Highlights of Egypt: Cairo, Nile Cruise and the Red Sea

Savor an authentic meal and experience warm Egyptian hospitality in Cairo. Your guide will pick you up from your hotel and take you to a traditional family home. Be welcomed by the fragrant aroma of spices and simmering stews. Your meal may include home-cooked classics such as koshari, a layered dish of rice and lentils, molokhia, an ancient soup, as well as rice and grilled meats. As you dine, learn about the traditions and recipes passed down generations. End with a delicious dessert before heading back to your hotel with a full stomach and great memories. (Duration: 1-2 hrs; Private activity & transfers; Meals included: lunch or dinner; Please inform us of any food allergies in advance; Fitness level: easy)

Explore Cairo with your private guide on this engaging tour. Drive towards the Giza Plateau to the Grand Egyptian Museum. It is home to more than 100,000 artifacts ranging from statues and mummies to jewelry and mosaics. On display are objects from the tomb of Tutankhamun. You’ll also come across sculptures of Pharaoh Khufu who built the Great Pyramid and Nefertiti, wife of Pharaoh Akhenaten. Next, head to The Citadel of Saladin, perched atop Mokattam Hill, which contains some of the best examples of Islamic architecture. Walk through the courtyards to view the Al-Nasir Muhammad Mosque and Mosque of Muhammad Ali. Take in views of the historic quarter and its minarets, before visiting the centuries-old Khan El Khalili bazaar. Stroll through this bustling, vibrant market replete with stalls selling antiques, handicrafts and spices. Shop for souvenirs such as earrings with intricate designs and hand-painted pottery to wrap up your tour. (Duration: full day; Time: 0900 hrs; Private activity & transfers; Entry fees are included; Meals included: no; Fitness level: easy)

Begin the day with a tour of Giza’s pyramids, constructed about 4,500 years ago. These monumental tombs, erected by pharaohs Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure, were filled with everything each ruler would need to sustain himself in the afterlife. Built in 2560 BC, the UNESCO-listed Great Pyramid is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Then, get up close to the gigantic Sphinx, one of Egypt’s most famous landmarks. It features a lion’s body and a human head adorned with a pharaoh headdress. Next, drive to Memphis, ancient Egypt’s first capital, founded after the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt. In the open-air Mit Rahina Museum, see a colossal statue of Ramesses II and the Alabaster Sphinx, sculpted from a single piece of white gypsum. Continue to the village of Sakkara, where you’ll find the Step Pyramid of Djoser. Surrounding the Step Pyramid, is a funerary complex, which contains tombs of high officials, halls and courts. Later, return to your hotel in Cairo. (Duration: full day; Time: 0900 hrs; Private activity & transfers; Entry fees are included; Please note that admission into the pyramids is not included; Meals included: no; Fitness level: easy. Please note that private vehicles are not permitted inside the Pyramids complex. Guests will be required to use the designated shuttle service, which departs from the reception area. The shuttles will operate on a hop-on, hop-off basis across five designated stops within the complex, ensuring convenient access to key points of interest.)

Watch the sound and light show in the Nubian village of Abu Simbel and immerse yourself in its rich history. As you take your seats at the main temple, on the banks of Lake Nasser, you will observe the façade dominated by four colossi of Ramesses II. Be mesmerized by projections that show intricate hieroglyphics and how the temples once looked. Built by Ramesses II, more than 3,000 years ago, the twin temples are splendid examples of ancient Egyptian art. While the great temple is dedicated to the gods Amon-Ra and Re-Horakhty, the small temple is dedicated to Nefertari for the worship of goddess Hathor. You will see its exterior adorned with massive statues of the king and his favorite Queen Nefertari. Here, she is depicted as Hathor, the goddess of beauty, with the horns of a cow, a solar disc and two plumes. Watch the illuminated structure and listen to interesting tales before the show winds up. (Duration: 1 hr; Time: 1800/1900/2000 hrs; Shared activity; Private transfers; Entry fees are included; Fitness level: easy; Operates subject to 5 ppl confirmed)

Explore the UNESCO-listed rock cut temples of Abu Simbel. You will be picked up in a private vehicle and driven to the magnificent twin edifices that overlook Lake Nasser, one of the largest manmade lakes in the world. Along the way, listen to your guide’s interesting narrative about the efforts that were made to save these historic monuments from flooding by relocating them to higher ground. The Great Temple of Ramesses II, dedicated to the pharaoh Ramesses the Great, is distinguished by the four colossal statues at the entrance. Walk around the inside of the building and take a closer look at the numerous statues, huge pillars, and bas-relief depictions of battle scenes. Nearby, is the smaller Temple of Hathor, dedicated to Queen Nefertari, the chief consort of Ramesses the Great. See the bas-relief imagery of the king and queen making offerings to various deities, before it is time to head back. Please note that the guide is not allowed to explain the site inside the temple and will therefore share all his knowledge with you outside before you enter. (Duration: half day; Time: 0900/1200 hrs; Private activity with a local guide & private transfers; Fitness level: easy; Entry fees are included)

