12 Days Exceptional Tour in Egypt

Discovering Cairo’s Treasures
Over the first two days of the tour, guests will experience the rich history of Egypt’s vibrant capital city Cairo. After arriving at their 5-star hotel, the first stop will be the iconic Giza Pyramids and Sphinx. Dating back over 4,500 years, these colossal architectural wonders give a glimpse into the advanced engineering marvels created by the ancient Egyptians. No other monument encapsulates Egypt’s mythical past quite like the Great Pyramids. Guests will marvel at their sheer scale and precision before exploring the mysterious Valley Temple. In the afternoon, the tour will continue at the Egyptian Museum, housing over 100,000 artifacts from Egypt’s Pharaonic era including treasures from King Tutankhamun’s tomb. By night, guests can soak in Cairo’s atmosphere over a traditional galley dinner cruise on the River Nile.

Discovering Marvels in Middle Egypt
On day 3, guests embark on a panoramic road trip south from Cairo to the fertile basin of Middle Egypt. First stop is the natural oasis of Faiyum, home to the country’s oldest lake Qarun. Here colorful lakeside views and the mystique of Wadi Rayan’s waterfalls await discovery. Continuing on, the next destination is the city of El Minya for a two-night stay. The area flourished as an early center of Egyptian culture and trade, as seen through remarkable tombs and temples at archaeological sites including Tuna El Gabal, El Ashmunein, and Beni Hassan. On day 4, one ancient city awaits – Tel El Amarna, founded by pharaoh Akhenaten as the new capital of the religious revolution known as Atenism.

Mysteries of Luxor and the West Bank
After breakfast on day 5, guests board their air-conditioned coach for the journey further south to the temple city of Luxor. Here begins 4 nights onboard a luxury Nile cruiser, the ideal way to explore both banks in style and comfort. Day 6 sees the immense Karnak Temple complex and Luxor Temple by moonlight, highlighting Luxor’s religious significance. The following day, guests cross to the dramatic West Bank for one of the tour’s highlights – the Valley of the Kings. Wandering among the tombs of New Kingdom pharaohs including Ramses VI and Amenhotep III offers a insight into ancient burial customs. No visit to Luxor is complete without Hatshepsut’s grand temple at Deir el-Bahari, built by Egypt’s greatest female ruler over 3,500 years ago.

Cruising between Epic Temples
Days 8 and 9 are spent cruising north along the world’s longest river, the mighty Nile, with guided excursions to iconic sites along the way. At Edfu, the epitome of Egypt’s stone temple architecture awaits within its colossal pylons and well-preserved reliefs. Continuing upstream, Kom Ombo is a rare ‘double temple’ dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek as well as the sky deity Haroeris. Aswan is next, famous for its striking granite obelisks and temples such as the Ptolemaic-era Philae Temple, one of the country’s most beautiful. However, the piece de resistance comes on the morning of day 10, with a short flight taking guests to Abu Simbel – the twin rock-cut temples of Ramesses II, an architectural feat to rival any other monument in Egypt.

Wonders of Aswan and Journey’s End
The penultimate day 11 begins with the impressive Aswan Dam before exploring two awe-inspiring monuments. First is the Unfinished Obelisk, partially carved from red Aswan granite that would have stood over 40 meters tall had it been erected – a testimony to ancient engineering skills. Nearby at the Nubian Museum, precious artifacts recovered from the rising waters of Lake Nasser pay homage to Nubia’s shared history with Egypt over millennia. A final lunch is enjoyed before the airport transfer and evening flight back to Cairo for one last night. On the tour’s last morning, day 12, guests will have time to independently explore more of Cairo before the airport departure signifying the end of an unforgettable journey through Egypt’s wonders, made complete through Travel Joy Egypt’s excellent services and knowledgeable guides every step of the way.