Day 1: Arrival in Cairo
Upon your arrival at Cairo International Airport, a representative from Marsa Alam Tours will meet and assist you. You will be transferred to your hotel in Cairo by a private air-conditioned vehicle. After check-in, you have free time to explore Cairo at night. Overnight at the hotel in Cairo.
Day 2: Pyramids of Giza, Sakkara, and Dahshur
After breakfast at your hotel, you will be picked up by your tour guide for an excursion to the Pyramids of Giza. Visit the iconic pyramids of Cheops, Chephren, and Mykerinus, and marvel at the enigmatic Sphinx. Continue to the Valley Temple.
Next, proceed to Sakkara and visit the Step Pyramid, the oldest major stone structure in the world, built for King Djoser.
Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.
Afterward, drive to Memphis, the ancient capital of Egypt, and see the Statue of Ramses II and the Alabaster Sphinx of Memphis. Then drive to your hotel in Giza for overnight.
Day 3: Old Cairo and Aswan
After breakfast, check out from the hotel in Giza and start your tour of Old Cairo. Visit the Saladin Citadel, constructed by Salah al-Din on the Moqattam Hills in 1183 AD. Explore the Mosque of Muhammad Ali Pasha, an impressive example of Ottoman architecture.
Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant in Old Cairo.
Next, visit major attractions such as the Hanging Church, Ben Ezra Synagogue, the Church of St. Barbara, and the Church of Abu Serga, one of the oldest Coptic churches in Cairo.
In the evening, you will be transferred to Cairo Airport for a short flight to Aswan. Upon arrival in Aswan, you will be transferred to your hotel overnight.
Day 4: Aswan Sightseeing
After breakfast, check out from the hotel and proceed to visit the famous attractions in Aswan.
Visit the Temple of Philae, dedicated to the goddess Isis and beautifully situated on an island in the Nile River.
Explore the High Dam, an engineering marvel that created Lake Nasser.
See the Unfinished Obelisk, a massive ancient granite obelisk that provides insights into ancient quarrying techniques.
Enjoy a felucca ride around Elephantine Island.
Optional: Visit the Nubian Village to experience the colorful Nubian culture.
In the evening, embark on a Nile Cruise and enjoy dinner and overnight on boa
Day 5: Abu Simbel and Kom Ombo
Early in the morning, you will embark on a journey to visit Abu Simbel from Aswan. The Abu Simbel temples are a magnificent site, consisting of two temples dedicated to Ramses II and Queen Nefertari. Carved out of the mountain on the west bank of the Nile between 1274 and 1244 B.C., the Great Temple is dedicated to Ramses II, Ra-Harakhty, Amun Ra, and Ptah. It features four colossal statues. The second temple is dedicated to Queen Nefertari and the goddess Hathor. These temples were meticulously dismantled and relocated to higher ground to preserve them from flooding during the construction of the Aswan High Dam.
After visiting Abu Simbel, you will return to Aswan by the afternoon, and lunch will be served there.
At 13:00, you will sail to Kom Ombo, where you will visit the Temple of Kom Ombo. This temple was dedicated to the deities Sobek and Horus and dates mainly to the Ptolemaic and Roman periods (332 B.C. – 395 A.D.).
Later, you will continue sailing to Edfu, where you will spend the night on board the cruise. Dinner and overnight on the cruise.
Day 6: Edfu and Luxor Temple
After breakfast on board the Nile cruise, you will visit the Edfu Temple. This well-preserved temple is dedicated to the hawk-god Horus and was constructed during the Ptolemaic period. The temple walls feature depictions of the myth of the contending of Horus and Seth, possibly performed annually as a religious drama.
After visiting Edfu, the cruise will sail to Luxor through Esna Lock. Once in Luxor, you will visit Luxor Temple, a grand temple largely built by the New Kingdom Pharaoh Amenhotep III and completed by King Tutankhamun and King Ramses II. The first pylon of the temple was raised by Ramses II and decorated with his military Battle of Kadesh.
Day 7: Valley of the Kings
In the morning, you have the option to enjoy an early morning air balloon ride over Luxor (optional tour).
Afterward, you will be picked up from your hotel in Luxor to explore the famous historical sites on Luxor’s West Bank.
