Schedule: Daily Departures
Duration: 10 Days / 9 Nights
Pickup & Drop-off: Cairo International Airport (CAI) with private meet-and-assist transfers
Destinations Covered: Cairo, Giza, Alexandria (or Abu Simbel), Aswan, Kom Ombo, Edfu, and Luxor
Tour Type: 100% Private Chauffeured & Egyptologist-Guided Tour with a 5-Star Full-Board Nile Cruise and Domestic Flights
Overview: The Perfect First-Time Egyptian Journey
Visiting Egypt for the first time is an experience unlike any other, offering the chance to step into 5,000 years of living history. From the monumental geometry of the Giza Pyramids and the golden burial treasures of Tutankhamun to sailing down the Nile past desert riverbanks and standing before the towering rock-cut temples of Abu Simbel, a well-paced 10-day journey captures the country’s signature highlights without rush or fatigue.
Ramasside Tours crafts seamless private itineraries that handle every logistical element: internal domestic flights connecting northern and southern Egypt, licensed Egyptologist guides, private climate-controlled transfers, and handpicked 5-star Nile cruise ships.
Day-by-Day 10-Day Egypt 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 with a personalized name sign.
- Enjoy fast-track assistance through luggage collection and transfer directly to your 5-star hotel in Cairo or Giza in a private, air-conditioned vehicle.
- Check in, relax, and prepare for your Egyptian journey.
- Overnight in Cairo.
Day 2: The Giza Plateau Pyramids, Great Sphinx & Egyptian Museum
- Breakfast: Enjoy breakfast at your hotel.
- The Giza Pyramids: Stand before the Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops), Khafre, and Menkaure—the last surviving Wonder of the Ancient World. Capture panoramic views across the desert plateau.
- The Sphinx & Valley Temple: Tour the megalithic pink-granite Valley Temple where King Khafre was mummified and view the enigmatic Great Sphinx up close.
- The Egyptian Museum in Tahrir: Discover more than 120,000 antiquities, including the masterworks of the Old and Middle Kingdoms and the world-renowned treasures of King Tutankhamun.
- (Optional Evening): Attend the Sound and Light Show at the Giza Pyramids.
- Overnight in Cairo.
Day 3: Coptic Cairo, Islamic Heritage & Khan El Khalili Souk
- Old Cairo (Coptic Quarter): Tour the Hanging Church (built over the Roman Fortress of Babylon), Abu Serga (Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus, sheltering the Holy Family’s crypt), and the Ben Ezra Synagogue.
- Saladin Citadel & Mosque of Muhammad Ali: Visit the medieval Islamic fortress and marvel at the soaring alabaster minarets overlooking the Cairo skyline.
- Khan El Khalili Bazaar: Stroll through the labyrinthine 14th-century souk filled with spice stalls, perfume distillers, brass lanterns, and traditional cafes.
- Overnight in Cairo.
Day 4: Flight to Aswan – Philae Island Temple & High Dam
- Domestic Flight: Transfer to Cairo Airport for your 1-hour morning flight south to Aswan.
- The High Dam: Gaze across Lake Nasser from this engineering landmark completed in the 1960s.
- Philae Temple on Agilkia Island: Take a short boat ride across the Nile to explore the picturesque sanctuary dedicated to the goddess Isis, relocated stone-by-stone under UNESCO supervision.
- Cruise Embarkation: Board your 5-star Nile cruise ship in time for lunch.
- Felucca Sailing: Enjoy a relaxing afternoon felucca sailboat ride around Elephantine Island and the Agha Khan Mausoleum.
- Overnight on board in Aswan (Full Board).
Day 5: Abu Simbel Excursion & Sailing to Kom Ombo
- Morning Excursion to Abu Simbel: Travel south to the monumental rock-cut temples of Ramesses II and Queen Nefertiti, carved directly into the sandstone cliffs and saved from the rising waters of Lake Nasser.
- Afternoon Sailing: Return to the ship as your floating hotel sets sail north down the Nile.
- Temple of Kom Ombo: Disembark directly at the riverbank to explore the unique double-sanctuary temple dedicated jointly to Sobek the crocodile god and Haroeris the winged falcon.
- Evening: Sail toward Edfu with dinner and entertainment on board.
- Overnight on board (Full Board).
Day 6: Edfu Horus Temple, Esna Lock & Luxor Arrival
- Temple of Horus in Edfu: Visit Egypt's best-preserved cult temple, arriving by horse-drawn carriage to marvel at the 36-meter-tall pylon gate and intact hypostyle halls.
- Cruising Through the Esna Lock: Relax on the ship's sun deck as your vessel passes through the historic lock mechanism of Esna.
- Arrival in Luxor: Cruise into Luxor, the ancient imperial capital of Thebes.
- Luxor Temple by Night: Take an evening walking tour through the illuminated courtyards and colossal statues of Ramesses II at Luxor Temple.
- Overnight on board in Luxor (Full Board).
