Cairo, Cruises, and Coasts (12 days)

𓂀 Summary

• 12 Days in Cairo ― Aswan ― Luxor ― Red Sea
• What you'll experience: 27 Attractions
  • The Great Pyramids of Giza
  • The Great Sphinx
  • Step Pyramid of Djoser
  • The Egyptian Museum
  • Saqqara
  • Coptic Cairo
  • Islamic Cairo
  • Jewish Cairo
  • Khan El-Khalili
  • Karnak Temple Complex
  • Luxor Temple
  • Felucca Ride
  • The Valley of the Kings (+ Tomb of Tutankhamun)
  • Deir El-Bahari (Hatshepsut's Temple Complex)
  • The Colossi of Memnon
  • Temple of Horus in Edfu
  • Temple of Kom Ombo
  • Esna Lock
  • The Abu Simbel Temples (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
  • Elephantine Island
  • Mausoleum of Aga Khan
  • Aswan High Dam
  • The Temples of Philae
  • Aswan High Dam
  • Hurghada
  • Water Activities
  • Desert Excursions

𓋹 Detailed Itinerary

Cairo, The Center of the World: Our capital is the entire world’s melting pot. It's the city where you can experience everything Experiencing Cairo will seem like you experienced the whole world through its different eras in a day.

Day 1: Arriving at The Center of The World: Cairo

• Welcome to Cairo, our magnificent capital. Upon arrival at Cairo International Airport, you will be met and assisted through customs and formalities by one of our representatives, then transferred to your hotel.

Day 2: Pyramids, Saqqara and Memphis tour (Saqqara)

• This morning, after enjoying a delicious breakfast, you will embark on your journey to experience the world’s most iconic sight, the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx. A private guide, driver, and expert Egyptologist will take you to see the first and only surviving wonder from the Seven Wonders of the World. You will approach the pyramids by camel and will be given the opportunity to take excellent photos and go inside the largest pyramid (optional). After that, have lunch at a renowned restaurant near the Great Pyramids, before diving into the ancient land of Saqqara. You’ll visit the Step Pyramid of Djoser, the oldest stone structure in the world. After that, we’ll take you to the ancient city of Memphis, the colossal statue of Ramses II is the main attraction here. We’ll call it a night and take you to your hotel for you to get ready to explore Cairo!

Day 3: Cairo - City tour - Overnight Cairo (Museum, Restaurant on Nile, Old Cairo, Hanging Church Ben Azra)

• After a delicious breakfast, you will be taken to the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir (or the Grand Egyptian Museum, upon request), where you will experience the world’s greatest collection of artifacts and antiquities. Before going deeper into Cairo, you’ll have lunch at a renowned restaurant with a magnificent view overlooking the Nile. Then, we’ll be traveling through Cairo’s vast history, you’ll experience Egypt’s significance as the center of religions through Islamic, Coptic, and Jewish Cairo. After that, we’ll take you shopping at the world's oldest bazaar market, Khan El-Khalili, where you can buy various types of souvenirs. To cool off from the craze of this colorful market, we’ll take you to drink tea (and a hookah (optional)) at Cairo’s oldest cafe that served Napoleon's troops, El Fishawy, before calling it a day.

Aswan, The Magical Paradise of Nubia: Its unique beauty is unmatched, everywhere you look will seem like a colorful painting, whether it's the natural scenery or the beautiful architecture. Aswan will feel like a dream with its heavenly atmosphere.

Day 4: Flight to Aswan - Philae temple & High Dam – Hotel

• After breakfast, we’ll take you to the airport to catch your flight to Aswan. You’ll be met with your guide and a representative at the airport. After being taken and checked into your hotel, you will begin your quest on a motorboat to the Temples of Philae, a beauty saved from a watery grave by UNESCO's rescue project during the building of the Aswan High Dam. Before we end the day, we’ll take you to the impressive Aswan High Dam, a marvel of engineering when it was constructed. To conclude the day, we’ll take you to your hotel and call it a night.

