Arrival in Cairo

You land in a place that’s lived in your imagination for years. Then suddenly—it’s real. The pyramids aren’t a picture anymore. They’re outside your window, quietly waiting.

Your Egypt adventure begins with a seamless airport pickup and transfer to The Great Pyramid Inn, your hotel in Giza.

Check in and settle into your room, where breathtaking views of the Giza Pyramids remind you: this is really happening.

Pyramids & Grand Egyptian Museum

Breakfast at the hotel – included

Today, everything begins.

Visit the Giza Plateau, home to the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the pyramids of Khafre and Menkaure, the Valley Temple, and the iconic Great Sphinx of Giza.

Standing at the base of the pyramids, their scale hits in a way no photo ever could. The silence, the weight of history, the sheer size of them—it’s something you feel as much as see.

For those who wish to explore further, optional experiences are available (prices subject to change, payable in cash on-site):

• Entry inside the Great Pyramid of Khufu – $30 USD
• Entry into smaller pyramids – $7 USD each
• Camel ride or horse-drawn carriage to the panoramic viewpoint – $20 USD

In the afternoon, visit the Grand Egyptian Museum. Taking more than 20 years to complete, the museum spans nearly 500,000 square meters and stands as the world’s largest archaeological museum complex.

Surrounded by ancient artifacts, time begins to stretch—like stepping into something far bigger than yourself.

Saqqara & Old Cairo

Breakfast at the hotel – included

Today you go deeper—older pyramids, hidden chambers, and layers of history most travelers never see.

Visit the Step Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara, the oldest known stone structure in Egypt, dating back to the 27th century BC. Continue to the Serapeum, where enormous stone sarcophagi rest silently in underground chambers carved deep beneath the desert.

In the afternoon, explore Old Cairo, including the Mosque of Muhammad Ali and the Hanging Church.

Different eras. Different beliefs. Yet somehow, all connected within the same story.

Fly to Luxor & East Bank Temples

Breakfast box to go – included

Cairo fades behind you as you fly south—and the journey begins to feel different now. Slower. Deeper. More personal.

Upon arrival in Luxor, visit Karnak Temple, one of the largest temple complexes ever built. Towering columns rise like a stone forest around you, overwhelming in the best possible way.

Continue to Luxor Temple, where history feels almost alive—especially as the light begins to soften toward evening.

Later, settle into Lotus Luxor, enjoy time at a local spice shop, and explore the Luxor market.

Hot Air Balloon Ride, Valley of the Kings & Hatshepsut Temple

Breakfast at the hotel – included

An early start offers the chance for an optional sunrise hot air balloon ride over Luxor—quiet, surreal, and unforgettable. (Optional – $80 USD)

After breakfast, visit the Valley of the Kings, the royal burial ground of Egypt’s pharaohs.

For those interested, entry to King Tutankhamun’s tomb is available (Optional – $20 USD).

Descending into these tombs carved thousands of years ago feels personal—quiet, almost sacred. The colors, symbols, and carvings have survived centuries in near silence.

Continue to the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut. Queen Hatshepsut was more than a ruler—she was a woman who claimed power in a world that insisted she could not. Where others saw limits, she built legacy.

Next, visit the Colossi of Memnon. For more than 3,000 years, these towering statues have stood watch over the desert, silent witnesses to the rise and fall of empires. Though the temple they once guarded has long disappeared, the statues remain—reminders that even when civilizations fade, their stories continue to whisper through stone.

This evening, enjoy a home-cooked meal with a local Egyptian family—a reminder that Egypt isn’t just ancient, it’s alive.

Deir el-Medina & Dahabiya Boarding

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner – included

Today reveals the lives behind the monuments.

Visit Deir el-Medina, the workers’ village home to the artisans who built and decorated the royal tombs in the Valleys of the Kings and Queens.

Their homes and beautifully preserved tombs offer a rare glimpse into the daily lives of the skilled craftsmen behind Egypt’s greatest wonders. Their stories bring a deeply human dimension to everything you’ve seen so far.

