Experience mystical legends with this spell-binding journey through Egypt featuring the most elegant ship on the Nile, the Sonesta Dahabeya. You will be treated like Pharaohs as you tour the wonders of this epic civilization led by your own certified Egyptologist. While on the 7 night cruise portion of the tour, you’ll depart for spectacular shore excursions, stopping in places that stereotypical Nile cruises cannot. Behold the timeless treasures and ancient wonders that make Egypt one of the world’s most desirable destinations and many more! In Cairo, ride horses or camels around the pyramids at sunset, stroll lively night markets, explore the world renowned Egyptian Museum and enjoy dinner at a delectable Egyptian banquet. Whether you’re encountering Egypt for first time or returning with family and friends, this classic grand tour is simply exquisite.

Sonesta Dahabeya - Saturday departure from Luxor.
NOTE; Travel in Egypt often involves early-morning starts, designed to avoid crowds and the hottest midday hours. It can be hot, especially in June, July and August, but there is virtually no humidity and evening temperatures cool off dramatically. Egypt is a moderate secular state, well used to hosting hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. While you will want to avoid revealing clothing, loose shorts and short-sleeved shirts are fine for both genders.

Cairo is the capital of Egypt and the hub of the country. Millennia of history have made it one of the most fascinating places in the world. The Egyptian Museum whose 107 halls feature huge statues on the ground floor, and small statues, jewels, Tutankhamon treasures and the mummies on upper floors. Other downtown sights include the Saladin Citadel and Mohamed Ali Mosque, and Khan Khalili bazaar. Nearby Giza is famous for the Pyramids of Egypt, among the largest constructions ever built.

Transfer to/from Cairo Airport in private vehicle with English speaking driver.

You will be met in the tunnel by an airport representative who will in turn facilitate the visa process ($15 per person - included in tour cost), escort you through customs and immigration, off to baggage claim and finally to passenger pick up. It is here that you will connect with our representative associate who will arrange airport transfer to your hotel.

The Mena House Oberoi stands tall, yet guarded by the mighty heights of the Great Pyramids of Cairo. Fascinating guests since 1869, the 523 room hotel has continuously held the attention of royalty, political thinkers, and celebrities over time. A range of continental dining and Egyptian specialty restaurants and bars satisfy even the most critical of appetites. The Mena House grants guests the opportunity to relax or stay active by checking out its golf courses, horse and camel stables, and extensive fitness options. Wander a few steps outside the hotel and you may run smack into a pyramid. Forty acres of jasmine-scented gardens will leave their scent on those who depart the hotel. It’s hard to leave this embellished haven of lush furnishings, oriental prints, and hand-woven fabrics.

Overnight at Mena House Oberoi Garden.

Enjoy this tour which explores the relics of ages past, and includes visits to ancient Memphis, Saqqara and the Great Pyramids of Giza. Already millennia old by the birth of Christ, the elaborate statues and astonishing scale of these sites will amaze all who visit. This tour also features the famous Sphinx, whose constructor's still remains unknown, but its sheer beauty and allure has mystified the likes of Alexander the Great and Napoleon Bonaparte. This tour includes a private vehicle, a driver, and a highly trained Egyptologist, and entry to either Chephren (Khafre) or Menkaure (Mycerinus) pyramids, as well as the Solar boat. Entrance to the Pyramids come with an additional cost, and be aware that a limited number of people are allowed inside daily, so arrive early so you will not be disappointed.

Enjoy the city's finest cuisine with a private table at the very best restaurants.

Clients are picked up before sunrise (sunset) from hotel and transferred to the desert where they will meet their guide. The guide will lead you out into the desert on your choice of camel or horse, where you enjoy the sunset with a panoramic view of the Pyramids of Giza. This evening includes stopping for dinner at a bedouin restaurant adjacent to the desert before returning to your hotel.

Overnight at Mena House Oberoi Garden.

