15 Days Hurghada, Cairo & Nile Cruise Christmas Vacation in Egypt

You begin the day with breakfast at the hotel before visiting the Pyramids of Giza with your private guide.

The Great Pyramid of Khufu:

You visit the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the largest and oldest of the three main pyramids at Giza and the only surviving structure of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The pyramid was built during the 4th Dynasty as the tomb of Pharaoh Khufu.

The Great Sphinx:

You walk to the Great Sphinx, which combines a lion’s body with a human head and stands about 73.5 meters (241 feet) long. The monument forms part of the royal funerary landscape associated with the Giza Plateau.

The Valley Temple:

You enter the Valley Temple beside the Great Sphinx, a 4th-Dynasty structure associated with the funerary complex of Khafre. The temple’s limestone and granite construction reflects the engineering methods used in Old Kingdom royal architecture.

After lunch, you continue to the Grand Egyptian Museum.

Grand Egyptian Museum:

You explore the Grand Egyptian Museum, which houses the collection of Tutankhamun and other archaeological objects from ancient Egypt. The museum presents material from different periods of Egyptian history in a modern complex near the Giza Plateau.

You return to your hotel after the sightseeing program.

You leave Cairo after breakfast for Alexandria, traveling about 220 km (137 miles) each way. Your guide accompanies you through the city’s historic sites before you return to Cairo.

The Library of Alexandria:

You visit the modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina, which opened to the public in 2002 and was created as a modern center of knowledge and culture. The building is distinct from the ancient Library of Alexandria, which belonged to the Hellenistic period.

Qaitbay Citadel:

You explore Qaitbay Citadel, a 15th-century fortress built on the site associated with the ancient Lighthouse of Alexandria. The citadel stands beside the Mediterranean and forms part of Alexandria’s historic harbor area.

Pompey’s Pillar:

You visit Pompey’s Pillar, a Roman granite column erected in Alexandria in the late 3rd century AD. The column stands about 27 meters (89 feet) high and was dedicated to Emperor Diocletian rather than the Roman general Pompey.

Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa:

You descend into the Catacombs of Kom El-Shoqafa, which date to the 2nd century AD and extend through three underground levels. The site combines Egyptian, Greek, and Roman artistic elements, reflecting Alexandria’s multicultural history.

After the visits, you enjoy a seafood lunch by the sea before returning to Cairo.

You have breakfast and transfer to Cairo Airport for your domestic flight to Aswan. Winter days can be mild, with cooler temperatures after sunset.

You begin the Aswan sightseeing program after arrival before checking in to the Nile cruise.

The High Dam:

You visit the Aswan High Dam, a major modern engineering project that regulates Nile water and supports electricity generation. Construction of the dam was completed in 1970, and its reservoir created Lake Nasser.

Philae Temple:

You travel to Agilkia Island to visit Philae Temple, whose main sanctuary dates to the Ptolemaic period, including the 3rd century BC. The temple complex was dedicated primarily to Isis, the ancient Egyptian goddess associated with motherhood, healing, and protection, and its monuments were relocated between 1972 and 1979 to protect them from rising water.

The Unfinished Obelisk:

You visit the granite quarry containing the Unfinished Obelisk, attributed to Queen Hatshepsut. The monument measures about 42 meters (138 feet) and weighs approximately 1,168 tonnes; a flaw in the granite caused the work to stop before the obelisk was completed.

After sightseeing, you board the Nile cruise in Aswan and have lunch onboard. Dinner and your first cruise night are onboard.

After breakfast onboard, you leave Aswan for Abu Simbel by road, covering about 280 km (174 miles) each way.

Abu Simbel Temple:

You visit the Abu Simbel temples, built during the reign of Ramses II, with the main temple dating roughly to 1264–1244 BC. The complex was relocated to higher ground in the 1960s to protect it from the rising waters of Lake Nasser. Four colossal statues guard the main temple.

You also learn about the solar alignment inside the Great Temple, associated with 22 February and 22 October rather than the Christmas period. The alignment allows sunlight to reach the inner sanctuary.

After the visit, you return to the cruise for lunch. In the evening, dinner is served onboard with music and traditional dance shows before your overnight stay on the cruise.

You continue sailing north from Aswan toward Luxor, with Kom Ombo and Edfu forming the main temple stops along the route.

Kom Ombo Temple:

You visit Kom Ombo Temple, a double temple dedicated to Sobek, the crocodile god, and Horus the Elder. The symmetrical layout reflects its shared religious function, while the surviving reliefs provide information about ancient religious practices and medical knowledge. The nearby Crocodile Museum provides further context on the cult of Sobek.

Edfu Temple:

You visit Edfu Temple, dedicated to Horus and built between 237 and 57 BC. The temple preserves its pylons, columned halls, reliefs, and inscriptions, making its layout easier to understand than many other ancient Egyptian religious sites.

After the temple visits, you return to the cruise for lunch. In the evening, dinner and traditional entertainment take place onboard.

After breakfast onboard, you disembark in Luxor and explore the East Bank, where two major temple complexes illustrate the religious and political importance of ancient Thebes.

Karnak Temple:

You walk through Karnak Temple and its Great Hypostyle Hall, which contains 134 documented columns. The complex developed over many centuries and includes pylons, courts, sanctuaries, statues, and inscriptions from different periods of ancient Egyptian history.

Luxor Temple:

You visit Luxor Temple, which was developed mainly during the New Kingdom and expanded under rulers including Amenhotep III and Ramesses II. The temple is connected with Karnak by the ancient Avenue of Sphinxes and contains monumental pylons, statues, columns, and reliefs.

