PREMIUM PRIVATE TOUR: Discover the very best of Egypt on this fully escorted 10 day private tour. From the legendary Pyramids of Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo to the beautiful Philae Temple in Aswan and Luxor's incredible Valley of the Kings. Visit awe-inspiring ancient sites and sail the Nile in style, spending 3 nights aboard a 5 star Nile cruiser.
Trip Highlights
Included
Not Included
Itinerary
Cairo
Friday. Upon arrival at Cairo airport you'll be met and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax or independently explore. Alternatively, additional sightseeing can be arranged upon request - consider a Backstreets of Cairo tour or a day trip to Alexandria.
Overnight: Cairo
Pyramids of Giza
Sightseeing begins today with a guided tour of the legendary Pyramids of Giza and the iconic Sphinx at the Giza Plateau. Then visit a government supervised papyrus emporium, before travelling on to the necropolis of Saqqara to see Zoser’s step pyramid - constructed in 2700 BC!
Overnight: Cairo | Breakfast
The Egyptian Museum
Cairo - Aswan. Embark on a guided tour of the vast new Grand Egyptian Museum this morning, where you'll discover an incredible array of relics and antiquities, including the treasures of King Tutankhamun. Then 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 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! After today's touring there's time to relax before you board the overnight train to Aswan this evening.
Please Note: the Grand Egyptian Museum is set to open late 2023. An official date has yet to be released. If travelling prior to the opening of the new facility we'll visit the Egyptian Museum instead.
Overnight: Sleeper Train | Breakfast
Aswan & the Philae Temple
Arrive into Aswan this morning and enjoy a short boat trip to Agilika Island for a tour of the beautiful Philae Temple - dedicated to the goddess Isis. Then visit a perfume oil emporium before check-in on board your Nile Cruiser which will be home for the next three nights. As the sun sets, there's free time to shop in the colourful souqs and markets or simply relax and watch an amazing sunset in Egypt's southern most town straddling the River Nile.
Please note: private groups of 4 or more travellers have the option to substitute the Nile Cruise for a two night felucca sailing excursion. Please contact us for details.
Overnight: Aswan - Nile Cruiser | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Nile Cruise & optional excursion to Abu Simbel
Aswan - Nile cruise. Very early this morning there's an optional excursion to Abu Simbel, the spectacular rock-cut temple of King Ramses II. The Nile Cruiser departs Aswan this afternoon and cruises the River Nile to Kom Ombo. Disembark to visit the temple which is dedicated to the crocodile headed god - Sobek before returning to the cruiser.
Overnight: Nile Cruiser | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Nile Cruise to Luxor
Nile Cruise - Luxor. Spend the morning relaxing onboard the Nile cruiser. Enjoy a swim in the pool and soak up the sun on deck as you cruise the River Nile to Luxor. Home of the legendary Valley of the Kings and Temple of Karnak, 4000 year-old Luxor is ancient Egypt at its best. Arriving into Luxor this afternoon the rest of the day is free to explore the city before spending your final night aboard the cruiser.
Overnight: Luxor - Nile Cruiser | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Luxor
This morning disembark and check into a 5 star Luxor hotel. The day is free to enjoy the hotel facilities, relax and independently explore Luxor. Tonight, there's the opportunity to visit Luxor Temple with dinner afterwards. Built by Amenophis III, Luxor Temple looks stunning at night when it's illuminated by hundreds of lights. Book/pay locally.
Overnight: Luxor | Breakfast
Valley of the Kings
Luxor - Cairo. Enjoy a guided tour of Luxor's West Bank this morning. Setting out early to avoid the midday sun, the first monuments you'll see are the towering Colossi of Memnon, an 18m high pair of statues which are all that remains of the temple of Amenophis III. Then explore the incredible Valley of the Kings, which is studded with intricately decorated pharaohs' tombs. Some of the tombs are so well preserved; the colours of the incredible pharaonic friezes are still as vibrant as when they were first painted. The best known tombs are those of Ramses II, Seti I, Amenhotep II and of course, the tomb of King Tutankhamun. After the Valley of the Kings visit the beautiful Temple of Queen Hatshepsut.
