12 Days
From $4,999 pp
Cairo, Giza, Luxor
& Aswan
Osiris Tours Advantages
- Discover Cairo’s museums and bazaars with your own private Egyptologist.
- Marvel at the Pyramids of Giza – and nearby Sakkara’s even older stepped tombs.
- Visit the Valley of the Kings, Valley of the Queens, Queen Hatshepsut temple, and other key sites in Luxor.
- Explore Philae temple, the unfinished obelisk, Kom Ombo temple, and other key sites in Aswan.
- Wind your way around scenic Aswan islands on your own felucca sailboat with your private guide.
- Stay in the best of Egypt’s best hotels, including Le Mena House Hotel, Old Winter Palace Luxor, and Legend Old Cataract Hotel.
- Enjoy a customized Egypt tour with a private Egyptologist guide, driver, traditional Egyptian cuisine, and all internal flights.
- We will personalize your tour for you to suit your needs and schedules.
- Avoid the crowds with exclusive access, your own private guide & private vehicle during your tour around the Great Pyramids.
Tour Overview
Osiris’ best of Egypt tour will help you discover a land of myths, legends, and amazing history, with your very own exclusive guide and dedicated private driver.
Accompanied by the fascinating and knowledgeable commentary from your qualified Egyptologist, commence the wonderment by gazing in awe at the massive and mysterious Great Pyramids and the enigmatic Sphinx. Then, venture to nearby Saqqara and witness the ancient monuments at Memphis.
Later, step back in time, and experience the desert by camel or horseback—just like Lawrence of Arabia— then dine in a local Bedouin restaurant as the sun sets over the Pyramids of Giza.
Continue the adventure with a flight to Luxor, and bask in its deeply rich layers of history, highlighting our best of Egypt tours. Your tailored tour straddles the mighty Nile, including both East and West Banks of the famed city. In the West Bank, you will have the golden opportunity to visit the revered Valley of the Kings or the mysterious Valley of the Secrets as Egyptologists call it. Most notable sights include the tombs of three different rulers of Thebes and the New Kingdom, and top it off with a wonder-inducing visit to the tomb of the legendary Boy King, Tutankhamen.
Afterward, head over to the temple of the most powerful queen from all of ancient history, Queen Hatshepsut, followed by a wander through the Valley of the Queens, where the two Colossi statues of Mammon are not to be missed.
Skip back across the Nile and continue exploring the East Bank with your expert guide and private driver. Your best of Egypt tour itinerary includes the world’s largest temple, magnificent Karnak, followed by the equally impressive Temple of Luxor.
From Luxor, you also have the unique chance to travel to the Abydos and Dendera temples, where you can learn about the God Osiris and the Goddess Hathor.
Departing Luxor, enjoy the comfortable, scenic drive to the temples of Kom Ombo and Edfu, and before reaching picturesque Aswan, explore the temples of Horus and Sobek.
After you arrive in Aswan, you will get to enjoy your very own private and relaxing Felucca (sailboat) cruise. Then, take the wonderful opportunity to learn about the Nubian people. As a grand finale, experience the awe-inspiring majesty of the Abu Simbel Temple to complete your best of Egypt tour.
To find out more about this tour or the rest of our other Egypt tour packages, please feel free to contact us at any time.
Itinerary
Day 1: Cairo
Upon your arrival in Cairo to commence your ‘best of Egypt tour,’ an airport representative will meet you in the tunnel and help facilitate the visa process (included) and then escort you through customs & immigration. Continue to the baggage claim hall, and finally on to the passenger pick up area, where you’ll connect with an Osiris Tours associate, who will arrange your private airport transfer to your hotel.
Accommodation: Mena House Hotel (5*)
Day 2: Giza
Enjoy a fabulous private tour exploring the Great Pyramids of Giza and the famous Sphinx.
The enigmatic Sphinx has been a unique symbol of Egyptian civilization from ancient times right up to the present day. It has inspired the imaginations of artists, poets, adventurers, scholars, and travelers worldwide.