After the sightseeing program, you have lunch at a local Egyptian restaurant before checking into your Luxor hotel.

Day 8 takes you from Luxor’s West Bank to the Red Sea.

Valley of the Kings:

You enter the Valley of the Kings, which contains over 60 known tombs and includes Tutankhamun’s KV62. The decorated corridors and burial chambers record ancient Egyptian beliefs about the afterlife and the journey of the deceased king.

Queen Hatshepsut Temple:

You visit Queen Hatshepsut’s mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahari, built into the cliffs and arranged around three main terraces. Ramps, colonnades, and carved reliefs connect the different levels of the monument.

Colossi of Memnon:

You stand before the Colossi of Memnon, two large seated statues representing Pharaoh Amenhotep III. The statues originally formed part of his mortuary temple complex on Luxor’s West Bank.

After lunch, you travel by private vehicle to Hurghada, about 290 km (180 miles) from Luxor. You check into your hotel on arrival and have the evening free.

You have breakfast before heading to the Red Sea for a snorkeling excursion.

Snorkeling in Hurghada:

You board the boat and travel to snorkeling sites where coral reefs provide habitats for different fish and other Red Sea marine life. You return to the boat between snorkeling sessions.

After the excursion, you have lunch onboard before returning to Hurghada and your hotel.

You have breakfast at the hotel and spend the day in Hurghada without scheduled sightseeing. You can use the free time for the beach, swimming, local shopping, cafés, or rest at the hotel. Lunch is served at a local restaurant. In the evening, you return to your hotel for your overnight stay in Hurghada.

You have breakfast before starting an afternoon desert excursion outside Hurghada.

Desert Safari:

You ride a quad bike through the Eastern Desert before reaching 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, you can enjoy the changing colors of the desert landscape. The evening often ends with a traditional barbecue dinner, music, and light dancing under the stars.

After the desert activities, you return to your hotel for your overnight stay in Hurghada.

After breakfast, you have another day in Hurghada without scheduled sightseeing.

You can swim, relax on the beach, visit local shops and cafés, or spend the day at your hotel. Lunch is served at a local restaurant. In the evening, you return to your hotel for the fifth night of your Hurghada stay.

You check out after breakfast and transfer to Hurghada Airport for your domestic flight to Cairo. After arrival, you meet your guide for the Cairo sightseeing program.

The Egyptian Museum:

You visit the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square, which opened in 1902 and houses extensive collections of ancient Egyptian artifacts. The displays include statues, coffins, jewelry, funerary objects, and objects from different periods of Egyptian history.

The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization:

You explore the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, which opened a temporary exhibition in 2017 before its principal opening in 2021, and presents Egyptian history across different periods. The Royal Mummies Hall contains the remains of several ancient Egyptian kings and queens.

Amr Ibn Al-As Mosque:

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

The Hanging Church:

You visit the Hanging Church in Coptic Cairo, one of the area’s historic Christian churches. The church is associated with the long history of Coptic Christianity in Egypt.

Ben Ezra Synagogue:

You visit Ben Ezra Synagogue in the historic Coptic Cairo area, a site associated with the Cairo Geniza. The Geniza contained documents accumulated over 850 years, and the material provides important evidence of Jewish life and heritage in Egypt.

Khan El Khalili Bazaar:

You explore Khan El Khalili, a historic market district established in 1382 during the Mamluk period. The area contains shops, cafés, workshops, and narrow streets selling crafts, jewelry, souvenirs, and other goods.

After the tour, you have lunch at a local Egyptian restaurant and transfer to your Cairo hotel.

After breakfast at the hotel, you spend the day in Islamic Cairo with your private guide.

Salah El-Din Citadel:

You visit the Citadel of Salah El-Din, which became the seat of government in Egypt from the 13th century. The fortress was expanded by successive rulers and remains a major example of Cairo’s medieval military architecture.

Mohammed Ali Mosque:

You enter the Mohammed Ali Mosque inside the Citadel, built between 1830 and 1848 by order of Mohammed Ali Pasha. The mosque features large domes, Ottoman architectural elements, and extensive alabaster surfaces.

After the visit, you have lunch at a traditional Egyptian restaurant.

Sultan Hassan Mosque and Madrassa:

You visit the Sultan Hassan Mosque and Madrassa, constructed between 1356 and 1362 during the Mamluk period. The complex combines a large prayer space with facilities for Islamic learning and is known for its monumental scale and architectural planning.

Al Rifa’i Mosque:

You visit Al-Rifa’i Mosque opposite the Sultan Hassan Mosque. Completed in 1912, the mosque combines Mamluk and Ottoman architectural influences and contains royal tombs. It was commissioned by the mother of Khedive Ismail.

After completing the visits, you return to your hotel for the evening.

You have breakfast at the hotel, check out, and transfer to Cairo International Airport for your departure flight. The 15-day itinerary ends with your airport transfer.

The itinerary starts with three nights in Cairo and a day trip to Alexandria, then continues by flight to Aswan for three nights aboard a Nile cruise to Luxor, including the Abu Simbel excursion. One hotel night in Luxor separates the East and West Bank sightseeing before the road transfer to Hurghada.

Five nights in Hurghada allow time for snorkeling, a desert safari, and two days without scheduled sightseeing. The flight back to Cairo is followed by two final nights, with a city sightseeing day and a separate day exploring the Citadel and historic mosques. This 15-day journey balances the guided cultural visits with Red Sea leisure time, with 14 nights in total.