The Egyptian Trinity: 10 Days in Cairo, on the Nile & in the Sahara

10-Day Egypt Tour & Desert Safari: The Itinerary

1st Day: Welcome to the Pharaohs’ Land & Nile Dinner Cruise

• VIP Arrival: When your flight lands at Cairo International Airport, an Egypt Fun Tours representative will greet you before passport control with a personalized sign. We will assist you with all entry regulations, baggage identification, and customs.
• Luxury Transfer: Relax in a private, air-conditioned vehicle as we drive you to your luxury 5-star hotel in Cairo to unwind.
• Evening Experience: Board a premium Nile River dinner cruise. Enjoy a gourmet buffet of local and international cuisine while watching traditional folklore shows, featuring authentic live music and a vibrant Tannoura (whirling dervish) performance.
• Overnight: 5-Star Hotel in Cairo.

2nd Day: The Great Pyramids of Giza & The Egyptian Museum

• Giza Pyramids Complex: After breakfast, join your expert Egyptologist to explore the Giza Plateau. Marvel at the Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops), an architectural masterpiece of the 4th Dynasty.
• The Great Sphinx: Stand before this iconic monument, masterfully carved from a single ridge of natural limestone (featuring the body of a lion and the head of Pharaoh Khafre).
• The Valley Temple: Tour the ancient pink-granite structure where the sacred mummification rituals and opening of the mouth ceremonies were performed for the king.
• Lunch & Museum Tour: Enjoy a premium lunch at a local restaurant. Afterward, explore the legendary Egyptian Museum, home to a massive collection of over 120,000 antiquities, royal artifacts, and treasures spanning thousands of years of pharaonic history.
• Overnight: 5-Star Hotel in Cairo.

3rd Day: Arrival in Luxor & The Majestic East Bank

• Flight to Luxor: Catch an early morning domestic flight from Cairo to Luxor. Upon arrival, meet your expert Egyptologist to begin your Upper Egypt journey.
• Karnak Temple Complex: Walk through the largest religious complex ever built. Wander through the breathtaking Great Hypostyle Hall, an incredible forest of 134 colossal sandstone columns dedicated to Amun-Ra.
• Luxury Cruise Check-in: Board your 5-star luxury Nile cruise ship in time for a gourmet lunch.
• Luxor Temple by Night: In the evening, visit this elegant temple right in the heart of the city. Beautifully lit up after sunset, this site was the focal point of the annual Opet Festival and ancient royal coronations.
• Overnight: Onboard the Nile Cruise in Luxor.

4th Day: Hidden Treasures of Luxor’s West Bank

• Valley of the Kings: Cross the Nile after breakfast to enter the secluded desert canyon protecting 63 royal rock-cut tombs, including the famous resting places of Ramesses the Great and Tutankhamun.
• Temple of Hatshepsut: Discover the spectacular terraced mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari, carved seamlessly into the towering limestone cliffs.
• Colossi of Memnon: Stop to admire these two massive, 720-ton quartzite twin statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III, which once guarded the entrance to his grand mortuary temple.
• Sailing Time: Return to the ship for lunch as the cruise begins sailing south toward Edfu.
• Overnight: Onboard the Nile Cruise.

5th Day: The Riverside Temples of Edfu & Kom Ombo

• Temple of Edfu: Wake up and take a traditional horse-drawn carriage to visit the exceptionally well-preserved temple of the falcon sky god, Horus. Built during the Ptolemaic era, its massive pylons and intact chambers offer a flawless look at ancient temple design.
• Sailing to Kom Ombo: Return to the ship for lunch and enjoy scenic views of rural Egyptian life along the Nile banks.
• Temple of Kom Ombo: Step ashore at sunset to tour this unique, completely symmetrical double temple. One half is dedicated to Sobek, the crocodile god, and the other to Haroeris (Horus the Elder). Afterward, visit the Crocodile Museum to see ancient mummified crocodiles.
• Overnight: Onboard the Nile Cruise as it sails to Aswan.

Day 6: The Spectacular Sun Temples of Abu Simbel

• Abu Simbel Overland Excursion: Receive a freshly prepared breakfast box early in the morning and travel southwest to the edge of the Egyptian border.
• Temples of Ramesses II & Nefertari: Stand in awe before the towering, mountain-carved rock temples built by Ramesses the Great to project his divine power and commemorate his standoff at the Battle of Kadesh. Tour the main sun temple as well as the beautiful neighboring temple dedicated to his favorite wife, Queen Nefertari.
• Afternoon Return: Return to Aswan for a late lunch onboard the cruise ship and enjoy a relaxing evening.
• Overnight: Onboard the Nile Cruise in Aswan.

7th Day: Aswan’s Engineering Feats & Flight Back to Cairo

• The High Dam: After breakfast and cruise check-out, visit this monumental 20th-century engineering marvel that stands 111 meters high, built to control the Nile’s floods and generate electricity.

• Philae Temple: Take a quick, scenic motorboat ride to Agilkia Island to explore the beautiful temple dedicated to the goddess Isis, rescued and reconstructed piece by piece under a massive UNESCO project.
• The Unfinished Obelisk: Visit the ancient northern granite quarries to see a 1,100-ton, 42-meter-long obelisk initiated by Queen Hatshepsut that remains cracked in the bedrock, showcasing how ancient stone cutters worked.
• Return to Cairo: Enjoy a premium lunch before transferring to Aswan Airport for your flight back to Cairo.
• Overnight: 5-Star Hotel in Cairo.

Day 8: Deep Desert Safari: Bahariya & The White Desert

• Journey to the Oasis: Depart Cairo early in the morning via a private vehicle to the Bahariya Oasis. Enjoy a fresh lunch upon arrival in Al-Bawaiti City.
• 4×4 Off-Road Adventure: Switch into a rugged Toyota Land Cruiser to explore the volcanic landscape of the Black Desert, followed by a stop at the refreshing cold spring of the El Hez Bedouin village.
• Crystal Mountain & Agabat Valley: Marvel at the quartz structures of Crystal Mountain, then head into the surreal Agabat Area (The Wonders Area) for an exciting sandboarding session down giant dunes.
• The White Desert National Park: Witness the sunset over the Old White Desert, admiring wind-carved chalk formations like Mushroom Rock, Tents Valley, and the Flower Stone.
• Bedouin Camp Experience: Spend an unforgettable night under the desert stars with a live barbecue dinner, traditional Bedouin tea, and musical entertainment.
• Overnight: Glamping in the White Desert.

9th Day: Desert Sunrise & Return to the Capital

• Sunrise Photography: Wake up early to capture the magical glow of dawn breaking over the white chalk formations, followed by a hot desert breakfast.
• Natural Hot Springs: Visit a natural thermal hot spring to relax before making the return drive back to civilization.
• Afternoon in Cairo: Arrive back in Cairo, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, and check into your 5-star hotel for a peaceful final evening.
• Overnight: 5-Star Hotel in Cairo.

Last Day: Final Departure from Egypt

• Farewell Breakfast: Enjoy a gourmet breakfast at your hotel before completing check-out.
• Airport Transfer: Your private air-conditioned vehicle and Egypt Fun Tours coordinator will arrive to transfer you smoothly to Cairo International Airport, handling your luggage and guiding you to your departure gate. Safe travels home!