Discover Egypt's Capital & Sail the Nile River - 9 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Cairo, Walking Food Tour

Welcome to "The City of a Thousand Minarets," Cairo, known for its intricate Islamic architecture, massive bazaar, and rich history. Meet your driver at the airport and transfer to your hotel to check in and freshen up for your half-day food tour. When you're ready, follow your guide through the bustling streets and hidden alleyways, stopping at four different eateries to indulge in local delights like falafel, kebabs, baklava, or Egypt's national dish, koshary (layers of lentils, rice, chickpeas, and macaroni topped with a tangy tomato sauce and crispy fried onions). 

While you savor various dishes, learn about the origins and ingredients of each, allowing you to connect with the traditions that have shaped the city's vibrant food scene. Choose from a range of Egyptian drinks, like asab (sugarcane juice), sahlab (a milky drink flavored with orchid root powder and rosewater), or karkadeh (hibiscus tea served hot or cold). After four hours of eating and drinking, return to your hotel to rest and fight off your jet lag.

Day 2: Guided Tour of Memphis, Saqqara & the Giza Necropolis

Join your guide on a full-day tour of Cairo's ancient surroundings, starting in Memphis, the first unified capital of ancient Egypt. Start with a one-hour transfer, then wander through the remains of this once-thriving city. Highlights of the site include the Colossus of Ramesses II, a massive limestone statue, and the alabaster Sphinx of Memphis. Continue to the Saqqara Necropolis, just 20 minutes away, to explore the royal burial ground and the world's oldest stone pyramid, the Pyramid of Djoser. Marvel at the six distinct tiers before stepping inside to discover the network of tunnels and chambers. 

Your next stop, the three iconic pyramids of Giza, is 50 minutes away on the Giza Plateau. Start at the largest of the three, aptly named the Great Pyramid of Giza. Then, head to the best-preserved pyramid, the Pyramid of Khafre. Last is the smallest of the three, the Pyramid of Menkaure. Admire the pyramids from the outside or pay an additional fee to discover the sacred chambers and dimly lit passageways within. Be sure to visit the Great Sphinx nearby, guarding the pyramids, before your one-hour camel ride, which offers a new perspective of the plateau and its ancient structures.

Day 3: Fly to Aswan, Visit the Aswan High Dam, Philae Temple & a Nubian Village

Say goodbye to Cairo this morning as you head to the airport for a 1.5-hour flight to Aswan, your gateway to the Nile River and the landmarks lining its shores. When you land, meet your driver at the airport and begin your city tour, starting at the Aswan High Dam. Built in the 1960s, the dam was a modern engineering feat as it provided improved water storage, doubled the country's electricity supply, and increased cultivable land by 30 percent. Continue to a nearby dock, where you'll board a small boat to Agilkia Island, where Philae Temple awaits your visit.

Explore the complex dedicated to the goddess Isis, who embodies love, magic, and motherhood in Egyptian mythology. Admire the well-preserved colonnades, intricately carved reliefs, and hieroglyphics adorning the walls. In the afternoon, cruise to a Nubian village on the West Bank to learn more about the locals' culture and traditions. Tour the village to see the traditional mud-brick houses painted in bright colors, then observe the locals going about their daily lives, weaving baskets, cooking hearty Nubian food, and tending to their pet crocodiles. After trying a traditional drink, head to your hotel in the city.

Day 4: Visit Abu Simbel, Sail to Kom Ombo Temple

After breakfast, meet your driver for a 3.5-4-hour transfer south along the river to Abu Simbel in the Nubian Desert. This monumental site features two massive rock-cut temples dedicated to Pharaoh Ramesses II and his queen, Nefertari. Start at the larger temple dedicated to the pharaoh, evident by the four colossal statues of him sitting majestically atop a throne. Inside, you'll find intricate carvings and hieroglyphs depicting the pharaoh's military victories and divine connections. Continue to Nefertari's smaller yet equally impressive temple, which has six towering statues at its entrance.

Discover the grand hypostyle hall to see well-preserved reliefs of the queen and goddess of love and motherhood, Hathor. After exploring both temples, return to Aswan to board a dahabiya, a luxurious sailboat used primarily on the Nile River. This will be your accommodation and transportation for the next four days, so settle in as you start your journey down the Nile, setting sail for the Temple of Kom Ombo, where you'll dock for the night.

Day 5: Visit Kom Ombo Temple, Sail to Edfu

Enjoy a delicious breakfast on board before disembarking to visit the Temple of Kom Ombo, dedicated to both Sobek, the crocodile god of fertility and protection, and Horus, the falcon-headed god of the sky and kingship. In honor of both gods, the temple features two symmetrical entrances, hypostyle halls, and sanctuaries that mirror each other. Explore both sides of the temple, pausing to admire the intricate reliefs depicting mythological stories, medical instruments, and surgical procedures that provide valuable insights into ancient Egyptian medicine and religious practices.

