14 Nights to Egypt Highlights – This 15-day Egypt tour will be an unforgettable adventure, showing you all the famous and legendary sights of Egypt. Starting in Alexandria and Cairo, you will visit the Giza Pyramids, the Saqqara Step Pyramid, Khan El-Khalili bazaar, Cairo Citadel, the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, Qaitbay Citadel, Alexandria Library, and much more. After that, you will enjoy a luxury cruise on the Nile River between Luxor and Aswan, where you will see many amazing archaeological sites, such as Karnak Temple, Hatshepsut Temple, Luxor Temple, Valley of the Kings, Philae Temple, Edfu Temple, Abu Simbel Temple, and more. Then, in Hurghada, you will have the chance to explore the rich marine life of the Red Sea and experience the wildlife of the Sahara in an exciting Super Safari trip.
Day 1: Arrival in Cairo & Dinner Cruise
When you arrive at Cairo Airport, our representative will help you with passport control, luggage, and other formalities. From the airport, a private air-conditioned car will take you to your 5-star hotel to check in. In the evening, we will pick you up for a dinner cruise on the Nile River. You can relax and enjoy a colorful belly-dancing show with a folklore band, including the famous “Tannoura” spin, a traditional Egyptian dance. After the show, you will be taken back to your hotel in Cairo to spend the night.
Day 2: Exploring the Pyramids & Egyptian Museum
After breakfast, begin your 15-day tour by joining your private group to explore the main tourist sites in Cairo. You will visit the Giza Pyramids complex, the largest open-air museum in the world, built around 2700 B.C. by the 4th dynasty.
The Great Pyramid is a true wonder, built by King Khufu (2609–2584 B.C.). His chief architect, Hemiunu, used 2.3 million limestone blocks and 400,000 skilled workers to build it in 2570 B.C. The Great Pyramid is about 147 meters tall and was the tallest man-made structure on earth for over 3,000 years.
You will also see the Great Sphinx, known as the Horus of the Horizon. It represents the power and wisdom of King Khafre (2558–2532 B.C.). The Sphinx was carved from one large limestone rock. Between its paws is the Dream Stele of Thutmose IV, placed there in 1401 B.C.
Next is the Valley Temple, built around 2700 B.C. It served as a place for mummification and purification for the royal families of the 4th dynasty buried in the pyramids.
Visit the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), a place full of ancient treasures made over 5,000 years. Here you will see important artifacts like the statue of King Ramses II, the 10 statues of King Senusret, Ptolemy’s statues, and the royal treasures.
Enjoy lunch at a restaurant with views of the pyramids or the Nile. Then continue to the Saqqara Step Pyramid, the first pyramid built for Pharaoh Djoser (2649–2611 B.C.) by his architect. It is 62 meters tall and has six steps. Saqqara started a new era of pyramid building in Egypt.
Visit the ancient city of Memphis, founded by Narmer around 3200 B.C. See the temple of “Hut-Ka-Ptah,” which means “Enclosure of the Ka.” This name was translated into Greek as “Ai-gy-Ptos,” which is where the name “Egypt” comes from. Memphis is 20 km from Giza and was protected by the god Ptah, the god of creation.
At the end of the day, you will return to your hotel.
Day 3: Alexandria Day Tour
After breakfast, take a private tour to Alexandria with your Egyptologist guide. Visit the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, rare underground tombs from the 2nd century A.D. They mix Egyptian and Greek styles.
See Pompey’s Pillar, an 82-foot granite column built in the 4th century B.C. It honors Emperor Diocletian and is one of the few such monuments outside Rome.
Visit Qaitbay Citadel, a strong fortress on the Mediterranean Sea. Built in 1477 A.D. by Sultan Qaitbay, it stands where the ancient Lighthouse of Alexandria once stood. The citadel has beautiful decorations from the Islamic Golden Age.
Have lunch at a seafood restaurant, then visit the Alexandria Library, opened in 2002. It holds many important books, artifacts, and rare items from Egypt’s rich past.
Return to your hotel in Cairo for the night.
Day 4: Flight to Aswan & Aswan Sightseeing
After breakfast, check out and transfer to Cairo Airport for your flight to Aswan. Meet your Egyptologist guide and visit the High Dam, a modern engineering marvel built between 1960 and 1970 with help from the Soviet Union. It greatly helped the economy and culture of Aswan.
Visit the unfinished Obelisk of Queen Hatshepsut (1508–1458 B.C.). It cracked while being carved but shows the skill of ancient Egyptians. It was meant for Karnak Temple.
