Explore Egypt: Custom Historical Road Trip Adventure

Itinerary

• Day 1: Arrive in Cairo

  Boasting one of the longest histories in the world, Egypt is waiting for you with its generous historical legacy along the Nile.

  On your arrival, our representative will welcome you at the airport, help you with the visa process and immigration, and then introduce you to your driver for a private transfer to your accommodation.

  • Cairo

• Day 2: Cairo, Giza Pyramid Complex

  The pyramids, constructed when Egypt was one of the richest and most powerful civilizations in the world, are the most iconic of ancient Egypt landmarks. Focus today on the pyramids and observe their transition from stepped sides to smooth sides.

  Start your exploration at the well-known Giza Pyramid Complex, which consists of the Great Pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure, as well as the Great Sphinx. From their magnificent scale and structure, you can touch one of the most glorious ages of ancient Egypt - the Fourth Dynasty. For an extra fee, you can even go inside one of the three large pyramids to explore the inner world of the Ancient Wonder.

  Later, drive an hour south to Saqqara, where the oldest known Step Pyramid of Djoser is located. It was the first time a pyramid was successfully built, with six steps to a height of nearly 60 meters. End the tour at the Royal Necropolis of Dahshur, where you'll see the Bent Pyramid and the Red Pyramid. The latter is regarded as the first pyramid with smooth sides.

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  • Cairo

• Day 3: Cairo, Explore Egyptian Museum and Old Cairo

  Get more about Ancient Egyptian history from the Predynastic Period to the Graeco-Roman Era at the Egyptian Museum. The museum houses the largest collection of Ancient Egyptian antiquities in the world in its more than 100 exhibition halls. Spend most of the day with your personal Egyptologist exploring this huge museum and discovering its treasures, such as the life-sized limestone statue of King Djoser, the sycamore statue of Ka-aper, the bold-colored painting of Meidum Geese, and so on.

  Later, stroll around Old Cairo for a glimpse into the most real Cairo and the most authentic Muslim life. The tour includes the medieval Citadel of Salah El-Din, Mohammed Ali Mosque, Hanging Church, and vibrant Khan El Khalili Bazaar.

  Optional: A side tour of Alexandria and El Alamein can be arranged for you if you are interested in it.

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  • Cairo

• Day 4: Cairo - Aswan, Philae Temple and Egyptian Felucca Sailing

  Fly to Aswan this morning. After arrival, take a quick tour around the city. Ride a boat to a small island where the well-preserved Philae Temple is located. Walk amid the temple and admire the exquisite reliefs that describe the scenes from Egyptian mythology, such as Ptolemy XII presents the crown of Upper and Lower Egypt to Horus and Isis. Visit the Unfinished Obelisk in the Granite Quarries and then finish the day with an Egyptian Felucca sailing on the Nile. You'll pass by the Elephantine Island and step ashore the Botanical Gardens on Kitchener Island.

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  • Aswan

• Day 5: Aswan - Abu Simbel - Aswan

  Have a day excursion to Abu Simbel, about 3 hours away from Aswan.

  These twin rock-carved temples, along with many other sites downstream to the island of Philae, were registered as Nubian heritage with UNESCO. Once getting here, you will first be overwhelmed by the four 20-meter-tall Colossus sitting on a throne and guarding the temple's entrance. Go inside the temple and read about numerous magnificent reliefs inside depicting the myth of ancient Egypt and the victory of Ramesses II.

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  • Aswan

• Day 6: Aswan - Luxor

  Drive along the Nile bank north toward Luxor. Stop for a visit to the Temple of Kom Ombo, a unique double temple with half dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek and another to the falcon god Horus. Following it is the Edfu Temple, also known as the Temple of Horus, boasting Egypt's best-preserved ancient temple structure.

  After reaching Luxor, check into your hotel and have a good rest.

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  • Luxor

• Day 7: Luxor, Explore the West Bank of Nile

  The ancient capital of Luxor is split by the Nile into two parts, the East Bank and the West Bank. The West Bank you will visit today is where the ancient Egyptians buried the dead.

  In the Valley of the Kings, you will visit three of the eight royal tombs that are open to the public. Walk along the exquisitely decorated passageways and admire colorful reliefs on the walls whilst listening to your tour guide sharing the burial culture of the ancient Egyptians. Later, enjoy the tomb paintings about ancient Egyptian daily life in the Valley of Nobles and tour the Deir el-Medina, the remnants of the home to craftsmen and workers who worked for the Valley of the Kings during the New Kingdom. Visit the Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut and get some stories about this legendary female pharaoh that made Egypt unprecedentedly prosper at that time. Finish the day with a photo stop at the massive Colossi of Memnon.

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  • Luxor

• Day 8: Luxor

  It's a free day to explore what you are interested in on your own. You may visit the Luxor Museum after a leisurely breakfast for its antiquities gathered from ancient Luxor, including the treasures from the tomb of Tutankhamun. Most exhibitions here have English signs that allow you to enjoy them slowly. Then wander along the Corniche on foot or by a horse-carriage ride to feel the local life. As the night falls, enjoy the sound and light show at Karnak Temple.

  Or delve deeper into the history of ancient Egypt on a whole day trip to Abydos and Dendera. Located about three hours away from Luxor, Abydos is where Egypt's earliest kings were buried and later became a sacred city dedicated to the god Osiris. The Temple of Hathor in Dendera on the way back is colorful with an intricately detailed ceiling and awe-inspiring hypostyle halls.

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  • Luxor

• Day 9: Luxor - Cairo, Discover the East Bank of Nile

  Today you will tour the temples on the East Bank. The massive Karnak Temple Complex was originally built in the Middle Kingdom and then developed by approximately thirty pharaohs to rebuild, expand, and restore, making it reach a size, complexity, and diversity not seen elsewhere. You will take time to ramble around. Don't miss out on the spectacular Hypostyle Hall consisting of 134 large columns decorated with intricate hieroglyphs. Once linked to Karnak by a 2.5-kilometer-long avenue lined with Sphinx on both sides, Luxor Temple is another site you can't miss in Egypt.

  After the tour, fly back to Cairo for the night.

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  • Cairo

• Day 10: Cairo, Departure

  Time to say goodbye to Egypt. Before meeting our representative and heading to the airport, you may have some leisure time to do further exploration on your own.

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