Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Cairo
You'll arrive at Cairo airport where staff will meet you for visa assistance and luggage help, then transport you to your hotel in central Cairo. After you get settled in, the rest of the day is yours to relax or rest from traveling. If your flight arrives early enough, you can arrange a Nile dinner cruise or check out the sound and light show at the pyramids through local booking options.
- Start point
- Cairo, Cairo, Egypt (Airport)
Optional Activities
- Nile dinner cruise (can be arranged locally upon arrival)
- Sound and light show at the pyramids (can be arranged locally upon arrival)
- Day 2
Cairo to Luxor
This morning you'll head to the Great Pyramids of Giza with an Egyptologist guide who walks you through their history and how they were constructed. If you're interested, you have the option to go inside one of the pyramids. From there, you'll see the Sphinx before driving south along the Nile through small towns and villages on your way to Luxor. You'll check into your hotel there by evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of the Great Pyramids of Giza with Egyptologist guide
- Visit to the Sphinx
- Transfer to Luxor
Optional Activities
- Descend inside one of the pyramids (subject to no claustrophobia)
Landmarks Great Pyramids of Giza Great Sphinx of Giza 
- Day 3
Luxor to Aswan
The morning gives you time to relax at your hotel or you can visit the Luxor Museum to see ancient Egyptian artifacts if that interests you. In the afternoon, you'll travel south along the Nile to Aswan and stay in a local guesthouse located in a Nubian village. You'll have chances to walk around and see the colorful Nubian houses while enjoying a traditional meal.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Travel to Aswan
- Stay in Nubian village with cultural experience
Optional Activities
- Luxor Museum tour
Landmarks Luxor Museum - Day 4
Aswan
Early on, there's an optional tour to Abu Simbel (about three hours away) with temples carved into hillsides that were relocated when Lake Nasser filled. If you skip that, you can explore Aswan's markets, the Corniche, or the Nubian Museum instead. Later in the day, you'll take a boat to Temple of Philae, then board a traditional felucca for an overnight sail on the Nile. The boat comes with mattresses, blankets, and mosquito nets, plus support facilities. A hotel upgrade option is available if preferred.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Boat trip to Temple of Philae
- Traditional Nile felucca overnight sail with support boat
Optional Activities
- Abu Simbel temple tour (approximately three hours from Aswan)
- Explore Aswan's markets and Corniche
- Nubian Museum visit
- Hotel upgrade for overnight stay in Aswan instead of felucca
Landmarks Abu Simbel Temple of Philae Nubian Museum - Day 5
Nile Felucca to Luxor
You'll spend the morning sailing the Nile with the felucca crew and have lunch together on the water. After saying goodbye to the crew, you'll head north to Luxor, which locals call the jewel of Egypt's crown because of how many ancient ruins are concentrated there. Tonight you can take an optional guided tour of Luxor Temple when it's lit up beautifully, or you can wander outdoor cafes, play backgammon, and try shisha with local people.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch with the felucca crew)
Included Activities
- Morning sail on the Nile
- Lunch with felucca crew
- Transfer to Luxor
Optional Activities
- Luxor Temple night tour (beautifully lit)
- Explore Luxor's outdoor cafes, backgammon, and local shisha experience
Landmarks Luxor Temple Karnak Temple Complex Avenue of Sphinxes - Day 6
Luxor West Bank
You'll explore the West Bank of the Nile, visiting Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, several tombs in the Valley of the Kings, Deir El-Medina (the Valley of the Artisans), and the colossal Memnon statues. The afternoon is free so you can relax or join an optional tour of Karnak temple. There's also an optional hot air balloon flight over the West Bank if you want to do that, which leaves early at sunrise.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Temple of Queen Hatshepsut
- Guided tour of Valley of the Kings tombs
- Visit to Deir El-Medina (Valley of the Artisans)
- Stop at colossal Memnon statues
Optional Activities
- Karnak temple complex tour
- Hot air balloon flight over West Bank at sunrise (early start required)
Landmarks Temple of Queen Hatshepsut Valley of the Kings Deir El-Medina Colossi of Memnon - Day 7
Luxor to Cairo
You'll leave Luxor and drive back to Cairo. Along the way, you'll stop at the temples of Dendara and Abydos, which don't get as much attention from tourists but are equally interesting. Dendara was built for the goddess Hathor and is in really good condition. Abydos was a major religious center for Osiris and has a necropolis with several old temples. You'll arrive in Cairo this evening and check into your hotel for your last night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Dendara Temple
- Guided tour of Abydos Temple
- Transfer to Cairo
Landmarks Dendara Temple Abydos Temple - Day 8
Departure from Cairo
You have free time in the morning for any last shopping or sightseeing before heading to the airport. It's better to book an afternoon or evening flight so you can visit the Egyptian Museum and see more of the city before you go. Then you'll transfer to the airport for your departure.
- End point
- Cairo, Cairo, Egypt (Airport)
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Transfer to airport for departure
Optional Activities
- Egyptian Museum tour
- Explore Cairo city
Landmarks Egyptian Museum
