This tour is fully escorted by a dedicated tour leader who will accompany you throughout the tour. If your tour includes multiple countries, you will be met by a new tour leader in each country and any internal flights included will be unescorted.
This tour is categorised as 3 out of 5
Balanced exploration with walking tours: Our most popular style, this tour offers a good mix of planned activities and free time. Expect moderate daily walking tours, so pack comfortable shoes.
As a general requirement across all of our trips, you may be required to walk up and down stairs, get on and off transportation, handle your own luggage, and participate in all scheduled sightseeing that may be conducted on uneven ground and terrain. Any physical ailments you may have must be disclosed at the time of booking to determine your suitability and where required, supporting documentation may be requested to ensure that we are comfortable that you will enjoy your trip.
Experience a superior level of comfort. Our Small Group tours have been crafted for Inspiring Vacations travellers exclusively, with personal and unique experiences in mind. Travel with no more than 26 people, allowing for a more personalised and immersive experience. Please see the Important Information on your selected tour for the exact group size.
River cruises are a relaxed, informal way to travel - there are fewer passengers on board compared to an ocean cruise, which means ample opportunity to make lifelong friends. You will pass through the world's most loved cities and towns; disembark and enjoy a shore excursion or two, or simply wander around and explore on your own.
✓ Small, intimate group experience – no more than 20 people
✓ Incredible sightseeing, visit the Great Pyramids and Sphinx, Luxor, the Valley of the Kings, Alexandria and more
✓ Cruise the Nile on your floating hotel for 3 nights
✓ Airport transfers included
✓ Internal flight from Luxor to Cairo included
✓ Breakfast daily, 4 lunches and 5 dinners including a special home-cooked dinner in a Nubian Village and a home-cooked lunch in Luxor
✓ 10 nights in 4 - 5 star accommodations, and 1 night on a sleeper train
✓ All coach, rail and boat transportation included
✓ Fully escorted by Egyptologist
✓ Sightseeing including entry fees as per itinerary
✈ Needing international airfares to accompany your Inspiring Vacation? You will be able to access our flight portal after securing your package to add international airfares to your booking.
🛏️ Shared room available for solo passengers. This tour offers solo passengers the option to share a room with a fellow passenger of the same gender and avoid the Single Traveller supplement.
Tick off your Egypt to-do list with this itinerary that combines Egypt’s iconic landmarks, like the Pyramids and Valley of the Kings, with authentic experiences such as a Nubian dinner and Nile cruise. It offers a perfect balance of guided sightseeing and free time, making it a comprehensive and immersive journey through Egypt’s ancient and modern history.
Welcome to Egypt! A buzzing metropolis, home to at least 19 million people, Cairo gives you a great feel for Egyptian streetlife. It’s busy and among the hustle and bustle it’s an exciting blend of old world and new. Arabs call this city Umm al-Dunya (the mother of the world). There are many beautiful mosques to visit, like the Mohammed Ali Mosque in the Citadel. Or head to the oldest part of Cairo, the Babylon Fortress, to see ancient ruins. For stunning panoramic views of the capital, go up the 187-metre-high Cairo Tower.
Try some street food or get a taste of Egyptian street life by visiting a cafe. Sit in an ahwa and sip traditional mint tea. The shisha pipe can be found in many ahwas and restaurants across Cairo.
Special Information
Arrival airport transfers are included as part of your package. You will be met upon arrival at the airport and transferred to your hotel.
If Inspiring Vacations has not provided your international airfares, please ensure you provide your flight details via your Traveller Hub portal no later than 90 days prior to travel so that your transfers can be confirmed.
Check in: Passengers will be arriving at various times throughout the day from as early as 6am through to late evening. If arriving prior to standard check-in time, which is generally 3pm local time, you are welcome to leave your luggage with hotel reception
This morning meet your guide and fellow travellers and visit the famous pyramids of Giza the mighty Sphinx, and the Egyptian Museum.
The Three Pyramids and the Sphin - instantly familiar yet retaining a mystique and power, getting up close to these incredible pharaonic tombs is captivating.
The Egyptian Museum is simply one of the world's great museums, home to a stupendous collection of antiquities and the perfect introduction to your tour, exhibiting many of the region's treasures. Your expert guide will take you through Egypt's rich and fascinating dynastic history.
