Egypt Heritage and Red Sea

Today the Giza Pyramids will superbly mark the start of this guided tour, including the close visits to Pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure. You will definitely amaze at their grand architectural scale when catching the first sight of these significant rock-built masterpieces which lie inside Sahara for over 4,500 years. In addition, a 30-minute camel ride will be arranged to add more fun to this trip. Next, go closely to appreciate the extraordinary sculpture Sphinx. The last spot we are going to visit is the Valley Temple, where the pharaohs’ funeral ceremonies were held.

►  Who ruined the Great Sphinx's nose?
We know that the face of Great Sphinx was built from pharaoh Khafre, but where were the columnar beard symbolizing power and the nose representing his dignity? It is popular that Napoleon destroyed the face on purpose when he came to Egypt. However, it is perhaps a rumor! The Great Sphinx has neither nose nor beard on a portrait completed in the 17th century, but Napoleon arrived in Egypt in 1798.

Another saying has claimed that a ruler in Egypt ordered the destruction, for he saw the daily praying of a great number of people to the Great Sphinx. They did not work nor study but just prayed for wealth, rights, love, children, etc. every day. Hence, the ruler ruined the nose and beard deliberately, to tell the public that the Great Sphinx was just a stone. Of course, there are also other versions, such as this is only the consequence of natural weathering for thousands of years. What kind of stories do you believe in?

After lunch, the guide will lead you to the Grand Egyptian Museum. About 100,000 precious cultural relics including sarcophagus, mummies and imperial thrones can be seen there. After then, we will lead you to Khan El Khalili Market, lined with various shops, yummy street food and bustling crowds, which offer typically enjoyable Arabesque atmosphere.

★ Privilege of Our Guests:
1. Best Photo Experience: Our professional travel guide is familiar with every corner of the pyramid and will help you to find the best viewpoint and guide you to take wonderful pictures. For example, take a ‘family photo’ of the 6 pyramids, and capture a funny pictures that you ‘pick up’ the Pyramid of Khufu with two fingers, or put sunglasses on the Sphinx.
2. Egyptian Coffee: Taste a cup of authentic Egyptian coffee in the centuries-old El-Fishawy Café in Khan El Khalili Market. If you don’t like it, then a glass of chilled freshly mango juice will not disappoint you!

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Steigenberger Pyramids Cairo (5 stars)

Today, the driver will send you to a morning flight to Aswan. After landing, you will see our local guide waiting for you there, who will then escort you to check into the Nile cruise at 12:00. Lunch will be arranged onboard. After lunch, the guide will show you around in Aswan.

The first stop will be Aswan High Dam, a must-see site in the city. This giant water conservancy project 111 meters (121 yards) high and 3,830 meters (4,190 yards) long efficiently protects Egypt from the flood of Nile. It also plays an important role in irrigation and electric power generation. Then, we will continue to explore the historic Temple of Philae, which is dedicated to goddesses Isis and Hathor. To protect it from being flooded due to the construction of the High Dam, it was moved to the present location, Agilkia Island. Later we will proceed to the Unfinished Obelisk, from which you can learn how the magnificent Obelisks were constructed. Although it has not been finished, it is still the largest obelisk in Egypt. Finally, board a traditional felucca to enjoy the beautiful scenery along the Nile for one hour.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: M/S Concerto Nile cruise (5 stars)

In the early morning, the guide will pick you up and head to Abu Simbel by a private air-conditioned car. Arriving there in about 3 hours, we will visit the Temples of Abu Simbel, consisting of the Temple of Ramses II and the small Temple of his wife Nefertari that dedicated to the goddess Hathor. These two colossal temples were carved out in a sandstone rock cliff. After the visit, the guide will send you to re-embark the Nile Cruise before lunch time.

Later, the Nile Cruise will set sail towards Kom Ombo Temple, where you can have a glance at the statues of the famous god of falcon Haroeris and god of crocodile Sobek. Then, go back to the cruise and continue sailing to Edfu, today’s destination.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: M/S Concerto Nile cruise (5 stars)

After breakfast onboard, disembark and follow our local guide to visit Edfu Temple, also known as the Temple of Horus. Being covered by sand for centuries, it is well preserved, including the delicate carvings on the stone pillars and rocky walls.

►  Look for the Beautiful Temple on the Egyptian Pound Banknote!
A beautiful temple hides in the back of a 50 Egyptian pound note, and that is the Edfu Temple we are visiting today. The temple is also known as the Temple of Horus as it is dedicated to the falcon-headed god, Horus. This is the best-preserved temple in Egypt, also the main reason why it is printed on the banknotes. In ancient Egyptian mythology, Horus is the son of the love god ISIS and the underworld god Osiris. He is the protection god of the pharaoh, symbolizing royal power. We can often see the eye-like pattern on various murals in Egypt, which is the eye of Horus, representing the protection of the gods and good luck. In the Temple of Horus, if you pay attention, you will find many birds nesting in the eaves, walls, and pillars of the temple. Perhaps they also come to seek protection from Horus.

