7-Day Highlights of Egypt

Cairo, Giza, Luxor
tour-card-imf-1

Duration

7 Days
tour-card-imf-1

Location

Cairo, Giza, Luxor
tour-card-imf-1

Tour Availability

Year Round
tour-card-imf-1

Tour Guide

Private Guide

Tour Overview

Journey from Cairo to Aswan on this 7-day adventure that blends history, culture, and comfort. You will visit the pyramids of Giza, explore the historic city of Cairo, travel to the temples of Luxor and the Valley of the Kings, and uncover some of Egypt’s greatest treasures. Experience thousands of years of history with a personal Egyptologist guide, private transport, and luxury accommodations.

Itinerary

Your facilitator will meet you at Cairo International Airport and assist with airport procedures and hotel transfer. Enjoy a private driver and air-conditioned ride to your hotel. You will check in to your five-star hotel and enjoy the evening at your leisure.

After breakfast, your driver and guide will pick you up at your Cairo hotel.

Visit the Great Pyramids of Giza

Drive to Giza Necropolis to see the last remaining wonder of the seven wonders of the ancient world: the Great Pyramid. You will hear stories about the people and Pharaohs who built the pyramids over 4,500 years ago, and have the chance to explore these ancient structures with your expert Egyptologist guide. Optional add-ons at Giza include a camel ride or entry to the burial chamber inside the Great Pyramid.

See the Great Sphinx of Giza

The Great Sphinx of Giza has stood watch over the Great Pyramids of Giza for thousands of years. It is made from the limestone of Giza Plateau itself, and is one of the largest carved statues in the world.

Visit the Saqqara Necropolis and the Step Pyramid of Djoser

Saqqara is home to the oldest stone building in history: the Step Pyramid of Djoser. Here you will learn about the architect-engineer Imhotep, later deified by ancient worshippers. You will have the chance to beautifully decorated Old Kingdom tombs and view the pyramid texts inscribed inside. This visit will give you insight into the tremendous skill of ancient craftsmen and offer glimpses of daily and religious life thousands of years ago.

Return to your hotel for overnight stay. We can also arrange for additional activities such as a Nile dinner cruise, or a sound and light show at the Pyramids.

 

After breakfast, your driver and guide will pick you up at your Cairo hotel.

Tour the Grand Egyptian Museum

Enjoy a guided visit of Egypt’s history with an expert eye at the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), the largest museum ever made to focus on a single civilization - from pre-dynastic antiquity to the present. During your visit, you’ll see the grand treasure of King Tutankhamun, on display for the first time in its entirety since 1922, and come face to face with the gilded mask of a king. 

Visit the Citadel of Salah ad-Din

Spend time getting acquainted with the vibrant city of Cairo, and learn more about the history of Africa’s largest city. You will explore the medieval Citadel of Salah ad-Din, built in the 12th century to overlook the city and defend the city from incoming Crusaders. This striking complex is now a UNESCO world heritage site.

See the Mosque of Muhammad Ali

Visit the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, or the ‘Alabaster Mosque’, built in the Ottoman style by the influential Egyptian ruler Muhammad Ali Pasha in 1832 with sweeping views over Cairo.Return to your hotel for overnight stay.

Return to your hotel for overnight stay.

Your driver and guide will pick you up at your Cairo hotel and take you to the Cairo Airport. Your guide will assist with the airport transfers and travel to Luxor.

After landing in Luxor, your driver will pick you up from Luxor Airport for the short drive to Karnak Temple 

Visit Karnak Temple

Karnak Temple is the largest religious complex ever constructed, with numerous temples, pylons, statues and obelisks added by generations of pharaohs. Beginning in the reign of Senusret I, the most powerful rulers of Egypt - including Ramses the Great, Hatshepsut, and Thutmose III - built additions to the temple complex, with construction continuing for nearly two thousand years through the Ptolemaic period. 

Check in to Luxor Hotel

Your driver and guide will escort you to your five-star hotel in Luxor to relax and refresh

Evening Tour: Luxor Temple and Avenue of the Sphinxes

Luxor Temple is the second significant temple of the East Bank of Luxor. It is faced by two massive seated statues of Ramses II (Ramses the Great), and four standing statues. Like Karnak Temple, additions to Luxor Temple were undertaken by many pharaohs, including Amenhotep III and his grandson Tutankhamun. 

In front of Luxor Temple, and stretching all the way to Karnak Temple, is the Avenue of the Sphinxes. This ancient road is lined with over a thousand sphinx and ram statues. 

Return to your hotel for overnight stay.

After breakfast, your driver and guide will pick you up at your Luxor hotel.

Visit Valley of the Kings

The Valley of the Kings, located on the west bank of Luxor, is the home to many royal tombs from the new kingdom. The discovery of the nearly-intact tomb of King Tutankhamun in 1922 completely transformed Egyptian archeology and led to the Valley of the Kings becoming one of the most famous archeological sites in the world. More than 65 known tombs are located in the Valley and have been cut directly into the rock. Many of these tombs are still adorned with beautiful carvings and paintings as befit their royal occupants. 

