DAY 01: Arrival Cairo
Santa Maria Tours welcomes you to the timeless land of the Pharaohs, a treasure of history and antiquities. On arrival in Cairo Airport, you are met and transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Cairo.

DAY 02: Cairo
A visit to the Egyptian Museum, housing the world's greatest collection of Paranoiac antiquities With 107 rooms including the amazing treasures of the boy King Tutankhamen's tomb. Then continue to Old Cairo visit the Coptic Church of Abu Serga and the Ben Ezra Synagogue. Back to our hotel and overnight. (Breakfast)

DAY 03: Cairo
After breakfast, we board our bus for a full sightseeing; our first stop will be at Dahshur to see the beautiful Red and Bent Pyramids. Then on to Sakkara, where we will visit the Step-Pyramid of Djoser that was constructed in 2780BC. Our last stop for today will be at Memphis, once the capital of all Egypt. Back to our hotel. Overnight in Cairo. (Breakfast)

DAY 04: Cairo
Today we will start our day tour visiting one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, see Giza Pyramids of Kings Cheops, Chephren & Mykerinos and enjoy the magic of the Sphinx. Back to our hotel. Overnight in Cairo. (Breakfast)

DAY 05: Cairo/ Fayoum / Al-Minya
After breakfast, board our bus travel to El-Lahun, site of the 12th dynasty Pyramid of Senusret II. Here, we explore the Middle Kingdom pyramid town of Kahun the workers village of the pyramid of Senusret II. Proceed to Al-Minya. Check-in our hotel and overnight. (Breakfast)

DAY 06: Al-Minya/ Tel el-Amarna/ Tuna el-Gebel/ El Ashmunein
Today we cross the east bank of the Nile to Tel el-Amarna, a city built by Akhenaten and Nefertiti during the New Kingdom.  We visit some noble’s tombs with wall reliefs unequalled anywhere else in Egypt.  The pictures appear alive and even as though they are moving.  We also visit the Northern Palace, one of the markers of the city limits (a huge stone with hieroglyphics), the Southern Palace and the tomb built for Akhenaten. After cross again the Nile to the West bank, proceed to Tuna el-Gebel which was the necropolis of Khmunu. On our return journey to al-Minya, visit El Ashmunein  in Pharaonic times in the ancient Egyptian language means ‘town of eight’ including a lovely new open-air museum . Back to Hotel. Overnight in al-Menya. (Breakfast)

DAY 07: Al-Minya/ Assiut
After breakfast, check-out from our hotel. Approximately 40km from Al-Minya, the small village of Bani Hassan is overlooked by limestone cliffs which contain39 tombs of the best private tombs in Egypt dating from the era of the Middle Kingdom. It is near Beni Hasan that we find another interesting site, the "Speos Artemidos," a rock cut temple for Pakhet, an aspect of the lioness goddess Sekhmet.  It is here that the female pharaoh, Hatshepsut, made her declaration denouncing the Hyksos and telling of her mission to resuscitate the temples of Egypt. Proceed to Assuit. Arrive Assiut check-in our hotel and Overnight. (Breakfast)

DAY 08: Assuit/ Dendara/ Abydos/ Luxor
Check-out from our hotel after breakfast, towards Abydos Visit the amazing temples of Ramses II. Proceed to Dendara visit beautiful Temple of Hathor before moving to Luxor. Arrive Luxor check-in our hotel and overnight. (Breakfast)

DAY 09: Luxor
Today we will explore Luxor “the city of a hundred gates” because so many of its temples. Visit Karnak Temple that is famous for its 134 massive columns arranged in 16 rows. Then to the lovely Luxor Museum overlooking the River Nile and had a collection of 26 well preserved statues of the New Kingdom  also some collections from the tomb of Tutankhamun. Proceed to Luxor Temple located on the East bank of the River Nile, built during the New Kingdom. Back to our hotel. Overnight in Luxor. (Breakfast)

DAY 10: Luxor
After breakfast, Cross the West bank of the Nile visit the most famous realm of the dead, Theban Necropolis, which was the burial place for many of ancient Egypt’s greatest New Kingdom pharaohs. Visit Valley of the kings, there are many kings buried in this valley and the superb Tombs of the Nobles. Then visit Deir El Medina that was the village of the workmen who were responsible for the construction of the tombs in the Valley of the Kings during the New Kingdom period. Back to our hotel and overnight. (Breakfast)

DAY 11: Luxor
After breakfast, drive to the West bank of the Nile to visit the Valley of Queens, the burial place of the royal wives and the princes who died. Proceed to visit Temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari, It was built by Queen Hatshepsut, daughter of Thutmose I, who ruled Egypt about 20 years during the 18th Dynasty; she was the only pharaonic women who reigned ancient Egypt. The Colossi of Memnon. Continue to the Ramesseum, built by Ramesses II as his mortuary temple. Later we visit an important structure from the New Kingdom Medinet Habu Temple‘’ the Mortuary Temple of Ramesses III”. Back to hotel and overnight. (Breakfast)

DAY 12: Luxor
Today we board our Nile Cruise boat in the morning ready for sailing down the Nile. The rest of the day is free in Luxor. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Click to see optional tours available in Luxor

DAY 13: Luxor / Esna / Edfu
Today we board our bus visit Esna with its intriguing remains of the Temple of Khnum, guardian of the source of the Nile. Back to our Nile Cruise. Later we cross the lock. Sail to Edfu and Overnight. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 14: Edfu / Kom Ombo / Aswan
Today we visit Edfu to see Egypt’s best-preserved temple, which was dedicated to the falcon god Horus. Then we continue our tranquil cruise along the Nile arriving at Kom Ombo. We visit the roofless Temple of Kom Ombo, which was built for the falcon and crocodile gods. Sail to Aswan and Overnight. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 15: Aswan
After breakfast explore the High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk. Then we travel by motorboat to the Temple of Isis, rising from the waters of the Nile on the island of Philae. End the day with a trip to the Nubian Museum which was opened in 1997. This museum displays thousands of antiquities that would have been lost under the waters of Lake Nasser. Back to our Nile Cruise and overnight. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 16: Aswan/ Cairo
Early Morning we are going to explore the magic of the mighty Sun Temple of Abu Simbel, Flanked by four giant stone statues of Ramses II. The temple was reclaimed from the dam and reconstructed in its present and unforgettable location. Back to Aswan. Afternoon transfer to Aswan airport for flight to Cairo. (Breakfast)

DAY 17: Cairo/ El Alamein/ Alexandria
After breakfast, Leave Cairo, as we travel to visit El Alamein. Site of one of the most famous battles of World War 2, the Commonwealth War cemetery and the German and Italian War Memorial. Winston Churchill described the battle of El-Alamein as the turning point in World War II. We then continue to the Coastal town Alexandria. Check-in our hotel and Overnight in Alexandria. (Breakfast)

DAY 18: Alexandria/ Cairo
After Breakfast. Our guided city tour introduces us to the history of Alexandria. We visit Pompey’s Pillar, which rises out of the ruins of the Serapeum temple, the Catacomb of Kom El Shoqafa  the largest known burial site in Egypt then visit the white Marble Roman Amphitheatre the only one of its kind in Egypt also visit the Greco-Roman Museum, a great record of Alexandria’s unique mix of Egyptian, Greek and Roman influences. Later we drive back across the desert to Cairo. Overnight in Cairo. (Breakfast)

DAY 19: Cairo
Free day at leisure in Cairo. (Breakfast)

Click to see optional tours available in Cairo

DAY 20: Departure Cairo
After Breakfast. Santa Maria Tours representative will Transfer you to Cairo Airport for your flight back home.