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We’re offering a whistle-stop tour of Egypt, where you get to see all of the amazing sights in the shortest time, making the most of your Egypt vacation. This tour is designed specifically for people who want to make the most of their trip to Egypt in just a week. Experience the highlights of this beautiful country and take away memories that will have you wanting to return for other Egypt tours. You’ll learn about the ancient and modern history of the Land of the Pharaohs and explore the best of Upper and Lower Egypt on a Nile River cruise.
Start your 8 days in Egypt tour with a visit to the magnificent Egyptian Museum. Later, at the stunning Muhammad Ali Pasha Mosque, you’ll have a terrific photo opportunity with a view of the whole city of Cairo below you. Then, take a guided tour of al-Muizz Street in Historic Cairo to see how Egyptians live and to visit the Khan el-Khalili bazaar, the medieval-style market where you can shop for souvenirs while practicing your bartering skills.
The following day you will fly to Abu Simbel to see the Abu Simbel Temples, carved into the rock, and the Temple of Philae. Then it’s time to relax on your 5-star deluxe Nile river cruise for three wonderful nights. You will wake up sailing along the Nile and enjoy a leisurely breakfast while taking in the picturesque view. Over the next few days, you’ll stop at multiple temples on an archaeological tour with your knowledgeable and passionate guide. Prepare to be wowed by the spectacular sites that Luxor has to offer. See the pharaohs’ final resting place at the Valley of the Kings, the Colossi of Memnon, the beautiful Temple of Hatshepsut and the spectacular Karnak Temple Complex with its many huge columns, statues and calm sacred lake. There will be a party on board the Nile river cruise, and the delicious Egyptian food is an essential element of the tour.
You will then fly back to Cairo to continue your trip, visiting the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization. After breakfast the following day, you’ll visit the Giza Plateau privately, before it is open to other tourists. Enjoy the magnificent pyramids and the Great Sphinx rising from the sand amid the early morning peace and quiet. Finally, we journey to Saqqara, where the very first pyramid in Egypt, the Step Pyramid, was built in the vast desert. You’ll learn the secrets of ancient construction techniques and hear about the latest discoveries there.
Welcome to Egypt! Our representatives will be waiting for you on arrival at Cairo International Airport and will then take you to the 5-star Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at the First Residence. The hotel is located in the Giza district of Cairo and will be our home for the next two nights.
Check-in time is 2pm. You’ll have the afternoon to rest after your international journey.
Dinner in the hotel's restaurant.
Accommodation: Four Seasons Cairo Hotel at First Residence.
After breakfast the following morning, you’ll have an orientation meeting with your tour guide and the tour leader representing Inside Egypt. During our first day of sightseeing we will go to the Egyptian Museum, which houses the world’s largest collection of pharaonic antiquities.
After lunch at a local restaurant we will drive to the Citadel of Salah Din and the Muhammad Ali Pasha Mosque, also known as the Alabaster Mosque for its decorative tiles.
A guided tour of al-Muizz Street, the central artery of Historic Cairo, will follow, ending with a shopping trip at Khan el-Khalili bazaar. There you can barter for everything from fun trinkets to fine traditional crafts.
Dinner at the hotel.
Accommodation: Four Seasons Cairo Hotel at First Residence.
Early in the morning we will fly from Cairo to Abu Simbel. Abu Simbel is a village and archaeological site in the Egyptian part of Nubia, close to the border with Sudan. The Great Temple of Ramses II and the smaller Temple of Nefertari were carved directly into the mountainside. They were moved to higher ground when the Aswan High Dam was built in the 1960s.
An optional trip inside the mountain constructed to house the relocated temples is available.
We will then drive to Aswan where we will embark on a luxury 5-star Nile cruise.
After lunch we will take a motorboat ride to the Temple of Philae on an island in the river.
The Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
We will return to the ship for dinner and start sailing north. Enjoy the opportunity to relax while sailing down the River Nile as pharaohs and ancient merchants must have done.
Accommodation: 5-star Cruise Ship
In the morning, our ship will dock in front of Kom Ombo Temple. We’ll visit the Ptolemaic-era temple and the Crocodile Museum to see crocodile mummies that were dedicated to Sobek, the crocodile god celebrated at Kom Ombo.
After lunch on the ship as we sail farther north, we will visit the magnificent Edfu Temple, traveling to and from the temple by horse and carriage.
We’ll return to the ship for a traditional Egyptian dinner and “galabeya party,” where everyone wears the regional robe known as a galabeya. We’ll sail north toward Luxor overnight.
