12 Days Cairo, Alexandria, Nile Cruise & El Bahariya Oasis

After breakfast at the hotel, your certified Egyptologist guide will meet you to begin your exploration of Giza’s legendary monuments.

Your first stop is the Giza Plateau, home to the timeless Pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure. Stand before the Great Pyramid, one of the last surviving wonders of the ancient world, and admire the enigmatic Sphinx with its lion body and royal visage. You’ll also visit the Valley Temple, linked to ancient funerary practices and mummification ceremonies.

Enjoy lunch at a well-rated local restaurant.

Continue your tour at the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), one of the world’s largest archaeological museums, showcasing thousands of ancient treasures in a state-of-the-art setting. Discover monumental statues, royal relics, and everyday artifacts from Egypt’s extensive timeline, including items from the Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms.

After your visit, return to your hotel for the evening.

Optional: Attend the captivating Sound & Light Show at the Pyramids—an evening experience that brings ancient stories to life under the stars.

After breakfast, transfer to Cairo Airport for your flight to Luxor—once ancient Thebes and the capital of the New Kingdom.

Upon landing, meet your local guide and explore the East Bank. Begin with the Karnak Temple, an immense religious complex devoted to Amun-Ra, featuring soaring columns, ceremonial lakes, and hieroglyphs.

Next, visit the riverside Luxor Temple, famous for its grand pylons and the Avenue of Sphinxes that once connected it to Karnak.

Later, board your Nile cruise ship and relax in your cabin as you prepare to sail through Egypt’s timeless heart.

Cross the Nile to discover Luxor’s West Bank, beginning with the Valley of the Kings—home to elaborately decorated tombs of pharaohs, including the famed burial of King Tutankhamun.

Continue to the majestic Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari, beautifully integrated into the surrounding cliffs.

Conclude the morning with a visit to the Colossi of Memnon, two towering statues that once guarded the mortuary temple of Amenhotep III.

Return to your cruise for lunch, followed by a relaxing afternoon sailing the Nile.

Optional: Begin the day with an early morning hot air balloon ride over Luxor for panoramic views of its temples and tombs.

Start your day with a visit to the Temple of Horus at Edfu, an impeccably preserved sanctuary from the Ptolemaic era, dedicated to the falcon god.

Sail onward to Kom Ombo, where you’ll explore the dual temple dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek and the falcon god Horus. 

The symmetrical layout and unique carvings here are truly captivating. Don’t miss the Crocodile Museum, featuring mummified reptiles and religious artifacts.

Later, enjoy a festive Galabeya Party onboard with music, local dress, and dancing.

After breakfast, I set out to explore Aswan’s top sites, starting with the High Dam, an engineering wonder that controls Nile flooding and generates electricity.

Next, take a boat ride to the enchanting Temple of Philae, once threatened by rising waters and now relocated to Agilkia Island. This beautiful complex honors Isis, goddess of motherhood and magic.

Return to your cruise ship for lunch and an afternoon at leisure.

Enjoy your final breakfast onboard, then transfer to Aswan Airport for your return flight to Cairo. After landing, you’ll be driven to your hotel where you can unwind or explore the capital independently.

Optional: Take a day trip to Abu Simbel, one of Egypt’s most iconic archaeological sites, known for its colossal temples built by Ramses II.

After an early breakfast, journey north to Alexandria, the historic city by the Mediterranean Sea known for its Hellenistic heritage.

Begin at the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, an underground necropolis blending Pharaonic, Greek, and Roman styles. Then, see Pompey’s Pillar, a massive Roman triumphal column, and the remains of the Serapeum Temple.

Stop for lunch at a trusted local restaurant.

Continue to the Citadel of Qaitbay, a medieval fortress built atop the ruins of the ancient Lighthouse of Alexandria. Then visit the modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina, a sprawling library and cultural complex inspired by the ancient world-renowned library.

Return to Cairo after the tour.

Note: The Alexandria Library is closed on Fridays and public holidays.

Start your day with a visit to the Salah El-Din Citadel, an imposing fortress offering sweeping views of Cairo. Within its walls stands the striking Alabaster Mosque of Mohamed Ali, showcasing Ottoman architecture at its finest.

Then, journey into Old Cairo to explore its rich religious heritage. Visit the Church of Abu Serga, believed to shelter the Holy Family during their time in Egypt, and the Hanging Church, perched above a Roman gate tower.

Round out the day with a stop at the Ben Ezra Synagogue, one of the oldest in Egypt, reflecting the city's diverse spiritual tapestry.

Today, venture deep into Egypt’s Western Desert to El Bahariya Oasis, a fertile green basin surrounded by golden dunes.

Explore a traditional desert village, see the mud-brick homes, and relax by natural hot springs. Visit archaeological sites such as the Valley of the Golden Mummies and the Greek-Roman necropolis, shedding light on life in ancient desert communities.

Enjoy an authentic dinner and overnight stay in a desert camp beneath a starlit sky.

After an early start, set off for the remarkable landscapes of the White Desert, filled with wind-carved limestone formations resembling mushrooms and animals.

Next, drive through the Black Desert, characterized by volcanic cones and basalt-strewn sands.

Witness a dramatic desert sunset before returning to Cairo in the evening.

Savor a final breakfast at your hotel before being transferred to Cairo International Airport for your onward flight.

Thank you for exploring Egypt with us—we hope to see you again!