9 Days Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and Nile Cruise By Air

After breakfast, you meet your private Egyptologist guide and set out for the Giza Plateau, home to the last surviving wonder of the ancient world. You stand before the Great Pyramid of Khufu, then the pyramids of Khafre and Menkaure, learning how these colossal tombs were raised more than 4,500 years ago. You continue to the enigmatic Great Sphinx and the granite-pillared Valley Temple, where you can capture classic photographs of the guardian lion-king against the desert horizon. A relaxed lunch at a local restaurant follows. In the afternoon, you transfer to the airport for your short domestic flight to Aswan, Egypt's serene city on the southern Nile. On arrival, you are met and escorted aboard your waiting Nile cruise ship, your floating hotel for the days to come. Settle into your cabin, enjoy dinner on board, and drift off to the gentle sway of the river.

• Great Pyramids of Giza — The pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure on the Giza Plateau.
• Great Sphinx — The colossal lion-bodied guardian of the plateau.
• Valley Temple — Granite-pillared temple linked to the pyramid of Khafre.

This morning, savour breakfast on deck as Aswan wakes around you. With your private guide you explore the city's blend of ancient genius and modern engineering. You begin at the mighty Aswan High Dam, the 1960s marvel that tamed the Nile's floods and created the vast Lake Nasser. Nearby, in the granite Northern Quarries, you see the Unfinished Obelisk which, had it been completed, would have been the largest ever carved, its abandonment revealing the secrets of pharaonic stonework. A short motorboat ride then carries you across the water to the enchanting island Temple of Philae, dedicated to the goddess Isis and painstakingly rescued from rising waters. In the afternoon you may relax on board or glide around Elephantine Island by traditional felucca sailboat. Return to your Nile cruise for dinner and an evening of Nubian music as the ship rests at Aswan.

• Aswan High Dam — The vast modern dam that created Lake Nasser.
• Unfinished Obelisk — An abandoned giant obelisk in the ancient granite quarries.
• Philae Temple — The island Temple of Isis, relocated to Agilkia Island.

Rise early for an unforgettable excursion to Abu Simbel, near the Sudanese border. You travel south to the twin temples Ramesses II carved into the mountainside more than 3,200 years ago, and which engineers famously lifted block by block above the rising waters of Lake Nasser. You marvel at the four colossal seated statues guarding the Great Temple and the graceful Temple of Nefertari, dedicated to Ramesses' beloved queen and the goddess Hathor. Returning to Aswan, you rejoin your Nile cruise as it begins sailing north toward Luxor. En route you step ashore at the unique double Temple of Kom Ombo, honouring the crocodile god Sobek and falcon-headed Haroeris. Continuing downstream to Edfu, you ride by horse-drawn carriage to the superbly preserved Temple of Horus. Full-board dining and the ever-changing riverbank scenery make this a truly magical day afloat on the Nile.

• Abu Simbel Temples — The Great Temple of Ramesses II and the Temple of Nefertari, relocated above Lake Nasser.
• Kom Ombo Temple — A double temple dedicated to Sobek and Haroeris.
• Temple of Horus at Edfu — One of Egypt's best-preserved temples, reached by horse-drawn carriage.

Your cruise reaches Luxor, the world's greatest open-air museum, built upon ancient Thebes. After breakfast, you cross to the West Bank with your private guide to enter the Valley of the Kings, where pharaohs including Tutankhamun were laid to rest in vividly painted rock-cut tombs. You continue to the elegant terraced Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari, honouring Egypt's most powerful female pharaoh, and pause before the towering Colossi of Memnon that have watched over the plain for millennia. After lunch aboard, you explore the East Bank's monumental temples: the vast Karnak complex, with its forest of giant papyrus columns in the Great Hypostyle Hall, and the graceful Luxor Temple, especially beautiful in the golden late-afternoon light. Return to your Nile cruise for dinner. This evening, an optional sound-and-light show at Karnak brings the ancient stones dramatically to life beneath the stars.

• Valley of the Kings — Royal rock-cut tombs of the New Kingdom pharaohs.
• Temple of Hatshepsut — The terraced mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahari.
• Colossi of Memnon — Two towering statues of Amenhotep III.
• Karnak Temple — Egypt's largest temple complex, dedicated to Amun-Ra.
• Luxor Temple — An elegant riverside temple in the heart of the city.

