Schedule: Daily Departures
Duration: 10 Days / 9 Nights
Pickup & Drop-off: Cairo International Airport (24/7 VIP Meet & Assist)
Tour Highlights
Unveil the timeless wonders of ancient Egypt on an enriching 10-day classic journey combining 5-star hotel accommodations, domestic flights, and a 4-night luxury Nile River cruise. Trace pharaonic civilizational history from the monumental pyramid fields of Lower Egypt to the sacred riverside temples of Upper Egypt and the colossal cliff-cut sanctuaries of Lake Nasser.
- Cairo & Giza: Stand before the Fourth Dynasty Great Pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure, the enigmatic Great Sphinx, Khafre’s granite Valley Temple, the Step Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara, and the colossal royal statue of Ramesses II in ancient Memphis.
- Museums & Historic Quarters: Tour the historic Museum of Egyptian Antiquities in Tahrir Square, explore Saladin’s Citadel and the Alabaster Mosque of Muhammad Ali, walk through Old Coptic Cairo, and browse the vibrant lanes of Khan el-Khalili bazaar.
- Luxor East & West Banks: Walk the Avenue of Sphinxes through the colossal Karnak Temple Complex and visit Luxor Temple. Cross to the West Bank to explore the royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings, Queen Hatshepsut’s terraced temple at Deir el-Bahari, and the Colossi of Memnon.
- 4-Night 5-Star Nile River Cruise: Sail between Luxor and Aswan visiting Egypt’s best-preserved Greco-Roman monument—the Falcon Temple of Horus at Edfu—and the dual sanctuary of Sobek and Haroeris at Kom Ombo.
- Aswan & Colossal Abu Simbel: Tour the Aswan High Dam and the romantic island Temple of Philae by boat. Conclude your Upper Egypt journey with an excursion to Abu Simbel to behold the monumental Sun Temples of Pharaoh Ramesses II and Queen Nefertari carved into the sandstone mountain cliffs.
Detailed Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Cairo – Welcome to Egypt
Arrive at Cairo International Airport. Your Ramasside Tours tour coordinator will meet you before customs and passport control holding a personalized name sign. Enjoy a private transfer in a modern, climate-controlled vehicle directly to your luxury hotel in Cairo.
Overnight in Cairo.
Day 2: The Great Pyramids of Giza & The Egyptian Museum
- The Giza Plateau: Begin your morning standing before the sole surviving Wonder of the Ancient World: the Great Pyramids of Khufu (Cheops), Khafre (Chephren), and Menkaure (Mykerinos). Stop at designated desert vantage points for sweeping panoramic photographs framing all three pyramids together.
- The Great Sphinx & Valley Temple: Tour the ancient pink-granite mortuary sanctuary used for royal purification and mummification rites, then walk up close to the legendary limestone Sphinx.
- Museum of Egyptian Antiquities (Tahrir Square): Discover an incomparable collection spanning five millennia of pharaonic art and archaeology, encompassing over 250,000 registered artifacts, royal sarcophagi, and pharaonic masterworks.
- Overnight in Cairo.
Day 3: Step Pyramid of Saqqara & Ancient Memphis
- Saqqara Necropolis: Tour the revolutionary Step Pyramid of King Djoser—the earliest monumental stone structure in human history—designed by the royal architect Imhotep during the Third Dynasty (c. 2630 BC).
- Open-Air Museum of Memphis: Travel south to Egypt’s first unified capital (founded c. 3100 BC by King Menes) to inspect the colossal fallen limestone statue of Pharaoh Ramesses II and the 80-ton Alabaster Sphinx.
- (Optional: 2-hour evening dinner cruise along the Nile featuring live oriental folkloric music and Tanoura dance performances).
- Overnight in Cairo.
Day 4: Saladin’s Citadel, Old Coptic Cairo & Flight to Luxor
- The Citadel of Saladin: Tour the medieval fortress built to protect Cairo from Crusader armies, exploring the Ottoman-style Alabaster Mosque of Muhammad Ali designed by architect Yousif Boushnaq.
- Historic Coptic Cairo: Walk through ancient Babylon Fortress streets to visit the Hanging Church (Saint Virgin Mary), the subterranean Church of Abu Serga (where the Holy Family sheltered), and the historic Ben Ezra Synagogue.
- Khan el-Khalili Bazaar: Stroll through 14th-century market alleys, browsing handcrafted brass lanterns, spices, textiles, and jewelry.
- Transfer to Cairo International Airport for your domestic flight to Luxor. Arrive in ancient Thebes, meet your representative, and check into your hotel.
- Overnight in Luxor.
Day 5: East Bank Temples – Nile Cruise Embarkation
- Karnak Temple Complex: Walk down the Avenue of Sphinxes and enter the colossal Great Hypostyle Hall, marveling at 134 sandstone columns soaring up to 21 meters high.
- Luxor Temple: Discover the grand courtyards and seated granite statues of Ramesses the Great, illuminated along the East Bank promenade.
- Nile Cruise Embarkation: Board your 5-star Nile cruise ship before lunch. Savor full-board dining and evening leisure on board.
- Overnight aboard cruise in Luxor.
Day 6: West Bank – Valley of the Kings & Hatshepsut’s Temple
- (Optional: Early morning sunrise hot air balloon flight over the valleys and temples of Luxor's West Bank).
- Valley of the Kings: Cross to the Theban Necropolis on the West Bank to explore the underground rock-cut tombs of New Kingdom pharaohs adorned with ancient funerary frescoes.
- Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut: Admire the dramatic three-tiered colonnaded temple rising against the towering cliffs of Deir el-Bahari.
- The Colossi of Memnon: Stop before the two monolithic 18-meter quartzite statues of Amenhotep III standing guard over the ancient flood plain.
