Schedule: Daily Departures
Duration: 14 Days / 13 Nights
Pickup & Drop-off: Cairo International Airport (CAI) with private meet-and-assist transfers
Destinations Covered: Cairo, Giza, Saqqara, Memphis, Luxor, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Aswan, Abu Simbel, Alexandria, and Rosetta (Rashid)
Tour Type: 100% Private Chauffeured & Egyptologist-Guided Grand Tour with a 5-Star Full-Board Nile Cruise and Domestic Flights
Tour Highlights
The 14-Day Cairo, Alexandria & Nile Cruise Tour by Air delivers the definitive two-week Egyptian journey, connecting the Old Kingdom’s monumental pyramid architecture with imperial Theban sanctuaries, Nubian cliffside temples, and the Mediterranean coastline.
- Complete Cairo Heritage Circuit: Tour the Great Pyramids of Giza, the Great Sphinx, the neoclassical Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square, the Step Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara, Memphis, the Saladin Citadel, and historic Coptic Cairo.
- 4-Night 5-Star Luxury Nile River Cruise: Glide between Luxor and Aswan on full board, docking directly at the temples of Edfu, Kom Ombo, and the island sanctuary of Philae.
- Monumental Upper Egypt Temples: Stand beneath the 134 sandstone pillars of the Great Hypostyle Hall at Karnak Temple, explore illuminated Luxor Temple, and cross to the Valley of the Kings, Queen Hatshepsut's terraced temple, and the Colossi of Memnon.
- Colossal Abu Simbel Temples: Witness the world-renowned rock-cut temples of Ramesses II and Queen Nefertiti overlooking Lake Nasser.
- Greco-Roman Alexandria: Visit the modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the Roman Amphitheatre, St. Mark's Coptic Cathedral, the Citadel of Qaitbay, and the Montaza Palace royal gardens.
- Historical Rosetta (Rashid): Take a private riverboat on the Nile where it converges with the Mediterranean Sea and visit the fortress where the famous Rosetta Stone was discovered in 1799.
- Comfortable Air Travel: Replace lengthy, exhausting 15-hour sleeper train journeys with swift 1-hour scheduled domestic flights between Cairo, Luxor, and Aswan.
Day-by-Day Comprehensive Tour Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome to Cairo – Arrival & Private Transfer
- Arrive at Cairo International Airport (CAI), where your private Ramasside Tours representative greets you at the terminal gate holding a personalized name sign.
- Enjoy fast-track assistance through luggage collection and transfer directly to your luxury hotel in a private, air-conditioned executive vehicle.
- Check in, relax, and prepare for your Egyptian expedition.
- Overnight in Cairo.
Day 2: The Giza Pyramids, Sphinx & Historic Egyptian Museum
- Breakfast: Savor breakfast at your hotel.
- The Historic Egyptian Museum in Tahrir: Begin the day exploring more than 120,000 pharaonic antiquities spanning 5,000 years of civilization, including the world-famous golden burial treasures, gold mask, and jewelry of King Tutankhamun.
- The Giza Plateau: Stand before the last surviving Wonder of the Ancient World: the Great Pyramids of Khufu (Cheops), Khafre, and Menkaure.
- The Great Sphinx & Valley Temple: Tour the monolithic pink-granite Valley Temple where King Khafre's mummification rites were conducted, and capture panoramic photos before the enigmatic Great Sphinx.
- Return transfer to your hotel.
- Overnight in Cairo.
Day 3: Saqqara Step Pyramid & Ancient Capital of Memphis
- Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.
- Step Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara: Travel south to the ancestral necropolis of Saqqara to explore the world's oldest monumental stone building, engineered during the 3rd Dynasty (c. 2630 BC) by the royal architect Imhotep.
- The Open-Air Museum of Memphis: Visit Egypt's first imperial capital, founded around 3100 BC by King Menes. View the colossal 10-meter fallen limestone statue of Pharaoh Ramesses II and the massive 80-ton Alabaster Sphinx.
- Return transfer to your hotel.
- Overnight in Cairo.
Day 4: Saladin Citadel, Historic Coptic Cairo & Khan El Khalili Souk
- Saladin Citadel & Muhammad Ali Mosque: Ascend the Moqattam Hills to tour the medieval stone fortress built by Salah El Din in 1183 AD to defend the capital. Walk inside the soaring Alabaster Mosque of Muhammad Ali with its Turkish-Ottoman architecture.
- Historic Coptic Cairo: Explore Old Cairo's spiritual sanctuary: visit the Hanging Church (built over the Roman Fortress of Babylon), the Church of St. Sergius and Bacchus (Abu Serga, sheltering the Holy Family Crypt), the Church of St. Barbara, and the historic Ben Ezra Synagogue.
- Khan El Khalili Bazaar: Conclude your day browsing the vibrant 14th-century marketplace, filled with brass lamps, spices, textiles, and traditional cafes.
- Overnight in Cairo.
