Ancient Egypt and the Nile River Cruise

Take an Egypt tour and Nile River cruise to discover the beauty and wonders of the ancient world. See the most recognizable monuments in the world, from pyramids to towering temples and opulent tombs. All of the must-see sites of Egypt are included on this tour.

Marvel at untold cultural and historical treasures in Cairo, the epicenter of Ancient Egyptian architecture and monuments. Nothing can prepare you for the sight of the Pyramids of Giza, the ultimate display of Ancient Egyptian power, wealth, and brilliance. The Sphinx lounges nearby, its gaze still inscrutable 4,000 years after it was carved into the bedrock of the Giza Plateau. The Egypt Museum’s collection of Ancient Egyptian artifacts includes the treasure of King Tut’s tomb, most famously his dazzling golden burial mask.

From Luxor, your Nile River Cruise winds past desert vistas, bustling communities, and breathtaking ancient works. Colossal statues guard lavish temples, each one uniquely grand. Stops include the terraced Temple of Hatshepsut and the twin Colossi of Memnon in the legendary Valley of the Kings. Tombs of Egyptian royalty and aristocracy are buried deep under the desert sands of the Theban Necropolis. They are chiseled into limestone and filled with treasure to sustain the Egyptian elite through a long afterlife. After the river cruise, fly directly back to Cairo with additional time to explore the city, or take an optional day trip to Abu Simbel to see spectacular twin temples built to honor Pharaoh Ramesses II and his wife Nefertari.

Add-Ons

Khan El-Khalili Bazaar Guided Shopping Trip

Enjoy an escorted tour of one of Egypt’s most vibrant markets

Abu Simbel Half Day Trip With Roundtrip Flights

Enjoy a tour to Abu Simbel, considered one of the most iconic temples in Egypt

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Tour Includes

1 Country

• Egypt

Sightseeing

• Cairo
• Nile River
• Pyramids of Giza
• Sphinx
• Memphis
• Saqqara
• Egyptian Museum
• Luxor
• Edfu
• Kom Ombo Temple
• Aswan

Cruise Accommodations

• 4 Nights
• River cruise aboard the Jaz Crown Prince

Hotel Accommodations

• 5 Nights
• Moderate hotels based on twin/double occupancy

Meals

• All meals onboard ship
• 5 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, and 5 Dinners on land portion

Service

• An English-speaking Egyptologist who is knowledgeable about the history of Egypt will provide you with a wealth of information. Their friendly service will make your trip a memorable experience.

Baggage Handling

• To and from your hotel room and cruise ship cabin throughout your tour for one piece of Checked Baggage per person.

Passports and Visas:

• U.S. citizens must have a visa to enter Egypt.
• U.S. citizens can obtain a renewable single-entry 30-day tourist visa on arrival at Egyptian airports for a 25 USD fee. A multiple entry visa is also obtainable for 27 USD. The Government of Egypt has created a website for the issuance of “e-visas.” There are other websites purporting to offer electronic visas, some of which reportedly charge double the official price, but this is the only official Government of Egypt portal for this service.
• U.S. citizens and the citizens of 44 other countries are eligible to apply through this means in advance of their travel. Egyptian immigration officials occasionally have denied entry to travelers without explanation.
• U.S. citizens who have experienced difficulty with their visa status in Egypt or are concerned about their eligibility for a visa upon arrival should apply for a visa at an Egyptian embassy or consulate prior to travel, but a visa obtained prior to entry does not guarantee admission to Egypt.
• Guests who booked their flight with YMT Vacations will be met by a friendly representative at the airport, who will help obtain a tourist visa required to enter Egypt.

Ancient Egypt and Nile Cruise

Tour Starts:

Cairo, Egypt

Tour Ends:

Cairo, Egypt

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Days 1

Depart for Cairo, Egypt

Your journey begins on an overnight flight.

Day 2

Arrive in Cairo, Egypt

Guests who booked their flight with YMT Vacations will be met by a friendly representative at the airport, who will help obtain a tourist visa required to enter Egypt and transfer you to the hotel. Meet your fellow guests tonight at an included dinner at the hotel. (D)

Barceló Cairo Hotel or similar

Day 3

Cairo, Pyramids of Giza, Sphinx, Memphis, and Saqqara

Begin at the Pyramids of Giza, the ultimate display of the power, wealth, and brilliance of ancient Egypt. The Great Pyramid is the only remaining

Wonder of the Ancient World.

Next to the pyramids lies the mysterious Sphinx. The statue was cut from the bedrock of the Giza Plateau in honor of the sun god and

Pharaoh Khafre in the 25th century BCE.