*Tickets to enter the Great Pyramid are included with your tour
Close to Cairo, you’ll discover the mystique of Memphis and Saqqara on your private tour with an Egyptologist guide and explore some of the country’s most iconic pyramids and royal tombs. This exclusive tour includes a private vehicle, a driver, and a qualified Egyptologist and also incorporates a visit to the lesser-known red pyramid. After a scintillating day, enjoy a relaxing sunset camel ride by the Great Pyramids, and follow up with a delicious and authentic Egyptian dinner.
Accommodation: Mena House (5*)
Day 3: Cairo – Luxor
Transfer by private vehicle from your hotel to Cairo Airport is provided, and then board your included flight from Cairo to Luxor.
After you arrive in Luxor, a private transfer will take you to your hotel on the banks of the mighty Nile River, one of the finest hotels on our best of Egypt tours.
Tucked away in the tropical gardens of an opulent 19th-century palace, the Sofitel Old Winter Palace is a Luxor gem.
The contemporary peach façade of this luxury 5-star hotel gleams against a tropical backdrop of rare plants, exotic palms, and colorful fruit trees. If you can pull yourself away from the stunning building and its grounds, enjoy a private tour exploring the East Bank, once again with your qualified Egyptologist guide. Wander around in awe, much as famed archaeologist Howard Carter once did, the most impressive temples of Luxor and Karnak–the world’s biggest. Nearby, the placid, jade-green waters of the Nile curve past those magnificent temples, megalithic monuments to Thebes’ ancient city.
Accommodation: Sofitel Old Winter Palace (5*)
Day 4: Luxor
Today you’ll explore some of Egypt’s most incredible sites. You will visit the legendary Valley of the Kings, where you have the chance to explore three royal tombs, constructed for kings such as the mysterious boy-king, Tutankhamen, and other powerful nobles of the New Kingdom (the Eighteenth to the Twentieth Dynasties of Ancient Egypt).
After the Kings’ Valley, it’s off to the nearby Valley of the Queens, and the recently renovated mortuary temple of the most powerful woman in ancient Egyptian history, and maybe even the world: Queen Hatshepsut.
*Tickets to enter the tomb of King Tut and King Ramsses VI are included
Accommodation: Sofitel Old Winter Palace (5*)
Day 5: Luxor – Dendera – Abydos
Today, enjoy an extraordinary adventure to the God Osiris and Goddess Hathor’s temples, followed by a visit to Abydos and Dendera Temples. Abydos Temple is notable for Seti I’s memorial temple, which contains an inscription from the nineteenth dynasty. It is known to the modern world as the ‘Abydos King List.’ It is a chronological list showing cartouches of most dynastic pharaohs of Egypt from Menes until Ramesses I, Seti’s father. The Great Temple, and most of the ancient town, are buried under the modern buildings to the north of the Seti temple. Unfortunately, most of the original structures and artifacts are considered irretrievable and lost, and many believed destroyed by the new construction.
Accommodation: Sofitel Old Winter Palace (5*)
Day 6: Luxor
Begin the day with a private guided tour to Deir Al-Medina, the Valley of the Nobles, and Habu Temple, where you can witness King Ramses III’s great monument. Although ancient Egyptians called this place Djanet, today’s name derives from the name of an early Christian location.
This complex of buildings dates from the early 18th Dynasty when Hatshepsut and Tuthmose III dedicated a temple to Amun and continued right up until the Roman era. Its history continued until the 9th century CE when a Coptic church was established in the second courtyard of the mortuary temple, the best-preserved temple at Thebes.
When you’re in the Valley of the Nobles and Deir Al-Medina, don’t forget to enjoy the amazing and unique art of the ancient tombs.
Accommodation: Sofitel Old Winter Palace (5*)
Day 7: Luxor – Edfu – Kom Ombo – Aswan
Today you will be driven by private vehicle between Luxor and Aswan, with many special excursions along the way.
Accompanied by your private Egyptologist, enjoy visiting the Temple of Horus, the falcon god, considered the best-preserved cult temple in Egypt and spectacularly situated on the banks of the Nile. The exceptional preservation is partly because it was built later than most, in the Ptolemaic era from 237 to 57 BC. Despite its later date, it still reflects traditional Egyptian architecture, thus provides an excellent idea of how all temples once looked.
Edfu Temple is also massive, the second-largest in Egypt after the Temple of Karnak.
