12-Day Egypt Itinerary – Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor, Dahabiya & Abu Simbel

Upon arrival at Cairo International Airport you'll be met by your tour manager, assisted through arrival procedures, and transferred to your hotel in a private air-conditioned vehicle.

• Met on arrival and transferred to your hotel by your tour manager
• Smooth hotel check-in with itinerary review and pick-up times confirmed
• Rest of the day free to relax or enjoy your first impressions of Egypt's vibrant capital
• No planned activities — a comfortable start before your 12-day Egypt itinerary begins

Overnight: in Cairo.
Meals: No Meals

After breakfast, your private Egyptologist guide meets you for the first full day — beginning at the most iconic archaeological site on earth.

• Stand before the Great Pyramids of Giza — the last surviving wonder of the ancient world
• Admire the iconic Great Sphinx and visit the Valley Temple where ancient funerary rituals once took place
• Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before continuing south to Saqqara
• Discover the Step Pyramid of King Djoser — the oldest large-scale stone monument in history
• Explore one of Egypt's most significant archaeological sites before returning to Cairo

Overnight: in Cairo.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Visits: Great Pyramids of Giza, Sphinx, Valley Temple, Saqqara

A full day dedicated to one of the world's greatest collections of ancient civilisation.

• Visit the Grand Egyptian Museum — the largest archaeological museum in the world
• Explore thousands of priceless artefacts spanning thousands of years of Egyptian civilisation
• Admire the complete treasures of Tutankhamun — his legendary golden burial mask, royal throne, and funerary objects
• Discover remarkable collections covering every dynasty of ancient Egyptian history
• Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before returning to your hotel

Overnight: in Cairo.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Visits: Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM)

After breakfast, the tour heads north to Alexandria — Egypt's Pearl of the Mediterranean and one of the ancient world's most legendary cities.

• Travel to Alexandria and begin with the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa — one of the Seven Wonders of the Middle Ages and the largest Roman burial site in Egypt
• Continue to Pompey's Pillar — the largest Roman triumphal column outside Rome and Constantinople
• Visit Qaitbay Citadel — an impressive 15th-century fortress overlooking the Mediterranean Sea
• Explore the renowned Bibliotheca Alexandrina — a modern tribute to the ancient Library of Alexandria, once one of the greatest centres of knowledge in the ancient world
• Enjoy lunch before returning to Cairo in the afternoon

Overnight: in Cairo.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Visits: Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, Qaitbay Citadel, Pompey’s Pillar, Bibliotheca Alexandrina

After breakfast, the journey south to Upper Egypt begins — flying to Luxor for an afternoon of extraordinary temple architecture.

• Transfer to Cairo Airport for your domestic flight to Luxor
• Upon arrival, meet your guide and head directly to the East Bank
• Visit the vast Karnak Temple Complex — the largest religious structure ever built, featuring the awe-inspiring Great Hypostyle Hall with 134 towering columns
• Continue to Luxor Temple, beautifully situated on the banks of the Nile and connected to Karnak in ancient times by the Avenue of Sphinxes
• Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before transferring to your hotel

Overnight: in Luxor.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Visits: Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple

After breakfast, the legendary burial monuments of the West Bank await — followed by the beginning of your Dahabiya sailing adventure along the Nile.

• Visit the Valley of the Kings — the royal burial ground where generations of pharaohs were laid to rest in richly decorated underground tombs
• Continue to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari — dramatically built against towering limestone cliffs in the 15th century BCE
• Stop at the imposing Colossi of Memnon — two enormous stone statues standing watch over the Luxor plain for over three thousand years
• After lunch, transfer to your Dahabiya and embark for a unique traditional sailing experience
• Begin sailing toward Esna while enjoying the tranquil riverside scenery of Upper Egypt
• Dinner and first evening on board as your Nile journey begins

Dinner and overnight: on board.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Visits: Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut, Colossi of Memnon

A day of lesser-visited ancient sites and one of Egypt's finest temples — experienced at the unhurried pace of traditional Nile sailing.

