Compare Egypt Private Expedition by National Geographic Expeditions vs Trip to Egypt: Pyramids & Nile by Air by Memphis Tours

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: Arrival in Cairo

Overnight in Cairo.

Welcome drink included.

Welcome to the mystical lands of Egypt, where the Pharaohs ruled for thousands of years. Upon your arrival at Cairo International Airport, your tour manager will meet and assist you and ease the process by providing an entry visa. You will then be escorted through the bustling streets of Cairo in an exclusive air-conditioned vehicle. Once you reach your chosen hotel according to your accommodation plan whether it will be overlooking the Great Pyramids of Giza like Hilton Pyramids Golf Hotel or over looking the Nile, like the luxurious Sheraton Cairo Hotel & Casino, your tour manager will assist you with your check-in and double-check your itinerary with you to establish and confirm all the pick-up times for all your activities during your trip.

Day 2: Pyramids and Cairo Sightseeing

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Overnight in Cairo

Visits: Great Pyramids of Giza, Sphinx, Valley Temple, Egyptian Museum, Khan El Khalili.

After enjoying a delicious wholesome breakfast at your hotel, your personal guide will take you to the Giza Plateau to start your journey by marveling at one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Great Pyramids of Giza. Walk or take a camel over to the iconic Sphinx and Valley Temple. After your pyramids visit, you’ll go for lunch at an authentic Egyptian restaurant and then head over to the Egyptian Museum, in the heart of historic Downtown Cairo, overlooking the renowned Tahrir Square. After relishing over the magnificent ancient Egyptian artifacts and treasures, you will be driven through Old Cairo to arrive at the historic Islamic Cairo area where you will explore the vibrant, meandering, treasure-filled alleys of Khan El Khalili, Cairo’s oldest bazaar, if there is time.

Day 3: Fly to Luxor - East Bank Sightseeing

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Overnight aboard your cruise in Luxor

Visits: Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple

Today, you will be leaving Cairo and head out to the shining city of Luxor. You will meet your tour manager early in the morning at your hotel where he will accompany you to Cairo International Airport for your trip to Luxor. Upon landing in Luxor, you will be assisted and whisked away in an exclusive air-conditioned vehicle to board your luxurious Nile cruise, Salacia, that will offer you a unique experience cruising on the Nile with high-quality service, gastronomy, and accommodation during your stay. Enjoy a delicious lunch on board before heading out to your first stop in Upper Egypt which is visiting Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple at the East Bank. Return back to your cruise and enjoy a warm and hand-crafted dinner.

Day 4: West Bank Sightseeing

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Overnight aboard your cruise in Edfu.

Visits: Royal Cemetery, the Valley of the Kings, Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, Colossi of Memnon.

Enjoy your first breakfast on board your cruise surrounded by the calm waters of the Nile. After breakfast, head out to explore the West Bank of Luxor. Visit the Royal Cemetery for 62 Pharaohs, the Valley of the Kings, then head to the Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, which was built by the architects of the New Kingdom during the 15th century BCE at Deir El-Bahari. Finish the day as you marvel at the towering Colossi of Memnon. After finishing your visits at the West Bank, return back to your cruise and start sailing to Edfu while enjoying a delicious lunch on board. Relax the rest of the day as you sail; take advantage of the amazing facilities of your cruise; enjoy some afternoon tea, get a massage, de-stress in the Jacuzzi. End the day with an appetizing dinner on board.

Day 5: Edfu and Kom Ombo

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Overnight aboard your cruise in Aswan.

Visits: Temple of Edfu, Kom Ombo, Temple of Kom Ombo.

Enjoy a mouth-watering breakfast on board your cruise as you sail to Edfu. Upon arrival, head out and visit Edfu Temple, one of the best-preserved temples of the Greco Roman era, that of Horus at Edfu. Enjoy a magnificent experience as you take a horse-drawn carriage ride back and forth to the temple and marvel at Upper Egypt’s local life. Pass through the slow-paced, rural life of the local farmers and fishermen. Immerse yourself in the breathtaking lush, fertile landscapes dotted with banana and date palm trees. After your visit, head back to your cruise and start sailing to your second stop of the day, Kom Ombo.

Touch down on the shores of Kom Ombo and walk through the town of Kom Ombo among the locals of the town until you arrive at the unusual Kom Ombo temple with its two identical entrances, hypostyle halls, and sanctuaries. After your visit, head back to your cruise where you will enjoy an appetizing lunch while sailing to Aswan. As the day comes to an end, enjoy a warm, delicious dinner surrounded by the calm, serene water of the Nile River.

Day 6: Aswan Sightseeing

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Overnight aboard your cruise in Aswan.

Visits: High Dam, Unfinished Obelisk, Temple of Philae.

Enjoy yet another delicious breakfast on board as you sail to the colorful city of Aswan. Upon arrival, head out and enjoy a day of sightseeing in this beautiful city, meeting the kindest kind of locals. Start with visit the famous High Dam and then head to the massive Unfinished Obelisk, still resting on its side in the stone quarries of ancient Egypt. After, you will go on to the beautiful Temple of Philae, devoted to the two goddesses Isis and Hathor. After your visits, you will head back to your cruise and enjoy an appetizing dinner in the middle of the Nile surrounded by its beautiful waters.

Day 7: Fly to Cairo - Optional Tour to Abu Simbel

Overnight in Cairo.

Meals: Breakfast

Enjoy your last morning on your cruise with one last scrumptious breakfast on board surrounded by the calm waters of the Nile. After breakfast, disembark your cruise and get transferred to Aswan Airport to catch your flight back to Cairo where you will be met upon arrival and get transferred to your hotel for your last night in the Land of Pharaohs.

* Optional Group tour by Coach to Abu Simbel Temples for an extra $89 USD

Day 8: Cairo - Fly Back Home

Meals: Breakfast

Enjoy a deliciously prepared breakfast at your hotel and then head out and roam the streets of the beautiful capital, Cairo. Spend some free time at your leisure; buy some souvenirs for your friend back home, chat up with some locals, or have some Egyptian tea at a local café. As your flight nears, you will be transferred through the buzzing streets of Cairo to Cairo International Airport for your final departure back to your homeland.