8 Day Egypt Holiday Tour – Cairo and Nile Cruise [By Train]

Day 1: Egypt Tour Begins – Arrive in Cairo, the Bustling Capital of Egypt

When you book a tour in Egypt through us you are never alone, so when you arrive in Cairo for your Egypt Holiday Tour, one of our representatives will meet you at Cairo International Airport. You will then be driven to the hotel where you’ll be spending your first night in Cairo, the fascinating Egyptian capital.

Once at your Cairo hotel, you’ll be assisted with check-in and your tour manager will discuss your trip itinerary with you. You’ll be offered a free “Welcome” drink, and then you will have the rest of the day to yourself. Relax at your hotel, or head out and get your first taste of the Cairo.

Day 2: First Egypt Tours – Giza Pyramids & Egyptian Museum

After breakfast at your hotel, enjoy a fascinating private guided tour that begins with a trip to the Egyptian Museum, home to thousands of ancient Egyptian relics. After the Egyptian Museum, you will be driven to Giza to see the legendary Pyramids of Giza; the great Sphinx and the Valley Temple. Marvel at one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the Great Pyramid of Giza. While at Giza you will also have the opportunity to enjoy a camel ride before you head off for a tasty lunch in a local restaurant.

Once the sun dips below the horizon, transfer to the Giza railway station for your trip on an overnight sleeper train to Aswan. Dinner will be served shortly after your train departs from Cairo and you will spend this night of your trip in your private berth on the train.

Day 3: Arrive in Aswan and Board your Egypt Nile Cruise

Begin the 3rd day of your Egypt Holiday Tour with some breakfast on the train shortly before you arrive in Aswan. One of our tour managers will be at Aswan station when you arrive, and you’ll be taken to the appropriate port in Aswan to check-in on board your Nile cruise ship for your trip to Luxor. Enjoy your first lunch on the River Nile shortly after boarding and then you’ll be taken for a tour in Aswan to visit the world famous Aswan High Dam and the ancient Egyptian Temple of Philae which was devoted to the two goddesses: Isis and Hathor.

End your Aswan sightseeing at the largest known ancient obelisk located in the northern region of the stone quarries of ancient Egypt: the Unfinished Obelisk. Enjoy a fabulous dinner on board the ship, and enjoy a peaceful night’s sleep on the Nile at Aswan.

NOTE: All shore excursions during your Nile cruise will be small group tours.

Day 4: Let the Sailing Begin – Experience the Spirit of Egypt on the Nile

Wake up and enjoy breakfast on the Nile while you sail to Kom Ombo to visit the amazing Kom Ombo Temple. This is one of the most unique ancient Egyptian temple complexes ever discovered Egypt. After visiting the temple, you will head back to the cruise ship and it will then set sail for Edfu. Enjoy lunch on board and then visit the best-preserved Egyptian cult temple in all of Egypt: the Temple of Horus in Edfu. Sip on afternoon tea as you sail to Esna and enjoy a fine dinner on the Nile at Esna. You will spend this night of your Egypt adventure on the Nile at Esna.

Day 5: Luxor, Egypt West Bank Tour

Have breakfast on board while you sail to Luxor. Luxor is one to the popular travel destinations in Egypt because of all the ancients sites that are located in the area. Your time in Luxor will unforgettable. Start your sightseeing with a trip to the royal cemetery for 62 Pharaohs: Valley of the Kings. After Valley of the Kings, visit another top Luxor attraction, the awe-inspiring mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut which is located near the Valley of Kings.

The Valley of the Kings and Queen Hatshepsut Temple are two of top attractions, not only in Luxor, but it all of Egypt. In fact, Hatshepsut Temple is considered to be one of the Incomparable Monuments of Ancient Egypt.

Next, you will enjoy a brief stop at the Colossi of Memnon before returning to your cruise ship. Enjoy lunch; afternoon tea and dinner on the Nile, and have another good night’s sleep on the quiet waters of the Nile at Luxor.