Return to the dahabiya for lunch while slowly sailing to the city of Edfu on the west bank of the Nile. After dining, head up to the shade-covered deck for sweeping views of the palm-lined riverbanks, ancient temples, and small villages. Keep an eye out for landmarks like Gebel el-Silsila, an ancient quarry site that was a major source of sandstone for many of the temples you'll visit in Egypt. The onboard restaurant features massive windows, so you can take in the picturesque view, especially beautiful at sunset, while you enjoy a gourmet dinner before docking in Edfu. 

Day 6: Explore Edfu Temple & El Kab, Sail to El Hegz Island

Disembark in Edfu and switch to a horse-drawn carriage to reach Edfu Temple, a remarkably well-preserved complex dating back to the Ptolemaic period. Admire the imposing facade and colossal statues of the falcon-headed god, Horus. Then, step inside to explore the grand hypostyle halls intricately adorned with hieroglyphics that tell the story of Horus's legendary battles and triumphs. Be sure to see the expansive courtyard with 32 columns depicting various deities and mythological scenes. Then, return to the boat for lunch as you sail to El-Kab, a historic site on the Nile's east bank.

Wander through the site, which includes prehistoric and ancient Egyptian settlements, temples, and tombs. The most notable structure is the Temple of Nekhbet, which features impressive reliefs and inscriptions detailing the divine and royal figures of the time. Other highlights you'll see include a series of rock-cut tombs with intricate wall paintings that provide insights into ancient Egyptian burial practices and beliefs. After exploring the archaeological site, return to the boat for dinner as you sail to El Hegz Island near Esna for another night on the Nile. 

Day 7: Sail to Luxor, Guided Tour of Luxor's West & East Bank

Sail to Luxor this morning for an action-packed day of sightseeing, starting at the Valley of the Kings. This vast necropolis is the final resting place of many of Egypt's renowned pharaohs, including Tutankhamun and Ramesses the Great. Visits to the tombs aren't included, but your guide will highlight what's inside. Head up to Deir el-Bahari next to discover the mortuary temple complex dedicated to Queen Hatshepsut in a dramatic cliffside setting. Your last stop on the west bank is the Colossi of Memnon, twin statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III, and all that remains of his mortuary temple.

Cross to the east bank to explore Luxor Temple, built to celebrate the rejuvenation of kingship and the gods Amun, Mut, and Khonsu. Look up at the towering statue of Ramesses II before strolling through the vast courtyard, hypostyle hall, inner sanctuaries, and Chapel of Alexander the Great. Move on to nearby Karnak, the second-largest religious complex in the world at over 200 acres (80 ha) and renowned for its hypostyle hall with 134 towering columns intricately decorated with hieroglyphics and reliefs. After your full day of temple touring, return to the boat for your last night on the Nile.

Day 8: Fly to Cairo, Visit the Egyptian Museum, Coptic Cairo & Islamic Cairo

Bid farewell to the Nile and the dahabiya this morning as you transfer to the airport for a one-hour flight back to Cairo. On arrival, meet your driver at the airport and transfer to your hotel to check in and freshen up for a full-day city tour. Head with your guide to the Egyptian Museum first to wander through the grand halls and discover treasures like the golden mask of Tutankhamun, statues of ancient deities, and intricately detailed mummies that offer a glimpse into the elaborate funerary practices of the ancient Egyptians.

Then, follow your guide through the streets of Coptic Cairo to reach the Fortress of Babylon, originally built by the Romans during the first century CE. Stop at the Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus within the fortress, believed to have provided refuge to the Holy Family during their flight into Egypt. Continue to Saint Virgin Mary's Coptic Orthodox Church, suspended above the fortress, earning it the nickname the "Hanging Church," before visiting one of the largest churches in the country, the Saint Barbara Church Complex.

Coptic Cairo is also home to several synagogues, including Synagogue Ben Ezra, believed to have been built on the site where the pharaoh's daughter discovered the baby Moses. Next, trade Old Cairo for Islamic Cairo as you head to the Cairo Citadel, perched on a hilltop overlooking the city. As you explore the citadel, you'll encounter impressive structures, such as the elaborate Mosque of Muhammad Ali, with its striking Ottoman-style domes and minarets. Then, end the tour at the Mosque-Madrasa of Sultan Hassan, a grand mosque from the Mamluk period.

Day 9: Depart Cairo

After just nine days, your Egyptian adventure draws to a close today. If you have a later flight, you can explore more of the capital on your own. Consider heading to Al-Azhar Park for a leisurely walk among the meticulously designed gardens, tranquil water features, and shaded walkways. Enjoy panoramic views of the city skyline and iconic landmarks, then stop at one of the on-site cafés for a refreshing drink. When it's time, return to the hotel, meet your driver, and transfer to the airport for your flight home. Safe travels!