Egypt, Cairo

360° Egypt Tour 5^*

Arrival in Cairo.

Cairo, one of the world's largest metropolises, stretches majestically along both banks of the Nile. This vibrant and historic city is a fascinating blend of cultures, architecture and history, offering a unique experience for travellers.

On arrival, you will be met and assisted by a tour leader (not always English-speaking) with entry formalities.

Afterwards, an English-speaking Egyptologist guide will take over and accompany you for the duration of your stay (except in Hurghada).

Enjoy a group transfer to your hotel.

Overnight stay in a 5-star hotel (local standards).

Breakfast at the hotel.

Set off to visit the Giza Plateau and its incredible pyramids:
The Great Pyramid, the tomb of Khufu/Cheops (the largest of the three, built around 2650 BC), one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World and the only one to have withstood the test of time. For more than 40 centuries, it was the highest monument built by man at 146 m high.
Khephren: the Pyramid of Khephren or Khafre looks taller than Khufu's, but in reality it is slightly smaller. The tilt angle is more emphasised, and it sits on slightly higher ground which is what creates this impression.
Menkaure: the tomb of King Menkaure. At a height of 66 m, it is much smaller than the other two pyramids.
The Sphinx: a lion's body with a Pharaoh's head. Its role was to guard the entrance of the tomb against pillagers. It measures 73m long and 20m high*

Lunch during the visit.

The afternoon will be spent exploring the sites of Memphis and Saqqara. Memphis, south of Cairo, is now little more than a palm grove where a few blocks, stelae and statues lie scattered, including an enigmatic alabaster sphinx. The capital of the Old Kingdom of Egypt, it was founded by King Menes around 3000 BC. We then continue to the site of Saqqara and its famous step pyramid, built around 2700 BC for Pharaoh Djoser by the architect Imhotep.

Dinner and overnight stay at your 5-star hotel (local standards).

Breakfast.

Transfer to the airport and flight to Luxor, Upper Egypt.
On arrival, transfer to the port of embarkation and check-in to your cabin on the boat.

Lunch on board.

Free afternoon on the boat.

Dinner and overnight stay on board the 5-star boat (local standards).

Breakfast on board.

Departure for a tour of the left bank of the Nile, Thebes, with its timeless tombs of the pharaohs of the 18th to 20th Dynasties.

The Valley of the Kings, where you will visit three tombs. From the 18th Dynasty onwards, and throughout the New Kingdom, the pharaohs no longer chose to be buried in temples or monuments dedicated to their final journey. It was on the other side of the Nile, on the west bank – the Land of the Afterlife – that Thutmose I and all the pharaohs who succeeded him chose to be buried. Gone were the colossal monuments, such as the pyramids, or even the mastabas used during the Old Kingdom; instead, they opted for burial chambers hewn directly out of the rock, the entrances to which were meticulously sealed and concealed. The main reason was undoubtedly to avoid tomb raiders.

Visit to the Temple of Medinet Habu or Temple of Ramesses III. This temple is a veritable castle, undoubtedly one of the most spectacular mortuary temples. Your visit to Egypt will not be complete without a visit to the gigantic and monumental site of Ramesses. Ramesses III sought to restore Egypt’s greatness and, at the same time, to immortalise the name of his illustrious ancestor. Upon his accession to the throne, he set about building his jubilee temple, which remains one of the largest in the Theban necropolis. This immense and ancient fortification of Ramesses captivates all visitors. It is truly magnificent in terms of its size and splendour. It is one of the few that still retains its beautiful colours.

On the way back, a photo stop at the Colossi of Memnon: two giant twin statues carved from sandstone, bearing witness to the past splendour of the temple of Amenhotep III.

Lunch on board.

Sail on towards Esna.

Dinner and overnight stay on board the 5-star boat (local standards).

Breakfast.

Cruise on to Edfu.

Lunch on board.

Depart by horse-drawn carriage or coach to visit the splendid Temple of Horus at Edfu; this masterpiece of architectural balance and elegance is one of the best-preserved sites in all of ancient Egypt, a fine example of Ptolemaic art from the Greco-Roman period. We enter the temple through the great pylon, decorated with enormous reliefs depicting the king and the gods, leading into the courtyard whose walls recount the various rites performed by the king. Two large black granite falcons, representing the god Horus, guard the temple entrance.

The cruise continues to Kom Ombo.

Dinner and overnight stay on board the 5-star boat (local standards).

Breakfast.

Visit to the Temple of Kom Ombo in the morning: isolated on a promontory along the Nile, this unique temple in Egypt dating from the Greco-Roman era includes two magnificent sanctuaries, one dedicated to Sobek, the Crocodile God, and the second to Horus, the Falcon God. Construction of the temple started during the Ptolemaic period, on the site of a New Kingdom temple. The temple is situated on a hilltop 15 metres above the Nile.
The most notable aspect is that the temple is dedicated to two distinct deities: the falcon god Haroeris, also known as "Great Horus" or "Horus the Elder", and Sobek, the crocodile god. The temple is designed with duality in mind, featuring two entrances, two parallel corridors, and symmetrically arranged rooms on either side of these corridors, which all lead to the double sanctuary. The esplanade in front of the entrance features a series of sculpted columns displaying vibrant colours.

