Best of Egypt

Visit Egypt

Day 1

Welcome to Cairo

Embark on an expedition to the land of the Pharaohs, starting your journey in Egypt’s effervescent capital, Cairo.

On arrival at Cairo Airport, you’ll be transferred to your hotel and have time to relax after your journey. Refreshed and ready to embrace the intoxicating energy of this ancient and modern city, you’ll be thrilled with the many treasures that will give you a preview of what’s about to come – an incredible encounter with antiquities you’ll be sharing with friends for years to come.

Day 2

Fly to Luxor and Embark on Your Nile Cruise

Fly to Luxor this morning and connect with the remnants of ancient Thebes during a visit to the Temple of Amun and the imposing Avenue of the Sphinx.

Board your cruise ship in time for lunch, then visit the Luxor Museum before returning to your cruise ship. This evening, get to know your Travel Director, a professionally trained Egyptologist, as well as fellow guests over a welcome drink followed by dinner.

Day 3

A Day to Explore the Valley of the Kings Connect with Locals

Journey to the final resting place of Egypt’s Pharaohs, immersing yourself in the ancient history of Egypt’s Valley of the Kings.

Visit the mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut, the Colossi of Memnon and the Grand Temple of Luxor. Connect With Locals as you enjoy a traditional Be My Guest bite to eat of freshly baked bread with honey and mint tea in the archaeological paradise that is Luxor's West Bank.

Day 4

Journey to Ancient Kom-Ombo

Sail upstream to Kom-Ombo, where life remains much as it was a thousand years ago.

Standing at the threshold of the imposing Temple of Kom-Ombo on the banks of the Nile, you’ll imagine visitors over the centuries arriving to pay homage to the gods Horus the Elder and Sobek. Tour the Temple, learning all about its ‘double’ and perfectly symmetrical design for the duo of gods – one side dedicated to the crocodile god, the other to the falcon god. After a captivating encounter with the ancients, we enjoy a traditional Egyptian dinner on our cruise boat. Watching the sun set over the shimmering Nile, we’ll don our galabeas and toast to legends of the past and new friends.

Day 5

Onwards to Aswan

Set sail on a traditional felucca across the mighty Nile to voyage around the Botanical Gardens on Kitchener’s Island.

On arrival explore the Aswan Dam, built to curb the periodic flooding of the Nile. Our next stop is the Temple of Isis, followed by a visit to the Unfinished Obelisk, lying semi-carved from the solid bedrock.

Day 6

Disembark and Fly to Cairo

Enjoy a morning at leisure or perhaps join a once in a lifetime Optional Experience to Abu Simbel, carved into a solid rock cliff in Egypt’s Nubian Valley.

As you approach the Great Temple, you’ll marvel at the four-seated colossi on either side of the entrance and the elaborate engravings depicting great victories and paying homage to the gods. Later this afternoon fly back to Cairo.

Day 7

Discover Colourful Cairo

Embark on a sightseeing tour through the cacophony of Cairo’s busy streets.

Visit the Hanging Church of St. Mary and the Sultan Hassan Mosque in Old Cairo, see the ancient Citadel and the Alabaster Mosque. Later, you'll Dive Into Culture and discover Tutankhamun's priceless treasures at the Egyptian Museum.

Day 8

Admire the Wonders of Giza

The Great Pyramids of Giza beckon today and we have an opportunity to embark on a soul-stirring encounter with its treasures – the Colossus of Ramses II, the Step Pyramid of Saqqara and the enigmatic Great Sphinx.

  Be mesmerized by the intricate art of Egyptian carpet weaving as you meet the skilled artisans of a local weaving school during a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Enjoy some free time this evening or consider joining a Nile dinner cruise.

Day 9

Farewell Cairo

Our epic journey at its end, we say farewell to newfound friends.

Dining Summary

8 Breakfast (B)

4 Lunch (L)

4 Dinner (D)

Be My Guest

Luxor: Enjoy an exclusive Be My Guest encounter on the banks of the Nile where your hosts, the El Boerey family, will share their stories about family life in a typical Luxor village. Savour a local culinary tradition of warm mint tea and freshly baked local bread with honey.

Dive Into Culture

Cairo: Enjoy a visit to Cairo’s Egyptian Museum, home to a remarkable collection of Egyptian antiquities including the world-famous ‘Mask of Tutankhamun’.

Iconic Experience

Luxor: Spend the day discovering the wonders of the Luxor Museum.

Luxor: Visit the Temple of Amun and the formidable Avenue of the Sphinx where you can discover the remnants of ancient Thebes.

Valley of the Kings: Discover the ancient history behind the final resting place of Egypt's Pharaohs and Queen Hatshepsut's Temple at the Valley of the Kings.

Kom Ombo: Discover the temple of Kom-Ombo and discover the wonders of the duo gods Horus the Elder and Sobek.

Temple of Philae: Enjoy a day filled of wonder at the Temple of Isis.

Cairo: Spend your day enjoying the sights of the Hanging Church of St. Mary or embark on a journey to see the ancient Citadel and the Alabaster Mosque. 

Giza: Enjoy a day gazing at the Great Pyramids of Giza and its treasures - the Step Pyramid of Saqqara and the Colossus of Rames II.

MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®

Cairo: Be mesmerised by the intricate art of Egyptian carpet weaving as you meet the skilled artisans of a local weaving school. This ancient and traditional Egypt art is one of the oldest in the country, and only few schools have been safeguarding the traditional weaving methods on wooden looms, using silk and cotton, and natural dyes. More than carpets, they come to life as unique works of art. This experience advances UN Global Goal 11: Resilient Cities and Communities.

Must-see Highlights

Explore Luxor and Cairo with an Egyptologist

Visit the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, the temples of Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, Queen Hatshepsut's Temple and the Colossi of Memnon in Luxor, the Temple of Kom-Ombo and the temple of Isis on the island of Philae

View the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk in Aswan, the Citadel, Alabaster and Sultan Hassan Mosques in Cairo and the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx at Giza

See the Ramses II statue and Alabaster Sphinx in Memphis and the Step Pyramid in Saqqara

Sail in a felucca across the Nile

Stays With Stories

Cairo: Nile cruises emerged in the early 19th century as travellers sought to explore Egypt's ancient wonders by boat. The Nile has always played a crucial role in Egyptian life from the transportation of goods, to enriching wildlife. Take in the cultural and historic significance of the Nile as you drift along the famous river during your overnight cruise.

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