Egypt 17-Day Tour Package with Nile Cruise

Begin with Kom el Shoqafa's Underground Passages, a Roman-era catacomb cut into the rock beneath Alexandria. Your guide explains the unusual blend of Egyptian, Greek and Roman decoration as you move through the circular stairway, burial chambers and central rotunda. The passages are cool and dim, so sturdy shoes are useful.

Continue to Alexandria's Historic Library's Heritage, then visit the Pillar of Pompey Monument, a single red-granite column that once formed part of the Serapeum complex. After lunch, travel to Sultan Qeitaby's Fortress Complex beside the eastern harbour. The fortress occupies the site traditionally associated with the ancient Pharos lighthouse. Finish at The Al Montazah Royal Estate, walking through its landscaped grounds and viewing the palace area from outside where access is restricted. Return to your hotel after a full sightseeing day.

Leave Alexandria after breakfast for El Alamein's Burial Sites. The memorial grounds and military cemeteries are quiet, carefully maintained places that explain the North African campaigns of the Second World War. Your guide gives context before you continue west along the coastal road and inland towards Siwa.

This is a long transfer day, with breaks arranged for refreshments and rest. The landscape changes gradually from the Mediterranean coast to open desert, and mobile coverage can be limited in remote stretches. On arrival in Siwa, check in and take an easy evening walk if time allows. Keep water, sun protection and a light layer close at hand; temperatures can change noticeably after sunset in the desert.

Spend the morning exploring The Siwa Desert Oasis, known for its palms, springs, salt lakes and traditional mud-brick architecture. Walk through the old settlement area with your guide and see how freshwater sources support gardens in an otherwise arid environment. The pace is unhurried, with time for photographs and a drink at a local café.

Later, travel by suitable desert vehicle beyond the cultivated oasis. Depending on local conditions, the route may include a salt lake, a spring and open dunes before sunset. Follow your guide’s instructions around water and uneven ground, particularly near salt formations. Return to Siwa for the night and prepare for the next day’s long transfer to Cairo. A small day bag makes the vehicle journey more comfortable than opening your main luggage during stops.

After breakfast, begin the return journey from Siwa to Cairo. The road takes much of the day, so our team plans regular comfort stops where the route allows. This transfer gives you a different view of the desert edge, with cultivated land appearing gradually as you approach the Nile Valley and the capital.

Arrive in Cairo later in the day and check in. The evening is kept free for rest rather than another major visit. Your guide can help confirm the following morning’s arrangements, including the order of the Giza visit and any mobility considerations. Roads in Cairo can be busy, so journey times vary; keeping essential medication, documents and valuables in your hand luggage is sensible.

Head to Giza's Pyramid Ensemble in the morning, when the broad plateau is more comfortable for walking. See the pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure in their desert setting, with your Egyptologist explaining how the complexes were planned, built and used as royal funerary monuments. There is time to view the structures from several points and enter an interior chamber when access is available.

Continue to The Great Sphinx Monument, carved with a lion’s body and a royal human head. Your guide explains the nearby temple remains and the long history of restoration at the site. Wear closed, comfortable shoes and carry water; paths are exposed and surfaces can be sandy. Return to Cairo after lunch, with the afternoon available for rest or an optional local meal.

Explore the Historic Cairo Quarter on foot with your guide. The route passes through lanes lined with medieval mosques, carved stone façades, old houses and small workshops. The exact walking sequence depends on access and traffic, but the visit normally includes time around the historic market streets and a chance to pause for tea or coffee.

Your guide explains how Cairo’s religious and commercial districts developed over centuries, while also pointing out details that are easy to miss from a vehicle: wooden mashrabiya screens, courtyard entrances and inscriptions above doorways. Some lanes are uneven and crowded, so supportive footwear is recommended. After the walking tour, return to the hotel and prepare a smaller overnight bag for the desert section, keeping your main luggage organised for the onward journey.

Leave Cairo early for the Fayoum area and continue by 4x4 to The Wadi el Hitan Fossil Site. The open valley contains fossil remains of ancient whales that lived when this part of Egypt was covered by a shallow sea. Walk with your guide between the displays and fossil beds, following marked routes and staying clear of fragile ground.

Continue towards Bahariya and the White Desert Landscape, where wind-shaped chalk formations rise from the pale desert floor. The final approach is by suitable desert vehicle, and the ground can be rough. Settle into the desert camp or arranged accommodation, enjoy the changing light near sunset and have dinner under the open sky when conditions permit. Bring a warm layer for the evening, since desert temperatures can fall after dark.

Wake early in Bahariya for a final look at the desert before breakfast. The morning light reveals the chalk formations from a different angle, and your guide can explain how wind and sand have shaped the surrounding terrain. After packing, begin the road transfer back towards Cairo.

The journey takes several hours and includes a rest stop. Once back in the capital, check in and use the remaining time to relax, do laundry or organise your luggage for the southern Egypt section. Our team confirms the next day’s flight or road arrangements to Luxor, depending on the booked itinerary and operating conditions. Keep only what you need for the overnight transfer accessible, while valuables and travel documents stay with you.

