Discover the highlights of ancient Egypt on this 7-night classic cultural tour, including 3-night, 5-star Nile Cruise. Visit the Pyramids, the Sphinx, Saqqara, Memphis, Old Cairo, the Egyptian Museum, and the Khan el-Khalili bazaar; explore Aswan, Luxor, Esna, Edfu, and Kom Ombo. Four-star deluxe hotel comes as standard: upgrade for 5-star or 5-star deluxe.
Cairo International Airport
Upon Arrival
Returns to original departure point
If you cancel at least 7 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, there is no cancellation fee. If you cancel between 3 and 6 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, there is a 50 percent cancellation fee. If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, there is a 100 percent cancellation fee.
Day 1: Cairo (no meals)
On arrival at Cairo airport, you’ll be transported in air-conditioned vehicle to your Cairo hotel. Four-star accommodation is included in the price: 5-star and 5-star deluxe are available as upgrades.
Overnight in Cairo
Day 2: Cairo (B, L)
Your private Egyptologist guide will collect you from your hotel after breakfast for the short drive out to the Giza Pyramids and Sphinx, a must for any first-time traveler to Egypt (your guide can arrange for you to climb inside a pyramid at an additional charge). After an included lunch, visit the ancient capital of Egypt, Memphis, which dates back over 5,000 years, then head to Saqqara to see the Step Pyramid of King Djoser, probably the oldest of Egypt’s many pyramids.
Overnight in Cairo
Day 3: Cairo – Aswan (B. L, D)
After an early breakfast, drive to the airport for your EgyptAir flight to Aswan to embark your 3-night, 5-star cruising adventure on the Nile. The cruise tour guide will take you to visit the High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk in the granite quarries, and the magnificent Philae Temple which was dedicated to the fertility goddess Isis. You’ll enjoy lunch and dinner on board your ship.
Overnight on board in Aswan
Day 4: Aswan – Esna (B, L, D)
Cruise to Kom Ombo and visit the unusual double temple, dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek and the falcon-headed god Horus. Continue to Edfu and explore the Temple of Horus, the largest and best-preserved temple to combine both Pharaonic and Ancient Greek classical styles, before continuing to Esna. Enjoy three 5-star meals on board your ship.
Overnight on board in Esna
Day 5: Esna – Luxor (B, L, D)
Cruise from Esna to Luxor, the ancient Egyptian city of Thebes. On arrival, join your cruise guide on a tour of the West Bank. You’ll visit the Valley of the Kings, a vast city of the dead where magnificent tombs were filled with treasures by generations of pharaohs (please note admission to the Tomb of Tutankhamen is not included in the price). Next, you’ll drive to the dramatic Temple of Hatshepsut, one of Egypt’s few female pharaohs, and the vast statues known as the Colossi of Memnon. Enjoy three meals on board your ship.
Overnight on board in Luxor
Day 6: Luxor to Cairo (B)
After breakfast on board your ship, you may wish to opt for a hot-air balloon ride over the treasures of Luxor’s West Bank. You’ll also enjoy a guided visit to the East Bank’s architectural standouts, the magnificent temples of Luxor and Karnak. Transfer to the airport in air-conditioned comfort for the short flight from Luxor to Cairo on EgyptAir, and check back in to your Cairo hotel.
Overnight in Cairo
Day 7: Cairo (B, L)
After breakfast at your hotel, visit the iconic Egyptian Antiquities Museum, with its trove of treasures, many salvaged from the sites you’ve just visited (tickets to the Royal Mummy Room are available as an optional extra). After lunch at a local restaurant, it’s time to discover UNESCO-listed Old Cairo, visiting the Citadel of Saladin and the historic Christian and Islamic monuments of the old city. No visit to Cairo would be complete without trying your haggling skills in the Khan el-Khalili bazaar and strolling along Mu’Izz li-Din Allah street.
Overnight in Cairo
Day 8: Departure (B)
After breakfast at your hotel, it’s time to check out and transfer to Cairo airport for your flight home.
