Egypt Golden 15 Day Tour Cairo Giza Aswan Luxor Alexandria

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

Day 1
Day 1 – Welcome to Cairo
1 stop
Cairo International Airport (Pass by)
Welcome to Egypt. Upon arrival at Cairo International Airport, meet your local representative who will assist you with the arrival procedures and accompany you to your private transfer. Drive to your hotel in Cairo, check in, and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure. This first day is intentionally kept relaxed, allowing you time to recover from your journey and prepare for the exciting days ahead. Depending on your arrival time, you may choose to relax at the hotel or explore the surrounding area independently.
Day 2
Pyramids, Sphinx & Grand Egyptian Museum
3 stops
1
Giza Necropolis
Begin your first full sightseeing day with two of Egypt’s greatest highlights: the legendary Giza Plateau and the Grand Egyptian Museum. Travel to the Giza Plateau, home to the most famous monuments of ancient Egypt. Explore the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the largest of the three pyramids and the last surviving Wonder of the Ancient World. Continue to the Pyramid of Khafre and the Pyramid of Menkaure while your Egyptologist guide explains how these enormous monuments were constructed and why they became the eternal resting places of Egypt’s pharaohs. Take time to admire panoramic views across the plateau and discover the extraordinary engineering achievements of ancient Egyptian civilization.
3 hours • Admission ticket included
2
Continue to the Great Sphinx, one of the most recognizable monuments in the world. Carved directly from limestone, the Sphinx combines the body of a lion with the head of a king and has guarded the Giza Plateau for thousands of years. Your guide will explain the history, symbolism, and mysteries surrounding this extraordinary monument.
40 minutes • Admission ticket included
3
Grand Egyptian Museum
Continue to the Grand Egyptian Museum, a world-class cultural destination dedicated to the history and treasures of ancient Egypt. Explore spacious galleries displaying important statues, artifacts, royal objects, and archaeological discoveries spanning thousands of years of Egyptian history. Your visit provides an excellent opportunity to understand the development of ancient Egyptian civilization before continuing to the temples and tombs of Upper Egypt later in the journey.
3 hours • Admission ticket included
Day 3
oric and religious heritage before traveling south to Aswan
3 stops
4
Cairo Citadel
Visit the impressive Citadel of Salah El-Din, one of Cairo’s most important medieval landmarks. Built during the 12th century as a defensive fortress, the Citadel later became an important political and administrative center. Explore the historic complex and enjoy panoramic views over Cairo while your guide explains the city’s medieval history and the strategic importance of the fortress.
1 hour 40 minutes • Admission ticket included
5
Old Cairo
Continue to Old Cairo, one of the oldest continuously inhabited areas of the city. Discover the historic Coptic quarter and learn about the long history of Christianity in Egypt. Walk through narrow historic streets and explore some of the area’s important churches and religious landmarks while learning about the traditions of Egypt’s Coptic community.
2 hours • Admission ticket included
6
After sightseeing, enjoy some free time before transferring to Cairo railway station. Board the overnight sleeper train to Aswan and settle into your private sleeping compartment. Dinner will be served onboard while the train travels south through the Nile Valley.
11 hours • Admission ticket included
Day 4
Aswan Highlights: High Dam, Unfinished Obelisk & Philae Temple
4 stops
Aswan (Pass by)
Arrive in Aswan in the morning and meet your local representative. Begin discovering one of Egypt’s most beautiful southern cities before boarding your Nile cruise.
7
Philae Timple
Travel by motorboat to Agilkia Island to visit the magnificent Temple of Philae. Dedicated primarily to the goddess Isis, Philae was one of the most important religious centers in ancient Egypt and remained a place of worship for centuries. Explore the temple’s monumental gateways, elegant columns, courtyards, sanctuaries, and beautifully preserved reliefs. Your Egyptologist guide will introduce you to the mythology of Isis and explain the temple’s importance in ancient Egyptian religion. Discover the remarkable story of how the temple complex was dismantled and relocated to higher ground to protect it from the rising waters created by the Aswan High Dam. The boat journey to the island also provides beautiful views of the Nile and the surrounding islands of Aswan.
