Egypt

In flight

Welcome by the guide at the airport and transfer to the hotel.

Dinner included at the hotel.

Accommodation: Ramses Hilton Hotel or similar.

Breakfast included at the hotel

Guided tour of one of the 7 wonders of the world, the Great Pyramids of Giza (Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure). The visit to the pyramid of Khufu is one of the most interesting as the burial chambers are open to the public. Not far from the pyramid is the Great Sphinx of Giza, which dates back to the time of Khafre. This statue combines the head of a pharaoh with the body of a lion. A quick visit to the papyrus institute or a perfume shop can be organized after the tour.

Dinner included in a local restaurant

Continuation of the tours of Memphis and Saqqara. Memphis, the oldest capital of Egypt, was built by King Menes, 24 km southwest of Cairo. This is where the finest representation of Ramses II is located. Saqqara is the oldest ancient Egyptian cemetery. It is situated on a desert plateau, southwest of Cairo.

Return to the hotel: Ramses Hilton Hotel or similar

Supper included in a local restaurant

Breakfast included at the hotel.

Transfer to Cairo airport for the flight to Luxor.

Arrival at the airport and transfer aboard the Radamis Nile Cruise (or similar) for the Nile cruise.

Dinner included on board.

Visit of the Luxor Temple and Karnak Temple with a local guide.

Karnak Temple: Built over a period of two millennia by generations of pharaohs, Karnak Temple was dedicated to the god Amun. It could take days to explore all the numerous pylons, obelisks, and smaller temples within.

Luxor Temple: It was once connected to Karnak by the Avenue of Human-Headed Sphinxes, nearly 3 kilometers long. It is considered a symbol of ancient Egyptian civilization, a monument of striking grace in the heart of modern Luxor. It is one of the best-preserved of all ancient monuments, making it one of the most impressive places to visit in Luxor and in Egypt.

Return to the Nile cruise and dinner included on board.

At sunrise, those who wish will have the opportunity to experience a hot-air balloon flight (optional excursion: price and booking on site).

For breathtaking views of Luxor’s famous temples, take a balloon ride over the west bank of the Nile. Far from the crowds, in the peaceful glow of dawn, your sunrise flight above Egypt’s ancient monuments promises to be a highlight of your trip. The ride lasts 45 minutes.

Breakfast included on board.

In the morning, begin a guided tour to explore the west bank of Luxor (Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut, and Colossi of Memnon).

Valley of the Kings: A vast City of the Dead where magnificent tombs were carved into the desert rock, used for royal burials of the kings. It is the most famous site for its unique collections of tombs and breathtaking ancient ruins. Admission to three tombs is included.

Temple of Hatshepsut: Rising from the desert plain in a series of terraces, the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut (the only female pharaoh of ancient Egypt) merges with the sheer limestone cliffs surrounding it, as though nature itself had built this extraordinary monument.
On the way back to the Nile, your route passes the famous Colossi of Memnon, known in ancient Greece for their haunting voices at dawn. They were built as guardians of Amenhotep III’s mortuary complex.

Return to the Radamis Nile Cruise (or similar) and sail to Edfu via Esna.

Dinner.

Overnight on board.

Breakfast included on board.

In the morning, excursion to Edfu to visit the temple dedicated to Horus, the falcon god. The construction of this temple dates back to the Ptolemaic period, and it is undoubtedly the best-preserved in the Nile Valley. It offers insight into the full grandeur of Egyptian temples.

Late morning, return to the Radamis Nile Cruise (or similar), lunch included on board.

Continue the cruise toward Kom Ombo, a town mentioned in Egyptian texts as early as the Middle Kingdom.

Visit the Temple of Kom Ombo, the third major stop on most Nile cruises between Luxor and Aswan. It is dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek.

The temple sits on a bend of the Nile where, in ancient times, sacred crocodiles basked in the sun along the riverbank.

Sail to Aswan.

Dinner included on board.

Breakfast and boxed lunch included.

Transfer to Abu Simbel by vehicle to visit the temple of Abu Simbel with a local French-speaking guide.

Abu Simbel: The two temples of Ramses II at Abu Simbel are each crowned with colossal statues, famous as the most impressive monuments of ancient Egypt today. Recently, the temples were threatened by the waters of Lake Nasser.

Return to the Radamis Nile Cruise (or similar) for lunch.

