10 Days in Christmas tours from Cairo to Luxor & Aswan

After you rest and take your delicious meal at the hotel, then after, the tour guide will take you to the first day's visits in Giza Governorate to see how the pharaohs were great.

 At the beginning of the tour, you will see the pyramids of Giza, including the pyramid of the great King Khufu, about which many stories have occurred, for example, that he built the Sphinx and others that he is not the builder of the Great Pyramid.

There are many stories, but one of the most amazing stories is that the wife of King Khufu Hattab Haras is of Libyan origin because she looks like a blonde with blue eyes, and her clothes were worn by the women of this dynasty, which makes some emphasize her Libyan origin.

Some sources say that King Khufu had more than one son, and the one who ruled after him was King Ra Daf, but he did not last long until Khafre came and completed his father's journey and built the second pyramid, one of the best buildings in history, the Sphinx, which many people take pictures in front of.

Then you will go to visit two of the oldest areas in the history of ancient Egypt. The first is the city of Memphis, which is the oldest capital of the ancient pharaohs, which was built by the first unified king in the country, which was a witness to the beginnings of the Pharaonic civilization, and although the ancient city is no longer completely standing, what remains of it represents an amazing open museum, combining huge monuments and historical atmosphere that takes the visitor back to the dawn of Egyptian civilization.

Memphis meant a lot to the ancient Egyptians, as it was the centre of worship of the god Ptah, the god of craftsmen and industry. Its ancient Egyptian name was “Men-nefer,” meaning “beautiful harbour,” later changed to “Memphis” in Greek, and it played an important role in state administration, international relations, architecture, and religion, making it a great tourist spot for many visitors.

After a delicious lunch at a great restaurant, you will go for a final visit.

It is the city of Saqqara, and the most famous landmark in it is the stepped pyramid of the great King Djoser, and there are also the temples of Sarabiyum, which they built to worship the calf Ibis, one of the ancient Egyptian animals that they revered very much, but is this temple not equal in the greatness and majesty of the stepped pyramid, which is considered the oldest royal tomb whose upper part is made of stone, and many other wonderful things that you must discover inside the great Saqqara area?

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After finishing breakfast, you will be ready to meet your tour guide, who will take you on a different tour of Cairo's different areas.

Today's tour will begin with a visit to one of the most beautiful museums in history, which is the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir, which is rich in countless relics from the history of the pharaohs in various dynasties, including the Yuya and Toya masks, which are considered one of the most famous relics in the Egyptian Museum. Their importance is due to the story of this wonderful man and his wife.

In the centre of the Valley of the Kings, where the greatest royal figures of ancient Egypt are buried, lies one of the most fascinating and surprising non-royal tombs: the Tomb of Yuya and Thuya. Although they were not kings, their names are immortalized in history thanks to their high status and the exquisite artifacts found in their final resting place.

And that Yuya was the manager of the royal horses and a high priest in the eighteenth dynasty, especially for the god Min, and he married Toya to give birth later to Queen Ti, who will become queen after her marriage to the great king Amenhotep III, but it was strange that some scientists said that Yuya is not Egyptian in origin, as after reviewing his mummy, they found that his body anatomy is different from the bodies of Egyptians, and his name is not an Egyptian name, unlike his wife whose origins go back to the Egyptians, and many other wonderful historical items that you should not miss when you go to visit the museum.

Then you will go to the Coptic Cairo area, which is set in the centre of the Egyptian capital, specifically in the Old City of Egypt, which is one of Cairo's oldest, richest historical and spiritual neighbourhoods. This area represents the origin of Christianity in Egypt and includes some of the oldest Coptic churches, monasteries, and monuments, some of which date back to the third century AD.

Among these churches is the Church of St. George, which includes some of the instruments of torture he was forced to endure from the Roman emperors, and the station near the Coptic Cairo area is named for this saint and is also known as the Seven Churches area, due to the number of churches located there, the most famous of which are the Hanging Church and Abu Serga

There is also the Coptic Museum, which carries some wonderful ancient Coptic artifacts, and the Ben Ezra Synagogue, which is considered the strongest evidence of the presence of Jews in Egypt in one of the historical periods, but there is no doubt that this area is one of the most important tourist attractions in Cairo to anyone, regardless of his religion or origin.

You will have a delicious lunch before going to Islamic Cairo and exploring new things.

After this visit, you will go to Islamic Cairo, where there is one of the most important citadels in Egypt, which is the Salah al-Din Citadel, which was an impregnable fortress against all enemies of the state. It was wonderful that the idea came to build a citadel on a mountain to be far away from enemies and difficult to reach the citadel, and from there it became a centre for governance later, which also made the leader Muhammad Ali build a mosque near the citadel, and no doubt it is one of the most amazing Egyptian monuments that date back to the Islamic period in Egypt.