Glide up the Nile at night and explore ancient temples during the day. Edfu (Idfu) is located on the west bank of the River Nile between Esna and Aswan. Of all the temple remains in Egypt, the Temple of Horus at Edfu is the most completely preserved. Kom Ombo was originally an Egyptian city called Nubt, meaning City of Gold. The town's location on the Nile 50 km north of Aswan (Syene) gave it some control over trade routes from Nubia to the Nile Valley, but its main rise to prominence came with the erection of the temple in the 2nd century BC.

Transfer to/from Cairo Airport in private vehicle with English speaking driver.

Take your flight from Cairo to Luxor. The flight duration is approximately 1 hour.

Airport transfer with a private vehicle and English-speaking driver in Luxor.

This morning you will meet up with your guide and explore some of the most incredible sites of the country. You will visit the Valley of the Kings where you will have the chance to explore three tombs. For a period of nearly 500 years from the 16th to 11th century BC, tombs were constructed for the kings and powerful nobles of the New Kingdom (the Eighteenth to the Twentieth Dynasties of Ancient Egypt). The valley stands on the west bank of the Nile, opposite modern Luxor. Then it's off to the nearby Valley of the Queens and also the recently renovated mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut. Hatshepsut was the second pharaoh of the eighteenth dynasty of Ancient Egypt. She is generally regarded by Egyptologists as one of the most successful pharaohs, reigning longer than any other woman of an indigenous Egyptian dynasty. The tour includes a visit to the huge Colossi of Memnon which are all that remain of the mortuary temple of Amenhotep III.

Sonesta Dahabiya combines comfort and beauty on a remarkable journey along the River Nile. This boutique Nile Cruise combines old-world charm and sophistication with the luxury of modern amenities and technology. The Sonesta Dahabiya is built in the style of a traditional Dahabiya, a beautifully crafted Egyptian sail boat. With just 6 cabins and 2 suites, this cruise offers an intimate and exclusive atmosphere of personal service and refined hospitality. Facilities aboard the Sonesta Dahabiya include an elegant lounge and an open-air oriental style Jacuzzi. The spacious deck is the ideal spot to rest in the shade as you watch 5,000 years of history unfold before you. The Sonesta Dahabiya Nile Cruise is an unforgettable journey through Egypt.

Overnight at Sonesta Nile Dahabeya.

Enjoy a private tour with a qualified Egyptologist guide exploring the East Bank of Luxor. Visit the most impressive temples of Karnak and Luxor, while learning about ancient Egyptian history from your own personal guide. Start your day with a visit to the Temples of Karnak. Walk along the Avenue of Sphinx to enter the complex as your guide explains how the massive facade was constructed. Continue to Luxor Temple which was once joined to the Temples of Karnak by a two-kilometre long Avenue of Sphinx, a portion of which marks the entrance to the temple. Your private guide will offer interpretation and guide you through the most important parts of the temples.

Overnight at Sonesta Nile Dahabeya.

Enjoy time at leisure to explore at your own pace, or relax at your hotel.

Overnight at Sonesta Nile Dahabeya.

Visit the Nile-side Temple of Horus, the falcon god, built in 230 BC by Ptolemy III. The Temple of Horus in Edfu (also known as the Temple of Edfu) is considered the best-preserved cult temple in Egypt. This is partly because it was built later than most: in the Ptolemaic era from 237 to 57 BC. Despite its later date, it reflects traditional pharaonic architecture and so provides an excellent idea of how all the temples once looked. Edfu is also very large: the second largest in Egypt after Karnak Temple.

Overnight at Sonesta Nile Dahabeya.