After going back, the Nile Cruise will continue to Luxor, a city boasting magnificent temples, exquisite frescos and mysterious mausoleums. On arrival, our guide based there will escort you to visit two must-sees there: Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple. Karnak Temple is the largest and oldest temple in Egypt, as large as half of Manhattan in New York City; so remember to wear a pair of comfortable shoes to explore around and admire the vivid statues, high columns and obelisks, etc. Especially, there is a statue of scarab inside, and many tourists make seven laps around it to pray for good luck. If interested, you may also give a try. Finally, the guide will send you back to the ship.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: M/S Concerto Nile cruise (5 stars)

After breakfast, please pack your luggage and check out before 08:00, then the guide will accompany you to take a morning excursion to the Valley of the Kings, where over 60 pharaohs' tombs have been excavated. We will firstly visit three of the tombs opened to all visitors on the day, and then visit two more spectacular tombs - KV9 of Ramesses V & VI and KV62 of Tutankhamun. After that, explore the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut and the renowned Colossi of Memnon. This will be all the sightseeing arrangements in Luxor.

►  What Did Pharaoh Hold in Hands?
When visiting Egypt, you must have noticed that, in many statues, murals and pictures, the pharaoh just hold two strange tools on his chest (as shown in the above picture). In fact, they are the scepters of the pharaoh: the hook-like one is the tool of the shepherd while the whip-like is the farmer’s tool for threshing wheat. The pharaoh holds them by hand, symbolizing his control over agriculture and animal husbandry. It is the symbol of power and also the signature look of the pharaoh. If you see some broken statue or fresco in the future, it is easy to tell if he was a pharaoh depending on the look. Have you learned? Follow us and learn more about the culture and knowledge of ancient Egypt!

★ Privilege of Our Guests:
Explore the Tomb of KV62: Are you afraid of the curse of Pharaohs? At the entrance to KV62, King Tutankhamun's tomb, you can see a pictograph translated as “People who disturb the rest of the pharaoh will suffer a death”. Of course, the curse is just a legend and the fact is that KV62 has never been stolen in 3,000 years and a large number of treasures have been well-preserved. You must remember the Golden Mask, Golden Coffin and Golden Seat in the Egyptian Museum, and they are all discovered in the tomb.

At present, KV62 has become one of the most popular mausoleums in the Valley of the Kings. Different from other travel agencies who generally arrange it as a charged optional tour, we especially included it in our itinerary. Just follow your guide and explore the legendary tomb!

After, you will be transferred to Hurghada by a private car, which will take about 3.5 hours on the way. On arrival, we will help you check into the hotel, where you will stay for three nights.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hilton Hurghada (5 stars)

Hurghada is a famous holiday resort by the Red Sea. To give you enough time to discover its beauty, we will leave today and tomorrow for your own plan.

You may enjoy some walk along the coast, appreciate the beautiful Red Sea, lie down on the soft beach to enjoy the bright sunshine, have a hearty seafood feast, or participate in some exciting water sports, such as swimming or snorkeling, to round off the days.

►  Activities Suggestion in Hurghada:

Diving: As one of the world's three great diving destinations, diving is the most popular activity in Hurghada. Snorkeling or deep diving is optional according to your own needs, but please note that you can't take a plane within 24 hours after deep diving.
Glass-Bottom Boat: This is a kind of double-deck boat with an upper sun deck where you can enjoy sea breezes and beautiful sceneries. The lower deck is composed of many pieces of transparent glass, offering you a chance to explore the fantastic sea world up and close. It is suitable for visitors of all ages and is especially recommended for families with kids.
Desert Activities: Hurghada features half sea and half desert. Some desert activities are well worth a try in the Sahara Desert, like jeep ride, desert motorcycling, enjoying the sunsets over the desert, and riding a camel to visit Bedouin villages.
Seafood Feast: How can you miss a seafood feast in Hurghada? Generally, the hotel offers a special seafood BBQ and you can enjoy it. If you want to try some seafood in a local restaurant, then Fish Market is a good choice. With a large mosque standing at the entrance, the market is not hard to find. There are so many seafood restaurants and seafood prices for the day are also posted on a sign. Generally speaking, seafood prices and processing fees are separate. If you are fond of seafood, make sure to have a try!

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hilton Hurghada (5 stars) or similar

Please seize the time to have fun in Hurghada and have the last glance of the blue and quiet Red Rea. Later in this afternoon, you will be transferred to the airport for the return flight to Cairo. Upon landing, our local guide will pick you up and send you to the hotel for one night’s stay.

★ Privilege of Our Guests:
Flexible Arrangement: To make you better enjoy the sea views and beaches of the Red Sea, we usually arrange an afternoon flight for you back to Cairo. However, what we offer is a private tour and we will be glad to tailor the itinerary to suit your needs. For example, change a morning flight to arrive in Cairo earlier; or add another day tour to Alexandria in northern Egypt; or pay a visit to nearby gem destinations like Jordan and Israel… If you have any ideas, please let our travel consultants know and we will try our best to meet your needs.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Steigenberger Pyramids Cairo (5 stars) or similar

This memorable Egypt tour package will conclude today. Please inform us your departure flight schedule in advance, so our driver can send you to the airport on time. Farewell and wish you a nice journey home!

Meals: Breakfast