Eye on Egypt – Highlights Tour

Welcome to Egypt, one of the world's greatest ancient civilizations. Arrive in Cairo, meet Ed-Ventures representative, and transfer to your hotel. Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure. Tonight, attend an orientation, while sipping on your welcome drink with your tour manager and fellow travelers at your hotel.

After a hearty breakfast at the hotel, we start our tour at the Grand Egyptian Museum, a neoclassical building located on Tahir Square. The museum houses the world's largest collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts with more than 120,000 items on display. Our tour manager will point out some of the more interesting artifacts and bring their stories to life. We enjoy lunch at an authentic Egyptian restaurant nearby. Then, we visit Old Cairo’s ancient churches with crypts where the Holy family stayed during their period of exile. We also visit a Jewish Synagogue before visiting the first Mosque of Egypt, Mosque of Amr Ibn El As. Tonight, attend an optional Sound & Light Show held in Giza with views of the mighty Pyramids. A spectacular and unforgettable evening, then return to the hotel and treat yourself to a superb dinner at one of the fine international restaurants. (Optional: Sound & Light Show at Pyramids)

After breakfast, we visit the famous Pyramids of Giza, built during the 3rd and 4th dynasties of the Old Kingdom. Enjoy an up-close view of the Great Pyramid, built for the Pharaoh Khufu, as well as the Pyramids of Khafre and Menkaure. We ride camels into the nearby desert for a different view. Not far from the Pyramids, we see the Mythical Sphinx of Giza, the legendary statue with the head of a human and the body of a lion, amazingly carved out of one huge piece of limestone. We have lunch at an authentic Egyptian food restaurant before continuing to Sakkara and the Step Pyramid. It is the first Pyramid and the oldest construction of stone in the whole world. We also observe wall carvings with daily life activities depicted on the Nobel Tombs. You may have the opportunity to explore the Pharaoh’s Burial chamber. We return to our hotel for relaxing evening on our own.

After breakfast, we fly to Aswan. Upon arrival, we have the morning at leisure in this ancient frontier town or, join the optional Abu Simbel tour. A flight from Aswan transports you back in time to the mighty Temple of Abu Simbel, reclaimed from the floodwaters of the Aswan High Dam and totally reconstructed in the present location. The site is dominated by the looming twin temples of Ramses II and his wife Queen Nefertari. It is one of the most recognizable ancient sites of Egypt. We fly back to Aswan and transfer to our cruise ship, our home for the next three nights. After lunch, we have the opportunity for a rare glimpse into another world and even another time as we visit Nubian Village, including a family house. We sail with a motorboat through the National Parks of Aswan, watching local and migrant birds and various plants, while learning about the Nubians’ origin, culture, ancient and modern history. We end our tour walking around the streets of the Nubian Village smelling the wonderful aromas of many herbs and spices.

After breakfast, take a tour to Philae Temple dedicated to the goddess Isis, and marvel at the temple's beautiful island location. While there, learn about the legend of Isis & Osiris, before continuing to the beautiful Botanical Garden of Aswan to marvel over the tropical trees and flowers. In the afternoon, our Nile cruise will set sail for an unforgettable journey on the legendary Nile River. Our first stop is the temple of Kom Ombo, dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek and the sky god Horus. We continue sailing to Edfu where we dock for the evening. Tonight, you may choose to enjoy an Egyptian Galabiya Night (Dress Party) with Egyptian food, music and dancing and fun.

This morning, enjoy a relaxing morning on the boat as we sail via Esna to Luxor, known in ancient Egyptian times as the city of Thebes. In the afternoon, we take a sightseeing tour of the East Bank of Luxor. We visit the magnificent Temples of Karnak, dating back over 3,000 years. Walking along the avenue of the Sphinxes, we marvel at the Hypostyle Hall with its 134 massive sandstone columns. Then, we ride a Horse-carriage through the Local and Tourist Market of Luxor and drive by Luxor temple and riverside. Tonight, we enjoy Belly and Dervish Dancing shows, along with live music and drumming.

Today, we view the magnificence of the Luxor West Bank with a visit to the UNESCO listed Valley of the Kings, the necropolis of Thebes and admire the tombs of ancient Egypt’s rulers. Next, head to the Temple of Hatshepsut, a colonnaded structure surrounded by cliffs and learn about the life of Queen Hatshepsut, Egypt’s first female ruler. Then, we visit the Alabaster house before concluding our tour at the Colossi of Memnon: two massive stone statues of the Pharaoh Amenhotep III. After enjoying lunch overlooking Luxor temple, we transfer to Hurghada Resort City on the Red Sea (4 hours’ drive).

After your breakfast, we board a Yacht for a wonderful trip to snorkel and experience the crystal clear warm water of the Red Sea. This area is filled with beautiful coral and colored fish around the famous Islands of the Red Sea. After lunch served onboard, we visit the Gifton Island and enjoy its sandy beach. (Diving is an option for an extra fee). The evening is at leisure to enjoy the facilities of the hotel and dine on your own in a restaurant of your choosing.

This morning, we enjoy an exploration visit to the Egyptian desert and the Bedouins to learn about their life and traditions. Enjoy a jeep ride, short camel ride (if you wish), tea or coffee. In the late afternoon, we transfer to Hurghada airport for your short flight to Cairo and check into your hotel the night.

Transfer to the airport for your departure flight back home.