Embark on an in-depth Egypt tour package exploration of Cairo, Luxor, Abu Simbel, and Alexandria – from ancient antiquities, to culinary treasures, to music and dance, and more on this spectacular Egypt sojourn with Central Holidays. See the world's largest collection of Pharaonic artifacts at the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities. Experience ol...Read More
- Day 1
Arrive Cairo
Arrive in the Land of the Pharaohs. Upon completion of immigration and customs formalities at Cairo International Airport, you will be met at the exit by our representative and escorted to your hotel.
- Day 2
Cairo – Half Day Cairo City Tour with lunch
Visit the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities to see the world’s largest collection of Pharaonic artifacts. Next, it’s on to the Saladin Citadel of Cairo, a medieval fortification located on Mokattam where you will enjoy a fresh breeze and grand views of the city. Today, it is a preserved historic site with mosques and museums. Then you will have your lunch at Local restaurant. (BL)
- Day 3
Cairo – Half Day Coptic Cairo & Khan El Khalili Bazaar with lunch
Visit the Old Cairo, where early Judaism and Christianity flourished in Egypt. Al Moallaka Church (Hanging Church) and Saint Sergius Church. Stop for lunch at a local restaurant. Enjoy a walking tour of the largest 13th century covered oriental market, Khan El Khalili Bazaar. (BL)
- Day 4
Cairo / Luxor
Transfer from your hotel to Cairo Airport for your morning flight to Luxor. Upon arrival you will be escorted to your Nile cruise ship. Savor lunch on board before heading out with your guide to visit the impressive Karnak Temple and the Luxor Temple. The Temple of Karnak, located on the East bank of the Nile, was built by several great kings of Egypt including King Ramses II, King Tutmosis III, and Queen Hatshepsut. It was dedicated to the triad of Thebes: god Amun Ra, goddess Mut, and god Khonsu. Luxor Temple was dedicated to the god Amun and contains structures from many periods, the earliest dating back to the 12th Dynasty. Back on board, enjoy afternoon tea and dinner. Overnight onboard (B,L,D)
- Day 5
Luxor / Esna
Rise and shine with breakfast on board followed by a visit to the West Bank necropolis including the Valley of the Kings & Queens where magnificent tombs were carved into the desert rocks, decorated richly, and filled with treasures for the afterlife by generations of Pharaohs. Then visit the Funerary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir El Bahari who ruled Egypt for almost 20 years. She chose a very well protected location as it is surrounded by the mountains. Enjoy lunch on board, sailing to Esna, and afternoon tea before the Captain’s welcome cocktail party followed by dinner on board. Overnight onboard (B,L,D)
- Day 6
Esna / Edfu / Kom Ombo
Sail to Edfu and have breakfast on board this morning. Today you will visit Edfu Temple. Totally submerged under the desert except for the very top of the pylon entrance, it is ancient Egypt’s most complete and best-preserved temple. A small amount of stone had been removed from the exposed part, but when excavated it was found to be in near perfect condition. Enjoy lunch on board and afternoon tea before visiting the temple of Kom Ombo, uniquely dedicated to two gods. The southern half of the temple was dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek, while the northern part of the temple was dedicated to the falcon god Haroeris. Later, join in the Galabeya party and dinner on board. Overnight onboard (B,L,D)
- Day 7
Kom Ombo / Aswan
Sail to Aswan and enjoy breakfast on board followed by a visit to the world-famous High Dam, an engineering miracle when it was built in the 1960s. The dam was completed in 1971 and the huge reservoir behind it, named for President Nasser, was finished filling in 1979. The High Dam provided about half of the electricity production in Egypt, bringing power to most of Egypt’s villages for the first time. By regulating the flow of the river, the dam also increased the cultivatable land in Egypt by around 30 percent and allowed development in new areas that were previously inundated annually when the river flooded. Later, visit the Granite Quarries and see the unfinished obelisk; discover Philae Temple that rose to prominence during the Ptolomaic Dynasty as the center of the cult of the goddess Isis. Have lunch on board, followed by sailing along the Nile by felucca around Kitchener’s Island and Agha Khan Mausoleum. Sip on afternoon tea, and then enjoy the Nubian Folkloric show followed by dinner on board. Overnight onboard (B,L,D)
- Day 8
Aswan / Abu Simbel / Aswan / Cairo
Early in the morning, transfer to Aswan Airport for your flight to Abu Simbel. Visit the Great Temple of Ramses II and the temple of his beloved Queen Nefertari. After visiting this magnificent site, you will be transferred to Abu Simbel Airport for your flight back to Cairo via Aswan. Upon arrival you will be escorted to your Cairo Hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure. (B)
- Day 9
Cairo / Alexandria / Cairo - Full Day Alexandria Excursion with lunch
Start your excursion to Alexandria by air-conditioned private vehicle with an English-speaking Egyptologist as your guide. Visit the Catacombs of Kom- Alshukafa, the largest Roman Cemetery in Alexandria which is dated back to the second century. Discover Pompey's Pillar the most prominent remaining Greek landmark in Alexandria, then proceed to Visit the Roman Amphitheater, the center piece of the Kom al Dikka archaeological site. After lunch, visit Alexandria Library (The Bibliotheca Alexandrina), the largest library in the world now with 8 million books, then you will enjoy your drive along the Cornish to see the whole city passing over the Bridge of Stanley landmark of modern Alexandria on your way to Quitbay fortress, built over the ruins of the ancient light house of Alexandria. Later in the evening, transfer back to Cairo. (B, L)
- Day 10
Cairo – Full Day Pyramids, Memphis, and Sakkara with lunch
After breakfast, visit the Pyramids of Giza, the main part of a complex setting of buildings that included two mortuary temples in honor of Khufu, three smaller pyramids for Khufu’s wives, an even smaller “satellite” pyramid, a raised causeway connecting the two temples, and small Mastaba tombs surrounding the pyramid for nobles. One of the small pyramids contains the tomb of queen Hetepheres, sister and wife of Snefru and the mother of Khufu. See the Sphinx, with the head of a man and the body of a lion. Enjoy lunch at a Local restaurant and continue to Sakkara, you will see the famous Step Pyramid. At the site of Memphis, you will see the ancient capital that once stood as a flourishing metropolis during the time of the Pharaohs. (B,L)
- Day 11
Depart Cairo
After breakfast, transfer from the hotel to Cairo International airport for your return home. (B)
