13 Days Cairo, Nile Cruise & Hurghada Christmas Tour

After breakfast, you visit the Giza Plateau and the Grand Egyptian Museum, combining the main pyramid complex with one of Cairo’s major archaeological collections. This is the first full sightseeing day of your Christmas Nile Cruise itinerary.

The Pyramids Complex:

The Giza Plateau contains the three main pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure. Built more than 4,500 years ago, they reflect ancient engineering and royal power. You walk around the pyramid complex and learn about the royal funerary structures of the Old Kingdom. December’s generally milder conditions make walking the plateau more comfortable than in summer.

The Great Sphinx:

The Great Sphinx has the body of a lion and the head of a king and dates to Egypt’s 4th Dynasty. The monument measures about 73.5 meters (241 feet) long and about 20 meters (66 feet) high.

The Valley Temple:

You visit the Valley Temple near the Great Sphinx, at the lower end of Khafre’s causeway and part of the king’s 4th-Dynasty funerary complex. The temple was associated with the preparation of the deceased king before burial and remains an important example of Old Kingdom stone architecture, built with massive stone blocks.

The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM):

Continue to the Grand Egyptian Museum, the largest archaeological museum devoted to a single civilization. The museum displays the collection of Tutankhamun alongside other archaeological objects from ancient Egypt, allowing you to see material from different periods of Egyptian history in one institution.

After the visits, return to your Cairo hotel for the evening.

After breakfast, travel by private vehicle from Cairo to Alexandria for a full-day visit. Your private guide accompanies you to the city’s major archaeological and cultural sites.

Qaitbay Citadel:

Qaitbay Citadel is a 15th-century fortress built on Alexandria’s Mediterranean shoreline on the site associated with the ancient Lighthouse of Alexandria. The fortress dates to the reign of Sultan Qaitbay and forms part of Alexandria’s medieval defensive architecture. It offers views of the Mediterranean from the site of one of the ancient world’s Seven Wonders.

Kom El-Shoqafa Catacombs:

Kom El-Shoqafa Catacombs date to the 2nd century AD and contain three rock-cut underground levels. Their architecture combines Egyptian, Greek, and Roman elements, reflecting Alexandria’s multicultural history. Carvings and burial chambers reveal the rituals and artistic traditions of this mixed cultural setting.

Pompey’s pillar:

Pompey’s Pillar is a Roman granite column approximately 27 meters (89 feet) high. Erected in AD 297, the column was dedicated to Emperor Diocletian and was later associated incorrectly with the Roman general Pompey. It stands among the remains of the Serapeum of Alexandria, a temple complex dedicated to the Greco-Egyptian god Serapis.

The Alexandria Library:

Visit the modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina, which opened to the public in 2002 as a revival of Alexandria’s historic tradition of scholarship. The modern library is distinct from the ancient Library of Alexandria, which belonged to the Hellenistic period. Founded in the 3rd century BC under the Ptolemies, the ancient library gathered scrolls and attracted scholars, scientists, and philosophers from across the Mediterranean.

After the sightseeing tour, have lunch at an Egyptian restaurant before returning to Cairo. Overnight at your Cairo hotel.

After breakfast and hotel check-out, transfer to Cairo Airport for your domestic flight to Aswan. Upon arrival, meet your guide and begin the Aswan sightseeing program.

The High Dam:

The Aswan High Dam controls Nile water flow and created Lake Nasser, one of the world’s largest artificial lakes. Construction was completed in 1970, marking an important stage in Egypt’s modern water-management and electricity-generation infrastructure. The dam also offers panoramic views of Lake Nasser.

Philae Temple:

Visit Philae Temple on Agilkia Island. The main temple complex dates largely to the Ptolemaic period, including the 3rd century BC, and was dedicated primarily to Isis, the ancient Egyptian goddess associated with motherhood, healing, and protection. The monuments of Philae were relocated between 1972 and 1980 to protect them from rising water after the construction of the Aswan High Dam.