Day 7: Luxor West Bank – Valley of the Kings & Hatshepsut
- (Optional Sunrise): Soar above the Nile and ancient Thebes on an early morning hot air balloon ride.
- Valley of the Kings: Cross to the West Bank to explore the subterranean rock-cut tombs of New Kingdom pharaohs, with vibrant wall murals depicting the afterlife.
- Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut: Admire the symmetrical, three-tiered limestone terraces of Deir el-Bahari.
- Colossi of Memnon: Stop before the two 18-meter-tall quartzite statues of Amenhotep III.
- Overnight on board in Luxor (Full Board).
Day 8: Karnak Temple Complex & Flight to Cairo (or Coastal Alexandria)
- Karnak Temple: Explore the largest religious complex ever constructed in antiquity, standing among the 134 towering sandstone pillars of the Great Hypostyle Hall.
- Disembarkation & Flight: Transfer to Luxor Airport (LXR) for your return domestic flight to Cairo.
- Check in to your Cairo hotel for an evening at leisure.
- Overnight in Cairo.
Day 9: Alexandria Day Trip or Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM)
- Option A (Alexandria Coastal Day Trip): Take a private day trip along the desert highway to the Mediterranean. Visit the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, the Roman Amphitheatre, the modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina, and Fort Qaitbay overlooking the sea.
- Option B (Grand Egyptian Museum & Saqqara): Dedicate the day to touring the expansive Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) along with Djoser’s 3rd-Dynasty Step Pyramid at Saqqara.
- Overnight in Cairo.
Day 10: Final Cairo Souvenirs & Airport Departure
- Breakfast: Savor your final Egyptian breakfast at your hotel.
- Depending on your international flight departure time, enjoy last-minute shopping at local boutiques or a coffee break in Zamalek.
- Meet your private chauffeur for your scheduled transfer to Cairo International Airport (CAI), arriving two to three hours prior to your international flight.
Package Comparison: Egypt Itineraries by Duration
Tour PackageDurationKey Highlights IncludedDomestic FlightsCairo City Break3 Days / 2 NightsGiza Pyramids, Sphinx, Egyptian Museum, Saqqara, Memphis & Khan El KhaliliNot requiredCairo & Luxor Express4–5 DaysPyramids, Egyptian Museum, Karnak Temple, Valley of the Kings & Hatshepsut2 Flights (Cairo-Luxor-Cairo)Cairo & Alexandria Discovery5 Days / 4 NightsPyramids, GEM, Catacombs, Bibliotheca Alexandrina & Fort QaitbayPrivate road transitCairo & Classical Nile Cruise7–8 DaysGiza Pyramids, 3–4 Night Cruise, Luxor, Edfu, Kom Ombo & Aswan2 Flights (Cairo-Aswan / Luxor-Cairo)The Complete First-Timer Circuit10 Days / 9 NightsCairo, Giza, Alexandria/Abu Simbel, 5-Star Cruise, Luxor & Aswan2 Flights IncludedGrand Egypt & Desert Odyssey12–15 DaysAll classical sites plus Red Sea resort leisure (Hurghada) or Siwa Oasis3 Flights Included
Standard Tour Inclusions & Exclusions
Inclusions
- 5 Nights 5-star hotel accommodation in Cairo (Bed & Breakfast basis)
- 4 Nights 5-star luxury Nile cruise accommodation (Full Board: breakfast, lunch, and dinner included)
- Domestic flight tickets: Cairo to Aswan & Luxor to Cairo
- All airport meet-and-assist services and door-to-door private transfers in air-conditioned vehicles
- Professional licensed English-speaking Egyptologist guides throughout Cairo and Upper Egypt
- All entrance tickets to scheduled attractions mentioned in the itinerary
- Chilled bottled mineral water during all transfers and excursions
- All service charges, road tolls, and municipal taxes
Exclusions
- International flight tickets
- Entry visa to Egypt (Assistance and fast-track service available)
- Optional excursions (Abu Simbel overland trip, Luxor Hot Air Balloon, Pyramids Sound & Light Show)
- Personal expenses, souvenirs, and drinks on board the Nile cruise
- Discretionary tipping for tour guides, drivers, and cruise staff
Essential Travel Tips for First-Time Visitors to Egypt
- Footwear & Sun Protection: Wear comfortable, closed-toe walking shoes suitable for sandy and uneven stone surfaces. Pack high-SPF sunscreen, sunglasses, and a wide-brimmed sun hat.
- Dress Modestly: When touring mosques and traditional residential districts, dress respectfully by keeping shoulders and knees covered.
- Hydration: Always drink bottled mineral water and avoid tap water throughout your trip.
- Currency & Tipping: While major credit cards are accepted in hotels and upscale establishments, keep small denominations of Egyptian Pounds (EGP) on hand for tipping (Baksheesh), small bazaar purchases, and local restrooms.
- Bespoke Upgrades: Consider upgrading road transfers to executive luxury vans with reclining captain chairs and high-speed Wi-Fi to travel between monuments in complete comfort.
For custom departures, seasonal pricing, or VIP private upgrades, contact us at: [email protected]
