Cairo and Nile Cruise Christmas Getaway: 10-Day Holiday Experience

Our Marsa Alam representative will welcome and assist you at Cairo International Airport, arranging your transfer to the hotel via a private, air-conditioned car. Your evening is at leisure, allowing you to rest and prepare for the adventures ahead. Should your flight arrive early, we can arrange suggestions for optional Cairo activities to maximize your time. Settle in for a comfortable night at your accommodation.

A professional guide will collect you from your Cairo hotel to begin an unforgettable day of exploration. You'll witness the awe-inspiring Pyramids of Giza : Cheops , Chephren , and Mykerinus . Next, marvel at the iconic Great Sphinx and visit the Valley Temple . Enjoy lunch at an authentic local establishment. Conclude your day at the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square, home to over 250,000 priceless artifacts spanning 5000 years of history. The treasures of Tutankhamen—gold, jewelry, and artifacts recovered from his tomb in 1920—await your discovery. If you wish to access the mummy chamber, your guide can arrange this for an additional 200 Egyptian Pounds.

After being transported from the train station, you'll embark on your Nile cruise with lunch served on board. Throughout the afternoon, explore the magnificent Eastbank temples, beginning with the extraordinary Karnak temple complex. Karnak transcends a simple temple—it's a spectacular assemblage of sanctuaries, pavilions, towering pylons, and monumental obelisks, all devoted to the Theban deities and pharaonic magnificence. This sacred center was principal in worshipping the Theban Triad: Amun, Mut, and Khonso. Visit the magnificent Luxor Temple, predominantly constructed by Pharaoh Amenhotep III and completed by King Tutankhamon and the illustrious Ramses II. The entrance pylon, adorned with Ramses II's triumphant Battle of Kadesh reliefs, is a masterpiece. Enjoy dinner aboard, then retire to your cabin for a peaceful night on the Nile in Luxor .

An optional early morning hot-air balloon ride over the landscape is available. Breakfast service begins on the cruise deck. You'll explore the Westbank with its magnificent monuments: The Valley of the Kings—historically known as the Place of Truth, now revealing the majestic burial chambers of pharaohs who rested within colossal stone sarcophagi awaiting eternal life. Behind Deir el Bahri rises a pyramid-shaped peak dominating this isolated valley. View the Colossi of Memnon—two impressive statues soaring approximately 18 meters above the plain, remnants of ancient Egypt's grandest complex constructed by Amenhotep III. Discover the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, an architectural marvel rising from the desert in terraced beauty, its limestone facades merging seamlessly with the Theban Mountain cliffs as though nature herself designed this extraordinary monument. At 13:00, sail toward Esna Lock with lunch en route. Upon arrival at 18:00, continue sailing to Edfu for dinner. Retire to your cabin for an evening aboard the cruise in Edfu.

Begin your morning with breakfast on the cruise at 07:00, then visit the splendid Edfu Temple Edfu temple : A commanding Upper Egyptian site crowned by a magnificently preserved temple dedicated to Horus, the hawk-god. The Ptolemaic Temple of Horus, constructed on an ancient site, dates between the reigns of Ptolemy III (246 B.C.) and subsequent periods. Wall inscriptions narrate the mythological Contending of Horus and Seth, likely performed annually as sacred ceremonial drama. At 09:30, sail toward Kom Ombo. Lunch is served aboard during the sail. At 15:30, arrive at Kom Ombo and explore its remarkable temple Kom Ombo temple : Located 40 km north of Aswan, this temple was dedicated to Sobek and Horus, dating primarily to Ptolemaic and Roman periods (332 B.C.—395 A.D.). At 17:30, continue sailing toward Aswan with dinner service en route. At 21:00, arrive in Aswan and settle for an evening aboard the cruise.

