Cairo to Luxor Explorer
This tour encompasses the major highlights of Egypt. Uncover the treasures of Egypt at the Grand Egyptian Museum, explore the tomb strewn Valley of the Kings, take in the sights & smells wandering through the Khan el Khalili Bazaar, gaze in awe at the mighty pyramids & sphinx & discover the Temples of Hathor, Queen Hatshepsut & Karnak in 6 incredible days.
For a detailed itinerary and information about visas, money, weather and more download our Trip Notes
Tour overview
Itinerary
Day 1 Cairo
Day 1 Cairo
Sunday. Welcome to Egypt! Upon arrival at Cairo Airport you will be met and transferred to your 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.
Note: If you would like to extend your stay we offer an Alexandria Day Trip on the Saturday before your tour starts, and we can arrange pre tour accommodation as well, please enquire.
Day 2 Pyramids of Giza
Day 2 Pyramids of Giza
After a good night's rest, we enjoy a full day of touring. Our first stop this morning is the famous pyramids and the iconic Sphinx at the Giza Plateau. Sole survivors from the ancient Greek, listed as one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the pyramids are the planet’s oldest tourist attraction. Known as Cheops, Chephren and Mycerinus, the pyramids were already more than 2,000 years old when Herodotus the Greek historian visited them (in 5th century BC). A highly skilled corps of mathematicians, masons, surveyors and stone cutters carried out the job of building the pyramids. 100,000 workers were used to carry out the back-breaking task of moving and laying the stones of the largest pyramid - Cheops and about 2.5 million limestone blocks, quarried locally and weighing in excess of 6 million tonnes were used to construct it. Leaving the Pyramids of Giza, we stop at a government supervised papyrus emporium where you can buy genuine papyrus at quite reasonable prices.
Continuing to the necropolis of Saqqara, we explore the myriad tombs and temples at this site and see Zhoser’s Step Pyramid which constructed by Imhotep, the pharaoh’s chief architect in 2700 BC. The remainder of today is free to relax or explore Egypt’s capital at leisure. Perhaps head to Khan el Khalili Bazaar, the ideal place for souvenir shopping.
Day 3 Grand Egyptian Museum
Day 3 Grand Egyptian Museum
Cairo - Luxor. We take a guided tour of the vast new Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza this morning. In this incredible 490,000 square meter complex, we'll discover a mind-boggling array of relics and antiquities from almost every period of ancient Egyptian history, including the treasures of King Tutankhamun. Then we head over to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization to visit the fascinating Royal Mummies' Hall, where the mummies of ancient Egyptian kings and queens are now on display. This incredible hall contains 20 mummies in total and some are so well preserved that they still have thick locks of hair, visible finger nails and smooth blackened skin! The rest of the afternoon is free to relax by the pool at the hotel before we board the overnight sleeper train to Luxor this evening.
Please Note: the Grand Egyptian Museum is scheduled to open in late 2024, though an official opening date has yet to be released. If travelling prior to the opening of the new facility we'll visit the Egyptian Museum instead.
Day 4 Luxor & Dendera
Day 4 Luxor & Dendera
We arrive into Luxor this morning and 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 metres 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 our guided tour of this incredible site we 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.
This evening there is an optional visit to view the beautiful Temple of Luxor, beautifully illuminated at night (book locally).
Day 5 Valley of the Kings
Day 5 Valley of the Kings
4000 year-old Luxor is ancient Egypt at its very best. This morning we visit Luxor’s famous West Bank. Our first stop is the famous Valley of the Kings which is studded with beautifully decorated tombs, including the tombs of Ramses II, Seti I, Amenhotep II and of course, King Tutankhamen. After exploring this incredible site we travel to visit the Valley of the Queens and the beautiful limestone, colonnaded Temple of Hatshepsut, who was one of only three Egyptian ruling queens. Our final stop on the West Bank is to see the imposing 18m-high Colossi of Memnon, which is all that remains of the temple of the hedonistic Amenophis III.
Returning to the hotel at around midday, there's time to have lunch and relax by the pool before we visit 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.
Day 6 Luxor
Day 6 Luxor
Friday. Our tour comes to an end today with a transfer to Luxor Airport to meet your onward flight. Alternatively we can book post tour accommodation, so you can further explore Luxor’s abundance of antiquity’s.
For information about visas, top travel tips and much more, take a look through our travel guide.
Tour Highlights
Included
Not Included
Prices & Dates
Hotels
Overlooking the Nile and offering distant views of the Great Pyramids of Giza, this Holiday Inn provides the perfect location for your stay in Cairo. Each guestroom features a balcony (not Nile View as standard) and is well-equipped with modern amenities including free WiFi. Evenings can be spent enjoying international or Egyptian cuisine and unwinding with a cocktail at one of the hotel’s bars. Thanks to the friendly hotel staff, you’ll soon feel at home. And with panoramic views of the city from the rooftop lounge and pool, there’s no better place to base yourself for exploring Egypt’s ancient wonders.
When travelling on an overnight train in Egypt, sleeper carriages offer the highest level of comfort. Cabins are equipped with two beds (one above the other), a basin, electric points and air conditioning. Freshly laundered bedding is provided and in the early evening an attendant will come round and make up your bed for you. The carriages have toilets at each end and there is a club car which serves snacks and beverages. In the morning a very basic breakfast is provided.
The Sonesta Hotel & Casino is a sophisticated and luxurious hotel offering spacious, en-suit rooms with opulent furnishings. Enjoy a cocktail at the poolside bar or indulge in a relaxing massage or Turkish steam bath at the full-service spa. With 5 restaurants located within the hotel you'll be spoilt for choice over dining options.
