Classic Egypt tour and 7 Night Nile Cruise

Welcome to Egypt, one of the world’s greatest ancient civilizations. Upon your arrival at Cairo airport, we will meet & greet you and transfer 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 get out and explore the busy streets of this city of contrasts or head out to explore Downtown Cairo and Khan al-Khalili markets

Meals: Welcome Drink

After breakfast at your hotel, your Egyptologist tour leader will pick you up to visit the world’s most iconic sights, the mighty Pyramids of Giza. Enjoy a fantastic introduction to each of the three pyramids of Cheops, Chephren and Mycerinus. Whilst here, you will have a chance to climb inside the pyramids if you wish (extra ticket on spot). Drive to the best point to have the Pyramids panoramic photos and enjoy the Camel ride at the Pyramids area (additional Cost). Then, drive to visit the Khafre’s Valley temple, linked to the pyramid by a causeway, was constructed of great monolithic blocks of granite and the timeless Sphinx, the legendary statue with the head of a human and the body of a lion, amazingly carved out of a huge piece of limestone

Proceed to Memphis, capital of ancient Egypt, was founded about 2925 BC by King Menes “Narmer”, who supposedly united the two prehistoric kingdoms of Upper and Lower Egypt. Today, Memphis is an open-air museum highlighted by a giant statue of Ramses II.

Continue to Saqqara Necropolis, home to many pyramids, the most famed of them is the step pyramid of king Djoser (2630 – c.2611 BC), was the first king of the Third Dynasty of Egypt and the first to build in stone by the most famous vizier, Imhotep

After finished, you will be transferred to your hotel to relax or enjoy an extra tour to attend the sound & light show at the Giza Pyramids area.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, start to visit the Egyptian Museum, home to one of the world’s great collections of antiquities. Wander the treasure-filled halls of gleaming artefacts recovered from King Tutankhamun Tomb are an impressive sight to behold. From gold jewellery to the famous golden death mask and his gilded sarcophagi, this pharaoh was certainly prepared for the afterlife. Make sure to check out the Mummies Hall (Extra Ticket) for a close encounter with some of the country’s most important queens and pharaohs.

Proceed to visit the Citadel of Saladin, one of the world’s greatest monuments to medieval warfare with large imposing gateways, towers and high defending walls. The Citadel is one of Cairo’s main attractions and probably the most popular non-Pharaonic monument in the Egyptian capital. Discover the prominent Mohamed Ali alabaster Mosque, was built between 1830 and 1848 by the architect Yousef Bushnak.

Continue to Coptic Cairo to visit the famed Hanging Church, a place of Orthodox worship and one of the oldest churches in Egypt. Next, walk to Abu Serga, known formally as Saints Sergius and Bacchus Church. This place has great significance as it is believed to be the spot where the Holy Family spent time during their journey in Egypt. Continue towards Ben Ezra synagogue, which is the reputed location of Moses’ discovery as a baby and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before returning to your hotel & free time to relax

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Early morning, you will be transferred to Cairo airport for your flight to Luxor. On arrival, meet and transfer to visit Karnak Temple, the largest religious temple built in Egypt. The magnificent Temples of Karnak is dating back over 3,000 years. Walk along the Avenue of Sphinxes as you enter the temple and marvel at the Hypostyle Hall with its 134 massive sandstone columns.

Proceed to visit Luxor temple marks the other end of the avenue of Sphinxes extends from Karnak temple. Admire the colossal statues of the great pharaoh Ramses II and the granite obelisk adorned the entrance whose original counterpart now stands in Paris’ Place de la Concorde. Then, head inside to see the richly carved inner sanctuaries, papyrus columns and courts, the chapel dedicated to Alexander the Great, who rebuilt the room in his name

After finished, you will be transferred to check in your Nile Cruise boat in time for lunch on board before having free time in the afternoon to relax.

In the evening, you will have time to attend the Sound and Light Show at Karnak Temple (Optional tour)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast on board and then your tour guide will pick you up to discover the West bank of Luxor. Start your day visiting the two Colossi of Memnon, these two massive sandstone statues are all the remains of the funerary Temple of Amenhotep III (1386 to 1349 BC).

Proceed to visit the famous Valley of the Kings contains the once hidden tombs of over 62 Pharaohs. Each tomb has a series of corridors and ante-chambers leads us down to the burial chamber and sarcophagus at the end. The walls are covered in brightly painted images and hieroglyphs – a map of the afterlife to ensure the king’s safe passage. The ticket usually allows entry into three of the most interesting royal tombs. If you want you can visit 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 amphitheatre. The Temple is one of the most striking monuments in Egypt.

Return to your cruise boat before Lunch and begin our voyage along the Nile, travelling upstream from Luxor to Aswan. Continue towards Edfu passing through the Esna Locks. It is common to have to queue to proceed through the lock, however this is 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. Settle back into the comforts of your cruise ship and make the most of the incredible views across one of the world’s greatest rivers

Note: 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, Dinner

After breakfast, enjoy a return way horse & carriage ride to visit Edfu Temple. The temple of Horus at Edfu is considered by most to be the best preserved cult temple in Egypt, dedicated to the falcon headed god Horus, son of Isis and Osiris. The Ptolemaic Temple was built of sandstone blocks between 237 – 57 B.C.

Return to the cruise boat where you’ll continue travelling upriver, with free time to relax on the sundeck and taking in the surrounding sights – desert hills forming a backdrop to lush riverbanks, fishermen casting their nets and farmers working their land.

On arrival to Kom-ombo, you will visit the unusual Greco-Roman temple dedicated to Sobek, the crocodile god and Horus the falcon god. Then, you will see the crocodile museum while some 300 crocodile mummies displayed. Return to the cruise boat & free time to relax on board while sailing to Aswan

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today at the early morning you will drive for almost 3 hours to visit the fabulous rock-hewn temple of Abu Simbel. The site is dominated by the looming twin temples of Ramses II and his wife Queen Nefertari. Originally on the banks of the Nile, the temples were raised to a new site above the lake in the late 1960s, as the waters from the new Lake Nasser 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 & Lunch on board your Nile Cruise

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!”

Free time to relax or an opportunity to visit the Temple of Philae for an **optional sound & light show in the evening

Note: Abu Simbel tour by flight is available for extra cost.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast, then start to visit the unfinished obelisk, the largest known ancient obelisk, offers unusual insights into ancient Egyptian stone working techniques. Proceed 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. Continue 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.

After finished, return to the Nile cruise boat, Lunch on board & free time to relax or join the optional Nubian Village trip by a motorboat and cruise along the Nile River through the first Cataract to a Nubian village along the way, admire sweeping views over the river. Upon arrival, visit a traditional Nubian village in Gharb Soheil. Get an insight into the culture, history, and lifestyle of one of Africa’s oldest civilizations. Enjoy a drink at one of the colorful rural houses, nestled amongst the natural scenery. Walk through the local market to get a taste of the unique culture and traditions

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Morning at leisure, Lunch on board and then set sail to Kom Ombo. After a brief stop at Kom Ombo, continue sailing to Edfu. Follow the procession route of the pharaohs as you cruise downstream, where magnificent temples and ancient villages line the banks against a dramatic desert backdrop.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Free day at Leisure and continue sailing 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. Overnight in Luxor

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Disembark in Luxor and transfer to the airport for your return flight to Cairo. Your trip ends on arrival at Cairo Airport.

We plan to have you back in Cairo by midday today so if booking any international flights we recommend leaving this till after 15:00 or consider staying an extra night in Cairo. We can assist you with additional services like extra accommodation and transfers.

Meals: Breakfast.