Inspiring Highlights
Today, enjoy a morning of free time to explore Cairo. You have the option to add a tour to the National Musuem of Civilization for the morning. At noon, you will be taken to visit Coptic Cairo and explore historic churches dating back to the late 3rd and early 4th centuries AD, including the Hanging Church, St. Sergius and Bacchus Church, and the Ben Ezra Synagogue.
From here, you’ll enjoy an essential Egyptian experience – a visit to Khan El-Khalili bazaar, a memorable shopping experience in the historic centre of Islamic Cairo. Even if you are not looking to buy, take a walk through the colourful winding alleys of this labyrinth district – you’ll feel like you stepped back in time to an old Arab souk. Selling handicrafts, delicious spices, fabrics and clothes, it’s been a shopping district for thousands of years.
After your shopping experiences, you will be taken to the Giza train station to catch a sleeper train to Aswan.
Inspiring Highlights
Special Information
Accommodation aboard the overnight train is in two-berth cabins which convert to bunk beds. All bedding is provided on board and western-style toilets are located in each carriage. Your bags will be stored in your cabin, where airline-style dinner and breakfast will be served. However it may be worth bringing some additional snacks, especially if you are vegetarian or have dietary requirements. Your tour leader can help you to arrange this. Despite being a tourist class train facilities are basic. Please also keep in mind general train cleanliness may not be to the same standards you are accustomed to.
Your travel time today will be approximately 12 hours
The musuem is newly founded, has artifacts from diffenrt periods of the Egyptian history, and has the mummies of the new kingdom famous kings and queens.
Meeting Point: Hotel Lobby
Includes: Transport
Start Time: 9:00am
End Time: 11:00am - finish the tour and continue the included activites of Coptic Cairo and Khan El Khalili bazaar
Upon arrival in Aswan, head to your hotel to freshen up before visiting the magnificent Philae Temple. The Temple of Isis, dedicated to the goddess of health, marriage, and wisdom, was rescued from the rising Nile waters and relocated to Philae Island. Known for its stunning decorative pylons and exquisite carvings, this temple is one of Upper Egypt's most iconic gems. Access to the temple is via small motorboats.
After exploring the temple, return to check in at your hotel and enjoy a relaxing afternoon. In the evening, gather for an authentic meal at one of the Nubian houses.
Experience modern Nubian culture with a visit to a nearby village. Enjoy a memorable dinner with a local Nubian family, where you can learn about their daily life, savor traditional Nubian dishes, and share stories with your hosts. The warm hospitality is accompanied by a lively Nubian dance performance, where you may even get the chance to join in the fun!
Inspiring Highlights
Enjoy a free morning at your leisure. You may choose to book the optional Abu Simbel excursion. In the afternoon check in to your Nile cruise at noon, followed by lunch on board. Afterward, relax and enjoy a scenic sail along the Nile.
Please note that as the sailing distance between Aswan and Luxor is approximately 200km, that it is typical for all cruises operated along the Nile to be docked for majority of the time to conduct sightseeing, with the sailing to occur of an evening. The vessel will be docked either in Aswan or Luxor. Depending on the time of year and number of vessels operating at the same time, you will also find that all vessels are docked beside one another, which is beyond our control.
To ensure that our customers have appropriate expectations prior to their journey, it is important not to compare this experience to that of a European River Cruise, which tend to cover a greater distance and on larger vessels. Instead, you will experience a deluxe stay onboard your vessel, offering a great chance to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the banks of the Nile while you sit back and relax. Your cruise schedule will be provided once onboard.
Inspiring Highlights
Sit back and relax as you drive to the ancient Abu Simbel temples, near the southern Egyptian border. You will have an early arrival into Abu Simbel to view this incredible sight. The complex is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the Nubian Monuments.
The two enormous sandstone structures were built in the 1200s BCE by Ramses II to commemorate himself and his favourite wife Nefertari. The larger temple, dedicated to three major Egyptian deities, features four large statues of Ramses II on its façade, while the smaller temple is dedicated to the goddess of love, Hathor, with statues designed to embody Nefertari.
Set on the banks of the artificial Lake Nasser, the structures were once in danger of being flooded with the construction of the Aswan High Dam but were saved via an extensive project to cut the temples into pieces and move them to higher ground, where they are seen today
Please note - a food stop will be made to and from Abu Simbel where guests can purchase lunch. Guests will also have access to included lunch on ship once they return from the day tour.
Meeting Point: Hotel Lobby
Includes: Transport, Entrance Fees, Boxed breakfast.
