Egypt all-inclusive 11 days Cairo Nile Cruise and white desert

Welcome to Egypt! Your adventure begins with a comfortable arrival at Cairo International Airport (CAI), followed by a smooth transfer in your deluxe vehicle to your hotel if you arrive early in the morning. If not, you will start your tour to the legendary Giza Plateau, home to the iconic Giza Pyramids.

Begin your Cairo attractions with Cheops, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. In fact, it is the largest and oldest of the Giza pyramids, an architectural marvel. Your guide will provide fascinating insights into its construction, purpose, and the mysteries surrounding it.

Proceed with your guide to the next stop, the iconic Great Sphinx, the colossal limestone statue with the body of a lion and the head of a pharaoh (Khafre). Learn about its history, symbolism, and the various theories surrounding its construction and purpose. Marvel at the Dream Stele before you head back to the third Pyramid of Menkaure, the smallest of the three main pyramids.

End your tour with the Panorama, offering the best photographic opportunities to capture all three pyramids together.

back to the hotel and overnight.

Meals:

Lunch

Enjoy your breakfast at the hotel, then start your captivating blend of ancient history and modern marvels. You'll begin with a visit to the brand-new Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), one of the world's largest and most modern museums. Admire a vast array of statues, sarcophagi, jewelry, and artifacts spanning Egypt's rich history. Later, you can marvel at the complete treasures from Tutankhamun's tomb, including his golden mask, sarcophagus, and numerous artifacts (extra ticket). Also, the Royal Mummies Hall and Solar Boat are against charge.

Lunch

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant with vegetarian options.

Saqqara Step Pyramid

Explore the Step Pyramid of Djoser, the oldest complete stone building complex known in Egyptian history. Also, you will explore the surrounding complex, including Serdab, the Southern Tomb, and the Heb Sed Festival. Moreover, you can visit the Teti Pyramid, and you can admire the pyramid texts on the walls.

Meals:

Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Your day begins after breakfast at your hotel, as you are transferred to the enchanting area of Old Cairo, often referred to as Coptic Cairo, one of the oldest parts of the city. Here, you'll step back in time to explore historic churches and religious sites, starting with the remarkable Hanging Church (Church of the Virgin Mary), built above the Roman Babylon Fortress gates, a true architectural marvel with its suspended nave.

Nearby, you'll visit Abu Serga Church (Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus), believed to be built on the spot where the Holy Family rested during their flight into Egypt, featuring a crypt that holds deep historical and spiritual significance. Your guide will provide insights into the history of Christianity in Egypt and the stories associated with these sacred places.

Lunch

Following your immersive experience in Old Cairo, you'll head for a delightful lunch at a local restaurant

Museum of Civilization

The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC) is an absolute must-visit for anyone seeking a comprehensive and immersive understanding of Egypt's profound history and cultural heritage. The museum collection shows the history from the Archaic, Pharaonic, Greco-Roman, Coptic, Islamic, and modern periods. Moreover, the NMEC is home to the 22 royal mummies (18 kings and 4 queens) of the New Kingdom, including iconic pharaohs like Ramesses II and Queen Hatshepsut.

Khan El Khalili

End your day at the vibrant and historic Khan el Khalili Bazaar, one of the oldest and most famous souks in the Middle East. Here, you'll have free time to wander through its labyrinthine alleys, brimming with traditional crafts, spices, jewelry, textiles, and souvenirs.

You may want to practice your haggling skills or simply enjoy a traditional tea at El Fishawy, Cairo's oldest café. Later on, you will be transferred back to your hotel for overnight.

Meals:

Breakfast, lunch, dinner

You'll be transferred to Cairo Airport for a short flight to Luxor. Upon arrival, your exploration of Luxor begins immediately with a visit to the Karnak temple complex.

Karnak temple

It is one of the largest religious complexes in the world, covering over 2 square kilometers. Known to ancient Egyptians as Ipet-isu ("The Most Select of Places"). Additions and modifications spanned over 1,500 years, with contributions from approximately thirty pharaohs, including Hatshepsut, Thutmose III, Seti I, and Ramesses II. In fact, the Karnak complex includes the Temple of Amun-Ra, the Great Hypostyle Hall, and the precincts of Mut and Khonsu. Moreover, Hatshepsut Obelisk, Sacred Lake. And the famous Scarab. At the end of your tour, you will check in at your Luxor hotel and stay overnight.

Later on, you will have a smooth check-in at the Nile cruise and enjoy your first lunch on board. Rest for a while till later afternoon, then join your guide to visit

Luxor temple

Start your visit to the magnificent Luxor Temple, located in the heart of the city. This temple, once connected to Karnak Temple by the Avenue of Sphinxes, is particularly stunning when illuminated at night. Your guide will highlight its key features, including the towering pylons, the colonnade of Amenhotep III, and the sanctuary of Alexander the Great. After this captivating introduction to Luxor, you'll return to your cruise for the night, ready to explore more of this ancient city's wonders in the days to come. Back to the Nile cruise for dinner and overnight.

Meals:

Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Enjoy a delicious breakfast on board, and then start your tour to the West Bank.

Valley of the Kings

also known as the Valley of the Gates of the Kings, is a significant archaeological site located on the west bank of the Nile River near modern-day Luxor. For nearly 500 years, from the 18th to the 20th Dynasties of Egypt's New Kingdom (around 1539–1075 BCE), this secluded valley served as the principal burial place for pharaohs and powerful nobles.

