15 Day Egypt Itinerary the Nile valley and the desert

Marsa Alam tours representative will meet & assist you at  Cairo  International Airport, Transfer to the hotel by private air-conditioned vehicle. Depends on your arrival. If your flight arrives, If you have an early flight to  Cairo  you can contact us to make a tour suggestion 
Free evening- welcome dinner 
Overnight in the Hotel

Our representative will pick you up from the hotel in  Cairo  the itinerary for the first day will be as follows: Transfer to Cairo airport for a short flight to Aswan  to board your Nile cruise Y. You will meet your tour guide in Aswan and you will be transferred to embark Nile Cruise before lunch
Visits of Aswan including the Temple of Philae and tour by Felucca around Elephantine, the High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk.

►❤ Phiala temple:

Built to honor the goddess Isis, this was the last temple built in the classical Egyptian style. Construction began around 690 BC, and it was one of the last outposts where the goddess was worshipped.

►❤ The High dam:

Aswan High Dam is a rock-fill dam located at the northern border between Egypt and Sudan. The dam is fed by the River Nile and the reservoir forms Lake Nasser. Construction for the project began in 1960 and was completed in 1968. It was officially inaugurated in 1971.

►❤ The Unfinished Obelisk :

Aswan was the source of ancient Egypt’s finest granite, used to make statues and embellish temples, pyramids, and obelisks. The large unfinished obelisk in the Northern Quarries has provided valuable insight into how these monuments were created, although the full construction process is still not entirely clear. Three sides of the shaft, nearly 42m long, were completed except for the inscriptions. At 1168 tonnes, the completed obelisk would have been the single heaviest piece of stone the Egyptians ever fashioned. 
12:00 lunch on board of the Cruise
at 16:00 sailing trip with Felucca around Elphinatine island and Visit Lord Kitchener island-

►❤ Options tour to  the Nubian village:

The Nubian village is one of Aswan's attractions. It's worth visiting and spending  2 hours. The place is very authentic and genuine, Colorful and artistic, the Nubian Village will surprise you in every corner! While walking in the village, you will straight away feel the soul of this place!
Dinner &overnight on board the Cruise

overnight on board the Cruise

Meals: Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner

Early Visit to Abu Simbel from Aswan

►❤ Abu Simbel temples:

The two temples of Ramses the second and the Queen Nefertari were carved out of the Mountain on the west bank of the Nile between 1274 and 1244 B.c, The Great Temple was dedicated to Ramses the second, Ra-Harakhty, Amun Ra, and Ptah, with 4 Colossal statues, The second temple was dedicated to The Queen Nefertari and Goddess Hathor, the two temples were dismantled stone by stone and rebuilt on higher ground, The preservation of the two temples of Abu Simbel must Rank as the greatest Achievement of the Unesco.

lunch on the Nile cruise

13:00 Sail to Kom Ombo

►❤The temple of Kom Ombo:

The temple and the associated settlement site located 40 K.m north of Aswan, the temple was dedicated to the deities Sobek and Horus  and date mainly to the Ptolemaic and Roman period(332 B.b -395 A.c)
Sail to Edfu-Overnight in Edfu 

overnight on board the Cruise

Meals: Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner

Breakfast on the board on the Nile cruise, Breakfast on the Nile Cruise, Visit the Edfu around 08:00 by horse carriage 

►❤ Edfu temple  :

Upper Egyptian site dominated by a large well -Preserved temple, dedicated to the hawk-God Horus, The Construction of Ptolemaic temple of Horus, which was founded on the site of a much earlier temple, dated to the period between the reigns of Ptolemy the Third(246 B.c), The descriptions on the walls include the Myth of contending of Horus and Seth(Probably performed annually as a religious Drama

You will be back around 10:00 

Lunch on the Cruise 
At 10:30 Sail to   Luxor  through Esna lock

Arrive   Luxor  at 18:00
Visit   Luxor temple.

