15-Day Egypt Heritage Tour with Nile Cruise and White Desert

• Meet your tour guide upon arrival at Cairo International Airport, where a representative will assist you with the arrival procedures and take you to your hotel. At the hotel, the tour manager will help with a smooth check-in and review your holiday itinerary with you to establish and confirm the pick-up times for each tour.

Enjoy welcome drinks.

Overnight in Cairo.

• Have breakfast at your hotel in Cairo and then meet your personal guide, who will accompany you to the Giza Plateau to visit the three Pyramids of Cheops, Chephren, and Mykerinos, as well as the Great Sphinx, which has a human Pharaonic head and a lion's body.
• Continue to the Valley Temple in front of the Sphinx, dedicated to King Chephren. Then proceed for lunch at a local restaurant.
• Transfer to visit the Egyptian Museum, which exhibits a wide range of unique Pharaonic antiquities in addition to the original treasure room of King Tutankhamun, gold, and jewellery dating back more than 3,500 years before being discovered.
• Return to the hotel.

Overnight in Cairo.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

• Have breakfast, then transfer to the domestic airport and depart by plane to Luxor.
• Meet our representative in Luxor and board your 5-star Egypt Nile cruise before lunch.
• Explore Karnak Temple, the largest place of worship ever built. In ancient Egypt, the power of the god Amun of Thebes gradually increased during the early New Kingdom. After the short persecution led by Akhenaten, it rose to its apex. In the reign of Ramesses III, more than two-thirds of the property owned by the temples belonged to Amun, as evidenced by the stupendous buildings at Karnak. Although badly ruined, no site in Egypt is more impressive than Karnak. It is the largest temple complex ever built by man and represents the combined achievement of many generations of ancient builders. The Temple of Karnak consists of three main temples, smaller enclosed temples, and several outer temples located about three kilometres north of Luxor on 100 ha (247 acres) of land. Karnak is the site's modern name. Its ancient name was Ipet-isut, meaning "The Most Select (or Sacred) of Places."
• Move to Luxor Temple. Amenhotep III built it in the 18th Dynasty in the New Kingdom, and Ramesses II completed it during the 19th Dynasty. King Ramses II was the most famous king of the 19th Dynasty.
• Enjoy some free time shopping in Luxor. From there, you will be driven to your hotel for check-in and have free time in Luxor.

Overnight in Luxor.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Enjoy breakfast on board and go for a hot air balloon ride (optional).
• Cross to the West Bank to visit the Valley of the Kings. It was created and used from approximately 1539 BC to 1075 BC. It contains some 60 tombs, starting with Thutmose I and ending with Ramses X or XI. The site's official name was The Great and Majestic Necropolis of the Millions of Years of the Pharaoh, Life, Strength, Health in The West of Thebes, or the Great Field. The most famous tomb is KV62, the Tomb of King Tutankhamun. Howard Carter discovered King Tut's tomb in 1922. Tutankhamun's tomb was the first royal tomb to be discovered still largely intact. Here, you will visit three tombs.
• Continue to explore the Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut at El Deir El Bahary. Queen Hatshepsut was the first great woman in recorded history, the forerunner of such figures as Cleopatra, Catherine the Great, and Elizabeth I. The Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut is the focal point of the Deir el-Bahri complex of mortuary temples and tombs located on the west bank of the Nile, opposite the city of Luxor. Hatshepsut was a female Pharaoh. Her temple was built on three levels in the form of balconies, devoted primarily to the worship of the god Amun and to performing funeral rites for the queen known as El Deir El Bahary.
• Proceed to the two colossal statues of Amenhotep III. The Colossi of Memnon are two massive stone statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III. For 3,400 years, they have stood in the Theban necropolis across the River Nile from the city of Luxor. The original function of the Colossi was to stand guard at the entrance to Amenhotep's memorial or mortuary temple. Excursion to the Temples of Thebes, lunch on board, and enjoy afternoon tea.

Leisure time.
(Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Overnight in Luxor.

• Sail to Edfu and have breakfast served on board. Then visit the majestic temple dedicated to Horus. Edfu Temple is the second largest temple after Karnak and was known in Greco-Roman times as Apollonopolis Magna. The temple was dedicated to the falcon god Horus and was built during the Ptolemaic period. Have lunch on board.
• Proceed to Kom Ombo and visit the temple shared by the two gods Sobek and Haroeris, standing on high ground overlooking the Nile. The Temple of Sobek and Haroeris in Kom Ombo, also known simply as Kom Ombo Temple, dates from about 180 BC during the Ptolemaic era, with additions made in Roman times. The temple at Kom Ombo was also built under Ptolemy VI. Since this bend in the Nile was a favoured spot for crocodiles to bask in the sun and threaten locals, it is natural that the temple would be dedicated to Sobek, the crocodile god. It is unusual in having a double dedication, as it also honours Haroeris, a form of the falcon-headed god Horus. The hypostyle halls were added under Ptolemy XIII (51-47 BC), and the Roman emperor Trajan (53-117 AD) added the forecourt and outer enclosure walls. Dinner will be served on board.

(Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Overnight in Kom Ombo.

• Have breakfast on board and sail to Aswan.
• Visit the world-famous High Dam, an engineering miracle constructed between 1960 and 1970. It aimed to increase economic production by further regulating the annual river flooding, providing water storage for agriculture, and later generating hydroelectricity. The dam had a significant impact on the economy and culture of Egypt.
• Move to the Unfinished Obelisk. This obelisk is believed to belong to Queen Hatshepsut, one of the rulers of the 18th Dynasty and the royal wife of King Tuthmosis II. The Unfinished Obelisk is the largest known ancient obelisk, located in the northern region of the stone quarries of ancient Egypt in Aswan. It is unknown which pharaoh created this structure. It is nearly one-third larger than any ancient Egyptian obelisk ever erected. If finished, it would have measured around 42 m and weighed nearly 1,200 tons.
• Head to the beautifully located Temple of Philae on Isis Island and the Granite Quarries, dedicated to the goddesses Isis and Hathor. Enjoy afternoon tea, dinner, and a Galabya party on board.

(Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Overnight in Aswan.

• Have breakfast on board before disembarkation. (Optional tour)
• Transfer to Aswan Airport and depart by plane to Sharm El-Sheikh. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel.

Overnight in Sharm El-Sheikh.
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Have breakfast at the hotel.
• Enjoy a free day in Sharm El-Sheikh. (Optional tour)

Overnight in Sharm El-Sheikh.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Have breakfast at the hotel.
• Enjoy a free day in Sharm El-Sheikh. (Optional tour)

Overnight in Sharm El-Sheikh.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. Our representative will transfer you to Sharm El-Sheikh Airport for your flight to Cairo.
• Arrive in Cairo, meet our representative for assistance, and transfer to your hotel in Cairo.
• Enjoy a free day in Cairo.

Overnight in Cairo.
Meal: Breakfast

• Have breakfast and travel to Alexandria. Visit Montazah Palace and Gardens, including Salamlek Palace, Haramlek Palace, and a garden of 317 acres filled with huge trees and flowers, along with two 5-star hotels, Helnan and Salamlek.
• Head to see Pompey's Pillar. It was constructed in honour of Emperor Diocletian at the end of the 4th century. Originally from the Temple of Serapis, it was once a magnificent structure rivalling the Soma and the Caesarean.
• See the Catacombs, the largest Roman cemetery consisting of three levels cut into the rock. Have lunch at a local restaurant in Alexandria.
• Drive along the Corniche to see the whole city, passing over the bridge of Stanley, a landmark of modern Alexandria, and then proceed to see the Qaitbay Citadel, which was built on the site of the ancient lighthouse of Alexandria.
• Proceed to the new Library of Alexandria, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, now the biggest library in the world with 8 million books, and also see the site of the lighthouse, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
• Drive back to your hotel in Cairo.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight in Cairo.

• Depart from Cairo at 6:00 am and transfer to Bahariya Oasis, about 350 km east of Cairo. This journey takes about 4 hours. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant in Bahariya Oasis.
• Visit the Valley of the Golden Mummies, a huge burial site at Bahariya Oasis in the Western Desert of Egypt, and the Tomb of Bannantiu in Bahariya Oasis.
• Enjoy climbing the Black Mountains and seeing the English House, the sand dunes, and the Salt Lake.

Overnight in Baharia.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Wake up and continue driving to the White Desert, where you will enjoy a panoramic view of the Black Desert. On the way to the White Desert, drive to see the quartz crystal at Crystal Mountain and the rocky formations in the Valley of Agabat before arriving at White Desert National Park.
• Drive back to Cairo.

Overnight in Cairo.
Meal: Breakfast

• Have breakfast and visit the Citadel of Salah El-Din, where you will see views over all of Cairo. You will also visit the Mohamed Ali Alabaster Mosque, considered the largest mosque to be built at the beginning of the 19th century by the ruler of Egypt (1805-1849), who ruled Egypt for over 45 years, and it was built in Turkish style. Before extending your trip, you will be served a warm, delightful lunch at a high-quality restaurant.
• Proceed to Old Cairo to visit fascinating built wonders such as the Hanging Church, which was built in the 3rd and early 4th century in the Basilica style, Abu Sirga Church, and Ben Ezra Synagogue, which dates back to the beginning of the 15th century AD. It was built in the Basilica style above the cave in which the Holy Family took refuge.
• End your tour in Cairo with a visit to Amr Ibn El-Aas Mosque, the very first mosque built in Egypt. Then drive to Khan El-Khalili Bazaar, if there is enough time, one of the most famous and oldest bazaars in the Middle East. You will then be transferred back to your hotel.

Overnight in Cairo.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

• Have breakfast, and the representative will transfer you to Cairo Airport.

(Meals: breakfast included)