Return to the hotel where you relax and have lunch before a guided tour of the colossal Temple of Karnak this afternoon, with its stone-columned Hypostle Hall. Tonight, return by overnight sleeper train to Cairo.
Overnight: Sleeper Train | Breakfast
Free day in Cairo
Arrive into Cairo this morning and transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to simply relax, independently explore or opt to visit the famous Khan el Khalili bazaar to buy some souvenirs.
Overnight: Cairo | Breakfast
Cairo
Sunday. Hotel check out and included onward departure transfer to airport.
Breakfast
Nile Cruise or Felucca Sailing
If you'd prefer to sail the Nile aboard a traditional felucca instead of a deluxe Nile Cruiser, this can be arranged. For private groups of four or more we can offer a two night sailing trip aboard a felucca. Contact our reservations team for further information. Please note: to book this option children need to be 12 or over and everyone must be able to swim.
Prices & Dates
'Twin Share' prices are per person when there are 2 persons sharing a room. The 'Single Room' price is applicable when a single room is required.
Read MoreHotels
The hotels listed below are ones which we frequently use on this tour. We reserve the right to substitute these hotels to ones of a similar standard.
Sleeper Train, Cairo
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.
Holiday Inn Cairo Maadi, Cairo
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.
Mercure Cairo Le Sphinx, Cairo
In a great location for the Pyramids, the Mercure Cairo Le Sphinx is a contemporary hotel with excellent amenities. Guest rooms are well furnished with modern interiors and en suite facilities. Wi-fi is available in the lobby and there is a beautiful outdoor pool, which is perfect for relaxing by. Why not head to the restaurant on the roof for a delicious meal and impressive views of the Pyramids.
M/S Medea, Nile Cruising
The M/S Medea is elegantly furnished with rich fabrics, wood panelling and classic style furniture, offering a refined setting for your Nile cruise. The restaurant offers 120 covers with a combination of waiter service and buffet meals which allows to sample both Egyptian and international cuisine. The spacious lounge bar is tastefully furnished with Chesterfield sofas and offers panoramic views of the Nile River.
M/S La Traviata, Nile Cruising
M/S La Traviata has proved be a long term favourite with many regular Nile cruise guests. The cosy restaurant on the lower deck serves 88 guests and serves both - international and Egyptian cuisine. Lounge bar with dance floor and music system for evening entertainment. The sundeck offers a pool as well as sun loungers and a shaded area. The reception offers full services including an international phone. The gift shop on board has a wide range of gifts and souvenirs from Egypt.
Sonesta St. George Hotel, Luxor
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.
Steigenberger Nile Palace, Luxor
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.
Reviews
Travellers have rated this tour as 5 out of 5 based on 4 recent reviews
My husband and I travel a lot and can honestly say our guide Mahmoud was the best we've ever had. He was friendly, down to earth, organized and very knowledgeable. We could not thank him or recommend him enough for making our vacation truly special. ”
We were well loved after from the moment we arrived. Our guides were knowledgeable (which is super important for a trip like this), personable and overall outstanding. We thoroughly enjoyed our downtime aboard the Nile Cruiser where we soaked up the views of fertile farmlands dotted with sleepy villages and the occasional temple. There were some details that I put on the feedback form but I loved the trip.”
Hi Jane,
Wow, this has been a trip of a lifetime. Thank you so much for recommending this holiday for our family. It was everything that you said it would be and mum and dad enjoyed the flexibility to to do as little or as much as they liked.
When we arrived to Cairo at night (1am) and entered into the airport - the very first thing we saw was Nader holding up his sign - On The Go Tours. What a comforting sight. From that very first welcome we felt very safe and secure. He took us to our hotel and it was wonderful. The next morning he introduced us to our tour guide Allam, who was an Egyptologist and accompanied us throughout our stay
We will be talking about our trip for life and the 800 pictures to go along with it. Once again, thank you for everything from the bottom of our hearts. ”
Martin and I loved this tour. It was well organized and included most of the sights to see. Medo was passionate and very knowledgeable about the sights and history. He was incredibly helpful and a true professional.”
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My husband and I travel a lot and can honestly say our guide Mahmoud was the best we've ever had. He was friendly, down to earth, organized and very knowledgeable. We could not thank him or recommend him enough for making our vacation truly special. ”
