Compare Egypt Private Expedition by National Geographic Expeditions vs Egypt: See & Experience the Ancient Sites in 9 Days, 1st Class Custom Tours by Charlie The Traveler
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| Trip |
3.5 | Average
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 11 days | 9 days |
| Price From | $ 5,495 | $ 2,811 |
| Price Per Day | $ 500 | $ 312 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Private guided tour | Private guided tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Luxury |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Ground transport included |
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| Meals Included | N/A |
4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, and 3 dinners are included on this tour. We do our best to ensure you are being offered healthy and tasty local cuisine. Disregard the archeological sites, landscapes, activities, and adventures. The very diverse cuisine alone is enough reason to visit Egypt and join our group tour. Egyptian cuisine shares similarities with food of the Eastern Mediterranean region: rice-stuffed vegetables, grape leaves, shawarma (mixed meats on a spit), kebab (pieces of meat, fish, or vegetables roasted or grilled on a skewer or spit), falafel (deep-fried ball or patty made from ground chickpeas, fava beans or both), baba ghanoush (cooked eggplant mixed with onions, tomatoes, olive oil, and various seasonings), koshari (a mixture of lentils, rice, pasta, and other ingredients), molokhia (chopped and cooked bush okra with garlic and coriander sauce) and baklava (a sweet pastry made of layers of filo filled with chopped nuts, sweetened and held together with syrup or honey). |
| Description |
Venture to the land of the pharaohs and discover some of the greatest treasures of the ancient world with a private guide, from the Pyramids at Gîza to King Tutankhamun’s legendary tomb. Trace the dramatic feats of Egyptian rulers—and the powerful deities they worshipped—as you wander the soaring temple of Karnak, or gaze upon the colossal statues of Ramses II at Abu Simbel. Couple your archaeological odyssey with a cruise down the Nile, the age-old lifeline of this fabled desert realm. |
You absolutely will not find another tour out there as packed with activities and attractions as this one, provided by CharlieTheTraveler. You will also not find another tour out there that offers it all ""FIRST CLASS,"" yet for a relatively low price. We have thousands of travelers taking this specific tour every year-and that's because no competitor can beat us on quality, price & substance. Below are just some examples of what you will see and do on this tour. |
Day 1: Cairo, Egypt
Meals: Dinner
Accommodations: Nile Ritz Carlton
Arrive at Cairo International Airport (CAI) and settle into your elegant hotel, located on the bank of the Nile River.
Day 2: Dahshûr/Memphis and Saqqâra/Cairo
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodations: Nile Ritz Carlton
Veer off the beaten path to the 5,000-year old ruins of Memphis with your Egyptologist guide, who will accompany you throughout your trip. Then stroll through the cemetery of Saqqâra, where you’ll come across Djoser’s step pyramid—one of the oldest known stone-cut buildings in history. Continue to the Dahshûr necropolis, which harbors some of Egypt’s oldest and most well-preserved pyramids. Dahshûr’s Bent Pyramid is said to be a first attempt at the flat-sided pyramid—at the time a formidable architectural feat—while the nearby Red Pyramid represents the world’s first truly flat-sided structure.
Day 3: Gîza/Cairo
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodations: Nile Ritz Carlton
Discover the fabled Pyramids at Gîza, constructed some 4,500 years ago and guarded by the mysterious Sphinx, these perfectly symmetrical structures were designed as gateways to the afterlife for Egypt’s ruling elite. The Great Pyramid of Khufu—the largest of the three structures—stands at a staggering 481 feet and is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Take in these iconic sights, and see the Solar Boat Museum, which houses a restored cedarwood vessel built to transport Pharaoh Khufu to the afterlife. Enjoy lunch overlooking the pyramids, then explore the Egyptian Museum, home to the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts in the world. Gaze upon the immaculate gold mask of Tutankhamun, the boy-king who died at the age of 19, and admire the many treasures recovered from his tomb. Then visit the eerie Royal Mummies Hall to see the remains of illustrious Egyptian rulers, including Ramses II and the female pharaoh Hatshepsut.
Day 4: Cairo
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodations: Nile Ritz Carlton
This morning, venture to the 12th-century Citadel of Saladin, a hilltop fortress commissioned by sultan Saladin, and step inside the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, a multi-domed sanctuary built in the Ottoman style. Delve into the winding streets of Coptic Cairo, where Christianity flourished until the Islamic era. Visit the Coptic Museum; the nearby Hanging Church—one of the city’s oldest and most iconic Coptic churches; and the Ben Ezra Synagogue. This evening, immerse yourself in the labyrinthine alleys of Khan el-Khalili, an enchanting souk tucked away in the heart of the old city.