After visiting Edfu, you’ll be driven to Kom Ombo, where you can explore a distinctive Greco-Roman temple dedicated to two gods: Sobek, the crocodile god, and the falcon god, Haroeris. Known simply as Kom Ombo Temple, the structure dates from circa 180 BC, during a period known as the Ptolemaic era, though it had some structural additions during the Roman era.
Next, your driver will continue south to Aswan, as you sit back in luxury and experience the slowly meandering countryside and its sedate way of life, unchanged for millennia.
Next, you’ll arrive at your hotel. An icon of Aswan, the Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Aswan hotel is a stunning 19th-century Victorian palace on the banks of the river Nile. Rising splendidly from a pink granite shelf at the edge of the Nubian Desert, complete with exquisite views over Elephantine Island, this stylish property seamlessly blends Pharaonic treasures with French art de recevoir. Inside, marvel at the sophisticated interiors created by Sybille de Margerie in the historic Palace, and immerse yourself in a world of Moorish arches, ruby red chandeliers, plush Persian carpets, soft armchairs, and hand-carved furnishing. While there, you’ll feel like royalty yourself, as you get the most from your best of Egypt tour.
Accommodation: Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Hotel (5*)
Day 8: Aswan
In picturesque Aswan, you will visit the impressive Temple of Philae on the island of Agilika, a temple dedicated to the Goddess of magic. With a break at the ‘Unfinished Obelisk,’ you’ll witness a practical demonstration of the methods used by ancient craftsmen to create such beautiful and imposing monuments.
In the afternoon, your private guide will pick you up and transport you to your private Felucca (sailboat). Relax in comfort as you tour the Nile like Queen Cleopatra, and discover the most beautiful parts of the Nile River in Egypt, including a sail around Kitchener Island, Egypt’s largest botanical garden, started by the famous British army leader, Lord Kitchener. It will be an indulgent afternoon, fit for a queen.
Later, enjoy a very special adventure to the Nubian Village west of Sohil, Aswan, where you’ll discover a different side of Aswan and its people. We will arrange a private tour, where you will visit one of the local houses, enjoy a delicious local tea, and taste delicious Nubian homemade food. The Nubian Village is the only place where you can learn about the Nubian people, their culture, traditions and customs, and the ancient Nubian way of life. It’s a rare experience, and a very unique slice of Egyptian society, as the Nubian people in the village still speak their own language (Nubian), wear their own tribal clothes, and still hold on to their own unique culture.
Accommodation: Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Hotel (5*)
Day 9: Aswan – Cairo
Enjoy a free relaxing morning in the luxury of this classic hotel. In the afternoon, an included private transfer will take you to the airport, from where you will fly to Cairo (1.5 hours, flight included).
After touchdown, a private transfer will whisk you from the airport to the 5* Kempinski Nile Hotel. Known for its close attention to details, you’ll be greeted by a row of familiar smiles, welcoming you to one of the most luxurious boutique hotels in Cairo. Contemporary European flair meets with Egyptian charm to evoke an ambiance that stirs you within, a hotel where ‘Simple Things Done Beautifully’ gives you a lasting impression of personalized luxury. Set in the very heart of Cairo, in the bustling Garden City district on the banks of the Nile, Kempinski Nile Hotel has 54 exceptional suites, where guests can delight in the views across the legendary river from their private balcony.
Accommodation: Kempinski Nile Hotel (5*)
Day 10: Cairo
Today, with your Egyptologist guide & exclusive driver, you will discover the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities on a private guided tour. The museum contains King Tut’s tomb, Egypt’s most famous boy King, and visitors can’t fail to admire Tutankhamun’s spectacular golden death mask and his elaborate coffins and chariots. You can also view the ancient mummies of Egypt’s kings and other pharaonic artifacts as your guide beautifully recounts their history in your very own private seminar.
Take a break, and enjoy an included lunch at a local restaurant.
Also included is a special private tour to discover Khan El Khalili in the afternoon.
Accommodation: Kempinski Nile Hotel (5*)
Day 11: Cairo
Today you have the chance to explore the many sides of Cairo. Geographically split into many areas, you’ll discover Old Cairo, Islamic Cairo, and Coptic Cairo, accompanied by your private Egyptologist guide.
