Cairo to Abu Simbel and back overland

Welcome to Cairo, Egypt, upon arrival at international airport, we will meet, assist you to obtain your visa and luggage, and then transfer you to your hotel. 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 dinner cruise on the Nile, or enjoy a spectacular sound and light show at the pyramids (both available to book locally on arrival).

Meals: Welcome Drink

After breakfast at your hotel, your Egyptologist 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 can 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 capital of Egypt during the old Kingdom, 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 dinner out or sound and light show at the Pyramids

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Check out after breakfast, your tour guide will accompany you 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 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 Cairo airport for your flight from Cairo to Luxor. Where, you will be met, assisted and drive to your hotel in Luxor and overnight.

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. 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).

Proceed to the 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, then head to visit Karnak temple, the largest cult temple in Egypt. The house of the god Amon was built over a period of some 2000 years. Enjoy a walking tour through the Avenue of Sphinxes, pylons, hall of columns, obelisks and chapels will reveal its finest sections.

Afterwards drive to Luxor Temple which was once joined to the Temple of Karnak by a three kilometer long Avenue of Sphinx, a portion of which marks the entrance to the temple of Luxor.

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

After breakfast and check out, drive south of Luxor to Aswan (almost 4 hour drive). On the way, there’s the option to visit either the beautifully preserved Temple of Edfu or the unique mirror-image design of the Temple of Kom Ombo. On arrival, check in your hotel in Aswan and then start to visit the unfinished obelisk, the largest known ancient obelisk offers unusual insights into ancient Egyptian stone working techniques. Proceed to visit 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. 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 & free time to relax

Optional: Sunrise hot air balloon in Luxor

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Today in the early morning, you will drive for almost 3 hours to visit the fabulous rock-hewn temple of Abu Simbel (1290–1223 BC). In the 1960s, the site was dismantled, lifted, and reassembled 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. Return to Aswan. 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

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 Coptic and Islamic Cairo and more of the city this morning. Extra nights in Cairo are also available if you would like to extend your stay.

Meals: Breakfast