►❤ Luxor  Temple:
Largely built by the New Kingdom Pharaoh Amenhotep the Third and Completed by King Tutankhamon and the Great King Ramses the second, The First pylon was raised by Ramses the second and Decorated  with His Military Battle of Kadesh

Meals: Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner

Optional trip to the balloon ride 85 $

Breakfast on the board on the Nile cruise, Breakfast on the Nile Cruise, Visit the west bank of Luxor and Karnak  

►❤ The Valley of the Kings :
Once  called the great Place of the Truth, this valley is Called now the valley of the Kings, It is a Majestic domain of the Pharaohs who once lay in great stone Sarcophagi, awaiting immortality, The isolated valley behind Deir el Bahri is dominated by the Pyramid-Shaped Mountain Peak

►❤ The colossi of Memnon:

Massive  pair statues Known as the  Colossi of Memnon, Rising about 18 M from the plain, They are the remains of what was once the largest  complex on the west bank, Built by Amenhotep the Third

►❤ The Queen Hatshepsut temple :

Rising out of the desert Plain, in a series of terraces, The temple of Hatshepsut Mergs with sheer limestone Cliffs of the eastern face of the Theban Mountain as if Nature herself had built this Extraordinary monument.

►❤ Karnak :
Karnak is more than A temple, is a spectacular Complex of Sanctuaries, Kiosks, Pylons, and Obelisks, All dedicated to the Theban gods and to the Greater Glory of Egypt`s Pharaohs, Karnak was the Most Important place for the worship of the Theban Triad(Amun, Mut, and Khonso) 

Disembarkation after Breakfast. Transfer to Cairo Luxor airport for your flight to Cairo, Then you will be transferred to Cairo hotel.

Meals: Breakfast-Lunch

Pick-up time from your hotel in Cairo or Giza at 05:00 am. we do recommend ordering a breakfast box from your hotel because of the early departure, and drive to  El Alamein  , driving distance: 259 km. It takes 3 hours driving, on the way we stop for a coffee break. Arrival at  El Alamein  at 08:30

El Alamein    Controlled the north African coast which opens the way to the whole of Egypt and the trade routes to the Far East via the red sea and the Indian Ocean. During the second world war, the Axis powers wanted to dominate Egypt in order to close Britain`s sea routes to its colonial empire, which the British were desperate to protect. starting in 1940 with the Italian invasion of Egypt via Libya, The coastal town of Al Diffa was the scene of the ongoing battle.

►❤   El Alamein    Museum

The small    El Alamein   museum,  about 1 mile west of the British memorial, is located on the north side of the road, for anyone interested in war Memorabilia. it is worth a stop. Created in 1965 from debris found on the battlefield, It contains uniforms, Weapons, Flags, and other war Paraphernalia. Displays include Photographs and the battle sites

►❤   El Alamein    War Cemetery

It was designed by Sir Herbert Worthington and is maintained by the British war graves commission in  Cairo , Here 7,367 men from Britain, Newzealand, Australia, South Africa, Greece, France, India, and Malaysia are buried in individual graves, while 11,945 men, whose bodies were never found, are honored in the cloister that precedes the graveyard

Beyond the cloister is the Individual graves, each, topped with white Marker, Approximately 815 soldiers were identified and their names are inscribed over the graves

►❤   The German war Memorial

Thee kilometers, west of the Italian marker, the German war memorial is a single octagonal building erected in 1959, overlooks the sea, Patterned after the castle del Monte. the memorial contains the bodies of 4280 German soldiers, at the Entrance, it stands an impressive golden mosaic, to the right of the entrance is a small chapel where families and friends honor the dead with wreaths, Photographs, and memorial ribbons.


►❤   The Italian Memorial

The Elegant white marble Italian Memorial, the largest structure at    El Alamein    .stands 5 kilometers beyond the German Memorial, it was designed by Paolo Caccia dominoni who served  at El-Alamein and also wrote a book about it

In the Entrance,  there is a small museum and  in the chapel is inscribed ( To 4800 Italian soldiers, sailors, and airmen, the desert and the sea did not give back 38,000 who are  missing)

The main memorial overlooks the sea at the top

Light lunch will be served on the way.

►❤ Enjoy the sunset at Fatnas Lake

Fatnas is a Small island in Birket Siwa, you can reach it by walk or by bike, It is a wonderful place to sit and enjoy the sunset, You will get a spectacular view of the lake with Gebel Bayda and Hamra forming the backdrop to the west, A walk in the Garden show a variety of trees including Banana, dates, and olive.

