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Best of Egypt

9 Day Egypt Tour with Nile Cruise | Operated by Trafalgar

  • 9 Days

  • 1 Country

    Egypt
  • 7 Cities

    Cairo, Luxor, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Aswan, Abu Simbel Temples, Giza
  • 16 Meals

    8 Breakfasts, 4 Lunchs, 4 Dinners
  • Pace: Leisurely

    3 or more nights in 1 destination. Requires 1-2 miles of walking per day to participate in top sites primarily flat surfaces and with some stairs.

Trip Itinerary

Day 1: Welcome to Cairo

Embark on an expedition to the land of the Pharaohs, starting your journey in Egypt’s effervescent capital, Cairo. On arrival at Cairo Airport, you’ll be transferred to your hotel and have time to relax after your journey. Refreshed and ready to embrace the intoxicating energy of this ancient and modern city, you’ll be thrilled with the many treasures that will give you a preview of what’s about to come – an incredible encounter with antiquities you’ll be sharing with friends for years to come.

Hotel: Hilton Cairo Heliopolis
Notes
Day 2: Fly to Luxor and Embark on Your Nile Cruise

Fly to Luxor this morning and connect with the remnants of ancient Thebes during a visit to the Temple of Amun and the imposing Avenue of the Sphinx. Board your cruise ship in time for lunch, then visit the Luxor Museum before returning to your cruise ship. This evening, get to know your Travel Director, a professionally trained Egyptologist, as well as fellow guests over a welcome drink followed by dinner.

Hotel: Nile Cruise
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Iconic Experience: Visit Luxor Museum Spend the day discovering the wonders of the Luxor Museum.
Iconic Experience: Ancient Thebes Tour Visit the Temple of Amun and the formidable Avenue of the Sphinx where you can discover the remnants of ancient Thebes.
Notes
Day 3: A Day to Explore the Valley of the Kings

Journey to the final resting place of Egypt’s Pharaohs, immersing yourself in the ancient history of Egypt’s Valley of the Kings. Visit the mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut, the Colossi of Memnon and the Grand Temple of Luxor. Connect With Locals as you enjoy a traditional Be My Guest bite to eat of freshly baked bread with honey and mint tea in the archaeological paradise that is Luxor's West Bank.

Hotel: Nile Cruise
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Be My Guest: Enjoy Warm Mint Tea and Freshly Baked Local Bread with The El Boerey Family in a Luxor Village Enjoy an exclusive Be My Guest encounter on the banks of the Nile where your hosts, the El Boerey family, will share their stories about family life in a typical Luxor village. Savor a local culinary tradition of warm mint tea and freshly baked local bread with honey.
Iconic Experience: Visit the Valley of the Kings Discover the ancient history behind the final resting place of Egypt's Pharaohs and Queen Hatshepsut's Temple at the Valley of the Kings.
Notes
Day 4: Journey to Ancient Kom-Ombo

Sail upstream to Kom-Ombo, where life remains much as it was a thousand years ago. Standing at the threshold of the imposing Temple of Kom-Ombo on the banks of the Nile, you’ll imagine visitors over the centuries arriving to pay homage to the gods Horus the Elder and Sobek. Tour the Temple, learning all about its ‘double’ and perfectly symmetrical design for the duo of gods – one side dedicated to the crocodile god, the other to the falcon god. After a captivating encounter with the ancients, we enjoy a traditional Egyptian dinner on our cruise boat. Watching the sun set over the shimmering Nile, we’ll don our galabeas and toast to legends of the past and new friends.

Hotel: Nile Cruise
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Iconic Experience: Kom-Ombo Tour Discover the temple of Kom-Ombo and discover the wonders of the duo gods Horus the Elder and Sobek.
Notes
Day 5: Onwards to Aswan

Set sail on a traditional felucca across the mighty Nile to voyage around the Botanical Gardens on Kitchener’s Island. On arrival explore the Aswan Dam, built to curb the periodic flooding of the Nile. Our next stop is the Temple of Isis, followed by a visit to the Unfinished Obelisk, lying semi-carved from the solid bedrock.

