Discover the ancient wonders of Egypt and cruise the River Nile in style on this 11 day group tour taking in the best of Cairo, Luxor and Aswan. Marvel at the Pyramids, explore ancient tombs at the Valley of the Kings and uncover the secrets of Dendera. See Kom Ombo, admire pretty Philae Temple, and spend 4-nights cruising the River Nile in style. Then enjoy some free time in Aswan and Cairo to explore at your own pace.
Trip Highlights
Included
Not Included
Itinerary
Free Time in Cairo
Sunday. Welcome to Egypt and the start of your holiday! Upon arrival at Cairo Airport you will be met by a representative from On The Go Tours.
The rest of the day is free to relax or those arriving early can opt to join a Backstreets Tour of Cairo which departs the hotel at 10am. 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 or on the final day and can arrange pre/post tour accommodation upon request.
Overnight: Cairo | Breakfast
Pyramids of Giza
Today see the incredible pyramids and the iconic Sphinx at The Giza Plateau. Perhaps opt to ride a camel. Later we travel to Saqqara, to explore the myriad of tombs and temples at the site and see Zhoser's step pyramid - constructed by Imhotep, the pharaoh's chief architect in 2700 BC.
Overnight: Cairo | Breakfast
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 sq.m 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 on display. Returning to the hotel there's time to relax by the pool 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.
Overnight: Sleeper Train | Breakfast
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 meters 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 if free to spend at leisure. Take a stroll around town or enjoy a refreshing swim in the pool and soak up the sunshine.
This evening there is an optional visit to view the beautiful Temple of Luxor at night. Book and pay locally.
Overnight: Luxor | Breakfast
Valley of the Kings & Karnak Temples
4000 year-old Luxor is ancient Egypt at its very best and 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 pharaoh's tombs, some of which you can enter. After exploring this incredible site we travel on to visit the striking limestone, colonnaded Temple of Hatshepsut, who was one of only three Egyptian ruling queens. On the West Bank we'll also see the imposing 18m-high Colossi of Memnon, which are all that remains of the temple of the hedonistic Amenophis III.
Returning to the East Bank we check-in on board a 5 star Nile cruiser which will be our home for the next four nights. Enjoy lunch and some rest and relaxation on board 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.
Overnight: Nile cruiser | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Nile Cruising
Nile cruising. Today we set sail downstream. Relax on deck and go for a swim, soak up the sunshine and enjoy the views as we cruise the River Nile.
Overnight: Nile cruiser | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Kom Ombo Temple
Nile cruising. Enjoy another day relaxing on board the cruiser as we sail the Nile to the Temple of Kom Ombo today, which is dedicated to Sobek the crocodile god, and Horus the falcon-headed god. This temple is unusual because everything is architecturally is doubled and perfectly symmetrical along the main axis of the temple including twin halls, courts, colonnades, sanctuaries and entrances. After a guided tour of the temple we continue our journey, arriving into Aswan this evening.
Overnight: Nile cruiser | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Aswan, Abu Simbel & the Philae Temple
Consider the optional early morning excursion to the Temples of Ramses II at Abu Simbel today. Please see our Abu Simbel by Road add-on for more info. Alternatively you can spend the morning at leisure.
This afternoon we take a short motorboat trip to Philae Temple - dedicated to the goddess Isis. The temple dates from 4th century BC but the Ptolomies 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.
Overnight: Nile Cruiser | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Aswan at leisure
Aswan - Cairo. Today offers free time for you to discover Aswan - your way. Consider a visit to the Old Cataract Hotel, where Agatha Christie wrote the novel Death on the Nile or opt for a visit to the well-curated Nubian Museum.
Late this afternoon, we board the overnight train (twin berth sleeper cabins provided) for our journey back to Cairo.
Overnight: Sleeper Train | Breakfast
Cairo - Old City tour or relax
Arriving into Cairo this morning, transfer to the hotel and check in. The rest of the day is free for you to enjoy the hotel facilities or you can opt to or join us for an optional tour visiting Old Cairo, Coptic Cairo and the Citadel of Saladin (book locally).
Overnight: Cairo | Breakfast
Cairo
Wednesday. Our tour comes to an end today with a transfer to the airport for your onward flight.
Breakfast
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.
Extra Prices
Hotels
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.
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.
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.
Sonesta Hotel, Towers & Casino Cairo, Cairo
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 Hotel, Cairo
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.
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.
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.
M/S Miriam , Nile Cruising
M/S Miriam is a beautiful Nile cruise boat offering 59 spacious cabins. Onboard you'll find a fantastic restaurant serving both international and Egyptian cuisine. As your cruiser makes it's way along the mighty Nile river, take the opportunity to relax on deck and watch the changing scenery or perhaps indulge in a book.
