Ancient Sites & Scenic Views of Egypt - 10 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Cairo, Explore the Giza Pyramid Complex

Welcome to Egypt's sprawling capital, Cairo, where medieval buildings stand alongside modern skyscrapers. Meet your driver outside the airport and transfer to your hotel to check in and freshen up. Then, hit the ground running with a one-hour transfer to the Giza Plateau, home to three of the most well-known pyramids in the world. Head to the Great Pyramid of Giza first, the largest of the three as it currently stands at 455 feet tall (138 m). Continue to the Pyramid of Khafre, which still has its original limestone casing at the apex. Finally, the Pyramid of Menkaure is the smallest but no less impressive.

Don't miss the Great Sphinx, a limestone statue featuring the body of a lion and the head of a pharaoh that stands guard over the plateau. On your way back to the city, stop at the Papyrus Institute and learn how the ancient world's first form of paper was created. Visit the on-site museum, perfume factory, and jewelry shop, then transfer back to the city to end the tour at the Egyptian Museum. Spend two hours perusing over 120,000 artifacts, like intricately carved statues, delicate jewelry, and ancient mummies, before transferring back to your hotel to rest and fight off jet lag.

Day 2: Fly to Aswan, Board the Nile Cruise, Explore Aswan's Landmarks 

Trade Cairo's bustling streets for the tranquil Nile River as you head to the airport for a 1.5-hour flight to Aswan, where you can board your three-day cruise. After checking in and leaving your bags on board, disembark and head to the Aswan High Dam, an engineering marvel stretching 12,570 feet (3,830 m) across the Nile to control its water levels, support irrigation for agriculture, and provide hydroelectric power to the country. Stand atop the dam and look out at one of the world's largest artificial lakes, Lake Nasser, surrounded by the arid desert landscape.

Continue to Philae Temple, located on Agilkia Island and dedicated to Isis, the goddess of love, magic, and motherhood. As you approach by boat, the temple's towering colonnades and intricately carved reliefs come into view. Step onto the island and wander through the hypostyle hall supported by towering columns adorned with intricate carvings and hieroglyphics. Visit the Sanctuary of Isis to see the primary statue of the goddess and the birth house adjacent to the temple that features elaborate scenes of the birth of Horus. Then, return to the ship for a delicious dinner overlooking the river.

Day 3: Visit the Temple of Kom Ombo, Cruise to Edfu, Galabiya Party

Enjoy a leisurely morning and breakfast on board while you cruise to the Temple of Kom Ombo. Head inside to see the symmetrical design, with identical sections mirroring each other to honor both Sobek, the crocodile god of fertility and protection, and Horus, the falcon-headed god of the sky and kingship. Wander through the hypostyle halls for a close-up look at the columns featuring intricate carvings and hieroglyphs depicting scenes from mythology and religious rituals. Each side of the temple also has its own sanctuary, where the main statues of the deities were once housed. 

Don't forget to step outside to see the sacred pools and courtyards that were used for religious ceremonies and rituals and the ancient nilometer that measured the NIle's water levels and predicted flooding. After thoroughly exploring the twin temples, return to the cruise ship to start the journey to Edfu on the west bank of the Nile. As you meander along the river, indulge in a delicious dinner, then partake in a galabiya party, where you can don a galabiya (long, loose robe) and enjoy traditional Egyptian music and dancing.  

Day 4: Visit Edfu Temple, Cruise to Luxor, Explore Karnak & Luxor Temple 

Explore Edfu in style today, opting for a horse-drawn carriage or toktok (motorized rickshaw) to get to Edfu Temple. When you arrive, you'll be greeted by massive pylons and towering statues of Horus, as this temple is also dedicated to the falcon-headed god. Wander through the grand hypostyle hall and inner sanctuaries adorned with vibrant reliefs before returning to the ship. Enjoy lunch on board as you cruise to Luxor, where you'll disembark to explore Karnak, the second-largest religious complex in the world after Angkor Wat in Cambodia. 

The temple's vast precincts are home to towering obelisks, colossal statues, and monumental pylons, each intricately decorated with hieroglyphs and bas-reliefs that narrate the tales of gods and pharaohs. Wander through the forest of columns in the hypostyle hall, each adorned with elaborate carvings that have withstood the test of time. Then, head to Luxor Temple, where you'll be greeted by statues and obelisks of Ramesses II. Inside, the vast courtyard and hypostyle hall are adorned with intricately carved columns and detailed reliefs depicting divine and royal scenes.

Day 5: Hot-Air Balloon Ride, Explore Luxor's West Bank, Fly to Cairo

Bid farewell to the cruise ship and start your day with a hot-air balloon ride over Luxor. Transfer to the launch site and complete a safety briefing, then jump into the basket and ascend slowly into the air. Look out at the arid desert landscape dotted with landmarks like the temples you visited yesterday on the east bank and the fertile Nile Delta. After 40 minutes in the air, touch down and transfer to the Valley of the Kings, which you might have just seen from above. Follow your guide through the royal necropolis, home to some of Egypt's most illustrious pharaohs, including Tutankhamun and Ramesses the Great.

