“Amarna, Abydos, Temples & Pyramids Egypt Tour” 
with Private Dahabiya Nile Cruise Extension

DAY 2 – Monday, November 3, 2025: Welcome meeting, Sightseeing: Dashur – Red & Bent Pyramids, Memphis.
Hotel: Giza hotel night #2. Meal: BB, L.

After a Welcome Meeting, we begin our sightseeing with sites from Ancient Egypt’s Old Kingdom (2,575-2,150 B.C.).  We drive southward through fertile farmlands to the pyramids at Dashur, dated even older than the pyramids at Giza!  It is also a chance to begin savoring the riches of Egypt without huge crowds and souvenir sellers.

We spend time inside the Red Pyramid (nearly as large as Giza’s Great Pyramid) and then have the opportunity for an unforgettable walk across the open desert to the Bent Pyramid.  The desert is rich with inspiration and the vastness is exhilarating.  The Bent Pyramid was a key center of worship during the Middle Kingdom and was much more important than Giza at that time.  The Bent pyramid is the only pyramid to retain most of its original casing stones.  And, yes! you can now also climb inside the Bent Pyramid!

The Black Pyramid (Middle Kingdom mud brick) can also be seen from here.

After lunch in the Sakkara area, we visit the ancient capital city of Memphis. This was constructed of mudbricks so not much remains, but there are some interesting artifacts on display – the Alabaster Sphinx, the huge fallen statue of Ramesses II, and a number of other statues.

DAY 3 – Tuesday, Nov 4, 2025: Giza Plateau – Great Pyramid, Sphinx, Valley Temple, camel ride (not obligatory), Khafre or Menkaure Pyramid. Private Great Pyramid visit after hours.* 
Hotel: Giza hotel night #3. Meals: BB, L  

Today we spend a full day on the Giza Plateau. You can go inside whichever pyramids are open. Of the three pyramids, two are usually open while one is closed for renovations – dates are not announced in advance. Tickets for entering the individual pyramids are included in your tour package.

We will also see the Great Sphinx & Valley Temple. There are legends of the Sphinx speaking. Does the Sphinx have a message for you? The Valley Temple is built with huge granite blocks that fit together snugly even today, almost 5,000 years later. Some think it is even older than that!

Camel rides for the adventurous (no additional fee).  Camel videos HERE.

For those who like to shop, after lunch there is a visit to a perfumery with Egyptian perfume oils or a papyrus shop. 

*Note: We are applying for a special government-issued permit which will allow us to have a private visit for our group alone in the Great Pyramid after the other tourists have left for the day or in the early morning before they arrive.  We have every reason to believe that we will receive this permission, as we have on our previous tours.  However, we cannot guarantee this because government policies can change unexpectedly. The cost of this private visit is included in your tour package and is based on having a minimum of 6 travelers on the tour. If there are fewer than six travelers, there is an extra fee for those who choose this experience.

Also note that the Solar Boat is no longer on the Giza Plateau but has been moved to the new museum (GEM) for restoration.

DAY 4 – Wednesday, Nov 5, 2025: Saqqara – Step Pyramid, Unas Pyramid, Serapeum, Old Kingdom Tombs, Teti Pyramid, Imhotep museum..
Hotel: Giza hotel night #4. Meals: BB, L 

On our way to Saqqara, we drive through the Black Land where the people have farmed the rich Nile silt for thousands of years.

Our sightseeing will be at the Saqqara Complex (also spelled Sakkara) today. Three treats for our previous travelers are that a passage under the Step Pyramid has been opened, as well as the Southern Tomb (these were never open before). And the famous Pyramid of Unas is now open, too. So, of course, they are all included in our tour!

After lunch at a nearby restaurant, we return again to Saqqara, this time visiting the sites on the northern side. Here we find the Teti Pyramid and some Old Kingdom tombs with fascinating scenes of the daily life in Ancient Egypt’s Old Kingdom (the ones which are open varies). We will also visit the Serapeum, a place shrouded in mystery.

Our final visit is to the newly reopened Imhotep Museum.  This is a small site-museum (the artifacts were found here at Saqqara) that has a number of interesting pieces to see.

We may also stop to see some of the local carpet weavers (if people are interested).

Packing up this evening for check-out tomorrow when we begin our bus trip into Middle Egypt.

DAY 5 – Thursday: Meidum Pyramid, Beni Hasan Tombs.
Hotel: Savoy Hotel or similar, Minya. Meals: BB, L.   

Today our adventure into Middle Egypt begins! There are very few tourists who get this opportunity. The sites we will see today and tomorrow see only a few tourists per week! Our first site is the alluring and mysterious Pyramid at Meidum. This pyramid was built by King Sneferu (2613-2589 BCE). Egyptologists tell us that this pyramid was constructed after the Step Pyramid at Sakkara but before the Dashur Pyramids and Giza Pyramids. If you are courageous, you can even climb inside! More about Meidum.