Accommodation: 5-star Cruise Ship
An optional hot-air balloon ride over Luxor and the Nile River’s West Bank is available early in the morning. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience!
After breakfast, we will start exploring the West Bank of Luxor. The famous Egyptian city of Thebes, modern-day Luxor, was described by Homer as “the city of a hundred gates” because so many of its temples had monumental entrances favored by contemporary Greek architecture. Thebes was the capital of ancient Egypt twice.
Our trip will start with a motorboat ride across the Nile to visit three royal tombs at Luxor's most important site – the Valley of the Kings. You have the option of seeing an additional tomb – the famous tomb of King Tutankhamun – for an additional small fee. Then we’ll see the stunning Temple of Hatshepsut, one of Egypt’s female pharaohs, followed by the Colossi of Memnon, two enormous statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III.
After lunch in a local restaurant, we’ll visit the famous Karnak Temple Complex, the largest temple in the world.
Another optional trip is available today – a visit to the magnificent Luxor Temple after dark, when a magical light show brings it to life.
Accommodation: 5-star Cruise Ship
After breakfast on the ship, we transfer to Luxor Airport for our flight back to Cairo.
In Cairo, we head to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization for a tour through history, from prehistoric Egypt to modern times.
Lunch at a local restaurant.
The afternoon is free for leisure and dinner will be at the hotel.
Accommodation: Marriott Mena House Hotel, Giza.
Early breakfast at the hotel.
In the morning, when the entire Giza Plateau remains closed to all other tourists, Inside Egypt’s guests will have exclusive access to this iconic site. Thanks to special permission from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, you will have private access to the Great Pyramid of Giza and the Great Sphinx.
Lunch at a local restaurant with an amazing view.
Then we will go to Saqqara to see Egypt’s first pyramid, the Step Pyramid, followed by the Pyramid of Unas and the Imhotep Museum.
Farewell dinner at the hotel to celebrate the memories we made this week.
Accommodation: Marriott Mena House Hotel, Giza
Today the tour comes to an end, but your love of Egypt will endure. After breakfast and checkout, you will be taken to Cairo International Airport for your flight home (or to your next destination), leaving Egypt with new experiences, tastes, souvenirs, and, we hope, a longing to return.
$2695 (USD) per person in a twin/double room (Our low deposit is just 500 USD!). If you would like to have a room to yourself, the single supplement will be $670 (USD).
Payment Schedule:
- $500 deposit to confirm the booking. Payable when booking.
- Remaining balance will be due three months before the tour.
Payments can be made via bank transfer or credit card. We accept Visa and MasterCard with 3-D Secure.
Price Includes:
Five Star Accommodation - 4 nights in Five Star hotels in Cairo; 3 nights onboard a Five Star Deluxe Nile Cruise Ship; Domestic flights during the tour (Cairo - Abu Simbel; Luxor - Cairo); 3 meals a day – breakfast, lunch and dinner; All sightseeing tours and entrances included in the itinerary; bottled water during the sightseeing; English speaking guide; English speaking tour leader; Transfers in air-conditioned buses; Airport meet and greet; Airport Arrival & Departure transfers; Government taxes; Private entrance to the Great Pyramid of Khufu; Special entrance to the Sphinx Enclosure; Health Insurance.
Not Included:
International flights to/from Cairo in Egypt (we can help you with booking); Visa cost (visa is only $25 and issued on arrival at Cairo airport).
The option to upgrade your room, whether in the hotels in Cairo or on the cruise ship, is available upon request. Information regarding upgrade availability and prices will be provided before you begin your trip. Please note the upgrade availabilities are limited.
The first day of the tour is dedicated to arrivals as our guests will be arriving throughout the day. All guests will be greeted by an Inside Egypt representative at the airport and transferred to the hotel. We recommend you try to book a flight that arrives in the morning or afternoon to allow you time to unpack and rest before dinner.
The final day of the tour (Day 14) will be dedicated to departures and the checkout time at the hotel is 12 noon. Transfers from the hotel to the airport are provided.
Guests are responsible for booking their international flights to and from Egypt. Please make sure to send us a copy of your flight itinerary so we can arrange your airport transfers. Feel free to contact us if you need assistance booking your international flights.
Our tour itinerary includes all of the major attractions and is sure to please you. Additional excursions are available for guests who would like to add on to our standard itinerary.
The additional excursions are scheduled around the main itinerary to avoid any conflicts should you choose to add them to your trip.
Below is a list of sites and excursions you can add to your trip.