Finally, you will go for a quick visit to Khan El Khalili, which is viewed as a symbol of one of the oldest Islamic bazaars in the world, and it has been a centre of trade from Mamluk times until today because of its traditional shops for handicrafts such as copper crafts, silverware, khayamiya, antiques, sabahs, perfumes, spices and many different wonderful goods until you return to your hotel in Cairo or Giza.

Early in the morning, check out of your hotel in Giza, and you will be transferred back to Cairo International Airport to board the domestic flight to your tourism capital in Egypt, which is the city of Luxor. There, you will be met and assisted by our representative. Upon arrival in Luxor, we will take you by car for a 30-minute drive to start your deluxe Egypt Nile Cruise tour, which will be the means of experiencing the magic of the eternal river, fascinating its interesting monuments and history. 

After visiting Karnak, I headed to Luxor Temple, located on the banks of the Nile River. This temple was originally built during the reign of King Amenhotep III and was later completed by King Ramses II.

The main entrance to the temple is adorned with two huge obelisks, only one of which remains in place, while the other was moved to the Place de la Concorde in Paris. On either side of the entrance, huge statues of Ramses II stand, reflecting the prestige and power of the great king.

Inside the temple, you can see the Holy of Holies, the holiest part of the temple, where religious rituals were performed, as well as halls for ceremonies and storage rooms for sacrificial offerings.

One of the most prominent features of Karnak Temple is the Sacred Lake, which was used for religious rituals, as the pharaohs used to purify themselves before performing their worship. This lake was considered a sacred place associated with the gods, and it adds an air of mystery and magic to this ancient temple. If you are visiting Karnak Temple, don't miss the opportunity to stop by the sacred lake and enjoy its unique atmosphere. 

Although Karnak Temple is one of the most famous temples associated with gods and religious rituals, some may think it is the temple of Hatshepsut. In fact, Hatshepsut's temple is located elsewhere in Luxor, but Karnak Temple played an important role in the life of Queen Hatshepsut, as she performed many ceremonies and rituals there. So, Karnak Temple is not Hatshepsut's temple, but it was part of her great history.

After visiting Karnak, I headed to Luxor Temple, located on the banks of the Nile River. This temple was originally built during the reign of King Amenhotep III and was later completed by King Ramses II.

The main entrance to the temple is adorned with two huge obelisks, only one of which remains in place, while the other was moved to the Place de la Concorde in Paris. On both sides of the entrance, huge statues of Ramses II stand, reflecting the prestige and power of the great king.

Inside the temple, you can see the Holy of Holies, the holiest part of the temple, where religious rituals were performed, as well as halls for ceremonies and storage rooms for sacrificial offerings.

You will return to the Nile Cruise for your lunch and dinner.

After finishing your breakfast, you will be ready before meeting your tour guide to take you on a different journey in the West Bank of Luxor. 

You will go by car towards the Deir el-Bahri Temple, which is located at the foot of Mount Thebes in the heart of the Western Desert. Upon approaching the site, the temple stood tall with its unique design, distinct from the rest of the temples of ancient Egypt.

Deir el-Bahri Temple is a funerary temple built for Queen Hatshepsut, one of the most powerful women of the pharaohs, who ruled Egypt during the 18th Dynasty. The temple is characterized by its magnificent architecture, built on three gradually rising terraces connected by long staircases flanked by columns. The temple is partially carved into the rock, lending it a majesty and dignity that reflects Hatshepsut's greatness and stable rule.

Inside the temple, we saw colourful inscriptions depicting the queen's trade trips to Puntland and scenes representing her divine birth, all of which testify to the artistry and creativity of the ancient Egyptians.

After visiting the temple, you will go to the Valley of the Kings, located a short distance away, behind the mountains. The atmosphere was quiet and majestic, as if we had entered a world of mystery and secrets.

The Valley of the Kings is the burial site of the kings and queens of the New Kingdom and was chosen by the pharaohs to protect their tombs from theft, so the tombs were carved into the mountains to be out of sight. The valley includes more than 60 tombs, varying in size and decoration.

During our visit, we entered some of the tombs open to visitors, most notably Tutankhamun's tomb and Ramses VI's tomb. 

Each tomb was like an internal journey into the world of death and rebirth, where inscriptions tell us how the ancient Egyptians envisioned life after death and rites of passage to the other world.

As sunset approaches, you will return to the Nile Cruise for lunch before sailing back to Edfu.

After arriving in Edfu before the start of your visit, you'll have breakfast to get you ready for the day's visits. 

In Edfu is the Temple of Horus, one of the best-preserved Egyptian temples ever built. 

