Schedule:
Daily
Tour Highlights:
This 11-day adventure begins with your arrival in Cairo and a private hotel transfer. On Day 2, visit the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), followed by the Giza Pyramids, the Great Sphinx, and a desert camel trek. Day 3 is dedicated to exploring the ancient necropolises of Saqqara and Memphis. On Day 4, fly south to Luxor to tour the Luxor Museum, Karnak Temple, and Luxor Temple before embarking on a deluxe Nile cruise. Over the following days, explore the West Bank of Luxor, Edfu, Kom Ombo, and an authentic Nubian village in Aswan. After returning to Cairo on Day 8, embark on a full-day coastal excursion to Alexandria, followed by an immersive "Secrets of Cairo" culinary and cultural tour on Day 10. Conclude your voyage with your final departure on Day 11.
Hotel & Nile Cruise Accommodations Note
Please note that hotel star ratings in Egypt differ from North American and European classification standards. For the highest levels of comfort and service quality, we always recommend selecting Luxury or Ultra-Luxury accommodation plans.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Cairo
Arrival at Cairo International Airport. You will be greeted by our Ramasside Tours representative holding a welcome sign and transferred in a private, air-conditioned vehicle to your hotel.
Overnight in Cairo.
Day 2: Grand Egyptian Museum, Giza Pyramids & Camel Trek
Breakfast at the hotel. Begin your tour early at the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) complex. Explore the exterior landscaped gardens and take in the panoramic architectural vistas. Enjoy leisure time to browse the retail pavilion for souvenirs or enjoy refreshments at the café before entering the grand atrium.
Experience the scale of the Great Hall and its introductory exhibits highlighting ancient Egyptian civilization. Engage with interactive cultural exhibits, followed by an exclusive guided tour of currently accessible preview zones where your specialist guide explains the architectural layout, interior curation, and preparations for full operations.
The GEM tour includes:
- The Hanging Obelisk
- Colossal Statue of Ramesses II
- 10 Statues of Senusret I
- The Grand Staircase
- Ptolemaic King and Queen Statues
- Victory Column
- Royal Regalia
- Grand Atrium & Gift Shop
- Commercial Boulevard
Next, proceed to the Giza Plateau to visit the Great Pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure. Marvel at the Great Sphinx—the legendary limestone monument with the face of Pharaoh Khafre guarding the necropolis—and the Valley Temple.
Enjoy an included camel ride across the sands offering uninterrupted panoramic views of the Pyramids and Sphinx, while your guide shares fascinating stories of pharaonic history.
(Optional: Evening Sound and Light Show at the Giza Pyramids).
Overnight in Cairo.
Day 3: Saqqara Step Pyramid & Ancient Memphis
Breakfast at the hotel. Meet your guide in the lobby and depart for Saqqara to tour the Step Pyramid of Djoser—the world’s oldest monumental stone structure, built around 2630 BC for Third Dynasty Pharaoh Djoser by the architect Imhotep.
Continue to Memphis, the first unified capital of ancient Egypt founded by King Menes. For over 3,000 years, Memphis served as a cultural and administrative powerhouse. Tour the open-air museum to view the colossal fallen statue of Ramesses II and the Alabaster Sphinx. Return to the hotel.
(Optional: 2-Hour evening Nile dinner cruise featuring authentic Egyptian folkloric entertainment).
Overnight in Cairo.
Day 4: Cairo – Domestic Flight – Luxor Museum & Nile Cruise
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Cairo Airport for your domestic flight to Luxor.
Upon arrival, visit the Luxor Museum, which houses an expertly displayed collection of royal statues, relief carvings, and artifacts excavated primarily from ancient Theban temples and necropolises spanning the Old Kingdom through the Mamluk period.
Next, tour the East Bank temples: the sprawling Karnak Temple Complex and Luxor Temple with its grand colonnades and colossal granite statues of Ramesses II. Transfer to your 5-star Nile cruise ship and check in prior to lunch. Lunch served on board.
Overnight on board in Luxor.
Day 5: West Bank Necropolis – King Tut Tomb & Valley of the Kings
Breakfast on board. Set out to explore the royal West Bank necropolis in the Valley of the Kings, entering ancient pharaonic burial chambers. Includes an interior visit to the famous Tomb of King Tutankhamun, discovered virtually intact by Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon in November 1922. Learn the intriguing, lesser-known facts surrounding the boy king's reign and sudden death.
Next, visit the Valley of the Queens (known anciently as "The Place of Beauty"), home to approximately 90 tombs of royal consorts and princes of the New Kingdom (1550–1070 BC), with the option to purchase entrance to the vibrantly painted tomb of Queen Nefertari.
