15 Day Egypt Tour Pyramids Nile Cruise and Red Sea

Overview

Itinerary

1. Arrival and pickup in Cairo

2. Upon arrival at Cairo International Airport, meet your Egyptologist guide and transfer by private vehicle to your hotel. After checking in, enjoy free time to rest or explore Cairo at your own pace, with a briefing from your guide about the journey ahead.

3. Overnight stay at Cairo

4. Explore Saqqara, the Giza Pyramids, and the Grand Egyptian Museum

5. After breakfast, visit the Saqqara Necropolis and explore the Step Pyramid of Djoser, Egypt’s oldest pyramid. Learn about Pharaoh Djoser and Imhotep, the architect behind this groundbreaking monument that influenced later Egyptian pyramids.

6. Continue to the iconic Giza Pyramids, including the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the Pyramid of Khafre, and the Pyramid of Menkaure. Explore these ancient wonders with your Egyptologist guide while learning about their history, construction, and the pharaohs who commissioned them.

7. Visit the Great Sphinx of Giza, the iconic monument with the body of a lion and the face of a pharaoh. Admire this ancient limestone statue while learning about its history, mysteries, and connection to Pharaoh Khafre.

8. Visit the Valley Temple of Khafre, one of Egypt’s best-preserved Old Kingdom monuments. Explore its massive limestone and granite structures while learning about the ancient funerary rituals performed here and its connection to Pharaoh Khafre.

9. End your day at the Grand Egyptian Museum, home to an extensive collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts. Explore its galleries, admire the Grand Staircase and royal statues, and discover treasures from Tutankhamun’s tomb while learning about Egypt’s ancient civilization.

10. After enjoying the day to the fullest, you will be driven back to your hotel. Relax and recharge, as another amazing journey awaits you the next day.

13. Overnight stay at Cairo

14. Alexandria day tour

15. After breakfast, travel by private vehicle from Cairo to Alexandria, the historic “Pearl of the Mediterranean.” Enjoy the scenic journey and begin exploring this coastal city, founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BC and once a major center of ancient learning and culture.

16. Explore the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, one of Egypt’s largest Roman burial sites. Descend into the underground chambers to see intricate carvings and a fascinating blend of Egyptian, Greek, and Roman architectural styles.

17. Visit Pompey’s Pillar, a towering 27-meter (88-foot) granite column within the ancient Serapeum. See the column and surrounding ruins while learning about Alexandria’s fascinating Greco-Roman history and the origins of its misleading name.

18. Visit the Citadel of Qaitbay, a striking 15th-century fortress overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Admire its impressive exterior, harbor views, and historic connection to the legendary Pharos Lighthouse while learning about Alexandria’s maritime heritage.

19. Enjoy lunch at a waterfront restaurant along Alexandria’s Mediterranean Corniche, with local cuisine and views of the sea. Afterward, take a leisurely stroll along the waterfront before returning to Cairo by private vehicle.

22. Overnight stay at Cairo

23. Free time in Cairo and transfer on sleeper train to Aswan

24. Enjoy a free day in Cairo to relax, shop, revisit a favorite landmark, or arrange an optional activity. In the evening, transfer to Cairo Railway Station and board an overnight sleeper train to Aswan, enjoying views of the Nile Valley along the journey.

25. Overnight stay at Sleeper Train

26. Upon arrival in Aswan, begin exploring the Philae Temple, followed by cruise embarkation

27. Arrive in Aswan after breakfast aboard the sleeper train and meet your Egyptologist guide at the station. Discover the tranquil “Jewel of the Nile,” known for its scenic Nile landscapes, Nubian culture, colorful villages, and traditional felucca sailboats.

28. Visit the beautiful Philae Temple on Agilkia Island, reached by a short motorboat ride across the water. Explore its courtyards, carved pylons, and sanctuaries dedicated to Isis while learning how the temple was relocated to protect it from the rising waters of Lake Nasser.

29. Board your five-star Nile cruise in Aswan and settle into your cabin. Enjoy a welcome drink, relax on the sun deck as the sun sets over the Nile, and savor a dinner featuring Egyptian and international cuisine as your cruise begins.

33. Overnight stay at 5-Star Nile Cruise

34. Optional experience of Abu Simbel and Kom Ombo temple

35. For an additional cost, join an early-morning excursion to the legendary Abu Simbel Temples. Travel through the Nubian desert to admire the colossal statues of Ramesses II and explore the Temple of Nefertari while learning how both temples were relocated to protect them from the rising waters of Lake Nasser.

36. After the optional Abu Simbel excursion, return to your Nile cruise and sail toward Kom Ombo Temple. Explore this unique double temple dedicated to Sobek and Horus, admiring its symmetrical halls, ancient carvings, medical inscriptions, and the adjoining Crocodile Museum.

40. Overnight stay at 5-Star Nile Cruise

41. Find out about the Edfu temple and Esna Lock

42. After breakfast, arrive in Edfu and take a traditional horse-drawn calèche to the Temple of Edfu. Explore this remarkably well-preserved temple dedicated to Horus, admiring its towering entrance, detailed hieroglyphics, and ancient sanctuaries while learning about Egyptian mythology.