The royal tombs are famously decorated with intricate hieroglyphics and vibrant paintings depicting scenes from Egyptian mythology, funerary practices, and beliefs about the afterlife, such as the journey of the sun god through the underworld as described in texts like the Amduat and the Book of Gates. The Valley of the Kings became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979 as part of the Theban Necropolis.

Hatshepsut temple

The temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari is a unique and magnificent temple located on the west bank of Luxor, nestled dramatically against the cliffs. It is considered a masterpiece of ancient architecture designed by her chief steward, Senenmut. The temple's walls are adorned with beautifully painted reliefs and inscriptions that document significant events of her reign, including her divine birth story and her famous expedition to the Land of Punt.

Memnon Colossi

These are two immense stone statues depicting Pharaoh Amenhotep III of the 18th Dynasty, seated on a throne, with his hands resting on his knees. The colossi originally flanked the eastern entrance of Amenhotep III's vast mortuary temple. However, due to severe earthquakes, Nile floods, and the reuse of its materials for later constructions, very little of this grand temple remains today.

At the end of the tour, you will go back for lunch on board, and the cruise starts sailing upstream to Edfu through Esna Lock.

Meals:

Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Your day commences with an early morning visit to the remarkably well-preserved Edfu Temple, dedicated to the falcon god Horus. This magnificent structure, a prime example of Ptolemaic architecture, provides a fascinating glimpse into ancient Egyptian religious beliefs and temple construction. Following your exploration of Edfu, you will embark on a full day of leisurely sailing north towards Luxor, passing through the Esna Lock, an interesting experience in itself as you witness the ship's careful navigation through the rising and falling water levels.

Back to the cruise to sail towards Kom Ombo city, and lunch will be during sailing. Upon arrival to Kom Ombo, you will start your visit to

Kom Ombo temple

This fascinating double temple is symmetrically dedicated to two gods, Sobek, the crocodile god of fertility, and Horus the Elder, the falcon-headed god, offering a rare insight into ancient Egyptian religious practices with two parallel sanctuaries, halls, and courts.

Your guide will illuminate its dual nature and the intricate reliefs adorning its walls. Following your exploration of the Kom Ombo Crocodile Museum, you will be back on the Nile and complete the sail towards Aswan.

Meals:

Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Enjoy your coffee at the cruise bar before you have an early start for an incredible journey to Abu Simbel, one of Egypt's most awe-inspiring sites, followed by a leisurely afternoon sailing the Nile.

These magnificent Abu Simbel temples are located far south in Nubia. These colossal rock-cut temples were built by Pharaoh Ramesses II and his beloved Queen Nefertari. In fact, they are an engineering marvel and a testament to ancient Egyptian grandeur, painstakingly relocated to save them from the rising waters of Lake Nasser.

You'll have ample time to explore both the Great Temple of Ramesses II and the smaller temple dedicated to Nefertari, absorbing their impressive scale and intricate carvings. After this unforgettable visit, you'll return to your Nile cruise, where you will enjoy a delicious lunch and free time till evening.

Meals:

Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Enjoy the last breakfast on board, then check out and start Aswan Highlights

Philae temple

Enjoy a short motorboat ride to Agilkia Island, where the temple is now. Philae Temple was dedicated to the goddess Isis and relocated to Agilkia Island after the dam's construction. Here you can admire many buildings like the Mammisi, Hathor Temple, Trajan Kiosk, and the carvings on the walls of the temple. Then proceed to

The Aswan High Dam was built primarily to control the unpredictable annual flooding of the Nile River, providing consistent water for irrigation to vast agricultural lands and generating immense amounts of hydroelectric power for the entire country.

After that, we will drive you to Aswan airport to fly to Cairo, and upon arrival, you will check in at the Cairo hotel and stay overnight.

Meals:

Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Your adventure begins with an early morning pickup from your hotel in Cairo by private, air-conditioned vehicle. You'll embark on an approximately 4-hour scenic drive to the Bahariya Oasis.

Upon arrival in Bahariya, you will enjoy a freshly cooked lunch at a local house, and then you'll start the 4x4 Jeep adventure. Your journey will first take you through the volcanic landscape of the Black Desert, characterized by its black-topped mountains and hills, offering a dramatic contrast to the golden sands. You'll then visit the shimmering Crystal Mountain, a natural arch made of quartz crystals, and explore the captivating rock formations within the Agabat Valley. Later on, you will enjoy sandboarding before you head to White Desert National Park. Here, the wind-sculpted chalk formations create bizarre and beautiful shapes resembling mushrooms, animals, and abstract art.

Enjoy a delicious Bedouin barbecue dinner cooked over an open fire. The evening culminates in a truly magical camping experience under the stars, surrounded by the profound silence and vastness of the Sahara.

Meals:

Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Admire a breathtaking sunrise over the White Desert as the first rays of light illuminate the ghostly white formations, creating a truly unforgettable spectacle. After a traditional Bedouin breakfast at the campsite, you'll have some final time to explore the unique landscapes of the White Desert National Park and capture more stunning photographs. Your 4x4 Jeep safari will then take you back towards the Bahariya Oasis, perhaps with a stop at a natural cold spring for a refreshing dip. Lunch at a local house before you'll then transfer back to your private, air-conditioned vehicle for the return drive to Cairo. You'll be dropped off at your hotel in Cairo and overnight

Meals:

Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Enjoy a final breakfast at the hotel, and depending on your flight schedule, you will be transferred to Cairo International Airport (RMF).

Meals:

breakfast