Dinner will be served in a restaurant in Siwa,

►❤ Overnight in Ghaliet Ecolodge

Ghaliet is a unique SPA Ecolodge just located nearby Amoun Temple and Alexander the greatest oracle in Siwa Oasis. It has been built by nature and designed among palm trees. you can feel the history and the great ancient stories of Alexander the great while you are in Ghaliet. Enjoy nature, organic design, organic food, and different health programs. The ecolodge includes 12 cozy rooms; each room has its special personality and feeling. You can enjoy staying in the upper rooms with the transparent glass ceiling opening and you feel like you are sleeping in heaven. Also, you can experience the unique outdoor privacy in the lower rooms with their private backyard.

►❤ Have an amazing night in Siwa 

Breakfast at the hotel. Pick up at 07:00 am from the hotel. You will visit today's Siwa attractions, we will start with Alexander the Great Temple is also known as the Temple of the Oracle. It is believed that Alexander the Great wished to consult the Siwan oracle to seek confirmation that he was the son of Zeus. The Greek god of gods, when he and his entourage arrived at  Siwa oasis  after a long trip through the desert.

Then drive to the salty lake. The salty water takes you above the water and makes you float., You don't need to be a good swimmer. Take care when you go swimming and don't let the water reach your eyes. as it is really painful. Choose the crystal lake and they are many of them. But keep looking for the purest one, when you see the bottom. Take a bottle of Mineral water to shower with after swimming in the lake, The salt lakes have similar hyper-salinity properties to those of Jordan’s Dead Sea. This also means that the lakes hold great healing properties, much stronger than regular seawater. In all cases, You will make for a wonderful swim! 

at 11:00 Then proceed to (Cleopatra's bath )The spring of the sun. It has been mentioned by travelers to Siwa, The legend maintains that Cleopatra swam here, 

Then Proceed to the temple of Umm Ubaydah or Amun temple, Just 200 m further from the Temple of the Oracle, the temple was erected by the pharaoh Nectanebo of the 30th Dynasty,

This structure is almost completely destroyed, owing to its dynamiting in 1896 by an Ottoman governor eager to acquire building material. An inscribed wall represents all that remains to be seen. Based on earlier drawings by pioneer explorers, however, scholars have deduced that the temple was erected by the pharaoh Nectanebo of the 30th Dynasty.

12:00( Taste the Siwan lunch )  in a Siwan restaurant at Abdo restaurant.

Then you will adventure the desert by discovering the Great Sand Sea. by Jeep 4x4 and Enjoy sandboarding -The best sand dunes for sand boarding in Egypt is here in the Great Sand Sea near Siwa Oasis 

Visit the hot and Cold spring Bir Waheed  Later, we enjoy some traditional Bedouin Tea by sunset& Overnight in desert Camp and Enjoy Bbq Dinner.

If you need to Sleep in a Hotel instead of the camp, This is also available. we have nice Ecolodges in Siwa

 

Breakfast at the Camp at 07:00 then drive back to   Siwa oasis   - Visit  Shali Fortress :

The Shali Fortress was built on a hill inside a Protective wall originally breached by a single gate, the maze of mud-brick buildings that Comprises the Fortress served the people of the oasis for nearly 8 centuries. The inhabitants had to live in the narrow quarters,  sharing their animals, which were herded into the fortress each evening. The huge chunks of salt so prevalent in   Siwa oasis  were used in the construction of the fortress, as they helped to strengthen the wall, Rain has unfortunately proved to be more destructive to the fortress than any human invaders. the fortress was built in the 13th century and served as the center of Siwan life for over 800 years. The fortress’ mosque is still in use today, with many of the homes restored, and some even turned into local guesthouses.

Then proceed to the Mountain of the Dead i

s a conical mountain a little over a kilometer to the north of Shali. Tombs from the twenty-sixth Dynasty, Ptolemaic, and the Roman periods are cut into the side of the mountain, There are four tombs worth seeing at Gebel Al – Mawta. Si Amun Tomb is the most beautiful in  Siwa oasis . Si Amun appears to have been a wealthy Egyptian, Perhaps of Greek origin, but a follower of the ancient Egyptians belief, The tomb contains an Image from the Egyptian pantheon, including an Exquisite painting of the goddess nut standing beside a sycamore tree.

