Explore the Highlights of Luxor, Aswan and Alexandria from Cairo in 16 Days
Highlights
Cairo, Luxor, Sharm el Sheikh, Aswan, Alexandria, Siwa Oasis
Locations Covered
Cairo, Luxor, Sharm el Sheikh, Aswan, Alexandria, Siwa Oasis
religious, historical, Shore Excursion
Private Tour
16 Days
Easy
English
Description
Embark on this long journey and explore the rich ancient treasures of Luxor, Cairo, Siwa, and Aswan. See the Great Pyramid of Giza and the Great Sphinx in Cairo, and learn about the historical battle of Alamein at the El Alamein Museum. Admire the beautifully located Philae Temple in Aswan, marvel at the collection in the largest book library, Bibliotheca Alexandrina, and see the Amr Ibn El-Aas Mosque in Islamic Cairo.
Itinerary
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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.
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Day 2- Visit the Pyramids of Giza, The Great Sphinx and Egyptian Museum
- Have breakfast at your hotel in Cairo and then meet your personal guide, who will accompany you to Giza Plateau to visit the three Pyramids of Cheops, Chephren and Mykerinos and the great sphinx, which consists of a Pharaonic human head and lion's body.
- Continue to visit the Valley Temple in front of the Sphinx dedicated to king Chephren. Proceed to have your lunch at a local restaurant.
- Transfer to visit the Egyptian Museum, which exhibits a wide range of unique Pharaonic antiquities in addition to the original treasure room of King Tutankhamun, gold and jewellery, which dates back to more than 3500 years before being explored.
- Return to the hotel.
Overnight in Cairo.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch -
Day 3- Fly to Luxor
- Have breakfast. Transfer to the domestic airport. Depart by plane to Luxor.
- Meet our representative in Luxor and board your 5-star Egypt Nile cruise before lunch.
- 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.
- Enjoy some free time shopping in Luxor. From there will be driven to your hotel for check-in and have free time in Luxor.
Overnight in Luxor.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner -
Day 4- Explore Luxor
- 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. Here, you will visit three tombs.
- Continue to explore the Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut at El Deir El Bahary. Queen Hatshepsut was the first great woman in recorded history: the forerunner of such figures as Cleopatra, Catherine the Great and Elizabeth I. The Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut is the focal point of the Deir el-Bahri complex of mortuary temples and tombs located on the west bank of the Nile, opposite the city of Luxor. Hatshepsut was a female Pharoah. Her temple was built on three surfaces taking the form of balconies, devoted primarily to the worship of the god Amun and for performing funeral rites for the queen known as El Deir El Bahary.
- 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 5- Sail to Edfu and Kom Ombo
- 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 6- Go Sightseeing in 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 7- Disembark
- Have your breakfast on board before disembarkation. (Optional tour)
- Transfer to Aswan airport and depart by plane to Sharm El Sheikh. Arrival and transfer to the hotel.
Overnight in Sharm El-Sheikh.
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner -
Day 8- Reach Sharm El Sheikh
- Have breakfast at the hotel.
- Have a free day in Sharm El Sheikh. (Optional tour)
Overnight in Sharm El Sheikh.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner -
Day 9- Have a Free Day in Sharm El Sheikh
- Have breakfast at the hotel.
- Have a free day in Sharm El Sheikh. (Optional tour)
Overnight in Sharm El Sheikh.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner -
Day 10- Enjoy a Free Day in Sharm El Sheikh
- Have breakfast at the hotel.
- Have a free day in Sharm El Sheikh. (Optional tour)
Overnight in Sharm El Sheikh.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner -
Day 11- Transfer to Cairo
- Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. Our representative will transfer you to Sharm El Sheikh airport and fly to Cairo.
- Arrive in Cairo, meet and assist our representative and transfer to your hotel in Cairo.
- Have a free day in Cairo.
Overnight in Cairo.
Meal: Breakfast -
Day 12- See Highlights of Alexandria
- Have breakfast and travel to Alexandria. Visit the Montazah Palace and Gardens (Salamlek palace, Haramlek palace, a garden of 317 acres of huge trees and flowers, with two 5* hotels-Helnan and Salamlek).
- Head to see Pompey's Pillar. It was constructed in honour of Emperor Diocletian at the end of the 4th century. Originally from the Temple of the Serapis, it was once a magnificent structure rivalling the Soma and the Caesarean.
