Day 2: Cairo 

Today you will visit the Giza plateau, site of Great Pyramids, the last of the Ancient Seven Wonders of the World. 

After breakfast, your guide will escort you to the spectacular site of the Pyramids. The Great Pyramids are an extraordinary highlight, enticing tourists from around the world to visit Egypt every year. Built during the 4^th Dynasty, the site is comprised of three pyramids with three unique stories about ancient civilization. Your Egyptologist will guide you around the Cheops, Kephren and Mykernes pyramids, built as exclusive tombs for Kings and Queens. Although there are more than 93 pyramids throughout Egypt, the most famous are the ones found at Giza. The pyramid of Cheops, built of limestone rock, is comprised of 1,300,000 blocks ranging in weight from 2.5 to 15 tons each. You may have an opportunity to access one of the pyramids or want to visit the Solar Boat Museum located close to the largest pyramid, at an additional cost.

Next, we visit the Great Sphinx, one of the most recognized and interesting structures in history. With the body of a lion and a human head, the impressive structure measures 60m long and 20m high. Created from soft sandstone, the sphinx was buried under the sand for centuries. Following your morning at the Pyramids, your guide will suggest a restaurant for lunch.

In the afternoon, you will visit the world famous Egyptian Museum and Khan El-Khalil Bazaar

After lunch, your guide will escort you through the incredible Egyptian Museum. It is home to amazing and rare collections of ancient Egyptian artifacts, including the treasures of King Tut Ankh Amon. In the Mummy Room, you will have the opportunity to experience the mummies of ancient pharaohs and queens including the most spectacular and famous, King Ramses II. Your Egyptologist will guide you through this massive building pointing out the greatest masterpieces of Egyptian history.

After Egyptian Museum, you will be driven to the Khan El-Khalil Bazaar where you will see what it feels like to haggle and barter your way through an Arabic market! The Khan El-Khalil Bazaar is full of cafes, restaurants, and souvenir shops ideal for purchasing mementos from your adventure. The small alleys, crowded sidewalks, and assertive shopkeepers are guaranteed to provide you with the authentic bazaar experience, which has remained untouched by time for centuries!

Free evening at your leisure

After the bazaar you will head back to the hotel, where the rest of the evening is free to spend at your leisure or get ready for another excited new day.

Meals: Breakfast – Dinner

Hotel  : Fairmont Nile City  or similar 

Day 3: Cairo – Luxor

Morning flight to Luxor and check in at 5 star Nile cruise. 

This morning and after check out, will transfer you to the Cairo Airport for your hour long flight to destined for the wonderful city of Luxor.

Luxor is called the capital of antiquities because it is home to 1/3 of the ancient Egyptian monuments. As you drive along the Cornish, you will witness a mixture of ancient and modern monuments in this historic city. Our representative will transfer you to your 5 star Nile Cruise, your home for the next 4 days.

Enjoy a horse drawn carriage to the famous Karnak Temple.

After checking into your Nile cruise, your Luxor guide will accompany you on your carriage ride and through the Karnak temple. The horse drawn carriage was the old royal mode of transportation and has been adopted as a form of public transportation in the smaller cites. The Karnak Temple is the most famous and largest temple in Egypt. The complex contains a group of temples that has been dedicated to different gods. As you’re guided around this massive complex, you will learn more about the ancient capital of Thebes. Following the temple visit, you will take the horse carriage back to the cruise boat. The remainder of the day is at your leisure to explore the east side of Luxor.

Following your tours of the Karnak  you will enjoy a lunch aboard your deluxe Nile Cruise.Free evening to enjoy the Luxor nightlife.

The Luxor market is a wonderful place to mingle with the locals, explore the culture and discover great souvenirs. The market is famous for silver jewellery and alabaster stone statues. There are also wonderful coffee shops located within the market where you can enjoy the night life or enjoy an optional horse-drawn carriage ride around the city to experience a more authentic Egyptian culture.

Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner

Nile Cruise : 5 star deluxe 

Day 4: Luxor – Esna

After an early start, enjoy a guided tour of the Valley of the Kings and Worker Village. 

After an early breakfast, you will join your guide and cross to the west side of the Nile Valley and visit the Valley of the Kings and the Worker Village. The west bank of Luxor is called “The City of the Dead” because of the huge number of ancient Egyptian Pharaohs and subjects buried there. When you arrive at the Valley of the Kings, you will see several entrances that lead to numerous secret underground burial sites beneath a rocky mountain. The colourful vibrant carvings and paintings on the tomb walls each tell a story of a different pharaoh, their life and their expectations of the afterlife. Your entrance ticket allows you to visit three different tombs. A visit to King Tut Ankh Amon’s tomb will require an extra ticket at an additional cost. The Worker Village is also carved out of a mountain with ruins and remains of the old city. Two small tombs are located here with colourful paintings and art representing their beliefs that has also been well preserved. Before we catch the ferry to the east bank of Luxor, we visit the Colossi of Memnon, two massive statues that represent the Pharaoh Amenhotep III. Approximately 18m high, the statues are made of quartzite sandstone and face the Nile.