Then drive to Cairo , passing by Marsa Matrouh for lunch passing  Discover Marsa Matrouh, Egypt’s Mediterranean shore. With sandy white beaches and crystal clear waters, many believe that Cleopatra herself bathed in the tranquil waters of Marsa Matrouh. 

 

►❤Lunch will be served in Marsa Matrouh in Magdy restaurant -Seafood restaurant


Then Drive back to  Cairo  Arrival in  Cairo  at 20:00 
 

After breakfast in the hotel: Start your day Tour in Alexandria Visiting The Roman  Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa  

The Catacombs Kom el Shoqafa :

Archaeologists believe that the Catacomb of Kom el Shoqafa was started in the 2nd century A.D. and was used to intern the dead for the next 200 years. This was a period in the history of the city of Alexandria when there was a great mixture of different cultures. Of course, there was the ancient history of the great Egyptian kingdoms which went back thousands of years

Pompey Pillar:

Has nothing to do with Pompey. The story behind the name refers to the possible burial ground of the Roman general when he fled to Egypt and was assassinated after losing a major battle in Greece against Caesar. The red granite column was probably built to honor Emperor Diocletian. Today it stands 25 meters high and is the tallest ancient monument in Alexandria

The Citadel of Sultan Qeitbay:
The Citadel was built in the 15th Century by the Mamlouk Sultan Qeitbay, To Guard the City against the threat of Crusaders, This wonderful Islamic Monument was built by the use of the ruins of the old Lighthouse that was constructed by Ptolemy 11 in 3rd Century B.c. The Lighthouse was damaged during an Earthquake that Occurred in Egypt in 1303 A.c during the reign of the Mamlouk King  Qeitbay


Lunch in Alexandria in Egyptian Restaurant

The new Library of Alexandria :

The Library of Alexandria was reborn in October 2002 to reclaim the mantle of its ancient namesake. It is not just an extraordinarily beautiful building; it is also a vast complex where the arts, history, philosophy, and science come together. Moreover, the myriad activities it offers have made it a place for open discussion, dialogue, and understanding.

Al Montazh Palace :

The Montaza Palace gardens are located at the eastern edge of Alexandria on the north coast of Egypt. The complex, which is around 360 acres in size, is a beautiful property that overlooks Al Montaza Gulf. The complex also contains five beaches for swimming: Aida, Cleopatra, Vanessa, Semiramis, and the private beach of Helnan Palestine Hotel. There are all sorts of fun to be had in Montaza. 

Drive to Cairo overnight in Cairo

Meals: Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner

Private tour Our tour guide will pick you up from your hotel in  Cairo  or in Giza at 8:00 am and get ready for your Private day tour to the    Pyramids of Giza   with a Private tour guide
First, you will visit the Great Pyramid of Giza (also known as the Pyramid of Khufu or the Pyramid of   Cheops   ) is the oldest and largest of the pyramids in the Giza pyramid complex. It is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the only one to remain largely intact.

The great pyramid was built as a tomb for the Fourth Dynasty Egyptian pharaoh Khufu and estimate that it was built in the 26th century BC during a period of around 27 years.
Initially standing at 146.5 meters (481 feet), the Great Pyramid was the tallest man-made structure in the world for more than 3,800 years. Throughout history, the majority of the smooth white limestone casing was removed, which lowered the pyramid's height to the present 138.5 meters. What is seen today is the underlying core structure. The base was measured to be about 230.3 meters (755.6 ft) square, giving a volume of roughly 2.6 million cubic meters (92 million cubic feet), which includes an internal hillock

If you wish to visit the burial chamber of King   Cheops  . You can ask the tour guide to buy it for you it costs 400 l. E per person( 25 $ per person)

Then we will visit the Pyramid of Chephren or Khafre. This r is the second-tallest and second-largest of the 3 Ancient Egyptian   Pyramids of Giza   and the tomb of the Fourth-Dynasty pharaoh Khafre (Chefren), who ruled c. 2558−2532 BC

Then we will the Pyramid of Mykerinus.