Hotel: Nile Cruise
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Iconic Experience: Visit the Temple of Isis Enjoy a day filled of wonder at the Temple of Isis.
Notes
Day 6: Disembark and Fly to Cairo

Enjoy a morning at leisure or perhaps join a once in a lifetime Optional Experience to Abu Simbel, carved into a solid rock cliff in Egypt’s Nubian Valley. As you approach the Great Temple, you’ll marvel at the four-seated colossi on either side of the entrance and the elaborate engravings depicting great victories and paying homage to the gods. Later this afternoon fly back to Cairo.

Hotel: Ramses Hilton Cairo
Included Meals: Breakfast
Notes
Day 7: Discover Colorful Cairo

Embark on a sightseeing tour through the cacophony of Cairo’s busy streets. Visit the Hanging Church of St. Mary and the Sultan Hassan Mosque in Old Cairo, see the ancient Citadel and the Alabaster Mosque. Later, you'll Dive Into Culture and discover Tutankhamun's priceless treasures at the Egyptian Museum.

Hotel: Ramses Hilton Cairo
Included Meals: Breakfast
Dive Into Culture: Discover the 'Mask of Tutankhamun' at Cairo's Egyptian Museum Enjoy a visit to Cairo’s Egyptian Museum, home to a remarkable collection of Egyptian antiquities including the world-famous ‘Mask of Tutankhamun’.
Iconic Experience: Cairo City Tour Spend your day enjoying the sights of the Hanging Church of St. Mary or embark on a journey to see the ancient Citadel and the Alabaster Mosque. 
Notes
Day 8: Admire the Wonders of Giza

The Great Pyramids of Giza beckon today and we have an opportunity to embark on a soul-stirring encounter with its treasures – the Colossus of Ramses II, the Step Pyramid of Saqqara and the enigmatic Great Sphinx.  Be mesmerized by the intricate art of Egyptian carpet weaving as you meet the skilled artisans of a local weaving school during a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Enjoy some free time this evening or consider joining a Nile dinner cruise.

Hotel: Ramses Hilton Cairo
Included Meals: Breakfast
Iconic Experience: Great Pyramids of Giza Tour Enjoy a day gazing at the Great Pyramids of Giza and its treasures - the Step Pyramid of Saqqara and the Colossus of Rames II.
MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®: Carpet Weaving Workshop Be mesmerised by the intricate art of Egyptian carpet weaving as you meet the skilled artisans of a local weaving school. This ancient and traditional Egypt art is one of the oldest in the country, and only few schools have been safeguarding the traditional weaving methods on wooden looms, using silk and cotton, and natural dyes. More than carpets, they come to life as unique works of art. This experience advances UN Global Goal 11: Resilient Cities and Communities.
Notes
Day 9: Farewell Cairo

Our epic journey at its end, we say farewell to newfound friends. 

 

Included Meals: Breakfast
Notes
This itinerary is for reference only. Upon booking with GET, guests will receive tour documents which will list all confirmed hotels and itineraries based upon the guest's departure date.