Continue to the terraced Temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir El-Bahari, integrated into the sheer limestone cliffs. On the return drive, stop for photos at the towering Colossi of Memnon—two giant seated quartzite statues of Amenhotep III. Lunch on board, afternoon leisure, and afternoon tea.
Overnight on board in Luxor.
Day 6: Edfu & Kom Ombo Temples
Breakfast on board while sailing south. Tour the Temple of Horus at Edfu, the most complete and best-preserved Ptolemaic temple in Egypt. Continue sailing toward Kom Ombo.
Lunch served on board. In Kom Ombo, tour the unique symmetrical double Temple of Kom Ombo, dedicated to Haroeris the falcon god and Sobek the crocodile god. Afternoon tea served on the sun deck as you sail toward Aswan.
Overnight on board in Kom Ombo.
Day 7: Aswan High Dam, Philae Island & Nubian Village
Breakfast on board while cruising into Aswan. Visit the romantic island Temple of Philae, dedicated to the goddess Isis and rescued from rising Nile waters by UNESCO.
In the afternoon, embark on an authentic motorboat journey to a traditional Nubian Village located on the Nile’s West Bank. Take in scenic views of Sohail Island and the Old Aswan Dam, learn about ancient Nubian customs and heritage, and visit a local family home to experience everyday life and traditions. Return to the ship for lunch.
Overnight on board in Aswan.
Day 8: Disembarkation – Optional Abu Simbel – Flight to Cairo
Breakfast on board followed by disembarkation.
(Optional Excursion: Fly or drive to Abu Simbel to marvel at the rock-cut Great Temple of Ramesses II and the Sun Temple of Queen Nefertari, saved from Lake Nasser by UNESCO).
Transfer to Aswan Airport for your return domestic flight to Cairo. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel.
Overnight in Cairo.
Day 9: Day Tour to Alexandria
Meet your Ramasside guide at the hotel for a full-day coastal excursion to Alexandria. Begin at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the world’s largest library housing 8 million volumes. Walk through the open plaza featuring statues of Alexander the Great and Ptolemy I retrieved from the seabed.
(Note: Library reading area requires an on-site ticket).
Visit the Roman Amphitheatre and the outdoor exhibition of sunken antiquities recovered from the East Harbor. Visit Saint Mark’s Church (the oldest church in Africa) and El Nabi Daniel Mosque.
Enjoy lunch at a seafood restaurant or at the iconic "Mohamed Ahmed’s". Continue through the historic Mansheya quarter and Zan'et El Setat bazaar. Photo stops at the exterior of the Citadel of Qaitbay (built on the site of the ancient Pharos Lighthouse) and Abbo Elabbas Mosque. Drive along the Corniche with a refreshment break at "King of Mango" and explore the royal gardens and palaces of Montaza.
Overnight in Alexandria.
Day 10: Secrets of Cairo – Cultural Walk & Culinary Discovery
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer comfortably to Cairo in an air-conditioned vehicle.
To truly understand Egypt, immerse your senses in its authentic culinary culture. Discover hidden neighborhood eateries and street food spots unknown to standard guidebooks, sampling traditional Egyptian dishes.
Continue into historic Islamic Cairo, taking a guided walking tour down pedestrian El Moez Street—home to one of the greatest concentrations of medieval architectural treasures in the Islamic world. Discover tucked-away gates, historic courtyards, artisan alleyways, and old bazaar stalls. Return comfortably to your hotel.
Overnight in Cairo.
Day 11: Final Departure
Breakfast at the hotel. Meet our airport representative for your private transfer to Cairo International Airport with full departure and check-in assistance.
