Schedule: Daily
Duration: 15 Days / 14 Nights
Tour Highlights
Experience the definitive highlights of Egypt on this comprehensive 15-day journey. Explore the Giza Pyramids and the Great Sphinx, the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC), Memphis, and the Saqqara Necropolis. Visit the Citadel of Saladin and Historic Old Cairo before traveling south to Upper Egypt to tour the sacred temples of Dendera and Abydos.
Continue to Luxor to tour the Luxor Museum, Luxor Temple, and the immense Karnak Temple complex on the East Bank. Across the Nile, explore the Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, the Valley of the Queens, the Colossi of Memnon, and enter inside the original burial chamber of King Tutankhamun in the Valley of the Kings. Sail the Nile to Philae Temple in Aswan and explore an authentic Nubian village.
Conclude with northern cultural expeditions to Mediterranean Alexandria and the historic riverside town of Rosetta before uncovering Cairo's hidden culinary secrets and ancient alleyways.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Cairo
Arrive at Cairo International Airport. Upon arrival, you will be greeted by our Ramasside Tours representative holding a personalized sign. Enjoy a private transfer in a modern air-conditioned vehicle to your hotel. Overnight in Cairo.
Day 2: Cairo Sightseeing – Royal Mummies Experience & Camel Ride
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel. Begin your day visiting the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC), the only museum offering a comprehensive chronological panorama of Egyptian history, showcasing over 50,000 artifacts from prehistoric eras to the modern era.
Visit the world-renowned Royal Mummies Hall, a specially climate-controlled gallery housing the preserved royal bodies of Egypt's greatest pharaohs and queens discovered in royal caches, including Hatshepsut, Thutmose III, and Ramesses II.
Next, head to the Giza Plateau to behold the Great Pyramids, the sole surviving Wonder of the Ancient World. Take in panoramic vistas of the Pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure, and visit the Great Sphinx and the Valley Temple.
Experience an authentic camel ride across the desert sands, taking in panoramic perspectives of the Pyramids. Your Egyptologist guide will share lesser-known narratives and historical details that go beyond standard history books. Return to your hotel. Overnight in Cairo.
Day 3: Saqqara Necropolis & Ancient Memphis
Breakfast at the hotel. Meet your guide to begin your journey south of Giza.
Explore the Step Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara, the world’s earliest monumental stone building, engineered by the royal architect Imhotep for Pharaoh Djoser of the Third Dynasty (c. 2630 BC). Continue to Memphis, the ancient capital founded by King Menes that served as Egypt’s seat of power and culture throughout the Old Kingdom. View the open-air museum featuring the colossal limestone statue of Ramesses II and the Alabaster Sphinx. Return to the hotel. Overnight in Cairo.
(Optional: 2-hour evening dinner cruise along the Nile with live oriental and folkloric shows).
Day 4: Flight from Cairo to Luxor
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Cairo Airport for your domestic flight to Luxor. Upon landing, transfer to your hotel and enjoy free time. Overnight in Luxor.
Day 5: Dendera & Abydos Day Excursion
Breakfast at the hotel. Meet your guide for a full-day historical excursion north of Luxor.
Travel first to the sacred archaeological site of Abydos, revered by the ancient Egyptians as the burial center of Osiris, ruler of the underworld. Explore the magnificent temple complex built by King Seti I and completed by Ramesses II, celebrated for preserving the finest and most colorful wall reliefs in Egyptian history. Continue to Dendera to explore the Temple of Hathor, the goddess of love, joy, and music. Transfer back to your hotel in Luxor. Overnight in Luxor.
Day 6: Luxor Museum & East Bank – Nile Cruise Embarkation
Following breakfast, visit the Luxor Museum, which houses an exceptionally curated collection of artifacts ranging from the Old Kingdom through the Mamluk period, primarily excavated from Theban temples and tombs.
Next, tour the East Bank monuments, starting with Luxor Temple to admire the monumental granite colossi and courtyards of Ramesses the Great. Proceed to Karnak Temple and embark your luxury 5-star Nile cruise ship before lunch. Enjoy lunch on board and relax. Overnight on board in Luxor.
Day 7: West Bank – King Tutankhamun Tomb & Valley of the Kings
Breakfast on board. Cross to Luxor's West Bank to tour the royal rock-cut burial chambers in the Valley of the Kings. Enter inside the original tomb chamber of King Tutankhamun, discovered almost intact in November 1922 by Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon. Learn fascinating, lesser-known details regarding the young king’s life and reign.
