Excellent
Jewel of the Nile
PREMIUM TOUR: Embark on a five star Egyptian adventure. Stay in one of Cairo's smartest hotels, cruise the River Nile in style aboard a 5 star Nile cruiser and see Egypt’s best sites, guided by a professional Egyptologist guide for your entire stay.
For a detailed itinerary and information about visas, money, weather and more download our Trip Notes
Tour Overview
Duration
10 daysStarts
CairoEnds
CairoRange
SignatureTour Guide
Yes, escorted by a tour guideGroup Size
Min 2 / Max 24Minimum age
18 yrsDeparts
FridaysHotel Rating
5 StarCountries
EgyptArrival Transfer
YesDeparture Transfer
YesMeals included
Breakfast: 9, Lunch: 4, Dinner: 6Excellent
4.4 out of 5 based on
275 reviews
Tour Highlights
Included
Not Included
Itinerary
Day 1 - Cairo
Day 1 - Cairo
Friday. Welcome to Egypt! Upon arrival at Cairo Airport you will be met and transferred to your 5 star hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax by the hotel pool, or those arriving early, opt to join our unique Backstreets tour of Cairo which departs the hotel at 10am today. This optional tour takes you off the beaten track in Egypt's bustling capital, visiting Downtown Cairo, the exquisite mosques and monuments of El Moez Street in Islamic Cairo, Garbage City and the incredible Cave Church of St. Simon.
At 7pm this evening meet your guide and the rest of the group at a Welcome Meeting.
You may also extend your stay in Cairo with our pre or post tour accommodation or tour add-ons.
Day 2 - The Grand Egyptian Museum
Day 2 - The Grand Egyptian Museum
Today we visit the new Grand Egyptian Museum. In this incredible 490,000 sq.m complex, many of the exhibits are being displayed for the first time, and artefacts have been brought together from across Egypt and the world. King Tutankhamun's treasures and famous funerary mask will eventually be showcased here.
After our guided tour of the Grand Egyptian Museum, we head over to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo to explore its vast collection of statues, jewellery, and sarcophagi. Among its treasures, we’ll see the well-preserved mummies of Yuya and Thuyu, the great-grandparents of King Tutankhamun. Some of the mummies on display are so well preserved that they still have thick locks of hair, visible fingernails, and smooth blackened skin.
Spend the remains of the day at leisure, relaxing by the hotel pool.
Day 3 - Pyramids of Giza
Day 3 - Pyramids of Giza
Cairo - Luxor. Today we visit Egypt's most loved sight - The Great Pyramids of Giza. We explore the Giza plateau, pyramids and massive Sphinx. We continue to explore Saqqara - an ancient necropolis with many half-buried tombs and the famous Zhoser’s Step Pyramid. Later, we travel to Luxor by overnight train. You are accommodated in comfortable twin sleeper cabins and a light dinner is served onboard.
If you don’t fancy travelling by overnight sleeper train, consider our Treasures of the Nile tour that replaces overnight trains with flights and comfortable 5 star hotels.
Day 4 - Valley of the Kings
Day 4 - Valley of the Kings
Arriving into Luxor this morning, we visit the West Bank. The massive pair of statues known as the Colossi of Memnon are the first monuments we see during our morning visit to the West Bank - home to the legendary Valley of the Kings. We also see the colonnaded Temple of Queen Hatshepsut. Return to Luxor for check-in onboard our Nile 5 star cruiser where lunch is at leisure and free time to relax until our early evening visit to the Temple of Luxor. Luxor Temple looks stunning at dusk and is beautifully illuminated at night.
Note: Dependent upon Nile Cruiser scheduling it may be required that we also undertake our excursion to Karnak Temple this afternoon. Should this occur, day 5 will be spent at leisure.
Day 5 - Luxor & Nile Cruising
Day 5 - Luxor & Nile Cruising
Luxor - Nile cruising. This morning we tour the ancient city of Thebes (the East Bank) and take in the magnificent Temple of Karnak. More than a temple, Karnak is a gigantic and stunning complex of sanctuaries and pylons dedicated to the Theban gods. Anchors away this afternoon as we set sail downstream.
Day 6 - Cruising & Kom Ombo
Day 6 - Cruising & Kom Ombo
Nile cruising. Relax and soak in the views as we sail the Nile. Later today we visit the Temple of Kom Ombo, a unique riverside temple. It is unusual in that everything architecturally is doubled and perfectly symmetrical along the main axis of the temple including twin halls, courts, colonnades, sanctuaries and entrances. Arrive in Aswan late evening - a prosperous town at the crossroads of the ancient caravan routes.
