Discover the Ancient Highlights of Egypt from Cairo in 19 Days
Highlights
Cairo, Luxor, Giza, Memphis, Saqqara, Aswan, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Alexandria, Bahariya Oasis
Locations Covered
Cairo, Luxor, Giza, Memphis, Saqqara, Aswan, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Alexandria, Bahariya Oasis
archaeological, historical, Sailing
Private Tour
19 Days
Easy
English
Description
Learn about the history of pharaohs and Egypt in this heritage tour by visiting the highlights of Egypt in Luxor, Cairo, Aswan, Edfu, Kom Ombo, and Alexandria. See the Great Pyramid of Giza, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, and the Karnak temple, the largest religious building to be ever constructed. See the beautiful Luxor, Kom Ombo and Edfu Temples, and enjoy sailing to the Aswan High Dam, the largest embankment dam in the world.
Itinerary
-
Day 1- Arrive in Cairo
- Meet your tour guide after arriving at the Cairo International Airport, where a representative will assist you with arrival procedures and take you to the hotel. At the hotel, the tour manager will assist with a smooth check-in and review your holiday itinerary with you to establish and confirm pick-up times for each tour.
Enjoy welcome drinks.
Overnight in Cairo.
-
Day 2- See the Pyramids of Giza, the Great Sphinx and Egyptian Museum
- Have breakfast and head to Giza Plateau to visit one of the seven wonders of the ancient world- The Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops) and 3 small pyramids. You will continue to explore the rest of the Giza plateau, including the sight of Khafre’s (kaphren) pyramid - Khufu's son (the second-largest pyramid on the Giza site), the remains of the funeral temple, the pyramid of Mankawra (Mykerinus) and 3 small pyramids.
- Proceed to visit the Great Sphinx, the head of a pharaoh with a lion's body, which dates from the time of Chephren.
- Visit the Valley Temple, which belongs to the pyramids of Chephren. This temple served definitely two functions: First, it was used for the purification of the mummy of the king before its burial. Second, it was used for making the Mummification process of the king. After visiting the pyramids, you'll then continue across the plateau for a photo opportunity of the three pyramids rising from the sands, with the Cairo skyline in the background. Have your lunch at a local restaurant.
- Go to the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, commonly known as the Egyptian Museum, in Cairo, Egypt. It is home to an extensive collection of ancient Egyptian antiquities dating back about 5,000 years of art. It is considered the world's largest and most valuable collection of Egyptian art. More than 250,000 original artifacts are presented, with a representative amount on display, the rest are in stores, and the Egyptian Museum is filled with thousands of pharaonic artifacts, including the golden treasures of King Tutankhamun. Fascinating objects such as jewels, headdresses, alabaster vases, and toys from ancient Egypt are all on display. Many priceless statues and other artifacts that were kept in his tomb for more than 3,500 years before their discovery in 1922, when the tomb was excavated, can also be seen in the Egyptian Museum. It is one of the first stops on most people's itineraries when travelling to Egypt. This distinctive museum that houses a vast store of priceless objects from earlier times to the Greco-Roman period is worth seeing.
- Head back to the hotel.
(Meals: Breakfast, Lunch)
Overnight in Cairo. -
Day 3- Head to El Bahariya Oasis
- Depart from Cairo to El Bahariya Oasis (385km) (about four hours). On arrival, visit the little museum in Bawiti with some fascinating local finds. Then we will enter the marvellous and refreshingly original tomb of Benantui from the 26th dynasty.
- Go to the Amasis chapels, which are being preserved in an unusually sympathetic style. After a visit to the Temple of Alexander, drive to visit the English house, and the hot springs and watch the sun go down over the salt lake.
(Meals: Breakfast, Lunch)
Overnight Camping. -
Day 4- Visit the White Desert
- Have breakfast and drive towards the White Desert. On the way, we will stop by the Crystal and black Mountains for a visit and lunch.
- Enjoy seeing the beautiful shapes of limestone in the White Desert.
(Meals: Breakfast, Lunch)
Overnight in camp in the White Desert. -
Day 5- Proceed to Farafra Oasis
- Have breakfast and visit the Oasis of Farafra.
- Continue driving to reach Dakhla. On the way, we will visit the picturesque village of El Qasr, Deir El Hagar and visit the Roman burial Ground of Mozawaka.
- Drive to the painted rock in the Yellow Desert to enjoy the camel rock.
(Meals: Breakfast, Lunch)
Overnight camping. -
Day 6- Explore Kharga Oasis
- Drive to reach Kharga Oasis in the morning, and visit the temple of Hibis, the Christian tombs of Bagawat, and then the old town of Kharga. Have lunch in a local restaurant at the oasis.
