On this classic tour of Egypt, explore the Giza Pyramids and the Sphinx, the Karnak Temple near Luxor, and the rarely-visited tombs of Seti I and Nefertari. Stay in the finest hotels, cruise the Nile aboard a luxurious riverboat, and travel with the best Egyptologist guides. You will learn about Egyptian culture and many customs that are still held along the mighty Nile River.
Highlights
Discover Egypt's pyramids, Sphinx, and Valley of the Kings
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Upon arrival at Cairo International Airport, a representative welcomes you and assists you through the immigration process. Modern, air-conditioned coaches will take you to your hotel in Cairo, and your representative will ensure a smooth hotel check-in.
After breakfast, go on a full-day guided tour to visit the Pyramids of Giza (Cheops, Chephren, and Mycerinus), one of the Seven Wonders of the World. A single pyramid is built over 2.3 million blocks, each weighing an average of two and a half tons. In the face of such immensity, one cannot help but feel the wonder and awe that countless writers and artists have sought to convey over the centuries. The Cheops Pyramid is more interesting because its interior burial chambers are open for inspection by the public. Not far from the Pyramids is the Great Sphinx of Giza, which dates from the time of Chephren (2620 BC). This iconic statue, carved from natural yellowish limestone and standing 65 feet high and 187 feet long, combines the head of a Pharaoh with a lion's body. After the visit, you can take a quick trip to the papyrus institute or a perfume shop.
Take a leisurely lunch at a local restaurant. This afternoon, visit the Egyptian Museum for another unforgettable tour. In 1835, the Egyptian government established the Egyptian Museum. The present museum building was built in 1900 in the new classical style by the French architect Marcel Dourgnon. The museum's exhibited collections now exceed 120,000 objects, ranging from the pre-historic era to the Greco-Roman period. With 107 halls, the ground level is home to enormous statues. The upper floor houses small statues and jewels.
After an early breakfast in Cairo, transfer to the airport for a flight to Luxor. Meet your guide upon arrival and begin your tour of Luxor, visiting Deir al Bahiri to see the memorial Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, a woman who declared herself pharaoh. The temple structure is to identify the pharaonic Hatshepsut with the sun god.
The Valley of the Kings is the next destination. The Valley of the Kings is a collection of tombs that are always open, visit three tombs included in the ticket. Embark on your cruise before lunch. Take your dinner and overnight on board your cruise.
After breakfast, visit Luxor Temple on the East Bank. The Luxor Temple was called the Southern Opet, or “Place of Seclusion,” the God Amenmope Amun of the opet. Off into the Theban desert too. In the late afternoon, explore Karnak Temple, a massive complex dedicated to the chief Egyptian god, Amun-Re. Karnak’s building elements and setting have astronomical references, tying them to ancient Egyptian cosmology.
After breakfast, visit the temple of Horus at Edfu. It is one of the best-preserved monuments in Egypt and a highly significant part of an annual pilgrimage and festival celebrating the sacred marriage of the gods Hathor and Horus. Scenes of the New Year Festival and distinctive reliefs in its chapels are the temple’s drawing cards.
Sail to Kom Ombo and visit the Temple of Kom Ombo, built during the Ptolemaic era, dedicated to two gods—hawk-headed Haroeris and crocodile-headed Sobek. It is richly decorated and even has a hieroglyphic calendar. Stand on deck as you approach Aswan, a glorious location on the Nile, backed by hills, with granite rocks protruding from the riverbed and sailboats (called feluccas) plying the water.
After breakfast, visit the beautiful temple complex of Philae, one of the most picturesque in all of Egypt. It sits on Aglika Island just south of the old Aswan Dam, and you can board a water taxi to the island to get to the ruins. The temple was moved to its current location following the construction of the High Dam, which threatened to submerge it permanently. The careful reconstruction at the site was carefully completed, painstakingly preserving the original appearance and layout of the complex and even landscaping the island to match its former location.
In the afternoon, embark on a felucca ride around the islands of Aswan. Enjoy the magnificent scenery and the fresh breeze while witnessing Kitchener’s Botanical Garden, where you will see different beautiful types of subtropical, exotic, and rare plants that have been brought in from all over the world. The Elephantine island is the largest in the Aswan area. Elephantine is Greek for elephant, and it is believed that the island received its name because it was a major ivory trading center. Different monuments were excavated on the island, like the ruins of a temple dedicated to the ram god Khnum, God of water. Elephantine was considered a cult center for God Khnum.
Collect the breakfast boxes and disembark on the cruise. Return to Aswan where the rest of the day is free. Transfer to the airport and fly to Cairo, where you will stay overnight at your hotel.
*Post-cruise excursion available at additional cost.
Day 8: Return Home
1 Breakfast
After breakfast at the hotel, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight back to your home.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
$2,1292-3 travelers
Notes
Select a Date
* Cruise Itineraries may be changed without prior notice due to navigational circumstances
* Rates based on current entrance fees, taxes, and fuel; in case of any change rates will be reviewed accordingly
* A guide will accompany guests from Cairo for groups of 8 or more adults
Initial deposit is 50% package cost plus 100% flight cost, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 70 Days prior to departure by bank transfer, check, or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and a maximum of $20,000 charge
Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!
Meyer Smolen
TrustScore 4.8 | 176 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 176 reviews on
1 day ago
Adventure Life is always an excellent choice when planning complicated, extreme, or exotic vacations or expeditions. They provide friendly professional services and advice and are enthusiastic and encouraging in helping us to prepare and thoroughly enjoy our trip. They handle all the details which greatly reduces the stress of planning a difficult trip. I'm very impressed with Adventure Life and definitely recommend them to friends and family.
Scott Trochim
3 days ago
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
5 days ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
6 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.