After the tour is complete, you will cross back to the east bank of the Nile Valley and board our Nile cruise boat.

After noon sailing the River Nile to Esna.

As your sailing journey begins in the afternoon, sit back and relax as the magnificent scenery and small villages pass you by. The water levels of the Nile differentiate between Luxor and Aswan at Esna. Although it is a very small city, Esna contains the river lock, which was built to navigate the waters and help the cruise ships cross without any issues. As the cruise boats enter the lock, the level of water either rises to cross towards Aswan or lowers to cross towards Luxor. It is always interesting to watch and be part of while you are on the cruise ship.

Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner

Nile Cruise : 5 star deluxe 

Day 5: Esna – Edfu – Kom Ombo

Visit Edfu Temple.
In the morning, you will visit Edfu Temple, the Temple of Horus, is the second largest and most preserved temple in Egypt. Dedicated to the God Horus, son of Osiris, the temple displays the legendary story of Osiris, Seth and the creation of the world. We head back to the Nile cruise boat and start sailing to Kom Ombo.

Sail to Kom Ombo and explore the temple on the River Nile. 

Kom Ombo Temple is a unique structure and one of the very rarest temples that you will visit. Divided into two sections, this temple is symmetrical and contains an outer and an inner temple, both dedicated to two different gods. There is also an opportunity to visit the amazing Mummified Crocodile Museum. After visiting Kom Ombo Temple, you will head back to the Nile cruise boat and overnight in Kom Ombo.

Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner

Nile Cruise : 5 star deluxe 

Day 6: Kom Ombo – Aswan

Sail to Aswan 

Aswan, located in Upper Egypt, is a unique city home to two both Nubian and Egyptian cultures. Located along the beautiful Nile River, Aswan is surrounded by fertile greenery and a rocky landscape backed by magnificent golden sand dunes. You cannot help but fall in love with this quaint city. The unique location of Aswan has helped it become a fantastic winter resort with the most sun in all of Egypt.

Enjoy a tour of Philae Temple. 

This morning you will be led on a guided tour of the Philae Temple.. The temple is dedicated to Isis, the famous goddess and Mother to the God Horus. One of the temples at risk because of the Aswan Dam, Philae Temple was moved to a beautiful island similar to its original location.

This afternoon you are invited to enjoy a relaxing felucca ride around the scenic Aswan Islands, and optional visit to  Botanical Gardens.

A felucca is the traditional sailing boat used around Aswan and will definitely be one of the highlights of your trip! As you relax on your felucca ride, you will enjoy the very best section of the River Nile and the beautiful Aswan islands. Elephantine Island houses the remains of the old temple of Khnum. Inside the temple is a Nilo meter, an ancient device used to measure the level of water which would set the taxes for the country. The island is also famous because of its rocky landscape that resembles the backs of elephants. The Botanical Gardens, located between the east and west bank of Aswan, include various types of flowers and plants brought in from five continents.

After your felucca ride, try your hand at bartering in the bustling Aswan Markets! Purchase souvenirs, or sit in a cafe and watch life in Aswan unfold before your eyes.

This evening will spend at your leisure. You may want getting lost in the Aswan Markets. The evening is the best time to explore the markets, when the crowds are at their largest! Locals and tourists alike barter and haggle for the best deals on jewelry, textiles, and spices. Immerse yourself in the local economy, or simply enjoy watching the spectacle!

Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner

Nile Cruise : 5 star deluxe 

Day 7: Aswan- Cairo

Free day to explore Aswan. 

This morning you will be transferred to your hotel in Aswan after breakfast and checkout form the Nile cruise. During your free time, you will have a chance to participate in one of the excursions of Aswan. We highly recommend visiting the magnificent temples of Abu Simbel.

Optional tour of Abu Simbel Temple.

Located on Lake Nasser, Abu Simbel was carved out of a mountain and created from the rocky surface to become one of the most powerful and breathtaking temples in all of Egypt. Created during the reign of King Ramses II, the temples are for himself and his beloved wife Nefertari. The temple is famous for its magical design when the sun rises and passes through the corridor, illuminating the face of King Ramses II on his birthday and day of coronation. The remarkable complex was relocated in 1968 to avoid being submerged and damaged by Lake Nassar when the Aswan Dam was created.

How to get to Abu Simbel Temples.

Abu Simbel is located 280 kilometres southwest of Aswan. There are two ways that allow you visit the temples. First, Abu Simbel by bus is approximately 6.5 hours round trip. Departure is in the early morning around 3:00 am, and returns around 1:00 pm. Second, Abu Simbel by flight is approximately 40 minute one way flying. There are two flights that leave in the early morning. Both options allow the same amount of time visiting the temples.

Meals: Breakfast – Dinner

Hotel  : Helnan Aswan  or similar 

Day 8: Aswan –  Cairo

Tour ends after arrival to Cairo International Airport 

This morning and after check out,Citadel tours representative will transfer you to the Aswan Airport for your  flight to Cairo.

Tour ends upon arrival to Cairo International Airport.

Meals: Breakfast