3 hours • Admission ticket included
8
Aswan High Dam
Continue to the Aswan High Dam, one of the most significant engineering projects in modern Egyptian history. Learn how the dam transformed Egypt’s management of the Nile by controlling seasonal flooding, generating hydroelectric power, and creating the enormous Lake Nasser. Enjoy views of the Nile and the surrounding landscape while learning about the dam’s importance to modern Egypt and its connection to the relocation of several ancient monuments.
50 minutes • Admission ticket included
9
Unfinished Obelisk
Complete your Aswan sightseeing at the ancient granite quarries, home to the enormous Unfinished Obelisk. The monument remains partially carved into the bedrock and offers a fascinating insight into the techniques used by ancient Egyptian craftsmen to cut, shape, and transport massive blocks of granite. Learn why the obelisk was abandoned and how archaeologists use the quarry to understand ancient stone-working methods. After sightseeing, transfer to your Nile cruise and check in. Enjoy lunch onboard and relax after your sightseeing. Take in the views of the Nile from the deck and enjoy the beginning of your cruise through Upper Egypt. Depending on the cruise schedule, enjoy the evening at leisure onboard.
50 minutes • Admission ticket included
Day 5
Abu Simbel & Sailing on the Nile to Kom Ombo
2 stops
10
Abu Simbel Temple Complex
Depart early in the morning for Abu Simbel. Travel south through the desert to visit the spectacular rock-cut temples built during the reign of Ramses II. Stand before the four colossal statues decorating the façade of the Great Temple and discover the remarkable history of Ramses II, one of ancient Egypt’s most powerful pharaohs. Continue to the smaller temple dedicated to Queen Nefertari and the goddess Hathor. Your guide will also explain the extraordinary international rescue project that relocated the temples to higher ground during the construction of the Aswan High Dam.
7 hours • Admission ticket included
11
Temple of Kom Ombo
Later, visit the beautifully situated Temple of Kom Ombo overlooking the Nile. This unusual temple is unique because it was designed as a double sanctuary dedicated to two different gods: Sobek, the crocodile god, and Horus the Elder, the falcon-headed god. Explore the symmetrical halls, sanctuaries, carved reliefs, and ancient inscriptions while learning about religious rituals, medicine, and daily life in ancient Egypt. Depending on the cruise schedule, the temple may be visited in the late afternoon or evening when the illuminated monument creates a particularly atmospheric experience.
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket included
Day 6
Edfu Temple, Esna, Sailing to Luxor & Luxor Temple at Sunset
4 stops
12
Temple of Horus
Visit the Temple of Horus at Edfu, one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt. Enter through the monumental pylon and explore the spacious courtyards, decorated halls, sanctuaries, and detailed wall reliefs. Dedicated to the falcon-headed god Horus, the temple offers an excellent opportunity to understand ancient Egyptian religious ceremonies and mythology. Your guide will explain the famous story of the conflict between Horus and Seth, one of the most important myths of ancient Egypt. Return to the cruise and continue sailing toward Luxor. Relax on deck and enjoy views of palm trees, villages, farmland, and everyday life along the Nile. This scenic sailing period is one of the most relaxing parts of the journey.
2 hours • Admission ticket included
13
Esna Lock
Experience the cruise ship passing through the Esna Lock. The lock allows vessels to continue navigating different water levels along the Nile and is an interesting part of the cruise experience. Continue sailing toward Luxor.
5 hours • Admission ticket included
Luxor (Pass by)
Upon arrival in Luxor, visit the magnificent Luxor Temple at sunset, when the ancient columns, statues and courtyards take on a magical atmosphere. Return to the cruise ship for the evening.
14
Luxor Temple
Upon arrival in Luxor, visit the magnificent Luxor Temple. Located in the heart of the ancient city of Thebes, the temple was closely connected with the religious festivals and royal traditions of ancient Egypt. Walk among enormous columns, statues, courtyards, and monumental gateways while your Egyptologist explains the temple’s connection to Karnak and the ancient Opet Festival. A late afternoon or evening visit creates a particularly atmospheric setting when the temple is illuminated.
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket included
Day 7
Luxor West Bank & Nile Cruise Disembarkation
3 stops
15
Colossi of Memnon
Start your morning with a visit to the Colossi of Memnon, two enormous stone statues representing Pharaoh Amenhotep III. Standing at the entrance to what was once one of the largest mortuary temples in ancient Thebes, these monumental figures have watched over the West Bank for thousands of years. Learn about Amenhotep III’s reign and the enormous temple complex that once stood behind the statues. Your Egyptologist guide will also share the stories and legends that surrounded the Colossi during the Greek and Roman periods. Take time to admire the scale and craftsmanship of these impressive monuments before continuing to the nearby temples.
