Essential Egypt With Abu Simbel

Welcome to Egypt! Once your flight lands in Cairo you will be transferred to your hotel and enjoy the remaining time at leisure.

Optional Activity in the Evening: Private guided tour to Khan El Khalili Bazaar. This ancient market has over 600 years of history and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Today you will learn about ancient Egypt through a private guided tour. Begin at the Giza Pyramids, where you will see the iconic pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure, along with the famous Great Sphinx.

Spend the rest of the day exploring the incredible Grand Egyptian Museum. It's home to over 100,000 artifacts. Highlights include the golden treasures of King Tutankhamun and Khufu's beautifully preserved Solar Boat.

Enjoy a full-day exploration of Egypt's early pyramid history. Head to Saqqara first to see the Step Pyramid of Djoser, the first Egyptian pyramid. Continue south to Dahshur, home to the unique Bent Pyramid and the Red Pyramid, Egypt's first successful smooth-sided pyramid.

Return to Cairo to visit the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization. Explore its rich collections, including the renowned royal mummies.

Take an early morning flight to Luxor and embark on your Nile cruise ship after arriving. Check into your cabin and have some rest. In the afternoon, get off the ship and take a private vehicle to the famous temple complexes, the Temple of Karnak and the Luxor Temple. Marvel at the great buildings and learn the legendary history behind each temple. At the end of the tour, return to your ship for dinner. Enjoy your first night on the ship.

This morning, your private guide will take you to visit the Valley of the Kings. Continue to the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, where the relics tell you the tale of the divine birth of a female pharaoh. Later, head to the mortuary temple of Amenhotep III to see the huge Colossi of Memnon. Go back to your ship for dinner. The ship will set sail to Edfu in the evening.

Today, the ship will continue sailing along the Nile River. You will enjoy a shore excursion to the Temple of Horus, also known as the Temple of Edfu, in the morning. It's the best-preserved cult temple in Egypt. The ship will dock on the bank near the Temple of Kom Ombo in the afternoon, where you will have another excursion to see the Temple of Sobek and the Temple of Haroeris. The ship will stop at the port of Aswan tonight.

After breakfast, you will start today's onshore tour. Your first stop is the High Dam. This modern engineering feat shows a contrast to the country's ancient wonders. Next, visit the enchanting Temple of Philae, dedicated to the goddess Isis. It sits on an island, and the view is different from the temples you see in the desert.

In the afternoon, experience the beauty of the Nile on a traditional felucca, drifting around Kitchener's Island. You will have some leisure time to explore the lush Botanical Gardens.

After breakfast, your private driver will spend 3 hours taking you to Abu Simbel for two impressive Temples of Abu Simbel. Known as the "Nubian Monuments", they were originally carved out of the mountainside and belong to the UNESCO World Heritage Site. When the tour finishes, return to Aswan to board your flight to Cairo. Upon arrival, check into your hotel and enjoy some leisure time.