In the Footsteps of a Civilization with Egypt Specialist Guides – From Luxor to the Nile, from Cairo to the Desert and the Red Sea – Tours, Meals, and Egyptian Visa Included! – 10 Nights / 11 Days

DAY 1 | ISTANBUL – LUXOR

We recommend that you be at Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport at 20:15. Following baggage and passport procedures, we depart for Luxor at 23:15 on Pegasus Airlines’ scheduled flight PC590.

Important Note: Our hotel reservation has been started from tonight so that we can check into our rooms without waiting after our arrival in Luxor.

DAY 2 | LUXOR – NILE RIVER

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included
East Luxor Tour, Including Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple and the Mummification Museum

After arriving in Luxor at 00:55, we complete our airport procedures and transfer to our hotel. We settle into our rooms and have the opportunity to rest briefly.

After breakfast at our hotel in the morning, we check out of our rooms and depart for our ship on the Nile River. After settling into our ship and having lunch, we begin exploring Luxor, one of the most important religious and political centers of Ancient Egypt.

The first stop of our East Luxor Tour will be Karnak Temple, considered the largest religious complex in Ancient Egypt. Since it was expanded by different pharaohs over approximately 2,000 years, Karnak is also known as the “temple whose construction never ended.” With its enormous columns, sacred lake, impressive reliefs and monumental architecture, it is among the most magnificent works in the Nile Valley.

Continuing our tour, we visit Luxor Temple, built largely during the reigns of Amenhotep III and Ramses II. Hosting the coronation ceremonies of pharaohs and important religious festivals, the temple is connected to Karnak Temple by the famous Avenue of the Sphinx, lined with hundreds of sphinx statues.

Our final visit of the day is to the Mummification Museum, where we will learn firsthand about Ancient Egyptian beliefs concerning the afterlife and mummification techniques.

Following our tour, we return to our ship. Dinner and overnight stay on our ship on the Nile River.

DAY 3 | LUXOR – ESNA LOCK – EDFU

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included
West Luxor Tour Included

Guests who wish may join the Sunrise Luxor Balloon Tour, arranged as an extra activity in the early morning. Get ready to discover Luxor’s thousands of years of history from the sky with the first rays of the sun. This special balloon tour, during which we will glide over the Nile River, lush agricultural lands, the Valley of the Kings and Ancient Egyptian temples, will be one of the most unforgettable experiences of our journey.

Important Note: The tour takes place in the early morning and is subject to weather conditions and approval by local authorities.

After breakfast, we begin our West Luxor Tour, where we will witness the magnificent world of pharaohs and queens.

Our first stop will be the Valley of the Kings, home to the tombs of numerous pharaohs. Accompanied by thousands-of-years-old burial chambers, wall paintings that still retain their colors and hieroglyphs, we will discover Ancient Egyptian beliefs concerning the afterlife.

We then visit the Temple of Hatshepsut, built in honor of Hatshepsut, one of the most powerful female rulers in Egyptian history. Rising in terraces before the cliffs, the temple is among Egypt’s most impressive structures with its distinctive architecture and historical importance.

The final stop of our tour will be the Colossi of Memnon, rising at the entrance to the memorial temple of Pharaoh Amenhotep III. After seeing these enormous statues, approximately 18 meters high, we return to our ship.

During the day, we continue our journey on the Nile River and pass through the Esna Lock. This system, which allows ships to move between different water levels of the Nile, will be one of the most fascinating moments of our river journey.

Lunch and dinner, and overnight stay on our ship on the Nile River.

DAY 4 | EDFU – KOM OMBO – ASWAN

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included
Edfu Temple and Kom Ombo Temple Tours Included

After breakfast, we visit Edfu Temple, dedicated to the falcon-headed god Horus. One of the best-preserved temples of Ancient Egypt, Edfu is one of the structures where we can see the classical Egyptian temple layout most clearly, with its enormous entrance gate, detailed reliefs, sacred areas and magnificent architecture.

Following our visit, we return to our ship and continue our journey on the Nile River. We have lunch on board.

Later in the day, we visit Kom Ombo Temple, which enjoys a unique location on the banks of the Nile River. Notable for its symmetrical design, rare in Ancient Egyptian architecture, the temple is dedicated to two different gods: the crocodile-headed god Sobek and the falcon-headed god Haroeris.

On the temple’s reliefs, we will examine important traces of Ancient Egypt’s belief system, medical knowledge and daily life. We will also learn fascinating information about crocodiles, which were considered sacred in the region.

Following our tour, we return to our ship. Dinner and overnight stay on our ship on the Nile River.