Sail to Aswan, the capital of Nubia.

Lunch on board.

Next, visit to the Temple of Philae.

Visit to the Papyrus Institute.

Dinner and overnight stay on board the 5-star boat (local standards).

Breakfast on board.

Free morning.

Lunch on board.

Mini felucca cruise and Aswan Botanical Garden. The only way to reach the left bank and Kitchener or Elephantine Islands, true jewels of the river. Let yourself be lulled by the breeze as you glide along the calm, blue waters of the ancient Nile.

Stop off at Kitchener Island and visit the botanical garden.

Free time in the late afternoon.

Dinner and overnight stay on board the 5-star boat (local standards).

Breakfast.

Free day on board the boat.

Lunch on board.

Sail to Esna.

Dinner and overnight stay on board the 5-star boat (local standards).

Early in the morning, the boat will pass through the lock.

Breakfast on board.

Visit to the Temple of Karnak. The most significant religious complex ever built here over a period of 2,000 years, where people’s faith paid homage to the same god: Amun. The greatest kings reigned here in succession. The name "Karnak", meaning "fortress", dates from the Islamic conquest.

Lunch on board.

Visit to the Temple of Luxor, which was built to glorify the god Amun-Re, who celebrated the anniversary of his marriage to his wife Mut every year. The procession would leave the Temple of Karnak and follow the banks of the Nile to reach the Temple of Luxor. The construction of the latter dates back to the reigns of the two pharaohs Amenhotep III and Ramesses II.

Return to the boat. Free time.

Dinner and overnight stay on board the 5-star ship (local standards).

Breakfast on board before disembarking.

Coach transfer to Hurghada (4 to 5 hours) and check-in at your 5-star hotel (local standards).

Lunch.

An afternoon of relaxation on the beaches of the Red Sea. Here you can explore the marvellous underwater world, with its coral reefs and colourful fish.

Free day with all-inclusive package.

Free day on an all-inclusive basis.

Breakfast

Transfer to the airport for a domestic flight to Cairo.

Visit to the Citadel of Saladin and the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, featuring a large clock in the centre of the courtyard gifted to Muhammad Ali by the King of France Louis Philippe. The Belvedere commands a panoramic view of the city of Cairo.

Lunch during the visit.

Stroll through the Khan el-Khalili souks, a bazaar built in the 14th century. It is highly colourful and has traditional goods, but also offers a fabulous choice of gold, gold thread and silver jewellery and a selection of oriental handicrafts.

Check-in at the hotel.

Dinner and overnight stay at your 5-star hotel (local standards).

Breakfast.

Then, located close to the Pyramids of Giza, visit the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), the largest museum in the world dedicated to ancient Egypt. This vast, contemporary complex houses more than 100,000 artefacts spanning over three millennia of history. From the moment they enter, visitors are greeted by the impressive colossal statue of Ramesses II.

The museum also showcases the entire treasure of Tutankhamun, displayed for the first time in a single location. A spectacular visit to the heart of one of the most fascinating civilisations in history.

Overnight stay in your 5-star hotel (local standards).

Breakfast.

Depending on your flight times, you will be transferred as a group to the airport.

Assistance with check-in formalities.

A local English-speaking Egyptologist guide will accompany you throughout your stay (except in Hurghada).

Tips: "baksheesh"! A word you’ll soon become familiar with! Whilst it’s easy to refuse those who ask for it, it is part of local custom and serves as a reward for a job well done and good service. Tips for guides are never included. It is left to each individual’s discretion (this is separate from mandatory service charges).

A paid internet connection available throughout the boat may be offered. However, we cannot guarantee the quality of the connection that will be available during your stay.

The luggage allowance for the domestic flight is 23kg in the hold per person, plus one small cabin bag weighing up to 7kg. Any additional weight will be charged on the spot.

Security checks at airports in Egypt can be extensive and unpredictable depending on the number of tourists, which is why the tour leader will plan the timetable as accurately as possible.
During excursions, you will be grouped with other participants.
This package includes periods of free time during which you can explore at your leisure. However, any travel costs incurred will be at your own expense.

Optional excursions are subject to an additional charge, payable locally to your guide or local representative.

A SIM card can be purchased locally from the local representative and/or guide from €7.

Security checks at airports in Egypt can be extensive and unpredictable depending on the number of tourists, which is why the tour leader advises arriving well in advance.

The order of the visits may be altered due to local requirements (sailing times, passing through locks), but the visits listed will be included.

The pace of the visits may be quite intense (see the full list of included visits in the day-by-day itinerary), which means very early starts in the morning (outside the boat’s sailing times).

Egypt is a cultural destination.

PLEASE NOTE: For those booking the "hotel only" package (without an international flight), please provide us with your flight details as soon as possible via the contact form under "Help and Contact" at the bottom of the page, so that we can organise your transfers.