Radisson Blu is in the Heliopolis area of Cairo, just 3 kms from Cairo International Airport. Providing spacious, well appointed guest rooms with amenities such as a daily newspaper and turndown service, the hotel is the perfect oasis for guests visiting the city. Its two restaurants, lobby lounge, and gourmet bakery offer a range of culinary choices. To top it all off, the hotel boasts a rooftop spa and pool with panoramic Cairo views.
The Steigenburger Nile Palace is a grand hotel and stylishly furnished, with many rooms overlooking the Nile River. The hotel has a health club with massage rooms, sauna, steam room and fitness room, and a tennis court on the roof, not to mention a riverside pool. Its four restaurants offer a choice between Nubian, Lebanese, Italian, and Thai cuisine.
An elegant and luxurious classical hotel, the Sonesta's sophistication will ensure you a comfortable stay. The hotel has a sweeping terrace with fantastic views of the Nile, a grand entrance of polished marble and handsomely appointed furnishings with exquisite detail and a beautiful health spa. All its rooms offer views of the city or the river, complemented by a wide range of restaurants and cafes. Just minutes away you will find the temples at Luxor and Karnak, home to two of ancient Egypt's most famed sanctuaries.
Tour Reviews
The Tour is fantastic and tour guide was brilliant he is very knowledgeable to all the historical places that was book on this trip . Very attentive to all the members of the group . He make sure everyone is ok and they have what they need for this trip. I would rate him 10/10 i
This trip was incredible, the achievement of all of my Egypt dreams, all thanks to On the Go. Out of all of the travel companies I researched, their tour encompassed everything that I ever wanted to see and do. Alam, our tour guide, was the best: friendly, attentive, knowledgeable and always giving us the best advice while providing a great breakdown of our days with information of what was happening in the moment. The hidden extras that we got to participate in - the Sound and Light show at the Pyramids and Nefertari's tomb and the Valley of the Queens - really made the trip special. I wish there were better restaurant options, as everything was buffets and rather bland...however, time was incredibly short so I understand why quicker restaurant stops were necessary. I would recommend anyone who wants to visit Egypt to do so via On the Go. It was my first time traveling with them and it was a great, fulfilling experience!
This was a fantastic tour. Pre tour arrangements efficient and clear. Very helpful staff when I had any queries. Arrival in Cairo, met at the airport by a helpful tour representative, stayed in Holiday Inn Maadi Cairo, really enjoyed this hotel very good service, large clean room. Happy to stay here and would revisit. Staff in restaurants friendly and provided good service. Good range of food and yes I ate the salad and didn’t get sick! There is a very good supermarket about 2 minutes away - cheap as chips (good for snacks on overnight train to Luxor). Medo tour guide excellent, great sense of humour and very knowledgable. Each day was fascinating and different and sometimes overwhelming in a good way - so many wow moments. For us, Dendara was very special as was the Seti tomb at the Valley of the Kings (this is optional extra quite expensive but we loved it). The Egyptian museum was brilliant and Medo guided us to all the things I had wanted to see and more. Luxor hotel was the Steigenberger (spelling?) - great place to stay, breakfast was amazing and no I didn’t get sick. We were upgraded so had a view over pool and Nile - major thank you. Great restaurants, very generous portions. Very, very special memories thank you. One thing, Luxor temple is an optional extra evening tour - well worth it, again thanks to Medo guiding us, maybe this should be included in the tour without the evening meal.
We recently embarked on a remarkable journey with On The Go Tours from Cairo to Luxor in May 2023, and it exceeded all our expectations! Our family had an incredible time exploring the rich history and breathtaking sights of Egypt. From the moment we joined the tour, the organization and management were exceptional. Every detail was carefully planned, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable experience throughout. Our tour guide, Momo, played a pivotal role in making this trip unforgettable. His extensive knowledge and passion for his country were evident as he shared fascinating insights about the ancient sites we visited. The tour included must-see attractions like the Pyramids and Sphinx in Cairo, which left us awe-inspired by their sheer grandeur and historical significance. We were also captivated by the beauty and mystery of Luxor, where we explored ancient temples and tombs, truly immersing ourselves in Egypt's fascinating past. Momo's expertise brought the destinations to life, adding depth and context to each visit. His caring nature and attention to detail ensured that everyone in our group felt comfortable and included. No one was left behind, and he went above and beyond to accommodate any special requests or needs. Additionally, witnessing the Egyptian mummies up close was an extraordinary and spine-tingling encounter that will forever be etched in our memories. We found the tour to be great value for money. The accommodations were comfortable, transportation was reliable, and the itinerary was well-balanced, allowing us to make the most of our time in Egypt. The exceptional service provided by On The Go Tours and Momo's expertise made every penny worthwhile. Without hesitation, we highly recommend this tour to anyone looking to explore Cairo and Luxor. Whether you are a history enthusiast, an adventure seeker, or simply curious about the wonders of Egypt, this tour offers an unforgettable experience. We are immensely grateful to On The Go Tours and Momo for creating such a remarkable journey for our family. Thank you!
Momo is a star, his knowledge, enthusiasm and passion shone through in everything he did. This trip was only short, and probably long enough as the information Momo gave about Egypt’s culture, history, monuments and treasures was immense. He is very experienced and dedicated, which was always apparent through his passion for his country and it’s amazing history. Egypt is wonderful and On the Go Tours are splendid. It’s such a shame Egypt has been affected by bad publicity and journalism, most being untrue and sensationalised by the media - this country relies on tourism, especially when it produces such great Egyptologists as Momo. I travelled as a single woman and never once felt unsafe. Everyone is helpful and friendly, to visit this country is a must.
Extras and add-ons
Alexandria Day Trip
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.
Backstreets of Cairo
Discover 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.
Tour Upgrades
Find alternative tours below with Upgrades to this tour