Explore Philae Temple, dedicated to the goddess of love and motherhood. It holds the famous “Tell-All Stone Book” with ancient stories including the Myth of Osiris. The temple was built in 280 B.C. by the Ptolemies and later moved to Agilkia Island during the 1960s as part of a UNESCO project.
Transfer to your 5-star Nile cruise and enjoy lunch and dinner onboard. Stay overnight on the cruise.
Day 5: Abu Simbel Temples
After breakfast, visit the Abu Simbel Temples. Built by Pharaoh Ramses the Great in 1200 B.C., these temples honor the gods Amun, Ra, and Ptah. The Great Temple was the site of the Sun Festival, held twice a year. The smaller temple is for Ramses’ queen, Nefertari.
Return to the cruise after lunch and dinner, and continue sailing. Overnight onboard includes all meals.
Day 6: Edfu Temple & Sailing to Luxor
After breakfast, sail to the Temple of Kom Ombo, shaped as a double temple. It was built between 180 B.C. and 47 B.C. for worship of Horus the Elder and Sobek, the crocodile god of the Nile. This temple holds many details about ancient Egyptian medicine and astrology.
You will arrive late at night and stay on board until you reach Luxor. Edfu Temple, built around the time of the battle between Set and Horus, is one of Egypt’s best-preserved temples.
Day 7: Karnak Temple & Luxor Temple
After breakfast on the cruise, check out and take a private air-conditioned vehicle with your guide to explore Luxor. Start with Karnak Temple, built between 2000 B.C. and 30 B.C. on 247 acres. It was home to the Theban Triad: Amun, Mut, and Khonsu. Karnak is the largest religious complex on earth and includes the Luxor Temple precinct and the Great Hypostyle Hall.
Have lunch at a 5-star hotel and rest. In the evening, visit Luxor Temple, built by Pharaoh Amenhotep and King Ramses II around 1400 B.C. It honors the Theban Triad and hosts the Opet Festival, celebrating royal renewal.
Return to your hotel in Luxor for the night.
Day 8: West Bank Luxor & Valley of the Kings
After breakfast, visit the West Bank of Luxor with your guide. See the Valley of the Kings, a vast burial site with 63 royal tombs from the New Kingdom (1570–1050 B.C.), including those of Ramses the Great, Hatshepsut, and Tutankhamun.
Visit the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut (1507–1458 B.C.), built on three levels with ramps connecting them. It honors the sun god Amun, the goddess Hathor, and Anubis.
See the Colossi of Memnon, two large sandstone statues built by Amenhotep III (1386–1349 B.C.). They are famous for a sound that was heard during the Greco-Roman period, believed to be caused by volcanic activity.
Enjoy lunch in Luxor and stay overnight at your hotel.
Day 9: Transfer to Hurghada
After breakfast, check out and transfer by private car from Luxor to Hurghada. Check into a 5-star hotel and rest for the night.
Day 10: Snorkeling in the Red Sea
After breakfast, enjoy a private snorkeling trip to explore the colorful coral reefs and fish in the Red Sea. Spend the night in Hurghada.
Day 11: Relaxing Day at the Beach
Spend a relaxing free day at the beach in Hurghada. Overnight at your hotel.
Day 12: Desert Safari & BBQ Dinner
After breakfast, go on a desert safari by quad bike. End the day with a BBQ dinner. This safari is an exciting way to experience the desert. Stay overnight in Hurghada.
Day 13: Return to Cairo & Old Cairo Tour
Fly back to Cairo in the afternoon. Meet your guide and visit Old Cairo. Start with the Egyptian Museum, opened in 1901, holding the largest collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts.
Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, then visit Salah El-Din Citadel. Built between 1176 and 1182 on Cairo’s highest hill, it is a symbol of Islamic architecture. Inside are museums and mosques, including the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, built between 1830 and 1848. It is also called the Alabaster Mosque because of its white walls made of alabaster from the pyramids.
Visit the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC), which displays 50,000 artifacts from Egypt’s long history, including 28 mummies.
Walk through Al-Muizz Street, built in 969 by the Fatimid dynasty. This street is like an open-air museum with old mosques, museums, and art galleries.
Visit Khan El-Khalili Bazaar, built in the late 1300s during the Mamluk period. It is a lively market with shops and cafes. Return to your hotel in Cairo for the night.
Day 14: Free Day in Cairo
Spend a free day in Cairo. Enjoy your time as you wish. Stay overnight at your hotel.
Day 15: Departure
After breakfast, check out and transfer to Cairo Airport for your departure. This ends your 15-day Egypt tour.