Day 7 - Beautiful Philae Temple
Day 7 - Beautiful Philae Temple
Nile cruiser - Aswan. Today, we enjoy a short boat trip to Agilika Island to explore Philae Temple, dedicated to the goddess Isis. The temple dates from 4th century BC, but the Ptolemies 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. We then make a stop at a perfume oil emporium. Perfumed oils in Egypt date back to 2700BC and were used by women, pharaohs and by temple priests.
After lunch, we visit the High Dam and take a traditional felucca sailing trip to Elephantine and Kitchener Island. As the sun sets, enjoy free time to shop in the colourful souqs and markets or simply relax and watch an amazing sunset in Egypt’s southernmost town straddling the River Nile.
Day 8 - Optional excursion to Abu Simbel
Day 8 - Optional excursion to Abu Simbel
Aswan - Cairo. Consider our optional early morning excursion to the Temples of Ramses II at Abu Simbel. Possibly the most awe-inspiring temple of all ancient Egypt, with its gargantuan rock-cut facade is the magnificent Abu Simbel. Guarding the entrance to the temple are 4 colossal seated statues of the pharaoh himself, staring out across Lake Nasser. This excursion is not to be missed!
Alternatively you can spend the morning at leisure. If you choose not to embark upon this optional excursion, there is plenty to do in Aswan. You can explore Aswan with its beautiful shoreline and corniche or perhaps do a spot of shopping. Late this afternoon, we board the overnight train (twin berth sleeper cabins provided) for our journey back to Cairo. A light dinner is served on board.
Day 9 - Explore Cairo your way
Day 9 - Explore Cairo your way
This morning, have breakfast in your train cabin and upon arrival to Cairo we transfer to our hotel for check in. The rest of the day is free for you to enjoy the hotel facilities or you can join our optional tour of Old Cairo, Coptic Cairo and the Citadel of Saladin (book/pay locally).
Day 10 - Cairo
Day 10 - Cairo
Sunday. Our amazing holiday comes to an end and we bid farewell to our guide and fellow travellers. Included airport departure transfer.
For information about visas, top travel tips and much more, take a look through our travel guide.
Tour Reviews
Extras and add-ons
If you'd like to add extras or add-ons to your booking, you can do this easily during checkout. Just review the available options and select any additional services or upgrades you'd like before completing your purchase.
Pre and Post Tour Accommodation
Extend your tour with us by booking pre and post-accommodation, available at a per-person, per-night rate.
Pre Tour Accommodation (from price)
Double
Twin
Single
Post Tour Accommodation (from price)
Double
Twin
Single
Additional Excursions
Enhance your tour with these optional extras, helping you to get the most from your adventure.
Carry on your Egyptian affair before or after your tour, with a day trip (including lunch) to amazing Alexandria on the Mediterranean Coast. Founded by Alexander the Great, Alexandria boasts wonderful beaches and an impressive seafront corniche, along which are dotted cafes and restaurants, as well as catacombs, a fortress, souks and relics from a bygone age.
$225
per passengerPossibly the most awe-inspiring temple of all ancient Egypt, with its gargantuan rock-cut facade is the magnificent Abu Simbel. Guarding the entrance to the temple are 4 colossal seated statues of the pharaoh himself, staring out across Lake Nasser.
$265
per passengerDiscover some of Cairo’s most fascinating neighbourhoods and get off the beaten track on this Backstreets of Cairo tour. Stroll through the bustling Downtown and explore the beautiful mosques and monuments of Islamic Cairo’s spectacular El Moez Street, before bartering for goods at Khan el Khalili Bazaar. Then learn about the life of the Zabbaleen waste pickers before visiting the famous Cave Church of St Simon.
$185
per passengerTour Extensions
Extend your trip with our multi-day tour extensions, including accommodation, sightseeing and free time.
This 4-day Alexandria & El Alamein add-on can be booked in conjunction with any of our Egypt group tours, city breaks or private tours.
Double
Twin
Single
Hotels
If you are interested in booking pre or post-tour accommodation, here are some of the hotels we typically use.
Prices & Dates
All dates are guaranteed to operate when there are 2 persons booked on the tour. 'Twin/Double' prices are per person when there are 2 people on the same booking sharing a room. 'Single' prices are applicable to solo travellers and anyone wanting the privacy of their own room.
This tour is also available on a private basis - for details please see the Supplementary Prices below. Please note: If you are booking pre or post tour accommodation, single travellers will need to book a single room.
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4.4 out of 5 based on 275 reviews