The Unfinished Obelisk:

The Unfinished Obelisk remains in the granite quarries of Aswan and is attributed to Queen Hatshepsut. The monument measures about 42 meters (138 feet) in length and weighs approximately 1,168 tonnes. A flaw in the stone caused work to stop before the obelisk could be completed. Still carved into the bedrock, it offers a glimpse of the tools, techniques, and ambition of ancient builders; if completed, it would have been the largest obelisk ever erected.

After sightseeing, have lunch at an Egyptian restaurant. Then board the ship, which stays moored in Aswan for the night. Dinner is served onboard.

After breakfast onboard, travel by road from Aswan with your guide to visit Abu Simbel.

Abu Simbel Temple:

You visit the Abu Simbel temples, constructed during the reign of Ramses II, with the main temple dating roughly to 1264–1244 BC. Abu Simbel sits about 280 km (174 miles) south of Aswan. Four colossal statues guard the main temple, whose inner sanctuary is illuminated by the solar alignment on February 22 and October 22, not in December. The temples were relocated to higher ground in the 1960s to protect them from the rising waters of Lake Nasser. December’s appeal is the cooler winter sightseeing conditions, rather than a solar-alignment event.

After the visit, return to the ship for lunch. Dinner is served in the evening, followed by the ship’s scheduled entertainment. Overnight onboard.

After breakfast onboard, continue sailing along the Nile with guided visits to two important Ptolemaic temples.

Kom Ombo Temple:

You walk through a rare double temple, one half for Sobek and the other for Horus the Elder. The temple’s symmetrical layout reflects its shared religious function, while its reliefs preserve information about ancient Egyptian medicine, religious practices, and ceremonial life. The adjacent Crocodile Museum reflects the site’s association with Sobek, the crocodile god.

Edfu Temple:

Edfu Temple is dedicated to Horus and was constructed between 237 and 57 BC, over approximately 180 years. The temple is one of the best-preserved ancient Egyptian religious complexes, with large pylons, columned halls, reliefs, and inscriptions remaining visible.

After the excursion, have lunch onboard. Dinner and the ship’s evening entertainment follow, with your third night onboard.

After breakfast, continue to Luxor’s East Bank for visits to two major temple complexes.

Karnak Temple:

December’s generally mild days suit exploring the Karnak complex, with its statues and hieroglyphs. The Great Hypostyle Hall contains 134 documented columns, with the largest columns reaching approximately 21 meters (69 feet) high.

Luxor Temple:

You visit Luxor Temple, which was developed mainly during the New Kingdom and later periods and expanded under rulers including Amenhotep III and Ramesses II. The temple was connected to Karnak by the ancient Avenue of Sphinxes and contains monumental pylons, statues, columns, and inscriptions associated with royal and religious ceremonies.

After the visits, have lunch at an Egyptian restaurant, then check in to your Luxor hotel for the night.

After breakfast, explore Luxor’s West Bank before traveling by road to Hurghada. The 13 Days Egypt Christmas Tour continues with visits to the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, and the Colossi of Memnon.

Valley of the Kings:

The Valley of the Kings contains more than 60 tombs, including KV62, historically known as the tomb of Tutankhamun. The tombs contain corridors, burial chambers, and painted scenes connected with ancient Egyptian beliefs about the afterlife. The valley is a highlight of many Egypt Christmas holiday packages.

Queen Hatshepsut Temple:

The mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut is built into the cliffs at Deir el-Bahari and is organized around three main terraces connected by ramps. Its architecture combines broad courtyards, colonnades, and carved reliefs depicting royal and religious scenes.

Colossi of Memnon:

The Colossi of Memnon are two massive stone statues representing Pharaoh Amenhotep III. The seated figures originally formed part of his mortuary temple complex on Luxor’s West Bank.

After lunch, continue by private vehicle to Hurghada, approximately 290 km (180 miles) from Luxor. Upon arrival, check in to your hotel and spend the evening at leisure.

After breakfast, head to the Red Sea for a full-day snorkeling excursion.