Day 5: (Abu Simbel option) - island felucca trip, Cruise to Kom Ombo (Island hoping)

• After breakfast, in the early morning, you will have the opportunity to enjoy an optional excursion to the Abu Simbel Temples where you will discover the commanding twin temples of Ramses II and his wife, Queen Nefertari. Otherwise, we’ll take you to your cruise ship which will be home for the next few days. After that, you’ll be embarking through the Nile on a felucca, a traditional wooden sailing boat, to catch mesmerizing views of Elephantine Island and the Mausoleum of Aga Khan before sailing back to Kom Ombo for an afternoon sail and island hopping. To conclude the night, we’ll sail into Aswan for dinner on the ship.

Day 6: Edfu - Esna - Luxor (Luxor)

• After enjoying breakfast this morning, you will reunite with your private guide and disembark from your cruise ship to explore Kom Ombo where you will visit the Greco-Roman temple dedicated to Haroeris (the sun god) and Sobek (the crocodile god), the latter considered by some ancient Egyptians to be the creator of the world. While there, view the mummified remains of several crocodiles that once lounged along the ancient Nile banks, just as their descendants do today. You will then return to your vessel for lunch and then continue your Nile voyage to explore the Temple of Horus in Edfu, dedicated to Horus, the falcon god. The Temple of Horus, the second largest temple in Egypt after Karnak Temple, was built from 230 to 57 BC by Ptolemy III and his successors and is considered the best-preserved cult temple in Egypt due to its later construction date. On our journey to Luxor, we’ll sail through the Esna Lock, a scenic photo spot that catches the beauty of the Nile. To conclude the night, dinner will be served on the ship.

Luxor, The World’s Greatest Open-Air Museum: Home to an endless amount of palaces, temples, and monuments. Walking through Luxor will provide you with the experience that you're still in Ancient Egypt, with how well-preserved the temples and tombs are.

Day 7: Luxor West bank – Sound and light show (Sound and Light Show)

• After breakfast, we’ll first visit the Necropolis of Thebes and the famous Valley of the Kings to explore the site where the tombs of 64 of Egypt’s notable Pharaohs can be found carved out of solid rock, alongside the legendary Tomb of Tutankhamun. You will then explore the recently renovated mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut, the second historically confirmed female Pharaoh, regarded as one of the most successful Pharaohs, at Deir El-Bahari, built into the sheer Theban cliffs. You will then conclude your venture into the West Bank with a visit to the Colossi of Memnon, the only remaining monuments of the mortuary temple of Amenhotep III. Upon return to the ship, you will savour an elaborate lunch and enjoy the ride as your vessel begins its cruise upstream to Luxor. Before we call it a night, you’ll experience the Sound and Light Show at the Karnak Temple before heading back to the ship for dinner.

Day 8: Luxor East bank - Transfer by AC van to Hurghada

• Following a wholesome breakfast, your journey to Upper Egypt’s Luxor will commence. After hotel checkout, you will be accompanied by an English-speaking representative and begin your expedition with a private airport transfer. After enjoying an exquisite lunch aboard, you will disembark to explore the ancient city guided by a private Egyptologist. You’ll visit the renowned UNESCO World Heritage Sites of the monuments of Karnak and Luxor, learning more about ancient Egypt’s fascinating and lengthy history. To begin, you will visit the Karnak Temple complex, strolling along the Avenue of Sphinxes to enter the complex. The Karnak Temple complex was the center of ancient faith and makes up the history of Thebes, consisting of colossal sandstone columns transported 100 miles along the Nile river. You’ll then experience the Luxor Temple which was once joined to the Karnak Temple by a 1.25-mile-long Avenue of Sphinx, a portion of which marks the entrance to the temple. After that, we’ll drive to Hurghada in a private car for 3 hours, check you into your hotel, and end the night with a dinner in Hurghada.

Red Sea, its so beautiful and bizarre, it cannot be described, only experienced to be fully understood. You'll think you're in a dream when you get close to the indescribable marine nature. With a year-round supply of sunshine on its gorgeous bays and luxurious islands, the Red Sea will make want to extend your experience for months.

