Egypt Vacation: The Best 12-Day Egypt Itinerary

Your tour manager will meet and assist you at Cairo International Airport then escort you to your hotel by exclusive air-conditioned deluxe vehicle. At the hotel, your tour manager will assist with a smooth check-in and review your holiday itinerary with you to establish and confirm pick-up times for each tour. This would be a good time to do an optional excursion to the Sound and Light Show on Giza Plateau, by the magnificent pyramids.

Overnight in Cairo.

Welcome Drink.

Visits: Optional excursion to the Sound and Light Show at the Giza Plateau.

After enjoying a delicious wholesome breakfast at your hotel, your personal guide will take you to the Giza Plateau to start your journey by marveling at one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Great Pyramids of Giza. Visit the iconic Sphinx and Valley Temple. After your pyramid visit, you’ll go for lunch at an authentic Egyptian restaurant and then head over to the New Grand Egyptian Museum—Egypt’s newest cultural landmark, located just two kilometers from the pyramids, showcasing over 100,000 artifacts spanning 5,000 years, and featuring the complete Tutankhamun collection displayed together for the very first time. Return back to your hotel.

Overnight in Cairo.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

Visits: Great Pyramids of Giza, Sphinx, Valley Temple, Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM).

After early breakfast, your tour guide will transfer you to Cairo Airport for your flight to Luxor. On arrival, you will be met by your representative to check in to your Nile Cruise in Luxor. After this, you will head off with your tour guide to explore Karnak Temple, which is the world's largest ancient religious site. The hypostyle hall with its colossal granite columns is one of Egypt’s infamous landmarks. There will be free time to explore the different parts of the huge complex built during the reigns of various Pharaohs, then moving to Luxor Temple which was built by Amenhotep III and Ramses II for ritual and festivals that was dedicated to the God Amon and you may wish to return in the evening for the highly recommended optional tour, the Sound and Light show which tells the glorious Pharaonic historical story of Luxor and Karnak. Return to your Nile cruise.

Overnight aboard your Nile cruise in Luxor.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Visits: Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, Optional night visit to the Karnak and Luxor Temples Sound and Light Show.

Breakfast is served on board in Luxor before being escorted by your guide to cross to the West Bank of the Nile to the sites of Ancient Thebes, overall one of the most important archaeological sites in the world. Visit the two colossal statues of Amenhotep III (Colossi of Memnon), and the visit the impressive colonnaded and terraced Temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahri, which was built into a high cliff face and has graphics telling the story of Hatshepsut’s expeditions to the mysterious land of Punt. Then you go to the Valley of the Kings to see a selection of the beautifully decorated rock-cut tombs, many of which still display vibrant colour and breathtaking detail of deities and scenes from the Book of the Underworld with a visit to 3 tombs. (The three tombs visited are determined by the Egyptian Government as to preserve them from the large flow of visitors, therefore are rotated throughout the year and cannot be confirmed as to which tombs prior to your visit). The most visited tombs have walkways and electric lighting, and the internal walls are protected by glass. Sailing to Edfu via Esna Lock and enjoying dinner on board.

Please Note: There is an additional Charge to enter the Tombs of King Tutankhamun and Ramses VI.

Overnight aboard your Nile cruise in Edfu.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Visits: Colossi of Memnon, Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, Valley of the Kings.

After enjoying breakfast onboard your Nile cruise in Aswan you sail to see Kom Ombo Temple. Of all the ancient temples in Egypt, this is the only one which is divided into two, to reflect that it is dedicated to two Gods: Sobek, the Crocodile God of fertility; and the falcon-headed Horus, God of the sky. Kom Ombo is also famous for the depictions of surgeon's instruments, giving us an early record of medicine and surgery in Ancient Egypt.

In the afternoon, you will sail down the Nile to visit the huge Ptolemaic Temple of Horus at Edfu, which is the most complete and best-preserved of the Egyptian Temples, consisting of many columns, halls, chambers and chapels. Two statues of Horus flank the twin towered entrance gate; and inside, one of the interesting inscriptions lists the titles of books (scrolls) held in the library .Back to your Nile cruise for dinner, afternoon tea is served on the sundeck with dinner sailing to Aswan.

Overnight aboard your Nile cruise in Aswan.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Visits: Kom Ombo Temple, Temple of Horus at Edfu.

After enjoying breakfast onboard your cruise ship in Aswan, you will be met by your guide to visit the ‘Unfinished Obelisk’ which still lies in the granite quarries which provided ancient Egypt with building materials. It would have been the largest piece of stone ever handled but when a crack was discovered it was abandoned where it was being hewn. Cross by boat to Angilika Island, to see Philae Temple which is one of the Nubian Temples rescued. Return to your Nile cruise ship for lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and leisurely free time in Aswan.

Overnight aboard your Nile cruise in Aswan.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Visits: Unfinished Obelisk, Philae Temple, Aswan City.

After breakfast, you will disembark and transfer to the Lake Cruise. Upon arrival, you'll check in and settle in for the journey. Enjoy a delightful lunch on board, followed by a relaxing tea time. In the evening, a delicious dinner will be served as you continue to take in the scenic surroundings.

Overnight aboard your cruise in Aswan.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

You'll begin the day with a visit to the Kalabsha Temples, exploring their ancient wonders. Afterward, you'll sail to Wadi El Seboua, continuing your journey along the beautiful waters. Enjoy a leisurely lunch on board, followed by a relaxing tea time. In the evening, join a cocktail party to unwind and socialize before savoring a delicious dinner on board.

Overnight aboard your cruise in Wadi El Seboua.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Visits: Kalabsha Temples.

You will begin with a visit to the Wadi Seboua Temples, immersing yourself in their fascinating history. Afterward, you'll sail to Amada, where you'll visit the Amada Temple, along with the nearby Derr Temple and the Tomb of Pennut. In the evening, enjoy a lively Nubian show, offering a vibrant cultural experience to end the day.

Overnight aboard your cruise in Amada.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Visits: Wadi Seboua Temples, Amada.

You'll sail to Kasr Ibrim, where you'll have a brief stop to take photos from the sundeck, with a 15-minute overview of this historic site. Next, you'll enjoy a panoramic view of the Abu Simbel Temples, also from the sundeck, with another 15-minute photo opportunity. Afterward, you'll visit the Abu Simbel Temples up close, exploring their grandeur. For those interested, there's also an optional visit to the Sound and Light Show, offering a unique and immersive experience of the temples' history.

Overnight aboard your cruise in Abu Simbel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Visits: Kasr Ibrim, Abu Simbel Temples.

You'll disembark from your Lake Cruise and transfer to Aswan Airport, with the journey taking approximately 3.5 hours. From there, you'll catch a flight back to Cairo, where you'll spend the night.

Overnight in Cairo.

Meals: Breakfast.

After breakfast at your hotel in Cairo, you will be transferred to Cairo International Airport for your flight home.

Meals: Breakfast.