9-Days Nile Jewels: Cairo, Alexandria & Dahabiya Cruise

Arrival at Cairo International Airport. Meet and assist by our representative of “Egypt Best Vacations” who will help you through the arrival and visa regulations. Transfer to your hotel for free time and the beginning of your 9-days Nile Jewels: Cairo, Alexandria and Dahabiya cruise.

Your actual 9-day Cairo & Dahabiya Nile cruise package begins when our professional tour guide picks you up from your hotel to commence your tour to the Great Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx and 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. Are you ready to discover it from the inside? Today you will learn about the history of the pyramids, how they were constructed, and why they were constructed.

Then on to the first pyramid in history, 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.

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.
From the museum to the Citadel of the Sunni Muslim leader Saladin, which was built in 1172 to defend Cairo against the Crusaders. The White Mosque of Mohammed Ali Pasha is a prominent feature of the Citadel. You will finish your tour today at the historical bazaar of Khan El-Khalili, the largest bazaar in the Middle East. Then, transfer back to your hotel.

Today, your Cairo & Dahabiya cruise package, takes you to the beautiful City of Alexandria, the capital city of Egypt during the Greco-Roman era. Your tour includes the famous Roman Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa. The catacombs are huge Egyptian tombs and royal cemeteries with Ptolemaic and Roman influences. The catacombs of Kom El-Shoqafa are one the largest Roman burial sites not just in Alexandria but in Egypt. These catacombs started as a private tomb for a wealthy family, then became a public cemetery. The catacombs house more than 300 tombs.

From the catacombs to the Pompey’s Pillar. Many of the ancient historians did not tell us more details about the “Pompey’s Pillar” but about the buildings that stood nearby and have disappeared now. The hill on which the pillar is erected was covered with temples and houses a long time before the Roman era. It was the place of the Citadel of Rhakotis. A temple was dedicated to Osiris-Serapis was built on the mountain.

Then proceed to the Citadel of Qaitbay. The Citadel of Qaitbay in Alexandria is one of the most important fortifications in Egypt. It was constructed by Sultan Al-Ashraf Qaitbay to defend Egypt against the Ottomans/Turks.

End your tour to Alexandria wonders with visiting the Library of Alexandria. Enjoy your lunch at a local restaurant, then travel back to Cairo. 

A wonderful Dahabiya Nile cruise holiday awaits! You will spend the next four days of your 9-day Cairo & Dahabiya cruise tour onboard a Dahabiya River Nile cruise. So, we will transfer you to Cairo Airport to fly to Aswan to begin your 3-night Dahabiya Nile River cruise from Aswan to Luxor. Meet your guide just outside the arrival terminal at Aswan Airport to commence your Aswan tour.

Explore the highlights of the beautiful City of Aswan such as the High Dam, one of the great engineering feats of the 1960s. Then proceed to the beautiful Temple of Isis at Philae Island. This temple was built during the Greco-Roman era and, was dedicated to Isis, goddess of Love and Magic in ancient Egypt. You will end your Aswan tour at the granite quarry of the Unfinished Obelisk. Then, transfer to your Dahabiya Nile cruise. Set sail to Kom Ombo to overnight there.

Visit the twin Temple of Horus and Sobek together with the Crocodile Museum at Kom Ombo. This temple was built during the Ptolemaic period, around 180-47 BC, and is dedicated to two gods: Sobek, the crocodile god, and Horus, the falcon-headed god. The temple is known for its unique architecture, beautiful reliefs. Return back to your Dahabiya cruise to set sail to Edfu to overnight there.

Take a Horse and Carriage to visit the most intact temple in Egypt, the Temple of Horus in Edfu. This temple was built during the Ptolemaic period, around 237-57 BC, and is dedicated to the god Horus. The temple is known for its well-preserved structure and its impressive wall carvings, which depict the story of the battle between Horus and his uncle Seth.

Back to your Dahabiya cruise to set sail to the lock of Esna. Go through the lock and continue sailing to Luxor to overnight there. 

Disembarkation, followed by visiting the magnificent Valley of the Kings, where the pharaohs of the New Kingdom period were buried. Then proceed to the unique Temple of the female pharaoh Hatshepsut, who ruled Egypt for about 20 years as a sole pharaoh.  Continue to the giant Colossi of Memnon of Amenhotep III. 

Enjoy your lunch at a local restaurant then proceed to the Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple. These two temples were dedicated to the Theban Triad of Amun, Mut and Khonsu.

Transfer to Luxor Airport to fly back to Cairo. Transfer from Cairo Airport to your hotel for final night of your 9-day Cairo & Dahabiya cruise package.

Optional tour: Sunrise Hot Air Balloon over Luxor

Wrap up your 9-days Nile Jewels: Cairo, Alexandria and Dahabiya cruise, so we will transfer you to Cairo Airport for your final departure. It is really sad to leave so ask our guides about your next adventure in Egypt.