Hot air balloon trip over Luxor and the Nile river - 155$
For unbeatable views of Luxor's famous temples, take a hot-air balloon trop over the River Nile's West Bank. Away from the crowds in the peaceful glow of dawn, your sunrise flight over Egypt's ancient monuments promises to be a highlight of your visit. The hot air balloon trip will give you the opportunity to take the most stunning photographs.
Entrance to the man-made mountain of Abu Simbel - 390$
With Inside Egypt you will have an opportunity to see this temple from a completely different perspective. View the temple from the inside of a man-made mountain erected to support the temple of Abu Simbel in its new location. You can go inside the mountain of Abu Simbel itself to see the dome and construction of the temple and learn more about the behind-the-scenes work of archaeologists on this unique complex. The site has been closed to tourists for almost 20 years.
A magical visit to the magnificent Luxor Temple in the evening after dark - 90$
The Luxor Temple is filled with blinding sunlight by day and the faces change at night. The sculptures and reliefs appear to come to life and tell their story with great expressions. At night, when the dark sky is dotted with stars, the atmospheric light falling on the walls of the temple brings out details that are invisible in the sunlight.
Payment for these additional excursions can be via credit card or cash during the tour. Credit card payments include a 2.0% processing fee charged by the bank system.
Please inform your tour leader upon arrival if you would like to take part in any of these optional excursions.
Fayoum: 1-day add-on for standard arrival day (Day 1)
The optional add-on tour to Fayoum Oasis is a full-day trip. We’ll leave after breakfast for the 1-hour journey in an air-conditioned coach.
First, you’ll see Wadi El Hitan (Whale Valley), a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site, named for its hundreds of whale fossils. Then you will go to the nearby Magic Lake, where you will enjoy lunch before continuing to Qarun Lake, the third-largest lake in Egypt.
After returning to Cairo, you will enjoy dinner at the hotel. The price for the add-on tour includes an extra night in a hotel in Giza.
Price: $350 per person for a double room or $395 for a single room.
Alexandria 1-day add-on for standard departure day (Day 8)
Alexandria was founded by (and named for) Alexander the Great in the fourth century B.C. Its strategic location on the Mediterranean Sea made it a successful commercial and political center, which it remains to this day. It was the capital of the Ptolemaic Dynasty, the last dynasty of Egypt and also one of its greatest. Although much of the 2,000-year-old city is covered by today’s modern infrastructure, there is still a lot of ancient Egypt to see there. Under the Ptolemies, the Library of Alexandria – the ancient world’s single greatest archive of knowledge – was created, along with Pharos Lighthouse, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. We’ll visit the modern library, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, located on a magnificent site in the Eastern Harbor; the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa; and the Alexandria Museum. We’ll have lunch at a seafood restaurant overlooking the Mediterranean.
We’ll return to Cairo and enjoy dinner at the hotel. The add-on’s price includes an extra night at the Marriott Mena House Hotel in Giza.
Price: $285 per person for a double room or $335 for a single room.
Jordan 5-day add-on, after GOLDEN HIGHLIGHTS OF EGYPT tour (Days 10-14)
We’ve organized an exceptional trip to Jordan, often called the jewel of the Middle East, with unique opportunities to visit ancient cities, admire the magnificent rock formations in the desert, and even swim in the Dead Sea. You’ll get to know the ancient city of Petra and the modern King Abdullah Mosque in Amman, the capital of Jordan. You will visit Wadi Rum, a protected desert reserve in the southern part of Jordan, often called the Valley of the Moon, known for its red-pink sands, stunning natural arches and imposing mountains, and prehistoric rock engravings. Wadi Rum Protected Area was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011. You will end your trip with a wonderful visit to the Dead Sea, where the water is so salty you will float in it.
Day 1: Departure from Cairo & Arrival in Amman
You’ll fly from Cairo to Amman, Jordan, where our representative will be waiting for you holding our company sign. You will then be transferred to your hotel.
Enjoy dinner and your overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 2: Amman City Tour
Breakfast at the hotel.
You will start the day with a city tour to explore the highlights of Amman. The Roman Theater dates back to the second century, when the city was known as Philadelphia (literally “the city of brotherly love” in Greek). The theater could seat 6,000 and was commissioned by Emperor Antonius Pius.
Next, you will visit the Citadel of Amman. The complex consists of a number of structures built during the Bronze and Iron Ages and the Roman, Byzantine and Umayyad eras. At the Temple of Hercules, you’ll see the enormous hand that is believed to have been part of a massive Roman statue of the famous hero himself. The two complete pillars there are 30 feet tall and it’s believed that the temple would have reached more than 40 feet in height. Then you’ll visit the Umayyad Palace, the best-preserved structure at Amman Citadel. The palace includes a huge cistern which was used to transport water to the palace.