Visit a unique Greco-Roman temple dedicated to two gods: Sobek, the crocodile god, and Haroeris, the sun god. The Temple in Kom Ombo (also known simply as Kom Ombo Temple) dates from about 180 BC, during a period known as the Ptolemaic era, and had some additions built on to it during Roman times. It stands right on the bank of the Nile between Edfu and Aswan. The temple is unusual in that it is a double temple, with one side dedicated to the god Haroesis and the other side to Sobek. The design is almost perfectly symmetrical, with two side-by-side sanctuaries and two parallel passageways leading through the outer parts of the temple. The right side is dedicated to Sobek-Re (the crocodile god combined with the sun god Re), along with his wife (a form of Hathor) and their son Khonsu-Hor. Sobek is associated with Seth, the enemy of Horus. In the myth of Horus and Osiris, Seth and his followers changed themselves into crocodiles to escape. The ancient Egyptians believed that by honouring the fearsome crocodile as a god, they would be safe from attacks. The left side is dedicated to Haroeris, the "Good Doctor" (a form of the falcon-headed god Horus the Elder) along with his consort Ta-Sent-Nefer, the "Good Sister" (another form of Hathor).

Overnight at Sonesta Nile Dahabeya.

Enjoy time at leisure to explore at your own pace, or relax at your hotel.

Overnight at Sonesta Nile Dahabeya.

This 1/2 day tour begins with a visit to the impressive Aswan High Dam. The water which was collected behind created Lake Nasser, the world's largest artificial lake. View the Temple of Philae, dedicated to the Goddess Iris, on the island of Agilika, stopping at the “unfinished obelisk,” a practical demonstration of the methods used by ancient craftsmen to create impressive monuments.

Overnight at Sonesta Nile Dahabeya.

Cairo is the capital of Egypt and the hub of the country. Millennia of history have made it one of the most fascinating places in the world. The Egyptian Museum whose 107 halls feature huge statues on the ground floor, and small statues, jewels, Tutankhamon treasures and the mummies on upper floors. Other downtown sights include the Saladin Citadel and Mohamed Ali Mosque, and Khan Khalili bazaar. Nearby Giza is famous for the Pyramids of Egypt, among the largest constructions ever built.

Airport transfer with private vehicle, and driver in Aswan.

Take your flight from Aswan to Cairo. The flight duration is approximately 1 hour and a half.

Transfer to/from Cairo Airport in private vehicle with English speaking driver.

Experience a traditional Egyptian meal at Cairo's famous Abou El Sid restaurant.

The Sofitel El Gezirah, recently refurbished to perfection and now sporting the gleam of clean cut elegance, sits conveniently in the core of Cairo. With 433 rooms, this tall, cylindrical hotel is perched on the tip of Gezirah Island on the Nile. Step onto your balcony and try to absorb the river as it drifts past your bedroom. Later, stop by the trendy international hotspot, Buddha Bar, for the most eclectic of ambient music and culinary enterprises. The floating cocktail bar, a barge on the Nile, is ideal for drinks. A gaming room, spa, and the latest amenities will surely keep the restless visitor busy. One may take a quick stroll to the Opera or a half hour bus ride to the Pyramids. Otherwise, wander around the city, get lost a little, and discover your way back to this fantastic haven.

Overnight at Sofitel El Gezirah.

Delve into the historical background of Egypt on a half day private tour with a trained Egyptologist guide through the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities and its Mummy Room, which houses a priceless treasure of archaeological finds. This location holds the tomb of the King Tut, Egypt's most famous teenage Kings!

Enjoy the city's finest cuisine with a private table at the very best restaurants.

During this evening tour, enjoy a delicious Egyptian dinner at Naguib Mafouz, located in the heart of the Khan Khalili bazaar in Cairo. Stroll down the newly opened Al Moaz Street and view the largest concentration of medieval architectural treasures from the Islamic world. Also included in this tour is entrance to Beit El Seheimy.  Normally, this location would be closed to the public during the evening, but this exclusive tour allows for entrance inside.  This tour includes a private vehicle, driver and english speaking guide.

Overnight at Sofitel El Gezirah.

Transfer to/from Cairo Airport in private vehicle with English speaking driver.

Depart from Cairo international airport - end of itinerary.

Overnight at Depart.