Around Egypt – 8 Days Cairo, Upper Egypt and Abu Simbel Sleeper Train

Pyramids of Giza

The pyramids of Giza are the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World still preserved today and therefore one of the most famous buildings in the world. The pyramids of Giza include the three main pyramids, the Pyramid of Cheops, the Pyramid of Chephren and the Pyramid of Mykerinus.

The queen Pyramids

some other smaller secondary pyramids, in which for example the women of the pharaohs were buried, as well as workers villages, temples, and cemeteries.

The Sphinx of Giza

The Sphinx Giza is the largest Egyptian sculpture. It was carved out of the limestone rock of the Giza Plateau and represents a lying lion with a human head and the so-called Nemes headscarf. Originally, the sphinx was painted with reddish ochre and also had a chin beard, but this fell off in ancient times.

Egyptian Museum of Antiquities

you will continue your excursion with a visit to the Egyptian Museum, where there are antiques from the Pharaonic period. The museum exhibits a rare collection of 5000 years of art, considered to be the most valuable collection of Egyptian art in the world. More than 25,000 antiquities are on display, including an exhibition devoted to Tutankhamen’s Treasure, furniture and jewelry, kept in his tomb for more than 3,500 years before Howard Carter discovered them in 1922. Then Proceed to have your lunch at a local restaurant.

Lunch

We will take a break and take the opportunity to eat and recharge. Lunch will be at a restaurant and Egyptian food (drinks not included).

Bazaar khan el khalili

After visiting the Egyptian Museum go see the beautiful Khan El-Khalili famous souq Cairo main market. Its always crowded with tourists and locals alike. It is the beating heart of the Egyptian metropolis. Lose yourself in the various bazaars where you will really find everything and buy some nice local handicrafts.

After the tour, we will take you back to the train station to travel to Luxor. Overnight on Sleeper train to Luxor.

The Valley of the Kings

Valley of the Kings, where the magnificent tombs were discovered, those tombs were dug into the desert rock, richly decorated and full of treasures for the afterlife of the pharaohs, you will visit 3 tombs

Temple of Queen Hatshepsut

Continue the tour to visit the temple of Hatshepsut in El Deir El Bahary, this impressive temple dedicated to Queen Hatshepsut, the only female pharaoh who rises from the desert plain in a series of terraces and merges with the limestone cliffs that surround it.

Colossi of Memnon

Colossi of Memnon are two massive stone statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III and the reason behind building them was protecting the mortuary temple of Pharaoh Amenhotep III.

After finishing your visit, our Egyptologist tour guide will take you to your hotel in Luxor. overnight in Luxor.

Karnak Temple

Temple of Karnak, is considered the largest in the world, and has monuments dating from the twenty-first century BC, as well as many others covering the seventh century AD. In other words, almost 3,000 years of history in a single temple.

Luxor Temple

Temple of Luxor, was built by Amenhotep III and later expanded by Ramses II, and is the only temple with pharaonic, Greco-Roman, Coptic and Muslim monuments.

Later you will be transferred to Aswan from Luxor by a private air-conditioned vehicle. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel in Aswan.

Aswan High Dam

The Aswan Dam is a 20th-century mega-construction, completed in 1970 and built to save Egypt from the annual flooding caused by the Nile, the world’s longest river.

The Unfinished Obelisk

Our next stop will be the Unfinished Obelisk, located in a red granite quarry that was exploited during the time of Queen Hatshepsut. This obelisk was designed to be the largest obelisk in ancient Egypt, with a height of 42 meters and a weight of 1,200 tons.

Philae Temple

You will go to Philae Island, between the old and the new Aswan Dam, where the beautiful Philae Temple is located. This temple is dedicated to the goddess Isis and is one of the 4 places where the legend of Isis, Osiris, and Horus takes place.

After finishing your visit, our Egyptologist tour guide will take you to your hotel in Aswan. overnight in Aswan.

After about 3 hours of travel, we will arrive at

Abu Simbel

Abu Simbel, the famous complex composed of two temples carved into the rock, one dedicated to Ramses II and another to Nefertari, his first wife, and his favorite. It took about 20 years to build and was done under the reign of Ramses II. The state of conservation of the temples is excellent since they were buried under the sand until the 19th century.

The most spectacular aspect of this temple is its location on the solid rock on the banks of the Nile River, between the first and second waterfalls.

As impressive as Abu Simbel, he probably wouldn’t be as famous if it weren’t for his move to the Aswan Dam building.
Our guided tour will last 2 hours, enough time to discover every corner of both temples and learn all their stories and anecdotes, such as why they are kept in pristine condition, how they moved from place to place, and what Egypt did in exchange for international aid.

After enjoying this tour you will return to Aswan train station to back to Cairo.
Overnight on sleeper train to Cairo.

We will arrive in Alexandria in the morning and start our tour by visiting…

The Catacombs

the catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa, built during the Roman period. They have three levels and their decoration shows the syncretism between the Egyptian pantheon and the Roman one.

Pompey’s Pillar

Pompey’s Pillar, a granite column of 25 meters high on the upper side is Greek inscription dedicated to Emperor Diocletian, who liberated the city located and brought food to its hungry population.

Alexandria library

we will visit the new Alexandria Library, whose design refers to the god Amon Ra and the Alexandria Lighthouse. In addition to several libraries, there is a planetarium, three museums, a laboratory and a printing press.

Note: The library is closed both on Friday and Saturday (can only be seen from outside).

Abu al-Abbas mosque

We will also pass by the beautiful Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi Mosque, a marvel of architecture built between the years 1929-1945 influenced by the buildings of ancient Egypt in Cairo. Then Proceed to have your lunch at a local restaurant.

Lunch

After midday we will take a break and have lunch in a restaurant overlooking the Mediterranean, to replenish our energy. The meal usually consists of Egyptian dishes and options that include dishes with meat, rice, and salads (drinks are not included)

Citadel of Qaitbay

From outside we will also see the Citadel of Qaytbay which was built on the site of the ancient pharaohs ( Light House ) of Alexandria, a defensive fortress built in 1480 by Ashraf Abu Al-Nasr Saif El-Din Qaitbay, a slave who became a sultan.

After the tour, we will take you back to the hotel in Cairo.