12 Days Cairo Nile Cruise Istanbul Gobeklitepe Trip Package

After breakfast you meet your private Egyptologist guide for the day every traveller dreams of. On the Giza Plateau you stand before the Great Pyramid, the last surviving wonder of the ancient world, then trace the enigmatic gaze of the Great Sphinx and step inside the granite-lined Valley Temple where pharaohs were prepared for eternity. A short drive brings you to the Grand Egyptian Museum, the vast new home of Tutankhamun's treasures, where soaring galleries display artefacts spanning millennia. Over a relaxed lunch your guide shares the stories behind what you have seen. In the afternoon you continue to Saqqara to admire the Step Pyramid of Djoser, the world's oldest major stone structure and the blueprint for everything that followed. This private guided tour weaves together three eras of Egyptian genius before you return for a second restful night in Cairo.

• Giza Pyramids Complex — The legendary plateau of three great pyramids on the edge of the desert.
• The Great Pyramid — The colossal tomb of Khufu, the last of the seven ancient wonders still standing.
• The Great Sphinx — The lion-bodied guardian gazing east across the sands for over four thousand years.
• The Valley Temple — The granite-clad ritual temple linked to the pyramid of Khafre.
• The Grand Egyptian Museum — The spectacular new museum housing the full Tutankhamun collection.
• Saqqara Step Pyramid — The pioneering Step Pyramid of Djoser, the world's oldest monumental stone building.

An early flight carries you south to Aswan, Egypt's most serene city, cradled by the Nile and framed by golden desert. Your private guided tour opens at the High Dam, the modern engineering feat that tamed the river's annual floods and created vast Lake Nasser. At the ancient granite quarries you examine the Unfinished Obelisk, still lying in the bedrock where a hidden flaw halted the stonemasons three thousand years ago. A short motorboat ride then delivers you to the island Temple of Philae, dedicated to the goddess Isis and rescued stone by stone from the rising waters. In the afternoon you embark your elegant Nile cruise ship, your floating home for the coming nights. Settle into your cabin, watch feluccas drift past from the sun deck and enjoy dinner on board as the vessel prepares to sail. Overnight aboard your Nile cruise in Aswan.

• The High Dam — The monumental 1960s dam that controls the Nile and formed Lake Nasser.
• The Unfinished Obelisk — A giant obelisk abandoned in the granite quarry, revealing ancient carving techniques.
• Philae Temple — The graceful island temple of Isis, relocated to save it from flooding.

You wake to breakfast on deck as your Nile cruise glides gently downstream through the timeless landscapes of Upper Egypt. Palm groves, sandbanks and villages that have changed little in centuries slip past your window. By late morning the ship moors at Kom Ombo, where your private guide leads you into one of Egypt's most unusual temples. Standing dramatically on a bend in the river, the Temple of Kom Ombo is uniquely dual, honouring the crocodile god Sobek and the falcon god Horus in perfectly mirrored halves. You trace finely carved reliefs of ancient surgical instruments and an early calendar, then visit the adjoining museum of mummified crocodiles once revered here. Back aboard, full-board dining awaits as the cruise continues its unhurried journey. Relax on the sun deck as the desert glows at sunset. Overnight aboard your Nile cruise.

• Kom Ombo Temple — A rare double temple shared between the gods Sobek and Horus, right on the riverbank.

After a leisurely breakfast the ship sails to Edfu, where a traditional horse-drawn carriage carries you through town to one of the finest monuments of the ancient world. The Temple of Edfu, dedicated to the falcon-headed god Horus, is the most completely preserved temple in Egypt, its towering pylon, colonnaded courtyard and shadowed sanctuary still standing much as their builders left them. Your private Egyptologist decodes the hieroglyphic walls that recount the mythic battle between Horus and Seth, bringing two thousand years of ritual vividly to life. Returning to your cruise, you sail on toward Luxor as lunch and afternoon tea are served on board. The evening might bring a lively galabeya party or simply a quiet stretch of deck beneath the stars. With full-board dining and the Nile drifting past, you enjoy another restful overnight aboard your Nile cruise.

• Edfu Temple — Egypt's best-preserved temple, dedicated to the falcon god Horus.

Today Luxor, the world's greatest open-air museum, reveals itself. After breakfast you cross to the West Bank and descend into the Valley of the Kings, where pharaohs including Tutankhamun were laid to rest in tombs still ablaze with colour. You marvel at the terraced Temple of Hatshepsut, rising in tiers against sheer cliffs, and pause before the towering Colossi of Memnon that have guarded the plain for millennia. Crossing to the East Bank, your private guide leads you through the immense Temple of Karnak, a forest of soaring columns raised by generation after generation of kings. As your Nile cruise journey concludes, you transfer to Luxor airport for the short flight back to Cairo. This private guided tour distils the highlights of ancient Thebes into one unforgettable day. Overnight in Cairo.

• Valley of the Kings — The royal necropolis of the New Kingdom, home to Tutankhamun's tomb.
• Hatshepsut Temple — The dramatic terraced mortuary temple of Egypt's great female pharaoh.
• Colossi of Memnon — Two towering seated statues that once fronted a vanished temple.
• Karnak Temple — The vast temple complex with its awe-inspiring hall of giant columns.

With breakfast behind you, a full day of Cairo's treasures unfolds under your private guide. You begin at the historic Egyptian Museum on Tahrir Square, a labyrinth of golden masks, statues and everyday relics from the age of the pharaohs. After lunch you climb to the medieval Salah El Din Citadel for sweeping views over the city's minarets, then step inside the alabaster Mohamed Ali Mosque with its cascading domes. A visit to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization brings you face to face with the Royal Mummies in their dignified new gallery. As afternoon fades you wander the lamplit length of Al Muizz Street, one of the oldest thoroughfares in the Islamic world, before losing yourself in the bustling alleys of Khan El Khalili Bazaar. Haggle for spices, lanterns and perfumes over glasses of mint tea. Overnight in Cairo.

