Pyramids of Giza

Great Pyramid of Cheops (Khufu) - The Great Pyramids of Giza are the quintessential symbol of Egyptology and a must-visit on any Cairo itinerary. Join your private guide and journey to the Giza plateau to explore this sole surviving wonder of the original Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Be captivated by the stunning views of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Great Pyramids of Giza, set against the iconic Sphinx statue. The Sphinx’s beauty and mystery have intrigued travelers like Alexander the Great and Napoleon Bonaparte, creating a striking scene against the endless desert backdrop. The Great Pyramids’ enigmas have fascinated visitors for millennia. Step inside the Pyramid of Khufu, also known as the Pyramid of Cheops, the oldest and only largely intact pyramid.

The Egyptian Museum of Antiquities

Egyptian Museum - The Egyptian Museum of Antiquities, or simply the Egyptian Museum, is a treasure chest of Ancient Egypt’s artifacts, boasting over 120,000 items in its exhibits and storerooms. Embark on a full-day private tour with your guide through the world’s largest collection of Pharaonic antiquities, admiring the safeguarded treasures. Connect the splendor of Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, and Abu Simbel with a collection of archaeological finds, including statues, jewelry, amulets, sarcophagi, papyrus, ancient coins, and stories of renowned Egyptologists. Marvel at the exquisite Mask of Tutankhamun and his coffin – Egypt’s most famous teenage king – though his mummy remains in its original tomb in the Valley of the Kings.

Savor a meal at one of the city’s finest restaurants during a lunch break.

After lunch, return to your hotel in a private vehicle.

Fly to Hurghada, Egypt

Hurghada - Fly to Hurghada, with an approximate flight time of one hour. This afternoon, enjoy leisure time to explore at your own pace or relax at your hotel.

Hurghada, Egypt

Hurghada - Unwind in the tranquil setting of Hurghada, where you can admire the stunning underwater scenery in the warm waters of the Red Sea. Choose from a variety of optional activities (not included in the tour cost) such as deep-sea fishing, exciting boat trips, scuba diving, snorkeling, windsurfing, or sea canoeing.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner.

Relax and Recharge Scuba Diving

Hurghada - Unwind in the tranquil setting of Hurghada, where you can admire the stunning underwater scenery in the warm waters of the Red Sea. Choose from a variety of optional activities (not included in the tour cost) such as deep-sea fishing, exciting boat trips, scuba diving, snorkeling, windsurfing, or sea canoeing.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner.

Luxor: A World-Class Open-Air Museum

Luxor - Experience the Signature Sights in Style

Enjoy a private transfer from Hurghada to Luxor, with an approximate travel time of four hours. Later, board your Nile Cruise and enjoy lunch.

Optional! Consider allocating time for this activity. On the journey from Hurghada to Luxor, include a stop to explore the Temple of Hathor, dedicated to the goddess of love and joy. Located in Dendera, north of Luxor, this temple is one of Egypt’s best-preserved. If time permits, witness its remarkable full-color walls, possibly the best-preserved of its kind in the country.

Karnak Open Air Museum - Luxor is home to one of the world’s greatest open-air museums, with the ruins of Karnak and the Temples of Luxor easily accessible along the East Bank of the city. With your private tour guide, visit the impressive UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Karnak and Luxor monuments, learning about ancient Egypt’s fascinating and extensive history. Begin with a visit to the Temples of Karnak, strolling along the Avenue of Sphinx to enter the complex. The Temples of Karnak encompass the history of Thebes and consist of colossal sandstone columns transported 100 miles along the Nile River, panoramic friezes. Discover with your guide how the massive façade was constructed. Continue to Luxor Temple, once connected to the Temples of Karnak by a 1.25-mile-long Avenue of Sphinx, a portion of which marks the temple’s entrance. The temple dates to approximately 1400 BC.

Valley of the Kings | Cruising the Nile

Valley of the Kings - Enjoy a tour of the West Bank of the Nile. Some of Egypt’s most spectacular sites are found on the West Bank of the Nile, near Luxor. Meet with your private guide and driver to spend a half-day exploring the West Bank of the Nile, home to the Valley of the Kings and the temple of Queen Hatshepsut. Start with a visit to the Valley of the Kings to explore the famous Tomb of Tutankhamun along with two other intriguing tombs. Explore the recently renovated mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut, the second historically confirmed female Pharaoh. She is generally regarded by Egyptologists as one of the most successful Pharaohs, reigning longer than any other woman of an indigenous Egyptian dynasty, and remembered as the first great woman in history of whom we are informed. End the visit to the West Bank with a visit to the Colossi of Memnon, the only remaining monuments of the mortuary temple of Amenhotep III.