Start Time: 4:00am
End Time: 3:00pm
Today you’ll journey ashore to visit Kom Ombo Temple. Dedicated to the gods Sobek and Haroeris, this unusual double temple was constructed during the Ptolemaic period, which lasted from 108 to 47 BC.
Set dramatically on the banks of the Nile, 47km north of Aswan and 168km south of Luxor, the soaring, chunky columns of the Great Temple of Kom Ombo are a magnificent sight as you arrive from the river. In the Sobek section recent discoveries have been made of mummified Crocodiles, which are now displayed in the Crocodile Museum attached to the temple - don't miss it!
The temple is well preserved, especially detail on the murals and columns. One unique engraving is thought to be among the first representations of medical and surgical instruments.
Today, Kom Ombo may be a sleepy agricultural backwater surrounded by sugar cane fields, but its prime position along the Nile once made it one of Upper Egypt’s most important centres. Wander through the temple’s colonnades, gazing up at scenes of kingly propaganda, and you’ll catch a feel of this glorious history for yourself.
Returning to the cruise boat, you’ll continue travelling upriver, with free time relaxing on the sundeck and taking in the surrounding sights – from fishermen casting nets and farmers working their land to the desert hills that frame the lush riverbanks.
Inspiring Highlights
Today you will moor near Edfu, home to ancient settlements and temples, as well as a bustling town centre and a bazaar.
Return to the boat for your final evening on one of the world’s greatest rivers. Tonight we overnight in Luxor.
Special Information
The only mode of transport available to visit the Temple of Edfu is by locally managed horse and carriages. As a responsible travel-focused business, animal welfare is extremely important to us and we want to ensure that we are not promoting any activities where the working animals are not properly cared for. Unfortunately, some operators of the horse and carriages have been found to be in breach of our animal welfare guidelines and it is, for this reason, we will no longer include the visit to the Temple of Edfu.
In addition to the animal welfare concerns, we have had a substantial amount of feedback suggesting that the experience itself is quite uncomfortable due to the pushy nature of the vendors and local suppliers outside the site. While we recommend that you do not use the horse and carriage to visit the Temple, the decision is ultimately up to you. Edfu is an included port stop on the Nile River cruise schedule.
Today you'll discover some of the many wonders of ancient Thebes. Your first stop is the Colossi of Memnon, two 17-metre-high statues on Luxor's west bank. Carved from granite blocks, they represent the Pharaoh Amenhotep III and were once part of an impressive colonnade.
We'll continue onto the spectacular royal burial site of the Valley of the Kings. Buried under the arid hills here are the tombs of more than 60 pharaohs, many richly decorated with reliefs and paintings. Explore this sprawling and spectacular place with your guide, where the pharaohs of the New Kingdom (16th to 11th century BCE) were secretly interred for all eternity, and where archaeological discoveries are still being made. Your guide will explain the history of and legends surrounding these remarkable people, their funerary rites, and the significance of the many paintings and hieroglyphics, still well-preserved in the deepest tombs.
You will visit three of the most interesting royal tombs and then continue to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, a stunning colonnaded building set against high cliffs that create a spectacular natural amphitheatre. One of Egypt’s greatest queens, she built this temple to prove her importance – the scale and elegance of her temple certainly proves a point!
Experience the warmth of a local family's hospitality as you enjoy a homemade traditional lunch, with an array of authentic flavours and dishes.
Inspiring Highlights
Today you'll explore the magnificent Karnak Temple, which is perhaps the most impressive of all the ancient pharaohs' monumental works. One of the world's most celebrated temple complexes, Karnak was built over some 200 years and was once known as the 'Chosen of Places'. Your guided tour of this vast temple of impressive pylons, obelisks and chapels will reveal its finest sections, such as the Avenue of Sphinxes and the Great Temple of Amun.
The rest of the day is yours. Take part in the optional tour to visit the Luxor Temple, or relax, shop in the excellent bazaar, or perhaps experience the atmosphere of a local teahouse.
Inspiring Highlights
Situated on the East Bank of the Nile River, in the city of Luxor, Luxor Temple was built approximately 1400 BC. The site is over 73 sq km and exhibits obelisks, giant statues, an Avenue of Sphinx statues, the Grand colonnade and the Barque Shrine of Theban Triad. Viewing is as majestic at night as it is during the day.