An optional pre-dawn treat awaits: a hot air balloon flight over Luxor's West Bank, floating in silence above the temples, tombs and green ribbon of the Nile as the sun rises over the desert. After a final breakfast on board, you disembark your Nile cruise and are transferred to Luxor airport for the short flight back to Cairo. On arrival, your guide meets you and drives you to the spectacular Grand Egyptian Museum beside the Giza pyramids. Here you wander galleries holding thousands of years of treasures, culminating in the complete collection of the boy-king Tutankhamun, his golden funerary mask, gilded shrines and glittering jewellery displayed together at last. You also pause before the towering statue of Ramesses II presiding over the grand atrium. Afterward, you check into your Cairo hotel and enjoy a restful evening in Egypt's vibrant, welcoming capital.

• Luxor Hot Air Balloon — Optional sunrise balloon flight over the West Bank monuments.
• Grand Egyptian Museum — Home to the complete Tutankhamun collection, beside the Giza pyramids.

Today you delve into Cairo's spiritual heart with your private guide. You begin in atmospheric Coptic Cairo, wandering narrow lanes to the Hanging Church, suspended above a Roman gatehouse, and the ancient Church of St. Sergius, said to have sheltered the Holy Family during their flight into Egypt, before visiting the venerable Ben Ezra Synagogue. Crossing centuries, you ascend to the medieval Citadel of Saladin, commanding sweeping views across the city's rooftops and minarets. Within its walls rises the magnificent alabaster Mosque of Muhammad Ali, its domes and slender minarets a defining feature of the skyline. In the afternoon you plunge into the sensory whirl of Khan el-Khalili, Cairo's centuries-old bazaar, where you can sip mint tea in a traditional coffee house and shop for spices, perfumes, silver and handcrafted souvenirs. You then return to your hotel for a relaxed evening.

• Hanging Church — The Coptic church suspended above a Roman gatehouse.
• Church of St. Sergius — An ancient church linked to the Holy Family's journey.
• Ben Ezra Synagogue — One of the oldest synagogues in Egypt.
• Citadel of Saladin — The medieval fortress overlooking Cairo.
• Mosque of Muhammad Ali — The alabaster mosque crowning the Citadel.
• Khan el-Khalili — Cairo's historic bazaar in Islamic Cairo.

Journey back to the very origins of pyramid building on a private guided tour south of Cairo. Your first stop is Saqqara, the vast necropolis of ancient Memphis, where you stand before the revolutionary Step Pyramid of Djoser, designed by the architect Imhotep as Egypt's first monument built entirely of stone. You explore surrounding tombs adorned with delicate reliefs of daily life. Continuing to Dahshur, you admire the Red Pyramid and the curiously angled Bent Pyramid, both raised by the pharaoh Sneferu as pivotal experiments on the path to Giza's perfect pyramids. Finally, at the open-air museum of Memphis, once Egypt's glittering capital, you meet the colossal fallen statue of Ramesses II and a beautifully carved alabaster sphinx. After a leisurely lunch, you return to Cairo with time to relax or enjoy a little last-minute shopping before your final night in Egypt.

• Step Pyramid of Djoser — Egypt's oldest stone pyramid, at Saqqara.
• Red Pyramid — Sneferu's first true pyramid at Dahshur.
• Bent Pyramid — The distinctively angled pyramid of Sneferu at Dahshur.
• Memphis — The ancient capital, with the colossus of Ramesses II and alabaster sphinx.

Your memorable journey through Egypt draws to a close. Enjoy a final breakfast at your hotel and, depending on your departure time, perhaps a last stroll or some souvenir shopping in the capital. At the appointed hour, your Travel Joy representative meets you and transfers you in comfort by private vehicle to Cairo International Airport, assisting with the check-in formalities for your onward flight. You leave with memories of towering pyramids, painted royal tombs, timeless temples along the Nile, and the gentle rhythm of your Nile cruise, an unforgettable private guided adventure through the land of the pharaohs. It has been our pleasure to share the wonders of Egypt with you, and we look forward to welcoming you back one day. Ma'a salama, and safe travels home.