Egypt 11-Day Tour Package with Nile Cruise

After breakfast, your guide takes you to the Pyramids of Giza, where you can walk close to the monumental pyramid fields and hear how these royal tombs were built. Time is allowed for photographs and for viewing the plateau from different angles. You may also choose to enter one of the pyramids, subject to local opening arrangements and ticket availability.

The Sphinx stands nearby, carved from the bedrock with the body of a lion and the head of a king. Later, continue to the Egyptian museum for a guided look at pharaonic sculpture, jewellery, funerary objects and other pieces gathered from across the country. The visit is paced so you can focus on the main galleries without trying to see every object in one afternoon. Return to the hotel for the evening.

Today begins with a road transfer from Cairo towards the Fayoum area. A local 4x4 vehicle is used for the final desert section to Wadi el Hitan, a protected valley known for its fossilised whale skeletons. Your guide explains how the ancient sea that once covered this region shaped the landscape and left evidence of early whale evolution in the sand and rock.

Walk along the marked routes at an easy pace, stopping at the open-air displays and viewpoints. The ground can be uneven, so comfortable walking shoes, sun protection and water are useful. After the visit, return by road to Cairo. It is a full day outside the city, and the return journey is a good time to rest before the desert transfer tomorrow.

Leave Cairo by road for Bahariya Oasis, a journey of several hours through increasingly open country. On arrival, have lunch and take a short break before continuing into the surrounding desert with a 4x4 vehicle. The route may include broad sand plains, dark volcanic rock and viewpoints across the oasis landscape, depending on local conditions and the route agreed with your guide.

As daylight fades, reach the white desert, where wind-shaped chalk formations rise from the pale ground. This is the quietest part of the day: walk a little around the camp area, watch the changing colour of the rocks and enjoy a simple desert dinner. Overnight arrangements are made in a desert camp, with basic facilities and a cooler night than in the city. Bring a light layer, even in warmer months.

Enjoy breakfast in the desert before the 4x4 drive returns you to Bahariya and the road transfer continues towards Cairo. The journey takes much of the morning, so keep essential items, medication and a refillable water bottle in your day bag rather than packed away.

Once back in Cairo, continue to the airport for a domestic flight to Luxor, subject to the confirmed travel schedule. Our team coordinates the airport transfers and meets you on arrival. After checking in, the evening is free to relax beside the Nile or take a quiet walk near the hotel. This transition day links the western desert with southern Egypt, so the schedule allows for road travel as well as the flight connection.

Begin with the east bank of Luxor. At Karnak temple, follow the processional avenue and enter the vast courts, hypostyle hall and sacred precincts with your guide. The scale changes as you move between open courtyards and densely carved columns, so allow time to look closely at the reliefs rather than rushing through the complex.

Continue to Luxor temple, where the remaining pylons, columns and statues show how the site changed across several periods of Egyptian history. Later, board your Nile cruise vessel and settle into your cabin. The crew explains the onboard routine, meal times and safety arrangements before departure. Spend the evening on deck as the river traffic and riverbank villages pass by; sailing begins the southern section of the itinerary at an unhurried pace.

After breakfast on board, cross to the west bank for a morning among royal burial sites. The Valley of Kings lies in a dry mountain basin, where tomb entrances lead down to decorated chambers built for pharaohs. Your guide explains the symbols, colours and burial beliefs shown on the walls. The number of open tombs can vary, and your visit follows the local access arrangements.

Continue to Hatshepsut temple, set against the limestone cliffs in a series of broad terraces. Its ramps, colonnades and surviving reliefs tell the story of a woman who ruled as king. Return to the vessel for lunch and sailing. The afternoon is quieter, with time to read, rest or watch the riverbank from the deck while the cruise continues towards the locks and temples farther south.

The morning usually includes a visit to Edfu by horse-drawn carriage or local transfer from the river, followed by the well-preserved temple dedicated to Horus. Its monumental gateway, dark inner halls and detailed wall scenes give a clear sense of the layout of a Ptolemaic temple. Return to the vessel after the visit and continue sailing.

Later, stop at Kom Ombo, built on raised ground beside the river. The sanctuary has a distinctive double design, with separate areas linked to Sobek and Horus. Your guide points out the carved reliefs and the small museum display before you return to the ship. The rest of the day follows the calm rhythm of the cruise: meals on board, time on deck and preparation for the Aswan visits ahead.

Leave early for the road journey to Abu Simbel. The temples were cut into the rock for Ramses II and Queen Nefertari, and the large seated figures outside the main temple come into view before you enter the decorated halls. Your guide explains the military scenes, religious carvings and the relocation of the temples during the construction of the Aswan High Dam. The excursion takes several hours, including the drive each way, so comfortable clothing and water are important.

Return to Aswan and visit Phiala temple, the island sanctuary commonly known as Philae. Reached by boat, its columns and reliefs sit among the surrounding water and granite islands. After the visit, return to the cruise vessel for your final night on board. Keep your main luggage organised, as disembarkation and the road transfer south take place the following morning.

After breakfast, check out of the cruise vessel and meet our driver for the overland transfer to Marsa Alam. The route crosses the Eastern Desert, with long open stretches between the Nile Valley and the Red Sea coast. The journey takes several hours, with stops arranged for comfort and refreshments where practical.

On arrival, check in and use the remaining time to rest after the transfer. Depending on the location of your accommodation and the time of arrival, you may have an opportunity to walk along the shore or sit by the sea, but the day is intentionally kept flexible. Keep beachwear, sun protection and any personal essentials accessible during the drive rather than placing them in your largest luggage.

Your final morning is free for breakfast and a last quiet look at the Red Sea coast. Departure arrangements depend on your onward flight, so our team confirms the pickup and transfer details in advance and allows suitable time for the journey to the airport. Please check your room and day bags carefully before leaving, especially for passports, chargers and medication.

At the agreed time, your driver transfers you to the airport for your flight home or your next destination. If your travel plans include extra nights, we can coordinate the onward transfer separately. The 11-day programme ends with this airport drop-off, after Cairo, the desert, the Nile cruise and southern Egypt have been connected in one route.