Schedule:
Daily
Tour Highlights:
This comprehensive 12-day vacation package takes you across Cairo, the monumental Pyramids, and a deluxe 7-night Nile cruise. Upon arrival in Cairo, explore the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, the Giza Pyramids, Memphis, Saqqara, and Dahshur. Fly south to Luxor to embark on a classic Nile cruise featuring guided visits to Karnak and Luxor temples, alongside excursions to Esna, Edfu, Kom Ombo, and Aswan. After an optional sunrise hot air balloon flight over Luxor's West Bank, return to Cairo to conclude your journey with seamless private transfers.
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 airport representative holding a "Ramasside Tours" sign and transferred in a private, modern air-conditioned vehicle to your hotel.
Overnight in Cairo.
Day 2: The Giza Pyramids & The Egyptian Museum
Breakfast at the hotel. Begin your guided sightseeing visiting the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities in central Cairo, home to an extraordinary collection of pharaonic artifacts spanning over 5,000 years, including the golden funerary treasures of King Tutankhamun.
Next, visit the Great Pyramids of Giza (Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure), the Great Sphinx, and the Valley Temple, with dedicated stops at premier panoramic viewpoints across the plateau.
(Optional: Evening Sound and Light Show on the Giza Plateau).
Overnight in Cairo.
Day 3: Saqqara, Ancient Memphis & Dahshur Pyramids
Breakfast at the hotel. Meet your guide to tour Saqqara, home to the Step Pyramid of Djoser—the earliest monumental stone structure in antiquity, built during the Third Dynasty (c. 2630 BC) by the architect Imhotep.
Continue to Memphis, the ancient kingdom's first unified capital founded by King Menes, to view the colossal fallen statue of Ramesses II and the Alabaster Sphinx. Head further south into the desert necropolis of Dahshur to explore the Red Pyramid and the unique Bent Pyramid of Pharaoh Sneferu. Return to your hotel.
Overnight in Cairo.
Day 4: Flight to Luxor – Nile Cruise Embarkation
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Cairo Airport for your domestic flight to Luxor. Upon arrival, meet our representative, transfer to your 5-star Nile cruise ship, and complete embarkation. Lunch is served on board. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure.
Overnight on board in Luxor.
Day 5: East Bank of Luxor & Sail to Esna
Breakfast on board. Set out to explore the East Bank of Thebes, beginning with Luxor Temple to admire its grand courtyards and monumental granite statues of Ramesses II.
Proceed to the sprawling Karnak Temple Complex, the largest religious precinct ever built. Walk down the Avenue of Sphinxes, marvel at the 134 towering sandstone columns of the Great Hypostyle Hall, see the obelisks of Queen Hatshepsut and Thutmose III, and view the sacred lake. Return to the ship for lunch as you set sail toward Esna. Dinner served on board.
Overnight on board in Esna.
Day 6: Esna Temple, Edfu & Kom Ombo
Breakfast on board. Visit the Greco-Roman Temple of Khnum in Esna. Continue sailing south toward Edfu to tour the Temple of Horus at Edfu, the most intact and complete Ptolemaic cult temple in Egypt.
Lunch served on board as the vessel sails toward Kom Ombo. In the afternoon, enjoy afternoon tea on the sun deck followed by an evening onboard disco party.
Overnight on board in Kom Ombo.
Day 7: Aswan Sightseeing & Philae Island
Breakfast on board. Sail into Aswan and begin your guided sightseeing at the Aswan High Dam, completed in 1964 with panoramic views overlooking Lake Nasser.
Board a motor launch to Agilkia Island to explore the romantic Temple of Philae, dedicated to the goddess Isis and rescued from river inundation through UNESCO's historic salvage initiative.
Overnight on board in Aswan.
Day 8: Aswan – Optional Abu Simbel & Nile Felucca Sail
Breakfast on board.
(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).
In the afternoon, enjoy a traditional sailing excursion aboard an authentic Egyptian felucca, viewing Kitchener’s Botanical Island and the Mausoleum of the Aga Khan. Lunch, afternoon tea, dinner, and an evening game night party on board.
Overnight on board in Aswan.
Day 9: Sail to Kom Ombo & Northbound Cruise
Breakfast on board while sailing toward Kom Ombo. Tour the unique symmetrical double Temple of Kom Ombo, dedicated to Haroeris the falcon god and Sobek the crocodile god.
Lunch served on board as the cruise continues sailing north past Edfu. Afternoon tea served on the sun deck. Dinner on board.
Overnight on board in Luxor.
Day 10: West Bank Necropolis – Valley of the Kings
Breakfast on board. Cross to the West Bank of Luxor to tour the Theban Necropolis. Explore the Valley of the Kings, descending into ancient pharaonic royal tombs.
Visit the terraced Temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir El-Bahari, integrated into limestone desert cliffs. On the return drive, stop at the towering Colossi of Memnon—two giant statues depicting Amenhotep III facing the Nile. Lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner on board, followed by an evening party.
Overnight on board in Luxor.
Day 11: Disembarkation – Optional Hot Air Balloon – Flight to Cairo
Breakfast on board followed by disembarkation.
(Optional Excursion: Experience a sunrise Hot Air Balloon ride floating over the Valley of the Kings, Valley of the Queens, and the Theban peaks for 30–45 minutes, weather permitting).
Transfer to Luxor Airport for your domestic flight back to Cairo. Upon arrival, meet our representative and transfer to your hotel.
Overnight in Cairo.
Day 12: Cairo – Final Departure
Breakfast at the hotel. Our airport representative will assist you with your private transfer to Cairo International Airport and provide full check-in assistance for your international departure flight.
What's Included:
- 4 Nights hotel accommodation in Cairo (daily breakfast included)
- 7 Nights full-board accommodation on a 5-star Nile cruise (Luxor to Aswan and return, all meals and scheduled shore excursions included)
- Full-day Cairo tour (Egyptian Museum, Giza Pyramids, Sphinx & Valley Temple)
- Full-day Cairo tour (Saqqara Step Pyramid, Ancient Memphis & Dahshur)
- All ground transfers in private, modern air-conditioned vehicles across Cairo, Luxor, and Aswan
- Professional licensed Egyptologist tour guides
- Entrance tickets to all mentioned archaeological sites, temples, and museums
- Domestic flights: Cairo / Luxor and Luxor / 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: 12-Day Cairo & Nile Cruise Package
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 King Tutankhamun in the Valley of the Kings. 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]