Continue to the Valley of the Queens, known in antiquity as "The Place of Beauty," housing around 90 royal tombs from the New Kingdom (1550–1070 BC). You will have the opportunity to enter the vibrantly preserved tomb of Queen Nefertari (requires an extra ticket).
Visit the terraced Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari and make a photo stop before the towering Colossi of Memnon representing Amenhotep III. Enjoy lunch and afternoon tea aboard your cruise ship as you sail southward. Overnight in Luxor / Kom Ombo.
Day 8: Edfu & Kom Ombo Temples
Breakfast on board. Visit the Temple of Horus at Edfu, the best-preserved cult temple in Egypt. Return to the ship and sail toward Kom Ombo. Enjoy lunch on board. Explore the unique double Temple of Kom Ombo, dedicated symmetrically to Sobek the crocodile god and Haroeris the falcon god. Afternoon tea on the sun deck. Overnight in Kom Ombo.
Day 9: Aswan – Philae Temple & Nubian Village Excursion
Breakfast on board. Arrive in Aswan and explore the picturesque island Temple of Isis at Philae, rescued from the waters of Lake Nasser.
Afterward, board a motorized boat along the Nile to explore an authentic Nubian village situated along the West Bank. Enjoy panoramic views of Sehel Island and the Aswan High Dam. Visit a traditional Nubian family home, learn about their unique language, customs, and heritage, and discover Nubian lifestyle firsthand. Lunch on board. Overnight in Aswan.
Day 10: Disembarkation – Optional Abu Simbel Excursion – Flight to Cairo
Breakfast on board followed by disembarkation.
(Optional Excursion to Abu Simbel): Depart early by road to visit the colossal rock-hewn temples of Abu Simbel, built by Ramesses II (19th Dynasty) to honor the gods and immortalize his reign, featuring the neighboring temple dedicated to Queen Nefertari.
Transfer to Aswan Airport for your domestic flight to Cairo. Upon arrival, private transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Cairo.
Day 11: Day Tour to Mediterranean Alexandria
Meet your tour guide at the hotel and travel north along the desert highway to Alexandria. Visit the renowned Bibliotheca Alexandrina, holding millions of books, and admire its modern architectural design. (Note: Reading area requires a specialized ticket).
Explore the Roman Amphitheatre, the sunken Greco-Roman antiquities exhibition retrieved from the Eastern Harbor, and the Church of Saint Mark, the oldest church foundation in Africa. Wander through Alexandria's historic downtown, admiring French and Italian baroque-era facades.
Visit the Mosque of Nabi Daniel, traditionally associated with the burial site of Alexander the Great. Stop for an optional seafood lunch or dine at Alexandria’s famous traditional eatery, "Mohamed Ahmed," renowned for hosting global dignitaries and royalty.
Drive through the historic Mansheya quarter to visit the traditional women’s market (Zanqet El Settat) and the Gold Souk. Visit the landmark Mosque of Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi, view the historic harbor with traditional wooden fishing boats, and take photos outside the 15th-century Citadel of Qaitbay, built on the historic foundations of the Pharos Lighthouse.
Continue along the corniche to Montaza Palace and Gardens, stopping optionally at "King of Mango" for fresh juices and viewing the Unknown Soldier Memorial. Explore the royal gardens of King Farouk, the Haramlek and Salamlek palaces, Montaza Bridge, and the royal beaches. Overnight in Alexandria.
Day 12: Rosetta (Rashid) Heritage Tour
Breakfast at the hotel. Travel 60 km east to the historic port city of Rosetta (Rashid) on the western branch of the Nile Delta.
Take a private motorboat excursion along the Nile to see where the river meets the Mediterranean Sea and visit the riverside fortress where the world-famous Rosetta Stone was uncovered in 1799. Tour the historic town's Ottoman-era domestic mansions, decorated with intricate brickwork and wooden mashrabiya screens. Relax on your private transfer back to Cairo. Overnight in Cairo.
Day 13: Secrets of Cairo & Authentic Food Walk
Breakfast at the hotel. Experience authentic Egyptian culinary culture, sampling street food staples and traditional dishes at off-the-beaten-path neighborhood spots favored exclusively by locals.
Explore historic Old Cairo and Islamic Cairo by private vehicle and on foot. Stroll along the pedestrianized Al-Muizz Street, exploring medieval gates, ornate minarets, antique souks, and hidden artisan courtyards across the old quarter. Return to your hotel in Cairo. Overnight in Cairo.
