Pharaonic Artifacts

Our Egypt tour kicks off with a visit to the world-renowned Egyptian Museum, which is home to an immense number of ancient Pharaonic exhibits. Among the many priceless treasures on display, you'll have the opportunity to see the incredible Tutankhamun exhibit. Throughout this and all of your other sightseeing tours, you'll be accompanied by one of our knowledgeable local Egyptologist guides, who will share their wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm for Egyptian history and their country in general. After exploring the museum, we'll venture to Giza, located on the outskirts of Cairo, to visit the Sphinx and the three great pyramids of Egypt. The Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops), standing at 500 feet high and 750 feet wide at its base, is an awe-inspiring man-made structure constructed from enormous stone blocks with a hard limestone casing. Over the years, the casing has been stripped away, leaving behind the exposed inner block structure. Together with the smaller pyramids of Khafre (Chephern) and Menkaure (Mycerinus), the sight of these massive structures rising out of the desert is a breathtaking spectacle. If you wish, you'll have the opportunity to climb down inside the pyramids, though your guide cannot accompany you (a limited number of tickets are available for the Great Pyramid). Later in the evening, we will transfer to the station and board the overnight sleeper train to Luxor (approximately 9 hours). You'll enjoy dinner onboard in your private twin-berth compartments. Overnight: On board sleeper train Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

We will arrive in Luxor early this morning, and after crossing the Nile, we'll commence our tour of Luxor's West Bank. This area is home to the Valley of the Kings, an ancient burial site that continues to reveal its secrets to this day, making it one of the most significant archaeological sites globally. During our tour, we'll visit several of these Pharaonic tombs, as well as the temple of Queen Hatshepsut, Deir el-Medina (the Valley of the Craftsmen), and the massive Colossi of Memnon. Following the morning tour, you'll have the afternoon free to relax and enjoy the amenities of your 5-star hotel located on the banks of the Nile. In the evening, we'll visit Luxor Temple, which is situated in the heart of the city and is beautifully illuminated at night. Overnight: Luxor 5-star hotel Meals: Breakfast

You'll have a free morning today, giving you the chance to enjoy a well-deserved lie-in after yesterday's early start. Following lunch, we'll embark on a tour of the vast temple complex at Karnak, which was once the religious center of Thebes and Upper Egypt. The complex was connected to Luxor by an extensive avenue lined with sphinxes, and it was linked to the Nile via a canal where the sacred boats of the god Amun would pass through. Upon entering through a smaller sphinx-lined avenue, built by Ramesses II, you'll encounter the enormous pylon entrance. Within the vast courtyard, there are three chapels dedicated to the gods Amun, Khous, and Mut. The magnificent Hypostyle Hall boasts 134 towering columns, each adorned with scenes of gods and pharaohs, and the walls are decorated with hieroglyphic inscriptions. (optional excursion) This morning, you can also opt for a spectacular hot air balloon flight over the west bank of the Nile, but be prepared for an early start to catch the sunrise as the balloon ascends. Overnight: Luxor 5-star hotel Meals: Breakfast

Today, you have a free day to unwind in your hotel or take an optional tour if you want to delve deeper into the fascinating history of Egypt. For instance, the Rammesseum, Medinat Habu, and the Valley of the Queens on the west bank of the Nile are all highly recommended, as is the Luxor Museum. You could also explore Luxor further, shop or browse in the market, visit the mummification museum, or enjoy a felucca trip to Banana Island. Your tour guide will be pleased to arrange any additional visits for you, or you can book sightseeing tours in advance. In the evening, we'll return to the station to board the overnight sleeper train back to Cairo. Flight upgrades are available upon request. Overnight: Cairo 5-star hotel Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

This morning, we'll arrive back in Cairo and transfer to our hotel. The majority of the day is free for you to explore Cairo at your leisure, or you may opt for an optional tour. These include a city tour of Cairo, which takes you to Coptic Cairo, the Citadel, and the Mohamed Ali Mosque. Alternatively, you can choose a half-day tour to Saqqara, Dashour, and Memphis to learn more about the history and evolution of pyramid building. Full-day options further afield include a visit to the colonial city of Alexandria on the Mediterranean or a trip into the desert outside Cairo to witness the World Heritage Site of the Valley of the Whales at Wadi Rayan (please note that if you select these full-day options, you will miss the bazaar walk). In the late afternoon, we'll embark on a guided walk through the back streets and bazaars of Old Cairo. We'll pass through the enormous Bab al-Futuh gateway and explore streets dedicated to metalwork, spices, pottery, fabric, jewelry, and more as we gradually make our way to the more touristy Khan-el-Khalili bazaar. We'll have time for a break to sample some mint tea and a shisha pipe, providing a perfect opportunity to pick up some souvenirs of your time in Egypt. Overnight: Cairo 5-star hotel Meals: Breakfast

Today, you'll have some free time for last-minute sightseeing or shopping until it's time for us to transfer you to the airport for your departure flight. If your flight departure is in the evening, then the Cairo City Tour and the Saqqara, Dashour & Memphis tours are also available today. Alternatively, you can extend your stay in Cairo with additional nights, allowing you to take a day trip to the colonial city of Alexandria on the Mediterranean coast or venture into the desert outside Cairo to witness the World Heritage Site of the Valley of the Whales at Wadi Rayan. Meals: Breakfast