Enjoy a Panoramic View of the 3   Pyramids of Giza

We go head to visit   the Valley Temple   of king Chephren. While doing that you can have a closer look at the Great Sphinx - the legendary guardian that stands by the huge funeral complex with its lion body and the head of king Chephren. Enjoy a camel ride by the   Pyramids of Giza   in the desert

Then visit the Egyptian Museum

The Museum of Egyptian Antiquities in Tahir

It exhibits a rare collection of over 250,000 genuine artifacts that date as far back as 5000 years, including an exclusive exhibit dedicated to the Tutankhamen - A collection of treasures, gold, and jewelry that were buried in his tomb for over 3,500 years before they were discovered in 1920 when his tomb was excavated.

If you wish to visit the mummies royal hall. You need to ask the tour guide to take the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization and you pay for this. It will cost  25 $

The New Grand museum is not open yet. It will be open soon maybe end of 2021 or  in 2022

Optional trip to the sound and the light show at Giza Pyramids and costs 40 $ Per person

At 06:00 am Pick up time from your hotel in Giza or in  Cairo, drive to    Bahariya Oasis , which is located about 350 km east of Cairo  This journey takes about 4 hours, in Past when people from Bahariya wished to go to the Nile valley, they often waited until a caravan was passing through, They traveled between the Nile and the oasis in three days( How lucky we are today!!!!!

There will be 2 Coffee Breaks during the trip.

You will see to the righthand side the railways that transport the iron ore deposits to the Steel mill at Helwan, So it is of no use for tourists- Baharyia oasis is the main source of Iron ore of Egypt. The Iron ore comes from the middle Eocene limestone and is located 4 places called Managim

At 10:00 You will arrive at Baharyia oasis then you meet your Safari guide and you will take your 4x4 Jeep and Start your adventure.

Drive to   the black desert   This name stems from the fact that there is a layer of black powder covering its mountains, highlands, and sand. This powder covers the summits of some mountains 

12:00 The Lunch will be served here in El Haize oasis which is located 37 k.m from  Bawiti  , Some people refer to this oasis as a separate oasis, during the roman time area was very Prosperous, many of the current families were originally from Libya., Before lunch, you can immerse yourself in a hot water spring which will almost instantly reduce stress. The heat naturally coaxes tense muscles to loosen up which in turn promotes feelings of calm, wellbeing, and tranquility.

There is a museum here called the (water museum ) which is built to show the people the importance of the underground water for the people of the desert and the instruments which were used by the Egyptians to raise the water for irrigation 

13:00 Then drive to the   valley of Agabat

14:00  Arrive at the Valley of Agabat is deep within the   white desert   You have to be there to feel the out-worldly beauty of the place. Millions of years ago, the place used to be under the sea. Over the years, unique rock formations of limestone, chalk (and maybe sand) developed.  

Then you will adventure the desert by discovering the Wadi el Agabat by Jeep 4x4 and Enjoy sandboarding -

16: 30  explore the  white desert  National Park, the most well-known desert destination in Egypt.

There are hundreds of images here each one is reminiscent of an animal- Chicken-  A sphinx, Camels, tents, Mushrooms

The chicken-shaped rock

17:30 Make tents and Enjoy the sunset

18:30 As the sky turns pink then the deepest fiery orange, the rock-shapes fade, and silence are all around. Sitting around a small fire and enjoying the simplest meal of chicken, rice, and vegetables, you will feel like nothing has ever tasted so good. Bedouin staff will arrange dinner and desert camping.

Note:  at night  temperatures can drop suddenly in the White Desert a proper jacket would be necessary to spend the night comfortably

At 06:00 am Enjoy sunrise

At 07:00 Am you'll enjoy breakfast in the desert, before driving to Bahariya Oasis

At 09:00 On the way back, you will visit   Crystal Mountain  ,   Crystal Mountain  , locally known as Gebel al-Izzaz. It's more of a crystal hill, seen on the right, which is often called the Jewel of the desert is formed by the quartzite crystals and looks amazing in the sun's rays. A few decades ago, that natural feature has been found by accident.

