

Egypt: Jewels of the Nile
Temples and treasures are among the discoveries you'll make on this escorted 10-Day, Egypt: Jewels of the Nile, tour. Have your camera handy as your visit includes Cairo, Giza, Luxor, Aswan and a Nile River cruise. Museums, feluccas, camels, delicious cuisine, breathtaking scenery, archaeological wonders and rich history are among the splendors you'll encounter on this thrilling vacation.
Walk in the footsteps of Pharaohs as you explore ancient history. The incredible man-made wonders of The Great Pyramids and the Sphinx of Giza rise up out of the sands to greet visitors. Indulge in private visits to the tombs of Tutankhamun and Nefertari. See the gorgeous botanical gardens from your traditional wooden felucca as it sails by Kitchener's Island. Walk the Avenue of Sphinxes. See the impressive statues of Ramses II. Travel by camel to the Saint Simone Monastery, a huge cave church. Visit one of the oldest churches in Egypt, the Hanging Church. Stop at the royal mausoleum of Muhammad Ali's family, the Al Rifai Mosque and Ben Ezra Synagogue located at what is thought to be where baby Moses was found. Pick up souvenirs at the famous bazaar, Khan El-Khalili Market, to add to the wonderful photos and experiences you will fondly remember far into the future.
10 Days • fr. $7,990
Tour Includes
- PRIVATE VISITS to the tombs of Tutankhamun and Nefertari after-hours
- VISIT Temples of Karnak and Avenue of Sphinxes
- CAMEL RIDES at the Pyramids of Giza
- BOAT RIDE to Agilkia Island
- SEE the Temple of Isis at Philae
- TEA in a Nubian Village
- GUIDED TOUR of Solar Boat Museum
- LOCAL SPECIALIST guided exploration of the Great Pyramids of Giza
- VIEW antiquities dating back thousands of years
- BEHIND THE SCENES TOUR of the New Egyptian Museum in Cairo
- SEE Kom Ombo, twin Castle of the Falcon and House of the Crocodile in addition to collection of crocodile mummies
- VISIT Temple of Horus at Edfu
- EXPLORE Abu Simbel with colossal statues of Ramses II
- SEE Saint Simone Monastery
- SIGHTSEEING in Old Cairo to the Hanging Church, Ben Ezra Synagogue, the Al Rifai Mosque, and the Khan El-Khalili Market
- PHOTO-STOP at Dahshur Pyramids
- Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as detailed
- All customary gratuities for hotel and restaurant staff and local guides are included.
Not Included
- The customary gratuities for the Tauck Director and local drivers are not included. We ask that gratuities be extended on a voluntary, individual basis and not as a group.
- All items of a personal nature (room service, beverages, telephone charges, laundry, dry cleaning, special food requests, etc.) and meals not specified on the tour itinerary are not included and must be paid by the client.
- Airline excess luggage charges, vaccinations, visa fees and services, airport arrival and departure taxes, individual airport transfers (when applicable), and other optional or incidental extras are not included.
- All rates exclude airfare unless expressly noted.
Meal Inclusions
Hotel Details
- Marriott Mena House in Cairo, Egypt (2 nights)
- Oberoi Philae or Oberoi Zahra on Nile River Cruise, Egypt (4 nights)
- Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Aswan in Aswan, Egypt (1 night)
- Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza in Cairo, Egypt (2 nights)
Day 1
ARRIVE CAIRO Location Information Description
Cairo, Egypt
A transfer is included from Cairo International Airport to the Marriott Mena House, a sumptuous former royal hunting lodge, where your room enjoys views of the pyramids. Join us this evening for a welcome reception and dinner that celebrates your arrival in this historic land.
Dinner
Marriott Mena House
Day 2
PYRAMIDS OF GIZA Location Information Description
Giza, Egypt
Drive to nearby Giza this morning for a guided tour of its storied pyramids, including the Great Pyramid of Giza, the last of the ancient Seven Wonders of the World, that have stood as defining symbols of Egypt for millennia. Here, take a camel ride* if you so choose, before viewing the most instantly recognizable statue in the world, crafted in limestone with the body of a lion and the head of a king – the Great Sphinx has been mysteriously reclining atop its Giza plateau for more than 3,000 years, guarding still the unanswered secret of who built it and why.
