12 Days
From $5,800 pp
Cairo, Nile Cruise, Luxor,
Aswan & Abu Simbel
Osiris Tours Advantages
- Enjoy a personalized tour with a private Egyptologist guide, driver, traditional Egyptian cuisine, and all internal flights. Your tour will be customized for you and will suit your needs and your schedules.
- Avoid the crowds with your own private guide & private vehicle during your tour around the Great Pyramids.
- Learn about Luxor’s history and its monuments on a private tour to the Valley of the Kings and Karnak temple.
- Sail down the Nile on a seven-night cruise onboard the luxurious Sonesta Amirat Dahabeya.
- Visit Abu Simbel temple with your private qualified guide & private driver.
- Wind your way around scenic Aswan islands with your private guide and your private felucca/sailboat.
- Spend a private evening dining at a traditional Egyptian restaurant and a private tour around old Cairo and its monuments.
- Stay in historic and luxurious hotels, including Mena House Hotel, Sonesta Amirat Dahabeya Nile Cruise, and Four Seasons Nile Plaza Hotel Cairo, including round-trip flights between Cairo and Aswan.
Tour Overview
Sail Down the Nile on the Trip of a Lifetime
The Nile is the Father of all African Rivers, the longest waterway on the continent. It creates a fertile valley across the desert where one of the world’s oldest civilizations began. The ancient Egyptians lived and farmed along the Nile, using the rich soil to produce food and raise livestock.
This river has been absolutely essential in the lives of so many people – most of the cities of Egypt lie along with it, and nearly all of the important historical sights are found along its riverbanks. To cruise along the Nile is to take a ride through the history of Egypt.
A Custom Egypt Tour You Won’t Forget
This tour will take you on an unforgettable journey down the Nile, revealing the glory of this impressive waterway. It is the only one of our tour packages that includes a seven-night Nile River cruise – giving you a chance to really experience this important historical waterway at a leisurely pace.
One of our most luxurious tour packages, this very special journey will take you from the Great Pyramids to the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities and then along the Nile in a traditional sailing vessel known as a Dahabiya. This type of vessel was used during the time of the monarchy in the 1920s-1940s. They are small and luxurious boats that can only take 10-15 passengers at a time so that you will enjoy an extraordinary and intimate Nile sailing experience.
As you sail slowly down the Nile on your luxury cruise, you will feel like you are drifting back in time through the history of this important and powerful river. These smaller boats sail slower than the larger cruise boats, so you will be able to take your time and really soak up all of the culture and natural beauty around you.
Discover the Ancient Secrets of Egypt
Learn about the complex history and architecture of the Abu Simbel Temple. Avoid the crowds with your own private tour around the Great Pyramids. Discover the history of Luxor on a private tour to Karnak temple and Valley of the Kings. Take your time exploring the scenic Aswan Islands with a private guide in a sailboat. Tour around the ancient monuments of old Cairo and enjoy private dining at a traditional Egyptian restaurant.
This luxurious customized tour will include a private guide, a private vehicle, accommodations, a private driver, entrance fees, international flights, taxes, and much more. You can choose the itinerary we have planned or create your own from scratch at no additional cost. You will feel like a VIP as you are taken around Egypt by your private guide and given a fascinating insight into the local culture. Your tour is fully customizable to fit your needs and schedules.
To learn more about this unforgettable tour and to book your Egypt Nile experience, feel free to contact us at any time. You are also welcome to check our other Egypt private guided tour options.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Cairo
Arriving in Egypt is made easy by your airport representative, who will escort you through customs and immigration and facilitate your visa process.
Continue to the baggage claim hall and finally to the passenger pick up. Here, connect with your Osiris Tours representative associate, who will arrange your private airport transfer to your hotel.
Accommodation: Mena House (5*)
Day 2: Giza
Enjoy this custom private tour, which explores the Great Pyramids, ancient Memphis, Saqqara, the Solar Boat, Chephren Pyramid, and the famous Sphinx.
This luxury tour includes a private vehicle with a driver, a trained Egyptologist, and entry to the Chephren (Khafre) or Menkaure (Mycerinus) Pyramids, as well as the Solar Boat. Be aware that a limited number of people are allowed inside the Grand Pyramids daily, so make sure to inform your guide if you wish to enter these famous landmarks.
Buffet lunch at a great local restaurant is provided after visiting the Great Pyramids. In the afternoon, you will be picked up before sunset from your hotel. Your private guide will lead you out into the desert on your choice of camel or horse, where you can watch the sunset while enjoying a panoramic view of the Great Pyramids. This evening includes dinner at a Bedouin restaurant.
