Royal Egypt - 10 Days Cairo, Luxor & Aswan with 4-Night Nile Cruise

After a leisurely breakfast at your luxury Cairo hotel, meet your private Egyptologist guide and begin exploring Egypt’s most iconic treasures.

Pyramids of Giza 

Your journey into ancient Egypt starts at the Giza Plateau, home to the legendary Pyramids of Giza, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Admire the Pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure while your Egyptologist brings the mysteries of ancient Egypt to life. Pause for a camel ride at the Giza Pyramids - enter the Great Pyramid of Khufu as optional activities available with additional fees.

💡 Insider Reveal: The Giza Plateau is home to nine principal pyramids, not just the three famous pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure. There are three smaller royal pyramids of Queen Hetepheres I, Queen Meritetes I, and Queen Henutsen, built for members of the royal family.

Great Sphinx & Valley Temple

Continue to the Great Sphinx of Giza (shesep-ankh), the monumental limestone guardian with the body of a lion and the head of a human located on the Giza Necropolis in Egypt. It was built 4,500 years ago during the Old Kingdom, under Pharaoh Khafre.

Head to the nearby Valley Temple of Khafre, an exceptionally well-preserved 4th-Dynasty ancient Egyptian mortuary structure located on the Giza Plateau next to the Great Sphinx.

It was used for the purification and mummification rituals of the king before his final burial. 

Lunch

Indulge in a refined lunch at 9 Pyramids Lounge, an elegant dining destination overlooking the legendary Giza Pyramids. Savor delicious cuisine while enjoying sweeping views of the ancient monuments, a memorable blend of exceptional dining and Egypt’s timeless heritage.

Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM)

In the afternoon, continue to the world-renowned Grand Egyptian Museum, the largest archaeological museum for a single civilization. Explore over 100,000 artifacts spanning 7,000 years of Egyptian history, including the complete collection (more than 5,000 treasures) of King Tutankhamun, including the Golden Burial Mask, the colossal statue of Ramesses II, monumental royal sculptures, ancient jewelry, and funerary objects.

After breakfast, begin your final Cairo sightseeing with a journey through Old Cairo.

National Museum of Egyptian Civilization:

Continue to Fustat, the historic heart of Old Cairo, and visit the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC) with your private Egyptologist. Discover the story of Egyptian civilization from prehistoric times through the Pharaonic, Greco-Roman, Coptic, Islamic, and modern eras.

💡Insider Reveal: The museum’s highlight is the Royal Mummies Hall, home to 20 royal mummies (18 kings and 2 queens) from the 17th through the 20th dynasties, including celebrated rulers such as Queen Hatshepsut, Ramesses II, Thutmose III, and Seti I. 

Coptic Cairo

Continue to Coptic Cairo, one of the city’s oldest and most atmospheric historic districts. Walk through its ancient lanes and discover remarkable landmarks, including the Hanging Church and the Church of St. Sergius and Bacchus (Abu Serga), traditionally associated with the Holy Family’s journey through Egypt.

Following breakfast, your Egypt Day Trips representative will meet you at your hotel and transfer you by private vehicle to Cairo Airport for your flight to Luxor.

Upon arrival in Luxor, meet your private Egyptologist guide and head directly to Karnak Temple, one of the largest and most impressive ancient temple complexes in Egypt, before checking in to your 5-star hotel. 

Karnak Temple

Head to the East Bank of Luxor. Your first encounter with ancient Thebes begins at the magnificent Karnak Temple, one of Egypt’s most impressive temple complexes in ancient Egypt.

Step beneath the towering columns of the Great Hypostyle Hall at Karnak Temple and discover the grandeur of ancient Thebes. Admire the detailed hieroglyphics and vast halls dedicated to Amun-Ra and other ancient Egyptian deities as your Egyptologist brings the temple’s history to life. 

Check into your luxury hotel and get some rest before continuing your adventures.

Luxor Temple

Discover Luxor Temple, a striking monument at the heart of ancient Thebes. Walk through the Great Hypostyle Hall to reveal the grandeur of ancient Thebes, see towering columns and ancient hieroglyphics, and discover the temples dedicated to Amun-Ra, 

Continue to an extraordinary riverside monument dedicated to the rejuvenation of kingship (pharaonic coronation) and connected with the ancient Opet Festival.

As the light softens over Luxor, return to your luxury hotel and enjoy a peaceful evening.

Check out of your hotel after having breakfast, and head with your tour guide to explore the West Bank of Luxor.

Valley of the Kings

Head to the Valley of the Kings, the legendary royal necropolis where New Kingdom pharaohs were buried in richly decorated rock-cut tombs, including Tutankhamun, Ramses II, and Seti I, as your private Egyptologist tour guide reveals the fascinating hieroglyphs, rituals, and beliefs surrounding the ancient Egyptian journey to the afterlife.

