8 Days Cairo & Nile Cruise Christmas Holiday in Egypt

After breakfast, you head to the Giza Plateau to explore the ancient monuments of the pyramid complex before continuing to the Grand Egyptian Museum. Your Egyptologist guide explains the history and significance of the sites as you move between the main attractions.

Giza Pyramids Complex:

You visit the Giza Pyramids Complex, where the pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure stand alongside the Great Sphinx and the Valley Temple. The plateau preserves one of the most important surviving groups of monuments from ancient Egypt.

The Great Pyramid of Khufu:

Marvel at the largest of them all — the Great Pyramid of Khufu. Its unmatched scale and precision continue to amaze travelers and archaeologists alike, standing as one of the world’s greatest architectural achievements.

Entry inside the Great Pyramid is optional and requires a separate ticket.

The Great Sphinx:

You see the Great Sphinx, a limestone statue with the body of a lion and a human head. The monument measures about 73.5 m (241 ft) long and forms part of the funerary landscape of the Giza Plateau.

The Valley Temple:

You explore the Valley Temple of King Khafre, a 4th-Dynasty structure within the king’s funerary complex. The temple was associated with the rituals carried out during the preparation and burial of the king.

After the Giza visit, you stop for lunch at a local Egyptian restaurant before continuing to the museum.

The Grand Egyptian Museum:

You visit the Grand Egyptian Museum to explore its collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts, including the complete Tutankhamun collection. Entry to the museum operates on a timed admission schedule.

After the sightseeing program, you return to your Cairo hotel for the night.

After breakfast, you continue exploring Cairo through its ancient Egyptian, Coptic, and Islamic landmarks. The day combines museum collections with historic religious sites and the traditional market district of Khan El Khalili.

The Egyptian Museum:

You visit the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square, which opened in 1902. Its galleries contain extensive collections of ancient Egyptian artifacts, including statues, jewelry, funerary objects, and royal antiquities.

The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization:

You explore the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization and its collections covering different periods of Egyptian history. The Royal Mummies Hall is dedicated to Egypt’s royal mummies; the group transferred to NMEC in 2021 comprised 22 mummies, including 18 kings and four queens.

Saladin Citadel:

You visit the Saladin Citadel, a medieval fortress overlooking Cairo.

Mohamed Ali Mosque:

You then visit Mohamed Ali Mosque within the citadel complex. The mosque is also known as the Alabaster Mosque and is distinguished by its Ottoman architectural features.

The Hanging Church:

You visit the Hanging Church in Old Cairo, a historic Coptic church built above one of the gates of the Roman fortress of Babylon. Its interior contains historic icons, woodwork, and religious artwork.

After lunch at a local Egyptian restaurant, you continue to the final stop of the day.

Khan El Khalili Bazaar:

You explore Khan El Khalili, a historic market district established in 1384 during the Mamluk period. Its narrow streets contain shops selling traditional crafts, spices, lamps, jewelry, and souvenirs.

After completing the day’s sightseeing, you return to your Cairo hotel for the night.

Your Christmas tour continues with a domestic flight from Cairo to Aswan. After arrival, you meet your Egyptologist guide and begin exploring Aswan’s main landmarks before boarding your 5-star Nile cruise.

The High Dam:

You visit the High Dam, whose main structure was completed in 1970. The project created Lake Nasser and became an important part of Egypt’s modern water and electricity infrastructure.

Philae Temple:

You travel by boat to Philae Temple, a sanctuary dedicated to Isis, the ancient Egyptian goddess associated with motherhood, healing, and protection. The surviving monuments date mainly from the Ptolemaic period, including the 3rd century BC, and were relocated to Agilkia Island between 1972 and 1979 to protect them from the rising waters of Lake Nasser.

The Unfinished Obelisk:

You visit the Unfinished Obelisk in Aswan’s granite quarries, a monument attributed to Hatshepsut. Had it been completed, it would have measured about 42 m (138 ft) and weighed roughly 1,168 tonnes.

After sightseeing, you board your Nile cruise, where you have dinner and spend the night on board.

After breakfast aboard the cruise, you travel by road to Abu Simbel with your private Egyptologist guide to visit the temples built during the reign of Ramses II.

Abu Simbel Temples:

You explore the Abu Simbel Temples, located about 280 km (174 miles) south of Aswan. The main temple was built during the reign of King Ramses II, while the smaller temple is associated with Queen Nefertari.

The temples are also known for their solar alignment, which occurs on 22 February and 22 October. The phenomenon does not occur in December, so Christmas travelers visit the site without expecting to see the solar alignment.

After returning from Abu Simbel, you have lunch and dinner aboard the cruise and spend the night on board.

As the cruise continues north toward Luxor, you stop at two temples that reflect different aspects of ancient Egyptian religious architecture and worship.

Kom Ombo Temple:

You visit Kom Ombo Temple, a double temple dedicated to Sobek and Horus the Elder. The adjoining museum displays mummified crocodiles, reflecting the importance of crocodile worship in the religious traditions associated with the site.

Temple of Edfu:

You explore the Temple of Edfu, a well-preserved sanctuary dedicated to the falcon god Horus. Construction took place between 237 and 57 BC, and the temple’s pylons, courtyards, reliefs, and inscriptions preserve details of ancient religious traditions.

After the visits, you return to the cruise for the remainder of the day, enjoy dinner and spend another night on board.

After arriving in Luxor, you explore the ancient temples and royal monuments on both banks of the Nile. The sightseeing program begins with Karnak Temple on the East Bank, followed by Queen Hatshepsut Temple, the Valley of the Kings and the Colossi of Memnon on the West Bank.

Karnak Temple:

You explore Karnak Temple and its extensive collection of sanctuaries, courtyards, columns, and inscriptions. The Great Hypostyle Hall contains 134 documented columns, making it one of the most distinctive architectural spaces within the complex.

Queen Hatshepsut Temple:

You explore the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir El-Bahari, a terraced mortuary temple built against the cliffs on Luxor’s West Bank. The monument is associated with the reign of Hatshepsut, one of ancient Egypt’s female pharaohs.

The Valley of the Kings:

You visit the Valley of the Kings, where more than 60 tombs have been identified. The valley includes Tutankhamun’s KV62, discovered in 1922, along with numerous other royal tombs from the New Kingdom.

Colossi of Memnon:

You see the Colossi of Memnon, two seated statues of Amenhotep III that stand on Luxor’s West Bank. The statues formed part of the entrance to the king’s mortuary temple.

After lunch at a local restaurant, you transfer to Luxor Airport for your domestic flight back to Cairo. Upon arrival, you transfer to your Cairo hotel for the final overnight stay.

After breakfast, you check out of your hotel and meet the representative for your private transfer to Cairo International Airport. Your Christmas holiday in Egypt ends with your departure flight.

This eight-day Christmas tour includes four hotel nights in Cairo and three nights aboard a five-star Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor, with domestic flights from Cairo to Aswan and from Luxor to Cairo.

Days 1 to 3 are based in Cairo, covering Giza, the Grand Egyptian Museum, and the city’s museums and historic districts. On Day 4, you fly to Aswan and board the Nile cruise. Day 5 includes the Abu Simbel temples, while Day 6 takes you to Kom Ombo and Edfu as the cruise continues north. On Day 7, you visit Luxor’s East and West Bank monuments before flying back to Cairo for your final night.

Day 8 concludes with breakfast and your private transfer to Cairo International Airport. Your Cairo hotel is in your selected category; cruise accommodation is on a full-board basis, with other meals as listed in the daily itinerary.