Luxury Cairo & Nile Cruise Tour in 10 Days

10 Days / 9 Nights

Private Tours

Every Day

Do not Forget

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Day 1:Welcome to Cairo, Egypt

As you arrive at the Cairo International Airport, you will be greeted by our representative to assist you through the customs formalities. You will then be transferred by an air-conditioned coach to your hotel to check-in & stay overnight. The representative will review the itinerary with you to confirm pick-up times for each tour .

Day 2:Pyramids / Sakkara

After Breakfast we

After The Breakfast meal , we head to Giza Plateau to explore the history of the Pyramids of Cheops, Chefren and Mykerinus. Those served as the tombs for their dead kings & are the only one of the seven wonders of the ancient world to survive. For preservation purposes, one of the pyramids is closed for a spell on a rotating basis. Early morning is the best time to visit, before the heat and crowds. It can get very hot and less air inside the pyramid so clambering inside is not recommended for claustrophobic or the unfit.

The ticket includes seeing the pyramids from outside, the panorama, the Great Sphinx, which stands guard over the pyramids and the Valley Temple of Chephren. Extra tickets to the entry of any one of them and to the Solar Boat Museum on the south side of the great pyramid. Then proceed to visit the great sphinx, which dates back to the time of Chephren & to visit his valley temple.

Afterwards , we visit the ruins of Memphis. It was the ancient capital of Egypt during the Old Kingdom (2600 BC – 2200 BC). It occupied a strategic position at the mouth of the Nile Delta. Its museum houses a giant statue of Ramses the 2nd, about 10 m in length and carved of monumental limestone.

Then, we proceed to Sakkara, which was the royal necropolis for the old kingdom capital of Memphis covering an area of 7 km north to south & we can see from the outside the centerpiece of the necropolis which is the Step Pyramid of Djoser 2630 BC. It was the prototype for all other pyramids and it was the world’s oldest major stone structure. We also can visit inside part of the Pyramid of Teti 2345 BC, its walls are inscribed with sections of pyramid texts. Nearby, we visit the tomb Mastaba Of his vizier kagemni 32m x 32m square, with its outstanding reliefs that provide an insight into their daily lives. Overnight in Cairo.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 3:Luxor Sightseeing

Check-Out from Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at First Residence in the morning. Then, you will be transferred to Cairo Airport for a flight to the City of LUXOR, where you will be met and assisted, Then taken by an air-conditioned vehicle to board your 5 star Luxury Sonesta St George Nile Cruise for Check-In. Luxor is situated in southern Egypt covering an area of 417 square kms ( 161 sq mi ). It is characterized as the world’s greatest open-air museum. In ancient Egypt was called waset which means city of the sceptre.

After lunch on board, enjoy a visit to the impressive & monumental Temples of Karnak on the East Bank of the Nile . It was built over a 1300-year period, the temple of Amun (the state God), that lies at the heart of the complex covers more than 60 acres.

Then, we head to the nearby Temple of Luxor. It was constructed approximately 1400BC. It was a primary cult temple, dedicated to the rejuvenation of kingship; it may have been where many of the pharaohs were crowned in reality or conceptually. In the Hieroglyphic language, it is known as ipet resyt ( the southern sanctuary). Both were famed throughout the ancient world and have attracted tourists since Greek & Roman times. Dinner and overnight on board Sonesta St George Nile Cruise.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4:Luxor Sightseeing

After Breakfast meal.you will start your excursion to the West Bank of the Nile in Luxor to visit the Valley of the Kings, Which was the necropolis of the New Kingdom Pharaohs. 63 tombs have been found there and numbered on the maps in the order of their discovery ( entrance ticket to three tombs), While the tomb of the boy king Tutankhamun is optional with extra ticket.

Afterwards, we explore the amazing partly rock-hewn Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir El-bahri 1507 BC. It is a breath taking sight. Then, we proceed to the Colossi of Memnon, Soaring 18 m high & originally guarded Amenhotep’s mortuary temple 1390 BC.

N.B., But if you did visit the valley of the kings and the mortuary temple of Hatshepsut before, you can replace them with the Mortuary Temple of Ramses the 3rd at Medinet Habu, which is second only to Karnak Temples in size and detail with reliefs that reach 27 m showing an oversized Ramses scattering enemies from his chariot. as well as Egypt’s sole relief of a naval battle against the sea peoples. Then, we go to the Valley of the Nobles, That is made up of more than 400 tombs mainly from the New Kingdom, providing an invaluable insight into daily life in the New Kingdom ( entrance ticket to two tombs) .

Instead of the Valley of the Nobles, we can visit the Valley of the Workers at the village of Deir Al-Medina, where the craftsmen , servants and laborers who worked on the royal tombs lived in that Village. Its tombs provide a rare insight into the lives of ordinary people in ancient Egypt. Return to the ship for lunch & afternoon tea while sailing to Edfu via the Esna Lock. Dinner on board. Overnight in Edfu.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Edfu / Kom Ombo

Breakfast on board the ship. Afterwards, we visit the well-preserved Ptolemaic Temple of Edfu, dedicated to the falcon headed god of kingship and protection called Horus. This most preserved temple in Egypt was built by Ptolemy the 3rd in 237 BC. Then we go back to the cruise for lunch and keep sailing till we reach the town of Kom Ombo, which was so important to the caravan routes from Nubia and various gold mines. It is surrounded by fields of sugar cane and corn, where we will visit its imposing Greek-Roman Temple overlooking the River Nile.