30 minutes • Admission ticket included
16
Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el Bahari
Continue to the spectacular Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari. Built dramatically against the limestone cliffs of the West Bank, the temple is one of the most distinctive monuments in Luxor. Explore its terraces, colonnades, sanctuaries, and beautifully carved reliefs while learning about Hatshepsut, one of ancient Egypt’s most powerful and successful female rulers. Discover the story of her reign, her trading expeditions, her relationship with the god Amun, and the remarkable architecture of her temple.
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket included
17
Valley of the Kings
Continue into the Valley of the Kings, the legendary royal cemetery of ancient Thebes. For almost 500 years, pharaohs of the New Kingdom were buried in hidden rock-cut tombs carved into these desert mountains. Enter selected tombs and admire the colorful hieroglyphs, religious texts, and scenes describing the journey of the deceased into the afterlife. Your Egyptologist guide will explain the ancient Egyptian beliefs surrounding death, burial, resurrection, and the protection of the pharaoh for eternity. The valley is also famous for the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun, whose treasures became some of the most celebrated archaeological discoveries in history. After completing your West Bank sightseeing, transfer to your hotel in Luxor. Enjoy the remainder of the afternoon or evening at leisure.
2 hours • Admission ticket included
Day 8
Dendera & Abydos Temples → Hurghada
3 stops
18
Dendera Temple Complex
Today leave the main tourist route and explore two extraordinary temple complexes before continuing to Egypt’s Red Sea coast. Travel north from Luxor to Dendera and visit the magnificent Temple of Hathor. Dedicated to Hathor, the goddess associated with love, music, motherhood, beauty, and joy, the temple is renowned for its exceptional preservation. Walk through the enormous Hypostyle Hall and admire its massive columns decorated with images of Hathor. Look up to see the beautifully preserved astronomical ceiling and explore the temple’s decorated chambers, sanctuaries, reliefs, and inscriptions. Dendera offers a fascinating opportunity to experience ancient Egyptian architecture away from the larger crowds of the main Nile Valley sites.
3 hours • Admission ticket included
19
Temple of Abydos
Continue to Abydos, one of the most sacred cities of ancient Egypt. Abydos was closely associated with Osiris, god of the afterlife, and became an important pilgrimage destination for ancient Egyptians. Visit the magnificent Temple of Seti I, celebrated for its finely carved reliefs and exceptional artistic quality. Explore the temple’s halls, chapels, sanctuaries, and religious scenes while your guide explains its connection with Osiris and the ancient Egyptian concept of the afterlife. See the famous Abydos King List, which records the names of many Egyptian rulers and provides an important historical reference for Egyptologists.
2 hours • Admission ticket included
Hurghada (Pass by)
After visiting Abydos, continue east through the Eastern Desert toward Hurghada on the Red Sea coast. Enjoy the changing scenery as the green Nile Valley gives way to dramatic desert landscapes. Arrive in Hurghada and check into your all-inclusive beach resort. Relax after a full day of exploration and travel.
Day 9
Red Sea Boat & Snorkeling Experience
1 stop
20
Hurghada
Enjoy a full day exploring the Red Sea. Board a boat and cruise to beautiful offshore waters for swimming and snorkeling. Discover colorful coral reefs and the diverse marine life of the Red Sea. Enjoy lunch on board before returning to Hurghada.
1 day • Admission ticket free
Day 10
Hurghada Free Day
1 stop
21
Hurghada
Enjoy a relaxing day on Egypt’s Red Sea coast. After breakfast, the day is free for you to enjoy the resort at your own pace. Relax on the beach, swim in the Red Sea, enjoy the swimming pools, or take advantage of the resort’s facilities. For travelers looking for additional adventure, optional activities may include diving, snorkeling, water sports, desert safaris, or other Red Sea excursions. After the intensive sightseeing program through Cairo, Aswan, and Luxor, this day provides time to slow down and enjoy the beach resort experience.
