Day 1

ARRIVAL IN CAIRO & PRIVATE TRANSFER

CAIRO

Upon arrival at Cairo International Airport, you will be met by a dedicated Excel representative and escorted through fast-track airport procedures. Enjoy private transfer in an air-conditioned vehicle directly to your luxury hotel for check-in. Relax and settle into your Nile-view accommodations for the evening.
Cairo stands as the beating heart of Egypt and the historic crossroads of the Middle East, where millennia of Islamic, Coptic, and ancient heritage converge along the banks of the Nile. Serving as the primary gateway to the country's ancient wonders, this sprawling metropolis offers an immediate immersion into Egypt’s vibrant modern life grounded in thousands of years of imperial history.
Memorable Experiences: VIP Airport Meet & Assist Service, Private Luxury Airport Transfer
Meals: None
Hotel Category: 5-Star Luxury

Day 2

THE GIZA PYRAMIDS, SPHINX & GRAND EGYPTIAN MUSEUM

THE GIZA PYRAMIDS

Depart at 09:00 for a full-day guided exploration of Egypt's most iconic wonders. Stand before the immense Great Pyramids of Giza and the majestic Sphinx, then embark on a 1-hour private horse-riding experience across the desert plateau surrounding the pyramids. Afterward, enjoy an exclusive fine-dining lunch at the renowned Khufu Restaurant overlooking the plateau. In the afternoon, explore the vast collections of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) before your private transfer back to the hotel at 17:00.
Home to the iconic Great Pyramids and the Sphinx, Giza is the world’s most recognized symbol of ancient architectural brilliance and royal ambition. Serving as the final resting place of Old Kingdom Pharaohs, this sacred funerary complex—paired with the newly opened Grand Egyptian Museum nearby—anchors the legacy of Egypt’s Golden Age.
Memorable Experiences: Guided Tour of the Giza Pyramids & Sphinx, 1-Hour Pyramids Horse Riding Experience, Fine Dining Lunch at Khufu Restaurant, Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) Visit
Meals: Breakfast (Hotel) – Lunch (Khufu Restaurant)
Hotel Category: 5-Star Luxury

Day 3

NATIONAL MUSEUM, COPTIC CAIRO & KHAN EL KHALILI BAZAAR

KHAN EL KHALILI BAZAAR

At 09:00, set out on a private cultural journey to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization. Continue through the narrow historic streets of Coptic Cairo, visiting ancient churches and heritage sites, before ending your day amidst the vibrant colors, scents, and artisanal craft stalls of the historic Khan El Khalili Bazaars. Return to the hotel at 17:00.
Historic Cairo encapsulates the religious and cultural evolution of the region, housing some of the oldest Christian churches in the world within Coptic Cairo's ancient Roman fortress walls. Nearby, the atmospheric lanes of Khan El-Khalili bazaar and the collections at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization showcase centuries of Islamic artistry, trade, and continuous living history.
Memorable Experiences: Private Guided Museum Tour, Coptic Cairo Cultural Walk, Historic Khan El Khalili Bazaar Experience
Meals: Breakfast (Hotel)
Hotel Category: 5-Star Luxury

Day 4

CAIRO TO LUXOR & HOTEL ARRIVAL

LUXOR

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before checking out and transferring to Cairo Airport for your domestic flight to Luxor. Upon arrival at Luxor Airport, receive full meet and assist services before a private transfer to your hotel. Spend the remainder of the day relaxing at leisure along the banks of the Nile.
Built on the site of ancient Thebes, Luxor was the glorious capital of the New Kingdom and the religious epicenter of the pharaonic empire at its absolute peak of power. The city functions as an extraordinary open-air museum, holding an unmatched concentration of ancient monuments and serving as the essential bridge between northern and southern Egypt.
Memorable Experiences: Private Domestic Airport Transfers, Leisure Evening along the Luxor Nilefront
Meals: Breakfast (Hotel)
Hotel Category: 5-Star Luxury

Day 5

EAST BANK TEMPLE TOURS & NILE CRUISE EMBARKATION

NILE CRUISE

Following breakfast and hotel check-out, explore Luxor's celebrated East Bank, including the vast hypostyle halls of Karnak Temple and the magnificent Luxor Temple. Embark on board your 5-star luxury Nile Cruise ship in time for lunch. Savor dinner on board as night falls over the Nile.
The East Bank of Luxor represents the supreme sanctuary of Amun-Ra, the king of the gods, where successive pharaohs constructed grand monuments over a span of fifteen hundred years. The vast hypostyle halls of Karnak and the grand ceremonial avenues of Luxor Temple stand as monumental testaments to royal devotion, political legitimacy, and ancient statecraft.
Memorable Experiences: Private Guided Tours of Karnak & Luxor Temples, Embarkation on 5-Star Luxury Nile Cruise
Meals: Breakfast (Hotel) – Lunch (Nile Cruise) – Dinner (Nile Cruise)
Hotel Category: 5-Star Luxury Nile Cruise