Accommodation: Mena House (5*)
Day 3: Cairo – Luxor
Transfer in private vehicle between your hotel and the airport, the flight from Cairo to Luxor, and an airport transfer with a private vehicle in Luxor is provided.
In the afternoon, enjoy a private custom tour of the East Bank of Luxor with a qualified Egyptologist guide. Visit the stunning temples of Karnak and Luxor with your own guide. You will start by visiting the Karnak temple. Walk along Sphinx Avenue to enter the complex, as your guide explains how the massive facade was constructed. Continue to Luxor Temple, which was once joined to the Temples of Karnak by a one-mile long Sphinx Avenue.
Accommodation: Sonesta Amirat Dahabeya (5*)
Day 4: Nile
Today you will explore some of the most incredible sites in the country. You will visit the Valley of the Kings in a private custom tour where you will have the chance to explore three tombs. Tombs were constructed for the kings, including King Tut, and powerful nobles of the New Kingdom.
Then it’s off to the nearby Valley of the Queens and the recently renovated mortuary temple of the most powerful and famous woman in ancient Egyptian history, Queen Hatshepsut. The tour includes a visit to the huge Colossi of Memnon, which is all that remains of the mortuary temple of Amenhotep III.
In the afternoon, enjoy sailing down the Nile from Luxor towards Aswan.
Accommodation: Sonesta Star Goddess (5*)
Day 5: Nile
Leisure day at the boat, enjoy sailing down the Nile.
Accommodation: Sonesta Amirat Dahabeya (5*)
Day 6: Nile
The luxury Nile cruise will reach its first destination, Edfu town, where you will visit the falcon-headed god temple of the God Horus and his wife, Goddess Hathor.
With your private Egyptologist guide, enjoy visiting the Nile Aside Temple of Horus, the falcon god. It is an impressive structure, considered the best-preserved cult temple in Egypt.
This is partly because it was built later than most temples in the Ptolemaic era from 237 to 57 BC. Despite its later date, it reflects the traditional pharaonic architecture and provides an excellent idea of how all the temples once looked. Edfu (Temple of Horus) is also very large: the second largest in Egypt after Karnak Temple.
Accommodation: Sonesta Amirat Dahabeya (5*)
Day 7: Nile
Leisure day at the boat, enjoy sailing down the Nile.
Accommodation: Sonesta Amirat Dahabeya (5*)
Day 8: Nile
In the morning, you will visit a unique Greco Roman temple dedicated to two gods: Sobek, the crocodile god, and Haroeris, the sun god. The Temple in Kom Ombo (also known simply as Kom Ombo Temple) dates from about 180 BC, during a period known as the Ptolemaic era, and had some additions built onto it during Roman times. After visiting the Komombo temple, the ship will continue sailing towards Aswan.
Accommodation: Sonesta Amirat Dahabeya (5*)
Day 9: Aswan
Start your private custom tour with a visit to the impressive Aswan High Dam, then to the Temple of Philae, which was dedicated to the Goddess of magic. The temple was built on Philae Island and attracted pilgrims from all over the ancient world. When the Egyptians built the High Dam, Philae temple was pulled out of the water and re-erected on Agilika Island.
Stop at the old site of the main granite quarry to visit the unfinished obelisk. You will see a practical demonstration of the methods used by ancient craftsmen to cut impressive obelisks and granite statues.
In the afternoon, your private guide will pick you up for your private Felucca (sailboat) ride, where you will get to sail upon and take pictures of the most beautiful part of the Nile in Egypt. Your sailboat will sail around Kitchener Island, the largest botanical garden started by the famous British army leader, Lord Kitchener. During your sailing trip, you will get to sail around Aghakhan Mausoleum and Elephantine Island.
Accommodation: Sonesta Amirat Dahabeya (5*)
Day 10: Aswan – Abu Simbel – Cairo
Private transfer between your hotel and Aswan airport, a flight from Aswan to Abu Simbel, and a flight from Abu Simbel to Cairo are provided.
You will take a flight from the airport at Aswan to Abu Simbel (45 minutes, flight included), where you will meet your private guide and tour one of the most beautiful temples in Nubia and Upper Egypt. Ramses II built the impressive Abu Simbel temple for his favorite wife, Queen Nefertari.
After visiting Abu Simbel temple, your private guide will take you back to Abu Simbel airport, where you will take another flight to Cairo (2 hours, flight included). Your private guide will take you from Cairo airport to your hotel.