Day 5: Flight from Cairo to Luxor (Optional Dendera & Abydos)
- Domestic Flight: Transfer to Cairo Airport for your 1-hour morning flight south to Luxor.
- Arrival in Luxor: Meet your private chauffeur and guide upon arrival and transfer to your luxury hotel.
- (Optional Pilgrimage Excursion): Embark on an overland excursion to the sacred pilgrimage site of Abydos to tour the Temple of Seti I with its renowned fine-line bas-reliefs, followed by the Dendera Temple of Hathor, famous for its vibrant astronomical ceilings and crypt reliefs.
- Overnight in Luxor.
Day 6: East Bank Temples – 5-Star Nile Cruise Embarkation
- East Bank Temples:
- Karnak Temple Complex: Walk through the Avenue of Ram-Headed Sphinxes and stand among the 134 towering sandstone pillars of the Great Hypostyle Hall.
- Luxor Temple: Marvel at the grand courtyards, the colossal granite statues of Ramesses the Great, and the towering pink-granite obelisk.
- Cruise Check-In: Board your 5-star luxury Nile cruise ship in time for lunch.
- Enjoy lunch and dinner on board with views of the Theban riverfront.
- Overnight on board in Luxor (Full Board).
Day 7: Luxor West Bank – Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut & Memnon
- Breakfast: Breakfast on board.
- Valley of the Kings: Cross the Nile to the West Bank to explore the subterranean rock-cut tombs of the New Kingdom pharaohs, adorned with colorful funerary inscriptions and astronomical ceiling art.
- Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut: Admire the symmetrical, three-tiered limestone terraces rising dramatically against the cliffs of Deir el-Bahari.
- Colossi of Memnon: Stop before the two 18-meter-tall quartzite statues of Amenhotep III facing the Nile.
- Return to the cruise ship for lunch and afternoon tea as the vessel sets sail toward Esna.
- Overnight on board in Luxor / sailing (Full Board).
Day 8: Edfu Horus Temple & Kom Ombo Double Sanctuary
- Temple of Horus in Edfu: Arrive by traditional horse-drawn carriage to tour Egypt's best-preserved cult temple, dating to the Ptolemaic era.
- Scenic River Cruising: Relax on the sun deck as your ship glides past rural palm groves and golden sandbanks toward Kom Ombo.
- Temple of Kom Ombo: Disembark at the riverbend to explore the unique dual temple dedicated jointly to Sobek the crocodile god and Haroeris the winged falcon, and visit the adjacent Crocodile Mummy Museum.
- Overnight on board docked at Kom Ombo (Full Board).
Day 9: Aswan Nile Cruise – High Dam, Philae Island & Felucca
- Breakfast: Breakfast on board.
- The Aswan High Dam: Gaze across Lake Nasser from this modern engineering landmark completed in the 1960s.
- Philae Temple on Agilkia Island: Cruise across the Nile on a private boat to the island sanctuary dedicated to Isis, saved from rising river waters under UNESCO supervision.
- Afternoon: Relax on board or take an optional felucca sailboat ride around Elephantine Island.
- Overnight on board in Aswan (Full Board).
Day 10: Disembarkation – (Abu Simbel Excursion) – Flight to Cairo
- Disembarkation: Enjoy breakfast on board before check-out.
- Abu Simbel Temples Excursion: Journey south to the shores of Lake Nasser to stand before the colossal rock-cut temples of Ramesses II and Queen Nefertiti, carved directly into sandstone cliffs.
- Return Flight to Cairo: Transfer to Aswan Airport (ASW) for your return domestic flight to Cairo.
- Meet your chauffeur upon landing and transfer to your luxury Cairo hotel.
- Overnight in Cairo.
Day 11: Full-Day Mediterranean Alexandria Excursion
- Drive to Alexandria: Meet your guide for a private transfer along the desert highway to Alexandria.
- Bibliotheca Alexandrina: Tour the modern disc-shaped architectural complex holding millions of books and exhibition halls.
- Roman Amphitheatre & Sunken Antiquities: Inspect the marble seating and the open-air exhibition of pharaonic statues lifted from the sea.
- Historic Landmarks: Visit St. Mark's Coptic Cathedral (the oldest church in Africa), the El Nabi Daniel Mosque, and stroll through the historic Mansheya quarter and traditional gold market.
- Citadel of Qaitbay: Photograph the 15th-century seaside fortress erected on the foundation of the ancient Pharos Lighthouse.
- Montaza Palace Royal Gardens: Walk through 150 acres of royal coastal gardens surrounding the Salamlek and Haramlek palaces of King Farouk.
- Overnight in Alexandria.
Day 12: Historical Rosetta (Rashid) & Return to Cairo
- Rosetta Heritage Tour: Drive 60 km east to the historic port city of Rosetta.
- Motorboat Nile-Mediterranean Estuary Excursion: Board a private motorboat along the Nile to view the exact convergence point where the river flows into the Mediterranean Sea.
