9 Day Private 5 Star Egypt with Nile Cruise

Salaam Alaikum! Welcome to Egypt. On arrival into Cairo International Airport (CAI) you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure. A buzzing metropolis, home to at least 19 million people, Cairo gives you a great feel for Egyptian streetlife. It's busy – almost frantic – and among the hustle and bustle, it's an exciting blend of old world and new. Arabs call this city Umm al-Dunya (the mother of the world). There are many beautiful mosques to visit, like the Mohammed Ali Mosque in the Citadel. Or head to the oldest part of Cairo, the Babylon Fortress, to see ancient ruins. For stunning panoramic views of the capital, go up the 187-metre-high Cairo Tower. Special Information: Arrival airport transfers are included as part of your package. You will be met upon arrival at the airport by a local representative and transferred to your hotel. If Inspiring Vacations has not provided your international airfares, please ensure you provide your flight details via your Traveller Hub portal no later than 90 days prior to travel so that your transfers can be confirmed. If you are arriving early and have made your own arrangements prior to your tour commencing, airport transfers will not be included. However, if you are purchasing pre-nights accommodation as part of your Inspiring Vacations package, airport transfers will still be provided to the starting hotel.

This morning, meet your guide and head out to see some of the world's most iconic sights – the Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx. Explore these structures that have stood tall for some 4,500 years and learn about the ancient history of the monuments. The oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the only one to remain largely intact, the pyramids are a sight to behold.Afterwards, you will visit the Grand Egyptian Museum. Rising beside the Giza Pyramids, the breathtaking Grand Egyptian Museum is a monumental tribute to ancient Egypt. This ultra-modern masterpiece unveils over 100,000 treasures, including Tutankhamun's full collection, in dazzling galleries filled with light, glass, and history. It's the world's largest museum of a single civilisation. Following your visit you will return to your hotel where the remainder of the day is at leisure.

This morning is free for you to explore Cairo at your leisure. Your private guide will be available to accompany you on your chosen sightseeing, allowing you to tailor the day to suit your interests. Any required transport and entrance fees today are not included and are payable locally. Why not venture to the fascinating laneways of Khan el-Khalili souk and the surrounding Islamic quarter with its historic city gates and the magnificent citadel. Take a stroll along the Nile, explore the fascinating Coptic neighbourhood or visit the Egyptian Civilization Museum, home of the famed royal mummies displayed in an all-new interactive exhibit. This afternoon, you will catch an afternoon flight from Cairo to Luxor. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel in Luxor Special Information Your internal flight for this day is arranged by our local partner. Specific flight details will be provided by your Tour Leader upon arrival and cannot be provided in advance. Please note that these group flights cannot be upgraded, amended, or checked in online. Your Tour Leader will manage the check-in process for the group.

After an early breakfast, meet your guide and head to the magnificent Karnak temple. One of the world's most celebrated temple complexes, Karnak was built over a period of some 2000 years, with some parts dating back to 2055 BC. Your guided tour of the temple reveals its finest sections. Following your tour you will board your Nile cruise boat which will be your home for the coming four nights. After your included lunch on board, take some time to relax by the onboard pool or explore the town.

Today visit the West Bank to explore the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut temple and the Colossi of Memnon. The royal burial site of the Valley of the Kings was the resting place of more than 60 pharaohs in underground tombs, many richly decorated with reliefs and paintings. Explore this sprawling and spectacular place with your guide, where the pharaohs of the New Kingdom (16th to 11th century BCE) were secretly interred for all eternity, and where archaeological discoveries are still being made. Your guide will explain the history of and legends surrounding these remarkable people, their funerary rites, and the significance of the many paintings and hieroglyphics, still well-preserved in the deepest tombs. The mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut is a stunning colonnaded building of sharp lines that contrasts beautifully against the craggy high cliffs behind it, creating a spectacular natural amphitheatre. The temple was built to prove the importance of one of Egypt's greatest queens. Final stop will be the Colossi of Memnon. The 17 metre high statues used to flank the entrance of the funerary temple of King Amenhotep, the 3rd the grandfather of Tutankhamen. Following your tour, return to your boat for lunch and set sail towards the city of Edfu, passing by the lock of Esna.

