9 Day Egyptian Christmas Holiday Cairo & Nile Cruise

When you arrive at Cairo International Airport, one of our representatives from “Egypt Best Vacations” will meet and assist you in completing the visa procedures, after which you will be transferred to the hotel for free time to get ready to begin your 9-day Egyptian Christmas holiday to Cairo and Nile River cruise. Enjoy your dinner at the hotel.

Your 9-day Egyptian Christmas adventure unfolds as your expert guide whisks you away from your Cairo haven, setting your compass for the awe-inspiring Great Pyramids of Giza, the enigmatic Sphinx, and the ancient mysteries of Saqqara.

Today, you will visit the Giza Plateau. Today’s tour includes the Great Pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure with the great Sphinx. The only ancient wonder which still remains (Khufu’s pyramid) awaits you. Today you will learn about the history of the pyramids, how they were constructed, and why they were constructed.

Take your lunch at a local restaurant, then on to the first pyramid in history of humanity, the Step Pyramid of King Djoser at Saqqara. Saqqara is one of the most important and richest necropolises in Egypt. It was the cemetery of Memphis, the 1^st capital city of United Egypt in 3200 BCE. Then, transfer back to your hotel for your dinner.

Fabulous Christmas Nile cruise vacation beckons! Experience Upper Egypt during our 9-day Egypt Tour, where you will delight in a four-night Nile River cruise adventure. So, after your breakfast, you will take a transfer to the Cairo Airport to fly to Luxor, where you will embark on your 4-night Nile River cruise from Luxor to Aswan.

You will meet your guide just outside the arrival terminal at Luxor Airport. You will then get to see the largest temple in the world, the Temple of Karnak, which was built by several pharaohs in ancient times. Then to the majestic Temple of Luxor, which is connected to Karnak by the ceremonial avenue of the Sphinxes. These temples were dedicated to Amun, Mut, and Khonsu, the Theban Triad. Then, transfer to your Nile cruise ship for overnight in Luxor.

After breakfast on board, you will explore Luxor’s western side. First, you will explore the magnificent tombs of the Valley of the Kings, where the pharaohs of the New Kingdom were buried to hide from grave robbers. There are 65 tombs in the Valley of the Kings and, your guide will recommend the best three are open to visit. 
You will then drive to the Temple of Hatshepsut, the female pharaoh who served as a solo pharaoh for about 20 years after convincing the people that she was a man. Afterward, you will visit the giant Colossus of Memnon in the Temple of Amenhotep III and then, return to your Nile cruise to set sail to Edfu via the Lock of Esna. Overnight in Edfu. 

Optional tour: Sunrise Hot Air Ballooning over Luxor

Once you’ve finished breakfast, you will take a horse-drawn carriage to visit Edfu’s Temple of Horus, which was built during the Greco-Roman era and it is the most intact temple in Egypt. Following the visit to the temple at Edfu, the ship will sail up to Kom Ombo to visit the twin temple of Sobek, the Crocodile god, and Horus, the falcon god, before visiting the Crocodile Museum near the temple. Following the temple visit, the ship will travel up to Aswan.

Following breakfast, you will start your Aswan tour. The first stop will be the High Dam, which was built in the 1960s to stop floods and generate hydroelectricity. Next, you drive to the granite quarry of the Unfinished Obelisk. Afterward, you will take a motorboat to visit the incredible Temple of Philae, which was built primarily during the Ptolemaic period. As a result of the dam construction, UNESCO had to move the temple to a new location. Then, transfer back to your Nile River cruise.

Optional tour: Nubian Village Tour

Disembarkation, followed by taking wing from Aswan, soaring back to Cairo where your 9-day Egypt Christmas vacation continues for another exhilarating leg! Enjoy your lunch at a local restaurant before heading to your hotel. Have a delicious dinner at your hotel.

Optional tour: Abu Simbel Temples Tour

Explore the fabulous contents of the historical Egyptian Museum at Tahrir Square in Cairo. Thousands of artifacts from all periods of Egyptian history are displayed on the two floors of the museum.

Have your lunch at a local restaurant before you proceed to the Coptic Cairo suburb. Visit the magnificent Hanging Church and the Abu Serga Church. Continue your Cairo spiritual tour to Ben Ezra Synagogue, one of the largest synagogues in Egypt. Then, return to your hotel for the final night of your 9-day Egypt Christmas tour itinerary and your farewell dinner.

Your 9-day Egyptian Christmas holiday concludes with a triumphant return to Cairo Airport. Board your flight with sand-dusted boots, sun-kissed skin, and a treasure trove of memories brimming with adventure. The call of the Sphinx may fade, but the echo of its riddles will forever guide your spirit. So, ask your guide about your next adventure in Egypt.