Egypt Unveiled: Cairo, Sharm, Alex & Nile Cruise

After a delightful breakfast, prepare for an immersive journey to Egypt's most iconic sites. Begin at the Giza Pyramids Complex, where the colossal Great Pyramid of Khufu, the enigmatic Sphinx, and the ancient Valley Temple stand as enduring testaments to pharaonic ingenuity. Explore the engineering marvel of Khufu's pyramid, dating back over 4,500 years, and ponder the Sphinx's gaze. Following an authentic local lunch, we transport you to the magnificent Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), a treasure trove housing an unparalleled collection, including the complete funerary artifacts of Tutankhamun and the monumental statue of Ramses II. Later, transfer to Cairo Airport for your flight to Sharm El Sheikh, where you'll check into your resort for the night.

• Giza Pyramids Complex — Exploration of the Pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, Menkaure, the Great Sphinx, and the Valley Temple.
• Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) — Guided tour of the world's largest archaeological museum, featuring the Tutankhamun collection and other ancient Egyptian masterpieces.
• Sharm El Sheikh — Domestic flight and transfer to your resort.

Today is yours to embrace the serene beauty of Sharm El Sheikh. Relax by the Red Sea's turquoise waters, take a leisurely swim, or simply unwind by your resort's pool. Enjoy the resort's facilities and breathtaking coastal vistas. All meals and soft drinks are included, allowing for complete relaxation in this stunning seaside escape.

• Sharm El Sheikh Beaches & Resort — Free day to relax, enjoy the resort amenities, and beautiful Red Sea surroundings.

Prepare for an exhilarating aquatic excursion! Today, you'll embark on a snorkeling trip to discover the Red Sea's renowned vibrant coral reefs and abundant marine life. Swim amongst colorful tropical fish and marvel at the kaleidoscopic underwater world. This unforgettable experience offers a glimpse into nature's pristine artistry. Return to your resort for dinner and continue to enjoy refreshing soft drinks throughout your day.

• Red Sea — Snorkeling excursion to explore coral reefs and marine ecosystems.

Another glorious day awaits you in Sharm El Sheikh. This is a perfect opportunity to further unwind at your own pace, soaking in the resort's luxurious ambiance or perhaps exploring local markets for unique souvenirs. Indulge in exquisite meals and continuous soft drinks, making the most of your time in this splendid tropical paradise.

• Sharm El Sheikh Resort — Another leisure day to enjoy resort facilities, the beach, or local exploration.

After breakfast, embark on a spiritual journey to St. Catherine's Monastery, nestled at the foot of Mount Sinai. This UNESCO World Heritage site, one of the oldest continuously inhabited Christian monasteries, dates back to the 6th century. Explore its fortified walls, the Church of St. Catherine, and the Chapel of the Burning Bush. Marvel at its priceless collection of icons, manuscripts, and the world's oldest continually operating library. Your day includes meals and soft drinks, providing comfort throughout this profound historical visit.

• St. Catherine's Monastery — Visit to one of the world's oldest Christian monasteries, exploring its history, architecture, and sacred artifacts.

Enjoy your final full day in Sharm El Sheikh. Use this precious time to revisit a favorite spot, perhaps indulge in a spa treatment, or simply enjoy a final leisurely stroll along the beach. Savor the delicious meals and refreshing soft drinks provided by your resort, creating lasting memories of this Red Sea haven before preparing for your next adventure.

• Sharm El Sheikh Resort — Last free day to relax or explore, maximizing resort amenities.

Following breakfast, you'll transfer to Sharm El Sheikh Airport for your flight to Luxor via Cairo. Upon arrival in Luxor, the ancient city of Thebes, our expert Egyptologist guide will greet you. Begin your exploration on the East Bank, visiting the monumental Karnak Temple Complex, a sprawling sacred city dedicated primarily to Amun, Mut, and Khonsu. Continue to the exquisite Luxor Temple, renowned for its grand pylons, courtyards, and massive statues—a testament to pharaonic power. Afterward, embark on your luxurious Nile cruise, settling into your cabin. Enjoy a delightful lunch and dinner on board as your journey along the historic Nile commences.

