb of Merenptah, and Tomb of Thutmose III, Queen Tawosret. Your Egyptologist tour guide will explain the history and legends of these remarkable people, their funerary rites, and the significance of the many paintings and hieroglyphics, still well-preserved in the deepest tombs. Whilst here, you will have the chance to visit the tomb of the boy king Tutankhamun (Extra ticket on spot).

Continue to the Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, a stunning colonnaded building set against high cliffs that create a spectacular natural amphitheater. The legendary Hatshepsut had this mortuary temple built to signify her importance and honor her ancestors.

After Lunch at good quality local restaurant, you will return to your hotel and free time to relax.

Optional: a spectacular hot air balloon flight over the west bank of the Nile is available this morning (expect an early start to catch sunrise as the balloon rises).

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast and check out, drive south of Luxor to Aswan (almost 4 hour drive). On the way, you will visit the beautifully well preserved Temple of Edfu, is the best preserved of all Egyptian temples dedicated to Horus the falcon headed god. Edfu temple was constructed between 237 and 57 BC during the Ptolemaic period in Egypt.

Head out to visit the unusual double Temple of Kom-ombo dedicated to Haroeris the falcon god and Sobek the crocodile god. Enjoy the ruins and some of the unique scenes in the temple walls, like the ancient Egyptian calendar, the surgical instruments, the Nilometer, and the crocodile museum.

On arrival to Aswan, you will enjoy Lunch at good quality local restaurant and then head to visit the unfinished obelisk, the largest known ancient obelisk offers unusual insights into ancient Egyptian stone working techniques. Continue with a motorboat ride to Philae Temple Island, comprises a large number of small Temples dates back to Pharaonic, Greek and Roman times. But the largest and the best preserved on the Island is the temple of the Goddess Isis. After finished, transfer back to your hotel in Aswan and check in & free time to relax

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Today in the early morning, you will drive for almost 3 hours to visit the most amous rock-hewn temples of Abu Simbel were constructed by King Ramses II, one of Egypt’s most celebrated Kings (1290–1223 BC). In the 1960s, the entire temple complex was dismantled and rebuilt some 185 meters west and 65 meters above the original site, a feat of engineering rivaling the original construction of the temples. Stand at the base of the colossal statues of Ramses II and puzzle out the hieroglyphs carved on the walls of the inner hall. After finished, return back to Aswan. Proceed to visit the Aswan high dam, a rock-fill dam built across the Nile in Aswan between 1960 -1970. It creates Lake Nasser, one of the largest man-made lakes in the world.

Enjoy Lunch at high quality local restaurant. And then, transfer to Aswan airport for your flight to Cairo. Where you will be met, assisted and transferred to your hotel in Cairo & free time to relax

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, your tour guide will accompany you to visit the Giza pyramids of Cheops, Chephren and Mycerinus. Enjoy fantastic introduction to each of the three Pyramids, and then explore these structures that have stood tall for over 4500 years. Whilst here, you will have the chance go inside the great pyramid (extra ticket on spot). Then, you will drive to the pyramids panoramic view area to shoot some great photos or opt for Camel ride at the pyramids area (additional charge) and then move on to visit the Valley temple of king Chephren and the great Sphinx.

Proceed to visit Memphis, the ancient capital of Egypt, founded by King Menes 3100BC. Today, Memphis is an open-air museum highlighted by a giant statue of Ramses II and the great alabaster sphinx, and more

Proceed to visit Sakkara, site of hundreds of tombs, serving as the necropolis for Memphis. At Saqqara, you will visit the step pyramid of Djoser, the oldest complete stone building complex known in history.

After finished, transfer back to your hotel to relax or opt for an optional sound and light show at the Pyramids

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, pick up and drive (almost 3 hours) to the Mediterranean coastal city of Alexandria. Alexandria was founded in 331 BC under the orders of Alexander the Great. Alexandria was the setting for the stormy love story between Julius Caesar, Cleopatra, and Marc Antony as well as a cosmopolitan gathering spot for intellectuals in the early twentieth century.

On arrival, start to discover the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa. This Roman burial site probably began as a small family tomb grew into a labyrinth of chambers that could accommodate more than 300 bodies.

Proceed to Pompey’s pillar (Column of Diocletian), the largest Roman triumphal column constructed outside Rome or Constantinople, you’ll also explore a number of statues, artifacts, and the remains of the Graeco-Egyptian deity Serapis.

Move on to visit the Roman Amphitheater, dating from the 2nd century A.D. It is a small amphitheater that was used by the Romans for poetry and music.

Continue to the Citadel of Qaitbay was erected on the exact site of the famous Lighthouse of Alexandria, which was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Take some time to stroll along the Corniche and around Fort Qaitbey to enjoy the fresh Mediterranean air.

Enjoy Lunch at a good quality local restaurant. Afterwards, stop by the strikingly modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina, inspired by the original great library of Alexandria and built to hold over eight million books (Extra entrance fees on spot). After finished, enjoy a relaxing drive back to your hotel in Cairo and free time to relax.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Enjoy breakfast and then start to visit the Egyptian Museum, home to the most extensive collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts. It has 120,000 items, with a representative amount on display. Wander the masses of gleaming artefacts recovered from the tomb of Tutankhamun are an impressive sight, from jewellery to the famous golden death mask and his gilded sarcophagi, this pharaoh was certainly prepared for the afterlife. You will also have time to visit the royal Mummies hall for a close encounter with some of the country’s most important queens and pharaohs (extra ticket on spot).

Proceed to Cairo citadel, was among the most impressive and ambitious military fortification projects of its time. It is now a well preserved historic site, including mosques and museums. You will explore Mohamed Ali alabaster mosque, due to its prominent features. The mosque was built on the summit of the Citadel of Saladin between 1830 and 1848.

Continue to Coptic Cairo, a part of old Cairo which include the Babylon fortress, the Hanging church, Saints Sergius and Bacchus Church (Abu Serga) and Ben Ezra Synagogue. Then drive to Islamic Cairo and marvel at Cairo’s largest market of Khan el Khalili Bazaar. After finished, transfer to your hotel & free time to relax

Optional: Indulge yourself with a farewell dinner Cruise on the Nile

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Breakfast, your time is free today for some last minute sightseeing or shopping until we transfer you to Cairo international airport for your departure flight. We recommend an afternoon or evening flight so that you can take a tour to visit more of the incredible Islamic and Coptic Cairo more of the city this morning. Extra nights in Cairo are also available if you would like to extend your stay.

Meals: Breakfast