1 day • Admission ticket free
Day 11
Hurghada Free Day
1 stop
22
Hurghada
Enjoy another free day in Hurghada. Spend the morning relaxing at the resort, enjoy the beach and swimming pools, or simply take in the sunshine and views of the Red Sea. You may also choose an optional excursion if you prefer to make the day more active. Whether you spend the day relaxing or exploring, this free day gives you flexibility before continuing your journey back to Cairo.
1 day • Admission ticket free
Day 12
Hurghada to Cairo
2 stops
23
Hurghada
After breakfast, check out from your resort and begin your journey back to Cairo. Transfer Through the Eastern Desert Travel west from the Red Sea coast through the dramatic landscapes of Egypt’s Eastern Desert. As the route continues toward Cairo, the scenery gradually changes from rugged desert mountains to the wider Nile Valley and finally to the busy Egyptian capital.
5 hours • Admission ticket free
24
Cairo
Upon arrival in Cairo, transfer to your hotel and check in. Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure. Take the evening to relax before continuing north toward Alexandria the following day.
6 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 13
Cairo to El Alamein & Alexandria
3 stops
25
El Alamein War Museum
After breakfast, leave Cairo and travel north toward Egypt’s Mediterranean coast. 1. El Alamein Stop at El Alamein, one of the most important World War II sites in North Africa. The area was the scene of two major battles during the Western Desert Campaign of World War II and played an important role in the Allied advance across North Africa. Learn about the strategic importance of the region and the events that took place here during the war. Duration: Approximately 30–45 minutes 2. El Alamein War Museum Visit the El Alamein War Museum to explore the history of the North African campaign. The museum displays military equipment, uniforms, maps, photographs, and historical information relating to the forces involved in the conflict.
5 hours • Admission ticket included
El Alamein War Cemetery (Pass by)
Stop at El Alamein, one of the most important World War II sites in North Africa. The area was the scene of two major battles during the Western Desert Campaign of World War II and played an important role in the Allied advance across North Africa. Learn about the strategic importance of the region and the events that took place here during the war.
Alexandria (Pass by)
Continue along Egypt’s Mediterranean coast to Alexandria. Founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BC, Alexandria developed into one of the greatest centers of learning, culture, and commerce in the ancient Mediterranean world. Upon arrival, check into your hotel. Enjoy the evening at leisure and take the opportunity to experience the atmosphere of Alexandria’s Mediterranean waterfront and famous Corniche.
Day 14
Alexandria to Cairo
4 stops
26
Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa
After breakfast, continue exploring historic Alexandria. Visit the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, one of the city's most fascinating archaeological sites.
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket included
27
Visit the modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina, built as a contemporary tribute to Alexandria’s legendary ancient library. Admire its distinctive circular architecture and explore the cultural complex. Learn about Alexandria’s historic role as a center of scholarship and intellectual life and how the modern library continues this tradition.
1 hour • Admission ticket included
28
Mosque of Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi
Continue to the Abu Al-Abbas Al-Mursi Mosque, one of Alexandria’s most important Islamic landmarks. Admire its elegant domes, minarets, arches, and detailed architectural design. Located close to the Mediterranean waterfront, the mosque is also an excellent place to experience the character of Alexandria’s historic Anfushi district.
15 minutes • Admission ticket included
29
Pompey's Pillar
Continue to Pompey’s Pillar, one of the most recognizable surviving monuments from Roman Alexandria. The enormous granite column stands within the archaeological remains of the ancient Serapeum. Learn about the Roman history of Alexandria and the religious complex that once occupied this area. Enjoy some free time along the famous Alexandria Corniche. Take in views of the Mediterranean Sea, watch local life along the waterfront, and enjoy the atmosphere of Egypt’s second-largest city. After completing your Alexandria sightseeing, begin the drive back to Cairo. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel and enjoy your final evening at leisure.
40 minutes • Admission ticket included
Day 15
Departure from Cairo
1 stop
30
Cairo International Airport
Enjoy your final breakfast at the hotel. Depending on your flight schedule, enjoy some free time before your departure transfer. Cairo International Airport Transfer Your representative will meet you at the hotel and accompany you on your private transfer to Cairo International Airport. Your 15-day Egyptian journey comes to an end as you depart Cairo with memories of the pyramids, ancient temples, royal tombs, the Nile, Nubian culture, the Red Sea, and historic Alexandria.
1 hour • Admission ticket included

Additional info

• Wheelchair accessible
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
• All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

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