• Enjoy breakfast on board as the Dahabiya sails peacefully along the Nile
• Visit the ancient city of El Kab — once the capital of Upper Egypt, home to remarkable rock-cut tombs and extensive ancient city walls
• One of the most rarely visited significant sites on the Upper Egyptian Nile — a genuinely distinctive experience beyond the standard Egypt itinerary
• Continue sailing to Edfu and visit the Temple of Horus — one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt
• Admire its towering pylons, beautifully carved reliefs, and atmospheric inner sanctuaries
• Return to the Dahabiya and continue sailing through the timeless Nile Valley

Overnight: on board.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Visits: El Kab, Temple of Horus at Edfu

One of the most distinctive stops on this 12-day Egypt itinerary — a site that reveals the ancient mechanics behind Egypt's greatest monuments.

• Sail to Gebel El Silsila — one of ancient Egypt's most important sandstone quarry sites, where stone for temples across the country was extracted for thousands of years
• Explore the ancient quarries and discover the rock-cut Temple of Horemoheb carved directly into the cliff face overlooking the Nile
• A site of profound historical significance that standard Egypt tours never visit
• Return to the Dahabiya and continue sailing toward Kom Ombo while enjoying the peaceful rhythm of life on the river

Overnight: on board.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Visits: Gebel El Silsila, Temple of Horemoheb

After breakfast, a final temple visit before the Dahabiya completes its journey to the beautiful city of Aswan.

• Visit the remarkable Temple of Kom Ombo — uniquely dedicated to both Sobek the crocodile god and Horus the Elder
• Explore its perfectly symmetrical double design with two identical entrances, hypostyle halls, and sanctuaries
• One of Egypt's most distinctive temple layouts, positioned dramatically at the river's edge with sweeping Nile views
• Return to the Dahabiya and spend the afternoon relaxing as the cruise sails towards Aswan
• Enjoy lunch and dinner on board with the Aswan landscape appearing on the horizon

Overnight: on board in Aswan.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Visits: Kom Ombo Temple

The most dramatic day of this 12-day Egypt itinerary — visiting Egypt's most remote and awe-inspiring ancient temples.

• After breakfast, disembark from your Dahabiya and travel by road to Abu Simbel
• Marvel at the colossal temples of Ramses II — dedicated to Ptah, Re-Her-Akhtey, Amun-Re, and Ramses II himself
• Visit the exquisitely preserved Temple of Queen Nefertari — one of ancient Egypt's most beautifully decorated royal monuments
• Learn about the extraordinary UNESCO relocation project that saved both temples from the rising waters of Lake Nasser
• Return to Aswan and check in to your hotel for the evening

Overnight: in Aswan.
Meals: Breakfast
Visits: Abu Simbel Temples

After breakfast, Aswan's own remarkable ancient monuments take centre stage before the journey back to Cairo.

• Visit the beautiful Philae Temple — dedicated to the goddess Isis and dramatically situated on Agilkia Island in the Nile
• A short motorboat ride delivers you to one of Egypt's most atmospherically positioned ancient sites
• Continue to the Aswan High Dam — one of Egypt's most significant modern engineering achievements, completed in 1971
• Transfer to Aswan Airport for your domestic flight back to Cairo
• Upon arrival, private transfer to your hotel for the final overnight

Overnight: in Cairo.
Meals: Breakfast
Visits: Philae Temple, High Dam

After a final Egyptian breakfast, your 12-day Egypt itinerary concludes with a transfer to Cairo International Airport.

• Enjoy breakfast and any remaining free time depending on your flight schedule
• Private transfer to Cairo International Airport for your departure
• Twelve days of ancient monuments, Mediterranean coastline, traditional Nile sailing, and extraordinary cultural encounters

Meals: Breakfast