From the majestic Pyramids to the enchanting city of Aswan and along the Nile, this itinerary offers a slightly faster pace to ensure you experience all of Egypt’s iconic sites. This tour serves as a perfect complement to your travels in the Middle East, Asia, or Europe, with Cairo conveniently located just a short flight from major airports in the region.

Egypt's rich history and diverse landscapes offer an abundance of exploration opportunities, making it a destination you will want to revisit. This comprehensive tour encompasses all the major historical landmarks, enticing you to return sooner rather than later.

During your journey, immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere of Cairo's Khan el Khalili Bazaar, the city's oldest market, dating back to the 14th century. Here, you can wander through narrow streets filled with unique treasures and local culture, enhancing your experience of this remarkable country.

• Pyramids of Giza

• Egyptian Museum, including the famous funerary mask of King Tut

• Temples of Edfu, Komombo, Karnak & Luxor

• Visit Luxor Temple by Night

• Tombs in the Valley of the Kings

• Optional Day Tour to Abu Simbel

• Sailing in a felucca as the sun sets on the Nile

• Perfect balance of history, fun, sun and relaxation

Welcome to Egypt and the beginning of your once in a lifetime experience.

Our Pink Lotus Egypt Tours representative will meet and assist you through Cairo International Airport, then transfer to your hotel and assist with check-in procedures.

Meals are at your leisure today

Overnight: 4 Star hotel Cairo or Giza area

Giza: Pyramids Park

Cairo: Hilton Zamalek Residences

*or similar and subject to availability

After breakfast, check out of your room and you will meet your Egyptologist/Tour Guide at the hotel to start the journey at the very beginning, the Step Pyramid at Saqqara, the first free standing building of stone in the whole world dating back to 2700 BC.

Lunch will be served at a local restaurant before we explore the Giza Plateau, your chance to personally stand where the Ancient Egyptians stood thousands of years ago, next to the Great Pyramid of Cheops, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and the only one that still exists.  

Optional visit to the Kings Chamber of the Great Pyramid (extra ticket)

We continue our adventure with a camel ride through the Sahara for those who are interested (optional extra cost).

We finish our visit to the plateau with the Guardian Angel of the area, the monolithic and iconic Sphinx.

The day is not over yet, we will now experience how the ancients recorded their history on the first paper ever produced, Papyrus, at a government regulated Papyrus Institute.

Later this evening we drive to Giza train station to board our overnight sleeper train to Aswan.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

After breakfast, we arrive to Aswan, Egypt’s sunniest city. Our visit today is to the beautiful Philae Temple, dedicated to Goddess Isis. It was one of the most important pilgrimage centres in Egypt and the last Egyptian temple to remain in use.

Check into our next hotel located on the River Nile.
Tonight we will enjoy a journey to the Nubian Village; mingle with the Nubians in this charming local area, a fun way to relax and soak up some of the region’s fascinating past.

Meals: Breakfast 

Overnight: 4 Star Aswan Hotel

Obelisk Nile Tower or Basma Hotel

*or similar subject to availability

OPTIONAL DAY TOUR 

*If Abu Simbel is not booked then today is free to self-explore.

An early start, but well worth it! We will take a 3 1/2-hour drive through the desert towards the border of Sudan to reach the spectacular and iconic Abu Simbel, Temple of Ramses II and also the Temple of his beloved wife Nefertari. 

This temple complex was relocated in the 60’s in a huge engineering achievement due to the construction of the High Dam.

This evening we explore the colourful local markets in Aswan, a chance to work on your bargaining skills, try some local food and smoke shisha.

Meals: Breakfast

Overnight: 4 Star Aswan Hotel

Obelisk Nile Tower or Basma Hotel

*or similar subject to availability

After breakfast we will checkout of the hotel and enjoy the day sailing in style down the Nile on a traditional felucca (a flat bottom vessel that has been associated with the Nile since ancient times).

Overnight on board the felucca
 
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

After breakfast, we disembark the mighty felucca and drive to Komombo, the dual temple of Horus & Sobek.

Then we drive to Edfu, the most intact temple in Egypt, dedicated to Horus.
We continue our drive to Luxor and check into our hotel again on the edge of the Nile for 2 nights.
 
Meals: Breakfast 

After breakfast we visit Karnak Temples at the East bank of the River Nile, the temple complex is huge, covering an area of 1 ½ x 3 km, dedicated to God Amun and was also the centre of his worship with his wife Mut and their son Khons.

Visit a local jewelry store where you can have your very own cartouche made before we leave Luxor.

This evening our special visit is to Luxor Temple. This temple is beautiful by day but even more spectacular by night.
  