43. Return to your Nile cruise and sail toward Luxor, passing through the Esna Lock, where your ship adjusts to the changing water levels. Relax on board, enjoy afternoon tea, and take in the scenic Nile views as you continue toward Luxor.

47. Overnight stay at 5-Star Nile Cruise

48. Explore Luxor highlights then fly to Sharm El Sheikh

49. After breakfast, disembark from your Nile cruise and cross to Luxor’s West Bank to explore the Valley of the Kings. Visit elaborately decorated royal tombs and learn about the pharaohs buried here, including Tutankhamun, Ramesses II, and Seti I.

50. Continue to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, a striking mortuary temple built into the cliffs of Deir el-Bahari. Explore its three grand terraces and learn about Hatshepsut, one of ancient Egypt’s most influential female pharaohs.

51. Visit the Colossi of Memnon, two towering 18-meter (59-foot) statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III. Admire these iconic landmarks and learn about their history and the mysterious “singing” phenomenon once associated with them.

52. End your Luxor adventure at the Karnak Temple Complex, one of Egypt’s largest and most impressive ancient religious sites. Explore its towering pylons, colossal statues, Sacred Lake, and the famous Hypostyle Hall with 134 massive columns while learning about its rich history.

53. After exploring Luxor, transfer by private vehicle to Luxor International Airport for your included flight to Sharm El Sheikh. Upon arrival, meet your representative and transfer to your hotel to relax and enjoy the Red Sea surroundings.

56. Overnight stay at Sharm El Sheikh

57. Free day in Sharm El Sheikh

58. Enjoy a free day in Sharm El Sheikh at your own pace. Relax on the beach, swim in the Red Sea, or explore optional activities such as snorkeling, a boat trip, a quad-bike safari, or a glass-bottomed Seascope experience.

62. Overnight stay at Sharm El Sheikh

63. Second free day in Sharm El Sheikh

64. Enjoy another free day in Sharm El Sheikh. Relax on the beach or by the pool, or choose optional activities such as a city tour, quad-bike safari, snorkeling, or diving to explore the Red Sea and Sinai desert.

68. Overnight stay at Sharm El Sheikh

69. Fly to Cairo and enjoy a historic Cairo tour

70. After breakfast, check out of your hotel and transfer by private vehicle to Sharm El Sheikh International Airport for your included flight to Cairo. Upon arrival, meet your guide and private vehicle for a comfortable transfer into central Cairo.

71. Explore Coptic Cairo, one of the city’s oldest historic districts. Visit the Hanging Church, Abu Serga Church, and Ben Ezra Synagogue while learning about Egypt’s rich Christian and Jewish heritage and the area’s connection to the Holy Family.

72. Explore Islamic Cairo along historic Al-Muizz Street, lined with medieval mosques, madrasas, and Mamluk-era monuments. Continue to Khan El-Khalili Bazaar to browse local crafts, spices, jewelry, and textiles, with an optional stop for traditional mint tea at El-Fishawy Café.

73. Visit the Citadel of Saladin, a historic medieval fortress overlooking Cairo. Explore the magnificent Mohamed Ali Mosque, known for its alabaster-clad interior and Ottoman-style domes, while enjoying panoramic views of Cairo and the Nile.

74. End your Historic Cairo exploration at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Fustat. Explore exhibits spanning Egypt’s history and, when accessible, visit the Royal Mummies Hall to see the preserved remains of celebrated pharaohs and queens.

77. Overnight stay at Cairo

78. Adventure to Bahariya Oasis, Black Desert and Desert Camp

79. After breakfast, travel by private vehicle from Cairo to the Bahariya Oasis, a lush desert oasis surrounded by dramatic landscapes. Explore the Valley of the Golden Mummies, relax in natural hot springs, and continue by 4x4 into the striking Black Desert for sunset.

80. Explore the Black Desert by 4x4 and discover the sparkling Crystal Mountain, a striking natural formation surrounded by golden sands. End the day at a Bedouin desert camp with a traditional dinner, campfire, and an overnight stay beneath the stars.

83. Overnight stay at Bedouin Desert Camp

84. Explore white desert and return to Cairo

85. After a Bedouin breakfast, continue by 4x4 to White Desert National Park. Explore its surreal white chalk and limestone formations, shaped by wind and erosion into unique natural sculptures, before beginning your scenic return journey to Cairo.

86. After exploring the Western Desert, drive back to Cairo and transfer to your five-star hotel. Relax, enjoy dinner, and rest before your final departure the following morning.

89. Overnight stay at Cairo

90. Free Day in Cairo

91. Enjoy a free day in Cairo to relax, shop, revisit a favorite landmark, or explore optional activities. Choose from a guided Khan El-Khalili shopping experience, a museum visit, or an evening Nile dinner cruise with traditional Egyptian cuisine, music, and Tanoura dancing.

93. Overnight stay at Cairo

94. Final Departure

95. After breakfast, check out of your Cairo hotel and transfer by private vehicle to Cairo International Airport according to your flight schedule. Bid farewell to Egypt after an unforgettable journey through its ancient monuments, temples, Nile landscapes, Red Sea shores, and desert scenery.

Know before you go

• Stroller / pram accessible
• Public transportation is nearby
• Infant seats available

Pickup, meeting point & start times