💡Optional: Additional entrance tickets are required to visit the Valley of the Kings’ premium tombs, including Tutankhamun (KV62), Ramesses VI (KV9), and Seti I (KV17).

Hatshepsut Temple

Continue to the magnificent mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, also known as Djeser-Djeseru ("Holy of Holies"), a stunning ancient Egyptian monument built into the towering limestone cliffs at Deir el-Bahari, an extraordinary terraced monument built for one of Egypt’s most powerful female pharaohs and set dramatically against the cliffs.

Colossi of Memnon

End your Luxor West Bank journey at the Colossi of Memnon, two 60-foot-tall quartzite statues of Amenhotep III, erected around 1350 BCE. They once stood before his vast mortuary temple, one of the largest complexes in the Theban Necropolis, much of which was later lost to earthquakes and Nile flooding.  

Board your 5-star luxury Nile cruise and enjoy a delicious lunch.

Continue your unforgettable Nile journey aboard your 5-star luxury cruise, sailing south from Luxor toward Edfu. Along the way, enjoy the fascinating passage through the Esna Lock, an important part of the Nile’s historic navigation system.

Relax on board and take in the ever-changing scenery along the riverbanks as your cruise gently makes its way toward Edfu. Enjoy the ship’s premium facilities, fine dining, and evening entertainment that creating the perfect atmosphere for a memorable night on the Nile.

With the morning light reflecting on the Nile, your Aswan adventure begins with a fascinating journey through Upper Egypt’s ancient temples.

Edfu Temple

Explore the Temple of Edfu, dedicated to Horus, the falcon-headed god of ancient Egypt, celebrated for its towering pylon, grand courtyards, intricate reliefs, and exceptional state of preservation.  

💡Did You Know? Edfu Temple was built between 237 BC and 57 BC during the Ptolemaic period. 

Back on board, enjoy afternoon tea and relax into peaceful sailing toward Kom Ombo.

Kom Ombo Temple

As you sail toward Kom Ombo Temple, uniquely dedicated to two gods, Sobek, the crocodile god, and Horus the Elder, located on the east bank of the Nile River in Upper Egypt, about 40 kilometers north of Aswan. 

Then, return to your Nile cruise and continue sailing toward Aswan.

Wake up in Aswan and enjoy breakfast aboard your luxury Nile cruise before setting out on an unforgettable journey to one of Egypt’s most extraordinary archaeological treasures.

Abu Simbel Temples

Take a short flight from Aswan to Abu Simbel Temples, where two magnificent temples rise dramatically from the desert landscape. Begin with the Great Temple of Ramses II, dedicated to the principal deities Amun-Ra, Ra-Horakhty, and Ptah. Marvel at its four colossal statues of Ramses II before entering the temple to discover richly decorated halls, sacred chambers, and beautifully preserved reliefs.

💡Did You Know? Twice a year, on February 22 and October 22, the rising sun penetrates deep into the Great Temple’s sanctuary, illuminating the statues of Ramses II, Amun-Ra, and Ra-Horakhty while Ptah remains in shadow.

Continue to the nearby Temple of Queen Nefertari, dedicated to the goddess Hathor. Admire its elegant façade, impressive statues, and finely carved reliefs celebrating the queen alongside the goddess.

After this extraordinary UNESCO World Heritage Site exploration, fly back to Aswan and enjoy the remainder of the day at your own pace. Relax aboard your luxury Nile cruise before heading out in the late afternoon for a Nubian village experience to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of Aswan.

Enjoy breakfast aboard your luxury Nile cruise before checking out and disembarking in Aswan. Meet your private Egyptologist guide and set out for one final Aswan highlight.

Philae Temple

Take a scenic motorboat ride across the Nile to Agilkia Island, home to the magnificent Philae Temple Complex. Dedicated to Isis, the ancient Egyptian goddess of motherhood and magic, the temple features elegant columns, beautifully preserved reliefs, and sacred sanctuaries reflecting the artistry of the Greco-Roman period.

💡 Insider Reveal: Philae Temple was carefully relocated stone by stone from Philae Island to Agilkia Island in the 1970s to protect it from the rising waters of Lake Nasser created by the Aswan High Dam, one of UNESCO’s most remarkable monument-rescue projects.

Following your visit, transfer to Aswan Airport for your flight back to Cairo.

Enjoy breakfast in your final morning in Cairo at your leisure before your private transfer to Cairo International Airport for your departure flight. As your luxury Cairo, Luxor & Aswan tour comes to an end, take with you unforgettable memories of Egypt’s ancient wonders, timeless landscapes, and exceptional experiences.