14-Day Treasures of Egypt

Your facilitator will meet you at Cairo International Airport and assist with airport procedures and hotel transfer. Enjoy a private driver and air-conditioned ride to your hotel. You will check in to your five-star hotel and enjoy the evening at your leisure.

After breakfast, your driver and your guide will pick you up at your Cairo hotel and travel with you throughout your day.

Tour the Grand Egyptian Museum

Enjoy a guided visit of Egypt’s history with an expert eye at the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), the largest museum ever made to focus on a single civilization - from pre-dynastic antiquity to the present. During your visit, you’ll see the grand treasure of King Tutankhamun, on display for the first time in its entirety since 1922, and come face to face with the gilded mask of a king. 

Return to your hotel for overnight stay.

After breakfast, your driver and your guide will pick you up at your Cairo hotel and travel with you throughout your day.

Visit the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx

Drive to Giza Plateau to see the last remaining wonder of the ancient world: the Great Pyramid. You will hear stories about the people and Pharaohs who built the pyramids over 4,500 years ago, and have the chance to explore these ancient structures with your expert Egyptologist guide.

The Great Sphinx of Giza has stood watch over the Great Pyramids for thousands of years. It is made from the limestone of Giza Plateau itself, and is one of the largest carved statues in the world.

After breakfast, your driver and guide will pick you up to visit the Saqqara necropolis and pyramid complex

Visit the Saqqara necropolis 

You will have the chance to visit some of the most beautifully decorated Old Kingdom tombs and view the pyramid texts inscribed inside. This visit will give you insight into the tremendous skill of ancient craftsmen, and glimpses of daily and religious life thousands of years ago.

Visit the Step Pyramid of Djoser

Saqqara is home to the oldest stone building in history: the Step Pyramid of Djoser. Here you will learn about the architect-engineer Imhotep, later deified by ancient worshippers. 

Visit the Serapeum of Saqqara

The Serapeum holds the remains of many sacred Apis bulls, which were used by worshippers to symbolize the god Ptah. This site was used throughout antiquity, with numerous shrines and workshops supporting the sacred site

Lunch 

Return to your hotel for overnight

Visit the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization and home of the Royal Mummies

The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC) is a beautiful contemporary museum with a main gallery that features artifacts and stories from Egypt ranging from pre-history to modern times. 

Below the main hall of the museum is the Royal Mummies’ Hall. Twenty royal mummies rest here. They were brought to the museum in 2021 with a massive event dubbed the “Pharaohs’ Golden Parade”.

Tour the Mosque-Madrasa of Sultan Hasan

The Mosque-Madrasa of Sultan Hasan was built during the Mamluk period. It remains as one of the most impressive buildings in historic Cairo, with a mosque complex containing four madrasas (schools), a central courtyard, and two minarets flanking the main structure.

Visit Al-Rifa'i Mosque

The Al-Rifa’i Mosque is a magnificent 19th-century royal mosque in the heart of historic Islamic Cairo. Built in an elegant Neo-Mamluk style, it also serves as a royal mausoleum, housing the tombs of Khedive Ismail, King Farouk, and the Shah of Iran.

Lunch

Fly to Luxor

Check in to your hotel 

After breakfast, your driver and your guide will pick you up from your Luxor hotel. Alternatively, we can arrange a hot air balloon ride, to enjoy the iconic views of Luxor and the Valley of the Kings.

Visit Valley of the Kings

The Valley of the Kings, located on the west bank of Luxor, is the home to many royal tombs from the new kingdom. The discovery of the nearly-intact tomb of King Tutankhamun in 1922 completely transformed Egyptian archeology and led to the Valley of the Kings becoming one of the most famous archeological sites in the world. More than 65 known tombs are located in the Valley and have been cut directly into the rock. Many of these tombs are still adorned with beautiful carvings and paintings as befit their royal occupants. 

Tour Medinet Habu

Medinet Habu was built by Ramesses III. Included in its numerous carvings are reliefs of the Pharaoh fighting the “Sea Peoples” and inscriptions documenting battles and conquests of this era. The temple interior includes a procession of Ramesses’ sons with their names carved deeply into the stone. 

Return to hotel to rest 

Dinner on your own 

Visit Dendera Temple of Hathor

Dendera is home to the Ptolemaic-era Temple of Hathor. It had long been a site dedicated to the goddess, and was frequented by pilgrims throughout antiquity. The rear of the temple includes a relief of Cleopatra, the last Ptolemaic ruler of Egypt, and her son fathered by Julius Caesar.  