DAY 5 | ASWAN – ABU SIMBEL

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included
Abu Simbel Temples, Philae Temple and Nubian Village Tours Included

In the early morning, we depart to explore the Abu Simbel Temples, one of the most impressive archaeological heritages not only of Egypt but of the entire world.

Built by Pharaoh Ramses II, this magnificent temple complex fascinates visitors with its colossal statues, monumental entrance façade and architecture reflecting the power of the Nile civilization. During our visit, our guide will explain the purpose for which the temples were built, their extraordinary architectural alignment with sunlight, and the world-famous story of their relocation during the construction of the Aswan Dam.

After our visit to Abu Simbel, we return to Aswan and continue exploring the region’s other important sites. Reached by boat, Philae Temple is one of Aswan’s most special structures with its location surrounded by the waters of the Nile, elegant architecture and mystical atmosphere. At the temple dedicated to the goddess Isis, we will follow the traces of one of Ancient Egypt’s most captivating legends.

Later in the day, we visit Nubian Village, known for its colorful houses, traditional lifestyle and warm atmosphere. We will get to know local life along the Nile more closely and experience the distinctive character of Nubian culture.

Following our tour, we return to our ship. Dinner and overnight stay on our ship on the Nile River.

Important Note: The sailing schedule of Nile ships may vary depending on river traffic, port congestion and the practices of local authorities. The days and times of visits may be rearranged by our guide, provided that the tour content is maintained.

DAY 6 | ASWAN – CAIRO

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included
National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, Old Cairo and Khan el-Khalili Bazaar Tours Included

After breakfast, we leave our ship on the Nile River and transfer to Aswan Airport. We depart for Cairo on a domestic flight at 08:05 and arrive in Egypt’s capital at 09:25.

We begin our exploration of Cairo at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC), which made headlines worldwide with the magnificent Golden Parade of the Pharaohs. At the museum, in addition to the royal mummies of the most famous pharaohs and queens of the New Kingdom, we will have the opportunity to see unique artifacts reflecting the thousands-of-years-long development of Egyptian civilization, from agriculture to architecture, religion to astronomy, and mathematics to medicine and cosmetics.

Following our museum visit, we have lunch at Le Pacha by the Nile, featuring an Italian menu.

Continuing our tour, we explore Cairo’s historic districts, which preserve traces of Islam, Christianity and Judaism side by side. Our first stop will be the Cairo Citadel, built by Saladin. Within the citadel, we visit the Alabaster Mosque of Muhammad Ali Pasha, notable for its magnificent architecture dominating the city skyline.

We then visit the Amr ibn al-As Mosque, considered the first mosque in Egypt and Africa, the historic Ben Ezra Synagogue, the Hanging Church, one of the most important structures of Coptic Cairo, the Abu Serga Church and the Coptic Museum, witnessing Cairo’s multicultural history.

In the final part of our tour, we visit Al-Muizz Street, where Cairo’s historic character can be felt most strongly, and Khan el-Khalili Bazaar, one of Africa’s most famous bazaars. After seeing Al-Azhar Mosque, Hussein Mosque and the historic Bayn al-Qasrayn area, we have free time.

During this time, guests who wish may shop for souvenirs or enjoy a pleasant break at the café named after Nobel Prize-winning Egyptian writer Naguib Mahfouz or at El-Fishawi Café, one of Cairo’s most famous historic venues.

To accommodate guests who may be tired of local dishes, we have dinner at the famous Chili’s Restaurant, featuring café-bistro cuisine, and then transfer to our hotel. Overnight stay at our hotel in Cairo.

Services Included in the Price: Transfers during the day, two small bottles of water per person on the bus, lunch and dinner, as well as entrance fees to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, Cairo Citadel, Alabaster Mosque of Muhammad Ali Pasha and the Al-Muizz District are included in the tour price. Entrance fees to museums and archaeological sites not specified, and beverages ordered with meals, are subject to an additional charge.

DAY 7 | CAIRO

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included
Giza Pyramids, Sphinx, Grand Egyptian Museum and “Egyptian Street and Home Flavors” Dinner with a Pyramid View Included

After breakfast, we leave our hotel and head to the Giza Pyramids Area to discover Egypt’s world-famous landmarks.

The main monuments we will see include the Great Pyramid of Cheops, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and the only one still standing, as well as the Pyramid of Khafre, Pyramid of Menkaure, Panorama Hill, Valley Temple of Khafre and the magnificent Sphinx, which has guarded the pyramids for thousands of years.

