Compare 10 Day Classic Egypt with 4 Day Nile Cruise by Gate 1 Travel vs Cairo, Nile Cruise & Hurghada Holiday by Memphis Tours

DAY 1, Thursday - Depart for Egypt
Depart for Egypt

DAY 2, Friday - Arrive in Cairo
Welcome to Egypt, one of the world's greatest ancient civilizations. Arrive in Cairo and transfer to your hotel with the remainder of the day at leisure. Your tour will begin with an orientation meeting with your Tour Manager at approximately 6 PM, followed by a light dinner
Overnight: Cairo
Meals: Dinner

DAY 3, Saturday - The Pyramids & Sphinx of Giza
After breakfast, visit the Pyramids of Giza, built during the 3rd and 4th dynasties of the Old Kingdom. These monumental undertakings stand as a marvelous testimony to the almost unbelievable skill and determination of their builders. Get a close-up view of the Great Pyramid, built for the Pharaoh Khufu, as well as the Pyramids of Khafre and Menkaure. Not too far from the Pyramids, see the great Sphinx of Giza, the legendary statue with the head of a human and the body of a lion, amazingly carved out of one huge piece of limestone. Leisure time this afternoon, or join the optional tour to Sakkara with lunch. In Sakkara, site of hundreds of tombs, view the famous Step Pyramid of Djoser. Next, visit a carpet school before heading back to your hotel
Optional: Sakkara Pyramids with Lunch (PM)
Overnight: Cairo
Meals: Breakfast

DAY 4, Sunday - Full Day Cairo
Spend the day at leisure in Cairo, or join the optional Egyptian Museum & Khan El Khalili bazaar with lunch. Begin with a visit to the Egyptian Museum, a neoclassical style building located in Tahrir Square that houses the world's largest collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts. After lunch, continue to Khan el Khalili bazaar to browse vibrant displays of fabrics, handicrafts, and antiques
Optional: Egyptian Museum & Khan El Khalili with lunch (AM)
Overnight: Cairo
Meals: Breakfast

DAY 5, Monday - Flight to Luxor, Temples of Karnak & Luxor, Nile Cruise Embarkation
After breakfast, check out of your hotel and drive to the airport for your flight to Luxor. Upon arrival in Luxor, take a sightseeing tour of the East Bank. Visit the magnificent Temples of Karnak, dating back over 3,000 years. Walk along the avenue of the Sphinxes and marvel at the Hypostyle Hall with its 134 massive sandstone columns. After exploring this ancient structure, embark on the Nile Cruise. In the afternoon, visit Luxor Temple to admire the colossal statues of the great pharaoh Ramses II. Next, visit a shop where you can view a brief demonstration of how papyrus paper is made from the papyrus grass
Overnight: Nile Cruise
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 6, Tuesday - Full Day Luxor
View the magnificence of the Luxor West Bank on this morning's optional excursion. Begin with a visit to the UNESCO listed Valley of the Kings, the necropolis of Thebes and admire the tombs of ancient Egypt's rulers. Next, head to the Temple of Hatshepsut, a colonnaded structure surrounded by cliffs and learn about the life of Queen Hatshepsut, Egypt's famous female ruler. Visit an alabaster factory, where you can view a demonstration of grinding alabaster the old-fashioned way. Browse the extensive collection of alabaster pieces. Conclude the tour at the Colossi of Memnon, two massive stone statues of the Pharaoh Amenhotep II. Return to the ship for lunch, and continue sailing onward this afternoon
Optional: Excursion to the West Bank (AM)
Overnight: Nile Cruise
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 7, Wednesday - Edfu Temples & Kom Ombo
This morning, visit the stunning Temples of Horus in Edfu, considered one of the best preserved of all the Egyptian Temples. It was built during the Ptolemaic times and was completed over a 180-year period. The temple is dedicated to the falcon god Horus, son of Isis and Osiris. Its extravagant design and sheer size is an indication of the country's prosperity at the time. Next, tour the imposing Greco-Roman Temple of Kom Ombo, dedicated to Horus, the sky god and Sobek, the crocodile god. Admire the fascinating detailed reliefs on the walls. Return to the ship for dinner
Overnight: Nile Cruise
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 8, Thursday - Cruise to Aswan
Spend the morning at leisure, or join the optional to Abu Simbel Temples. An early morning bus ride from Aswan transports you back in time to the mighty Temples of Abu Simbel, reclaimed from the floodwaters of the Aswan High Dam and totally reconstructed in the present location. The site is dominated by the looming twin temples of Ramses II and his wife Queen Nefertari. It is one of the most recognizable ancient sites of Egypt. Afterwards, drive back to Aswan. Choose to relax the rest of the evening, or take part in an optional Aswan Felucca Ride. Enjoy a relaxing cruise aboard a felucca, the traditional sailboat of Egypt used along the Nile
Optional: Abu Simbel by Bus (AM)
Optional: Aswan Felucca Ride (PM)
Overnight: Nile Cruise
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 9, Friday - Disembarkation, Aswan High Dam, Philae Temple, Flight to Cairo
This morning, after disembarking from your cruise ship, explore Aswan, an ancient frontier town. Take a tour to Philae Temple dedicated to the goddess Isis. Arrive by motorboat and marvel at the Temple's beautiful island location. Stop at a local perfume shop. During your visit, you can watch the creation of perfumes. Select a fragrance and choose from a wide selection of glass bottle containers. Continue to the spectacular Aswan High Dam, an engineering miracle when originally constructed in the 1960s. The dam brought an end to the Nile's devastating floods. Then, head to the airport for your flight to Cairo. Transfer to your hotel upon arrival. Tonight, at dinner, bid farewell to your Tour Manager
Overnight: Cairo
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 10, Saturday - Depart Egypt
Transfer to the airport for your departure flight
Meals: Breakfast