After Lunch on board the ship, we will visit the Temple of Kom Ombo, that was dedicated to Sobek the crocodile god & to Horus the falcon-headed god. It was begun by Ptolemy the 6^th in the 2^nd century BC. A museum near its place houses 40 crocodile mummies that have been found in the nearby necropolis.

Return to the ship and continue sailing to Aswan. Dinner on board. Overnight in Aswan.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Aswan Sightseeing

The city of Aswan , the southernmost town in Egypt , was the Ancient Egyptian Gateway to Africa and the home of many granite quarries from which most of the obelisks seen in Luxor were sourced. Its ancient name (SWNET), is derived from the ancient Egyptian symbol for trade or market. It was equally important as a military station as a place of traffic.

After breakfast pay a visit to the High Dam, which is an embankment dam built across the Nile and built between 1960 and 1970. Afterwards, we go to the Island of Philae. Its temple was one of the rescued and relocated monuments after the building of Aswan dam in 1898-1902, where we can explore its amazing temple that was dedicated to the Goddess Isis the divine mother of the pharaoh.

Then , we visit the largest known ancient obelisk (The unfinished obelisk), which is located in the northern region of the stone quarries. The bottom side of the obelisk is still attached to the bedrock. If finished it would have measured around 42 m long or 137 feet long and would have weighed nearly 1,200 tons. Enjoy Lunch & Dinner on board. Overnight in Aswan.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7:Back to Cairo

Disembark after breakfast, Free time in Aswan. then, you will be driven to Aswan Airport for flight to Cairo. Overnight in Cairo.
Meals: Breakfast

Day 8:Museum / Old Cairo

After the breakfast meal at the hotel, we head to the Egyptian Museum , Egypt’s first National Museum of pharaonic antiquities opened in 1902. The collection is considered the largest most precious collection of Egyptian art in the world. More than 120,000 items are on display here, with another 150,000 stored in the basement. Pride of the collection are the treasures from Tutankhamen’s Tomb and Great pieces from every period of ancient Egyptian history from 3100 BC, Through to the Greek-Roman Items of the 2^nd century AD. Some of these items shall be transferred to the new Grand Museum at Giza That due to open soon. Additional visit to the Mummies Hall at the museum (extra ticket on spot).

Afterwards, we visit the Citadel of Salah El-Din , Founded in 1176 by the famed muslim commander Salah El-Din to defend Cairo against the crusaders. Its mosques, museums and battlements reflect a diverse heritage. Its main tourist area is the Mosque of Mohammed Ali pasha, it was built in a Turkish style between 1830 And 1848. Then proceed to visit Khan El-Khalili Bazaar, built in 1382 by Garkas Al-Khalili. It is one of the biggest oriental bazaars in the Middle East .

Afterwards, we head to old suburb of Coptic Cairo that contains many historic churches near the island Of Rhoda the site of the Nilometer, which has been used to measure the height of the River Nile since Pharaonic times. within the complex we will visit the Hanging Church of the 11th century AD, that was built on top of the water gate of the old Roman Fortress of Babylon. It is located between two round roman towers, against which the Nile River once lapped before it shifted course.

Then, we see Abu Serga church, where the Holy Family sheltered in a cave as crypt during their Flight Into Egypt. It is the oldest existing structure within the fortress with foundations dating back to the 5th century AD.

Finally, we see Ben Ezra Synagogue, the oldest in Egypt. According to local folklore, it is located on The site where baby Moses was found. Most of its Hebrew, Aramaic, Judeo & Arabic sacred manuscripts, numbered 300,000 fragments are now dispersed among a number of libraries like Cambridge University and University of Manchester. Then back to hotel and overnight in Cairo.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 9: Optional Alexandria

Free day in Cairo or optional trip to Alexandria, to visit its famous sights.

The city of Alexandria is Egypt’s second largest city, stretching 20 km along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. It was founded in 332 BC by Alexander the Great. It remained the capital of Ptolemaic Egypt & Roman Byzantine Egypt for almost 1,000 years. Today , It is an important industrial center because of its natural gas & oil pipelines from Suez. It is also a popular tourist destination. It was best known for its famous Lighthouse , one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Its great Library was the largest in the ancient world , now replaced by a modern one.

After pick-up from the hotel, The tour to Alexandria will give you an opportunity to an insight of a different Ancient History, That of the Greek–Roman. The excursion will include visits to Pompey’s Column 21 m high which was a Roman triumphal column and the only known free – standing column that was not composed of drums.

Then, we drive to visit the Catacombs of kom El-Shoqafa which consists of a series of tombs of the Pharaonic funeral cult with Greek and Roman influence consisting of three levels cut in the rock. Then , We proceed to see the Fortress of Qaitbay , That was a defensive fortress on the sea cost. It was erected on the exact site of the famous lighthouse of Alexandria, which was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

Then , we head for the Library of Alexandria located on the shore of the sea, It is a commemoration of the Royal Library Alexandria that was lost in antiquity. Overnight in Cairo.
Meals: Breakfast

Day 10:Final Departure

Breakfast, transfer to Cairo Airport for departure.
Meals: Breakfast

Included:

Meet and greet service by our representatives at Airports
All transfers by a private air-conditioned vehicle
Accommodation for 5 nights in Cairo including breakfast & taxes
Accommodation for 4 nights on 05 star Super deluxe Nile cruise on full board basis
All Sightseeing tours are private guided tours
English speaking tour guide throughout your tours
Bottled water during the trips
Domestic flight (Cairo – Luxor- Aswan – Cairo)
Portage when needed
All service charges & taxes