During our tour with our guide, we will hear about Ancient Egypt’s thousands-of-years-old history, the burial traditions of the pharaohs and the architectural secrets of the pyramids, which still preserve their mystery. During our photo break at Panorama Hill, we will have the opportunity to photograph the three great pyramids in the same frame.

Following our visit to the pyramids, we have lunch at Mewlana Restaurant. We enjoy a satisfying lunch consisting of lentil soup, cold appetizers, salad, stuffed vegetables, okra casserole, lamb chops, beef meatballs, chicken, rice, börek, dessert and fruit. Afterwards, we begin our tour of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM). One of the world’s largest archaeological museums dedicated to a single civilization, the Grand Egyptian Museum is among Cairo’s most impressive attractions with its thousands of artifacts from the Pharaonic Period, colossal statues, royal collections and galleries designed according to contemporary museum standards.

Continuing our tour, we visit the Papyrus Center, where we will see how papyrus is traditionally produced, and the Perfume and Natural Oils Center, where natural oils and essences unique to Egypt are introduced.

In the evening, we have dinner at Stay Inn Restaurant, prepared with a view of the pyramids. This special evening, during which we will experience the traditional flavors of Egyptian cuisine alongside distinctive presentations and the enchanting atmosphere of the pyramids, will be one of the unforgettable moments of our journey.

Following dinner, we transfer to our hotel. Overnight stay at our hotel in Cairo.

DAY 8 | CAIRO – ST. CATHERINE – RED CANYON – DAHAB

Breakfast Box and All-Inclusive Accommodation with Alcoholic Beverages
St. Catherine’s Monastery Visit and Jeep Safari in the Red Canyon Included

In the very early morning, we collect our breakfast boxes, check out of our rooms and leave our hotel in Cairo to set off toward the Sinai Peninsula.

After our journey amid the desert’s impressive landscapes, we reach the St. Catherine area, located at the foot of Mount Sinai.

Here, we visit St. Catherine’s Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and considered one of the world’s oldest continuously operating Christian monasteries. Built in the 6th century by Byzantine Emperor Justinian I, the monastery is one of the world’s most special centers of faith due to its great spiritual importance for Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

The area where the monastery is located lies at the center of the sacred geography where important events in the life of Moses are believed to have taken place. According to traditional belief, when Moses left Egypt and came to Midian, he met Zipporah, who would later become his wife, beside the well located within the monastery and now known as Moses’ Well. It is believed that he remained in this region for many years after beginning his new life with Zipporah and her family.

One of the monastery’s most important sections is the Burning Bush, where Moses is believed to have received the divine call. According to the sacred account, while Moses was tending his flock in Sinai, he saw a bush engulfed in flames that burned without being consumed; there, he received God’s call and was tasked with leading the Israelites out of Egypt. The bush preserved inside the monastery today is associated with this sacred event.

During our visit, we see the monastery’s main church, historic courtyard, Moses’ Well and the section containing the Burning Bush, while listening to our guide describe the building’s centuries-long history. With its religious artifacts, early icons and highly valuable manuscripts, the monastery is not only a place of worship but also one of the most important cultural heritages in human history.

Following our visit to St. Catherine’s Monastery, we continue our journey to discover Sinai’s extraordinary natural beauty.

Our next stop will be the Red Canyon, one of the most impressive formations shaped by nature over thousands of years in the middle of the desert. During our safari in jeeps suitable for the terrain, we will discover the untouched geography of the Sinai Desert, red-colored rock formations and narrow canyon passages.

This adventure, set amid the desert’s silence, changing rock colors and impressive landscapes, will add a completely different experience to our culture- and history-focused journey.

Following our jeep safari, we head to Dahab, known for its distinctive atmosphere on the Red Sea coast. At the famous Ali Baba Restaurant by the sea in the town center, we have lunch consisting of cold appetizers and salad, seafood soup, calamari, shrimp, fish and fruit. Upon arriving at our hotel, we settle into our rooms.

For the rest of the day, we will have free time to recover from the fatigue of the journey, enjoy the beach and sun, and make use of our hotel’s facilities.

Dinner, all-inclusive accommodation with alcoholic beverages and overnight stay at our hotel in Dahab.

Important Note: The visiting schedule of St. Catherine’s Monastery may vary depending on religious days, the practices of local authorities and regional conditions. Visiting hours may be rearranged by our guide, provided that the tour content is maintained.

DAY 9 | DAHAB – SHARM EL SHEIKH

Breakfast and All-Inclusive Accommodation with Alcoholic Beverages
SeaScope (Semi-Submarine) Tour Included
Mount Moses Sunrise Climb Extra

Guests who wish may join the Mount Moses Sunrise Climb, arranged as an extra activity after midnight.