Please note: the start and duration times outlined are subject to change based on factors beyond our control such as traffic and weather conditions. Your Tour Guide will confirm operation times with you whilst on-tour and can answer any further questions you may have.
Start: 4:00pm
End: 6:00pm
Inclusions: return transfers to temple, entrance into Luxor Temple
Catch an early morning flight from Luxor to Cairo, where you'll be greeted and transferred straight to the historic city of Alexandria. Once in Alexandria, enjoy an afternoon in this historic down.
You will be taken to visit to the historic Fort of Qaitbey, built in 1480 AD by the Mamluk ruler to defend the coastline against Ottoman invasion. With an afternoon to yourself, stroll along the Cornice to enjoy the fresh Mediterranean Air.
Inspiring Highlights
Special Information
Your flight time today is approximately 1 hour. Your driving time from Cairo to Alexandria is approximately 3 hours
Today, after breakfast, prepare to delve into the catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa. Heading underground, you’ll get to view the largest known Roman burial site in Egypt, complete with burial chambers, labyrinth alleyways and entertaining rooms for families coming to visit the dead.
The crypts are 20 metres below street level and date back to the Greco Roman period. What likely started as a small family tomb grew into a large number of graves that could accommodate more than 300 bodies. The tombs are organised around a central spiral staircase that leads down through several levels.
Stop by the strikingly modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina, inspired by the original great library of Alexandria and built to hold over 8 million books.
We then drive back to Cairo. On arrival, you will check into your hotel for an evening at your leisure
Inspiring Highlights
Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours.
Unfortunately, today marks the end of your incredible tour through Egypt. At the appropriate time you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home.
Special Information
Check out: Passengers will be departing at various times throughout the day. Standard hotel check-out times will apply no matter what time your flight is scheduled to depart. Check-out time is generally anywhere from 10am-12pm. You are welcome to leave your luggage at hotel reception and spend your final moments of free time exploring the area or alternatively please speak with hotel staff if you would like to extend your check-out time. Please note this service is subject to availability and will likely come at an additional cost.
Departure transfers are included as part of your package. You will be collected from your hotel at the appropriate time and transferred to the airport to meet your flight.
If Inspiring Vacations has not provided your international airfares, please ensure you provide your flight details via your Traveller Hub portal no later than 90 days prior to travel so that your transfers can be confirmed.
Thank you for travelling with Inspiring Vacations. We hope you had a memorable experience.
Inspiring Sights
Inspiring Tastes
Inspiring Stay
Payment Information
This product requires full payment within 48 hours to secure your booking.
Once you have created your booking you will be directed to your invoice to choose your preferred payment method.
Cooling Off Period
A refund will be available within the 7-day cooling-off period unless otherwise restricted by the purchased product.
Where 'last minute' bookings are available within 71 days of departure, the cooling-off period does not apply and bookings are immediately non-refundable.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Please review our terms and conditions here: Terms And Conditions - Inspiring Vacations
This is a Land Only package.
This package does not include international airfares. If you would like to add airfares to your booking our flight portal will be available via your Traveller Hub. The flight portal will allow you to search for all available airfares to your destination. The function works like most general flight search engines allowing you to select your preferred airline, book different cabin classes (eg. Business class) and view flight durations and transit times to your destination.
The flight portal will be available via your Traveller Hub once the following criteria has been met:
Visit our Flight Hub for more information on terms and conditions, amending your flights and information on luggage allowances.
Some of our packages will include airport transfers in either one or both directions when arriving or departing from your destination. To know if transfers are included please view the ‘inclusions’ section of your selected package. If airport transfers are stated, transfers will be included as advised.
If transfers are not included, we also offer the option to book your airport transfers using our online portal. Access to this portal is available through your Traveller Hub once your booking is confirmed. Transfers are readily available and do not need to be booked until your final hotel list has been confirmed. Once you have made a transfer booking, please refer to your confirmation email for all transfer details including a local contact number for the transfer company.
If you book pre and/or post-tour accommodation on your own arrangement, and the tour includes transfers, note that these will be forfeited. The transfers are only provided in line with the tour dates and pre and/or post-tour accommodation purchased through Inspiring Vacations when available.
It is the traveller's responsibility to ensure they have a valid passport. The passport must be valid for a minimum of six months from the intended date of return. Visas may be required for your destination. For further visa information, click here.
Fitness Requirements
While the tour itinerary should give you some guidance and overview to the expected requirements, to determine if this tour is right for you we categorise each of our tours in terms of their intensity. These guidelines are to ensure that each tour group is conducted as expected and to ensure the overall satisfaction of all Inspiring Vacations customers.
