Egypt Explored

Cairo

Arrival at Cairo international airport, Meet & Assist at the airport and After going through Immigration, Baggage Claim and Customs, Transfer to the hotel Overnight.

Cairo

Breakfast at the hotel is followed by a full day tour. In the morning you will be driven to see the Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx: the most famous monuments of not only ancient Egypt but of the entire ancient world! These massive stone structures were built around 4,500 years ago on a rocky desert plateau close to the Nile. After lunch you will be taken to the Papyrus Institute where you will see how the ancient Egyptians made this forerunner to today's paper; have a go at making it yourself; and get the opportunity to look at some fantastic examples of papyrus art, with no obligation to buy.

Next, you will be driven to Sakkara to see the very first pyramid ever built; the Step Pyramid of Djoser. You will also get the chance to see some fantastic mastabas, including the mastaba of Sakkara Mereruka, the largest one built in ancient Egypt. You will then head off to the ancient capital of Egypt: Memphis and you will visit the Colossus of Ramses II dominates the museum here!

Cairo

After breakfast you will be taken to the Egyptian Museum: gaze at the wonders of King Tutankhamen, including his golden death mask; stare upon the mummies of some of Egypt's ancient pharaohs (optional); lose yourself in the many rooms and galleries, where thousands of artifacts are awaiting your visit. After lunch, at a local restaurant, you will be taken to the Citadel of Saladin, the fortress built between 1176 and 1183 AD, to protect Cairo from the Crusaders and rebuilt by Muhammad Ali Pasha, whose mosque is a "must see". From here you will be taken on a tour of Cairo famous Churches, including The Hanging Church and the Church of St. George the Martyr, 2 churches built into the walls of the Fort of Babylon and its remains could be Cairo's oldest structures; and the Church of Abu Serga (St. Sergius), where, it is said, the Holy Family took shelter in a cave, with the church being erected her to commemorate this. This whole area is a world famous destination for Pilgrims.

Cairo / Alexandria

Your day starts with breakfast in your hotel followed by a 2.5-hour drive, in our air-conditioned vehicle, to Alexandria where you will check-in at your hotel upon arrival. After check-in it is time to start your first tour in this beautiful city, originally built by Alexander the Great, including a trip to the New Alexandria Library (Bibliotheca Alexandrina), inaugurated on October 16, 2002, with shelf space for eight million books, with the main reading room on eleven levels; next is a visit to the catacombs (Kom el Shoqafa), where the early Christians were buried; the Alexandria National Museum, built in a former palace and now houses almost 2000 artefacts which tell the story of the city, including the recent finds from the sunken part of the city; the Citadel of Qaitbay, where about 1480 AD the Mameluke Sultan Al-Ashraf Qaitbay fortified the site, which held the ruins of the Alexandria Lighthouse.

Alexandria / Cairo

After breakfast, you will be taken to the Montazah Gardens, a private park where world leaders often meet, 150 acres of numerous trees, palms, and flowers which overlook many bays and beaches.

Then you will be driven back to Cairo.

Cairo

Breakfast and then off to the Khan El Khalili Bazaar to experiment with your haggling skills. In the evening there is a farewell Nile cruise dinner, which lasts for 2 hours, sailing on the Nile with Folkloric Shows and Belly Dancers. At the end of this cruise, you will be driven back to your hotel.

Luxor / Nile cruise

After breakfast, you will check out and our representative will escort you to the airport for your flight to Luxor( flight not included ). Upon arrival, you will be met and assisted by our representative who will transfer you to your cruise boat: your floating hotel for your next 4 days. After lunch, which you will have on board, you will visit the magnificent Karnak and Luxor Temples. Once your visit to these ancient Theban Temples is complete you will return to the boat for your dinner.

Nile cruise

A new day, your first breakfast on board, and then it is time to visit the West Bank of Luxor: the tombs of the New Kingdom Pharaohs in the Valley of the Kings; the tombs of princes in the Valley of the Queens; the magnificent temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir El-Bahri finishing with the immense Colossi of Memnon. After this visit to the Theban "City of the Dead" you will be taken back to your boat for your lunch, and then you can watch as it departs Luxor and sails for Esna. As the Nile flows gently underneath you, dinner will be served.

Nile cruise

You can enjoy your breakfast watching as the cruise boat crosses the Esna lock then sails onward to Edfu, home of the best-preserved temple in Egypt: the Temple of Horus. After your visit to this temple, your guide will return you to your cruise boat for dinner, while the boat sails majestically onwards towards Kom Ombo.

Nile cruise

Your last day of sailing starts with breakfast, and then a visit to the Temple of Kom Ombo dedicated to the gods Horus and Sobek. Afterward, it is back to the boat for lunch and the sail to Aswan. Once ashore you will be driven to see the High Dam, the worlds largest rock filled dam, and then a short sail to the Temple of Philae moved to the island of Agilika after the waters of Lake Nasser flooded its original location. It is then back to Aswan for your last dinner on the boat.

Final departure

You will have your final breakfast on the boat before you have to check out. You will then be taken to the Botanical Gardens by felucca. After this visit, you will be transferred to Aswan airport for the flight back to Cairo (flight duration is about 55 minutes). Upon arrival at Cairo, you will be met by our representative who will help you with your luggage before your final departure.