Continue to the ancient capital city of Memphis to see ruins of temples, ancient statues, and the 30-foot-tall Colossus of Ramesses II. Finally, visit Saqqara, Egypt’s

largest archaeological site. Here you will discover 11 pyramids. (B, L, D)

Barceló Cairo Hotel or similar

Add-On: Pyramids Sound and Light Show

Day 4

Cairo & Egyptian Museum

Discover the secrets of the Egyptian Museum, home to the largest collection of Egyptian antiquities and artifacts in the world. The museum is focused on exhibitions with artifacts from the Predynastic Period to the Greco-Roman Era. It holds 120,000 pieces including coffins, golden burial masks, jewelry, and even food for the dead to enjoy in the afterlife. (B, L, D)

Barceló Cairo Hotel or similar

Day 5

Fly to Luxor and Embarkation on the Nile River

After an included flight to Luxor, embark on your Nile cruise. Visit the massive temple complex of Karnak. The centerpiece of the site is the Temple of Amun-Ra, most famous for its vast Hypostyle Hall, a spectacular forest of giant papyrus-shaped columns constructed during the reign of Seti I. Discover the preserved Temple of Luxor. As you enter the temple, you’ll pass six massive statues of Ramesses II and a granite obelisk. (B, L, D)

Add-On:Beverage Package on Nile River Cruise (through the duration of the cruise)

 

Day 6

Luxor and Edfu via Esna (Depart at 1:00PM)

At the edge of the desert, just beyond the lush Nile floodplain, lies the Necropolis of Luxor. You will be welcomed to this archaeological goldmine by the Colossi of Memnon, twin statues of pharaoh Amenhotep III.

Continue to the Valley of the Kings, home of 63 magnificent royal tombs including the miraculously undisturbed tomb of King Tut.

The nearby terraced Temple of Hatshepsut is a carved into the limestone cliffs of the Deir el- Bahari. This lavish shrine to Queen Hatshepsut, one of the few women to ever be crowned as pharaoh, represents a highpoint in Egyptian art and architecture. (B, L, D)

Day 7

Edfu, Kom Ombo & Aswan (Depart at 10:30 AM - Arrive at 5:00 PM in Aswan)

Start your day at Edfu Temple, an incredible hillside monument to the falcon god Horus. It was built in the classic golden era style and stands as the best-preserved temple in the Nile River Valley.

Continue to a beautiful temple complex perched grandly over a picturesque bend in the Nile. Guests are encouraged to wear a traditional loose-fitting robe, called a Galabeya, during this evening’s fun on-board soiree. (B, L, D)

Day 8

Aswan

Start your day with a visit to the High Dam. The dam created a reservoir that flooded much of the area, which forced ancient sites including Abu Simbel and the Temple of Philae to be relocated.

Continue to the Temple of Philae, erected during the reign of Ptolemy II to honor Isis, Osiris, and Horus. Flanked by a duo of courtyards, the stunning Temple of Isis is renowned for its intricate carvings.

Take an afternoon ride on a traditional Felucca sailboat to Aswan Botanical Gardens, a lush sanctuary of rare and exotic plants. Watch a Nubian Show on the ship this evening to learn about the fascinating Nubian culture. (B, L, D)

Day 9

Disembark in Aswan and Fly to Cairo

After checking out of your stateroom, spend the day relaxing aboard the ship or join an optional 1/2 day trip to the Abu Simbel Temples at an additional cost. Take an included flight to Cairo later this afternoon. (B, D)

Steigenberger El Tahrir Cairo Hotel or similar

Add-On: Abu Simbel Half Day Trip With Roundtrip Flights/ Aswan Lunch at a Local restaurant (Choose any one)

Day 10

Cairo

Start your final day in Old Cairo. Visit the thousand-year-old churches of Coptic Cairo, then visit the dazzling National Museum of Egyptian Civilization. Discover civilizations and cultures stretching from prehistory to modern times, with exhibits focused on everything from the small moments of daily life through the preservation of one’s body in the face of death. End the trip with an included authentic Egyptian farewell lunch. (B, L, D)

Add-On: Khan El-Khalili Bazaar Guided Shopping Trip

Day 11

Depart for Home or Alexandria Trip Extension (B)

On select dates in 2025, you may choose to join us for an optional full day trip to Alexandria. This will include visits to the National Museum, Catacombs, Roman Amphitheatre & Montazah Gardens. Lunch and dinner are included.

 

Add-On: Day trip to Alexandria

Note: Flights from Cairo to USA may be red eye flights, departing in early morning.

