Egypt Travel Itinerary for 17 Days

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 Egypt travel itinerary for 17 days.

Your actual Egypt travel itinerary for 17 days begins when Egypt Best Vacations 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 explore 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 exists (Khufu’s pyramid) awaits you. Are you ready to explore it from the inside? Today you will learn about the history of the pyramids, how they were built, and why they were built.

Then on to the first pyramid in history of mankind, 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.

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. 

Transfer back to your hotel.

Today, your Egypt travel itinerary for 17 days 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 in Alexandria with visiting the Library of Alexandria from the outside. Enjoy your lunch at a local restaurant, then drive back to Cairo.

Enjoy a spiritual tour to the Community of Religions in Cairo. This tour includes the famous Coptic Hanging Church. Cairo’s Church of the Saint Virgin Mary was built on the ruins of the Roman Babylon Fortress. Because of its location over the ruins of the fortress, it is known as Al Mo’llaqah Chruch or the “Hanging Chruch.”

Then proceed to the Abu Serga Church. The Church of Abu Serga is located in the modern Old Cairo, in the midst of the ancient Roman fortress of Babylon. The Holy Family drank from a well in the church, so the church is characterized among the other Egyptian Coptic churches.

Then to the Synagogue of Ben Ezra. Ben Ezra Synagogue in Cairo is one of the most important and largest synagogues in Egypt. The Synagogue is named after the great Jewish Rabbi Ezra the Scribe.

Transfer back to your hotel.

You will spend the next four days of your Egypt travel itinerary for 17 days onboard a River Nile cruise. So, we will transfer you to Cairo Airport to fly to Aswan to begin your 3-night Nile River cruise from Aswan to Luxor. Meet your guide just outside the arrival terminal at Aswan Airport to commence your 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 tour at the granite quarry of the Unfinished Obelisk.

Transfer to your Nile cruise ship. Overnight in Aswan.

Optional tour: Tour to the Nubian Village in Aswan 

Enjoy a free morning on board your cruise ship or join us on an optional tour to the phenomenal temples of Abu Simbel.
Your Nile cruise ship will set sail to Kom Ombo around the lunchtime. Disembark at Kom Ombo to visit the twin Temple of Horus and Sobek. It was built during the Greco-Roman period. It was built over the ruined temple of the New Kingdom. The temple began during the time of Ptolemy V and was completed by the time of Emperor Tiberius. The emperors Domitian, Caracalla, and others added to the temple. So it took about 400 years to finish.

Enjoy a short visit to the Crocodile Museum, before you go back to your Nile cruise ship to set sail to Edfu. Overnight in Edfu.

Before/after breakfast, you will take a horse and carriage to the Temple of Horus in Edfu. This temple is the most intact temple in Egypt and it was built during the Greco-Roman period. The Temple of Edfu is fully inscribed with reliefs and hieroglyphs on its exterior and interior walls.

Take your carriage back to your cruise ship to set sail to Luxor via the Lock of Esna. Upon arrival in Luxor, you will visit the impressive Temple of Karnak and the majestic Temple of Luxor. Both temples were dedicated to the Theban Triad; Amun, Mut and Khonsu. Overnight in Luxor.

Disembarkation. Visit the impressive Valley of the Kings. The Valley of the Kings is one of the most important highlights not only in Luxor but throughout Egypt. The Ancient Egyptians named it (Ta-Iset-Ma’at), which means “the Place of Truth”. The Valley of the Kings is the necropolis of the great Egyptian pharaohs of the 18th to the 20th Dynasty (1550-1080 BCE). Tuthmosis I was the first pharaoh who was buried at the Valley of the Kings while Ramses XI was the last pharaoh who was buried there.

From the Valley of the Kings to the unique Temple of the female pharaoh Hatshepsut, and then to Colossi of Memnon of Amenhotep III.

Transfer to Hurghada for beach activities and relaxation. Explore the stunning underwater world by your own. You will enjoy four full days of your Egypt travel itinerary for 17 days of relaxation in Hurghada before flying back to Cairo.

Optional tour: Sunrise Hot Air Balloon over Luxor

Free day. Tours such as diving, glass boat, safari, snorkeling, and submarine rides are available upon request.

Free day. Tours such as diving, glass boat, safari, snorkeling, and submarine rides are available upon request.

Free day. Tours such as diving, glass boat, safari, snorkeling, and submarine rides are available upon request.

Free day. Tours such as diving, glass boat, safari, snorkeling, and submarine rides are available upon request.

Transfer to Hurghada Airport to fly to Cairo for the remaining part of your Egypt travel itinerary for 17 days. Transfer from Cairo Airport to your hotel.

Depart Cairo early in the morning and drive towards the Bahariya Oasis. Enjoy your lunch and be ready to begin your adventure. Take a 4×4 Jeep to visit the Black Desert, then to the Hez Village to enjoy the natural cold springs. Continue driving to the Crystal Mountain, after that you will arrive at Aqabat. Aqabat is one of the most beautiful areas in the White Desert National Park. Then drive to your camping area in the White Desert. Enjoy your dinner and spend your night stargazing. 

Enjoy one of your lifetime sunrise, then take your breakfast to be ready to take the 4X4 back to Bahariya Oasis. Then travel back to your hotel in Cairo for last night of your Egypt travel itinerary for 17 days.

You will end your Egypt travel itinerary for 17 days with a transfer to Cairo Airport for final departure. It is really sad to leave, so ask our guides about your next adventure in Egypt.