Accommodation: Four Seasons Nile Plaza (5*)
Day 11: Cairo
Discover the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities and its Mummy Room in a private tour with a highly knowledgeable guide. The museum holds the tomb of King Tut, Egypt’s most famous boy King.
In the evening, enjoy a luxury delicious Egyptian dinner at Naguib Mahfouz, located in the heart of the Khan Khalili bazaar in Cairo. Stroll down Al Moaz Street and view the largest concentration of medieval architectural treasures from the Islamic world. The tour includes a private visit to Beit El Seheimy. Normally, this location would be closed to the public, but this exclusive tour provides access. A qualified private guide, private vehicle, and private driver are provided.
Accommodation: Four Seasons Nile Plaza (5*)
Day 12: Cairo
Transfer in private vehicle between your hotel and Cairo airport is provided.
Hotels
Mena House Hotel (5*) in Cairo
Mena House is one of the unique hotels in Cairo, with its own rich and colorful history. Fascinating guests have frequented the property since 1869, and it has continuously held the attention of royalty and political thinkers. It is surrounded by 40 acres of verdant green gardens; this palatial hotel is located in the shadows of the Great Pyramids of Giza in Cairo. The hotel’s royal history is reflected in luxurious interiors that are embellished with exquisite antiques, handcrafted furniture, original works of art, and magnificent antiques that are rarely found in luxury hotels. Mena House has played host to kings and emperors, heads of state, and celebrities.
Located 700 meters from these wonders of the ancient world, Mena House offers unmatched views of the pyramids. You can gaze upon the magnificence of the pyramids from your rooms at sunrise and sunset. After dinner at one of the many restaurants, you can return to your room and see them lit up for your private viewing pleasure. An ideal location for meetings in Cairo, the hotel’s banquet and conference center offer venues for weddings, receptions, and meetings ranging from 50 to 1000 guests. Recreation options at the hotel include a heated swimming pool and a fully-equipped spa & fitness center. Regarded as one of the leading luxury hotels in Cairo, the hotel combines the magical charm of a bygone era with an unrivaled service fit for royalty. Your interlude at the hotel promises to be a journey of discovery, exploring Cairo’s ancient treasures and unraveling the many mysteries of Egypt’s s past.
Sonesta Amirat Dahabeya (5*) Cruise Ship
Sonesta Amirat Dahabeya will take you back in time to a gentler, more gracious era in a 7 Nights cruise experience between Luxor and Aswan in a unique trip down the Nile by a traditional, small sailing vessel that was commonly used during those elegant days of the monarchy (the 1920s – 40s).
The Dahabeya started when aristocrats and sophisticated travelers loved to cruise the Nile in style. In Sonesta Amirat Dahabeya, they have revived those elegant days with modern comforts. The “Sonesta Amirat Dahabeya” offers 5 deluxe cabins and 2 elegant suites (with private terrace). The Dahabeya allows you to experience an imaginary world of luxury & privacy. All cabins & suites feature private direct-dial telephones, individual climate control, hairdryers, minibars, safety deposit boxes, and plasma TVs and movie programs.
Four Seasons Nile Plaza (5*) in Cairo
Occupying 30 stories of the prestigious Nile Plaza, the Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza offers 365 luxury hotel guest rooms, including 100 suites. Among the most spacious accommodation in Cairo, the comfortable guest rooms and suites take full advantage of their setting, allowing you to look out on a range of lovely vistas, including panoramic views across the Nile, the island of Zamalek, and a 12th-century citadel.
Inside, you’ll be charmed by airy interiors with natural wood finishes and stylishly comfortable furnishings. Most guest rooms have a private outdoor terrace for relaxing or dining, and all have triple-glazed windows to ensure your stay is both cool and quiet.
Things you should know before you visit Egypt
If you are an American, you will need a valid passport for at least 6 months after the day you plan to return from Egypt. You must also provide proof that you intend to return or continue your travels elsewhere. You are responsible for ensuring your passport is current and that your name on your passport matches all other travel documents we will issue. If you find that your name differs between any documents, please let us know right away.
You will need a visa to travel to and inside Egypt. You can get one when you arrive at Cairo airport. We can include visa fees and proceeds in your itinerary upon request. When you leave Egypt, you must show proof of entry via a stamp on your valid passport. If you don’t provide this stamp, officials may prevent you from leaving Egypt.