Lunch at a local restaurant.
Drive to Petra, where we’ll enjoy dinner and stay overnight at the Petra Marriott Hotel.
Day 3: Wadi Rum Desert
After breakfast, you’ll start the day at Wadi Rum, also known as the Valley of the Moon for its otherworldly rock formations. This is where the films Lawrence of Arabia and The Martian, among others, were shot. It is the largest wadi (valley) in Jordan, set on a high plateau at the western edge of the Arabian Desert. Human occupation of Wadi Rum dates back 12,000 years, and on today’s SUV safari, you will learn about the ancient and modern Bedouin lifestyle and the animals that make this arid zone their home.
You’ll have free time to relax in the afternoon.
Return to the hotel for dinner.
Day 4: Petra Breakfast at the hotel.
Today, you’ll visit breathtaking Petra, made world-famous when it was featured in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Its rock-cut tombs and temples were carved into the cliffs more than 2,000 years ago. You will see the mysteries of the “Rose Red City,” the most famous and impressive of which is known as the Treasury, although in reality it was a tomb for a Nabataean king. Its facade reveals many Roman and ancient Greek influences, and it may have been used as a Christian church in Byzantine times.
Lunch at a local restaurant.
Next, we will drive to Shobak Castle, the most important Crusader castle in Jordan, followed by a visit to St. George’s Church in Madaba, which contains the oldest and largest floor-mosaic map of the Holy Land, dating to the sixth century. We will then travel to Mount Nebo, where the Bible says Moses was given his first look at the Promised Land. The panoramic view takes in the Dead Sea, and you might be able to see as far as Jericho and Jerusalem.
Next we’ll check in to our hotel at the Dead Sea. At more than 1,000 feet below sea level, the Dead Sea is the lowest land elevation in the world. It is also one of the saltiest lakes in the world, so much so that you can float in it.
Dinner and overnight at hotel at the Dead Sea.
Day 5: Departure
Transfer to Amman for your flight from Queen Alia International Airport.
Included:
Transfer from the hotel in Cairo to airport
1-way flight from Cairo to Amman
Pickup at Queen Alia International Airport and transport to hotel in Amman
Transportation in modern air-conditioned private vehicle with an English-speaking driver
Local English-speaking guide
Luxury 5-star hotel accommodation
Entrance fees to all sites on the itinerary
2-hour 4x4 tour in Wadi Rum
3 meals per day
Bottled water
Visa to Jordan (if we receive your full passport details a few days prior to arrival date)
Not included:
Drinks
Price: $1985 per person for a double room (deposit is $500 per person during booking; full payment is due 90 days before the tour). Single supplement costs $495.
To download our digital brochure for the Jordan Extencion CLICK HERE.
Travel with confidence – your health is our priority!
Our guests’ safety is our highest priority. Here at Inside Egypt we have adopted the Safe Travels protocols produced by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and endorsed by Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities to ensure a high level of hygiene and safety on our tours.
All guests traveling to Egypt must be in possession of a negative PCR test certificate for COVID-19 issued in the country of departure, up to 72 hours (3 days) before flight departure time. Passengers traveling from Japan, China, Thailand, North America, South America, Canada, London Heathrow, Paris and Frankfurt will be allowed to provide certificates from tests performed up to 96 hours (4 days) prior to flight time. (Please note these details are subject to change.)
How we avoid the spread of infection during our tours:
Our group sizes are kept small and are limited to just 25 guests.
We use a full-size coach (50 seats) while traveling to allow appropriate social distancing between travelers.
Face masks and hand sanitizer are available daily from our team.
All members of our team have completed the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) for COVID-19 Virus course, certified by the World Health Organization, to minimize the risk of infection with the virus and ensure the safety of our customers.
All staff who will work during a tour will receive PCR tests both before and during the trip to make sure they are healthy throughout. This applies to tour guides, tour leaders, drivers and tour managers.
Local restaurants, hotels, buses and minibuses are regularly sterilized to keep everything clean and safe for all guests.
Guests and staff will have their temperature taken daily by the Nile cruise team and at all hotels when entering the premises.
When arriving at Cairo International Airport, checking in to hotels and when embarking on the Nile cruise ship, your luggage will be sanitized.
We will do everything possible to ensure that you have a great vacation and feel safe at all times!