Your visit includes entry to the Solar Boat Museum, built to house a rebuilt cedar ship that was unearthed next to the Great Pyramid by archaeologists more than 5,000 years after it was buried under the sand.
Location Information Description
Saqqarah, Egypt
After lunch at a local restaurant, visit the pyramids at Saqqara, site of the necropolis (burial ground) for the ancient Egyptian capital of Memphis. The pyramids you will see here, including the Step Pyramid, the Bent Pyramid, and the Red Pyramid, are magnificent reminders of the early architecture of the pharaohs of the Old Kingdom. The rest of day is yours to explore Cairo as you like.
Breakfast, Lunch
Marriott Mena House
Day 3
FLY TO LUXOR FOR YOUR NILE RIVER CRUISE Location Information Description
Luxor, Egypt
The River Nile has been an invaluable source of life for the people in Egypt throughout history as it provides them with food, water and an important transportation route. Fly to Luxor this morning, site of the ancient city of Thebes and an extraordinary open-air museum, where your Nile cruiser awaits, embarking ship in time for an onboard lunch.
This afternoon, join us for an excursion to the Valley of the Queens with a visit to the beautiful tomb of Nefertari, the great wife of Pharaoh Ramesses II, where the hieroglyphics amaze. Continue to the Valley of the Kings for an after-hours private visit that includes entry to King Tutankhamun’s tomb, renowned for the wealth of valuable antiquities it contained when it was discovered unopened in 1922. Return to your ship for dinner at leisure.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Oberoi Philae or Oberoi Zahra
Day 4
TEMPLES OF LUXOR AND CRUISE TO ESNU Location Information Description
Luxor, Egypt
With three main temples and several smaller ones constructed over hundreds of years, Luxor’s Temple of Karnak is the largest complex of its time ever built, developed over a thousand years. Explore the site with an expert guide who shares insights about its history and construction, including the 134-columned Great Hypostyle Hall. A locally guided visit to Luxor Temple, connected to Karnak by an avenue of sphinxes, and dating back to the 1300s BC, follows. Return to your Nile cruiser for lunch and a leisurely afternoon cruise to Esna.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Oberoi Philae or Oberoi Zahra
Day 5
TEMPLES OF EDFU AND KOM OMBO Location Information Description
Edfu, Egypt
Sail from Esna early morning and disembark at Edfu to take a horse and carriage to the Temple of Horus, considered to be among the most beautiful and best-preserved temples in Egypt, with its roof still intact. It took 180 years for the temple to be built, and during your guided visit you’ll discover why. Massive statues of Horus as a falcon guard entrances and the reliefs on its interior walls relate the story of the birth of Horus and depict Ptolemaic rulers making offerings to the gods and destroying their enemies.
Location Information Description
Kom Ombo, Egypt
Return to your ship by horse cart and cruise to Kom Ombo, where its unusual twin temples are just a walk away from your ship. Temple reliefs here feature a unique engraving thought to depict the first representation of medical and surgical instruments.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Oberoi Philae or Oberoi Zahra
Day 6
A SACRED TEMPLE AND A DAY'S END FELUCCA CRUISE Location Information Description
Elephantine Island, Egypt
A full day of Egyptian exploration includes a visit to the ruins of Saint Simeon Monastery on Elephantine Island in the Nile River, once housing some 300 monks when it was completed in the 10th century.
Location Information Description
Philae, Egypt
Take a boat ride to Agilkia Island to see the sacred Temple of Isis at Philae, one of the last of the ancient temples constructed in the “classic” Egyptian style; and a visit to a Nubian village for an opportunity to discover an authentic taste of daily life – and local tea.