Cruising the Nile | Edfu to Kom Ombo

Temple of Horus - A horse carriage will be waiting for you and your private guide when you disembark from your Nile cruise to explore the Temple of Horus in Edfu. Dedicated to Horus, the falcon god, the temple was built from 230 to 57 BC by Ptolemy III and his successors and is considered the best-preserved cult temple in Egypt due to its later construction date. Despite its late era origins, it reflects traditional pharaonic architecture, and the Temple’s inscribed building texts provide an excellent idea of how all the temples once looked, with details about its construction. It fell into disuse as a religious monument when the Roman Empire banned all non-Christian worship within the Empire in 391. Edfu is an impressive temple and is the second largest in Egypt after Karnak Temple.

Kom Ombo - Sail to Kom Ombo. Upon arrival, disembark from your Nile cruise to explore on foot the Kom Ombo Temple, a unique Greco-Roman temple dedicated to two gods: Sobek, the crocodile god, and Haroeris, the sun god. The Temple in Kom Ombo dates from about 180 BC, during a period known as the Ptolemaic era, and had some additions built on to it during Roman times. It stands right on the bank of the Nile between Edfu and Aswan. The temple is unusual in that it is a double temple, with one side dedicated to the god Haroeris and the other side to Sobek. The design is almost perfectly symmetrical, with two side-by-side sanctuaries and two parallel passageways leading through. The ancient Egyptians believed that by honoring the fearsome crocodile as a god, they would be safe from attacks. The left side is dedicated to Haroeris, the “Good Doctor” (a form of the falcon-headed god Horus the Elder) along with his consort Ta-Sent-Nefer, the “God Sister” (another form of Hathor).

Aswan - Sail to Aswan and overnight.

Optional Abu Simbel Temple

Abu Simbel - On the Road Again

Early morning optional trip to Abu Simbel Temples by car (3 hrs each way by road, $110 Per Person). Discover the commanding twin temples of Ramses II and his wife, Queen Nefertari. The former’s façade is dominated by four statues of the pharaoh, each nearly 70 feet tall. Perhaps even more impressive, this entire site was disassembled and moved here to save it from the floodwaters caused by the Aswan High Dam.

Aswan | Majestic Philae

Philae Temple - Today, bid farewell to the Nile Cruise. Enjoy a tour of the impressive Aswan High Dam, a marvel of engineering when it was constructed. Visit the dam with your guide and spend a half-day learning about Aswan. The dam displaced over 100,000 Nubians in Sudan and Egypt alike and was part of a major relocation project for archaeological sites under the UNESCO Nubia Campaign, including the Abu Simbel temples and Philae. Other sites were eventually flooded by Lake Nasser, the world’s largest artificial lake created by the Aswan High Dam. Then head to Philae and the Temple of Isis on Agilikia Island. Stop at the stone quarries to see the unfinished obelisk, the largest known ancient obelisk and a very good practical demonstration of the methods used by ancient craftsmen to create impressive monuments. Marks from workers’ tools are still clearly visible on the bedrock. Later, transfer to Aswan airport and fly to Cairo.

Check in to your hotel and spend the remainder of the day at leisure.

Depart Cairo/ Bon Voyage

Cairo International Airport - Bon Voyage

Enjoy a private airport transfer accompanied by an English-speaking representative.

Meals: Breakfast.

• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
• Bilingual Guide

• International Airfare. Entry visa to Egypt. Gratuity to cruise crew, drivers and tour guides. Drinks
• Drinks. Additional sightseeing, activities and experiences outside of your itinerary.

At Expedition Egypt, travel is celebrated as one of life’s most delightful experiences. With a collective experience of over 100 years in hospitality and travel, the team provides customized, top-notch tours that highlight Egypt’s rich history and culture. From premier scuba diving in the Mediterranean to the awe-inspiring temple of Abu Simbel, explore ancient wonders within one of the world’s oldest civilizations. Experience the vibrant streets of Cairo and the magnificent pyramids of Giza with a comprehensive perspective beyond standard tourist spots. Allow us to tailor your memorable Egyptian journey this year.

If you cancel at least 3 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel within 3 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.