Best of Egypt: 8-Day All-Inclusive Tour
Description
Cairo, Luxor, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Aswan... Join us for a comprehensive expedition to explore the essential landmarks of Egypt over 8 days. This journey is the ideal way to immerse yourself in the history of the Pharaohs!
Egypt Tour
Day 1: Arrival in Cairo
Upon your arrival, we will greet you at Cairo airport, assisting you with obtaining your visa and navigating immigration controls before escorting you to your hotel. In the evening, you will dine at a local restaurant. If your flight lands after 9 PM, we will provide a cold picnic at the hotel instead.
Day 2: Giza, Memphis, & Cairo
After enjoying breakfast, we’ll explore the Giza pyramids and the Sphinx. For the adventurous, there is the option to venture inside while carefully avoiding the ancient traps set by the builders to ward off grave robbers! Next, we'll visit a papyrus workshop to discover how this iconic Egyptian art is created. A traditional lunch will follow before we proceed to Memphis, Egypt's original capital, and the Saqqara necropolis, including the notable statue of Ramses II.
After a brief rest at the hotel, our tour will take us to Old Cairo, where we’ll stroll down its oldest thoroughfare, browse the Khan el Khalili market, and enjoy a traditional dinner at the renowned Café of Mirrors.
Day 3: Cairo
On the third day, we’ll visit crucial historical spots in downtown Cairo. Our explorations will include the Citadel, the Alabaster Mosque, the vibrant atmosphere of Khan el Khalili, and a stroll through the Coptic neighborhood. We’ll conclude our day marveling at masterpieces in the Grand Egyptian Museum, which houses the treasures of Tutankhamun and boasts an extensive collection of over 500,000 items from ancient Egypt. Dinner will be served at a local eatery.
Day 4: Cairo to Luxor
Following breakfast, we’ll head to the airport for a flight to Luxor, known in ancient times as Thebes, where our Nile cruise will commence. At this captivating location, we’ll visit the Luxor Temple, which may leave a lasting impression, and take a scenic tour of the city via horse-drawn carriage. We’ll check in at our hotel for the night.
Day 5: Luxor to Edfu
We start the day with a visit to the Karnak Temple, linked to Luxor Temple through the awe-inspiring Avenue of the Sphinxes, renowned for its rows of sphinx statues. This is followed by a trip to the Valley of the Kings, home to significant pharaoh tombs (entrance to Tutankhamun's tomb incurs an additional fee of 16EUR), alongside a visit to the Hatshepsut Temple and the majestic Colossi of Memnon.
Upon returning to the vessel, we will cruise further south on the Nile, directing our course towards Edfu, making an evening stop at the floodgates of Esna.
Day 6: Edfu to Kom Ombo to Aswan
This day begins with a visit to the well-preserved Temple of Edfu, dedicated to the sky god Horus. Following this, we’ll continue our journey on the Nile towards the town of Kom Ombo.
Once we arrive, we'll tour the temple, dedicated to both Sobek and Horus, celebrated for its stunning location. We will then sail onward to Aswan.
Note: The excursion in Edfu is conducted via horse-drawn carriage. If you prefer an alternative mode of transportation, please inform your guide the previous day.
Day 7: Aswan to Abu Simbel and back
The day will begin with a bus journey to the famous Temples of Abu Simbel, which were saved from the encroaching Nile waters through an international collaborative rescue. On our way back to Aswan, we’ll make a stop to view the magnificent Aswan Dam, a marvel of 20th-century engineering.
Additionally, we’ll visit the Temple of Philae, nestled on a lovely island referred to as the Jewel of the Nile, then return to the cruise ship for a meal. Following lunch, you can relax on a traditional Felucca around the area, returning to the ship by 4 PM for an overnight stay. You will have the evening free to enjoy the surroundings at your leisure.
Day 8: Aswan to Cairo
After breakfast, we’ll take you to the airport in Aswan for your return flight to Cairo. Once in Cairo, feel free to catch your next domestic or international flight.
We will adjust our departure from Aswan based on your flight schedule. If your flight is early, we’ll set off sooner and provide a continental breakfast or meal-to-go. For evening flights, breakfast will be served on board before heading to Aswan for your flight.
Important Information
The sequence of the itinerary may vary and is subject to modification, but all highlighted visits will occur. Depending on your arrival date, you may explore Cairo prior to embarking on the cruise or vice versa.
Note that some excursions during the cruise may be shorter than anticipated as we must accommodate the schedule of the vessel.
What You Will Need
To participate in this tour, all you require is a round-trip flight to Cairo, arriving on your booked date and returning the following week on the same day (e.g., arriving on a Monday and leaving the next Monday).
Comprehensive Package
All expenses are included in the quoted price: visa, domestic flights, air-conditioned transportation, accommodation, meals, guides, excursions, and entrance fees (excluding the Great Pyramid of Cheops).
Our prices are highly competitive, often unmatched by other agencies, as we offer an all-inclusive plan. Others may charge double for a similar experience without providing the same scope.
