Egypt Highlights: Cairo, Luxor, Abu Simbel

Before dawn, with a packed breakfast in hand, you'll embark on a captivating private tour to Abu Simbel. These two colossal rock-cut temples, commissioned by Pharaoh Ramses II, are an astonishing testament to ancient engineering and devotion. Witness the grand façades dedicated to Ramses II himself and his beloved Queen Nefertari, their scale inspiring even today. Learn about the extraordinary international effort to relocate these temples to save them from the rising waters of Lake Nasser. Following your return to Aswan, enjoy a delicious lunch. Later, you'll board a comfortable first-class train to Luxor, the world's greatest open-air museum. After checking into your elegant 5-star hotel, unwind and anticipate tomorrow's discoveries.

Following breakfast and hotel check-out, your guide will lead you to Luxor's fabled West Bank, the necropolis of pharaohs. Begin at the Valley of the Kings, an unparalleled burial ground where generations of pharaohs, including Tutankhamun, were laid to rest in richly decorated tombs. Next, visit the visually striking Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, a terraced architectural masterpiece carved into the cliffs of Deir el-Bahari. Before crossing back to the East Bank, pause at the Colossi of Memnon, two massive stone statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III that have stood sentinel for thousands of years. A delightful lunch, including a serene boat trip on the Nile, awaits. Your final stop is the immense Karnak Temple Complex, an ancient 'city of temples' that evolved over two millennia, dedicated primarily to the Theban Triad. After immersing yourself in Karnak's grandeur, you'll be comfortably transferred back to your Makadi Bay hotel, concluding an unforgettable journey through Egypt's highlights.