Experience the history and culture of the Upper Egypt region as you sail on the Nile from Aswan to Luxor. Board the comfortable cruise ship at Aswan, settle in and then enjoy lunch at the main restaurant. Afterward, hop into a motorboat for a short ride to the awe-inspiring Philae Temple complex that sits on Agilika Island. Accessible only by boat, this temple complex was relocated block by block to prevent it from being submerged in the flood waters of the new Aswan Dam. You could then stop at the impressive new dam that supplies water for irrigation and electricity generation. Back onboard, spend the afternoon relaxing on deck while the ship sails along smoothly. Relish a gourmet dinner before you retire for the night. The next day, enjoy a hearty breakfast buffet. For lunch, there is a barbecue buffet with a live grill. In the evening, step ashore to explore Kom Ombo Temple, known for its unique double design dedicated to two deities — the crocodile god Sobek and the falcon god Haroeris. Wind up the day with traditional cuisine and music followed by a fun Galabia party in the lounge bar as the vessel sails to Edfu. On the third day, visit the Ptolemaic Temple of Edfu, dedicated to Horus and Hathor. Back onboard, head to the ship’s main restaurant for a private cooking class. At Luxor, visit the sprawling Karnak Temple complex, built in honor of the god Amon. You will also see the famous Luxor Temple. In the night, there is a gourmet dinner followed by a belly dancing show and tanoura performance in the lounge bar. On the fourth day, have an early breakfast before you checkout and disembark to visit the West Bank highlights : The valley of kings, Temple of Hatshepsut, Colossi of Memnon. (Duration: four days/three nights; Private activities; Private transfers; Meals included: yes (all onboard meals); Please inform us of any food allergies in advance; Entry fees and guide included)

Experience the history and culture of the Upper Egypt region as you sail on the Nile from Aswan to Luxor. Board the comfortable cruise ship at Aswan, settle in and then enjoy lunch at the main restaurant. Afterward, hop into a motorboat for a short ride to the awe-inspiring Philae Temple complex that sits on Agilika Island. Accessible only by boat, this temple complex was relocated block by block to prevent it from being submerged in the flood waters of the new Aswan Dam. You could then stop at the impressive new dam that supplies water for irrigation and electricity generation. Back onboard, spend the afternoon relaxing on deck while the ship sails along smoothly. Relish a gourmet dinner before you retire for the night. The next day, enjoy a hearty breakfast buffet. For lunch, there is a barbecue buffet with a live grill. In the evening, step ashore to explore Kom Ombo Temple, known for its unique double design dedicated to two deities — the crocodile god Sobek and the falcon god Haroeris. Wind up the day with traditional cuisine and music followed by a fun Galabia party in the lounge bar as the vessel sails to Edfu. On the third day, visit the Ptolemaic Temple of Edfu, dedicated to Horus and Hathor. At Luxor, visit the sprawling Karnak Temple complex, built in honor of the god Amon. You will also see the famous Luxor Temple. In the night, there is a gourmet dinner followed by a belly dancing show and tanoura performance in the lounge bar. On the fourth day, have an early breakfast before you checkout and disembark to visit the West Bank highlights: The valley of kings,Temple of Hatshepsut, Colossi of Memnon. (Duration: four days/three nights; Private activities; Private transfers; Meals included: yes (all onboard meals); Please inform us of any food allergies in advance; Entry fees and guide included)

Explore the collection at the Luxor Museum, and learn about the art of mummification at the Mummification Museum, on this half day tour. Your guide will pick you up from your hotel and take you to the two-story Luxor Museum. Here, you can see the treasures found at the Luxor Temple. View some of the grave goods that were discovered at Tutankhamun’s tomb in the Valley of Kings in 1922. Head to the upper floor to see the reconstructed wall from a temple dedicated to Amenhotep IV. Then, visit the Mummification Museum to get a comprehensive explanation of the process and its religious significance. Finally, proceed to the hall of artifacts, where you will see embalming materials, elaborately decorated coffins and mummified remains among the objects on display. (Duration: half day; Time: 0900/1200 hrs; Private activity & transfers; Meals included: no; Entry fees are included; Fitness level: easy)

The sound and light show at Karnak Temple highlights the fascinating history of ancient Thebes. As you walk through the illuminated complex, the sovereigns narrate their life stories accompanied by haunting music. Learn about the city that was the capital of Egypt during the period of the Middle and New Kingdoms, and how it was a religious and intellectual hub. Listen to poetic recitations about the birth of the Karnak Temple and the achievements of some of the pharaohs. Known as Ipet-Sut, ‘The Most Esteemed of Palaces’, Karnak’s magnificence was enhanced over more than 13 centuries by successive pharaohs. You will also gain insight into the royal family of the 18th Dynasty, who made Amun-Ra the state god. Hear legends about prominent Egyptian rulers including Thutmose I, II and III, and Queen Hatshepsut. Finally, take your seat at the Great Sacred Lake and watch the last act which wraps up the spectacle. (Duration: 2 hrs; Time: 1900/2015/2130/2245 hrs; Shared activity; Private transfers; Entry fees are included; Fitness level: easy; Operates subject to 5 ppl confirmed)

If you have the time and the weather allows it, we recommend visiting Hurghada, the main town set on Egypt’s Red Sea coast. The city offers warm weather, an array of water sports, and bustling nightlife. You could go scuba diving or snorkeling to see vibrant coral reefs and the marine life that inhabits them. Experienced divers can explore shipwrecks such as SS Thistlegorm, a British cargo ship sunk by the Germans in World War II. Above the water windsurfing, kiteboarding, and jet skiing are available. For a less adventurous option, explore the surrounding islands and beaches on a leisurely boat tour. You can also take a submarine tour to view underwater life through the vessel’s large portholes. Visit the old town of El Dahar to browse the souqs and have a snack at a traditional Egyptian coffee shop. Browse the collection of 2,000 artifacts at Hurghada Museum or stroll through the Hurghada Grand Aquarium, the largest in Egypt, for close-up views of sharks, turtles, and rays. Later, admire the two 40m tall minarets at Al Mina Mosque, the largest mosque in the region. Hurghada Marina Boulevard has plenty of restaurants and shops where you can find gifts and souvenirs. (Duration: full day; This is an unguided, independent activity; Entrance fees, transfers and meals are not included; Depending on your personal itinerary, weather conditions and time available to you, it may not be possible to do all recommended activities)