Schedule: Daily Departures
Duration: 8 Days / 7 Nights
Pickup & Drop-off: Cairo International Airport (CAI)
Domestic Transit: Domestic Flights Included (Cairo / Aswan & Luxor / Cairo)
Accommodation Levels: 5-Star Standard, Luxury, and Ultra-Luxury Packages
Tour Highlights
Discover the quintessential landmarks of Egypt on an efficient, well-paced 8-day private expedition featuring domestic flights. Explore the monumental pyramids and antiquities of Cairo, embark on a scenic 3-night 5-star Nile cruise sailing downstream from Aswan to Luxor, and venture north to the Mediterranean coast to discover the historical treasures of Alexandria.
- Giza Plateau & Egyptian Museum: Stand before the Great Pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure, the Great Sphinx, the Valley Temple, and thousands of years of royal antiquities including the Tutankhamun treasures.
- 3-Night Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor: Relax in full-board luxury while cruising past the fertile banks of Upper Egypt, stepping ashore to explore Philae Island, Kom Ombo, and the Temple of Horus at Edfu.
- West Bank of Thebes: Explore the subterranean royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings, Queen Hatshepsut’s terraced temple at Deir El Bahari, and the monumental Colossi of Memnon.
- Mediterranean Day Trip to Alexandria: Discover the modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the seaside Citadel of Qaitbay at the historic Pharos site, Montaza Palace Gardens, and Stanley Bridge.
- Time-Saving Domestic Flights: Maximize your sightseeing time with included domestic flights between Cairo, Aswan, and Luxor.
Detailed 8-Day Tour Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Cairo – Welcome to Egypt
- Arrive at Cairo International Airport (CAI). Your Ramasside Tours airport representative meets you inside the terminal holding a personalized name sign.
- Receive full assistance with customs, baggage claim, and arrival formalities.
- Transfer by private, air-conditioned executive vehicle to your hotel in Cairo for check-in.
- Rest and prepare for your Egyptian journey. Overnight stay in Cairo.
Day 2: The Egyptian Museum & The Giza Pyramids
- Breakfast at your hotel. Meet your private licensed Egyptologist guide.
- Museum of Egyptian Antiquities (Tahrir Square): Begin with an extensive tour through the museum's classical galleries, examining 5,000 years of pharaonic art and the legendary golden funerary treasures of King Tutankhamun.
- The Giza Plateau: Stand before the Great Pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure. Capture panoramic desert photographs of the three pyramids lined across the plateau.
- The Great Sphinx & Valley Temple: Walk through Khafre’s granite Valley Temple, used anciently for the purification and mummification rites of the pharaoh, and admire the Great Sphinx.
- (Optional Evening): Attend the Sound and Light Show at the Giza Pyramids.
- Return transfer to your hotel. Overnight stay in Cairo.
Day 3: Flight to Aswan – High Dam, Philae Temple & Nile Cruise Embarkation
- Breakfast and hotel checkout. Early morning transfer to Cairo Airport for your domestic flight to Aswan.
- Arrive in Aswan, where your private Egyptologist guide meets you.
- Aswan High Dam: Visit the modern engineering landmark that created Lake Nasser and regulated the Nile's seasonal flooding.
- Philae Island Temple: Take a private motorboat to Agilkia Island to explore the Greco-Roman sanctuary dedicated to the goddess Isis, rescued and reconstructed block-by-block under UNESCO supervision.
- Transfer to your 5-star Nile cruise ship for check-in; lunch served onboard.
- Afternoon leisure to enjoy the river views from the sun deck. Dinner and overnight stay onboard in Aswan.
Day 4: Cruise to Kom Ombo & Edfu
- Breakfast onboard as the ship navigates downstream toward Kom Ombo.
- Temple of Kom Ombo: Disembark at the riverbank to explore the symmetrical dual temple dedicated to Sobek the crocodile god and Haroeris the falcon god. Tour the adjacent Crocodile Museum displaying mummified reptiles.
- Return onboard for afternoon tea while cruising toward Edfu.
- Dinner served onboard followed by an evening oriental Galabeya party and music.
- Overnight stay onboard near Edfu / Luxor.
Day 5: Temple of Horus at Edfu – Esna Lock – Luxor
- Breakfast onboard the cruise.
- Temple of Horus at Edfu: Board a traditional horse carriage to visit the best-preserved cult temple of ancient Egypt, admiring its towering entrance pylons and reliefs depicting the mythical victory of Horus over Seth.
- Return onboard as your cruise navigates downstream through the Esna river lock.
- Afternoon tea served on the sun deck as you approach Luxor.
- (Optional East Bank Tour): Explore the monumental Karnak Temple Complex with its 134-column Hypostyle Hall and the illuminated Luxor Temple on the banks of the Nile.
- Dinner and overnight stay onboard in Luxor.
Day 6: West Bank of Luxor – Flight Back to Cairo
- Breakfast onboard and disembarkation.
- (Optional Dawn Activity): Hot air balloon flight gently soaring over the Valley of the Kings and Theban desert cliffs at sunrise (approx. 30–45 minutes).
