16-Day Ancient Egypt Tour with Nile Cruise and Siwa Oasis Safari

• Meet your tour guide upon arrival at Cairo International Airport.
• Transfer to your hotel near the Pyramids.
• Enjoy your "Welcome Dinner" at a local Egyptian restaurant.

Meals: Dinner

Hotel: Steigenberger Pyramids

• After breakfast, go to the Step Pyramid at Saqqara, the first free-standing stone building in the world, dating back to 2700 BC.

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Hotel: Steigenberger Pyramids (or similar)

• Today, explore the Giza Plateau, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and the only one that still exists.
• Continue the adventure with a camel ride through the Sahara.
• Then, visit the guardian of the area, the monolithic and iconic Sphinx.
• Experience how the ancients recorded their history on the first paper ever produced, papyrus, at a government-regulated Papyrus Institute.
• Enjoy a desert adventure with a sunset ATV ride.

Meals: Breakfast

Hotel: Steigenberger Pyramids (or similar)

• Early in the morning, proceed to the Egyptian Museum, home to thousands of artifacts covering all eras of Egyptian history, including the most famous piece of all, the Golden Mask of the young King Tutankhamun.
• Next, visit the Museum of Ancient Civilisation, recently opened to house the Royal Mummies. Showcasing Ancient Egyptian civilisation, it is located in Al-Fustat, the ancient Islamic capital of Egypt, and is designed to give a general overview of the different historical periods that encompass Egypt.
• Then, go to the Khan el Khalili Markets, the medieval bazaar dating back to the 1300s, with its labyrinth of narrow lanes and cafes. Wind your way through its colorful streets overflowing with souvenirs, clothes, jewellery, and fragrances that Egypt is known for, including the famous Muizz Street, home to local artisans and craftsmen who still use traditional methods to create timeless masterpieces.

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Hotel: Steigenberger Pyramids (or similar)

• Take a morning flight to Luxor (not included in the package), then check into the hotel located on the edge of the Nile.
• Visit a local jewellery shop specializing in Egyptian-style jewellery and handmade cartouches, where you can see replicas of the pieces found in the tomb of King Tutankhamun.
• In the afternoon, pay your respects at Luxor Temple.
• Enjoy a meal in a local restaurant.

Meals: Breakfast

Hotel: Sonesta St George Hotel

• Check in to the Nile River Cruise.
• Later, visit Egypt's largest temple complex, Karnak Temples. Wander among the columns of the much-photographed Hypostyle Hall and explore the numerous projects of the pharaohs, including chapels, sanctuaries, and temples.
• Gaze upon the well-preserved obelisk of the famed Queen Hatshepsut before visiting the Sacred Lake and the largest carved scarab found in all of Egypt.

Meals: Breakfast Lunch & Dinner

Stay: Nile River Cruise

• Enjoy a visit to the Valley of the Kings. Climb down into the spectacularly decorated tombs of the pharaohs.
• After that, visit the Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut and Deir el-Bahri (Northern Monastery), which indicates that the site was once used by Christian monks.
• Go to a local alabaster factory and see how the hand-made pieces were created in ancient Egypt.
• You will also make a quick stop at the Colossi of Memnon.

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Stay: Nile River Cruise

• This morning after sailing, visit the magnificent Temple of Edfu. This beautiful temple is considered one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt.
• Return to the boat and continue sailing towards Kom Ombo.
• See the Temple of Kom Ombo - the only dual temple in Egypt - dedicated to two gods, Haroeris, the sun god, and Sobek, the crocodile god. This temple is just a short stroll from your boat and has a fascinating history, including hieroglyphic carvings showing medical instruments still used today.

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Nile River Cruise

• Today, take a relaxing motorboat ride to Agilkia Island to see the incredible Philae Temple, one of the most visited temples in Nubia. Philae Temple was dedicated to the goddess Isis, the wife of Osiris and mother of Horus.
• Dinner tonight will be an exceptional experience as you visit a local Nubian village.
• After dinner, wander through the Aswan Market.

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Nile River Cruise

• An early start today as you drive 3 1/2 hours south to the magnificent Temples of Abu Simbel, a must-see for everyone who comes to Egypt. These temples were cut deep into the rock and dedicated to Pharaoh Ramses II and his beloved wife, Nefertari.
• In the afternoon, take a private felucca sailing to a local Nubian village to enjoy some local Nubian food and their friendly hospitality.

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Hotel: Tulip Resort, Nile View

• Board a return flight to Cairo. (Flight not included)
• Check into the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast

• Drive approximately 750 km to the desert oasis of Siwa.
• Stop for a break at the Mediterranean Sea and the city of Marsa Matruh.
• Reach Siwa Oasis, the stuff of desert daydreams. Just 50 km from the Libyan border, this fertile basin, sitting about 25 m below sea level and brimming with olive trees and palms, epitomizes slow-paced oasis life. Scattered throughout the oasis are crystal-clear springs, a heavenly respite from the harsh heat.

Meals: Breakfast Lunch & Dinner

Hotel: Ghalit Eco Lodge Siwa

• Begin the day with a visit to the nearby Mountain of the Dead to view many fascinating tombs found here before exploring the Old Shali City in the centre of Siwa. Built mostly from mud and rock, this site acted as the town's original fortress.
• Visit Cleopatra Springs for an afternoon swim.

Meals: Breakfast Lunch & Dinner

Hotel: Ghalit Eco Lodge Siwa

• Today, visit the salt lakes on the outskirts of the city.
• Drive a Jeep through the dunes into the Great Sand Sea, stopping to discover an ancient ocean full of marine fossils.
• Do some sandboarding and enjoy watching the sunset over the desert landscape.

Meals: Breakfast Lunch & Dinner

Hotel: Ghalit Eco Lodge Siwa

• Check out from the hotel and depart late morning for the drive back to Cairo.
• In the evening, share a farewell dinner with your guide.
• Check in to your Cairo hotel.

• After breakfast, head to Cairo International Airport for your onward journey or return flight home.