Cairo And Nile Cruise Tour 11 Days

After breakfast, we drive to the Giza Plateau for a guided visit to Giza's Monumental Pyramids. You see the pyramids in their natural order across the plateau, with time to walk between the main viewpoints and hear how the royal complexes were planned. Entry inside a pyramid is optional and subject to the ticket arrangement for the day.

The route continues to The Enigmatic Sphinx, carved from the bedrock and positioned beside the ancient temple complex. Your guide explains the symbolism of the human head and lion's body while you take in the scale of the monument from the visitor area. Wear comfortable shoes, as the ground is uneven in places and there is limited shade.

After the visit, we return to Cairo for lunch and a quieter afternoon. The drive through the city gives you a useful sense of its size before your second full sightseeing day.

Today begins with the Egyptian Antiquities Museum, where our guide leads you through selected galleries rather than trying to cover every room at once. The collection includes royal statues, funerary objects, jewellery and everyday items from several periods of Egyptian history. Your guide places the objects in context so the displays connect with the monuments you will see later in the tour.

Allow time for security checks and for moving between the museum's larger galleries. The pace is steady, with pauses for questions and photographs where permitted. Museum conditions can vary by gallery, so a light layer and comfortable footwear are useful.

Afterward, you have free time for lunch and an optional walk or café stop in central Cairo before returning to the hotel. In the evening, we review the next day's early transfer to Aswan and make sure you have what you need for the Nile cruise embarkation.

We leave Cairo for Aswan by domestic flight, then continue to Abu Simbel's Monumental Temples. The approach reveals the four seated figures of Ramses II cut into the rock, followed by the temple halls and chambers decorated with royal and religious scenes. A guide explains the temples' relocation during the construction of the High Dam, a detail that adds practical context to this remote visit.

After returning to Aswan, we visit Aswan's High Dam, which changed the management of the Nile and created Lake Nasser. We then board the cruise vessel, complete check-in and settle into your cabin. Cruise schedules can change slightly according to navigation and local conditions, so the crew confirms the sailing plan on board.

In the late afternoon, we take a gentle Felucca Sailing Experience around the islands when conditions and timing allow. The traditional sailboat moves at an easy pace, with open views and time to watch life along the river.

After breakfast on board, we visit Philae's Island Sanctuary by boat. The temple complex was moved to higher ground to protect it from rising water, and your guide points out the reliefs, columns and gateways dedicated mainly to Isis. The short boat crossing adds to the sense of arriving at a site separated from the modern city.

Back on the vessel, the cruise continues north along the Nile. Watch the riverbanks change from cultivated fields to desert edges as the crew handles the locks and sailing schedule. There is time to rest on deck, read or join an onboard briefing before the next excursion.

Later, we visit The Dual-Deity Temple at Kom Ombo, an unusual double temple dedicated to Sobek and Horus the Elder. The surviving reliefs show medical instruments, ritual scenes and the careful symmetry of the plan. We return to the ship for dinner and continue toward Edfu, where the vessel usually moors overnight.

We travel from the river landing to Edfu's Ptolemaic Temple, often by local transfer arranged for the cruise group. The large entrance pylon, enclosed courts and well-preserved reliefs make the site easy to read on foot. Your guide explains the temple's connection with Horus and the ancient story represented on its walls before you return to the vessel.

As the cruise continues toward Luxor, use the quieter hours to enjoy the Nile from the deck. Lunch and the afternoon sailing are normally taken on board, although the exact sequence depends on navigation and docking arrangements.

In Luxor, we visit Luxor's Grand Temple after arrival. The avenue, courtyards and columns look different as the light changes, and the guide shows how later rulers added to the complex. Return to the vessel for the evening, with time to prepare for the West Bank visit the following morning.

After breakfast and cruise check-out, we cross to Luxor's West Bank for the Valley Sanctuary of Kings, better known as the Valley of the Kings. The site contains royal tombs cut into the Theban hills, and the guide helps you understand their painted corridors, burial chambers and changing decoration. Tomb access varies by the ticket issued for the day, so the route is confirmed locally.

We then visit The Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, built in terraces beneath the cliffs. Its broad ramps and columned courts create a clear contrast with the underground tombs. The final stop is The Twin Colossi of Memnon, two large seated statues beside the ancient temple area. Each visit includes time for photographs, although the West Bank can be hot and exposed.

After lunch, we begin the road transfer to Hurghada on the Red Sea coast. The drive takes several hours with a planned rest stop, and we check you into the resort on arrival.

Today begins four nights of Red Sea Discovery & Recreation in Hurghada. After breakfast, you have time to enjoy the resort facilities, walk along the shore or rest after the overland transfer from Luxor. The day is intentionally lighter so you can settle into the coastal pace.

Depending on the selected activity and sea conditions, the afternoon may include a boat outing, guided snorkelling or time at a designated beach area. You receive a safety briefing before entering the water, and you can choose to remain on board or relax on shore instead. Equipment arrangements and the exact departure point are confirmed locally.

Later, return to the resort for dinner and an easy evening. Keep valuables secure, use sun protection and drink water regularly; the coast can feel warmer and more exposed than the Nile Valley.

Enjoy a free morning in Hurghada with no early monument visit scheduled. You can swim in the resort area, read beside the pool or ask our team about a suitable optional activity. Travellers who prefer a quieter day can stay close to the hotel and use the time to recharge.

After lunch, there may be an opportunity for another coastal experience, such as a short boat trip or supervised time in the water, subject to the day's operating conditions. The guide or activity crew explains the route, meeting point and return arrangements before departure. Non-swimmers can usually remain with the group in a comfortable viewing area, but tell us about your needs in advance.

We return to the resort with the evening free. This flexible day gives you space to enjoy the Red Sea without adding a demanding road journey or a fixed sightseeing circuit.

Your last full day on the coast is reserved for relaxed Red Sea time. After breakfast, choose between a quiet morning at the resort and a water-based outing arranged through our team. Snorkelling areas are reached by boat or from an approved shoreline location, and the crew explains where to enter the water and how long the activity lasts.

Take a break during the warmer part of the day, then use the afternoon for a final swim, a walk along the beach or a visit to nearby shops with your guide's directions. Sea visibility and activity schedules depend on local conditions, so we keep the plan practical rather than promising a fixed marine encounter.

In the evening, pack for the next day's departure and settle any incidental hotel arrangements. Our representative confirms the transfer details, including the collection window and the airport or onward destination.

After breakfast, you check out of the resort and meet our representative for your departure transfer. We allow practical time for loading luggage and reaching the airport, since road conditions and airport procedures can affect the journey. Keep your passport, tickets and essential medication in your hand luggage.

If your departure is later in the day and the hotel permits it, you may have some free time before leaving the resort. Any late check-out or extra hotel service is arranged separately and depends on availability. Our team remains available to help with luggage and directions during the handover.

The tour ends with your transfer from Hurghada. Travellers continuing elsewhere in Egypt can ask us about onward arrangements, while those flying home should arrive with enough time for check-in, security and immigration procedures.