Snorkeling in Hurghada:

You explore coral reefs and marine habitats near Hurghada, where the Red Sea supports a variety of fish and other sea life. A boat trip offers time to enjoy the coastal scenery and relax on deck between snorkeling. Winter conditions can vary, and the breeze can feel cool after swimming.

After snorkeling, have lunch onboard the boat before returning to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel in Hurghada.

After breakfast, enjoy a free day in Hurghada. You can spend time at the beach, swim in the Red Sea, explore parts of the city, visit local shops and cafés, or simply rest at the hotel. The local market also offers opportunities to browse and take photos.

Lunch is served at a restaurant. Return to your hotel for the evening and overnight in Hurghada.

After breakfast at the hotel, enjoy your day in Hurghada before the afternoon desert excursion.

Desert Safari:

Take a quad-bike ride through the Eastern Desert before visiting a Bedouin village. You can have Bedouin tea, learn about local desert traditions, and observe the surrounding landscape during the excursion. As the sun sets, the changing colors offer opportunities for photos and quiet reflection. The evening usually ends with a traditional barbecue dinner, music, and maybe even a bit of dancing under the stars.

Overnight at the hotel in Hurghada.

After breakfast and hotel check-out, transfer to Hurghada Airport for your domestic flight to Cairo. Upon arrival, continue with a city tour covering museums, historic religious sites, and Khan El Khalili.

The Egyptian Museum:

Visit the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square, which opened in 1902 and contains extensive collections of ancient Egyptian artifacts. Displays include statues, coffins, jewelry, funerary objects, and objects from different periods of Egyptian history.

The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization:

You visit the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, which presents Egyptian history from prehistoric periods through later eras. A temporary exhibition opened in 2017, while the main museum opening in 2021 marked the arrival of the royal mummies. Its Royal Mummies Hall contains the remains of several ancient Egyptian kings and queens and forms one of the museum’s principal collections.

Amr Ibn Al-As Mosque:

Visit Amr Ibn Al-As Mosque, traditionally associated with the foundation of Fustat in 641–642 AD. The mosque has undergone numerous reconstructions and expansions throughout its history.

The Hanging Church:

The Hanging Church is one of Cairo’s historic Coptic churches and is traditionally associated with the early centuries of Christianity in Egypt. Its decorated interior offers an introduction to Egypt’s Coptic heritage during the Christmas season.

Ben Ezra Synagogue:

You visit Ben Ezra Synagogue in the historic Coptic Cairo area, one of Egypt’s oldest synagogues and a site associated with the Cairo Geniza. Documents accumulated in the Geniza over centuries preserve a rich record of Jewish life and the wider social and commercial history of the Mediterranean. The collection remains an important source for understanding Jewish heritage in Egypt.

Khan El Khalili Bazaar:

End the city tour at Khan El Khalili, the historic market district established in 1382 during the Mamluk period. The area contains traditional shops, cafés, workshops, and narrow streets selling souvenirs, crafts, jewelry, and other goods.

Have lunch at an Egyptian restaurant, then check in to your Cairo hotel for the final night.

After breakfast, check out from the hotel and transfer to Cairo International Airport for your departure flight. The itinerary ends after airport assistance.

Arrive in Cairo and begin with a Nile dinner cruise, followed by the Pyramids of Giza and Grand Egyptian Museum. Travel by road to Alexandria for its coastal fortress, catacombs, Roman monument, and modern library, then return to Cairo. Fly to Aswan for the High Dam, Philae Temple, and Unfinished Obelisk, and visit Abu Simbel on an overland excursion from Aswan before sailing north through Kom Ombo and Edfu to Luxor.

Explore Luxor’s East Bank on Day 7, stay overnight at a Luxor hotel, and visit the West Bank on Day 8 before the road transfer to Hurghada. Enjoy snorkeling, a free day, and a desert safari during four nights by the Red Sea. Fly from Hurghada to Cairo for the final city tour and hotel night before departure.

The 13-day journey includes 12 nights: three initial nights and one final night in Cairo, three cruise nights from Aswan to Luxor, one hotel night in Luxor, and four nights in Hurghada. The two domestic flights are Cairo–Aswan and Hurghada–Cairo.