8 Day Cairo, Luxor, and Aswan Cruise by Boat

Day 1:
Your representative will be waiting for you outside the departure hall with a beautiful tours sign to welcome you to Egypt. You will check in to your reserved hotel (5-star). Rest of the day is free time and overnight at hotel.

Day 2:
After breakfast at the hotel, your private guide will take you to visit the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx. Feel the magnificence of the pyramids, built to stand forever, and which managed to become one of the Seven Wonders of the World and the only surviving wonder of the ancient world. Continue your day tour with a stop in Memphis, one of the most important cities in the history of ancient Egypt, spanning over 3,000 years. This was a center of worship for the god Ptah, and its temple was one of the most important sites in ancient Egypt.
Next up is Saqqara, a true open-air museum. Take a closer look at Djoser’s famous Step Pyramid and learn about the pyramids of some of the most important kings of the Old Kingdom. Enjoy a lunch break, then return to your hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 3:
Cairo, Egypt After breakfast at the hotel, meet your guide to explore two different faces of Egypt: Islamic and Coptic Cairo.
You will begin by visiting Islamic Cairo, which features two of the most beautiful Islamic symbols. The Cairo Citadel is the most popular Islamic monument in Cairo. It was built by Saladin in 1176 AD and was the center of government during the Ayyubid period. Move on to the meticulously decorated Grand Mosque of Muhammad Ali. Sometimes called the Alabaster Mosque, its walls are covered with alabaster panels. Watch the mosque illuminated by candlelight, and the mihrab is decorated with gold.
Moving on to Coptic Cairo, you will begin by visiting the Church of St. George, also known as Mary George. St. George’s Church, one of the few round churches built in Egypt, is constructed atop an ancient Roman tower connected to the monastery below. Your next stop will be the famous Hanging Church, believed to be the first basilica-style church built in Egypt. The church houses 110 icons, most made of ebony and some inlaid with ivory. The oldest and most sacred of these dates back to the 8th century. Your day in Cairo includes lunch at a local restaurant, followed by a return to your hotel to rest after a long day, dinner, and overnight stay.

Day 4:
After breakfast at the hotel, our representative will pick you up and take you to the airport to catch your flight to Luxor. Upon arrival, your guide will be waiting for you outside the departure hall with a nice tours sign to help you recognize him. Set off to explore the beautiful and historic city of Luxor and all its monuments.
Your tour will begin on the east bank of Luxor, where you will visit the Karnak Temple. This impressive structure, home to three main temples, several smaller indoor temples, and several open-air temples, brings together the achievements of many generations of ancient builders over more than 1,500 years. Move on to the smaller but equally impressive Luxor Temple. This beautiful temple contains well-preserved hieroglyphs and sculptures and was the center of the annual Opet celebrations. Finally, head to the boat to check in at lunchtime, and around 4 or 5 pm our representative will return to take you on a one-hour felucca tour on the Nile, after which you will return to the boat to rest and spend the night.

Day 5:
Early in the morning (please ask reception to prepare a breakfast box for you), our representative will pick you up to experience the once-in-a-lifetime hot air balloon ride over Luxor City as an optional tour, viewing the city as an open-air museum with spectacular views of the Nile River, divided between its west and east banks. Once the balloon lands, our professional guide will be waiting to take you on a journey to explore the stunning west bank of Luxor City, starting from the Valley of the Kings. In a world governed by the rules of the afterlife, the ancient Egyptians placed great importance on burial sites. The Valley of the Kings appears from the outside as a dull, rocky gorge, but beneath the surface conceals meticulously painted and carved tombs. Continue to the striking Temple of Hatshepsut. Inscriptions on the temple walls recount Queen Hatshepsut’s birth and her trading voyages to the land of Punt, now known as the modern Somali state or peninsula. Stop at the giant statue of Memnon and enjoy taking amazing and fun photos with your family and friends. Then return to the boat to enjoy lunch and sail towards Edfu.

Day 6:
Continuing your sails along the Nile River, it’s time to discover some of Egypt’s most beautiful hidden gems in Edfu and Kom Ombo. After breakfast on board, your guide will meet you to visit the hidden gem of Edfu, the Temple of Horus. The Temple of Horus in Edfu represents lost art, showcasing the true spirit of ancient Egyptian civilization from the perspective of the Ptolemaic Dynasty. Return to the ship for lunch and continue sailing towards Kom Ombo, where your guide will be waiting to explore the temple. Kom Ombo means “gold heap,” and the temple is dedicated to two gods: Sobek, the crocodile god, and Haroeris (the falcon god Horus). Learn more fascinating facts about this unique temple with your Egyptologist guide. After your Kom Ombo tour, return to the ship for dinner and continue sailing overnight towards Aswan.

Day 7: (Abu Simbel Temples as optional tour):
Early in the morning, once again (bring your breakfast box) and travel with a group to one of Egypt’s most beautiful temples. Enjoy a tour of the Great Temple of Abu Simbel. Listen to the story of how the Abu Simbel temple was moved to save it from flooding and to be included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. It was built by Ramesses II and dedicated to Egypt’s national gods: Ptah, Ra, Amun, and Ramesses II as a deified king and son of Ra. After visiting the temple, you will return to the ship to enjoy lunch before your guide takes you back to visit the beautiful Philae Temple, the Pearl of Egypt. The walls of the Philae temple are covered with ancient hieroglyphs, and among the great statues of ancient Egyptian gods are inscriptions in an ornate pictorial alphabet telling the stories of this civilization. After finishing your visit to Philae, enjoy a traditional felucca ride on the Nile River and then return to the ship to relax and have dinner.

Day 8
After breakfast on board, you will be picked up and transferred to the airport for your return flight to Cairo, then international flight to your country.