Pyramids, Nile Cruise & Lake Nasser

Day 1: Arrive Cairo ‘Welcome to Egypt

Your Tour Manager will meet and assist you at Cairo International Airport then escort you to your Hotel by exclusive air-conditioned deluxe vehicle. At the Hotel your Tour Manager will assist with a smooth check-in and review your holiday itinerary with you to establish and confirm pick-up times for each tour. Overnight in Cairo. This would be a good time to do an optional excursion to the Sound & Light Show on Giza Plateau, by the magnificent pyramids.
Welcome Drink

Day 2: Giza Pyramids and Sakkara

After your breakfast at the Hotel you will visit Sakkara, the first Pyramid ever built in Egypt followed by the Step Pyramid of King Djoser and the Teti Pyramid. Then on to the famous Giza Plateau to visit the only remaining wonder from the original Seven Wonders of the Ancient World - the Great Pyramids of Khufu (called Cheops by the Ancient Greeks). Also on the plateau are the pyramids of Khafre (Chephren) and the smallest Pyramid Menkaure (Mykerinos). The plateau is as famous for the mysterious structure 'the Sphinx' as it is for the Pyramids, where you will visit the Valley Temple. Later on you will be transferred back to your hotel and overnight in Cairo.

Note - There is an additional charge to enter inside any of the Pyramids and also the Solar Boat Museum. Please speak with your Tour Guide if you wish to purchase tickets.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 3: Fly Cairo to Luxor - Nile Cruise Tours

After early breakfast, your Tour Guide will transfer you to Cairo Airport for your flight to Luxor. On arrival you will be met by your Representative to check in to your Nile Cruise in Luxor. After this, you will head off with your Tour Guide to explore Karnak Temple, which is the world's largest ancient religious site. The hypostyle hall with its colossal granite columns is one of Egypt’s infamous landmarks. There will be free time to explore the different parts of the huge complex built during the reigns of various Pharaohs, then moving to Luxor Temple which was built by Amenhotep III and Ramses II for ritual and festivals that was dedicated to the God Amon and you may wish to return in the evening for the highly recommended optional tour, the Sound and Light show which tells the glorious Pharaonic historical story of Luxor and Karnak. Return to your Nile cruise and Overnight in Luxor.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Luxor Nile Cruise Excursions

Breakfast is served on board in Luxor before being escorted by your Guide to cross to the West Bank of the Nile to the sites of Ancient Thebes, overall one of the most important archaeological sites in the world. Visit the two colossal statues of Amenhotep III (Colossi of Memnon), and the visit the impressive colonnaded and terraced Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahri, which was built into a high cliff face and has graphics telling the story of Hatshepsut’s expeditions to the mysterious land of Punt. Then you go to The Valley of the Kings to see a selection of the beautifully decorated rock-cut tombs, many of which still display vibrant colour and breathtaking detail of deities and scenes from the Book of the Underworld with a visit to 3 tombs. (The three tombs visited are determined by the Egyptian Government as to preserve them from the large flow of visitors, therefore are rotated throughout the year and cannot be confirmed as to which tombs prior to your visit). The most visited tombs have walkways and electric lighting, and the internal walls are protected by glass. Sailing to Edfu via Esna Lock dinner and overnight stay on board the Nile cruise vessel.
Please Note: There is an additional Charge to enter the Tombs of King Tutankhamun and Ramses VI.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Kom Ombo and Edfu Temples

After enjoying breakfast onboard your Nile cruise ship in Aswan you sail to see Kom Ombo Temple . Of all the ancient temples in Egypt, this is the only one which is divided into two, to reflect that it is dedicated to two Gods: Sobek, the Crocodile God of fertility; and the falcon-headed Horus, God of the sky. Kom Ombo is also famous for the depictions of surgeon's instruments, giving us an early record of medicine and surgery in Ancient Egypt.