Old Cairo is so named because it is the oldest part of the city. In fact, some experts believe there was a settlement here as far back as the 6th century BC. Later, the Romans built a fortress in the same location, which Egyptians have labeled Babylon. Some of those Roman walls still exist.
Later, it became a Christian stronghold, with as many as 20 churches built within an area of just one square mile. There are only five remaining, but they are certainly a must-see when visiting Cairo, along with the earliest mosque ever built in Egypt. After the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD, the area also saw an influx of Judaism into the area, making it home to the oldest synagogue.
The area is a vibrant and eclectic mix of religions, traditions, and people and represents modern-day Egypt. It is the perfect way to finish your best of Egypt tour with Osiris Tours.
Accommodation: Kempinski Nile Hotel (5*)
Day 12: Cairo
A private transfer to Cairo airport is included in your tour.
Hotels
Mena House (5*)
The Mena House is one of Cairo’s unique hotels, with its own rich and colorful history. Fascinating guests since 1869, the property has continuously held the attention of royalty, political thinkers. It is surrounded by 40 acres of verdant green gardens; this palatial hotel is located in the shadows of the Great Pyramids of Giza in Cairo. The hotel’s royal history is reflected in luxurious interiors embellished with exquisite antiques, handcrafted furniture, original work of art, and magnificent antiques that are rarely found in luxury hotels. Mena House has played host to kings and emperors, Heads of State, and celebrities. The Mena House, located 700 meters from these wonders of the ancient world, offers unmatched views of the pyramids. You can gaze upon the magnificence of the pyramids from your rooms at sunrise and sunset.
Sofitel Old Winter Palace (5*)
Discover Sofitel Old Winter Luxor on the banks of the Nile, tucked in the tropical gardens of an opulent 19th-century palace in Luxor, Egypt.
The contemporary peach façade of this luxury 5-star hotel in Luxor gleams against a backdrop of rare plants, palms, and fruit trees. Archaeologist Howard Carter, the discoverer of Tutankhamun’s tomb, wandered the same leafy paths. Beyond the Nile curve’s jade-green waters past Luxor and Karnak temple monuments to the ancient city of Thebes.
Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Aswan (5*)
Live the Legend at Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Aswan, a 5-star luxury hotel in a 19th-century Victorian palace on the river Nile banks.
Rising grandly from a pink granite shelf at the edge of the Nubian Desert with views of Elephantine Island, this stylish property blends Pharaonic treasures with French art de recevoir. Discover sophisticated interiors by Sybille de Margerie in the historic Palace, a world of Moorish arches, ruby red chandeliers, plush Persian carpets, soft armchairs hand-carved furnishing.
Kempinski Nile Hotel (5*)
The ultimate attention to detail, a charming greeting, and a row of familiar smiles welcomes you to the 5-star luxury boutique hotel in Cairo. Contemporary European flair meets with Egyptian charm to evoke an ambiance that stirs you from within. Here is where “Simple Things Done Beautifully” gives you a lasting impression of personalized luxury.
Egypt, “land of the Pharaohs and Pyramids,” is also home to Kempinski Nile Hotel, which means that there has never been a more exciting time to visit Cairo. Set in the heart of the city, in the bustling Garden City district, and on the River Nile banks, Kempinski Nile Hotel is a boutique property. With 137 rooms and 54 suites, guests can delight in the views across the Nile as most of the rooms and suites have their own private balcony.
Things you should know before you visit Egypt
If you are an American, you will need a valid passport for at least 6 months after the day you plan to return from Egypt. You must also provide proof that you intend to return or continue your travels elsewhere. You are responsible for ensuring your passport is current and that your name on your passport matches all other travel documents we will issue. If you find that your name differs between any documents, please let us know right away.
You will need a visa to travel to and inside Egypt. You can get one when you arrive at Cairo airport. We can include visa fees and proceeds in your itinerary upon request. When you leave Egypt, you must show proof of entry via a stamp on your valid passport. If you don’t provide this stamp, officials may prevent you from leaving Egypt.
It is a good idea to have insurance if you need to cancel your trip or any medical need while abroad. Most insurance policies also cover baggage loss/damage or problems completing the trip due to circumstances beyond your control. Get a policy that provides medical coverage to avoid large health care expenses in an emergency. We can help you find the right insurance policy for your trip with us.