- Return to the ship and set sail upriver toward Edfu.
- Overnight aboard cruise in Edfu.
Day 7: Horus Temple at Edfu & Dual Temple of Kom Ombo
- Temple of Horus at Edfu: Tour Egypt’s best-preserved Greco-Roman sandstone sanctuary dedicated to the falcon god Horus.
- Sail toward Kom Ombo while enjoying lunch on the sundeck.
- Temple of Kom Ombo: Explore the unique symmetrical twin temple dedicated to Sobek the crocodile deity and Haroeris the falcon god, standing along a picturesque bend in the Nile.
- Continue sailing to Aswan with afternoon tea on deck.
- Overnight aboard cruise in Aswan.
Day 8: High Dam, Philae Temple & Felucca Sail
- Aswan High Dam: Visit the monumental modern rock-fill dam completed in the 1960s, taking in sweeping views of Lake Nasser.
- Philae Temple Complex: Travel by motorboat to Agilkia Island to explore the sanctuary of Isis, rescued from rising Nile waters by UNESCO.
- Nile Felucca Sail: Sail gracefully on a traditional wooden felucca around Kitchener’s Botanical Island and view the hillside Aga Khan Mausoleum.
- Overnight aboard cruise in Aswan.
Day 9: Abu Simbel Excursion – Flight to Cairo
- Disembark after breakfast.
- Colossal Temples of Abu Simbel: Journey south to Lake Nasser to explore the monumental rock-cut Sun Temples of Pharaoh Ramesses II and Queen Nefertari, featuring four colossal 20-meter seated statues carved into the sandstone cliff face.
- Transfer to Aswan Airport for your return domestic flight to Cairo.
- Meet your representative upon arrival and transfer to your luxury hotel.
- Overnight in Cairo.
Day 10: Final Departure from Cairo
- Breakfast at your hotel. Private executive transfer to Cairo International Airport with departure assistance for your outbound flight.
Inclusions & Exclusions
Inclusions
- 4 Nights luxury hotel accommodation in Cairo (Bed & Breakfast)
- 1 Night luxury hotel accommodation in Luxor (Bed & Breakfast)
- 4 Nights aboard a 5-Star luxury Nile Cruise (Full Board: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner & Shore Excursions)
- Domestic flights within Egypt: Cairo to Luxor & Aswan to Cairo
- Comprehensive excursion to Abu Simbel (by flight or modern air-conditioned vehicle)
- All ground transportation in modern, climate-controlled vehicles with professional drivers
- Professional licensed English-speaking Egyptologist guides throughout all excursions
- All entrance tickets to sites listed in the itinerary (Giza Pyramids, Egyptian Museum, Saqqara, Memphis, Citadel, Karnak, Luxor Temple, Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae, Abu Simbel)
- Traditional Nile felucca sailing in Aswan
- All service charges, road tolls, and municipal taxes
Exclusions
- Entry Visa to Egypt (Fast-track assistance available on arrival upon request)
- International airfare
- Optional excursions (sunrise hot air balloon, Nile dinner cruise, interior pyramid chambers)
- Personal expenses, souvenirs, and beverages outside cruise meals
- Gratuities / Tipping
Accommodation Options
5-Star Standard (Plan A)
- Cairo: Le Méridien Pyramids / Steigenberger Pyramids / Ramses Hilton / Barceló Cairo Pyramids / Pyramisa Suites
- Nile Cruise: MS Emilio / MS Radamis / MS Princess Sara
5-Star Luxury (Plan B)
- Cairo: Kempinski Nile Hotel / Fairmont Nile City / Conrad Cairo / Cairo Marriott Hotel / Sheraton Cairo / Hilton Golf Pyramids
- Nile Cruise: MS Amwaj Living Stone / MS Nile Premium / MS Blue Shadow / MS Jaz Jubilee / Steigenberger Minerva
Ultra-Luxury (VIP Plan)
- Cairo: Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza / Marriott Mena House / The Nile Ritz-Carlton / Hyatt Regency Cairo West
- Nile Cruise: Sanctuary Sun Boat / The Oberoi Zahra / The Oberoi Philae / Sonesta St. George / Mövenpick Royal Lily / MS Farah
Tour Add-ons & Travel Notes
Executive Luxury Van Upgrade
Upgrade your city and intercity transfers to an executive luxury minivan featuring extra legroom, dual-zone climate control, chilled bottled beverages, and generous luggage capacity.
Professional Vacation Photographer
Book a personal vacation photographer to accompany your group at the Pyramids, Abu Simbel, or Luxor temples for $50 per day.
Domestic Flight Business Class Upgrade
Upgrade your Cairo–Luxor and Aswan–Cairo domestic flights to Business Class for $50 per person per flight segment.
Private Access with Dr. Zahi Hawass
Exclusive private tours can be arranged with world-renowned archaeologist Dr. Zahi Hawass, offering private walk-throughs between the paws of the Great Sphinx and after-hours access inside the Great Pyramids (inquire for rates and scheduling).
Fast-Track Visa-on-Arrival
Save time at Cairo Airport with pre-arranged entry visas for eligible passport holders (including valid US, UK, or Schengen visa holders) for $35 per person.
Travel Insurance (AIG Travel Guard)
Comprehensive travel insurance through AIG Travel Guard is available for $25 per person for one week or $50 per person for two weeks.
Child Policy
- 0 – 1.99 years: Free of charge (Domestic airline infant charges apply)
- 2 – 5.99 years: 25% of tour rate (50% if domestic flights are included)
- 6 – 11.99 years: 50% of adult tour rate
- 12+ years: Full adult rate
For reservations, custom flight schedules, and private VIP upgrades, contact us at: [email protected]