In the afternoon, sailing down the Nile to visit the huge Ptolemaic Temple of Horus at Edfu, which is the most complete and best preserved of the Egyptian Temples, consisting of many columns, halls, chambers and chapels. Two statues of Horus flank the twin towered entrance gate; and inside, one of the interesting inscriptions lists the titles of books (scrolls) held in the library.Back to your Nile cruise for dinner, afternoon tea is served on the sundeck with dinner sailing to Aswan overnight stay.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Aswan Nile Cruise Tours

After enjoying breakfast onboard your cruise ship in Aswan you will be met by your Guide to visit the Aswan High Dam which was built in the 1960’s to provide the much needed electricity and irrigation for the country. Nubia, the area that was flooded, experienced the biggest and most thorough archaeological excavations that Egypt has ever known. Then moving on to witness the ‘Unfinished Obelisk’ which still lies in the granite quarries which provided ancient Egypt with building materials.

It would have been the largest piece of stone ever handled but when a crack was discovered it was abandoned where it was being hewn. Cross by boat to Angilika Island, to see Philae Temple which is one of the Nubian Temples rescued before the High Dam was built. Enjoy Philae’s long colonnades, towers and reliefs which include the last surviving hieroglyphic and demotic inscriptions in Egypt. Return to your Nile cruise ship for lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and leisurely free time in Aswan. Overnight stay aboard the cruise.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7: Aswan to Abu Simbel group transfer - Lake Nasser Cruise

Disembark after breakfast. Then join our group transfer to to Abu Simbel (approximately 3.5 hours). Upon arrival at Abu Simbel, you will be transferred to embark on your 5 Star Lake Nasser cruise. Check in at Abu Simbel with lunch on board then your fascinating exploration of these enormous twin Temples of Abu Simbel.

Note* Optional flight from Aswan to Abu Simbel as upgrade is available upon request
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8: Lake Nasser Cruise Tours

Enjoy breakfast while sailing to Kasr Ibrim. View Kasr Ibrim Fortress from the sun deck sailing to Amada where you will visit the Temple of Amada, Ed Deir and the Tomb of Pennut. Return to ship for lunch while sailing to Wadi el Seboua. Dinner and overnight on board the ship.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9: Lake Nasser Cruise Tours

After Breakfast visit Wadi el Seboua, then take a camel ride or walk to el Dakka and Mehraka. Back to the ship to sail to Aswan. Dinner and overnight on board.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10: Lake Nasser Cruise - Fly to Cairo

After breakfast, disembark the lake Cruise to visit Kalabsha temple, dedicated to the Nubian God Mandulis then continue to Beit el Wali to visit the beautiful Kiosk of Kertassi to explore the Nubian style Temple dedicated to the Goddess Hathor. Finally you will be transferred from your Cruise Boat by an air conditioned vehicle to Aswan Airport for your flight back to Cairo. Overnight in the Hotel at Cairo.
Meals: Breakfast

Day 11: Cairo Sightseeing Tours

Last day in Cairo, you will take breakfast at the Hotel, then be escorted by your Tour Guide to visit the world-renowned Egyptian Museum in Cairo that was built in neo-classical style and designed by the French architect Marcel Dourgnon. The museum's vast collection of over 120,000 artifacts ranges from pre-dynastic era, through the Pharaonic era to the Greco-Roman period of Egypt. Amongst the most famous items which you may see are the funerary treasures of the child King Tutankhamun, the colossal statues of the heretic king, Akhenaten, and the only surviving image of Khufu, creator of Egypt's Great Pyramid. Visiting the museum is a great introduction to learning about the ancient Egyptian civilization, including their famous art of mummification.

Next will be an unusual opportunity to explore the Christian heritage in Coptic Cairo including some of the early religious monuments of the city such as the Hanging Church (or Suspended Church), this Basilica Church was named for its location on top of the south gate of the Fortress of Babylon. This Church became the centre of the Christian Church of Egypt. Afterwards, you will have a wonderful afternoon shopping at the famous old market in Cairo known as Khan El Khalili Bazaar. Overnight stay in Cairo with free leisure time.

Please Note* There is an additional charge to enter the Mummies Room at the Museum. Please speak with your Tour Guide should you wish to purchase a ticket to enter one of these sites.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 12: Cairo - Fly Back Home

After breakfast at the Hotel in Cairo, you will be transferred to Cairo International Airport for your flight home
Meals: Breakfast