Tour Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut

Hatshepsut is one of Egypt’s most well-known pharaohs, and one of the few female pharaohs that we know of. She ruled for more than twenty years in a period of notable prosperity and peace. Among her many significant architectural projects is the Temple of Hatshepsut, facing Luxor and the Temple of Karnak. 

See the Colossi of Memnon

These two massive statues of Amenhotep III once stood before the king’s mortuary temple. In later years, Greek and Roman tourists visited the site and left numerous graffiti detailing their own story of the colossi.

Lunch in Luxor

Fly to Cairo

Your driver will transport you to Luxor Airport for your flight back to Cairo with your guide. Upon arrival in Cairo, you will check in to your hotel to rest for the evening

Tour the Hanging Church and Saints Sergius and Bacchus Church

The Hanging Church (named due to its unique architectural feature of ‘hanging’ above a Roman tower that makes up the foundations of the church) is one of Cairo’s oldest churches. Nearby sits Saints Sergius and Bacchus Church, built on a limestone crypt where the Holy Family rested when they fled to Egypt.

Visit the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization and home of the Royal Mummies

The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC) is a beautiful contemporary museum with a main gallery that features artifacts and stories from Egypt ranging from pre-history to modern times. 

Below the main hall of the museum is the Royal Mummies’ Hall. Twenty royal mummies rest here. They were brought to the museum in 2021 with a massive event dubbed the “Pharaohs’ Golden Parade”.

 

Return to your hotel for overnight stay.

After checking out of your hotel, a private driver will transport you to the airport for your departure flight.

Include

    • Meet and greet at Cairo Airport
    • Hotel-airport transfers
    • English-speaking Egyptologist guide
    • Private driver in air conditioned vehicle
    • 5 nights at the Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at The First Residence
    • 2 nights at the Hilton Luxor Resort & Spa
    • Domestic flights:
      • Cairo to Luxor
      • Luxor to Cairo
    • Bottled water
    • All required permits and site entry fees

Exclude

    • Egypt entry visa
    • Meals not specified in program
    • Entry to Great Pyramid burial chamber
    • Entry to Tomb of King Tutankhamun
    • Camel Ride
    • Evening activities
    • Tips & personal expenses

Highlights

    Explore the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx

    Visit Saqqara Necropolis and the Step Pyramid of Djoser

    Tour the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM)

    Enjoy the highlights of Coptic and Islamic Cairo

    Fly to Luxor and see Luxor Temple and Karnak Temple

    Explore the tombs of the Valley of the Kings

    Learn about the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut and Colossi of Memnon

    Visit the Royal Mummies Hall at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization

Notes

FAQ

Check our Frequently Asked Questions

Find quick answers to the most common questions about your trip. Our FAQ section covers everything from travel requirements and safety tips to local customs and currency information. Interested to know more? Contact Us

How do I get an Egypt Entry Visa?

You can get a 30-day tourist visa upon arriving at Cairo Airport. Please bring $25 in USD cash with you; you will get the visa documentation before the immigration desk at the airport, and the immigration officials will review and stamp your passport. Our staff will meet you after you disembark the plane to facilitate this process and ensure you are able to get through security smoothly.

 

How long will each day be?

Each day’s tour is a full day, estimating 8 to 10 hours - though we have built in plenty of time to rest, enjoy a coffee or a meal, or explore on your own. 

 

How much walking will be involved in this tour?

This is a walking-intensive tour, primarily on flat ground.

 

Is this trip handicap accessible?

The visitor platforms at Giza Necropolis, the Grand Egyptian Museum, and the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization are all fully handicapped accessible. Visiting the Pyramids and the Sphinx requires some walking over flat but uneven ground and sand. Entry into many of the tombs and Pyramids can be physically demanding, with low ceilings, steep staircases and narrow passageways.

 

Will I be claustrophobic in the Great Pyramids?

The optional visit to the burial chamber of the Great Pyramid includes narrow passages and low areas that you must crouch or crawl to access.

 

How much is expected in gratuities?

Tipping is greatly appreciated, based on the quality of the service you receive. We suggest around $5-$8 per day for your driver, and $10-$15 per day for guides. Tipping can be done in cash, either as Egyptian pounds, US dollars or Euros. For non-Egyptian currency, bills in good condition (no rips or tears) are preferred. 

 

Can someone prone to seizures enjoy the sound and light show?

The Sound and Light Show includes lights and projections, along with music and narration through outdoor speakers. There are no flashing or strobe lights, but as photosensitivity may vary, we recommend you contact us with any specific questions or concerns you have.

 

What should I wear?

Comfortable, closed-toe walking or athletic shoes are recommended as there may be areas with uneven pavement. Locals in Egypt often dress modestly, so visitors often feel more comfortable in clothes that cover their shoulders and knees (t-shirts or long sleeved shirts, capris, pants). You may wish to bring a hat for sun protection, as well as a scarf or light jacket for evening.

 

What’s an Egyptologist Guide?

Licensed tour guides must maintain a certification from the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, along with membership in the Egyptian General Tourist Guide Syndicate. These certifications ensure that our guides are fully approved and registered as professionals with the Egyptian government authorities.

 

Can we customize this trip?

Yes; we are happy to customize the itinerary for your needs. Please contact us with your requests and we can ensure you have the best trip possible.

 

whatsapp-icon phone_call
whatsapp-icon phone_call