Meals: Breakfast 

Optional Hot Air Balloon, a bird’s eye view over the two banks of the River Nile in historical Thebes (Luxor).

After breakfast we drive to the West Bank to visit The Valley of the Kings, climb down into the spectacularly decorated tombs of the Pharaohs.
Visit the Tomb of King Tut, the only mummy still to remain in the Valley of the Kings (optional extra ticket)

After that, we visit the Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, the first female ruler of ancient Egypt with the full authority of a pharaoh. 

Then we visit Habu Temple of Ramses III where he commemorate his victory over sea people.

Lunch will be served in a local restaurant.

Today we will visit a local alabaster factory and see how the hand-made pieces are created.

Later this evening we drive to Luxor train station to board our train back to Cairo.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Grand Egyptian Museum • Perfume & Essence Experience • Coptic Cairo • Islamic Cairo • Khan El Khalili

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before meeting your Egyptologist guide for a fascinating full day exploring the treasures of ancient Egypt and the rich religious and cultural heritage of historic Cairo.

Grand Egyptian Museum

Begin your day at the magnificent Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), located close to the Giza Pyramids and home to an extraordinary collection of treasures from ancient Egypt.

The museum is overflowing with ancient artefacts and would take many visits to explore in its entirety, so today your Egyptologist will highlight the best of the best, guiding you through some of the museum’s most important and fascinating exhibits.

Enter through the impressive atrium, dominated by the colossal statue of Ramesses II, before exploring the monumental galleries and displays that trace thousands of years of ancient Egyptian history.

A major highlight is the extraordinary collection associated with King Tutankhamun, bringing together treasures and personal objects from the young pharaoh’s tomb. Throughout your visit, your guide will help bring the collection to life with stories of Egypt’s pharaohs, gods, royal families, artisans and ancient beliefs.

Egyptian Perfumes & Essential Oils

This afternoon, visit a local perfume and essence house to learn about Egypt’s long tradition of aromatic oils and fragrances, a history stretching back to the time of the pharaohs.

Fragrant oils, resins and plants played an important role in ancient Egyptian life and were used for cosmetics, religious ceremonies and personal adornment.

Learn about traditional perfume essences and the concentrated base oils used to create familiar fragrances. There will also be an opportunity to browse the collection and, should you wish, purchase perfume oils, essences or the base oil of a favourite fragrance.

Purchases are entirely optional.

Coptic Cairo

Continue to Coptic Cairo, one of the oldest and most historically significant areas of the city and an important centre of Egypt’s Christian heritage.

Visit the beautiful Church of the Virgin Mary, better known as the Hanging Church. Dating from the early centuries of Christianity in Egypt, the church takes its name from its position above the gatehouse of the ancient Roman Fortress of Babylon.

Continue to the Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus, traditionally associated with the journey of the Holy Family through Egypt. According to Christian tradition, Mary, Joseph and the infant Jesus took refuge in this area during their flight into Egypt. Beneath the church is a crypt traditionally believed to have sheltered the Holy Family during their stay.

Citadel of Saladin & Mosque of Muhammad Ali

Travel onwards to Islamic Cairo and the commanding Citadel of Saladin, constructed in the 12th century as part of Cairo’s medieval defences.

Standing high above the city, the Citadel served for centuries as the seat of Egypt’s rulers and offers impressive views across Cairo.

Within the complex, visit the magnificent Mosque of Muhammad Ali, often called the Alabaster Mosque because of the extensive use of alabaster on its interior and lower walls.

With its enormous central dome, elegant minarets and richly decorated interior, the mosque is one of Cairo’s most recognisable landmarks and an impressive example of Ottoman-influenced architecture.

Khan El Khalili

The day isn’t over yet!

Finish your sightseeing with time to explore the colourful lanes of Khan El Khalili, Cairo’s famous old bazaar and one of the city’s most atmospheric districts.

Wander through narrow streets lined with shops and stalls selling traditional lanterns, jewellery, spices, perfumes, textiles, leather goods, handicrafts and souvenirs. Enjoy the sights, sounds and aromas of historic Cairo and perhaps stop for Egyptian tea or coffee at one of the area's traditional cafés.

After a wonderful day exploring the many layers of Cairo’s history, return to your hotel.

Overnight: Cairo

Meals: Breakfast

Meals: Breakfast

Enjoy one last breakfast then sadly, it is time to return home.

If you have a later flight you can enjoy the pool or maybe indulge in massage or spa treatment before you leave for home or your onward journey.

A representative of Pink Lotus Egypt Tours will transfer you to Cairo International Airport and assist with all check-in procedures.
 
Meals: Breakfast