Egypt Private Expedition

Sakkara was the main cemetery of the Old Kingdom era. It is an amazing archeological site where the famous and multi-titled architect Imhotep built the oldest pyramid in Egypt. The first stone structure is 4800 years old and was erected as substantial solid steps on top of each. The name Step Pyramid is quite suitable. You will learn about the development of the royal tomb structure in the complex Step Pyramid.

Your tour guide will accompany you inside one of the nobles' tombs (The Tomb of Kagemni) to see murals reflecting daily life activities in ancient Egypt. Moreover, you can enter the Pyramid of Teti, where you can see the oldest form of the pyramid text on the chamber walls (4340 years old). Memphis is your second destination to visit the city's open-air museum. In Memphis, you will see the second largest Sphinx in Egypt, known as the Alabaster Sphinx, the lying colossus of Ramses II. It is a masterpiece and decisive proof of how Egyptian sculpture reached its peak. You will also see many more monuments dug in this great city. Memphis was Egypt's first capital city after the Southern and Northern kingdom's unity. Enjoy all the beautiful monuments on display in the open museum. The next stop will be at Dahshur. This archeological site is five miles away from Sakkara. There are three pyramids in this untrodden place: the Bent Pyramid and the North or Red Pyramid. Both belong to the pharaoh Snefru, the founder of the fourth dynasty, while the third pyramid belongs to his wife, Queen Step Heres.

In this place, you will visit the bent pyramid, the first attempt to develop the Step pyramids' shape. This pyramid looks fascinating with its two-level form and beautiful soft casing layer. Move around this pyramid and look at the small pyramid of the queen.

Then, stop at the Red or North Pyramid. This one is the first accurate and complete pyramid in ancient Egypt. Learn about the development of the royal tomb structure in the Old Kingdom. You can enter the chamber of this pyramid, which is quite an experience to go through the narrow tunnel to the section.

At the end of the tour, drive back to your hotel.

Overnight: in Cairo | Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Achieve your life dream and enjoy Giza day tours to see the Pyramids of Giza of Cheops, Chephren, and Mykerinus. Then proceed to visit the Great Sphinx with a lion’s body, dating back to the time of Chephren. The Giza Plateau is about 30 minutes from Cairo. Your Egyptologist guide will introduce each of the three pyramids: Cheops, Khafre, and Menkaure. You will have free time to enter the chamber of the Great Pyramids (included); however, your guide is not allowed to join you. Or you can go on a camel ride (at an additional cost). After visiting the pyramids, you will 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.

Your next stop is the famous Egyptian Museum. Housing 150,000 Egyptian artifacts, the Egyptian Museum attracts millions of visitors annually. The highlight is the priceless treasures of King Tutankhamun. His six 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 free time to explore the museum at your leisure.

Overnight: in Cairo | Meals: Breakfast, Dinner 

Tour the Alabaster Mosque at the Citadel of Salah el-Din, which sits on top of a limestone hill overlooking Cairo and is the most important mosque in the city. The lower part of the mosque is clad inside and out with Alabaster. The top part is constructed from the limestone cladding removed from the Pyramids of Giza. Inside the mosque, your guide will introduce you to the fundamental beliefs of Islam, including a translation of the most common prayers.

Discover the historic sites of Coptic Christians and learn about their life and culture. Begin by visiting the Hanging Church, which was intricately built on top of the gatehouse of the Fortress of Babylon. It is among Egypt's oldest and most beautiful churches dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Continue to the Monastery and Church of Saint George. It is one of the few remaining circular churches in the Middle East.

Your next stop will be Abu Serga, where the holy family rested after fleeing Israel from King Herod. At the turn of the century, this little church, which dates from the 10th century, was the most important pilgrimage spot in Old Cairo for Christian tourists. You will then tour Ben Ezra Synagogue, one of Egypt's oldest synagogues. It was built on the site of the 4th-century church surrounded by a shady garden.

Conclude the evening with a visit to the Khan el Khalili Bazaar. Your guide will introduce you to the famous bazaar, which is said to have inspired Christopher Columbus to discover the New World. Here you will enjoy free time to stroll through the maze of streets and shops and try your luck bargaining with the shop owners for a souvenir of your trip to Egypt or enjoy a cup of tea at the famous coffee shop El Fishawy.