- See the Catacombs, the largest Roman Cemetery consisting of three levels cut in the rock. Have lunch at a local restaurant in Alexandria.
- Drive along the cornish to see the whole city passing over the bridge of Stanly landmark of modern Alexandria, and then we proceed to see the Qaitibay Citadel, which was built on the site of the ancient pharaohs (lighthouse) of Alexandria.
- Proceed to the NEW library of Alexandria (The Bibliotheca Alexandrina), the biggest library in the world now with 8 million books and also see the Site of the lighthouse, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.
- Drive back to your hotel in Cairo.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight in Cairo. -
Day 13- Head to Siwa Oasis
- Pickup and drive to El Alamein (we do recommend ordering a breakfast box from your hotel because of the early departure). (Driving distance: 150 km. It takes 3 hours of driving. On the way, we stop for a coffee break.)
- Visit the El Alamein Museum, which gives good information about the battle of El Alamein. The museum, about 1 mile west of the British memorial, is located on the north side of the road, for anyone interested in the war Memorabilia. To see the tombs of the Italians and Germans, Commonwealth War Graves drive to Marsa Matrouh from El Alamein.
- Drive to Siwa through Marsa Matrouh.
Overnight in Siwa hotel.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner -
Day 14- Admire the Siwa Attractions
- Have breakfast and be ready for pick up at 07:00 am from the hotel.
- Visit Siwa attractions. Start with Alexander the Great Temple, also known as the Temple of the Oracle. It is believed that Alexander the Great wished to consult the Siwan oracle to seek confirmation that he was the son of Zeus. The Greek god of gods, when he and his entourage arrived at Siwa oasis after a long trip through the desert.
- Drive to the salt lake at 08:30. Get an amazing experience of swimming in the water that makes you float above.
- Proceed to (Cleopatra's bath ) at 11:00, the spring of the sun. It has been mentioned by travellers to Siwa. The legend maintains that Cleopatra swam here. Then Proceed to the temple of Umm Ubaydah or Amun temple, Just 200 m further from the Temple of the Oracle. The temple was erected by the pharaoh Nectanebo of the 30th Dynasty.
- Go to Gebel Al Mawta. At 12:00 (taste the Siwan lunch ) in a Siwan restaurant- Abdo restaurant.
- Experience adventure in the desert by discovering the Great Sand Sea. by Jeep 4x4. Visit the hot and cold springs at Bir Waheed.
- Enjoy some traditional Bedouin Tea by sunset and overnight in a desert camp and Bbq Dinner. (If you need to sleep in a hotel instead of the camp, this choice is also available. We have nice Ecolodges in Siwa.)
Overnight in desert camp.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner -
Day 15- Marvel at the Beautiful Sites of Old Cairo
- Have breakfast and transfer to Cairo by an A/C car.
- Visit the Citadel of Salah El-din, where you will see the view of all of Cairo, as you will visit Mohamed Ali Alabaster Mosque, which is considered the largest to be built at the beginning of the 19th century by the ruler of Egypt (1805-1849), who ruled Egypt over 45 years & it is built in Turkish style. Before extending your trip, you will be served a warm, delightful lunch meal at a high-quality restaurant.
- Proceed to Old Cairo to visit fascinating built wonders such as the Hanging Church, which was built in the 3rd and beginning of the 4th century in the Basilica style., the Abu Sirga Church and Ben Ezra Synagogue, which dates back to the beginning of the 15th century AD. It was built in the Basilica style above the cave in which the Holy Family took refuge.
- End your tour in Cairo with a visit to Amr Ibn El-Aas mosque, which is the very first mosque built in Egypt. There you will drive to Khan ElKalili Bazar (if there's enough time), one of the most famous and oldest bazaars in the Middle East. You will be transferred back to your hotel.
Overnight in Cairo.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch -
Day 16- Departure
- Have breakfast, and the representative will transfer you to Cairo airport.
(Meals: breakfast included)
What's Included
What's Excluded
Know Before You Go
What To Bring
Meeting Point
Cancellation Policy
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For cancellations upto 2 days before the tour -
Refund of 80% of the tour price.
Price
Adult | |
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3 to 3 | /person |
2 to 2 | /person |
1 to 1 | /person |
Children | |
1 to 4 | /person |
Infant | |
1 to 4 | /person |
This is a private tour |