7-Day VIP Tour with Exclusive Access

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

Tour the Grand Egyptian Museum; private entry without crowds

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. 

Return to your hotel to rest, or continue to explore the Museum on your own once it has opened to the public.

Visit the Great Pyramids of Giza and private entry to the Burial Chamber

Drive to Giza Necropolis to see the last remaining wonder of the seven wonders of the ancient world: the Great Pyramid. You will have the opportunity to enter the Burial Chamber of Khufu’s pyramid, without the crowds and long lines - exclusive entry only for special guests of Exceptional Egypt Travel.

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. You will have the EXCLUSIVE opportunity to stand between the paws of the Sphinx, passing beyond the tourist barricades to go where few have been permitted to visit before.

We can also arrange a camel ride or photo opportunity at the Pyramids, as an add-on to your visit.

Return to your hotel for overnight stay.

You will take an early flight to Abu Simbel, home to the magnificent temples built by Ramses the Great

Visit the Temples of Abu Simbel

The temples of Abu Simbel were carved directly into the mountainside they rested on. During the construction of the High Dam a tremendous project was undertaken to move the temples to higher ground. The preservation of this UNESCO world heritage site was a massive success by an international coalition of archeologists and engineers.

Fly to Aswan and enjoy lunch

Visit Philae Temple Complex

Philae Temple Complex was dedicated to goddess Isis, and was a site of worship for visitors from the 26th dynasty through the Ptolemaic periods. This beautifully-constructed temple was admired by many ancient writers including Seneca and Pliny the Elder.

Check in to your 5-star Nile Cruise and enjoy dinner onboard.

Sail to Kom Ombo temple

The temple of Kom Ombo is dedicated to both Sobek, the crocodile god, and Horus the Elder. Next to Kom Ombo is the Crocodile Museum, which holds numerous mummified crocodiles brought as offerings to the temple.

Visit Edfu Temple

Edfu Temple is an exquisitely preserved site, thanks to having been buried for many years under the silt and mud from the Nile. It is dedicated to the god Horus and has beautiful friezes of the god’s journeys and relationship with his wife, Hathor.

Return to the ship and sail towards Luxor overnight.

After breakfast, your driver and guide will pick you up to drive to the West Bank of Luxor. Alternatively, we can arrange a hot air balloon ride, to enjoy the iconic views of Luxor and the Valley of the Kings.

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. 

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.

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. 

Lunch onboard your cruise ship

Optional visit to Luxor Museum

Luxor Museum has a number of unique artifacts including several statues from a cache found during excavations of Luxor Temple. The museum includes a recreation of the temple walls built by Akhenaten (later destroyed at Karnak by later pharaohs who may have tried to erase the memory of the heretic king). 

Overnight onboard your cruise ship.

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.

As an optional addition, you may wish to attend the sound and light show at Karnak Temple; we are happy to arrange any add-ons that you may enjoy.

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. 

Transfer to Luxor Airport and fly back to Cairo

Overnight in Cairo

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