Enjoy lunch, then return to your hotel in Luxor to relax

Tour Luxor Museum

Luxor Museum contains an expertly-curated selection of art and grave goods from archeological sites around Luxor and the Valley of the Kings, including statues found in the Luxor Temple cache. The museum is also home to two royal mummies, Ahmose I and Ramesses I.

Visit Karnak Temple

Karnak Temple is the largest religious complex ever constructed, with numerous temples, pylons, statues and obelisks added by generations of pharaohs. Beginning in the reign of Senusret I, the most powerful rulers of Egypt - including Ramses the Great, Hatshepsut, and Thutmose III - built additions to the temple complex, with construction continuing for nearly two thousand years through the Ptolemaic period. 

Lunch 

Luxor Temple and Avenue of the Sphinxes

Luxor Temple is the second significant temple of the East Bank of Luxor. It is faced by two massive seated statues of Ramses II (Ramses the Great), and four standing statues. Like Karnak Temple, additions to Luxor Temple were undertaken by many pharaohs, including Amenhotep III and his grandson Tutankhamun. 

In front of Luxor Temple, and stretching all the way to Karnak Temple, is the Avenue of the Sphinxes. This ancient road is lined with over a thousand sphinx and ram statues

Check in to your Nile Cruise

After breakfast, your driver and your guide will pick you up from your Luxor hotel. 

Tour Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut

Hatshepsut is one of Egypt’s most well-known pharaohs, and one of the few female pharaohs that we know of. She ruled for more than twenty years in a period of notable prosperity and peace. Among her many significant architectural projects is the Temple of Hatshepsut, facing Luxor and the Temple of Karnak

Tombs of the Nobles 

The Tombs of the Nobles is located on the West Bank of Luxor, near the Valley of the Kings. It offers a unique glimpse into the lives of ancient Egyptian elites. You will see tombs with vividly painted scenes, depicting the daily life of Egyptians - farming, fishing, crafts, music, banquets. You will understand the real stories focused on nobles rather than kings, and learn about the authentic life in ancient Egypt. 

Set sail on your Nile Cruise

In the morning, enjoy breakfast on the boat while you admire the scenic view of the Nile Valley

Visit Edfu Temple

Edfu Temple is exquisitely preserved, thanks to having been buried for many years under the silt and mud from the Nile. It is dedicated to the god Horus and has beautiful friezes of the god’s journeys and relationship with his wife, Hathor.

Sail to Kom Ombo temple for sunset visit

The temple of Kom Ombo is dedicated to both Sobek, the crocodile god, and Horus the Elder. Next to Kom Ombo is the Crocodile Museum, which holds numerous mummified crocodiles brought as offerings to the temple.

Return to the ship for dinner and overnight stay

In the morning, your guide and driver will pick you up to drive to Abu Simbel

Visit Abu Simbel

The magnificent temples of Abu Simbel were carved by Ramses the Great to celebrate his victories in battle and to honor his wife, Nefertari. Between 1964 and 1968 a multinational project was undertaken to save the temples from the rising waters from the construction of the High Dam. Archeologists and engineers from around the world worked to carefully cut the temples apart, transport them and then reconstruct them on higher ground.

Visit Philae Temple Complex

Philae Temple was dedicated to goddess Isis, and was a site of worship for visitors from the 26th dynasty through the Ptolemaic periods. This beautifully-constructed temple was admired by many ancient writers including Seneca and Pliny the Elder.

See the High Dam

The High Dam, or Aswan High Dam, was built between 1960 and 1970 under the Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser to help with irrigation of farmland, flooding prevention, and generating electricity for a substantial portion of the country. Construction of the High Dam displaced nearly 100,000 (primarily Nubian) people in Egypt as well as Sudan, and resulted in an “International Campaign to Save the Monuments of Nubia” which included Abu Simbel, the Philae Temple Complex, and Kalabsha

Fly back to Cairo with your guide

Create your own itinerary by touring Coptic Cairo and the Market, or continuing your exploration of ancient history at the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM)

Coptic Cairo and Market

Enjoy the famous markets of Cairo’s historic center, and explore the winding streets and hidden treasures the city offers. Visit a bazaar to try your hand at haggling with local vendors - or simply enjoy a coffee and soak in the atmosphere.

Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM)

Visit the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), the largest museum ever made to focus on a single civilization - from pre-dynastic antiquity to the present. During your visit, you’ll see the grand treasure of King Tutankhamun, on display for the first time in its entirety since 1922, and come face to face with the gilded mask of a king.

Check out of your hotel and transfer to Cairo international airport to fly home with unforgettable memories.​​​​