Though you can't visit all the tombs, your guide will share insight into the hieroglyphs, murals, and funerary goods within. Then, head up to Deir el-Bahari, an impressive mortuary temple dedicated to Queen Hatshepsut. Explore the site to see the meticulously carved bas-reliefs and vibrant frescoes depicting Hatshepsut's divine birth, her trading expeditions, and various offerings to the gods. Ending the tour at the Colossi of Memnon, twin statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III and the last surviving remnants of his mortuary temple before heading to the airport for a one-hour flight back to Cairo.

Day 6: Transfer to the Siwa Oasis

After a restful night in the capital, check out of your hotel, meet your driver outside, and set off on an 8-9 hour transfer to the Siwa Oasis, nestled in the Western Desert near the border of Libya. On the drive, watch as the landscape shifts from the bustling urban environment of the capital to serene, expansive sand dunes and small desert settlements. After the long drive, check in at your hotel, then visit a local restaurant for dinner. If you're not too tired, enjoy a leisurely walk past traditional mud-brick houses, ancient ruins, and lush gardens before returning to your hotel.

Day 7: Explore the Shali Fortress, Float in Lake Siwa

After breakfast, join your guide on a tour of Shali, an ancient town in the heart of the oasis. Wander through the town to see the remnants of traditional houses built from a mix of mud bricks and salt and adorned with intricate patterns. The narrow, winding streets will take you uphill to Shali Fortress, also made of mud bricks and salt. Walk along the crumbling walls and the remnants of watchtowers for a glimpse into the architectural ingenuity of the Ayyubid Dynasty. Before making your way downhill, take in the panoramic views of the lush oasis and surrounding desert. 

Then, leave the village behind as you head deeper into the oasis to discover its salt lakes, including the iconic Lake Siwa, renowned for its crystal-clear saline waters that reflect the surrounding desert. Look about at the shimmering salt crusted on the lake's surface, then go for a relaxing dip, as the high salinity ensures effortless floating. Stay until sunset to watch the sky transform the sprawling salt flats into vibrant hues of red and orange while you enjoy a cup of tea. Have dinner at a local camp, then transfer to your hotel for the night.

Day 8: Explore Gebel al-Mawta, Visit Amon Temple

Spend another day exploring the Siwa Oasis, starting at Gebel al-Mawta, also known as the "Mountain of the Dead" for its extensive necropolis and the large number of tombs carved into its cliffs. Follow your guide through the tombs to see the ancient inscriptions and intricate frescoes depicting daily life, deities, and the funerary rites of the Siwan people. In some of the 3,000 tombs, you can still find small offerings and artifacts, like jewelry buried as symbols of status or protection, remnants of textiles used to wrap the deceased, or mummification tools used to prepare the bodies. 

Continue to Amon Temple, renowned for its oracle, who was believed to communicate the will of the deity Amon to those seeking guidance. The oracle is particularly famous for affirming Alexander the Great's divine status during his visit. Wander through the temple to see its once-majestic columns and intricately carved walls, which still bear traces of the original inscriptions and artwork. The temple is strategically placed on a raised plateau, offering panoramic views of the surrounding oasis you can enjoy before transferring back to your hotel.

Day 9: Transfer to Cairo via El-Alamein

Your penultimate day in Egypt takes you on an 8-9 hour transfer back to Cairo for your flight home tomorrow. Along the way, stop in El-Alamein, a charming town on the Mediterranean coast. Renowned for the pivotal battles fought here during the North African Campaign, the town is home to several significant memorials and cemeteries commemorating the Allied and Axis forces who fought and fell in the region. If there's time, visit the El-Alamein Military Museum to learn more about these battles and peruse wartime artifacts, including military equipment, personal items, and detailed dioramas. 

When you're done at the museum, grab something to eat, then jump back in the car to complete the drive to your hotel in Cairo. If you're not too tired, venture out to indulge in local delights like Egypt's national dish, koshari, a flavorful combination of rice, lentils, macaroni, and crispy onions topped with a spicy tomato sauce. End the night with basbousa, a sweet semolina cake soaked in sugar syrup, and a refreshing Egyptian tea. 

Day 10: Depart Cairo

After 10 days of exploring Egypt's highlights, your journey is coming to an end today. If you have time before your flight, you can continue exploring the capital on your own. Head to Khan el-Khalili, a bustling market dating back to the 14th century. Wander the labyrinthine alleys lined with stalls selling everything from intricately crafted jewelry and colorful textiles to aromatic spices and traditional perfumes. Take a break from shopping at one of the market's maqhas (traditional coffeehouses), like El Fishawy. Then, meet your driver and transfer to the airport in time for your flight home. Safe travels!