In general, for women traveling to Egypt, anything that is below the knee should be fine. Short sleeves should be fine as well, but nothing too short or too tiny. You do not need to cover your head in Egypt but do dress modestly. Wear pants or long skirts. It is hot in the summertime so that loose-fitting pants will be more comfortable than a pair of skinny jeans. It is also dusty and dirty, so that white clothing will appear soiled far more quickly than other colors’ clothing.
Egypt’s power grid is set up for 220V AC. Some rural areas only have 110V AC. Sockets are either the “Type C” Europlug or the “Type E” and “Type F” Schuko plug. You’ll need to purchase an adapter for devices from North America. Outlets marked as 110V or “For Shavers Only” won’t work for devices not rated for 110V and may even damage them.
Mobile phone roaming charges are different between carriers, so be sure to check on costs with your phone provider in each area you’ll travel to.
The large cities such as Dahab, Luxor, Cairo, and Alexandria have many Internet cafes where you can pay to use the WiFi or wired network ports. Some small towns like Siwa have at least one Internet cafe. Hotel in-room or lobby WiFi can be expensive, so check the rates before connecting to their services. Osiris Tours will not have control over which hotels have Internet access, but we do have information on which establishments are likely to provide it. We can help you find contact information to get in touch with the properties directly and ask what they make available.
– Time Zone: UTC+2
– Electricity: 220V AC + 110V in certain rural areas
– Telephone: Country code for calling you from outside Egypt is 20
– Calling North America: Dial 00 + 1 and your 10 digit number
– Emergency numbers in Egypt: Police: 122; Tourist Police: 126; Ambulance: 123; Fire: 125
Egypt is very dry in some places and very wet in others. Be prepared for a hot and dry climate. It can get cold in the northern regions if you happen to visit in the Winter. Most tourists visit during the cooler months from December to February.
February to April and October to November is the best time of the year climate-wise to see the pyramids and Valley of the Kings. It can be very hot and dusty in April because of winds blowing in from the Sahara, so visiting sites can be a bit of a problem during that month.
Updated weather forecasts can be obtained from Weather.com.
We recommend that you bring about $100 US per person for each day’s expenses. Small bills are best to tip waiters, porters, and housekeeping. Tipping is at your discretion based on your satisfaction with the service you receive.
The Egyptian currency is called the “Egyptian Pound” (guinay in Arabic). Notes come in denominations of 5pt, 10pt, 25pt, 50pt, E£1, E£5, E£10, E£20, E£50 and E£100. Coins come in denominations of 10pt, 20pt, 25pt, 50pt, and E£1. Some tour operators and hotels only accept US dollars or Euros.
Get your Egyptian Pound currency from your own bank before leaving or from an Egyptian bank machine. Those methods are cheaper than in the airport currency exchange or in tourist areas. Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted, but your bank card may or may not be valid in-country.
There are currently no vaccinations required to travel to Egypt.
There have been some occurrences of “Bird Flu” (avian influenza) in Egypt. We recommend that you:
– Avoid going to live animal farms or poultry markets.
– Avoid eating eggs or poultry that have not been fully cooked.
– Wash your hands regularly.
– See a doctor if you feel any flu symptoms coming on while traveling or after you return home.
Make a list of all the medicines and medical items you need to bring with you on your trip, plus dosages of prescription drugs, details of prescription glasses and contacts, and any other medical necessities. Put spare eyewear and medications in checked and carry-on bags in case some of your luggage gets lost in transit.
There are non-prescription, over-the-counter medicines available in Egypt, but it is often difficult to get prescription medication or eyewear. Bring water purification devices or iodine tablets in case bottled water is not available. We can advise which locations will have potable vs. non-potable water. We strongly recommend bringing some type of over-the-counter diarrhea medication.
Medical Needs Checklist
– Basic first aid and medicine kit (band-aids, antiseptics, pain meds).
– Pepto-Bismol, Imodium, electrolyte powders for adding to drinking water to solve dehydration problems, and anti-diarrheal medications.
– Anti-itch cream for insect bites and allergies.
– Tablets for motion sickness.
– SPF 30 or higher sunscreen, aloe-vera lotion for sunburn treatment, large-brim hat, lip balm, insect repellent, and sunglasses.
– Hand sanitizer and baby wipes.