Leaving Meidum, we travel further south to see the Middle Kingdom Tombs at Beni Hasan. This is a wonderful treat, as the tombs are quite well preserved. There are multiple scenes of the daily life at that time including many showing athletic competitions which are perhaps part of the soldiers’ training at that time. There is also a scene of foreign immigrants coming from the east, perhaps as a result of famine in their own lands. More about Beni Hasan.

We overnight at a hotel in the nearby city of Minya.

DAY 6 – Friday: Tell el-Amarna, “Akhetaten.”
Hotel: Sohag. Meals: BB, L, D.  

We leave Minya today and driver further south to the site of Tell el-Amarna (as it is presently called). Some of our travelers will likely be fans of Akhenaten and Nefertiti. For those who feel that draw, being here on the land where so much happened can have an emotional impact. The whole of Akhenaten’s reign is controversial with many having opinions about what his intensions were, why he and Nefertiti are represented that way in statuary, what happened at the end of his reign, if there were references to him in the Bible, and more. All points of view are welcome!

During our visit, what we get to see here at “Akhetaten” is the result of many years of work by archeologists who have labored here with great dedication. See the Amarna Project to learn more about the work that has been done here. That website also includes a treasure trove of information about the what is here to see. We will be spending the whole day here today, so we hope to visit everything which is now available for viewing. Below is a video (by Ruth Shilling) of the Northern Palace.

In the late afternoon, we will continue driving south to Sohag where we will overnight. Additional Amarna info.

Below is a video (by Ruth Shilling) of the Northern Palace at “Akhetaten.”

DAY 7 – Saturday: Abydos – Seti 1 Temple.  Dendera Hathor Temple.
Hotel: Luxor Steigenberger Hotel or similar, night #1. Meals: BB, L. 

We continue south to the Seti I Temple at Abydos today. Abydos was the place of pilgrimage in Ancient Egypt. The wall reliefs and pillared halls of the Seti 1st Temple contribute to the air of sacredness that pervades this site. This was the Mecca of Ancient Egypt and it continues to draw spiritual pilgrims to this day. There are multiple chapels for deities, a Kings List, the mysterious Osireion, exquisite raised reliefs, and a breathtakingly beautiful pillared hall lit by shafts of light.

Leaving Abydos, we drive to the Hathor Temple at Dendera. This Ptolemaic (Greek) temple was built on the site of an older temple for the goddess Hathor. One of the outstanding features is the amount of astrological imagery. The temple is covered with representations of constellations and stars. This temple also introduces you to the elements of the Ptolemaic temples (which we will see more of when we sail south toward Aswan). 

When they close the Hathor Temple in the late afternoon, we continue on to Luxor where we will spend the next few days. 

DAY 8 – Sunday: Karnak Temple Complex with Open Air Museum. Optional Evening Visit: Luxor Museum.
Hotel: Luxor Steigenberger Hotel or similar, night #2. Meals: BB, L  

Welcome to Luxor! Luxor has been a tourist attraction from long before the New Testament era. The Greeks looked to Egypt as the place of great wisdom and were enthralled by the temple ruins they found there. The splendors of the famous Karnak Temple fill our day today. Karnak, Saqqara, and the Giza Pyramids are included in almost every Egypt tour, but the typical visit for each of these sites is about 45-60 minutes. We dedicated a whole day to the Giza pyramids, a whole day to the many sights at Saqqara, and we will spend most of today at Karnak. There is so much to see there!

Luxor was the center of government during the New Kingdom and each Pharaoh wanted to leave something impressive at Karnak. The largest temple complex in Egypt, we see multiple temples, obelisks, great gates, and the famous hypostyle hall – unequaled to this day.  We also see the Sacred Lake, the Festival Hall and Botanical Garden of Tutmosis III (a precursor of Napoleon’s later record of the fauna and flora found in Egypt).

Also at Karnak, we visit the fascinating Open Air Museum where we view the Red Chapel of Hatshepsut and Tutmosis III (Karnak’s original Holy of Holies) and Senwosret’s White Chapel with its finely-carved Middle Kingdom hieroglyphs.  These are in raised relief – some of the best to be found anywhere.  There is something new each time we visit, as the reconstruction of new pieces is ongoing.

After a late lunch, we visit a shop that sells jewelry with Egyptian motifs and a papyrus shop (if we did not do this already).

Optional Opportunity:  Those who would like to visit the Luxor Museum can do so this evening.  This is a fairly small, nicely laid out museum with artifacts that were found here in Luxor. There is also a new wing with an excellent mummy exhibit and a number of splendid artifacts. 
Cost: Entrance fee and shared taxi or minivan (depending on how many choose to do this).