Hotel and Boat Accommodations
We present two categories for this tour:
Standard
- Cairo Hotel: Pyramids Park Resort Cairo or a comparable alternative.
- Boat: MS Princess Du Nile, MS Isis, MS Nile Dolphin, MS King of Tebas, MS King Tut I, MS Pioneer II, MS Mirage, MS Nile Admiral, Miss Egypt, Beaurivage II, Grand Princess, Voyager, MS Jasmine, MS Grand Princess, MS Solares II, or a similar option.
Premium Category
- Cairo Hotel: Renaissance Mirage City, Crown Plaza Cairo West, Cairo Marriott, Omar Khayyam Casino, Hyatt Regency Cairo West, Ramsés Hilton, JAZ Pyramids Resort, Kempinski Royal Maxim or similar.
- Boat: MS Sarah, MS Radamis II, MS Royal Ruby I, MS Zeina, MS Royal Viking, MS Blue Shadow, MS Blue Shadow II, MS HS Moon Dance, Ms Steigenberger Minerva, MS Kon Tiki, MS Opera, MS Al Jamila, M/S Alyssa, M/S Royal Princess, Ms Steigenberger Regency, Ms Steigenberger Royale, MS Concerto or an equivalent vessel.
Note: For those departing from Aswan (embarking on Wednesdays and Fridays), it is possible to spend a night at a hotel; you will then return to the boat for the cruise the following morning.
Pricing Details
- The indicated rate is per person sharing a double room or cabin. Individuals traveling solo will incur an additional single supplement.
- Groups of three will be accommodated in a double room with an extra bed. If the additional person requires their own room, a single supplement will be applied.
- There are no rooms for four persons; however, adjoining rooms may be requested for groups based on availability. Please provide this information in the comments section during booking.
Booking for Families
The discounted rate for children is applicable only when a child shares a room with two adults.
If you have inquiries during the booking process, please feel free to reach out to us directly using the provided link.
Tour Options from Luxor or Aswan
You can also experience this complete, all-inclusive 8-day journey through Egypt, starting from Aswan or Luxor.
Extended Tours
If you wish to maximize your travel experience, consider extending your stay to visit the Red Sea or embark on a cruise on Lake Nasser. We offer three enhanced options:
Seasonal Cancellation Policies
Cancellations are non-refundable from December 20th to January 2nd (Christmas) and during the Easter holiday season. The itinerary order may also change due to these peak periods.
What's included
- All transport from start to finish
- Visa and travel assistance
- English–speaking guides throughout the tour
- 3 nights full board in Cairo
- 3 or 4 nights on an all–inclusive cruise (depending on your start date)
- Full board from dinner on arrival day to breakfast on departure day
- All tickets, excursions and guided tours mentioned
- Domestic flights to and from Cairo, Luxor,and Aswan
- Port taxes
- Tips
What's not included
- Drinks
- Wifi on board: 5EUR – 10EUR per day, depending on the boat)
- Admission to the Great Pyramid of Cheops: 1500EGP per person
Cancellation policy
Cancellazione gratuita fino a 144 ore prima (local time)
Accessibility
Not wheelchair accessible.
Important information
Our guides will be waiting for you at the arrivals area of Cairo International Airport. They will be carrying a sign with the name Civitatis. If you have any doubts, you can call the phone number on this voucher.
Please note that the guide will not be able to enter the Sphinx airport, as they are not allowed access. If you arrive at this airport, you'll have to arrange the visa yourself, which costs 25USD per person and must be paid in cash. This fee of 25USD (or the equivalent in EUR) will be reimbursed by the local team in the same manner.
Important Info
- For airport security reasons, 2 or 3 days before your arrival, you'll have to send an email to the local tour operator with a copy of your passport.
- To take photos in the Valley of the Kings, you need a permit. According to the list of the Ministry of Antiquities, it's 300EGP and is purchased at the entrance to the Valley of the Kings
- There's an additional cost for drinks and WiFi on board the cruise ship
- Check-in to the boat is from 12 pm, and check-out is at 8 am. The pool on board the boat is cleaned daily from 8 am - 12 pm, so if you arrive at 10 am, it won't be open.
- If you wish to buy tickets to the pyramids, you must tell the guide at the ticket office, as once inside the enclosure, you cannot go back to the ticket office to buy them.
- When Kefren opens, Mykerinos is usually closed without prior notice and vice versa. Cheops is always open (although for renovation reasons it may be closed).
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Sometimes, the visits during a cruise are shorter than usual because the guide has to adapt to the length of each stop and ensure they are back before the ship sets sail again.
Insurance Info
This tour doesn't include insurance, so we recommend getting it separately on the Civitatis website.
Dinner on the First Day
If you arrive after 9 pm, instead of dinner, we'll provide you with a cold picnic at the hotel.
Seasonal Dates
Refunds are unavailable in the event of cancellation from 20th December to 2nd January (Christmas) and during Easter. Additionally, due to the seasonal dates, the order of the itinerary is subject to change.
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