Today we will moor near Edfu – home to ancient settlements and temples, as well as a bustling town centre and a bazaar. Later we'll return to the boat where we'll continue travelling upriver, with plenty of free time for relaxing on the sundeck and taking in the surrounding sights – from fishermen casting nets and farmers working their land to the desert hills that frame the lush riverbanks. This afternoon we'll arrive at Kom Ombo Temple. Set dramatically on the bank of the Nile, 47 kilometres north of Aswan and 168 kilometres south of Luxor, the soaring, chunky columns of the double temple are a magnificent sight to behold as you arrive from the river. Dedicated to the gods Sobek and Haroeris, the temple's finely carved reliefs give a sense of this area's prominence as capital over the surrounding region during the Ptolemaic era. Today, Kom Ombo may be a sleepy agricultural backwater surrounded by sugar cane fields, but its prime position along the Nile meant it was once one of Upper Egypt's most important centres. Wander through the temple's colonnades, gazing up at scenes of kingly propaganda, and you'll get a sense of this rich history for yourself. Return to the cruise boat where you'll continue travelling upriver towards Aswan. Please note: the only mode of transport available to visit the Temple of Edfu is by locally managed horses and carriages. As a business that seeks to promote responsible travel, animal welfare is extremely important to us at Inspiring Vacations, and unfortunately, some operators of the horse and carriages have been found to be in breach of our animal welfare guidelines. It is for this reason we do not include the visit the Edfu Temple. While we recommend that you do not use the horse and carriage to visit the Temple, the decision is ultimately up to you and your guide can help arrange transport and ensure the best horses are used.

Today you will awake before sunrise for an early morning start. Sit back and relax as you drive to the ancient Abu Simbel temples, near the southern Egyptian border. You will have an early arrival into Abu Simbel to view one of the most incredible sights you will see. The two enormous sandstone structures were built in the 1200s BCE by Ramses II to serve as lasting monuments to himself and his favourite wife Nefertari. The larger temple, dedicated to three major Egyptian deities, features four large statues of Ramses II on its façade, while the smaller temple is dedicated to the goddess of love, Hathor, with statues designed to embody Nefertari. Set on the banks of the artificial Lake Nasser, the structures were once in danger of being flooded with the construction of the Aswan High Dam but were saved via an extensive project to cut the temples into pieces and move them to higher ground, where they are seen today. On our return to Aswan you will have some time free to relax or explore town and the local markets. This afternoon, we'll enjoy a sailboat ride around the Nile River islands in a traditional felucca (a small, traditional Egyptian sailboat).

Today we will leave Aswan and make the short flight back to Cairo. On our return to Cairo you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. For the remainder of the day, enjoy free time relaxing or do some last-minute sightseeing. Special Information Your internal flight for this day is arranged by our local partner. Specific flight details will be provided by your Tour Leader upon arrival and cannot be provided in advance. Please note that these group flights cannot be upgraded, amended, or checked in online. Your Tour Leader will manage the check-in process for the group.

Unfortunately, today marks the end of your incredible tour through Egypt. At the appropriate time you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home. Thank you for travelling with Inspiring Vacations. We hope you had a memorable experience. Special Information Departure transfers are included as part of your package. You will be collected from your hotel at the appropriate time and transferred to the airport to meet your flight. If you choose to extend your stay (e.g., departing after the final tour date) and have booked your additional accommodation independently, this included service will be forfeited and no refund will be issued. If Inspiring Vacations has not provided your international airfares, please ensure you provide your flight details via your Traveller Hub portal no later than 90 days prior to travel so that your transfers can be confirmed.