Located approximately 2,285 meters above sea level, Mount Moses is one of the world’s most important centers of faith, considered sacred in Judaism, Christianity and Islam. According to belief, after Moses left Egypt with the Israelites, he came to this mountain, spoke with God and received the Ten Commandments. Also mentioned in the Quran as the sacred region where Moses received God’s call, Sinai has welcomed visitors of different faiths for thousands of years.

The Burning Bush, where Moses is believed to have received the divine call, is preserved at St. Catherine’s Monastery at the foot of the mountain. At the summit of Mount Moses are small places of worship belonging to different faiths. With these features, the region is one of the world’s most impressive destinations not only for its natural beauty but also for its profound historical and spiritual significance.

For this special experience, we depart from our hotel in Dahab at the time determined by our guide and reach the foothills of Mount Moses. Accompanied by local guides, we begin our climb beneath the starlit Sinai night. After a hike lasting several hours, we reach the summit and witness the sunrise over the Sinai Mountains and the vast desert landscape.

At the summit, bearing the traces of a sacred journey thousands of years old, watching the silence of the night give way to the first light of day will be one of the most meaningful and unforgettable experiences of our tour. After sunrise, we descend the mountain and return to our hotel in Dahab.

Important Note: The Mount Moses Climb is subject to an additional charge. Participation in this tour, which takes place at night and requires a long hike and physical endurance, depends on our guests’ health conditions, weather conditions and the practices of local authorities. The departure and return times of the tour will be announced by our guide.

Guests who do not participate in the Mount Moses Climb may use our hotel’s beach and other facilities after breakfast until noon.

At 12:00, we check out of our rooms, leave our hotel and depart for Sharm El Sheikh, one of the Red Sea’s most famous holiday resorts.

After arriving in Sharm El Sheikh, we take our SeaScope (Semi-Submarine) Tour, included in the tour price. In the underwater observation section equipped with large panoramic windows, we will have the opportunity to comfortably view the colorful coral reefs and diverse marine life beneath the Red Sea’s crystal-clear waters without getting wet.

Following our SeaScope tour, we transfer to our hotel in Sharm El Sheikh and settle into our rooms. For the rest of the day, we will have free time to rest, enjoy the beach and sun, and make use of our hotel’s facilities.

Dinner, all-inclusive accommodation with alcoholic beverages and overnight stay at our hotel in Sharm El Sheikh.

DAY 10 | SHARM EL SHEIKH

All-Inclusive Accommodation with Alcoholic Beverages
Full-Day Ras Mohammed Boat Trip with Lunch and Unlimited Non-Alcoholic Beverages Included

After breakfast, we depart from our hotel for the Full-Day Ras Mohammed Boat Trip, during which we will discover the Red Sea’s unique natural beauty.

Located at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, Ras Mohammed National Park is one of the Red Sea’s most special protected areas, with its crystal-clear sea, colorful coral reefs and extraordinarily rich underwater life. This unique geography, where the desert landscape meets the sea, attracts attention with its mangroves, salt lakes, natural bays and underwater ecosystem home to hundreds of different marine species.

We sail into the Red Sea’s crystal-clear waters and take swimming and snorkeling breaks at locations determined by our guides. Guests who wish may explore the coral reefs and colorful fish up close, while others may relax on the boat and enjoy the sun and magnificent sea views.

During our full-day boat trip, we have lunch on board and enjoy unlimited non-alcoholic beverages served throughout the day. This day spent surrounded by nature, the sea and the Red Sea’s fascinating underwater world will be one of the most enjoyable experiences of our journey.

Following our boat trip, we transfer to our hotel in Sharm El Sheikh. We will have free time for the rest of the day to rest and use our hotel’s facilities. At night, we check out of our rooms and transfer to the airport.

Services Included in the Price: Hotel–port–hotel transfers, boat trip, lunch on the boat and unlimited non-alcoholic beverages served during the tour are included in the tour price. The snorkeling equipment rental fee and Scuba Diving Experience are subject to an additional charge.

DAY 11 | SHARM EL SHEIKH – ISTANBUL

We leave our hotel at the time determined by our guide and transfer to Sharm El Sheikh Airport.

Following baggage drop-off and passport procedures, we depart for Istanbul at 01:30 on Pegasus Airlines’ scheduled flight PC637.

Upon arriving at Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport at 05:15 local time, our journey, “Egypt: In the Footsteps of a Civilization,” comes to an end.

Hoping to meet again on another unique journey…