First, visit the Valley of the Kings, the final resting place of Egypt’s rulers from the 18th to the 20th dynasty. The valley houses tombs, including those of the great Pharaoh Ramses II and the boy Pharaoh Tutankhamun. Most of the tomb decorations are well-preserved, providing insights into ancient Egyptian beliefs about the afterlife.
Optional: If you wish to visit the Tomb of Tutankhamun, there is an additional cost of 200 Egyptian Pounds.
Next, visit the stunning Temple of Hatshepsut, one of the most beautiful and well-preserved temples in Luxor. It was built on three levels and merges with the limestone cliffs on the eastern face of Theban Mountain.
See the Colossi of Memnon, two massive stone statues of King Amenhotep III, which are the only remains of a complete mortuary temple.
Later, you can explore other sites like Medinet Habu, Ramesseum, and the Valley of the Queens.
The afternoon is free for you to spend as you wish. Transfer back to your hotel in Luxor.
Day 8: Dendera Temple from Luxor
Early in the morning, you will depart from Luxor to Qena, a beautiful city on the west bank of the Nile. Cross the Nile to visit the Dendera Temple.
Dendera Temple is dedicated to the goddess Hathor and was mainly constructed during the Late Ptolemaic period, under the reign of Ptolemy XII and Cleopatra VII, with later additions made during the Roman period. The temple’s design follows the style of other classical Egyptian temples, with the exception of the front of the hypostyle hall, which was constructed by Emperor Tiberius.
Within the temple complex, you will find scenes depicting the Ptolemaic rulers, including a relief of Cleopatra VII and her son by Julius Caesar and co-ruler, Ptolemy XV (Caesarion), dressed in Egyptian garb and making offerings.
The temple also features a sanatorium, where pilgrims would come to seek healing from the goddess. Sacred water, made holy by pouring it onto statues with sacred texts, was used for bathing, and the priests of Hathor dispensed unguents. There are also sleeping quarters provided for those who hoped the goddess would appear in their dreams to aid them.
After exploring Dendera Temple, you will visit Deir el-Medina, known as the Valley of the Artisans, and the Tombs of Nobles.
Then, you will drive back to Luxor for an overnight stay.
Day 9: Cairo to the White Desert
At 06:00 AM, you will be picked up from your hotel in Giza or Cairo and driven to Bahariya Oasis, located about 350 km east of Cairo. The journey takes approximately 4 hours, and there will be two coffee breaks during the trip.
Upon arrival in Bahariya Oasis at 10:00 AM, you will meet your safari guide and embark on a 4×4 Jeep adventure to explore the beautiful desert landscapes.
You will visit the Black Desert, named for the layer of black powder covering its mountains and sand. It is a unique and striking sight.
At 12:00 PM, you will have lunch in El Haize Oasis, where you can also immerse yourself in a hot water spring for relaxation.
Next, you will drive to the Valley of Agabat, located within the White Desert. The White Desert is famous for its otherworldly beauty, with unique rock formations created over millions of years.
You will explore the Valley of Agabat by Jeep 4×4 and have the opportunity to enjoy sandboarding.
At 4:30 PM, you will visit the White Desert National Park, which features stunning rock formations resembling various shapes, such as a chicken, a sphinx, camels, tents, and mushrooms.
As the sun sets, you will make camp, set up tents, and enjoy the tranquil desert atmosphere. Bedouin staff will arrange dinner and camping equipment.
Day 10: White Desert – International Departure
At 06:00 AM, you will witness the beautiful sunrise in the desert.
At 07:00 AM, breakfast will be served before driving back to Bahariya Oasis.
During the return journey, you will visit Crystal Mountain, a hill formed by quartzite crystals that glisten in the sun’s rays.
At 11:00 AM, you will stop at Bir Sigam, a hot spring known for its relaxing properties.
Finally, you will drive back to Cairo, arriving at approximately 4:30 PM. If you wish to add lunch, it will be an extra $15 per person.
Optional Extra Options:
If you want to discover more about the history of Bahariya Oasis, you can do an extra trip to the Museum of the Golden Mummies, Bawiti tombs, and Alexander the Great Temple. This will cost an additional $35 per person.
Alternatively, you can book an extra 3-hour Bahariya Oasis tour to explore more of the palm and olive fields, Gebel Maghrafa, and Lake al-Marun, and enjoy the sunset from the summit of the English Mountain (Gebel Al Ingleez). This will also cost an additional $35 per person.
Please note that there is an additional $25 pick-up charge for hotels near Cairo Airport.
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