Overnight: in Cairo | Meals: Breakfast, Dinner 

After breakfast, board a flight to Luxor, known in antiquity as Thebes. This remarkable city once served as Egypt's capital throughout the Middle and New Kingdoms. Also known as the City of Amun, this historic location is home to a wide array of obelisks, shrines, and temples dedicated to the worship of the deities of the Egyptian pantheon. Visit the famous Karnak Temple complex, the largest temple in Egypt. Here you will explore incredible works of architecture, including its many sandstone columns decorated with hieroglyphics that have stood the test of time.  

Conclude the evening with a visit to the striking Luxor Temple, which intricately displays soaring columns and statues. Explore the Avenue of Sphinxes, which holds over 600 meticulously crafted statues on each side of its mile-long path. After dark, the temple's beauty is accentuated by evocative lights that cloak the complex in a mystical atmosphere. 

Overnight: in Luxor | Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Venture to the famed Valley of the Kings, where the pharaohs of Egypt's New Kingdom chose to build elaborate underground tombs instead of the pyramids typical of the Old Kingdom. Enter the Tomb of Tutankhamun, discovered in 1922 by British archaeologist Howard Carter and see the remains of the boy-king. Admire the vivid wall paintings and hieroglyphics of the neighboring tomb of Seti I. Round off your time in Luxor with a visit to the Colossi of Memnon, two 60-foot-tall stone statues of the pharaoh Amenhotep III, which have guarded the king necropolis since 1350 B.C. Board your vessel to begin your cruise by Egypt Nile Cruises down the river this evening.

Overnight: onboard Nile Cruise | Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Sail to the West Bank of Luxor in the morning and explore the Ramesseum, the mortuary temple of Ramses II. This temple and its scattered granite remains of the king's giant monuments are exceedingly impressive. Explore the Valley of the Queens and visit the mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut, set against the beautiful backdrop of the Teban Mountains. Navigate through Esna Lock on your way to the city of Edfu.

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

Our cruise ship will take us to Edfu in the morning 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 begin sailing south towards Aswan. 

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

Leave the Nile cruise and explore the most popular and well-known Aswan attractions. Walk on the High Dam, which separates Lake Nasser from the Nile, be astounded at the size of the Unfinished Obelisk, and enjoy the beauty of the Philae Temple island location. Depart your Aswan hotel or cruise ship and travel to the High Dam of Aswan, an engineering phenomenon. This remarkable structure contains more material than what was used in the Great Pyramid of Cheops. The Dam is 11,811 ft long, 3215 ft thick at the base, 364 ft tall, and is carved into from the existing granite, providing irrigation and electricity for the entirety of Egypt. From the top of the High Dam, you can gaze across Lake Nasser to Kalabsha Temple in the south and the massive power station to the north. Continue to the Unfinished Obelisk in the granite quarries of Aswan, where much of the red granite used for ancient temples and colossi came from.

The Unfinished Obelisk still lies where it was carved when a crack was discovered as it was being hewn from the rock. Your qualified Egyptologist guide will explain how the 1-tonne obelisk was cut and why the crack caused it to be abandoned. The last of the three famous Aswan sites you will see today is generally regarded as the best. Philae Temple was carefully moved to its current location (around 500 meters from the original site) when the construction of the High Dam caused surrounding Nile waters to rise.

A short motorboat ride takes you to the island, where your guide will take you on a walking tour through the temple before allowing you free time to explore further.

Dedicated to the goddess Isis, Philae Temple is beautifully set on an island in the river which has been landscaped to match its original site. Its various shrines and sanctuaries celebrate the deities involved in the myth of Isis and Osiris.

Conclude the evening by boarding a felucca, a traditional wooden sailboat of the Nile. 

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

Fly to Abu Simbel in southern Egypt this morning, where your local guide will join you. Embark on a tour of this awe-inspiring ancient site, often regarded as one of Ramses II's most impressive structures. At the main entrance, you will find four colossal statues of the pharaoh, which have been intricately carved out of a dramatic sandstone cliff. During the Abu Simbel Sun Festival, celebrated twice a year in February and October, the sun's rays cast a golden light on the inner chamber, illuminating the seated statues of Ramses II and two sun gods. Like the Temple at Philae, the Abu Simbel temples were dismantled and rebuilt at a higher elevation to make way for the Aswan High Dam, a feat of engineering to rival Abu Simbel's original construction. After lunch, catch a flight back to Cairo and relax at your hotel.

Overnight: in Cairo | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Transfer to the airport to connect to your flight home after enjoying your breakfast.