• Karnak Temple Complex — Guided tour of the vast complex, including the Great Hypostyle Hall and various sanctuaries.
• Luxor Temple — Exploration of the temple dedicated to the rejuvenation of kingship, built by Amenhotep III and Ramses II.
• Nile River Cruise — Embarkation on your luxury cruise ship.

After breakfast on board, your guide takes you across the river to the West Bank of ancient Thebes. Descend into the rock-cut royal tombs of the Valley of the Kings, whose walls are covered in painted scenes of the afterlife. Next, admire the terraced mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut beneath the cliffs of Deir el-Bahari, and pause at the Colossi of Memnon, the two giant seated statues of Amenhotep III. Return to the cruise for the evening, with the ship ready to sail south.

• Valley of the Kings — Royal tombs of the New Kingdom with richly painted chambers.
• Temple of Hatshepsut — A three-level temple built into the cliffs of Deir el-Bahari.
• Colossi of Memnon — Two quartzite giants that once guarded Amenhotep III's temple.

Over breakfast on the cruise, the ship is making its way upriver towards Edfu. Your guide takes you into the Temple of Horus, one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt, with its great pylon, courtyard and sanctuary. Later you visit Kom Ombo, an unusual double temple shared by the crocodile god Sobek and the falcon god Haroeris. Return to the ship for dinner as the cruise continues towards Aswan.

• Edfu Temple — The temple of the falcon god Horus, remarkably complete.
• Kom Ombo Temple — A symmetrical Ptolemaic temple with two sanctuaries side by side.

With the cruise now at Aswan, you set off after an early breakfast on a road journey to Abu Simbel in the far south. Here Ramesses II carved a huge temple into the mountainside, fronted by four enormous seated statues, with a smaller temple beside it for his queen Nefertari. Your guide explains the carvings inside, then you travel back to Aswan and rejoin the ship for the evening.

• Abu Simbel Temples — The Great Temple of Ramesses II and the Temple of Nefertari, relocated to higher ground.

After breakfast you leave the cruise and explore Aswan with your guide. See the High Dam, which tamed the Nile and created Lake Nasser, then the Unfinished Obelisk in the old granite quarries, where a crack stopped the carvers. Over lunch you can relax before heading by boat to Philae Temple, the sanctuary of Isis that was moved to its island home. In the evening you fly to Cairo and transfer to your hotel.

• Aswan High Dam — A major dam on the Nile, built in the 1960s.
• Unfinished Obelisk — A giant granite obelisk abandoned in the quarry.
• Philae Temple — The island temple of Isis, rebuilt after the dam raised the waters.
• Aswan to Cairo flight — Evening flight and private transfer to your hotel.

Today you explore the historic districts of Cairo. Begin in Coptic Cairo at the Hanging Church, one of the oldest churches in the country, set above the gate of a Roman fortress and famed for its woodwork and icons. After lunch at a local restaurant, walk along Al-Muizz Street, lined with mosques, madrasas and old merchant buildings from the Fatimid era. End your afternoon in Khan El-Khalili, the old bazaar, with its lanes of jewellery, textiles, spices and souvenirs.

• Hanging Church — A Coptic church built over a Roman gatehouse.
• Al-Muizz Street — A medieval street of historic Islamic monuments.
• Khan El-Khalili Bazaar — Cairo's oldest and busiest market quarter.

After breakfast you drive from Cairo to Alexandria, Egypt's Mediterranean port founded by Alexander the Great. Your guide takes you down into the Catacombs of Kom El-Shoqafa, where Egyptian, Greek and Roman styles blend, and to the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, a modern library inspired by the ancient one. After lunch at a local restaurant, visit Qaitbay Citadel, a fifteenth-century fort on the site of the old lighthouse, and Pompey's Pillar, a tall granite column. Later you return to Cairo for the night.

• Catacombs of Kom El-Shoqafa — An underground tomb complex mixing Egyptian, Greek and Roman art.
• Bibliotheca Alexandrina — A contemporary library and cultural centre on the waterfront.
• Qaitbay Citadel — A Mamluk fortress by the harbour.
• Pompey's Pillar — A giant red granite column from the Roman period.

Enjoy a final breakfast, then transfer to Cairo International Airport for your flight home. Your two weeks across Cairo, the Red Sea, the Nile and Alexandria end here, and we hope you leave with memories to share.

• Cairo International Airport — Private transfer for your departure flight.