History of Egypt

Day 1: The Nile River Boat Trip

Arrival in Cairo. Meet and greet at the airport, transfer to the selected hotel, and check-in. Then, enjoy a boat trip along the Nile, the famous African river, featuring an entertaining music and dance program. Experience a vibrant show with a male Sufi «tanoura» dance and a traditional belly dance, have dinner onboard with dishes of Egyptian cuisine, and return to the hotel.

Day 2: Cairo Sightseeing Tour

Breakfast at the hotel, followed by a guided tour to explore the Citadel and its landmarks, including the Alabaster Mosque, Al-Rifa’i Mosque, and Sultan Hassan Mosque. The itinerary also offers a glimpse of other iconic sites in the Egyptian capital: the Hanging Church, the Ben Ezra Synagogue, St. Barbara Church, and the Church of Abu Serga, one of the oldest Coptic churches in Cairo. Additionally, the tour includes visits to the world-renowned Egyptian Museum and the historic Khan El Khalili Bazaar.

Travelers will enjoy lunch and dinner, both included in the trip price.

Day 3: Excursion to the Pyramids of Giza, Saqqara, and Dahshur

Breakfast at the hotel. Depart for a combined excursion, beginning with a visit to the world-famous pyramids in the Giza Plateau. Explore the Great Pyramids and meet the guardian of Ancient Egypt’s mysteries, the Great Sphinx. Entry inside the pyramids is not included in the tour price and can be purchased separately. Additionally, visitors can enjoy optional camel or horseback rides for an extra fee.

The tour also includes a visit to the Papyrus Museum, where guests can witness the traditional process of crafting papyrus scrolls as it was done in ancient times. After lunch, which is included in the tour package, the journey continues to Saqqara and Dahshur to explore the «other» pyramids. The Step Pyramid of Djoser, the Bent Pyramid, and the Red Pyramid will undoubtedly captivate enthusiasts of Egyptology and ancient mysteries.

Day 4: Alexandria Sightseeing Tour

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure for Alexandria, a city unlike Cairo or Egypt’s resort towns. The sightseeing tour includes a visit to Alexandria’s most famous fortress, Qaitbay, built to protect against potential Ottoman naval invasions. Visitors will also see the city’s ancient architectural marvels, such as Pompey’s Pillar and the Abu al-Abbas Mosque. The tour features visits to the Royal Jewelry Museum, which is an artistic masterpiece in itself, and the elegant chambers of Montaza Palace. A highlight of the tour is a visit to the stunning Kom El Shoqafa catacombs.

Lunch on the route is included in the tour price, while dinner will be served at the hotel, where accommodation is based on a half-board plan. After dinner, we’ll enjoy a stroll along Alexandria’s famous Corniche and walk across the Stanley Bridge.

Day 5: The Second Part of Alexandria Sightseeing Tour and Trip to Wadi El Natrun

Breakfast at the hotel. We will continue exploring Alexandria, so we will visit the Museum of Ancient Manuscripts and the renowned Library of Alexandria. Then, it’s time for new discoveries.

On our way back to Cairo, we will stop at Wadi El Natrun, a place considered the «cradle» of monasticism. It was here, in one of the local monasteries, that the palimpsest of the Nitrian Codex was discovered, which includes, among other texts, the Gospel of Luke. Once home to around 50 monasteries, only four remain today, yet the unique spirit of this place is still profoundly felt.

Upon arrival in Cairo, the group will check into their hotel.

Day 6: Beginning of the Nile Cruise. Excursion to the Dam and the Temple of Philae

Early breakfast at the hotel, followed by a transfer to the airport and a flight to Aswan. Upon arrival, transfer from Aswan airport to the cruise ship M/S HAPI and check-in. The 4-day journey along the Aswan-Luxor route begins.

Guests will enjoy lunch onboard the ship before embarking on their first excursion as part of the cruise, visiting the famous dam and one of Egypt’s most picturesque temples, Philae, which gained prominence during the Ptolemaic dynasty as a center for the worship of the goddess Isis. Dinner will also be served at the ship’s onboard restaurant.

Day 7: Excursion to Kom Ombo and Visit to Ancient Temples

Breakfast at the ship’s restaurant. Departure to Kom Ombo and an excursion to explore the ancient temples. Travelers will enjoy a walk through two temple complexes dedicated to the ancient Egyptian gods Horus and Sobek.

After setting sail for Edfu, guests will be served lunch and dinner at the ship’s onboard restaurant. The remainder of the journey can be spent marveling at the banks of one of the world’s most famous rivers.

 Day 8: Excursion to the Temple in Edfu and a Walk Through the «City of the Living»

The morning begins with a visit to the Temple of Horus in Edfu, an iconic structure built during the Ptolemaic era. This visit will take place before breakfast, which will then be served onboard the ship.

The day’s next highlight is a journey to the site of the ancient Egyptian civilization’s capital, Thebes, including a walk through the «City of the Living». Here, travelers will explore two magnificent temples, Karnak and Luxor, forming a stunning complex adorned with colossal statues and gilded obelisks that gleam against the azure sky. Dinner will be served at the ship’s onboard restaurant.

Day 9: Visit to the «City of the Dead» and Exploration of the Colossi of Memnon

Breakfast will be served in the onboard restaurant, marking the end of the stay on the cruise ship. After breakfast, guests will embark on an excursion to the Valley of the Kings and Queens, the centerpiece of the program in the «City of the Dead.» Travelers will have the chance to see ancient tombs and the massive Colossi of Memnon.

Another highlight of the itinerary is a visit to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, a breathtaking masterpiece of ancient architecture carved into the rock.

The program concludes with a transfer to Luxor Airport. Travelers can then either return home or continue their journey, depending on their plans.