Jewels of the Nile

You'll enjoy personalized attention on your tour of these famous symbols of Egypt's ancient civilization. As this is a private tour, you can determine the amount of time you'd like to spend at the sites you'll visit. In the Giza plateau area, the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx date back over 4600 years. While there are actually over 100 pyramids in Egypt, the Pyramids of Giza are by far the most famous and are the last of the ancient Seven Wonders of the World. Your qualified Egyptologist guide will provide a fascinating introduction to each of the three pyramids: Cheops, Chephren, and Mykerinus. You will have free time to enter one of the pyramids (additional cost), although your guide is not permitted to enter with you. After visiting the pyramids, you'll then continue across the plateau for a photo opportunity of the three pyramids rising from the sands, with the Cairo skyline in the background. A short drive to the city side of the plateau finds you standing at the feet of the Sphinx, for thousands of years, the enigmatic symbol of Egypt. The Sphinx has the body of a lion and the head of a king and is surrounded by mystery, including the unanswered questions: who built it and why.

Overnight: in Cairo | Meals: Breakfast

In the morning, we will fly from Cairo to Luxor. In Luxor, we will check in on a luxury 5-star cruise ship, our floating hotel. This 4-day Egypt Nile Cruise features various stops and site visits, including all the most impressive monuments from the time of the Pharaohs. Our 5-star Deluxe Nile cruise ship offers a modern sun deck, pool, spacious lounges, bar, gym, open-air, and fine dining restaurants. Therefore, there will be plenty to do while sailing. Cruising the Nile on such a luxurious ship is always one of the best memories our tour participants take with them home from Egypt. At the same time, cruising is the most convenient and comfortable way to travel from one place to another.

On that Luxor Day Tour, we will start sightseeing on the west bank of Luxor. Our tour will start with a motorboat ride across the Nile to see the highlight of Luxor, private access to the Valley of the Kings.

The Valley of the Kings, located on the west bank of the Nile in Luxor, has been the royal cemetery for 62 Pharaohs. Undeniably, it is one of Egypt's most important treasures. There, we will access some of the most renowned tombs. Our visit will also include admission to King Tutankhamun's tomb.

You will visit the wonderful tomb of Queen Nefertari in the Valley of the Queens.

When we return to the ship, the rest of the afternoon will be free for leisure. Our guests can enjoy the sundeck and the stunning views of the Nile landscape.

Overnight: onboard Nile Cruise | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, visit the attractions on the East Bank of Thebes. This extraordinary city served as Egypt's capital during part of the Middle Kingdom and at the height of the New Kingdom and was dedicated to the god Amun, one of the most revered deities of the Egyptian pantheon. Explore the Karnak Temple complex, a sprawling array of shrines, obelisks, and gateways where Amun and other deities were worshipped; and take the afternoon to wander about Luxor on your own. This evening, visit the striking Luxor Temple. With its colonnade of soaring columns and larger-than-life statues, this complex is particularly beautiful after dark, when evocative lighting creates a mystical, dream-like atmosphere. Continue sailing to Esna

Overnight: onboard Nile Cruise | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

In the morning, our cruise ship will take us to Edfu to see its marvelous temple. The Edfu Temple is the best-preserved ancient temple in Egypt dedicated to the falcon god Horus. It was built in the Ptolemaic period between 240 and 57 BC. When we return to the ship, we will cruise towards Kom Ombo, where we arrive in the late afternoon.

We will visit the Ptolemaic Kom Ombo Temple. It was built during the reign of King Ptolemy V (ca. 205 to 180 BC). The Ptolemies constructed the Temple of Kom Ombo to worship the two gods, Sobek, the crocodile god, and Horus, the falcon god. After visiting the site, we will return to the ship for dinner, and then we keep on sailing towards the south.

Overnight: onboard Nile Cruise | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Depart your cruise and join a camel ride to the southern tip of Elephantine Island, which is included in our Aswan day tours. You will find St Simeon's Monastery, an ancient, abandoned fortress monastery mostly built during the 7th century and located near Aswan. The monastery was given the name St Simeon by archaeologists and travelers, but earlier Arabic and Coptic sources called it Anba Hedra, after an anchorite who was consecrated a bishop of Syene (now Aswan) by Patriarch Theophilus (385-412 AD).

Next, we will take a motorboat ride to the Temple of Philae, beautifully located on an island and dedicated to Isis, the goddess of health, marriage, and wisdom. Philae was considered one of the burial places of the god Osiris, so the island was a sacred place for Ancient Egyptians. The temple consists of monuments from various times extending from the Pharaohs to the Caesars. Explore and enjoy the Nubian village to learn the customs and traditions of the Nubians.

Overnight: onboard Nile Cruise | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Disembark your luxurious Nile cruise and transfer to the airport for your flight to Abu Simbel.

Abu Simbel temples refer to two massive rock temples (the Great Temple of Ramses II and the smaller Temple of Hathor) in Abu Simbel in Nubia, southern Egypt on the western bank of Lake Nasser, about 230 km southwest of Aswan. The complex is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the " Nubian Monuments," which runs from Abu Simbel downriver to Philae (near Aswan). The twin temples were originally carved out of the mountainside during the reign of Pharaoh Ramesses II in the 13th century BC, as a lasting monument to himself and his queen Nefertari, to commemorate his alleged victory at the Battle of Kadesh, and to intimidate his Nubian neighbors.

However, the complex was relocated in its entirety in 1968 on an artificial hill made from a domed structure high above the Aswan High Dam reservoir. The relocation of the temples was necessary to avoid their being submerged during the creation of Lake Nasser, the massive artificial water reservoir formed after the building of the Aswan High Dam on the Nile River. Abu Simbel remains one of Egypt's top tourist attractions. With a qualified Egyptologist as your guide, you will enjoy a personalized visit to the temples of Abu Simbel. With its four rock-hewn pharaohs, your guide will explain the history behind this magnificent site, including how the temples were discovered by accident in 1813.

Fly back to Aswan, where you will be escorted to your hotel (Cataract Hotel).

Overnight: in Aswan | Meal: Breakfast

Fly back to Cairo and explore the main site of Cairo with a visit to the famous Egyptian Museum. Housing over 65,000 Egyptian artifacts, the museum attracts millions of visitors annually. The highlights of the museum are the priceless treasures of King Tutankhamun. His 6-gold gilded coffins dominate the main hall, while his magnificent gold mask is the star attraction! Your Egyptologist guide will introduce you to the most important pieces before allowing you to leisurely explore the museum. Overnight in Cairo in St Regis hotel overlooking the Nile.

Overnight: in Cairo | Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, you will discover the treasures of old Cairo. Move to the Coptic area to visit the Hanging Church, Abu Serga Church, and the Jewish Synagogue. Then visit the two mosques of Sultan Hassan and Al Rifai. Continue to Khan el, Khalili Bazaars. Enjoy free time to stroll through the maze of streets and try your luck bargaining with the shop owners for a souvenir of your trip to Egypt.

Overnight: in Cairo | Meals: Breakfast

Today you leave this mysterious, ancient country. After breakfast at your hotel, you will check out and be driven to Cairo International Airport for your final departure.