• The Egyptian Museum — The historic Tahrir Square museum brimming with pharaonic antiquities.
• Salah El Din Citadel — The medieval hilltop fortress commanding panoramic views of Cairo.
• Mohamed Ali Mosque — The elegant alabaster mosque crowning the Citadel.
• The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization — Home of the Royal Mummies and Egypt's long civilisational story.
• Al Muizz Street — A living open-air museum of medieval Islamic architecture.
• Khan El Khalili Bazaar — The atmospheric old market alive with crafts, spices and cafés.

After breakfast and a morning at leisure, you check out and transfer to Cairo airport for your flight across the Mediterranean to Istanbul, the storied city that bridges two continents. Your Travel Joy representative meets you on arrival in Turkey and escorts you to your centrally located hotel. Depending on your schedule, the rest of the day is yours to begin soaking up the atmosphere. Perhaps stroll along the Bosphorus waterfront, sample fragrant Turkish delight and freshly grilled street food, or simply relax with a strong Turkish coffee as ferries crisscross the strait. The call to prayer echoing between ancient domes signals just how far you have travelled from the deserts of Egypt, yet the thread of history continues unbroken. Your guide confirms tomorrow's plans before you settle in. Overnight in Istanbul, poised to explore one of the world's most captivating cities.

A full day of Istanbul's imperial splendour awaits with your private guide. You begin at Hagia Sophia, the monumental sixth-century masterpiece that served as cathedral, mosque and museum across fifteen centuries, its vast golden dome seeming to float overhead. Nearby, the opulent Topkapi Palace unfolds its courtyards, jewel-filled treasury and harem, once the beating heart of the Ottoman empire. After lunch you admire the six graceful minarets and cascading blue-tiled interior of the Blue Mosque, then walk the Hippodrome, the ancient chariot-racing arena where an obelisk brought from Egypt still stands. The day closes amid the labyrinthine Grand Bazaar, one of the world's oldest covered markets, where thousands of stalls glitter with carpets, lamps, ceramics and gold. Your guide helps you navigate its colour and clamour and uncover genuine treasures. Overnight in Istanbul, the sights and flavours of two empires still fresh in your mind.

• Hagia Sophia — The soaring Byzantine wonder that has stood for nearly 1,500 years.
• Topkapi Palace — The lavish former residence of the Ottoman sultans above the Bosphorus.
• The Blue Mosque — The famous six-minaret mosque lined with cascading blue tiles.
• The Hippodrome — The ancient public square and chariot arena, still home to an Egyptian obelisk.
• The Grand Bazaar — One of the world's oldest and largest covered markets.

Today you journey deep into eastern Anatolia for one of Turkey's most spectacular sights. A short domestic flight brings you to the region of Adiyaman, where your private guide leads a day among the mysteries of the ancient Commagene kingdom. At Arsameia you explore the summer capital's rock-cut inscriptions and reliefs, then pause over lunch amid rugged mountain scenery. You continue to the Karakuş Tumulus with its solitary columns, and cross the remarkable Roman-built Cendere Bridge, still spanning its gorge after nearly two thousand years. The day builds toward its climax at Mount Nemrut, where colossal stone heads of gods and kings lie scattered across a lofty summit beside a man-made burial mound. Timed for the golden light of late afternoon, the view across the Anatolian peaks is simply unforgettable. Overnight near Mount Nemrut in Adiyaman.

• Arsameia — The Commagene summer capital, rich in rock reliefs and inscriptions.
• The Karakuş Tumulus — A royal burial mound marked by lone standing columns.
• The Cendere Bridge — A nearly 2,000-year-old Roman bridge still arching over its gorge.
• Mount Nemrut — The mountaintop sanctuary of giant toppled statues of gods and kings.

After breakfast you travel to Sanliurfa, the ancient city of prophets, to encounter the site that rewrote human history. Your private guided tour begins at the superb Şanlıurfa Archaeological Museum, whose galleries display some of the world's oldest statues alongside reconstructions of nearby excavations. You then reach Göbeklitepe itself, a UNESCO World Heritage Site whose towering T-shaped pillars were raised some twelve thousand years ago, predating Stonehenge and the pyramids by millennia and overturning what we thought we knew about early civilisation. Your guide explains how these enigmatic stone circles reshaped the story of humankind. After lunch you visit tranquil Balikligol, the pool of sacred carp linked to the legend of Abraham, its courtyards and mosques offering a peaceful close to the day. Return to your hotel for a final overnight in Sanliurfa, reflecting on a journey that has spanned twelve thousand years of human wonder.

• Şanlıurfa Archaeological Museum — A world-class museum showcasing finds from Göbeklitepe and beyond.
• Göbeklitepe — The world's oldest known temple, predating Stonehenge and the pyramids.
• Balikligol — The serene pool of sacred fish tied to the legend of Abraham.

Your remarkable twelve-day journey through Egypt and Turkey draws to a close. After a final breakfast you enjoy any free time your flight schedule allows, perhaps for a last stroll or a few souvenirs to carry the memories home. At the appointed hour your Travel Joy representative meets you and transfers you in comfort to the airport for your onward or homeward flight. You depart having stood before the Pyramids of Giza, sailed the timeless Nile past Kom Ombo and Edfu, explored the temples of Luxor, wandered the imperial streets of Istanbul, gazed on the god-kings of Mount Nemrut and touched the very dawn of civilisation at Göbeklitepe. Few itineraries connect so many wonders across two extraordinary lands. We hope this private guided adventure has left you with stories to tell for a lifetime, and we look forward to welcoming you back to Egypt again.