Depart the US on overnight flight to Cairo.
Welcome to Cairo!
We will be met by our guide at the airport and transfer to the hotel for check in.
Overnight at Hotel in Cairo
Breakfast at the hotel.
Today, we will see the most iconic sights of Egypt – the pyramids, Sphinx, and the newly opened Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM).
Our day starts with a visit to the largest archaeological museum in the world, the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM). The new structure houses 100,000 masterpieces from several periods of Egypt’s glorious history, 20,000 objects of which will be displayed for the first time, such as King Tutankhamun’s complete collection.
After touring the GEM, we will stop at a cozy restaurant for lunch.
We will then proceed to the one and only standing monument among the seven wonders of the ancient world, the Great Pyramid of Khufu, followed by The Pyramids of Khafre & Menkaura, the well-preserved valley temple of Khafra, and the Great Sphinx.
Overnight at Cairo Hotel.
Breakfast at the hotel.
Cairo Tour (National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, Old Cairo, Citadel of Salah Eldeen)
Start the day with a visit to the first authentic museum of civilization in Egypt. The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC) houses 50,000 artifacts from the dawn of civilization to the present day. Then, we will stop to have lunch in one of Cairo’s best restaurants.
Continue our Cairo tour with a visit to The Citadel of Mohamed Ali (the Fortress of Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi), built in 1183 and overlooking the city from the Muqattam Hills. The structure, with its domes and minarets, looks over a number of important buildings, including the Alabaster Mosque. Its domed interior, used by Muslims for daily prayers, is a spectacular sight of twinkling lights and beautiful mosaics.
Next we explore the Khan Al-Khalili Market, one of the oldest and most famous souks in Egypt. Here you can find traditional artisans and workshops producing jewelry, leather goods, and many other souvenirs. The souk is also famous for its coffeehouses.
Overnight at Cairo Hotel
Breakfast at the hotel. This morning, we fly to Luxor.
In the afternoon, we will visit Luxor East Bank beginning with the outstanding Karnak Temple. Afterwards, the Temple of Luxor will be our next stop.
In the evening, there is an optional Light and Sound Show inside Karnak Temple.
Overnight at Luxor Hotel
Breakfast at the hotel.
We start early this morning to visit the Valley of the Kings on Luxor’s West Bank.
Highlights of our visit include the two unique tombs of Ramses V & VI, King Tut’s Tomb, the Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, and the Colossi of Memnon.
Return to the Hotel.
Overnight at Luxor Hotel
Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to visit Dandarah.
Once we reach Dendera, you’ll marvel at the large stone roof, dark chambers, underground passages, and towering columns inscribed with hieroglyphics. Plus, discover the ritual location, where Goddess Hathor gave birth to Ihy and stands on the edge of the desert as if awaiting his return.
Overnight at Luxor Hotel
Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer to Aswan. We will visit Kom Ombo in the early morning. The unique double Temple of Kom Omb was constructed in the Ptolemaic Period, 180-47 BCE. The southern half of the temple was dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek, god of fertility and creator of the world. Meanwhile, the northern part of the temple was dedicated to the falcon god Haroeris (“Horus the Elder”), along “with Tasenetnofret (the Good Sister, a special form of Hathor or Tefnet/Tefnu) and Panebtawy (Lord of the Two Lands).
Next, we visit the Temple of Edfu dedicated to Horus and Hathor.
Overnight at Aswan Hotel
Breakfast at the hotel. Today, we spend the day touring Abu Simbel.
The two Temples of Abu Simbel are unique in style and considered to be masterpieces of ancient Egypt. With our expert guide, we explore the glory and grandeur of the new Kingdom – a marvel of ancient architecture but also modern innovation. The entire structure was moved from its original home to its current location on an artificial hill, high above the Aswan High Dam reservoir to preserve it from being submerged during the creation of Lake Nasser. The relocation project was a joint effort between the Egyptian government and UNESCO, protecting the Temples of Abu Simbel and downriver Philae under the larger UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the “Nubian Monuments”, and was one of the greatest challenges of archaeological engineering in history.
The Temple of Ramesses II was dedicated to the four universal gods Ptah, Re-Her-Akhtey, Amun-Re, and to Ramesses II himself. The Temple of Queen Nefertari is also Called the Temple of Hathor who was the wife of the Sun God. In a symbolic way, the two temples, that of Ramses II and that of Nefertari, bring Ramesses II, Nefertari, Hathor, and the Sun God together as one.
Overnight at Aswan Hotel
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Aswan Airport to fly to Cairo and return to the US. Arrive in the US Nov 6.
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International Air Travel Booked Separately; Call for Quote