Day 9: Hurghada (Hurghada)

• After having breakfast, we’ll pick you up from your hotel in the afternoon to start our adventure. First up, riding through the desert in a 4x4 SUV to reach the Bedioun village. Your guide will fully immerse you in Bedioun life and culture. You’ll climb the mountains during the sunset then have a barbeque lunch. After relaxing in the dunes and digesting that lunch, you’ll have dinner followed by a Bedioun party before heading back to the hotel in the city.

Day 10: Hurghada (Hurghada)

• After breakfast, we give you this day as an opportunity to explore Hurghada and the Red Sea on your own. That being said, we can take you on additional experiences here, including snorkeling trips and activities in the Red Sea, please click on the "Optional Add-ons & Excluded Services" tab above to see what we have in store for you!

Day 11: Hurghada Flight to Cairo)

• AAfter a final breakfast in Hurghada, we’ll take you to the airport to catch a flight to Cairo. Upon arrival, a representative will meet you and guide you through customs then take you to your hotel in Cairo and check you in. We give you this day as an opportunity to explore Cairo on your own. That being said, we can take you on additional experiences in Cairo or Alexandria today, please click on the "Optional Add-ons & Excluded Services" tab above to see what we have in store for you!

Day 8: Goodbyes and Departure

• After breakfast, an Expo Egypt representative will escort you back to the Cairo International Airport. Thank you for choosing us to show you around Egypt and host your honeymoon, we hope to see you again when you can experience more of Egypt!

𓉱 Accommodation

• Mercure Le Sphinx s or Pyramids Park or similar
  • First 3 Nights and last night in Cairo
• CityMax Hotel
  • First Night in Aswan
• Princess Sara, Nile Style, Miss World, Semiramis, Solaris II, Radamis, Tamr Hena or Similar
  • 3 Nights (Nile Cruise)
• Grand Seas Host Mark, Coral Sea Beach, Sea Gull resort, MinaMark or Similar
  • 3 Nights in Hurghada

𓅔 Included Services

• 24 meals
  • 11 Breakfasts, 7 Lunches, and 6 Dinners
• English-speaking Tour Guide & Expert Egyptologist
• 24/7 Concierge Service
• Domestic Flights
• Airport Transfers and Customs Assistance
• Entry fees for all attractions and experiences

𓇌 Optional Add-Ons

National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NEMC) in Cairo

• Considered the crown jewel of the National Museum of Civilization, the royal mummies hall is designed to display the Ancient Kings and Queens of Egypt. The design aims to give visitors the feeling of strolling through the Valley of the Kings in Luxor, where the mummies were originally buried. The most famous Royal mummies such as Hatshepsut and Thutmose can be found here, making it home to some of the greatest and most unexpected discoveries in the history of global archaeology.

A Day in Alexandria: An Emperor’s Mediterranean Dream

• Alexandria, named after Alexander, the Great. When he came to the shores of this city with a few fishermen after conquering much of the world, he said "this is where I'll build my city that I have always dreamed of." It became the city that's the source of freedom and charm every morning and mystery at night according to Nobel Prize-winning author Naguib Mahfouz.

𓊖 Excluded Services

• International Flights
• Egypt's Entry Visa fee (However, we will assist you in attaining the visa).
• Transportation or Tours without Expo Egypt during your time Sharm El-Sheikh
• Personal expenses such as laundry, telephone, taxi, excess baggage, etc.
• Meals that aren't included in this experience
• Beverages with meals.
• A stipend for your personal tipping

𓋖 Expo Egypt's Promise

We are proud to include this experience in our portfolio. We ensure that this experience, like every experience in our portfolio, is superior in quality, outstanding in service, and competitive in pricing. Expo Egypt checks competitor's pricing on a weekly basis to ensure we are providing the best price for each experience. In regards to quality and service, we take feedback on each experience seriously; if there is any slight problem or negative remarks regarding an experience, we will remove it from our portfolio. By booking this experience you can rest assured that you are going to partake in this experience with the best price, quality, and service.