Built in the Ptolemaic era (begun in 237 BC and completed in 57 BC), this temple was dedicated to the worship of the god Horus, who is depicted as a falcon and was considered a symbol of protection and victory.

As we entered the temple, we were impressed by the enormity of the columns and the intricate decorations covering the walls. In front of the main gate, we were greeted by two huge statues of the falcon-headed god Horus, standing proudly as if they had been protecting the place for thousands of years. Inside the temple, we wandered through the halls, obelisks, and the Holy of Holies and saw inscriptions telling the story of Horus' struggle with the evil god Set in a symbolic myth that glorifies goodness and order.

The surprise was not only the size of the temple but also the precision of the architectural design, as the temple was built according to precise religious and scientific concepts related to the movement of the sun and funerary rituals.

After visiting Edfu Temple, the Nile cruise will arrive in the city of Kom Ombo, where the Kom Ombo Temple is located on the eastern bank of the Nile, in a wonderful location overlooking the river.

This temple is unique, as it is a double temple dedicated to two cults at once: Sobek (the crocodile god), who was worshipped as a god of fertility and water, and Horus the Elder (Horus, son of Isis). The temple is characterized by its symmetrical design; each god has its entrance, courtyard, and holy of holies.

Inside the temple, we saw impressive medical inscriptions, including what are considered the earliest images of surgical instruments in history, demonstrating the ancient Egyptians' advancement in the field of medicine. We also visited the adjacent Crocodile Museum, where mummified crocodiles discovered in the area were on display, confirming the importance of Sobek in this area in ancient times.

Finally, you return to the Nile Cruise before going to Aswan, where the splendour and beauty are.

Aswan, the jewel of southern Egypt, is a city that blends ancient history with modern marvels, nestled along the serene banks of the Nile. While many visitors come for the famous Abu Simbel Temples, a day tour in Aswan offers equally enriching experiences with visits to the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk, two fascinating sites that showcase Egypt’s ancient ingenuity and modern engineering.

Our day began with a short drive from central Aswan to the Aswan High Dam, one of the most significant engineering feats of the 20th century. Built between 1960 and 1970 with assistance from the Soviet Union, the dam was designed to control the annual flooding of the Nile, provide water storage for agriculture, and generate hydroelectric power for the growing nation.

Standing on the dam, we were struck by the sheer scale of the structure. Stretching over 3.6 kilometres long and 111 meters high, it holds back the vast waters of Lake Nasser, one of the largest artificial lakes in the world.

From the viewing platform, we could see the contrast between the lush Nile Valley on one side and the arid Sahara Desert on the other, a reminder of how vital the Nile has always been to life in Egypt. The dam continues to play a crucial role in agriculture, energy production, and flood prevention across the country.

Our next stop took us back in time to a granite quarry in ancient Aswan, home to the mysterious Unfinished Obelisk. Lying where it was abandoned, this colossal stone monument offers a rare and fascinating look into the techniques used by ancient Egyptians in carving and transporting massive structures.

Had it been completed, the Unfinished Obelisk would have stood at around 42 meters (138 feet) tall and weighed over 1,100 tons, making it the largest known ancient obelisk in the world. Historians believe it was commissioned by Queen Hatshepsut during the 18th Dynasty.

Cracks that appeared during the carving process led to the abandonment of the project, but the site remains a remarkable open-air museum. Walking around the obelisk, we observed the chisel marks and channels used by ancient workers. It gave us a deeper appreciation of their skill and determination, especially considering the limited tools available at the time.

After having your last delicious breakfast on board the Nile Cruise, it will be your turn to bid farewell to your friends before you are taken by a modern vehicle to Aswan airport to check in to your flight back to Cairo. On your arrival at Cairo International Airport, you will be received and greeted by our tour leader, who will drive you to your hotel for the night.

Included meals: Breakfast

Today is a free day in Cairo with an optional day tour to Alexandria. 

Alexandria, the bride of the Mediterranean. You will start the tour by visiting the Qaitbay Fortress, located on the ruins of Alexandria's ancient lighthouse, where we enjoyed a mesmerizing view of the sea and ancient history. We then headed to the Modern Library of Alexandria, one of the largest and most important libraries in the world, and explored its halls and cultural museums.

You will pass by the beautiful Corniche, where we had lunch at a restaurant overlooking the sea, and then visit the Roman Amphitheatre and Kom El Shagafa Tombs, two of the city's most prominent monuments, which embody a unique blend of Roman and ancient Egyptian art.

Meals: Breakfast

Your last day will start with breakfast, after which you will be transferred by an air-conditioned vehicle to Cairo International Airport with your professional tour coordinator.

Meals: Breakfast