Breakfast is served on the cruise at 08:00. Proceed to explore Aswan's magnificent attractions: Visit the exquisite Philae Temple and embark on a traditional felucca boat journey circling Elephantine Island. Marvel at the engineering feat of the High Dam. Observe the Unfinished Obelisk—Philae Temple Built to honor goddess Isis, this was the final classical Egyptian temple constructed. Construction commenced around 690 B.C., serving as one of the last sanctuaries where the goddess was revered. The Aswan High Dam stands at Egypt's northern border with Sudan, its rock-fill structure creating Lake Nasser as its reservoir. Construction began in 1960 and was completed in 1968, with official inauguration in 1971. The Unfinished Obelisk—Aswan supplied ancient Egypt's most prized granite for statues and temple embellishments. The massive unfinished obelisk in the Northern Quarries illuminates how these monuments were fashioned. Three of its sides, extending nearly 42 meters, were finished save for inscriptions. Had completion occurred, at 1168 tonnes, this would have been Egypt's heaviest stone creation. Lunch is served on board at 12:00. Dinner and overnight remain aboard the cruise.

Breakfast and lunch are served on board the cruise. An optional excursion to Abu Simbel from Aswan is available for an additional charge of 90 USD per person. Abu Simbel Temples—The twin temples of Ramses II and Queen Nefertari were hewn from the mountain's face on the Nile's west bank between 1274 and 1244 B.C. The Great Temple honored Ramses II, Ra-Harakhty, Amun Ra, and Ptah, featuring four colossal statues. The smaller temple was dedicated to Queen Nefertari and Goddess Hathor. Both temples were dismantled stone by stone and relocated to higher ground. UNESCO recognized this preservation as its greatest achievement. At 16:00, set sail on a traditional felucca around Elephantine Island and visit Lord Kitchener Island (optional tour). Then explore the Nubian Village for an additional 45 USD per person—a genuinely vibrant community where you can spend two hours experiencing the authentic soul of Nubian culture, with colorful artistic expressions at every turn. Afterward, board the sleeper train to Cairo for your overnight journey.

Your guide meets you at the train station for a spectacular 8-hour orientation tour of Cairo . Discover Old Cairo with its magnificent monuments and the labyrinthine Khan El Khalili Bazaar. You'll ascend to the Saladin Citadel, erected by Salah al-Din upon Moqattam Hills in 1183 A.D. as fortification against Crusader invasions. Celebrated for crystalline air and panoramic vistas across Cairo , it's now a conserved historical landmark housing mosques and museums, notably the Mosque of Muhammad Ali Pasha, designed by Turkish architect Yousif Boushnaq, specifically summoned from Istanbul for this magnificent edifice. The mosque's alabaster splendor contrasts strikingly with the sandstone cityscape. Enjoy lunch at an authentic Old Cairo restaurant. Then venture into Old Cairo to witness iconic landmarks: the Hanging Church, Ben Ezra Synagogue, Church of St. Barbara, and Church of Abu Serga—among Egypt's most ancient Coptic sanctuaries in Cairo . Complete your journey at Khan el-Khalili Bazaar, one of the Middle East's most storied markets—Overnight in Cairo.

Today is yours to enjoy at leisure. An optional excursion to Alexandria is available. Journey to Alexandria (220 km, 3-hour drive) and settle into your central Alexandria hotel overlooking the Corniche. Explore Graeco-Roman landmarks including: 1- The Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa : Excavated into rocky hillside on the Carmous district's southern slopes, these 2nd century A.D. chambers exemplify the distinctive Alexandrian synthesis of Egyptian and Greco-Roman artistic traditions. Their 1900 discovery (by a donkey's mishap) revealed masterpieces. 2- Pompey's Pillar : A towering 30-meter column dominates ruins of ancient Rhakotis, the settlement from which Alexandria emerged. This red Aswan granite monolith, crowned by a Corinthian capital, rises above the Temple of Serapeum's sparse vestiges. 3- The Roman Amphitheatre at Kom el Dikka : A former prestigious residential quarter featuring elegant villas and bathhouses. Designated as the Park of Pan, citizens found leisurely recreation here. Its 13 marble terraces host Egypt's sole Roman amphitheatre. 4- Lunch at an authentic Alexandria seafood establishment or traditional tikka restaurant with splendid views of the Citadel and fishing harbor. Overnight in Cairo.

Your memorable Egyptian adventure concludes following breakfast at our Cairo hotel. Complimentary transfers deliver you to the airport for your flight home. Should you wish to prolong your Cairo stay, kindly reach out to us with your preferences.