- Fort Julien: Visit the 15th-century Mamluk fort where French soldiers discovered the Rosetta Stone in 1799, unlocking ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs.
- Tour Rosetta's Ottoman brick mansions with carved mashrabiya latticework.
- Private return transfer along the highway back to your hotel in Cairo.
- Overnight in Cairo.
Day 13: Day at Leisure in Cairo
- Enjoy a full day at your own pace to relax by your hotel pool, do last-minute shopping in Zamalek or Khan El Khalili, or schedule an optional excursion.
- Overnight in Cairo.
Day 14: Final Departure from Cairo
- Breakfast: Savor your final breakfast at the hotel.
- Airport Departure: Meet your private chauffeur and representative for a direct transfer to Cairo International Airport (CAI), with assistance through check-in and departure formalities.
Accommodation Options: 3 Tiers of Luxury
CategoryCairo Hotels (7 Nights)Luxor Hotel (1 Night)5-Star Nile Cruise (4 Nights)Alexandria Hotel (1 Night)Tier A (Standard 5-Star)Steigenberger Pyramids, Le Méridien, Ramses Hilton, Barceló PyramidsSteigenberger Nile PalaceMS Emilio, MS Radamis, MS Princess, MS SaraHelnan Palestine / Steigenberger CecilTier B (Luxury 5-Star)Kempinski Nile, Fairmont Nile City, Conrad Cairo, Marriott ZamalekHilton Luxor, Sonesta St. GeorgeMS Amwaj, MS Nile Premium, Blue Shadow, Jaz JubileeFour Seasons Alexandria / Cecil LuxuryTier C (Ultra-Luxury / Palace)Marriott Mena House, Four Seasons Nile Plaza, Kempinski DeluxeSofitel Winter PalaceSanctuary Sun Boat, Oberoi Philae/Zahra, Sonesta CruisesFour Seasons San Stefano (Suite)
Complete Tour Inclusions & Exclusions
Inclusions
- 7 Nights 5-Star Hotel Accommodation in Cairo (Bed & Breakfast basis)
- 1 Night 5-Star Hotel Accommodation in Alexandria (Bed & Breakfast basis)
- 1 Night 5-Star Hotel Accommodation in Luxor (Bed & Breakfast basis)
- 4 Nights 5-Star Luxury Nile River Cruise (Full Board: breakfast, lunch, and dinner included)
- Domestic flight tickets: Cairo to Luxor & Aswan to Cairo (Economy class)
- 100% private door-to-door transportation in modern, air-conditioned executive vehicles
- Senior licensed English-speaking Egyptologist guides throughout all excursions
- All entrance tickets to scheduled attractions mentioned in the itinerary
- Full-day excursions to Alexandria, Rosetta, Saqqara, Memphis, and Old Cairo
- Motorboat transfers to Agilkia Island (Philae Temple) and the Rosetta Nile estuary
- All airport meet-and-assist services with baggage handling
- Chilled bottled mineral water inside the vehicle throughout all road journeys
- All highway tolls, service charges, and local municipal taxes
Exclusions
- International flight tickets
- Entry visa to Egypt (Assistance and fast-track service available)
- Special interior tickets not specified (e.g., inside the burial chambers of the Great Pyramid or Nefertari's tomb)
- Drinks during cruise and hotel meals (billed on consumption)
- Optional excursions (Overland tour to Abu Simbel, Nile dinner cruise in Cairo, Dendera/Abydos day trip)
- Discretionary tipping for guides, drivers, and cruise crew
Tour Add-ons & VIP Booking Notes
Executive Luxury Van Upgrade
Upgrade your ground transit across all cities to an executive luxury van featuring extra legroom, plush reclining leather captain chairs, dual-zone climate control, onboard Wi-Fi, and cold refreshments for maximum comfort during long drives.
Dining with a Sea View in Alexandria
Add a fresh Mediterranean seafood lunch at a renowned waterfront restaurant in Alexandria for $15 per person (advance booking recommended).
Domestic Flight Business Class Upgrade
Upgrade your domestic flights (Cairo–Luxor & Aswan–Cairo) to Business Class for an additional $50 per person per flight leg to enjoy priority boarding, extra baggage allowance, and lounge access.
Visa-on-Arrival Fast-Track Service
Avoid airport queues upon arrival in Egypt with our fast-track visa processing service for $35 per person. Travelers holding a valid US, UK, or Schengen visa qualify for visa-on-arrival processing through our airport representative.
Professional Vacation Photographer
Hire a dedicated studio photographer to accompany your party across the pyramids, temples, or desert plateaus to capture high-resolution portraits for $50 per day.
Travel Insurance Coverage (AIG Travel Guard)
Protect your journey with optional travel insurance coverage: $50 per person for trips extending beyond one week.
Child Policy
- 0 – 1.99 years: Free of charge (airline infant fees apply)
- 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 custom departures, seasonal rate confirmations, or private VIP upgrades, contact us at: [email protected]