Continue to the Ramesseum, the mortuary temple of Ramses II. The Ramesseum stands as both a symbol of greatness and a reminder of impermanence—proof that even the mightiest empires cannot escape time.

This remains an active archaeological site, where discoveries are still being uncovered today.

Then, everything shifts.

Step aboard your dahabiya and begin sailing the Nile. The pace slows. The journey breathes. The river carries you gently forward.

Edfu & Village Walk

All meals included

Visit the Temple of Horus at Edfu, one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt.

Dedicated to the falcon god Horus, the temple feels like a doorway into ancient Egypt untouched by time. Massive walls and intricate carvings still carry stories of devotion, power, and the eternal struggle between light and darkness.

Return to the boat and sail toward the small village of Bisaw along the Nile.

Edfu impresses—but it’s the village walk that lingers. Kids waving, quiet streets, everyday life unfolding.

This is where Egypt stops feeling like a destination and starts feeling human.

Evening at leisure on board.

Lunch with an Egyptian Family and Kom Ombo Temple

All meals included

Today offers a truly special experience. We’ve been invited to share lunch with our host Khaled’s sister and her family in a small village near Kom Ombo Temple.

This heartfelt visit gives us the opportunity to experience the warmth, hospitality, and everyday life of a traditional Egyptian family.

After lunch we will visit the Kom Ombo Temple, uniquely dedicated to two gods -- Horus and Sobek.

Perched along the Nile, the temple is a rare symbol of balance and duality. Its ancient stones tell stories of healing, protection, and the deep spiritual connection the Egyptians shared with both nature and the divine.

Spend the afternoon sailing, watching life along the Nile drift quietly by.

Philae Temple

All meals included

Travel by motorboat to Philae Temple on Agilkia Island.

Arriving by water, the temple rises into view like something imagined. There’s a calm here—a softness that feels different from everything before.

Dedicated to Isis, the temple tells stories of love, loss, and rebirth etched into stone.

Evening at leisure on board.

Aswan Options

Breakfast onboard the dahabiya – included

Say goodbye to your dahabiya and continue your journey in Aswan.

Option 1: Abu Simbel – $150 USD

Lunch included. Depart early this morning for a journey to the Abu Simbel Temples. The drive is approximately 3.5 hours each way, with around two hours on site to explore.

Carved into the mountainside over 3,000 years ago, the colossal temples of Ramses II and Queen Nefertari remain among Egypt’s most awe-inspiring sights.

You stand before something built to last forever—and somehow, it has. The scale, the precision, the story… it leaves you quieter on the journey back.

After lunch near Abu Simbel, return to Aswan in the late afternoon and check in to KatoWaidi Nubian House.

Option 2: Botanical Gardens – $35 USD

Boat ride from the Nubian Village on Gharb Suhayl Island to Kitchener Island and explore the lush Botanical Gardens.

A slower moment—green, shaded, and peaceful along the Nile.

Check in to KatoWaidi Nubian House in Gharb Suhayl.

Alternatively, if you choose not to participate in either optional excursion, enjoy free time exploring the Nubian village at your own pace until check-in at KatoWaidi Nubian House is available.

Nubian Village Experience

Breakfast at KatoWaidi Nubian House – included

This morning, explore the Nubian Village with a guided walk, including visits to a local school and traditional home.

Color, smiles, and genuine hospitality surround you. Brightly painted homes line the Nile, and every interaction feels warm and sincere.

Your guide will share insights into Nubian history, culture, and daily life, offering a deeper understanding of this vibrant community.

This is where many travelers quietly fall in love with Egypt.

The afternoon is free to explore, shop, or simply take it all in.

Departure Or Red Sea Extension

Breakfast box to go – included

Depart early for your flight back to Cairo and your onward journey home.

You arrived curious. You leave with something deeper—memories shaped not only by what you saw, but by how Egypt made you feel.