Lunch and dinner included on board.

Breakfast included on board.

Early morning stop at the Aswan High Dam. Though certainly not the largest in the world, it is nonetheless an impressive feat of engineering, measuring over 110 meters high and 3,800 meters long. The dam was completed in 1971, and the immense reservoir behind it is named in honor of President Nasser.

Visit to Philae Temple: this magnificent complex is one of the most picturesque in all of Egypt. Located on Agilkia Island just south of the old Aswan dam, you must take a water taxi to reach the island and access the ruins.

Finish the visit and have lunch in a local restaurant in Aswan.

Disembark and transfer to Aswan airport for the flight to Cairo.

Arrival in Cairo and meet with the guide.

Transfer to Ramses Hilton Hotel or similar.

Dinner in a local restaurant.

Breakfast included at the hotel.

Departure for Alexandria via the desert road – approximately 225 km.

Guided tour of Pompey’s Pillar, the catacombs, and the Roman amphitheater.

Lunch included during the tour at a local restaurant.

Pompey’s Pillar and the catacombs of Kom el-Shuqafa are considered a gift from the people of Alexandria to Emperor Diocletian. Most of the remains found around the pillar can be seen at the Greco-Roman Museum. At the top of the hill lies the entrance to the catacombs of Kom el-Shuqafa, dating from the 1st and 2nd centuries.

Transfer to the hotel in Alexandria for check-in.

Dinner included in a local restaurant.

Accommodation at Sheraton Montazah Hotel or similar.

Breakfast included at the hotel.

Visit the new Library of Alexandria, an impressive architectural and cultural achievement, and the Citadel of Qaitbay with your guide.

Return to Cairo via the desert road.

Lunch included at a local restaurant.

Transfer to the hotel: Ramses Hilton Hotel or similar.

Rest of the afternoon at leisure.

Dinner included at a local restaurant.

Breakfast included at the hotel.

Visit the Egyptian Museum of Cairo, the first and most important museum in the world. It houses the largest collection of Pharaonic antiquities in the world. No visit to Egypt is complete without a journey through its galleries, where the treasures of King Tutankhamun are displayed.
The museum showcases collections ranging from prehistoric times to the Greco-Roman period. It has 107 rooms, and the ground floor houses enormous statues. The museum also includes a photography section and a large library.

Lunch included at a local restaurant.

Drive to Khan El Khalili. Enjoy the bazaar, one of the most famous in the world, with its amazing narrow alleys. The bazaar is the domain of traders and tourists alike. Jewelers, copper items, inlaid woodwork, semi-precious stones, carpets, blown glassware, and other souvenirs are offered.

Return to the hotel.

Sound and Light Show at the Pyramids of Giza.

Transfer to the Giza Plateau for the incredible Sound and Light Show at the foot of the Great Pyramids. Narrated by the enigmatic Sphinx, the show will take you on a fascinating journey through the history of the Pyramids. An unforgettable experience! The show lasts 45 minutes.

Then transfer for dinner at a local restaurant and return to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel in Cairo.

Accommodation: Ramses Hilton Hotel or similar.

Breakfast included at the hotel.

Guided tour of the Citadel and Mohamed Ali Mosque. You will be escorted through a fascinating maze of small streets, filled with many ancient monuments and mosques from Cairo’s Islamic past. The Citadel of Saladin and the impressive 19th-century Mosque of Mohamed Ali are considered to be the oldest university in the world.

Lunch included in a local restaurant, then continuation of the tour.

Visit of Old Cairo: the Hanging Church, the Church of Abu Serga, and the Ben Ezra Synagogue. The Hanging Church is considered the oldest church in the Al-Fustat area. It is known as Al-Muallaqa (the hanging) because it was built on the ruins of two old towers that remain from an ancient fortress called the Babylon Fortress. Then, visit the Church of St. Sergius (Abu Serga), which was built at the center of the old Roman fortress of Babylon. The church is believed to be one of the sites visited by the Holy Family during their flight from Herod into Egypt. Finally, the Ben Ezra Synagogue in Cairo, located behind the Hanging Church, was once a church itself. The synagogue was a pilgrimage site for North African Jews and the site of major celebrations.

Return to the hotel: Ramses Hilton Hotel or similar.

Dinner included at a local restaurant.

Breakfast included at the hotel.

Transfer to the airport for the return flight.