Reviews
Travellers have rated this tour as 4.38 out of 5 based on 8 recent reviews
A full packed busy schedule but enjoyed each day seeing all the sights and more. Our guide was exceptional and always cared about our welfare booked our viewings early to avoid the crowds and heat. ”
Our guide Sherif was fantastic. Very passionate and knowledgeable with a friendly and humorous disposition. The tour certainly was full on and our itinerary was tweaked according to the peeling off from members of the group which meant we lost some balance re days. Loved the smallish number on our tour. Wondered why we needed to be on the cruise 4 nights when we were only sailing for 2? Loved going down the Nile except the boat wasn’t quite adequate re expectations etc. ”
It was a wonderful experience. It was hectic but good.
Sheriff our tour guide was a walking encyclopedia on all topics associated with the tour. His blood is worth bottling.
The train ride left a bit to be desired, but hey it is all part of the Egyptian experience.
I would highly recommend On The Go Tours to my friends & family.
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK ”
Nader was an excellent guide. He was knowledgeable and able to answer all our questions. He was professional and friendly throughout the trip and took excellent care of the group - I would highly recommend him as a guide to any future travellers.
However, the overall tour had some room for improvement in terms of logistics, communication and information provided. For example, when we landed at the airport the local representative rushed us through the airport without sufficient communication and we didn't have time to withdraw cash or buy sim cards. While we were aware there would be a tip kitty, the amount required for the kitty wasn't communicated before we arrived in the country. We had to withdraw 21,000 EGP (for 3 people) from an ATM which had a 3,000 EGP withdrawal limit as soon as we arrived at the hotel as the staff member waiting there insisted on sorting out the tip kitty. This was very poor communication and timing (right after a very long haul journey) and there were no other ATMs nearby. The advice provided beforehand could have reasonably included a rough estimate of the kitty amount and advice to have EGP before we landed.
The arrival briefing was quite long and scheduled over dinner time. We would suggest reducing this to 30 minutes max and scheduling it for jsut before or after dinner. The detailed trip notes were provided to us during the arrival briefing, however these should have been emailed to us ahead of the trip to help us better prepare (e.g. required amount of cash for the tip kitty and add-ons). The tour was already quite expensive, but the number of additional site entries we had to pay for were a significant additional cost which we weren't aware of before the trip.
At the end of the tour when we took the overnight train to Cairo, we were verbally told that we would arrive in Cairo mid-morning and check into our hotel. However, we arrived at the hotel by 7am and were told by the local representative that rooms would not be available until between 10am-11am. All of us were extremely tired after the overnight train ride and had no alternative but to wait in the hotel lobby. We were fortunately able to check-in to rooms around 8am, however this meant paying a USD30 fee per room, which we also had not been warned about. We were extremely disappointed with the communication and lack of consideration for tired travellers in this instance.
Overall, the tour guide and itinerary were excellent, but given the difficulty with logistics and communication we are unlikely to recommend this tour to other friends unless these are fixed.”
The Nile river cruise was full of men! Not one woman in sight and the men just stare at you eating and are very pushy! The photographer insisted us to buy photos and someone selling clothes to us on the oat telling us “promise you’ll come back”! The men are really aggressive and look down on woman!
The train was ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING!!!! We got plane ticket’s for the return!”
Tour was good with the exception of the overnight train journey. More information and warnings should be given about this prior to booking. The aircon was not working which meant that it was an extremely hot journey.
The Sonesta hotel was terrible; staff were unfriendly , bordering on rudeness. The other hotels were good.
Tour guide, Nader, was excellent.”
I've never used your company before, but my travel agent assured me I'll be on good hands
I agreed & accepted the booking with your company & was totally blown away with the very first interaction I had with Zedan from your company.
What an incredible guy & the best fixer I've had the pleasure working with. He just got everything done, no bother no fuss & always ready with a reassuring smile, thank you Zedan much appreciated.
I was then met at the hotel by the tour leader Sherif another amasing guy & a total consummate professional and a absolute please to be around.
The tour started & Sherif was off & handled everything in his stride & always with an reassuring smile, nothing ever fazed him, a total professional.
Thank you Sherif for your patience & kindness & for always getting things done perfectly, on time with no fuss or bother.
The tour flowed seamlessly & the information we received from Sherif was top class & on point. His knowledge of everything Egyptian is astounding & accurate.
Sherif is one of the best tour guides I've ever had the privilege & pleasure to be associated with in a tour group environment, he was a total star, thank you for that much appreciated.
I will definitely use your company again & will refer you to my friends.
To the management and staff thank you for a great experience, will never forget this one. ”
It was an amazing experience and would highly recommend the company to anyone wanting to visit Egypt. We had the best tour guide ever who was very insightful and full of humour. I personally enjoyed the passion he has for his country and his job . ”
At a Glance
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A full packed busy schedule but enjoyed each day seeing all the sights and more. Our guide was exceptional and always cared about our welfare booked our viewings early to avoid the crowds and heat. ”