- Valley of the Kings: Cross the Nile to the West Bank to explore subterranean burial chambers carved deep into the limestone hills, admiring preserved hieroglyphic texts and vivid pigments.
- Temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir El Bahari: Visit the colonnaded limestone terraces rising dramatically out of the cliffs, constructed for Egypt's celebrated female monarch.
- Colossi of Memnon: Photo stop before the two colossal quartzite seated statues representing Pharaoh Amenhotep III.
- Transfer to Luxor Airport for your domestic flight back to Cairo.
- Arrive in Cairo, meet your driver, and transfer to your hotel. Overnight stay in Cairo.
Day 7: Full-Day Mediterranean Excursion to Alexandria
- Breakfast at your hotel. Board your private climate-controlled vehicle for an overland drive north along the desert highway to Alexandria.
- Bibliotheca Alexandrina: Tour the open plaza and architecture of the modern library, viewing submerged statues of Alexander the Great and Ptolemy I. (Note: Library reading halls are closed on Fridays and public holidays; interior reading room access requires a separate ticket).
- Citadel of Qaitbay: Stop outside the 15th-century maritime fortress built atop the exact foundation of the ancient Pharos Lighthouse—one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
- Montaza Palace Gardens: Stroll through 150 acres of coastal royal grounds once favored by King Farouk, viewing the Haramlek and Salamlek palaces and walking out to Tea Island.
- Historic Landmarks & Corniche Drive: View the Mosque of Abu El Abbas El Mursi, the Unknown Soldier Memorial, and Saint Mark’s Coptic Cathedral (Africa’s oldest church foundation).
- Stanley Bridge & Corniche Drive: Drive along the coastal Corniche and across Stanley Bridge for sweeping views of Alexandria’s bays, followed by a walk through the historic downtown center.
- Return drive back to Cairo in the evening. Overnight stay in Cairo.
Day 8: Final Departure from Cairo
- Breakfast at your hotel.
- Meet your Ramasside Tours representative and driver for your private transfer to Cairo International Airport (CAI), with full assistance through departure check-in.
Inclusions & Exclusions
Inclusions
- 4 nights accommodation in Cairo on a bed-and-breakfast basis
- 3 nights onboard a 5-star Nile cruise (Aswan to Luxor) on a full-board basis (all meals and guided shore sightseeing included)
- Domestic flight tickets: Cairo to Aswan & Luxor to Cairo
- Private round-trip overland transfers between Cairo and Alexandria
- All tours led by a licensed private English-speaking Egyptologist guide
- All site entrance tickets to scheduled attractions (Giza Pyramids, Sphinx, Valley Temple, Egyptian Museum, Aswan High Dam, Philae Temple, Kom Ombo Temple, Edfu Temple, Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, Bibliotheca Alexandrina plaza, and Montaza Gardens)
- Motorboat transfers for Philae Island Temple
- Chilled bottled mineral water inside vehicles throughout all travel days
- All airport meet-and-assist services, highway tolls, parking fees, service charges, and municipal taxes
Exclusions
- Entry visa to Egypt
- International airfare
- Optional excursions (Abu Simbel, Luxor Hot Air Balloon, East Bank Karnak & Luxor Temples, Pyramids Sound & Light)
- Special interior tickets (inside the Great Pyramid chambers, Tutankhamun's tomb, or Bibliotheca Alexandrina reading halls)
- Beverages during cruise meals and lunches
- Gratuities / Tipping
Accommodation Options
TierCairo HotelsNile Cruise Vessels5-Star Standard (A)Le Méridien Pyramids / Steigenberger Pyramids / Ramses Hilton / Barceló PyramidsMS Emilio / MS Radamis / MS Princess SarahLuxury (B)Kempinski Nile / Fairmont Nile City / Conrad Cairo / Marriott Cairo / Sheraton CairoMS Amwaj Living Stone / MS Blue Shadow / MS Jaz Jubilee / Steigenberger MinervaUltra-LuxuryFour Seasons at Nile Plaza / Marriott Mena House / The Nile Ritz-CarltonSanctuary Sun Boat / The Oberoi Zahra / Mövenpick Royal Lily / Le Fayan / MS Farah
Tour Add-ons & Travel Notes
Executive Luxury Van Upgrade
Upgrade your overland journey between Cairo and Alexandria to an executive luxury van featuring extra legroom, plush reclining seats, onboard Wi-Fi, and cold beverages.
VIP Private Tour with Dr. Zahi Hawass
Request an exclusive private tour led by world-renowned archaeologist Dr. Zahi Hawass, including private access inside the Giza Plateau and between the paws of the Great Sphinx away from all crowds.
Luggage & Footwear Advice
Pack comfortable, flat-soled, closed-toe walking shoes for dirt tracks across archaeological sites in Luxor and Aswan. Bring sandals for relaxation onboard the Nile cruise.
Child Policy
- 0 – 1.99 years: Free of charge (excluding domestic flight seat costs)
- 2 – 5.99 years: 25% of tour price (50% if domestic flights are included)
- 6 – 11.99 years: 50% of adult tour price
- 12+ years: Full adult rate
For reservations, customized flight schedules, and private VIP upgrades, contact us at: [email protected]
