8 Days Cairo and Nile Cruise

Join us on an unforgettable New Year tour in Egypt 2025 by choosing Top Class Egypt Travel. Arrive in Cairo and experience a seamless welcome from our dedicated tour guide, ensuring a smooth entry and visa process at Cairo Airport. As you transfer to your 5-star hotel, absorb the vibrant energy of Africa's largest city. Our expert guide will assist you with a hassle-free check-in, leaving the rest of the day open for you to explore or relax. Kick off the New Year with a Nile cruise and immerse yourself in the rich history and culture of Egypt. Book Now your Egypt New Year tour 2025.

This day begins with a visit to Cairo's biggest highlight – after breakfast, you'll drive with your tour guide to the legendary:

Pyramids of Giza

One of the most remarkable achievements of ancient civilization is the construction of the three Pyramids of Giza. These monumental structures have stood the test of time and are the only remaining wonders of the ancient world. They were erected on a vast limestone plateau around 2600 BCE by the rulers of the Old Kingdom of Egypt. The pyramids served as tombs for the pharaohs and their consorts, as well as repositories of sacred objects and rituals.

The Great Pyramid

The Cheops Pyramid is the oldest and largest of the three pyramids, also known as the "Great Pyramid." It is the tallest pyramid in the world, 147 meters high, built as a tomb for the Egyptian King Cheops.

We will first admire this largest pyramid. Then, we'll visit the Chephren Pyramid and the Mykerinos Pyramid. Afterwards, we drive to a plateau, offering a beautiful panoramic view of the three Pyramids of Giza.

The Great Sphinx

The Great Sphinx of Giza is a remarkable monument that represents the ancient Egyptian civilization. It is a huge limestone statue of a mythical creature with a human head and a lion's body, facing eastward on the Giza Plateau near the Nile River. The head is believed to portray the pharaoh Khafre, who ruled Egypt in the 26th century BCE and built the second largest pyramid at Giza. The Sphinx was carved from the bedrock and restored with layers of limestone blocks over time. It is about 73 meters long, 20 meters high and 19 meters wide

After exploring the pyramids and the Sphinx, you will enjoy an oriental lunch at a local restaurant. Strengthened, you proceed to your next destination, the Necropolis of:

Saqqara Step Pyramid

Saqqara is one of Egypt's oldest and largest cemeteries. Here, you can see Egypt's first pyramid, the Step Pyramid of King Djoser from the 3rd Dynasty around 2650 BCE. It consists of 6 steps and has a height of 62 meters. This structure marked the beginning of the first phase of pyramid construction in Egypt. Originally planned by Imhotep as a square mastaba, the pyramid has recently become visitable from the inside. You can also admire the beautiful tombs from the Old Kingdom with their special paintings.

After the last point of this impressive day, you will be taken back to your hotel.

Today, the morning is dedicated again to the Pharaohs. After breakfast at the hotel, you'll be picked up to visit the impressive:

The Egyptian Museum

The Egyptian Museum is one of the most famous attractions in Cairo, where visitors can admire the treasures of ancient Egypt. The museum was established in 1902 and has over 120,000 items, including the famous gold mask of Tutankhamun, the triads of Menkaure, and the statue of Ramesses II with the god Horun. The museum also has a rich history and has witnessed many events, such as the discovery of King Tut's tomb, the flooding of the Nile, and the 2011 revolution. The museum is located in Tahrir Square, in a building designed by the French architect Marcel Dourgnon.

After the museum visit, you'll get an insight into Cairo's Islamic culture. You'll visit the majestic:

Saladin's Citadel

Saladin's Citadel is one of the few remaining fortified structures in Cairo. Built between 1176 and 1183 CE by Saladin, it aimed to better defend the city against Crusader attacks. From the Citadel, perched on a small hill, you'll enjoy a wonderful view of the capital city. This medieval relic from the time of the Crusaders will leave you amazed.

Within Saladin's Citadel lies one of the city's most beautiful buildings that never sleeps:

The Alabaster Mosque of Mohamed Ali

Mohamed Ali's Alabaster Mosque is one of Egypt's largest mosques, constructed between 1830 and 1880. The minarets reach 82 meters, and the dome is 52 meters high. The interior walls are clad in alabaster, and the columns are made of solid alabaster. The entire mosque offers the perfect combination of majesty and beauty.

After your tour guide's detailed explanations, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant in the city center, followed by a return to the hotel.

Your unforgettable Cairo adventure concludes today. After a delightful breakfast, our chauffeur will transport you to Cairo Airport for a seamless flight to Luxor, renowned as the "City of Palaces." Upon arrival, our warm tour guide will greet you, guiding you to embark on a luxurious 5-star Nile cruise ship. Welcome to a new chapter of your Egyptian journey!

Note: Your Egypt tour guide, a qualified Egyptologist tour guide, will stay with you throughout the Nile cruise on board the ship and lead the sightseeing activities.

After lunch on board, you will visit with your guide:

The Karnak Temple

Is the largest temple complex ever built, dedicated to the holy family of Thebes: Amun-Re, his wife Mut, and their son Chonsu. The temple's construction spanned over 2000 years. One of its most significant areas is the Grand Hypostyle Hall with 134 papyrus columns, built by Seti and completed by Ramses II.

