Egypt Unveiled: A 13-Day Journey. Embark on a journey through the heart of Egypt, from the iconic Pyramids of Giza to the pristine beaches of the Red Sea. This 13-day tour offers a comprehensive experience of this ancient land, combining visits to iconic landmarks with leisurely cruises and relaxing beach days.
Begin your 13-day Egypt journey in Cairo, where you will marvel at the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, two of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Then, explore the Egyptian Museum, home to a vast collection of artifacts that offer a glimpse into Egypt’s rich history.
Next, board a felucca boat for a leisurely cruise down the Nile River. As you sail past stunning temples and villages, soak up the atmosphere of this timeless waterway. Stop to visit the Philae Temple and the Kom Ombo Temple, two of the most impressive temples on the Nile.
Your next stop is Luxor, the ancient city of Thebes and a treasure trove of ancient Egyptian history. Explore the Valley of the Kings, where the tombs of many pharaohs are located. Then, marvel at the Temple of Karnak, one of the largest religious complexes in the world.
Travel by bus from Luxor to Hurghada, a popular Red Sea resort town. Here, you can relax on the stunning beaches, swim in the crystal-clear waters, and snorkel or dive among the vibrant coral reefs.
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 and the beginning of your Egypt Unveiled: A 13-Day Journey.
Your actual Egypt Unveiled: A 13-Day Journey 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? (Optional) 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 1st capital city of United Egypt in 3200 BCE.
Transfer back to your hotel.
Today, your Egypt Unveiled: A 13-Day Journey, 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 travel back to Cairo.
Explore the fantastic contents of the historical Egyptian Museum at Tahrir Square in Cairo. Hundreds of objects from all periods of Egypt’s past 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 protect 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.
Transfer to Giza train station to board your sleeper train to Aswan to begin your felucca cruise.
You’re going to spend the next two nights of your Egypt Unveiled: A 13-Day Journey on board a Felucca River cruise.
Meet your guide at Aswan Railway to commence your tour. Explore the highlights of the beautiful City of Aswan such as the High Dam, one of the great engineering feats in the 1960s. Then proceed to the beautiful Temple of Isis at Philae Island. End your tour at the granite quarry of the Unfinished Obelisk.
Board your Felucca Nile cruise. Enjoy the Nile landscape in Aswan while cruising.
Breakfast then set sail from Aswan to Daraw. Visit its famous Camel Market (every Saturday and Sunday). Daraw has one of the largest camel markets in Egypt. Most of the camels come in caravans from Sudan’s Darfur and Kordofan along the Darb Al Arba’een (Forty Days Rd) to just north of Abu Simbel before being trucked to Daraw. It is a picturesque sight and fascinating to see the trading; sometimes there are as many as 2000 camels.
Then set sail from Daraw toward Kom Ombo.
Breakfast and disembarkation. Travel to Kom Ombo to visit the twin Temple of Horus and Sobek together with the Crocodile Museum. This temple was built in the Ptolemaic period. Due to the conflict between Sobek and Horus, the ancient Egyptians felt it necessary to separate their temple spaces within one temple. The Kom Ombo Temple has two entrances, courts, colonnades, Hypostyle halls, and sanctuaries, one side for each god.
Transfer from Kom Ombo to visit the most intact temple in Egypt, the Temple of Horus in Edfu. Edfu Temple is one of the most striking and complete of ancient Egyptian temples and is dedicated to the worship of the god Horus. Situated on the western bank of the Nile, its construction began during the reign of Ptolemy III (246–221 BC) in 237 BC, but was completed in the reign of Ptolemy XII (80–51 BC) in 57 BC, 180 years later.
Then transfer to your hotel in Luxor for a free evening.
Visit the magnificent Valley of the Kings, where the pharaohs of the New Kingdom period were buried. Your guide will recommend the best three open tombs to visit. From the Valley of the Kings to the unique Temple of the female pharaoh Hatshepsut, who ruled Egypt for about 20 years as a sole pharaoh. You will end your tour at the Colossi of Memnon.
Enjoy your lunch at a local restaurant, then visit the impressive Temple of Karnak and the great Temple of Luxor. Both temples were dedicated to the Theban Triad; Amun, Mut and Khonsu.
Transfer to Hurghada to enjoy some relaxation on the next four days of your Egypt Unveiled: A 13-Day Journey. Enjoy some beach activities and explore the magnificent underwater world of the Red Sea.
Optional tour: Sunrise Hot Air Ballooning 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.
Transfer to Hurghada Airport to fly to Cairo. Transfer from Cairo Airport to your hotel for last night of your Egypt Unveiled: A 13-Day Journey.
Wrap your Egypt Unveiled: A 13-Day Journey 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.
