Egypt Highlights & Hidden Gems

Welcome to Egypt. Upon arrival at Cairo Airport you'll be met and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax or if arriving early, you can opt to pre book our optional private Backstreets of Cairo tour, which introduces you to the highlights of Egypt's bustling capital.

Today see the incredible pyramids and the iconic Sphinx at The Giza Plateau. Perhaps opt to ride a camel. Later, travel to Saqqara, to explore the myriad of tombs and temples at the site and see Zhoser's step pyramid - constructed by Imhotep, the pharaoh's chief architect in 2700 BC.

Cairo - Luxor. Take a guided tour of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo this morning, which houses a vast collection of statues, jewellery, and sarcophagi. Among its treasures are several well-preserved mummies, including those of Yuya and Thuyu, high-ranking nobles and the great-grandparents of King Tutankhamun. Remarkably, some mummies are so well-preserved that they still have hair on their heads!

Then there's time to relax back at the hotel before your guide assists you in boarding the overnight sleeper train to Luxor this evening. Your new guide will welcome you on your arrival to Luxor tomorrow morning.

You'll arrive nto Luxor this morning, where your new guide will welcome you. From there, drive to Dendera which is one of Egypt's best preserved temple complexes, located 60km north of Luxor. This vast complex covers 40,000 square meters and its temples, chapels and shrines were gradually built over thousands of years. Dendera's crowning glory is the 2000 year old Temple of Hathor with its exquisitely decorated ceiling. After your guided tour of this incredible site, you'll return to Luxor where the afternoon is free to spend at leisure. Take a stroll around town or enjoy a refreshing swim in the pool and soak up the sunshine.

This evening there is an optional visit to view the beautiful Temple of Luxor at night. Book and pay locally.

4000 year-old Luxor is ancient Egypt at its very best and this morning you'll visit Luxor’s famous West Bank. The first stop is the famous Valley of the Kings, which is studded with beautifully decorated pharaoh's tombs, some of which you can enter. After exploring this incredible site you will travel on to visit the striking limestone, colonnaded Temple of Hatshepsut, who was one of only three Egyptian ruling queens. On the West Bank you'll also see the imposing 18m-high Colossi of Memnon, which are all that remains of the temple of the hedonistic Amenophis III.

Returning to the East Bank, you will check-in on board a 5 star Nile cruiser which will be your home for the next four nights. Enjoy lunch and some rest and relaxation on board before visiting the colossal Temple of Karnak later this afternoon. More than a temple, Karnak is a spectacular complex of sanctuaries, pylons, chapels, halls and obelisks, all dedicated to the Theban gods and to the greater glory of Egypt’s Middle and New Kingdom rulers.

Nile cruising. Today you'll set sail downstream. Relax on deck and go for a swim, soak up the sunshine and enjoy the views as you cruise the River Nile.

Nile cruising. Enjoy another day relaxing on board the cruiser as you sail the Nile to the Temple of Kom Ombo today, which is dedicated to Sobek the crocodile god, and Horus the falcon-headed god. This temple is unusual because everything is architecturally is doubled and perfectly symmetrical along the main axis of the temple including twin halls, courts, colonnades, sanctuaries and entrances. After a guided tour of the temple, continue your journey, arriving into Aswan this evening.

Nile Cruising - Abu Simbel (optional) - Aswan. Today there is an optional early morning flight excursion to Abu Simbel offered. Choose to either join a guided journey to Abu Simbel or opt for a self-guided exploration by exploring the temples at your own pace. Abu Simbel is home to the famous the rock-cut temple of King Ramses II. Alternatively, you can spend the morning at leisure.

This afternoon you will take a short motorboat trip to Philae Temple - dedicated to the goddess Isis. The temple dates from 4th century BC but the Ptolomies and the Romans up to 3rd century AD built most of the existing structures. In danger of being completely submerged by the rising water of Lake Nasser, in 1972 UNESCO stepped in and an 8-year rescue effort was undertaken to relocate the entire temple 20m higher on nearby Agilika Island.

Aswan. Today offers free time for you to discover Aswan - your way. Consider a visit to the Old Cataract Hotel, where Agatha Christie wrote the novel Death on the Nile or opt for a visit to the well-curated Nubian Museum.

Aswan - Cairo. Today you will be transferred to Aswan Airport, where you catch a fkight onwards to Cairo. Arriving into Cairo, transfer to the hotel and check in. The rest of the day is free for you to enjoy the hotel facilities or you can join an optional tour visiting Old Cairo, Coptic Cairo and the Citadel of Saladin (book locally).

The tour comes to an end today with a transfer to the airport for your onward flight.