Day 6

WEST BANK VALLEY OF THE KINGS & SAILING TO EDFU

SAILING TO EDFU

Cross to the West Bank at 09:00 to explore the ancient burial chambers in the Valley of the Kings, the grand Terraced Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, and the towering Colossi of Memnon. Return to the ship as you set sail towards Esna, navigating through the historic Esna Lock, and continue sailing toward Edfu while enjoying dinner on board.
The West Bank of Luxor served as the sacred realm of the dead, where pharaohs and powerful nobles were entombed within the hidden cliffside corridors of the Valley of the Kings to secure their passage into the afterlife. Sailing south toward the Esna Lock offers a smooth transition into rural Upper Egypt, reflecting the eternal agrarian rhythm that has sustained life along the Nile for millennia.
Memorable Experiences: Valley of the Kings Expedition, Hatshepsut Temple Tour, Scenic Nile Navigation & Esna Lock Crossing
Meals: Breakfast (Nile Cruise) – Lunch (Nile Cruise) – Dinner (Nile Cruise)
Hotel Category: 5-Star Luxury Nile Cruise

Day 7

EDFU TEMPLE, KOM OMBO & SAILING TO ASWAN

SAILING TO ASWAN

Begin the morning with a guided visit to the remarkably preserved Temple of Horus at Edfu. Return to the cruise for lunch while sailing toward Kom Ombo. Upon arrival, visit the unique dual Temple of Kom Ombo, dedicated to Sobek the crocodile god and Horus the falcon god. Enjoy dinner on board as the cruise sails onward to Aswan.
Nestled along the Nile between Luxor and Aswan, Edfu and Kom Ombo showcase Ptolemaic-era architectural mastery. Edfu houses the Temple of Horus, the most perfectly preserved temple in all of Egypt, while Kom Ombo features a rare double-temple design dedicated equally to the falcon god Horus and the crocodile god Sobek, reflecting ancient concepts of cosmic balance.
Memorable Experiences: Edfu Temple Tour, Kom Ombo Temple Exploration, Sunset Nile Sailing to Aswan
Meals: Breakfast (Nile Cruise) – Lunch (Nile Cruise) – Dinner (Nile Cruise)
Hotel Category: 5-Star Luxury Nile Cruise

Day 8

ASWAN HIGH DAM & PHILAE TEMPLE

PHILAE TEMPLE

After breakfast, depart at 09:00 to visit the engineering marvel of the Aswan High Dam and the magnificent island-bound Philae Temple, dedicated to the goddess Isis. Spend the afternoon relaxing on board as you take in the granite rock formations and feluccas of Aswan. Enjoy dinner and your final night on board the cruise.
Aswan marks Egypt’s historic southern frontier, serving as a vital trade gateway to Sub-Saharan Africa and a key source of the granite used to build the nation's greatest monuments. Situated on an island in the Nile, the majestic Philae Temple was the sacred sanctuary of Isis and held the distinction of being the very last outpost where ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs were written before the religion faded into history.
Memorable Experiences: Guided Tour of the Island Temple of Philae, Aswan High Dam Visit, Nile River Relaxation
Meals: Breakfast (Nile Cruise) – Lunch (Nile Cruise) – Dinner (Nile Cruise)
Hotel Category: 5-Star Luxury Nile Cruise

Day 9

CRUISE DISEMBARKATION & NUBIAN VILLAGE EXCURSION

NUBIAN VILLAGE

Following breakfast, disembark from the cruise and transfer to your luxury hotel in Aswan for check-in.
Afterward, embark on a private excursion to a colorful traditional Nubian Village, complete with private boat/vehicle transfers. Explore the vibrant streets, learn about Nubian heritage, and enjoy an authentic local lunch. Return to your historic hotel in the afternoon for leisure.
The vibrant Nubian Village provides an authentic encounter with one of Africa’s oldest continuous civilizations, celebrated for its unique language, distinct architecture, and rich traditions along the First Cataract of the Nile. Paired with Aswan's legendary resort atmosphere, this area highlights the unique blend of Nubian heritage and 19th-century grand-tour elegance
Memorable Experiences: Cruise Disembarkation, Private Nubian Village Cultural Tour, Authentic Nubian Lunch
Meals: Breakfast (Nile Cruise) – Lunch (Nubian Village)
Hotel Category: 5-Star Luxury Historic Palace

Day 10

ASWAN TO CAIRO & INTERNATIONAL DEPARTURE

CAIRO

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before checking out and taking a private transfer to Aswan Airport. Fly to Cairo Airport where you will connect smoothly to board your international flight back home.
Returning to Cairo completes the grand circle of your journey, bringing you back to the administrative and cultural nexus of modern Egypt. It provides a fitting, reflective farewell to the country, connecting the deep historic roots of Upper Egypt back to the dynamic capital before your international departure.
Memorable Experiences: Private Airport Transfers, Flight Connection Assistance at Cairo Airport
Meals: Breakfast (Hotel)