Price Includes

What's Included
  • - The services of a professional English speaking Egyptologist / Travel Director throughout your journey
  • - Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
  • - All porterage and restaurant gratuities
  • - All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
  • - Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
  • - Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
  • - Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
  • - Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
  • - Four-night luxury Nile Cruise
  • - Flight from Aswan to Cairo
  • - Optional Experiences and free time
  • - Flight from Cairo to Luxor
  • - On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilized.
Dining Summary
  • - 8 Breakfasts (B)
  • - 4 Lunchs (L)
  • - 4 Dinners (D)
Iconic Experience
  • Spend the day discovering the wonders of the Luxor Museum.
  • Visit the Temple of Amun and the formidable Avenue of the Sphinx where you can discover the remnants of ancient Thebes.
  • Discover the ancient history behind the final resting place of Egypt's Pharaohs and Queen Hatshepsut's Temple at the Valley of the Kings.
  • Discover the temple of Kom-Ombo and discover the wonders of the duo gods Horus the Elder and Sobek.
  • Enjoy a day filled of wonder at the Temple of Isis.
  • Spend your day enjoying the sights of the Hanging Church of St. Mary or embark on a journey to see the ancient Citadel and the Alabaster Mosque. 
  • Enjoy a day gazing at the Great Pyramids of Giza and its treasures - the Step Pyramid of Saqqara and the Colossus of Rames II.
Be My Guest
  • Enjoy an exclusive Be My Guest encounter on the banks of the Nile where your hosts, the El Boerey family, will share their stories about family life in a typical Luxor village. Savor a local culinary tradition of warm mint tea and freshly baked local bread with honey.
Dive Into Culture
  • Enjoy a visit to Cairo’s Egyptian Museum, home to a remarkable collection of Egyptian antiquities including the world-famous ‘Mask of Tutankhamun’.
MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®
  • Be mesmerised by the intricate art of Egyptian carpet weaving as you meet the skilled artisans of a local weaving school. This ancient and traditional Egypt art is one of the oldest in the country, and only few schools have been safeguarding the traditional weaving methods on wooden looms, using silk and cotton, and natural dyes. More than carpets, they come to life as unique works of art. This experience advances UN Global Goal 11: Resilient Cities and Communities.

Optional Experiences

Optional Experiences are subject to change. Your Travel Director will supply you with a final list of Optional Experiences available on your trip. Optional Experiences cannot be booked online; they can be purchased during your trip through your Travel Director.

National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (Available on Day 1)

Designed for those visitors with extra pre or post trip nights in Cairo

Located in Old Cairo, visit the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC) to see the 22 royal mummies and over 1500 artefacts on display.
With exhibitions beginning with the predynastic period, followed by the Roman and Coptic periods, until modern day Egypt.
The museum incorporates the array of different civilizations that contributed to Egypt’s rich and diverse history.

Adult Price: $65 Sound and Light Show at Karnak Temple (Available on Day 2)

Listen to voices of ancient kings, queens and gods as they share stories about the places you’ll see in the Temple during a walking tour, followed by a show around the Divine Lake. This show is operated in Karnak Temple in Luxor during the evening, lasting for just under an hour. Prices are in USD. 

Adult Price: $55 Philae Temple Sound And Light Performance (Available on Day 5)

Join us for a short boat ride to Philae Island, located between the old and new Aswan Dams, where you’ll have a short tour. We’ll then seat you in a Roman style theater for a retelling of the perennial Nile flood, and of the goddesses Isis and Hathor, to whose worship the temple was originally dedicated. Approximately 50 minutes. Prices are in USD. 

Adult Price: $55 Life on the Nile (Available on Day 5)

A chance to get up close with the wildlife of the world’s most famous rivers. Learn from your local Nubian expert how the Nile has been the center of life for ancient civilizations and local wildlife as you travel by boat around the islands of first cataract.
Watch out for colorful native birds, different species of herons, kingfishers, sunbirds, and other wildlife that thrive in the marsh grass along the riverbanks whilst taking in the unique views of the Sahara sand dunes.

Adult Price: $30 Abu Simbel Adventure (Available on Day 6)

This four-hour excursion includes a flight to Abu Simbel, site of the Temple of Ramses II with his four great statues. You’ll also see statues of Queen Nefertari on the facade of the Temple of Hathor. 75 minutes will be spent at Abu Simbel - the remainder will be travel time. Prices are in USD.

Adult Price: $380 Dinner, Belly Dancing and Nile Cruise (Available on Day 7)

Join us for a two hour cruise along the Nile river on a luxurious ship. You’ll be treated to dinner onboard and be entertained with a belly dancing show. Prices are in USD. 

Adult Price: $88 Full Day Alexandria (Designed For Those Visitors With Extra Pre Or Post Trip Nights In Cairo) (Available on Day 9)

Join us for a visit to Egypt's second city, Alexandria. You’ll see its nineteenth-century architecture and stop at the National Museum, the catacombs of Kom es-Shoqafa and Pompey's Pillar. You'll also enjoy great views from Fort Qaitbey, and stop at the Roman Theater with its marble seating before returning to Cairo. Prices are in USD. 

Adult Price: $155