Day 6: Luxor, Egypt East Bank Tour

Enjoy one last breakfast on the Nile and then it will be time to for you to check-out and disembark. Once you have disembarked, you will be accompanied by your guide to visit the ancient Karnak Temple complex and Luxor Temple, both of which are located on the East Bank of the River Nile in Luxor. The ruins of Karnak are the second-most visited ancient site in Egypt. It is also believed to be the biggest place of worship ever constructed, not only in Egypt, but in the entire world.

Following your Luxor East Bank tour, you will have some time for yourself and then you will be transferred to Luxor railway station to board the sleeper train for your trip back to Cairo. Have your dinner and a good night’s rest on board the sleeper train (private compartment with twin beds).

Day 7: Enjoy your Last Full Day in Egypt in the Egyptian Capital

When you arrive in Cairo on day 7 of your Egypt holiday tour you will be met at the station, and then taken to your Cairo hotel where you will be staying for your last night in Egypt. After check-in, your tour manager will leave, and you will have the rest of the day to yourself. Relax in the hotel; swim in the pool, or go out and explore the fascinating city of Cairo on your own.

Alternatively, if you would like to see a bit more of Cairo but you don’t want to do it on your own, we have a good selection Cairo day tours. These are private trips with one of our guides and a driver, and of course we can tailor any and all of our day trips according to your own personal preferences.

And, ff you are looking for something to do to make the last night of your Egypt adventure extra special, you may want to consider attending a really excellent Sound and Lights Show at the Giza Pyramids in the evening. Alternatively, we can also recommend going for a Nile River dinner cruise. The view of Cairo is very different when seen from the river, and particularly at night.

Day 8: Goodbye Egypt – Final Departure

Like all good things, your Egypt Holiday Tour must end too, but before you say goodbye to Cairo and Egypt, first enjoy a nice breakfast at your hotel. At the appropriate time, your tour manager and one of our drivers will collect you and then take you to Cairo International Airport in time for your flight out of Egypt. Thank you sincerely for trusting us to deliver your dream Egypt adventure, and we wish you a safe trip back home.

Inclusions – What is included in our 8-day Egypt holidays:

• Meet and assist with arrivals and departures throughout your stay in Egypt
• All transfers to/from airport, station, hotel & cruise
• All hotel accommodation as per your travel itinerary with breakfast
• Accommodation on 5-Star Nile cruise on full board basis
• Rail travel on sleeper train from Cairo to Aswan and from Luxor to Aswan on half-board basis.
• All sightseeing tours mentioned in the travel itinerary
• Lunch during Cairo tour
• An English Egyptologist guide (other languages also available) during all sightseeing trips
• Entrance fees to all attraction mentioned in the travel itinerary
• All transfers in modern air-conditioned vehicles, including private driver
• Portage when needed
• Free mobile phone during your stay in Egypt. Includes free call time that is good for about 30 minutes of local calls, or 2 minutes of international calls

Exclusions – What is not included in your Egypt Travel Package:

• Any optional tours or trips not mentioned in the Egypt Holiday Tour itinerary
• Drinks and any personal expenses
• Entrance fees to special attractions such as the Mummies Room at the Egyptian Museum; the inside of the Pyramids at Giza; inside Tutankhamen’s Tomb at the Valley of King in Luxor

Note: Sleeper trains in Egypt are designed and equipped to meet Egyptian Railway Authority standards, rather than international standards. The average travel time from Cairo to Aswan on a sleeper train takes about 14 hours. As an alternative, visitors can opt for a domestic flights  from Cairo to Aswan and back to Cairo from Luxor which involves a supplement fee of $165 per person.

Accommodation / Hotels

• Le Méridien Pyramids Hotel & Spa
• MS Salacia Nile Cruise

Prices for our 8-Day Egypt holidays are quoted per person in US$ and are valid until the 31st of December 2021, except during the Christmas, New Year, and Easter holidays.