Day 5: Luxor
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodations: Steigenberger Resort Achti
Catch a flight to Luxor, known in antiquity as Thebes. This extraordinary city served as Egypt’s capital during part of the Middle Kingdom and at the height of the New Kingdom, and was dedicated to the god Amun, one of the most revered deities of the Egyptian pantheon. Explore the Karnak temple complex, a sprawling array of shrines, obelisks, and gateways where Amun and other deities were worshipped; then visit the Luxor Museum, located on the banks of the Nile. After lunch, take the afternoon to wander Luxor on your own. This evening, visit the striking Luxor Temple. With its colonnade of soaring columns and larger-than-life statues, this complex is particularly beautiful after dark, when evocative lighting creates a mystical, dream-like atmosphere.
Day 6: Luxor/Nile River
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodations: M.S. Farah or M.S. Minerva
Today, venture to the famed Valley of the Kings, where the pharaohs of Egypt’s New Kingdom chose to build elaborate underground tombs instead of the pyramids typical of the Old Kingdom. Descend into the tomb of Tutankhamun—discovered in 1922 by British archaeologist Howard Carter—and see the remains of the boy-king. Admire the vivid wall paintings and hieroglyphics of the neighboring tomb of Seti I; then make your way to the beautiful Temple of Hatshepsut, one of Egypt’s first female pharaohs. Round off your time in Luxor with a visit to the Colossi of Memnon—two 60-foot-tall stone statues of the pharaoh Amenhotep III, which have guarded the king’s necropolis since 1350 B.C. Then board your vessel to begin your cruise down the river this evening.
Day 7: West Bank Of Luxor/Isnâ Lock
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodations: M.S. Farah or M.S. Minerva
Sail to the West Bank of Luxor this morning and step ashore to explore the Ramesseum—Ramses II’s mortuary temple. This temple—and the scattered granite remains of the king’s giant likeness found here—inspired the poem “Ozymandias” by the English Romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. Discover the Valley of the Queens and visit the breathtaking tomb of Queen Nefertari, Ramses II’s favorite wife; and wander through the funerary complex of Ramses III, set against the backdrop of the Theban mountains. Return to your boat for lunch, and enjoy a cooking class on board. Navigate through Isnâ Lock on your way to the city of Idfu.
Day 8: Idfu/Aswân
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodations: M.S. Farah or M.S. Minerva
Cruise amid lush sugarcane fields, sleepy rural villages, and oases of date palms as your boat glides up the Nile to the Temple of Kawm Umbū. Dating to Egypt’s Graeco-Roman period, this unusual structure harbors two sanctuaries—one dedicated to falcon-headed Horus, god of the sky; and the other to Sobek, the crocodile-headed god of the Nile. Crocodiles were once kept captive at Sobek’s temple, and many mummified specimens can be seen at the Kawm Umbū Crocodile Museum. Later, enjoy an epic Nile sunset from the deck of your boat as you continue south towards Aswân.
Day 9: Aswân
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodations: M.S. Farah or M.S. Minerva
Discover the Temple of Isis, an elegant Ptolemaic monument honoring the goddess Isis that was originally perched on the island of Philae. The site was threatened with flooding during the construction of the Aswân dams in the 1960s, which prompted UNESCO to relocate the temple complex to its present location on the island of Agilkia. This evening, board a felucca—a traditional wooden sailboat of the Nile—and enjoy sundowners as we cruise down the river. Round off the day with a visit to a lively souk in Aswân town.
Day 10: Abu Simbel/Cairo
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodations: Intercontinental Citystars Cairo
Disembark our riverboat and fly to Abu Simbel in southern Egypt this morning, where you’ll be joined by your local guide. Head out for a tour of this awe-inspiring ancient site, among Ramses II’s most impressive building achievements. Four nearly 70-foot-tall statues of the pharaoh grace the entrance to the main temple, carved out of a dramatic sandstone cliff. Like the temple at Philae, the Abu Simbel temples were also dismantled and rebuilt at a higher elevation to make way for the Aswân High Dam—a feat of engineering to rival Abu Simbel’s original construction. After lunch, catch a flight to Cairo via Aswân and relax at your hotel.
Day 11: Cairo
Meals: Breakfast
After breakfast, transfer to the Cairo International Airport (CAI) and catch your flight home.
Day 1: The Unfinished Obelisk, the Temple of Philae & the High Dam
Our tour starts not in Cairo but rather Aswan. We spend the day sightseeing and sleep in our cabin on the cruise ship. Dinner is included after today's tour.
Aswan is the smallest and most relaxed of the major tourist destinations along the Nile River. There we visit two attractions, the High Dam and the Temple of Philae. Construction of the High Dam became a key objective of the government following the Egyptian Revolution of 1952. The ability to control floods, provide water for irrigation and generate hydroelectricity were seen as pivotal to Egypt’s industrialization. The Temple of Philae was the last ancient temple built in the classical Egyptian architectural style (approximately 690 BC). A major multinational UNESCO team relocated the Temple of Philae after the flooding of Lake Nasser.
Please note that this tour (Day 1) begins only on Wednesdays and Fridays.
Also, note that breakfast, lunch and dinner are included on the cruise ship, as are a swimming pool, different fun activities and live entertainment.
