Nile Jewel

Upon your arrival at Cairo airport you will be met and assisted by our representative, who will help you with purchasing your visa from an official kiosk, going through passport control and collecting your baggage. You will then be transferred to your hotel, where your Egyptologist tour guide, who will accompany you for the duration of the tour, will brief you about the tour package and the incredible experiences you will have over the following eight days. Overnight at your hotel in Cairo.

This morning you will experience the icons of ancient Egypt! Your Egyptologist guide will accompany you to the Giza pyramid complex, where you can see the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Pyramid of Khafre, the Pyramid of Menkaure, and the Great Sphinx. We'll then visit Sakkara to see the unique step pyramid of Zoser (also known as Djoser), the first ever pyramid, constructed of six tombs built on top of each other.

Early this morning you will be transferred to the airport for a short internal flight down to Aswan. Upon arrival you will be transferred to our 5-star Nile cruise ship. After some time to freshen up we'll begin our Nile quest by visiting the High Dam of Aswan, where your guide will explain to you how the construction of the dam and subsequent creation of Lake Nasser required the relocation of the Nubian people and several important historical monuments, including Abu Simbel, which you have the opportunity to visit tomorrow. We'll then take a short boat ride to Agilkia Island to explore the Temple of Isis at Philae. Built during the Ptolemaic Kingdom (305 BC to 30 BC), the temple is dedicated to Isis, one of the oldest goddesses of ancient Egypt and worshipped as the paragon of motherly virtues. It is believed that the last Egyptian hieroglyph was written on the island of Philae in the late fourth century.

This morning you will have the opportunity to join our optional excursion to the temples of Abu Simbel, two massive temples in southern Egypt. Part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the "Nubian Monuments", these iconic temples were carved out of the mountainside in the 13th century BC, during the reign of Pharaoh Ramesses II.

The tour then continues with a visit to the Temple of Kom-Ombo, a unique 'double' temple dedicated to both the crocodile god Sobek, and the falcon god Haroeris (Horus). After some time to explore the temple, we'll head to Edfu. Also dedicated to Horus, this temple is more than 2,000 years old but was covered by sand until it was re-discovered by a French expedition in 1798. Because it was hidden for so long it is the most well preserved temple in Egypt. We'll then continue on to Luxor, where we'll spend the night onboard the 5-star cruise ship.

After breakfast we will arrive in Luxor and tour the East Bank of Luxor. Experience the incredible Karnak temple complex, part of the ancient city of Thebes. Dedicated to the powerful ram-headed god Amun, it offers a vast mix of temples, chapels, statues and obelisks. We'll then explore Luxor temple, an place of worship that is dedicated to three gods: Amun, his wife Mut and his son Khons. Together these temples and gods are key players in the great Opet Festival which was held each year during the flood season.

This morning we'll start our tour of the west bank with a visit to the World famous Valley of the Kings, where you can enter some of the incredible tombs of the New Kingdom Pharaohs, such as King Tutankhamen. We'll then get to experience the Temple of Hatshepsut (Deir El Bahary), the mortuary temple of the only Pharaoh Queen that ruled Egypt. The day will finish off with a visit to the great Colossi of Memnon, the last remains of Amenophis III’s temple. We'll then take our air-conditioned private bus to Hurghada on the Red Sea coast, where we'll be staying in an all-inclusive resort.

This is a free day for you to enjoy however you wish. The resort in Hurghada offers a large swimming pool complex, long sandy beaches and all-inclusive food and drink; total relaxation awaits! Alternatively, you can choose to take part in any number of water sport activities, including full-day snorkelling and scuba diving excursions. The seas around Hurghada offer some of the best coral reef dive spots in the world, giving the opportunity to see many colorful fish species, including the Red Sea Clownfish, Emperor Angelfish, Picasso Trigger Fish and Moray Eels. Overnight at the resort in Hurghada.

This morning we'll take an air-conditioned private mini bus back to Cairo. After some time to freshen up at our hotel, we'll visit the Egyptian museum to learn more about the country's incredible ancient history, followed by the old city of Cairo where you can explore Khan El Khalili, a bazaar crammed with souvenir shops, cafés and shisha bars.

The tour ends after breakfast at our hotel in Cairo, with transfers included to take you to the airport for your flight home. If you wish to extend your stay in Cairo, please contact us.