Please note that this is a proposed itinerary; the actual itinerary may vary due to season, special events, or weather. Hotels may differ depending on date. Because our tour arrangements are often made a year or more in advance, YMT Vacations reserves the right to alter the itinerary. Itinerary changes are made to improve your vacation experience, as well as respond to any unforeseen circumstances that mandate alterations. By their nature, all tour vacations involve a certain level of physical activity. While YMT tours have been designed with our guests in mind and are not physically demanding, this tour does include walking and periods of standing during the sightseeing visits. You will also encounter steps and some uneven ground along the way, particularly at older, historical sights. Please ask your Travel Consultant for more information.

YMT Vacations itineraries may contain suggestions for activities for your leisure time; these suggestions do not constitute a recommendation nor an endorsement of any specific service provider and the decision to participate in any such activities should be made independently.

FAQs

Add-Ons

Make your vacation extra special by adding optional excursions to your tour. It’s a great opportunity to enhance your trip, these experiences slot seamlessly into your package, and we’ll take care of all the logistics for you. Call us for pricing, and remember that adding an optional experience might increase the overall activity level of the tour, so always keep that in mind when planning your trip.

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Khan El-Khalili Bazaar Guided Shopping Trip

Enjoy an escorted tour of the most famous Egyptian bazaar, Khan el-Khalili Bazaar in the center of Cairo, which was established as a center of trade in the Mamluk era. This colorful open-air-bazaar is filled with unique and exotic items from spices to jewelry to Egyptian scarfs and souvenirs. Guests will have the opportunity to shop for local merchandise and souvenirs.

Inclusions

Escorted tour of the Khan el-Khalili Bazaar

Note: It is recommended to visit the bazaar with an escort/ guide only.

Duration: Approx. 3 Hours (Afternoon)

Activity Level: Easy/Moderate

Price: $25 USD (2024) & $25 USD (2025)

Abu Simbel Half Day Trip With Roundtrip Flights

Enjoy a tour to Abu Simbel, considered one of the most iconic temples in Egypt, tour includes round trip flights. Abu Simbel is a historic site comprising two massive rock-cut temples, built to demonstrate the might of the Egyptian Empire. The complex is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the “Nubian Monuments”.

The twin temples were originally carved out of the mountainside in the 13th century BC, they serve as a lasting monument to the king Ramesses II, his wife Nefertari and his children can be seen in smaller figures by his feet. The complex was relocated in its entirety in 1968, to its current location. The relocation of the temples was necessary or they would have been submerged during the creation of Lake Nasser, the massive artificial water reservoir formed after the building of the Aswan High Dam on the River Nile.

Inclusions

• Half Day trip to Abu Simbel with a knowledgeable guide (visit at Abu Simbel is approximately 1 hour)
• Round-trip flights
• Included box lunch

Note: This tour cannot be booked in conjunction with the Aswan Lunch as timing for both tours overlap. As flight tickets need to be booked in advance, this add-on may close upto 120 days prior to departure. Optional must be paid in full at time of booking.

Duration: Approx. 7 – 8 hours

Activity Level: Active

Price: $449 USD (2024) & $469 USD (2025)

Aswan Lunch at a Local Restaurant

Enjoy lunch with your fellow travelers at a traditional restaurant.

Inclusions

Included lunch at a local restaurant

Note:This tour cannot be booked in conjunction with the Abu Simbel visit as timing for both tours overlap

Duration: Approx. 1-1.5 hours

Activity Level: Easy

Price: $25 USD (2024) & $27 USD (2025)

Pyramids Sound & Light Show

Step through a portal to ancient times, with the memorable Pyramids Sound and Light Show. The Sound Light show pyramids will take you on a journey thousands of years back, bringing the Egyptian legacy back to life! Thousands of years have passed since the pharaohs walked on earth, and the mystery behind these pyramids still endures.

Inclusions

Entrance to the Pyramids Sound & Light Show

Duration: Approx. 3 Hours (Evening)

Activity Level: Easy/Moderate

Price: $55 USD (2024) & $59 USD (2025)

Beverage Package on Nile River Cruise

Enjoy a wide selection of drinks as part of your Beverage Package while aboard the ship on the Nile River Cruise.

Inclusions

• All non-alcoholic beverages: mineral water, water, soft drinks, coffee, tea and juices
• Alcoholic beverages included: local beers, wines and spirits

Note: No beverages included on the Nile River Cruise, if you don’t avail of the package

Duration: 4 Days (throughout the duration of the cruise)

Activity Level: Easy

Price: $199 USD (2024) & $219 USD (2025)

Day Trip To Alexandria

On select dates in 2025, you may choose to join us for an optional full day trip to Alexandria. This will include visits to the National Museum, Catacombs, Roman Amphitheatre & Montazah Gardens.

Inclusions

•  Lunch and dinner and post night at Cairo hotel

Note: Only available on select dates in 2025

Duration: 24 hours

Activity Level: Easy

Price: $449 USD (based on double occupancy)