As a general rule, porterage is not included, therefore at all times you are expected to handle your own luggage where help may not be available.
This particular tour is categorised as a”3”
Moderate Tour: A good level of fitness and mobility is required, as this tour includes a moderate level of physical activity and is considered a medium-fast paced tour. You should be able to walk up and down stairs, get on and off the coach and able to walk reasonable distances of approximately 2 kilometres per day or more with ease. Any physical ailments you may have must be disclosed at the time of booking to determine your suitability. If you have any form of walking aids, other than a walking stick or hiking poles, then this tour is not suitable.
Tipping
A friendly reminder that tipping is not included in your package. While tipping is not customary, it's of great significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels, inspires excellent service, and is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry across many destinations.
Accommodation
The accommodation listed is subject to change. Any changes will be of an equal or higher standard. Bedding configurations (double or twin) are requests only. All efforts will be made to meet your preferences, but we can’t guarantee your request will be available at all properties.
Single travellers
When booking this tour, solo travellers will be presented with three options:
1 - Single Supplement
By paying an additional ₹44,200.00 per person, in addition to the twin-share price, you guarantee the privacy of your own room throughout the entire trip.
2- Shared Room with a known friend
If travelling together with a friend, you can opt to share your room with him/her and avoid paying a single supplement.
You and your friend can create a unique booking each. Creating a unique booking, gives each of you the flexibility of making different travel arrangements (such adding extra accommodation, flights, etc), make separate payments and have individual access to our Traveller Hub
During the purchase path, you will need to provide your friend’s booking ID (if known) or at a minimum, your friend’s full name.
3- Shared Room with a fellow traveller
In this trip you can opt to share a room with a fellow traveller of the same gender – as specified in your passport - and avoid paying a single supplement.
If you believe you may prevent your travelling companion from enjoying a peaceful night’s rest, please refrain from selecting this option.
You will meet your rooming companion at the beginning of your trip.
Changes to room configuration during the trip must be organised by travellers directly with the hotel, subject to availability and additional charges.
This option is not available on additional accommodation booked before or after the tour.
Triple Share
Not available.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is compulsory for this tour to protect yourself against the unexpected. In addition to the support that a policy may provide, you may be asked to present a copy of your travel insurance documentation while traveling.
Group Size
Maximum of 16 people
Children
Children must be 5 years old or above and share a room with parents at all times. Children are charged the same price as adults.
Tour Style
To meet the needs of various types of travelers, we choose to operate various types of tours, and depending on your selected package will mean different services are provided throughout your trip. The following descriptions of each tour style we hope will ensure that each traveller has appropriate expectations before they start their travels:
All participants must be in good physical condition to fully engage in this journey. For the safety and welfare of yourself and fellow travellers, if you are feeling unwell prior to departure, we advise staying home and contacting us to arrange alternate plans.
Prior to selecting your trip, carefully review the itinerary to assess your ability to comfortably manage our travel style. Please be aware that if, based on evaluation by our leader or local representative, a participant is deemed unable to safely complete the itinerary, we retain the right to exclude them from all or part of the trip without reimbursement.
It is advisable to consult your physician for current medical travel advisories and any required vaccinations before embarking. We recommend carrying a first aid kit and any necessary medications in their original packaging, as they may not be readily available during travel. For those carrying medication, it's essential to check your government's foreign travel guidelines for local restrictions or regulations.
To enhance your journey, we are offering guests a choice of the following optional activities (prices are per person):
Optional tours can be selected once you have finalised your tour purchase and paid your deposit. When completing your Passenger Booking Form, you will be asked if you would like to add Optional Tours, where any applicable cost will be added to your final balance. If you choose not to select them at this time, you can choose to add them later by logging in to your Account online.
Please note that you must select your Optional Tours no later than 70 days before departure, after which you will be required to purchase them on tour. Please keep in mind that anything purchased on-tour is subject to availability and prices may vary as you will be paying in local currency. We appreciate your understanding.
You can enhance your holiday by arriving or departing before or after the tour. On this tour you can choose from the following options:
Pre Tour Accommodation
Post Tour Accommodation
Please select the number of extra nights required in the 'Additional Nights Accommodation' field when making your purchase. The additional cost for these arrangements will be added to your final payment invoice and are subject to availability.
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