Egypt Holiday 11 Days: Cairo, Nile Cruise & Red Sea

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.

Overview: Day 3 is dedicated to exploring Cairo's rich religious history and vibrant Islamic heritage. You'll delve into the ancient streets of Old Cairo, visiting significant Coptic churches, then ascend to the majestic Cairo Citadel to admire its grand mosque before losing yourself in the bustling atmosphere of the Khan el Khalili Bazaar.

Meals: Breakfast (hotel), Lunch (local restaurant), Dinner (hotel)

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

Cairo citadel

After lunch, your journey continues to the imposing Cairo Citadel of Salah al-Din, a medieval Islamic fortress that offers panoramic views over the city. Within its walls, you'll explore the magnificent Mosque of Muhammad Ali Pasha, also known as the Alabaster Mosque, a stunning example of Ottoman architecture with its towering minarets and expansive interior.

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 Aswan. Upon arrival, your exploration of Aswan begins immediately with a visit to the Aswan High Dam, an impressive feat of modern engineering that controls the Nile's flow and provides hydroelectric power.

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.

After this captivating introduction to Aswan, you'll check in to your Nile cruise, your floating home for the next few days. Enjoy your lunch on board, and you are free to join your guide on an optional tour at the end of the day to a Nubian village or for felucca riding.

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 a well-deserved lunch will be served as you begin your serene journey downstream.

Kom Ombo temple

The afternoon brings you to Kom Ombo city, home to the unique 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 Kom Ombo, you'll return to your cruise as it continues sailing north towards Edfu city, where it will dock for the overnight stay, allowing you to relax and enjoy dinner on board as you reflect on a day filled with monumental history and tranquil river scenery.

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.

Luxor temple

Upon your arrival in Luxor in the late afternoon or early evening, you'll immediately visit 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.

Meals:

Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Enjoy a delicious breakfast on board, then check out and start your full-day tour to Luxor's east and west banks.

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.

Lunch

Enjoy a quality lunch at a local restaurant

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.

Meals:

Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Enjoy your breakfast at the hotel, then take a private transfer to your hotel in Marsa Alam to check in and start your leisurely time.

Meals:

Breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks, snacks.

Enjoy a luxurious break at your hotel in Marsa Alam, providing ample time for relaxation, rejuvenation, and enjoyment of the Red Sea's renowned beauty at your own pace. You can choose to simply relax by the swimming pool, soak up the sun on the private beach, or indulge in the various amenities your resort offers

Meals:

Breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks, snacks.

Enjoy your breakfast and feel free until your departure time to the airport to fly to Cairo. Upon arrival, you will check in at your Cairo hotel and stay 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