- Visit the Nadora fortress area.
(Meals: Breakfast, Lunch)
Overnight camping. -
Day 7- Reach Luxor
- Have breakfast and head to Baris Oasis (90 km).
- Visit the Temple of Dush, picnic lunch and later on we head to Luxor 300-Km.
- Transfer to the hotel.
(Meals: Breakfast, Lunch)
-
Day 8- Marvel at the Beauty of the Karnak and Luxor Temple
- Have breakfast and transfer to the domestic airport to catch your flight to Luxor.
- Explore the Karnak Temple, the largest place of worship ever built. In ancient Egypt, the power of the god Amun of Thebes gradually increased during the early New Kingdom. After the short persecution led by Akhenaten, it rose to its apex. In the reign of Ramesses III, more than two-thirds of the property owned by the temples belonged to Amun, evidenced by the stupendous buildings at Karnak. Although badly ruined, no site in Egypt is more impressive than Karnak. It is the largest temple complex ever built by man and represents the combined achievement of many generations of ancient builders. The Temple of Karnak is three main temples, smaller enclosed temples, and several outer temples located about three kilometres north of Luxor, Egypt, situated on 100 ha (247 acres) of land. Karnak is the site's modern name. Its ancient name was Ipet-isut, meaning "The Most Select (or Sacred) of Places."
- Move to Luxor Temple. Amunhotep III built it in the 18th Dynasty in the New Kingdom, and Ramesses II completed it during the 19th Dynasty. King Ramses II was the most famous king in the 19th Dynasty. He ruled Egypt for about 67 years. It was dedicated to the great god Amun-Ra, his wife Mut and their son Khonsu, representing the Theban triad. Enjoy visiting the Obelisk of Ramses II in front of the 1st Pylon. It was called "Ipet resyt", the Southern Opet or the Place of the Seclusion of Amun-Re. It was directly connected to the temple of Karnak- the main cult center of Amun-Re or Amun-Min, the sky god or the ithyphallic fertility god. Since its inception, the temple of Luxor has always been a sacred site. After Egypt's pagan period, a Christian church and monastery were located here, and after that, a mosque (13th-century Mosque of Abu el-Haggag) was built that continues to be used today.
- Transfer to the Nile Cruise. Boarding before Lunch. Lunch on board.
(Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Overnight in Luxor. -
Day 9- Sail to the West Bank
- Enjoy breakfast on board and go for a hot air balloon ride (optional).
- Cross the West Bank to visit Valley of the Kings. It was created and used from approximately 1539 BC to 1075 BC. It contains some 60 tombs, starting with Thutmose I and ending with Ramses X or XI. The site's official name was- The Great and Majestic Necropolis of the Millions of Years of the Pharaoh, Life, Strength, Health in The West of Thebes, or the Great Field. The most famous tomb is KV62, the Tomb of King Tutankhamun. Howard Carter made the discovery of King Tut’s tomb in 1922. Tutankhamun’s tomb was the first royal tomb to be discovered that was still largely intact.
- Continue the tour to visit the Hatshepsut temple at El Deir El Bahary. This impressive temple was dedicated to Queen Hatshepsut, the only female pharaoh. It rises out of the desert in a series of terraces and merges with the sheer limestone cliffs surrounding it.
- Proceed to the two colossal statues of Amenhotep III. Colossi of Memnon are the two massive stone statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III. For 3,400 years, they have sat in the Theban necropolis across the River Nile from the city of Luxor. The original function of the Colossi was to stand guard at the entrance to Amenhotep’s memorial or mortuary temple. Excursion to the Temples of Thebes, lunch on board. Enjoy afternoon tea.
Leisure time.
(Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Overnight in Luxor. -
Day 10- Admire the Edfu and Kom Ombo Temples
- Sail to Edfu. Have breakfast served on board, then you will visit the majestic temple dedicated to Horus. The Edfu Temple is the second largest temple after Karnak, known in Greco-Roman times as Apollonopolis Magna. The temple was dedicated to the falcon God Horus and was built during the Ptolemaic period. Have lunch on board.
- Proceed to Kom Ombo. Visit the Temple shared by the two Gods Sobek & Haroeris, in Kom Ombo, standing on high grounds overlooking the Nile. The Temple of Sobek and Haroeris in Kom Ombo (also known simply as Kom Ombo Temple) dates from about 180 BC during the Ptolemaic era, with additions made in Roman times. The temple at Kom Ombo was also built under Ptolemy VI. Since this bend in the Nile was a favoured spot for crocodiles to bask in the sun and threaten locals, it is natural that the temple would be dedicated to Sobek, the crocodile god. But it is unusual in having a double dedication: it also honours Haroeris, a form of the falcon-headed god Horus. The hypostyle halls were added under Ptolemy XIII (51-47 BC); the Roman emperor Trajan (53-117 AD) added the forecourt and outer enclosure walls. Dinner will be served on board.
(Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Overnight in Kom Ombo. -
Day 11- Sail to Aswan
- Have your breakfast on board and sail to Aswan.
- Visit the world-famous High Dam, an engineering miracle constructed between 1960 and 1970. It aimed to increase economic production by further regulating the annual river flooding and providing water storage for agriculture and, later, generating hydroelectricity. The dam had a significant impact on the economy and culture of Egypt.
- Move to the Unfinished Obelisk. This obelisk is believed to belong to Queen Hatshepsut, one of the rulers of the 18th dynasty and the royal wife of king Tuthmosis II. The Unfinished Obelisk is the largest known ancient obelisk, located in the northern region of the stone quarries of ancient Egypt in Aswan, Egypt. It is unknown which pharaoh created this structure. It is nearly one-third larger than any ancient Egyptian obelisk ever erected. If finished, it would have measured around 42 m and weighed nearly 1,200 tons.
- Head to the beautiful located Temple of Philae on Isis Island and the Granite Quarries, which is dedicated to the goddesses Isis and Hathor. Enjoy afternoon tea, dinner and Galabya party on board.
(Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Overnight in Aswan -
Day 12- Arrive in Sharm El-Sheikh
- Breakfast on board. Disembarkation.
- Transfer to Aswan airport and depart by plane to Sharm El-Sheikh. Arrival and transfer to the hotel.
(Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Overnight in Sharm El-Sheikh. -
Day 13- Enjoy a Free Day
- Have breakfast and enjoy a free day.
(Optional tour to Sharm El-Sheikh)
(Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Overnight in Sharm El-Sheikh. - Have breakfast and enjoy a free day.
-
Day 14- Relax in Sharm El-Sheikh
- Have breakfast and enjoy a free day.
(Optional tour to Sharm El-Sheikh)
(Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Overnight in Sharm El-Sheikh. - Have breakfast and enjoy a free day.
-
Day 15- Optional Tour
- Have breakfast and enjoy a free day.
(Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Overnight in Sharm El-Sheikh. -
Day 16- Fly to Cairo
- Have breakfast and depart by flight to Cairo.
- Arrive in Cairo and transfer to the hotel. (Optional tour in Cairo)
(Meal: Breakfast)
Overnight in Cairo. -
Day 17- Transfer to Alexandria
- Have breakfast and travel to Alexandria. Our tour guide will pick you up from your hotel to start your tour to Alexandria. Start the tour with the Alexandria Library, where you can find a massive range of books. It is considered the biggest library in the world, it includes 8 million books. Then the site lighthouse, to Castle of Qaitbey, was followed by visiting the city's biggest mosque (El Morsi Abo Elabbas.).
- Go to El Montazah Park (the extensive garden in Egypt ) and King Farouq’s Palace, who was the tenth ruler of the Muhammad Ali Dynasty in Egypt, and the Unknown Soldier of Alexandria.
- Stop by Stanly Bridge, and the last visit for the day would be the great statue of Alexander.
- Back to Cairo.
(Meals: Breakfast, Lunch)
Overnight in Cairo. -
Day 18- Appreciate the Pyramids of Saqqara and Memphis
- Have breakfast at the hotel and start your day tour by visiting Sakkara to see the step Pyramid of Zoser, the oldest stone building in history built by king Djoser.
- Transfer to visit the ancient city of Memphis, the ancient capital of Egypt, originated by King Menes around 3000 BC. There, you will see ancient temples of the pharaohs, a royal palace and a Ramses ll statue. You will visit the Red Pyramid and Bent Pyramid at Dahshur. Finally.
- Return to the hotel.
(Meals: Breakfast, Lunch)
Overnight in Cairo. -
Day 19- Departure from Cairo
- Have breakfast and the representative will transfer you to the airport, and assist you with the departure formalities.
(Meals: breakfast included)
What's Included
What's Excluded
Know Before You Go
What To Bring
Meeting Point
Cancellation Policy
-
For cancellations upto 2 days before the tour -
Refund of 80% of the tour price.
Price
Adult | |
---|---|
3 to 3 | /person |
2 to 2 | /person |
1 to 1 | /person |
Child | |
1 to 4 | /person |
Infant | |
1 to 4 | /person |
This is a private tour |