Cairo to Abu Simbel Tour

Welcome to Cairo, Egypt. Upon your arrival at Cairo international airport, your representative will meet and assist to obtaining your visa and collect luggage, and then transfer you to your hotel, the rest of the day is free to relax. 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 of Giza (both available to book locally on arrival).

Meals: Welcome Drink

After breakfast at your hotel in Cairo before checking out, your Egyptologist tour guide will accompany you to Giza Plateau to visit one of the seven wonders of the ancient world; the 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 to go inside the great pyramid (extra ticket on spot). Then, you will drive to the Pyramids panoramic view to shoot some great photos or opt for Camel ride (additional charge). Move on to visit the Valley temple of king Chephren and the great Sphinx.

Then head out to the Egyptian Museum, home to one of the world’s largest collections of ancient Egyptian artefacts. The main attraction here is the Tutankhamun exhibit, which features treasures from King Tut’s tomb, including his golden funeral mask and his gilded sarcophagi, this pharaoh was certainly prepared for the afterlife. You will also have time to visit the Museum’s royal Mummies hall for a close encounter with some of the country’s most important queens and pharaohs (extra ticket on spot).

Continue to Islamic Cairo and marvel at Cairo’s largest market of Khan el Khalili Bazaar. This evening we transfer to the train station for the overnight sleeper train to Aswan (approx. 12 hours). You’ll enjoy dinner on board in your private twin-berth compartments before the steward sets your beds up for the night.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast will be served at your train compartments. Upon arrival you will start to visit the unfinished obelisk, the largest known ancient obelisk, possibly was ordered by Hatshepsut (1490–1468 BC). But the project was abandoned because of cracks. Then, head out to visit the Aswan High Dam, the world’s largest embankment dam built across the Nile between 1960 and 1970 to store the flood water for later release over multiple years. Continue to visit Philae temple, features the magnificent Temple of Isis and Hathor that were built in the late Ptolemaic and early Roman periods. The temple complex was relocated to the island of Agilika with the building of the Aswan High Dam. Your tour guide will take you on a walking tour through the temple before allowing you free time to explore further on your own.

After finished, enjoy lunch at good quality local restaurant and then transfer to your hotel and free time to relax. In the afternoon, you will enjoy Felucca Ride (almost 1 hour). Enjoy a relaxing sailing aboard a Nile felucca, the traditional sailboat of Egypt used along the Nile, “Weather permits!” and then you will return to the hotel & free time to relax or join the optional Nubian Village trip by a motorboat

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Today at the early morning you will drive for almost 3 hours to visit the most famous rock-hewn temple of Abu Simbel temples. The site is dominated by the looming twin temples of Ramses II and his wife Queen Nefertari. Originally on the west bank of the Nile, the temples were raised to a new site above the lake Nasser in the late 1960s, as the waters from the new Lake rose behind the Aswan High Dam. The four great seated statues of Ramses II stare east towards the rising sun. It is one of the most recognizable ancient sites of Egypt. Afterwards, drive back to Aswan & enjoy Lunch at good quality local restaurant.

After finished, you will board your air-conditioned vehicle and head to Luxor. The drive will take about 4 hours. On arrival, check in your hotel and free time to relax

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast at your hotel, start your tour to visit the west bank on the Nile. Your first stop will be at the Colossi of Memnon, which mark the site of the funerary temple of king 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 inside the tomb of 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.

After Lunch at high quality local restaurant, proceed to visit the Karnak temple, one of the world’s most celebrated temple complexes. Karnak is a house of the gods was built over a period of some 2000 years. Your guided tour of this vast temple of impressive Avenue of Sphinxes, pylons, hall of columns, obelisks and chapels will reveal its finest sections. Continue to Luxor Temple which was once joined to the Karnak Temple by a three kilometer long Avenue of Sphinx, a portion of which marks the entrance to the temple of Luxor. Dominated by statues of the great warrior pharaoh Ramses II, and see one of the original pair of obelisk, the second of which now stands on the Place de la Concorde in Paris.

Keep in mind that tonight you’ll board an overnight sleeper train from Luxor back to Cairo (approximately 9 hours), dinner will be served aboard the train.

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

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast aboard the sleeper train before arriving at the Giza train station, where you will be met and assisted by Nile Holiday representative who will transfer you to your hotel for some leisure time (you will check into your room as early as possible). There are some optional excursions available in Cairo: you may wish to take Alexandria day trip OR choose to explore Dahshur bent Pyramid, Memphis and Saqqara Step Pyramid, overnight stay at your hotel in Cairo.

Meals: Breakfast

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 the incredible Islamic and Coptic Cairo tour and more of the city this morning

Meals: Breakfast