Egypt adventure: 10-day Cairo and Nile River expedition

Our representative will greet and assist you upon your arrival at Cairo International Airport. You'll be transported to your accommodation in a private air-conditioned car. Relax this evening and settle into the luxurious Steigenberger Pyramids Cairo for your first night. Should your flight arrive ahead of schedule, we're happy to suggest additional activities.

Hotel checkout in Luxor, transfer to Cairo airport, and flight to Luxor. Upon arrival, proceed to board your 5-star cruise ship. Embark and enjoy lunch aboard. Afterward, explore the Eastern bank temples: Karnak - an awe-inspiring sanctuary complex of sanctuaries, kiosks, pylons, and obelisks honoring the Theban deities and pharaohs. Luxor Temple - constructed primarily by Amenhotep III and completed by Tutankhamen and Ramses II, featuring the famous Ramses II pylon adorned with his battle of Kadesh. Dine and rest onboard the MS Amwaj Living Stone.

Optional: hot air balloon ride over the Valley ($80/person). Breakfast aboard. Visit the west bank's sacred sites: Valley of the Kings - the legendary burial ground of pharaohs, where magnificent stone sarcophagi once held eternal rulers awaiting immortality, dominated by its characteristic pyramid-shaped peak. Colossi of Memnon - two immense seated statues rising 18 meters from the plain, remnants of Amenhotep III's vast temple complex. Temple of Hatshepsut - a terraced masterpiece merging seamlessly with the limestone cliffs, appearing as if nature itself constructed this extraordinary monument. Sail at 13:00 to Esna Lock with lunch during passage. Arrive at 18:00, continue to Edfu. Dinner and overnight aboard MS Amwaj Living Stone.

Breakfast aboard the cruise. At 07:00, visit Edfu Temple - an Upper Egyptian jewel dominated by a finely preserved sanctuary dedicated to the falcon-deity Horus. Constructed during the Ptolemaic period (beginning 246 BC), the temple walls contain the mythological narrative of Horus and Seth, likely performed annually as ceremonial drama. Set sail at 09:30 toward Kom Ombo. Lunch at 12:30 during navigation. At 15:30, arrive and explore Kom Ombo Temple - a dual temple 40km north of Aswan, dedicated to the deities Sobek and Horus, predominantly built during the Ptolemaic-Roman epoch (332 BC–395 AD). Resume sailing toward Aswan at 17:30 with dinner service. Arrive at 21:00. Overnight aboard MS Amwaj Living Stone.

Breakfast aboard. At 08:00, begin explorations of Aswan: Philae Temple - built in honor of the goddess Isis, this was the final temple constructed in classical Egyptian style, construction commenced circa 690 BC as one of the last bastions of Isis veneration. Aswan High Dam - the colossal rock-fill structure at the Egypt-Sudan frontier, fed by the Nile to form Lake Nasser, constructed 1960–1968 and inaugurated 1971. Unfinished Obelisk - in the northern quarries, this 42-meter monolith provides invaluable insight into quarrying techniques; if completed at 1,168 tonnes, it would have been the heaviest stone object Egyptians ever shaped. Felucca sailing around Elephantine Island. Lunch at 12:00 aboard. Optional: visit the Nubian village—a 2-hour immersion into authentic, vibrant, artisanal Nubian heritage at every turn. Dinner and overnight aboard MS Amwaj Living Stone.

Breakfast aboard the cruise. Optional excursion to Abu Simbel temples. Abu Simbel Temples - two colossal sanctuaries hewn into the mountainside along the west bank of the Nile between 1274–1244 BC. The Great Temple, dedicated to Ramses II, Ra-Harakhty, Amun-Ra, and Ptah, features four colossal statues. The smaller temple honors Queen Nefertari and the goddess Hathor. Both were meticulously dismantled stone by stone and relocated to higher ground—regarded as UNESCO's greatest conservation achievement. Fly from Aswan to Cairo; meet and transfer to Steigenberger Pyramids Cairo hotel for overnight stay.

Guided departure from your Cairo hotel by specialist Egyptologist. Enjoy a grand excursion to Giza's Pyramids (Khufu, Khafre, Menkaure). Marvel at the Great Sphinx and the Valley Temple complex. Lunch at a traditional Giza restaurant. Then visit the Egyptian Museum - displaying over 250,000 authentic antiquities spanning 5,000 years, including an exclusive Tutankhamen collection: treasures, precious metals, and ornaments interred for 3,500 years, unearthed in 1920 upon tomb excavation. Royal mummy hall access available (200 Egyptian pounds additional). The forthcoming Grand Museum will open soon. Overnight at Cairo hotel. Optional: sound and light show at Giza Pyramids (40$ per person).

Depart Cairo at 07:00 with your Egyptologist guide via private A/C vehicle toward Alexandria, situated 220km northwest. Arrive circa 10:00. Begin your Alexandria day tour exploring Kom el Shoqafa Catacombs - initiated during the 2nd century AD, serving as burial grounds for 200 years, reflecting a rich cultural fusion. Pompey's Pillar - a 25-meter-tall red granite column, likely erected to honor Emperor Diocletian, standing as Alexandria's tallest ancient monument (unrelated to Pompey despite its name; the general was possibly buried here after his Egyptian refuge following Caesar's defeat). Citadel of Sultan Qaitbay - constructed during the 15th century by the Mamluk sultan to defend against Crusaders, built upon ruins of the ancient Lighthouse erected by Ptolemy II in the 3rd century BC, damaged by 1303 earthquake. Lunch at a local Egyptian restaurant. Visit the Modern Library of Alexandria - reborn October 2002, reclaiming its ancient namesake's legacy as a center where arts, history, philosophy, and science converge, fostering open dialogue. Hotel check-in and overnight in Alexandria. Meals: breakfast at hotel, lunch during trip.

Hotel pickup at 08:00 with your Egyptologist for an 8-hour immersive orientation through Cairo's historic quarters. Visit Saladin Citadel - erected by Salah al-Din in 1183 AD atop the Moqattam Hills as fortification against Crusader incursions. Famous for its panoramic views and tranquil atmosphere, this historical complex now houses revered mosques and cultural museums, notably Muhammad Ali Mosque - designed by Turkish architect Yousif Boushnaq (brought from Istanbul expressly for this undertaking). The alabaster edifice contrasts strikingly against the sandstone surroundings. Lunch in a traditional Old Cairo restaurant. Continue to Old Cairo to encounter heritage landmarks: Hanging Church, Ben Ezra Synagogue, Church of Saint Barbara, and Church of Abu Serga - among the oldest Coptic sanctuaries in Cairo. Conclude at Khan el-Khalili Bazaar - the Middle East's most venerable marketplace, its labyrinthine alleyways since the 14th century central to Cairo's commerce and culture. Overnight at Steigenberger Pyramids Cairo.

You will be transferred to Cairo International Airport for your international departure flight. Should you wish to extend your stay in Cairo or arrange additional excursions, please contact our team in advance.