Travel from Cairo to Luxor in the morning, then drive north to Dendera's ancient ruins temple. The Temple of Hathor is known for its well-preserved columns, astronomical ceiling and reliefs that retain much of their colour. Move through the hypostyle hall, sanctuary areas and surrounding remains as your guide explains the temple’s religious role and later additions.

Return to Luxor for check-in and a quieter afternoon. This is a useful chance to rest before the next day’s visit to Abydos and the transfer to Aswan. Keep a small bag ready for the cruise, with sun protection, comfortable walking shoes and any medication you need during the day. The Nile Valley road is scenic but travel times can change with traffic and security procedures.

Set out early for Abydos' Sacred Temples, one of ancient Egypt’s major religious centres. The Temple of Seti I contains detailed reliefs, long lists of kings and chapels dedicated to important deities. Your guide helps you read the site in sequence, beginning with the outer courtyards before moving into the decorated halls.

After the visit, continue south by road to Aswan. It is a substantial transfer, with breaks arranged along the way, so the day combines sightseeing and travel rather than a relaxed temple schedule. On arrival, board the vessel for the start of your Four-Night Nile River Voyage. Settle into your cabin, attend the cruise briefing and enjoy the first evening beside the river. Cabin arrangements and sailing times depend on the vessel’s operating schedule.

Begin early with the road journey to I Templi di Abu Simbel, the rock-cut temples created for Ramesses II and Nefertari. The monumental façades face the former lake shore, while the interior halls contain large reliefs and royal scenes. The return journey to Aswan takes several hours, so carry water, a hat and anything needed for the drive.

After a break, visit The Philae Temple Sanctuary, reached by boat across the reservoir. The temple complex was relocated to higher ground during the construction of the Aswan High Dam. Walk through its pylons, courtyards and colonnades with your guide before returning to the vessel. The ship remains in Aswan overnight, giving you time to rest after the early start.

As the vessel sails north, spend time on deck watching villages, cultivated fields and desert slopes pass along the banks. Later, visit The Kom Ombo Dual Temple, an unusual complex dedicated to Sobek and Horus the Elder. Its balanced design, carved reliefs and riverside setting make the temple easy to understand as you move from the entrance towards the sanctuaries.

Your guide points out medical instruments, ritual scenes and evidence of the temple’s connection with the Nile and crocodile worship. Return to the ship after the visit and continue sailing. Meals are served on board according to the vessel’s schedule, while evenings are generally relaxed. Follow the crew’s instructions when boarding and leaving the ship, as gangways and river levels can vary.

Use a short local transfer to reach Edfu's Ancient Temple, one of Egypt’s best-preserved major temples. Its great pylon, columned halls and inner sanctuary follow a clear processional plan. Your Egyptologist explains the reliefs showing the conflict between Horus and Seth, then gives you time to study the scale of the courtyard and the carved walls.

Return to the vessel and continue towards Luxor. Later, visit The Karnak Temple Ensemble, where successive rulers added pylons, courts, obelisks and sanctuaries over many centuries. Walk through the Great Hypostyle Hall and along the main processional route before finishing at The Luxor Temple Sanctuary. Evening lighting can make the columns and statues easier to appreciate, but the ground remains uneven, so take care on the walk.

Cross to Luxor’s West Bank after breakfast and enter The Royal Kings' Valley. The tombs descend into the limestone hillside, with painted scenes showing the journey of the pharaoh into the afterlife. Your entry tickets normally cover a selection of open tombs; extra tombs, when available, may require separate arrangements. The interiors are narrow, warm and reached by steps.

Continue to the terraced Hatshepsut Temple, set against the cliffs at Deir el-Bahari. Its broad levels, colonnades and surviving reliefs present a different style of royal monument from the underground tombs. Wear light clothing that covers shoulders and knees, bring water and allow time for shade breaks. Return to the ship for the final cruise evening and prepare luggage for disembarkation.

Complete check-out from the Nile vessel after breakfast, following the crew’s instructions for luggage collection. Our team assists with the transfer to Luxor airport or the arranged onward connection to Cairo. Keep your passport, medicines and valuables in your personal bag while larger luggage is moved separately.

On arrival in Cairo, transfer to the hotel and use the remainder of the day at your own pace. After many early starts and long sightseeing days, a quiet afternoon is practical. You can review photographs, enjoy a meal near the hotel or ask our team about suitable nearby activities. We also confirm your departure arrangements and help check that important documents and personal belongings are ready for the final day.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before your scheduled airport transfer. Our team allows time for Cairo traffic, airport procedures and luggage check-in, with the exact pickup arranged around your departure details. Keep your passport, boarding information, medication and travel documents accessible until you have completed check-in.

If your flight is later in the day, the hotel may be able to hold your luggage while you spend a little more time at leisure, subject to its own policy. Your 17-day Egypt tour ends with the transfer to the airport, and we remain available to help with the final logistics before you leave Egypt.