The Best of Egypt Tour

Overview and Highlights

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This classic tour of Egypt is designed for those who don't have more than a week to spend as it gives the traveler a chance to explore almost all the wonderful ancient Egyptian historical sites in the three main heritage centers in Egypt: Cairo, the capital of Egypt, Luxor, which is biggest open air museum and the amazing city of Aswan, perfect gateway to Abu Simble.

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Highlights:

• Visit the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx;

• Explore the old pyramids of Saqqara;

• Unveil the Egyptian Museum of Antiques;

• Walk on the streets of the Old Citadel of Salah el Din;

• Explore the Coptic and Islamic Cairo;

• Haggle like an Egyptian at Khan El Khalili market;

• Experience the sleeping train journey from Cairo to Aswan;

• Take a 3 nights cruise from Aswan;

• Wonder Elephantine Island on a felucca;

• Visit the High Dam, the unfinished obelisk, Philae Temple, Kom Ombo and Edfu temple; 

• Explore the highlights of Luxor - the biggest open air Museum;

• Visit Karnak Temple, Hatshepsut Temple and the Valley of the Kings;

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Itinerary:

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Day 1 - Cairo 

Arrive to Cairo where you will be met by our representative in Egypt and transferred to your hotel for overnight.

 

Day 2 - Cairo 

Your private Egyptologist tour guide and driver will pick you up and start your tour. Drive to Giza and visit the Pyramids. See the Great Pyramid, and the Sphinx. Lunch en route. Continue to Saqqara to see the prototype of the pyramids, the Step Pyramid, built for the 3rd Dynasty pharaoh Djoser by the exalted architect Imhotep. Overnight on Cairo.

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Day 3 – Cairo / Sleeping train 
After breakfast drive to the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities for a detailed guided tour. Among other fascinating exhibits, see the contents of the tomb of Tutankhamen. 
Then visit Old Cairo and walk back in time, visiting the Old Coptic Churches and the Ben Ezra Synagogue. Lunch en route. Continue to the Mohamad Ali Mosque and the streets of Khan el Khalili Bazaar. Continue driving to the train station for overnight on board of the sleeping train. 

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Day 4 – Nile Cruise (Aswan)  

Upon arrival to Aswan train station you will be met by our representative, and transferred to your Nile cruise for lunch. In the afternoon, sail around Elephantine Island on a felucca, the traditional Egyptian sail boat. Elephantine Island is the largest of the Aswan area islands, then return to your cruise for dinner and overnight in Aswan.

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Day 5 – Nile Cruise (Aswan)

After breakfast, take a tour of Aswan High Dam, Egypt's contemporary example of building on a monumental scale. Next, proceed to the granite quarries which supplied the ancient Egyptians with most of the hard stone used in pyramids and temples. The quarries still hold the Unfinished Obelisk, Continue by a short motor-boat ride to the Temple of Philae on the island of Agilka. The temple was dedicated to Isis, sister/wife of Osiris and patroness of the Ptolemaic rule. Return to your cruise vessel and sail to Kom Ombo. After lunch on board, visit the Temple of Sobek, the crocodile-headed god. The temple stands at a bend in the Nile where, in ancient times, sacred crocodiles basked in the sun on the riverbank. Return to your cruise and sail to Edfu. Dinner and overnight on-board the cruise. 

 

Day 6 – Nile Cruise (Edfu)

After breakfast on board, set out by horse-drawn carriage to visit the Temple of Horus, the most perfectly preserved of all the Nile temples. Horus, also known as Haroeris, was the falcon-headed solar war god. Sail to Esna. Then cross the lock and sail to Luxor for dinner and overnight. 

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Day 7 – Luxor / Cairo 
After breakfast on board disembark from the ship, cross to the West Bank of the Nile and visit the wondrous Valley of the Kings, a vast city of the dead where the magnificent tombs of 64 have been discovered. The tombs were carved deep into the desert limstone rock, richly decorated and filled with treasures for the afterlife of the pharaohs. Visit several of the tombs. Next, visit the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut. stop at the famed Colossi of Memnon, 1 thousand ton statues of Amenhotep III. Continue driving to the East Bank of Luxor visit Karnak Temple, called by some "the Temple of Temples." Then, you will be transferred the airport for your return flight to Cairo 
Upon arrival to Cairo you will be transferred to your hotel for over night.

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Day 8 – Cairo 
After breakfast you will check out from your hotel and start driving to the airport for your departure flight.

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End of program 

 

 

Inclusions:

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Price includes:

• 03 Nights accommodation in CAI at hotel based on B.B. 

• 03 Nights on Board of the cruise ship based on F.B. 

• 01 Night on board of the sleeping train based on H.B. 

• 01 Full day visiting Pyramids and Sakkara with a private air-conditioned bus and English speaking guide 

• 01 Full day in Cairo visiting Egyptian museum and Mohamed Ali Mosque with a private air-conditioned bus and English-speaking guide

• All tours mentioned as included during the cruise, with English speaking guide;

• 2 Lunch during the tours in Cairo 

• All transfers from airport to hotel with a private air-conditioned van and English-speaking assistant 

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Price excludes:

• International flights City of Origin/Cairo/City of Origin

• Domestic flight from Luxor to Cairo;

• Entry Visa to Egypt 

• Personal expenses and tipping 

• Drinks with meals

• Optional tours on the cruise

• Any extra not mentioned clearly above. 

 

Accommodation 4 Stars: 

Cairo: Barcelo Pyramids or similar

Nile cruise: Semiramis Nile Cruise or similar

 

Accommodation 5 Stars: 

Cairo: Fairmont Nile City or similar

Nile cruise: Amwaj Nile Cruise or similar

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Optional tours:

- Overday Abu Simble by land;

- Nubian Village in Aswan;

- Hot Air baloon in Luxor;

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Notes:

- This tour operates on a private basis with minimum 2 participants;

- This tour can be tailor-made to fit your requirements;

- The optional tours are purchased to the guide on board;

- This tour starts on a Friday from Cairo, but it can be reorganized if needed;

- The tour operates in english by default, but other languages are possible upon request;

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Photos:

 

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