Following the visit, you will also tour to:

The Luxor Temple

Located in the heart of Luxor, the Luxor Temple was constructed by Amenhotep III and Ramses II. Alexander the Great also built a chapel for the ancient Egyptian gods. The Opet Festival, the most important event in Thebes, was celebrated here by the ancient Egyptians. In 1989, archaeologists discovered an underground chamber with well-preserved statues, now exhibited in the Luxor Museum. The Luxor Temple features a portion of the Sphinx Avenue, which once connected it to the Karnak Temple.

After the sightseeing, the first day in Luxor concludes, and you will be taken back to your 5-star Nile cruise ship. Enjoy your dinner and the outstanding service on board, looking forward to the upcoming program in the following days.

Tip of the day: In the evening, you have the opportunity to experience the fascinating Sound and Light Show at the Karnak Temple (optional)

Indulge in a delightful breakfast on board before embarking on an enriching journey with your expert guide to Thebes West.

The Valley of the Kings

Be enchanted by the magnificent wall paintings in the tombs of the pharaohs, over 3000 years old. So far, 64 tombs have been discovered in the Valley of the Kings, and you will have the opportunity to visit three of them. The Valley of the Kings is home to the tombs of the kings of the New Kingdom (approximately 1550 to 1069 BC, 18th to 20th Dynasty). In 1922, the Englishman Howard Carter discovered the tomb of Tutankhamun with its golden treasures.

We leave this unique valley and its magical atmosphere and head to another enchanting location:

The Hatshepsut Temple

The mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut dates back to the 18th Dynasty, 1470 BC. She had her impressive terrace temple built by the architect Senenmut. She was always depicted as a man, as clearly seen in the well-preserved statues in the temple. In Christian times, a monastery was built on the temple, which was used until the 11th century. In the 19th century, the monastery ruins were dismantled.

Enjoy the view from the temple's terraces of Luxor and the Nile Valley, then continue with the journey and a stop. You will visit:

The Colossi of Memnon

The Colossi of Memnon are two adjacent ancient Egyptian colossal statues, approximately 18 meters high, from the 14th century BC. Both statues depict Amenhotep III and were located at the entrance of his temple.

Afterwards, you will be escorted back to your ship. After lunch on board, the ship departs towards Edfu via the Esna Lock.

In the afternoon, there is no program; simply enjoy the journey from Luxor to Edfu on the ship. You have plenty of time to relax on the sun deck. Choose your favorite spot on the ship and let the typical Egyptian Nile landscape unfold before you.

Tip of the day: Today, you have the opportunity to enjoy a hot air balloon ride at sunrise over Thebes-West, offering a unique view of the ancient treasures of Luxor. (Optional)

On this day, you will enjoy a hearty breakfast on board before embarking on a visit to one of Egypt's best-preserved temples. You will explore:

The Edfu Temple

Built by the Ptolemies for the Falcon god Horus Behdeti from 237 to 57 BCE, the temple remained hidden under sand and Nile mud until 1860 CE, when it was uncovered by the Frenchman Marriette. The temple hosted the annual celebration of the marriage between Horus of Edfu and Hathor of Dendara, as well as the Festival of Horus' victory over Seth.

After visiting the Edfu Temple, your journey continues as the ship sets sail towards Kom Ombo. In the afternoon, you will visit:

The Kom Ombo Temple

This is the only double temple in Egypt dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek and the falcon god Horus. The temple's ruins were buried under sand for a long time, with excavation and restoration taking place in 1893. Built during the Greek period from 304 to 31 BCE, the temple's surroundings revealed hundreds of mummified crocodiles.

Following the visit to the Kom Ombo Temple, the ship will continue upstream on the Nile until it docks in Aswan.

After your breakfast on board, during which you can enjoy the view of the beauty and atmosphere of the city of Aswan with its green islands and red granite rocks, you will embark on an excursion around the city. The first stop is a boat trip to the Nile island of Agilika. There, you will visit the last major sanctuary of ancient Egyptian religion:

The Philae Temple

The Philae or Isis Temple originally stood on the Philae Island south of Aswan. However, after the construction of the High Dam, the temple was submerged for several months each year. Consequently, from 1977 to 1980, the temple was relocated to the neighboring island of Agilika. In 553 AD, the temple served as a church, leading to the destruction of significant parts of the temple's reliefs.

Following the temple visit, you will explore the impressive:

The High Dam

The construction of the High Dam, initiated by President Nasser and lasting from 1960 to 1971, resulted in one of the world's largest reservoirs, measuring 500 km in length and 32 km at its widest point. The dam itself is over 3800 meters long, 111 meters high, with a base width of 980 meters and a crown width of about 40 meters.

Tip of the day: In the afternoon, you have the opportunity to take an optional excursion to the beautiful botanical garden on Kitchener Island and visit a Nubian village, experiencing the hospitality of the locals.

After breakfast, you will disembark from your Nile cruise ship. Today, you have the unique opportunity to take an unforgettable private excursion to:

Abu Simbel Temples

Abu Simbel is home to two magnificent temples carved by Ramses II in 1260 BCE. They remained hidden under the sand for centuries until they were rediscovered by Belzoni, an Italian explorer, in 1817. The larger temple of Ramses is 60 meters long and 30 meters high, while the smaller temple of Nefertari is 21 meters long and 12 meters high. When the Aswan Dam was built, both temples had to be moved 62 meters higher between 1964 and 1968 to save them from the rising water.

You will have an unforgettable experience visiting Abu Simbel with your private guide and vehicle. You will leave early in the morning and enjoy the sunrise over the desert on your way.

In the afternoon, you will say goodbye to the Nile and the ancient wonders of Egypt. You will be taken to Aswan Airport and fly back to your home via Cairo.