The Best of Ancient Egypt tour will take you back in time to the ancient world of Egypt to discover the Great Pyramids and ancient artifacts. You will also embark on a Nile River Cruise gliding down the Nile with stops for private excursions along the way.
Depending on the Nile Cruise start times your cruise may start in Luxor and end in Aswan
Cairo International Airport
Here are some highlights of what you will see and experience on the Best of Ancient Egypt Tour
Welcome to Egypt! Upon arrival to the Cairo International airport, you will meet a representative from our team who will assist with the visa formalities (you will need to purchase a tourist visa at the airport) and luggage. You will take a private transfer to your hotel. If you have time in the day, you will take a half-day city tour.
Accommodation: 3★, 4★ or 5★ options
After breakfast, you will head off to see the world-famous pyramids of Giza and your guide will walk you through their ancient pasts (if the interior of the pyramids are open, we highly recommend paying the additional fee to enter one of the pyramids).
Afterward, your guide will take you to the Sphinx and funerary complex where you will learn about the process of mumification.
Next, you will enjoy a traditional Egyptian lunch and then head off to Saqqara, the famous ‘step pyramid’ and funerary complex.
In the afternoon, step aboard a small traditional Flouka for a 30 minute to 1-hour ride along the Nile.
Accommodation: 3★, 4★, or 5★ options
In the morning take a flight to Aswan, which is located in ‘Upper Egypt’. You will transfer to your cruise and then take lunch. The day will also include a tour to the High Dam, largest Dam across the Nile, and the Philae Temple. This temple is also known as the ‘Temple of Isis’ which was the center of the ancient cult of Isis.
Transfer to the cruise and enjoy dinner on board the boat.
Enjoy breakfast as you take in the beautiful Nile scenery. Your first stop will be Kom Ombo and you will take a guided tour of the ‘double temple’, which was built around 180-47 BC. This temple is unique in that it was built for two sets of gods.
Once your tour is completed you will return back to the cruise and continue along the Nile. Enjoy dinner as you take in the natural beauty of this region.
After breakfast aborad the cruise you will disembark and explore the Edfu temple, which is considered one of the best preserved ancient temple’s in Egypt. Built 237-57 BC, the Edfu temple was built for the gods of Horus and Hathor of Dendera.
Enjoy lunch abroad the cruise and travel towards Luxor. Once you reach Luxor you will take an afternoon tour to the Karnak Temple and the Temple of Luxor. The Temple of Luxor may have been built around 1400BC and may have been the location where Pharoh’s were crowned. The Temple of Karnak built around 2000-1700 BCE was an important place of worship in ancient Egypt.
Return back to the cruise for dinner and night.
Enjoy your final breakfast on the cruise and then take a day tour in the historic city of Luxor. Today you will spend the morning in the famous Valley of the Kings. Here 60 Egyptian pharohs and kings were buired on the side of a rocky mountain. Enter into the tombs as you learn about the ancient burial practices and marel at the art and monuments that have been preserved over thousands of years.
Next visit the Temple of Hatshepsut, which is was built for the pharoh of Hatshepsut and is one of the best preserved ancient sites in Egypt. Before departing from Luxor you will see grand Colossi of Memnon, which are two massive stone statues of the Pharaoh Amenhotep III.
Transfer to the Luxor airport and take a flight back to Cairo. Transfer to the hotel for dinner and night.
Accommodation: 3★, 4★, or 5★ options
After an early breakfast you will travel north to the historic seaside city of Alexandria. Founded in 331 BC by Alexander the Great, Alexandria became an important center for Hellenistic civilization and later the Roman and Byzantine empires. While in the city you will visit the historic Catacombs, Roman Amphitheatre, Qaitbay Fortress (outside viewing only), and the Alexandria library. If you enjoy seafood be sure to take lunch at one of the seafood restaurants along the coast.
Travel back to Cairo for night.
Accommodation: 3★, 4★, or 5★ options
Start the day with a guided tour to the famous Egyptian Museum, which hosts 120,000 artifacts found throughout Egypt, including the large collection found in Tutankhamun’s Tomb and mummy rooms.
Enjoy a relaxing lunch beside the Nile. Afterward, you will travel through ‘Garbage City’ (where Cairo’s garbage and recycling takes place) until you reach the Cave Church, which is the largest Church in the Middle East. The Cave Church is built in the side of the Mokattam mountain and includes large rock sculptures.
Next visit the Islamic Citadel with incredible views of the city of Cairo and Pyramids in the distance. The Citadel was the residence of rulers and place of government for Egypt from the 13-19th centuries.
Finish the day by winding through the famous Khan El Khalily Bazaar and learn about its ancient past. Take time to sip tea or coffee at the El Fishawy Café, which is the oldest cafe in the city, while you take in the culture of this historically rich souk.
Accommodation: 3★, 4★ or 5★ options
Today our travel representative will take you to the airport for your departure flight, thus ending your private ancient Egypt tour.
**We can add an evening 2-hour Nile crusie and dinner at an extra cost on any of the evenings in Cairo**
