Egypt in 8 Days: Standard Itinerary

Arrive at Cairo International Airport, where you will be warmly greeted by your dedicated Egyptian guide. You will be assisted with luggage and escorted to your private, air-conditioned vehicle. On the way to your hotel, enjoy a short stop for complimentary snacks and bottled water.

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Check in to your hotel and take the rest of the day to relax after your journey. Overnight in Cairo.

After breakfast, begin your day at the world-famous Great Pyramids of Giza. Stand before these ancient wonders and take in the extraordinary history surrounding you.

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Continue to the Grand Egyptian Museum, home to thousands of artefacts, including treasures from the tomb of Tutankhamun. Your expert guide will bring the exhibits to life with stories of Egypt’s pharaohs and ancient civilisation.

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Enjoy lunch in a traditional Egyptian restaurant before returning to your hotel for time to relax. Overnight in Cairo.

After breakfast, check out and store your luggage safely in your private vehicle. Today you will explore Old Cairo, one of the most culturally rich areas in the country. Visit historic mosques, ancient churches, and a synagogue, all located within the city’s oldest quarter.

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Transfer to Cairo Airport or train station for your internal trip to Luxor. 

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Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred by private car to the Eldeak Hotel on Luxor’s peaceful West Bank. After check-in, enjoy a late lunch or early dinner with the welcoming Eldeak family in their home - a rare opportunity to experience genuine Egyptian hospitality.

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Return to your hotel for an overnight stay.

After breakfast and check-out, begin a full day exploring Luxor’s West Bank:

• Valley of the Kings - Step inside ancient royal tombs decorated with vibrant hieroglyphs.

• Temple of Hatshepsut - Learn the story of Egypt’s only female pharaoh and admire her magnificent cliff-side temple.

• Authentic Alabaster Workshop - Visit a family-run factory owned by descendants of Hussein Abdel Rasoul, the water boy who discovered the entrance to Tutankhamun’s tomb.

• Colossi of Memnon - Stand before these towering statues and marvel at their scale.

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After your tour, transfer to your Nile Cruise for check-in. Enjoy lunch on board and time to freshen up before visiting Luxor Temple and the vast complex of Karnak Temple on the East Bank.

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Return to the boat for dinner and overnight on board.

After breakfast on board, head out with your guide to visit two remarkable sites:

1. Medinet Habu (Temple of Ramses III) - Famous for its towering pylons, colourful reliefs, and detailed battle scenes.

2. Deir el-Medina (Valley of the Workers) - Explore the ancient village where the artisans who built the royal tombs once lived. Their beautifully decorated tombs offer a rare glimpse into everyday life in ancient Egypt.

 

Return to the boat and begin sailing toward Esna.

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Around sunset, experience the Esna Lock, where impressive engineering raises the boat to the next level of the Nile. This is a peaceful and atmospheric moment as the sun sets over the river.

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Arrive in Edfu for an overnight stay on board.

After breakfast, travel by traditional horse and carriage to the magnificent Temple of Edfu, the best-preserved temple in the Nile Valley. Dedicated to the falcon god Horus, its towering columns and dramatic reliefs bring ancient mythology vividly to life.

 

Return to the boat and sail onward to Kom Ombo.

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After lunch on board, arrive at Kom Ombo, home to Egypt’s only double temple, dedicated to two deities:

1. Sobek, the crocodile god associated with strength and protection

2. Horus the Elder, symbolising healing and divine kingship

 

Explore the temple’s twin sanctuaries and visit the Crocodile Museum, where mummified crocodiles reveal the region’s ancient traditions.

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Return to the boat for evening navigation to the remarkable city of Aswan. Overnight on board.

Today you have the opportunity to take an optional excursion to the world-famous Abu Simbel Temples (£120 per person). Carved directly into the mountainside by Ramses II, these colossal statues stand guard over Lake Nasser. The interior is equally breathtaking, with vast halls and intricate carvings aligned with the sun twice a year.

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For guests not travelling to Abu Simbel, your day includes:

1. The Aswan High Dam - A monumental engineering achievement that reshaped Egypt’s landscape and secured water and electricity for millions.

2. Philae Temple - Dedicated to the goddess Isis, this enchanting temple sits on its own island. Rescued stone-by-stone from rising waters, it is one of the most atmospheric and romantic sites in Egypt.

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In the late afternoon, enjoy a magical sunset felucca sail. Glide across the golden water in a traditional wooden boat as the sky turns shades of amber and rose - a peaceful, romantic moment that becomes a favourite memory for many travellers.

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Return to your boat for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, it is time to say goodbye to your floating home on the Nile. Transfer to Aswan Airport or train station for your journey back to Cairo, where you will connect with your international departure.

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Timings may vary depending on your onward flight schedule.