It is a good idea to have insurance if you need to cancel your trip or any medical need while abroad. Most insurance policies also cover baggage loss/damage or problems completing the trip due to circumstances beyond your control. Get a policy that provides medical coverage to avoid large health care expenses in an emergency. We can help you find the right insurance policy for your trip with us.
In general, for women traveling to Egypt, anything that is below the knee should be fine. Short sleeves should be fine as well, but nothing too short or too tiny. You do not need to cover your head in Egypt but do dress modestly. Wear pants or long skirts. It is hot in the summertime so that loose-fitting pants will be more comfortable than a pair of skinny jeans. It is also dusty and dirty, so that white clothing will appear soiled far more quickly than other colors’ clothing.
Egypt’s power grid is set up for 220V AC. Some rural areas only have 110V AC. Sockets are either the “Type C” Europlug or the “Type E” and “Type F” Schuko plug. You’ll need to purchase an adapter for devices from North America. Outlets marked as 110V or “For Shavers Only” won’t work for devices not rated for 110V and may even damage them.
Mobile phone roaming charges are different between carriers, so be sure to check on costs with your phone provider in each area you’ll travel to.
The large cities such as Dahab, Luxor, Cairo, and Alexandria have many Internet cafes where you can pay to use the WiFi or wired network ports. Some small towns like Siwa have at least one Internet cafe. Hotel in-room or lobby WiFi can be expensive, so check the rates before connecting to their services. Osiris Tours will not have control over which hotels have Internet access, but we do have information on which establishments are likely to provide it. We can help you find contact information to get in touch with the properties directly and ask what they make available.
– Time Zone: UTC+2
– Electricity: 220V AC + 110V in certain rural areas
– Telephone: Country code for calling you from outside Egypt is 20
– Calling North America: Dial 00 + 1 and your 10 digit number
– Emergency numbers in Egypt: Police: 122; Tourist Police: 126; Ambulance: 123; Fire: 125
Egypt is very dry in some places and very wet in others. Be prepared for a hot and dry climate. It can get cold in the northern regions if you happen to visit in the Winter. Most tourists visit during the cooler months from December to February.
February to April and October to November is the best time of the year climate-wise to see the pyramids and Valley of the Kings. It can be very hot and dusty in April because of winds blowing in from the Sahara, so visiting sites can be a bit of a problem during that month.
Updated weather forecasts can be obtained from Weather.com.
We recommend that you bring about $100 US per person for each day’s expenses. Small bills are best to tip waiters, porters, and housekeeping. Tipping is at your discretion based on your satisfaction with the service you receive.
The Egyptian currency is called the “Egyptian Pound” (guinay in Arabic). Notes come in denominations of 5pt, 10pt, 25pt, 50pt, E£1, E£5, E£10, E£20, E£50 and E£100. Coins come in denominations of 10pt, 20pt, 25pt, 50pt, and E£1. Some tour operators and hotels only accept US dollars or Euros.
Get your Egyptian Pound currency from your own bank before leaving or from an Egyptian bank machine. Those methods are cheaper than in the airport currency exchange or in tourist areas. Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted, but your bank card may or may not be valid in-country.
There are currently no vaccinations required to travel to Egypt.
There have been some occurrences of “Bird Flu” (avian influenza) in Egypt. We recommend that you:
– Avoid going to live animal farms or poultry markets.
– Avoid eating eggs or poultry that have not been fully cooked.
– Wash your hands regularly.
– See a doctor if you feel any flu symptoms coming on while traveling or after you return home.
Make a list of all the medicines and medical items you need to bring with you on your trip, plus dosages of prescription drugs, details of prescription glasses and contacts, and any other medical necessities. Put spare eyewear and medications in checked and carry-on bags in case some of your luggage gets lost in transit.
There are non-prescription, over-the-counter medicines available in Egypt, but it is often difficult to get prescription medication or eyewear. Bring water purification devices or iodine tablets in case bottled water is not available. We can advise which locations will have potable vs. non-potable water. We strongly recommend bringing some type of over-the-counter diarrhea medication.
Medical Needs Checklist
– Basic first aid and medicine kit (band-aids, antiseptics, pain meds).
– Pepto-Bismol, Imodium, electrolyte powders for adding to drinking water to solve dehydration problems, and anti-diarrheal medications.
– Anti-itch cream for insect bites and allergies.
– Tablets for motion sickness.
– SPF 30 or higher sunscreen, aloe-vera lotion for sunburn treatment, large-brim hat, lip balm, insect repellent, and sunglasses.
– Hand sanitizer and baby wipes.