Location Information Description
Aswan, Egypt
Back aboard ship, enjoy a relaxing afternoon charting a course towards Aswan, highlighted by a sunset felucca cruise and dinner at leisure.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Oberoi Philae or Oberoi Zahra
Day 7
DISEMBARK AND FLY TO ABU SIMBEL Location Information Description
Abu Simbel, Egypt
A morning flight brings you to the Nubian village of Abu Simbel for a locally guided visit to its massive temples cut into a solid rock cliff and created during the reign of Ramesses II in the 1200s BC. The Great Temple stands 98 feet high with four seated colossi flanking the entrance and smaller statues depicting Ramessess’ conquered enemies lining up below. The smaller temple, some 40 feet high, is adorned by four colossi depicting Ramesses and two of his queen Nefertari at a height of 32 feet.
Location Information Description
Aswan, Egypt
Fly back to Aswan for an overnight stay in the Nubian Desert where your colonial-era palace hotel is located on the banks of the River Nile. Enjoy views of the cataracts in the Nile River from your suite!
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Aswan
Day 8
FLY TO CAIRO Location Information Description
Cairo, Egypt
Fly back to Cairo this morning, touching down late morning. Following lunch at a local restaurant, enjoy a guided visit to the Old Egyptian Museum, housing the world's largest collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts and includes many of the treasures found in King Tutankhamun’s tomb. Check into your riverside hotel in Cairo, inviting with views of the Nile, where the remainder of the day is at leisure.
Breakfast, Lunch
Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza
Day 9
TREASURES OF OLD CAIRO Location Information Description
Cairo, Egypt
Located on the right bank of the River Nile, the historic district of Old Coptic Cairo predate its modern-day processor with sites that date back to 6th century BC, including ones allegedly visited by the holy family of Joseph, Mary and the baby Jesus. A guided tour includes Roman ruins, ancient Coptic churches, mosques and later visits the Al Rifai Mosque or the Sultan Hassan Mosque a short drive away. Have lunch at a local restaurant in the Khan El Khalili Market, a bustling souk in the city’s historic center, and enjoy free time to experience the labyrinth lanes of this colorful bazaar. Join us for a farewell reception and dinner at your hotel tonight.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza
Day 10
JOURNEY HOME Location Information Description
Cairo, Egypt
Tour ends: Cairo. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from the Four Seasons Hotel Nile Plaza to Cairo Airport. Allow three hours for flight check-in at the airport.
Breakfast
Important information:
Important Information
Cancellation Policy
- 60 days or more before departure: $525.00 per person
- 59-8 days before departure: $925.00 per person
- 7-1 days before departure: $1500.00 per person
- On departure day and later: 100% of total price
- Any changes or cancellations to airline reservations made through Tauck either before or after departure are subject to the cancellation / change policies of the individual airlines. In n some instances these cancellation / change fees may be up to 100% of the ticket price.
- Cancellation fees may also apply to any additional services, including extra night accommodations, independently supplied services, and optional excursions reserved prior to, during, and after the tour. If flight changes, including, but not limited to, flight cancellations or name changes, are requested after full land and air deposits are received, revision fees, change fees, or airline cancellation fees will apply.
- All cancellations must be received in writing prior to tour departure. The cancellation policy will apply according to the date that the cancellation notification is received. The MINIMUM cancellation penalty is the deposit amount.
- The purchase to trip cancellation insurance is strongly recommended.
Terms and Conditions
- Land only “from price” is per person based on two people sharing a room together and does not include airfare unless expressly stated.
- All prices are in US Dollars.
- A $525 non-refundable, non-transferable, per-person, per-vacation deposit is required to reserve space for you. Payment of the deposit indicates you have read and accepted all Terms & Conditions. Your booking is not confirmed until the deposit payment is processed and you receive a confirmation invoice.
- Final payment is due 75 days prior to departure. Within the final payment date, payment in full is required at time of booking to reserve space. Reservations (land, cruise, and air) are canceled if final payment is not received by the due date.
- Additional deposits or payments are required for international air added to the start and/or end of your vacation.