11:00 Drive to   Bahariya Oasis  , Soak in the heat at   Bir Sigam  , a hot spring that can help to relax.  Located at 7 km east of Bahariya on the  Cairo  road, the spring is the best hot spring in temperature,
In The summertime will stop at Bir Madi( which is a cold  spring)
If you want to add Lunch ( 15 $ Extra per person )
We have 2 Extra options for you to discover more about the oasis

1-First option

If you wish to discover more about the history of Bahariya oasis we do recommend doing an extra trip to the museum of the golden mummies,  Bawiti  tombs, and Alexander the Great temple

You will visit the tombs of     Bannentiu and Djed-Ankh-Amun-Iuf     (Zed-Amun) The tombs at Qasr Selim (26th Dynasty)In 1938 the Egyptian archaeologist Ahmed Fakhry (1905-1973) discovered four tombs at the ridge of Qarat Qasr Selim. Visit     Bawiti ,     Bawiti     is the Capital of     Bahariya Oasis  , Then Visit the Museum of the golden mummies and the temple of Ain El Muftella,     Bahariya Oasis  ,  You will have lunch in    Bahariya Oasis   before driving to    Cairo

This will cost 35 $ per person Extra.

2- Second option

You can book Extra 3 Hours Bahariya oasis tour.

You will discover    Bahariya Oasis , The palm, and olives fields, Gebel Maghrafa. where the biggest Diansour( (Stromer's Tidal Giant) was ever discovered in 1914 at the base of Gebel Dist. Lake al-Marun which is the biggest salt lake in    Bahariya Oasis , Enjoy the sunset from The summit of the English Mountain(Gebel Al Ingleez). the view from the top offers a panorama of the northern part of the oasis. drive to    Cairo

If you need to be dropped off at Cairo airport, this will cost 35 $ Extra transfer supplement

This will cost 35 $ per person Extra.

Pick Up time from your hotel in  Giza at 08:00 am with your Egyptologist tour guide, Enjoy a fantastic orientation tour of  Cairo on an 8-hour excursion that takes in the major monuments of Old  Cairo and the maze of streets and stalls of the historic Khan El Khalili Bazaar. Following a hotel pick-up from Giza, you will drive up to the Saladin Citadel, constructed by Salah al-Din on the Moqattam Hills in 1183 AD as a defense against Crusader armies. Known for its fresh air and sweeping views of  Cairo, it is now a preserved historic site of mosques and museums, including the Mosque of Muhammad Ali Pasha

Designed by the Turkish architect Yousif Boushnaq, who came to  Cairo especially from Istanbul to build the great building, the mosque's alabaster structure stands in beautiful contrast to the sandstone city.

Lunch will be served in a local restaurant in Old  Cairo

Then, visit Old  Cairo  to see major attractions such as the Hanging Church, the Ben Ezra Synagogue, the Church of St. Barbara, and the Church of Abu Serga, one of the oldest Coptic churches in  Cairo

Continue to the Khan el-Khalili Bazaar, one of the oldest bazaars in the Middle East. Discover a maze of alleys that have been at the center of  Cairo’s trading activities since the 14th century. 

Overnight in Cairo

You can book an extra optional trip for Cairo Day Tour to Memphis Sakkara and Dahshur Pyramids. You will start with the Step Pyramid at Sakkara, which is considered the world's oldest major stone structure. It was built in the 3rd Dynasty for King Djoser. Then Proceed to have your lunch at a local restaurant. After that transfer to Memphis which was founded by King Menes, and was the capital of Egypt during the Old Kingdom, it was considered to be a center of rule and culture for over 3000 years the first capital of Egypt, and see the Statue of Ramses II and the Alabaster Sphinx of Memphis. Then drive to Dahshur, Two of the later pyramids constructed here have been completely destroyed by time, and the elements and several others, such as the Black Pyramid (12th Dynasty, 1929-1885 BC), are badly damaged, but Dahshur also boasts two of Egypt’s best-preserved early pyramids. Both built during the reign of King Sneferu (2613-2589 BC), the founder of the 4th Dynasty, the Bent Pyramid, and the Red Pyramid at Dahshur are massive evidence of the architectural development that lead to the construction of the Great Pyramid and it companions at Giza. Then drive to your hotel.

You will be transferred to Cairo airport for the international departure. If you wish to extend your stay in Cairo, please contact us.