What's Included:
- 5 Nights hotel accommodation in Cairo (with daily breakfast)
- 1 Night hotel accommodation in Alexandria (with daily breakfast)
- 4 Nights full-board accommodation on a 5-star Nile cruise (Luxor to Aswan, all meals & scheduled shore excursions included)
- Full-day Cairo tour (Grand Egyptian Museum, Giza Pyramids, Sphinx & Camel Ride)
- Full-day Cairo tour (Saqqara Step Pyramid & Ancient Memphis)
- Full-day guided excursion to Alexandria
- Secrets of Cairo cultural & food walking tour
- All ground transfers in private, air-conditioned vehicles across Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, and Alexandria
- Professional licensed Egyptologist tour guides
- All entrance tickets to mentioned archaeological sites, temples, and museums
- Domestic flights: Cairo / Luxor and Aswan / Cairo
- Air-conditioned intercity transfers: Cairo / Alexandria / Cairo
- All service charges and government taxes
Excludes:
- Entry visa to Egypt (available on arrival upon request)
- International flights
- Personal expenses and optional excursions
- Gratuities (tipping)
- Beverages during meals
Tour Accommodation Categories & Rates
Plan (A) 5-Star Standard
- Cairo: Le Méridien Pyramids / Steigenberger Pyramids / Ramses Hilton / Helnan / Barceló Cairo Pyramids / Pyramisa
- Nile Cruise: MS Emilio / MS Radamis / MS Princess Sarah
Plan (B) Luxury
- Cairo: Kempinski Nile Hotel / Fairmont Nile City / Conrad Cairo / Cairo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayyam Casino / Hilton Pyramids Golf
- Nile Cruise: MS Amwaj Living Stone / MS Nile Premium / MS Blue Shadow / MS Jaz Jubilee / Steigenberger Minerva
Plan (C) Ultra-Luxury
- Cairo: Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza or First Residence / Marriott Mena House / Kempinski Nile Deluxe / Fairmont Nile Premium / Hyatt Regency
- Nile Cruise: Sanctuary Sun Boat / The Oberoi Zahra or Philae / Mövenpick Royal Lily / Sonesta Nile Goddess / Le Fayan / MS Farah / MS Acamar
Travel Notes: 11-Day Treasures of the Pharaohs Tour
Upgrade to a Luxury Vehicle for Extra Comfort:
Upgrade to a premium luxury vehicle for a smoother travel experience. Our executive vehicles offer extra legroom, high-performance climate control, complimentary refreshments, and generous luggage capacity.
Professional Photographer Service:
Hire a professional photographer to accompany your excursion to the Pyramids or West Bank monuments. Studio photographers capture portrait-grade photos and candid memories at top scenic locations for an additional $50 USD per day.
Booking & Operational Policies
- Hotel Standards in Egypt:
- Hotel classifications in Egypt differ from US and European systems. Standard 5-star hotels may feel closer to 3 or 4-star properties abroad. We strongly suggest selecting Luxury or Ultra-Luxury accommodation plans for travelers expecting international 5-star luxury standards.
- Visa Support on Arrival:
- Avoid airport queues. Send us your passport copy in advance, and our representative will arrange your entry visa on arrival. (Eligible travelers holding valid US, UK, or Schengen visas can obtain visa-on-arrival support regardless of nationality).
- Night Sleeper Trains (Not Recommended):
- We advise against overnight sleeper trains due to extended journey times (15–18 hours), noise levels, and compact sleeping berths. We strongly recommend domestic flights instead. A one-way domestic flight upgrade with an additional 5-star hotel night starts from $150 USD per person.
- Travel Insurance (AIG Travel Guard):
- Protect your holiday with optional coverage through AIG: $25 USD per person per week, or $50 USD per person for itineraries exceeding one week.
- Domestic Flight Upgrades to Business Class:
- Special Offer: Upgrade domestic flight sectors to Business Class for $50 USD per person per flight sector to enjoy wider seating, priority handling, and extra legroom.
- Domestic Flights Policy:
- Itinerary rates factor in average seasonal domestic airfares. Peak holiday periods, late bookings, or specific schedule requests may result in fare adjustments.
- Payment Policy:
- Secure payments are accepted via Visa, MasterCard, PayPal, and direct bank wire transfers.
- Pricing & Currency:
- Tour packages are priced in USD, with payments accepted in EUR or GBP based on current exchange rates. Semi-private small group departures and fully private VIP itineraries are arranged upon request.
- Private VIP Tour with Dr. Zahi Hawass:
- Ramasside Tours offers exclusive private visits to the Great Pyramid and Giza Plateau accompanied by world-renowned archaeologist Dr. Zahi Hawass, featuring private after-hours access between the paws of the Sphinx and inside restricted chambers. Contact us for private scheduling.
- Child Policy:
- 0 – 1.99 years: Free of charge (airfare supplements apply if flights are included)
- 2 – 5.99 years: 25% of adult tour price (50% if flights are included)
- 6 – 11.99 years: 50% of adult tour price
- 12+ years: Standard adult rate
- Special Archaeological Site Tickets:
- Standard entrance passes exclude restricted special chambers, such as the burial chamber inside the Great Pyramid of Khufu or the Tomb of Queen Nefertari in the Valley of the Queens. Entry to these specific chambers can be added upon request for an additional fee.
- Essential Packing:
- Comfortable, closed walking shoes are recommended for stone ruins and archaeological grounds. Pack comfortable slip-on shoes or sandals for felucca and cruise decks.
- Peak Travel Seasons:
- Christmas & New Year: December 15 – January 7
- Easter: March 20 – April 20
- Mid-Term Holidays: October 20 – October 31
- Standard Hotel Times: Check-in at 14:00 | Check-out at 12:00
Customer Support:
For reservations and inquiries, contact: [email protected]