Day 14: Free Day in Cairo
Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy a full day at your leisure to relax, explore independent shopping districts, or schedule optional day tours. Overnight in Cairo.
Day 15: Final Departure
Breakfast at the hotel. Your representative will escort you to Cairo International Airport in a private vehicle and assist you with departure procedures for your onward flight.
Inclusions & Exclusions
Inclusions
- 7 Nights accommodation in Cairo (Bed & Breakfast)
- 1 Night accommodation in Alexandria (Bed & Breakfast)
- 2 Nights accommodation in Luxor (Bed & Breakfast)
- 4 Nights aboard a 5-Star Nile Cruise (Full Board with sightseeing excursions)
- Full-day Cairo Tour (NMEC, Pyramids, Sphinx, Camel Ride)
- Full-day Cairo Tour (Saqqara & Memphis)
- Full-day Alexandria Tour
- Day Tour to Rosetta
- Culinary & Walking Tour of Islamic Cairo
- Domestic flights: Cairo / Luxor & Aswan / Cairo
- All private transfers in modern, air-conditioned vehicles (Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor, Aswan)
- Professional licensed Egyptologist guide
- All monument admission tickets for listed attractions
- All service charges and local taxes
Exclusions
- Entry Visa to Egypt
- International flights
- Personal expenses
- Gratuities / Tipping
- Optional excursions (Abu Simbel, Nile Dinner Cruise)
- Beverages during meals
Accommodation Plans & Pricing
Plan A: 5-Star Standard
- Cairo: Le Méridien Pyramids / Steigenberger Pyramids / Ramses Hilton / Barceló Cairo Pyramids / Pyramisa Suites
- Nile Cruise: MS Emilio / MS Radamis / MS Princess Sarah
- Luxor: Steigenberger Nile Palace
Plan B: 5-Star Luxury
- Cairo: Kempinski Nile Hotel / Fairmont Nile City / Conrad Cairo / Cairo Marriott Hotel / Sheraton Cairo
- Nile Cruise: MS Amwaj Living Stone / MS Nile Premium / MS Blue Shadow / Jaz Jubilee / Crown Emperor
- Luxor: Hilton Luxor Resort / Sonesta St. George
Ultra Luxury Tier
- Cairo: Four Seasons Hotel Cairo / Marriott Mena House / Hyatt Regency
- Nile Cruise: Sanctuary Sun Boat / The Oberoi Zahra / Mövenpick Royal Lotus / Le Fayan / MS Acamar
- Luxor: Sofitel Winter Palace Luxor
Tour Add-ons & Travel Notes
Executive Luxury Minivan Upgrade
Upgrade to an executive luxury minivan for superior comfort across all overland transfers. Enjoy extended legroom, dual-zone climate control, complimentary bottled refreshments, and generous luggage capacity.
Professional Studio Photographer
Hire a professional photographer to accompany your excursion. Capture high-resolution portraits and candid travel memories across the Pyramids and ancient temples for $50 per day.
Hotel Standards in Egypt
Hotel classifications in Egypt differ from North American and European standards. For true international 5-star quality, we advise selecting Plan B (Luxury) or the Ultra Luxury tier.
Visa Assistance
Bypass terminal immigration lines upon arrival. Our airport team arranges pre-processed entry visas for eligible passport holders or travelers carrying valid US, UK, or Schengen visas. Simply send a passport copy prior to arrival.
Domestic Flights vs. Sleeper Trains
We exclusively coordinate domestic flights between Cairo, Luxor, and Aswan to avoid the long, fatiguing 15-to-18-hour sleeper train journeys. Flight upgrades to Business Class are available for $50 per person.
VIP Tour with Dr. Zahi Hawass
Request an exclusive private tour inside the Great Pyramid and stand between the paws of the Great Sphinx accompanied by world-renowned archaeologist Dr. Zahi Hawass. Contact us for private VIP availability.
Travel Insurance (AIG Travel Guard)
Secure peace of mind with AIG Travel Guard insurance coverage: $25 per person for one week, or $50 per person for multi-week packages.
Child Policy
- 0 – 1.99 years: Free of charge (excluding airline ticket charges where applicable)
- 2 – 5.99 years: 25% of adult tour rate (50% if domestic flights are included)
- 6 – 11.99 years: 50% of adult tour rate
- 12+ years: Full adult rate
For reservations and custom itineraries, contact us at: [email protected]