Day 2: Starting the Nile Tour with a 5 Star Deluxe Cruise Ship & Visiting Ancient Temples
Before the cruise ship leaves Aswan, we go on a daytrip to the temples of Abu Simbel. There we are provided with a guided tour. The twin temples were originally carved out of the mountainside in the 13th century BC, during the 19th dynasty reign of the Pharaoh Ramesses II. They serve as a lasting monument to the king and his queen Nefertari and commemorate his victory at the Battle of Kadesh. Their huge external rock relief figures have become iconic. After the tour is breakfast, which is provided to us near Abu Simbel. We then return to the ship. It starts sailing along the Nile River after lunch.
In the evening, we disembark the cruise ship. Walking distance from where it docks is an ancient temple called Kom Ombo. There we are provided with a guided tour. Kom Ombo is an unusual double temple constructed between 180-47 BC. It is atypical because everything is perfectly symmetrical along the main axis. Please note that breakfast, lunch and dinner are included on the cruise ship, as are a swimming pool, different fun activities and live entertainment.
Day 3: A Horse Carriage Ride, a Belly Dancing Show, Temples & Luxor Museum
Today starts with a horse carriage ride to an ancient temple called Edfu. There we are provided with a guided tour. This is one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt, built between 237 and 57 BC. We should be back on the cruise ship around 8:00am and continue sailing along the Nile river shortly thereafter. We again disembark the cruise ship around 4:45pm, in the city that is Luxor. The highlights on this evening’s tour are the Luxor Museum and the Luxor Temple. The day ends with dinner and a belly dancing show.
Day 4: A Hot Air Balloon Ride & Sightseeing in the City of Luxor
Our cruise ends this morning and our luggage is taken to the hotel. Just in time for sunrise, we enjoy a balloon ride over the archeological site of Luxor. Afterwards, we are taken to the west bank. There we have breakfast, which is included on today’s tour. Next, we are taken to the Colossi of Memnon. There we see two massive stone statues. Afterwards, we head to the Valley of the Kings. There we see ancient tombs of Egyptian kings (a.k.a. pharaohs), including that of the much-revered Tutankhamun. Next, we are taken to Deir el-Bahri. There we see a complex of mortuary temples and tombs. Afterwards, we are taken to Deir el-Medina. There we see an ancient village. Next, we are taken to the Tombs of the Nobles. There we see the burial places of some of the powerful courtiers of the ancient city. Following this attraction is lunch. Afterwards, we are taken to the Valley of the Queens. There we see ancient tombs of Egyptian queens, including that of the much-revered Nefertari. Next, we are taken to Medinet Habu. There we see a mortuary temple. The final attraction today is Ramesseum. There we see another memorial temple.
Day 5: The Sacred Settlement of Abydos & the Dendera Temple Complex
Today we make a daytrip to the ancient sites of Abydos as well as the Dendera Temple Complex. We are provided with a guided tour at each destination. Both breakfast and lunch are included on today’s tour. Considered to be one of the most important archaeological sites in Egypt, the sacred city of Abydos includes a royal necropolis where early pharaohs were entombed. Dendera was a site for chapels from the beginning of ancient Egyptian history. The whole complex, surrounded by a hefty mud brick enclosed wall, covers 40,000 square meters.
Day 6: Mummification Museum, the Extravagant Winter Palace & the Old Market
Today we explore the East Bank of Luxor. The first stop is the Mummification Museum. There we are provided with a guided tour. This unique museum is intended to provide visitors with an understanding of the ancient art of mummification. The Ancient Egyptians applied embalming techniques to many species, not only to dead humans. Mummies of cats, fish and crocodiles are on display in this museum, where one can also get an idea as to the tools which were used during those times. Next, we are taken to the Karnak Temple. There we are provided with a guided tour. Karnak comprises a vast mix of decayed temples, chapels, pylons and other ancient buildings. Following the Karnak Temple is lunch. Afterwards, we are taken to the Winter Palace Hotel. At this historic, British colonial-era 5-star luxury resort, we are provided with a guided tour. The day ends with checking out the shops in the Old Market.
Day 7: Exploring the Capital that is Cairo
We take an early-morning and quick flight from Luxor to Cairo and immediately start sightseeing. Places to visit today are the Mosque of Ibn Tulun, Cairo Citadel, Hanging Church, Cairo Cave Church (a.k.a. Saints Sergius and Bacchus Church), Ben Ezra Synagogue, Egyptian Museum and Khan el-Khalili bazaar. We should be at the hotel in Giza around 8:00pm, which is about a 40-minute drive away from Cairo.
Day 8: Camel-Riding, World Famous Pyramids & a Sound & Light Show
Destinations for today are the ancient sites of Dahshur, then Memphis, then Saqqara and finally the Giza Pyramids. Camel-riding is included at the Giza Pyramids, as is the sound and light show later this evening.
Day 9: Our Tour Ends This Morning
Transportation will be arranged for you to reach the international airport in Cairo.
