Pyramids – Up close with the only remaining wonder of the world

Upon arrival at Cairo, our representatives will meet you, assist you through customs and drop you at your hotel.

Late evening, your guide will accompany you to the sound and light show, near the great pyramids on the banks of the river Nile. Enjoy an enthralling show which will tell you the secrets of the ancient Egyptians.

(Overnight in Cairo)

Post breakfast, you will be escorted, by your guide, to visit the most celebrated pyramids of Giza, the largest pyramids ever built, guarded by the great Sphinx. The largest of which is included in the list of the seven wonders of the Ancient World.

From here you will go to Saqqara, to see the oldest known pyramid. Also known as the stepped pyramid, this was the tallest structure of its time, it’s complex consisting of courtyards, temples, and shrines, continuing to be of prominence well into the Roman era.

The next stop will be in Memphis, one of the most powerful cities of ancient Egypt. Very little remains of the original necropolis today, here you will see a humongous monolithic statue of Ramses the II, and temples dedicated to Ptah, the god of truth, the creator of the world; Memphis is the epicenter of his worship.

(Overnight in Cairo)

Checking out of your hotel in the morning, you will take the fight from Cairo to Aswan.

Here you will see the Aswan high dam, one of Egypt’s more modern feats, built across the Nile to control its annual flooding, as a reservoir and to harness hydroelectricity.

Going downstream, you’ll reach Philae, to visit the temple of Isis. It is one of Egypt’s major relocation projects as a part of the UNESCO Nubia Campaign, protecting this and other complexes from the floods of the River Nile.

Next up is a relaxing felucca (traditional sailboats) ride, around the islands of Aswan, focusing on the Kitchener’s and Elephantine Islands, famous for its archaeological sites, it is the cult center of the ram god Khnum, God of the Cataracts, who is believed to have control over the waters of the River Nile. Kitchener’s is a tiny island which is home to a botanical garden.

You’ll end the day with a spectacular oriental/Nubian show, spending the night on board the cruise.

(Overnight at Aswan)

With an early start, you will head towards Abu Simbel, Nubia, to visit the iconic twin temples of King Ramses II and his wife Queen Nefertiti. These colossal temples were originally cut into a massive rock cliff and are said to the grandest temples to have ever been commissioned in Egypt. In the 1960s, was relocated to a higher hill, in order to avoid floods, in a rescue operation achieved by UNESCO and international collaboration.

Returning to Aswan by afternoon, you’ll be setting sail to Kom Ombo. On reaching, you’ll visit the temple of Kom Ombo, which is dedicated to both the ancient crocodile God Sobek and the falcon-headed god Horus, and in this lay the uniqueness of this temple because ancient Egyptians very seldom built a temple in the honor of two gods.

From Kom Ombo you will be continuing the cruise to Edfu, staying there overnight on board.

(Overnight at Cruise)

At Edfu, you will see the most well-preserved monument from the era of the ancient Egyptians – the temple of Horus, the major Ptolemaic temple.

From Edfu, you will travel to Luxor, the capital of Egypt during the twelfth dynasty, by sail. On the East bank of Luxor, a visit to the stunning temple complex of Karnak would show you the grandeur of the ancient Egyptian civilization.

It is the largest remaining religious site of the ancient world.

Also in Luxor, you’ll visit the Temple of Luxor, which has continually been used as a place of worship until almost up to the present day. With time the temple got buried beneath the streets of Luxor and eventually, a mosque was built in its place. Today the mosque has been carefully preserved during the excavation of the temple and is an integral part of the site.

You’ll end the day with a stunning folklore show and spend the night on board the cruise.

(Overnight on Cruise)

An archaeological paradise, the west bank of Luxor is home to the valley of kings – the burial place of most of the Pharaohs of the Egypt of the New Kingdom and numerous mortuary temples including that of the sons of Ramesses II, child King Tut Ankh Amon and Queen Hatshepsut.

Heading to the Luxor international airport, you’ll be boarding the flight to Cairo, and from there proceed to your hotel.

(Overnight at Cairo)

Starting your day with The Museum of Antiquities, dwell deeper into the culture of ancient Egypt. An initiative the Egyptian government, the museum was opened to stop the export of Egyptian artifacts.

Built during the time of the crusade, playing an important role in Egyptian politics, the next stop is the citadel of Saladin Al Ayouby. Positioned strategically at the top of a cliff, it offers breathtaking views of the bustling city of Cairo.

Going to the Khan El Khalili Bazaar is a great way to wrap up the trip. Navigating through a traditional ‘souk’ – an open-air market is a perfect way to catch a glimpse of the local lifestyle. Located in the Islamic district of Cairo, it is said to be the oldest open-air market in the Middle East. The market is famous for clothing, traditional jewelry, spices, and perfumes, usually made by local artists, proving to be the best souvenirs.

(Overnight at Cairo)

After breakfast, you’ll be picked up from the hotel, to ride to Cairo international airport for the departure home.