Another Evening Option: If you enjoy bargaining and shopping, or just plain people-watching, you might enjoy visiting the Luxor Street Bazaar. Souvenirs, scarves, dresses, and more. You can even try smoking the shisha (flavored tobacco) in a water pipe.

DAY 13 – Friday: Edfu Temple, sailing to Silsila Mountain
Hotel: Dahabiya Nile Cruise Boat or similar., night #3. Meals: BB, L, D.

The Edfu Temple is one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt. Built during the Ptolemaic era on an older site, it is dedicated to the god Horus. Horus was the original superhero. Even the word hero is derived from Heru, his name in the Ancient Egyptian language. He is the savior and redeemer, the one who fights for what is right. He is represented as a falcon (a type of hawk).

We continue sailing on to Silsila Mountain.

DAY 14 – Saturday: Silsila Quarries with Horemheb Temple, Kom Ombo Temple.
Hotel: Dahabiya Nile Cruise Boat or similar, night #4. Meals: BB, L, D.

Our last day of sailing. We have one more day to let the gentle current of the Nile cleanse our bodies, minds, and souls. Being on the Nile is like time outside of time. Are we in Biblical times? The early 1900’s? Is it really the 21st century? Could that be Agatha Christie I see there writing her next mystery novel? Do memories of earlier times and faces cross your mind?

We make a visit to the Temple of Horemheb at Silsila, a site not easily accessible and certainly impossible to visit with a large cruise boat. Such a visit is more the way it would have been for Egypt travelers in the past. No vendors hawking their wares, no automobiles or buses. This site is also where many of the huge stones used in building the temples we have seen were quarried. The scale of such an operation is quite striking when one sees where the stones originated.

The Kom Ombo Temple sits high on a hill above the Nile. It’s a special feeling when we approach it. This temple has two parallel entrances, one for each of the deities it honors. Sobek was a crocodile god and Haeoris was an aspect of the hawk-god Horus.

DAY 15 – Sunday: OPTIONAL: Abu Simbel Temples by road.* 
* The cost of the day-long trip to Abu Simbel is not included in your tour. 
TOURING: Aswan – Motorboat ride to Kirchner’s Island Botanical Garden, shopping at the Aswan street bazaar, overnight in Aswan.
Hotel: Aswan Obelisk or similar hotel. Meals: BB, L.

OPTIONAL ABU SIMBEL by road, approx. $200 USD (not included): 
Those choosing this option leave our dahabiya in the morning and begin the day-long trip to Abu Simbel. The Abu Simbel Temples were made famous when the high dam was constructed and they were soon to be submerged under the new lake, Lake Nasser. A UNESCO international effort saved the temples by moving them to higher ground. The two large temples of Abu Simbel (constructed by Ramesses II) were carved into the cliff itself. The smaller temple is for the Goddess Hathor and was dedicated to his queen, Nefertari.

TRAVELERS NOT GOING to Abu Simbel:
Checking out of our dahabiya after breakfast, we journey into Aswan where we take a motorboat ride around the islands and cataracts in this part of the Nile with a visit to Kirchner’s Island Botanical Garden.

In the afternoon, there is time for some shopping. You can try your hand at bargaining in the local street bazaar with its multiple small shops. All during Ancient Egypt, Aswan was the center of trade between Africa to the south and the Mediterranean countries to the north. 

Our hotel tonight is near the center of Aswan. We arrive in the late afternoon and you may decide to enjoy the sunset from the terrace with a glass of wine or beer.

DAY 16 – Monday: Hatshepsut’s Unfinished Obelisk, spice shop, Philae Isis Temple, flight from Aswan to Cairo.
Hotel: Novotel Cairo Airport Hotel or similar, night #1. Hotel night #1. Meals: BB, L, D.

After checking out of our hotel, we begin our day with the Unfinished Obelisk of Hatshepsut. Although the fact that it cracked before it could be removed and brought to Luxor was a disaster in ancient times, it is a wonderful opportunity for us in modern times to see how the obelisks were created.

Next we visit a spice shop where you will get to taste some of the specialties from here in Aswan.

Next, we have a beautiful treat. The Philae Isis Temple is on an island near Aswan. This temple was partially submerged when the Low Dam was constructed (1899-1902) by the British. With the construction of the High Dam (1959-1970), it would have been underwater completely. Thankfully, it was moved to higher ground on a neighboring island and its beauty continues to shine.

We fly back to Cairo this evening and check into our hotel, conveniently located right by the Cairo airport for easy arrival this evening and for our departures home on Wednesday.

DAY 17 – Tuesday, Nov 18, 2025: Museum Day in Cairo, Farewell Dinner, Departures late tonight or tomorrow.
Hotel: Novotel Cairo Airport Hotel or similar, night #2. Meals: BB, D. Lunch is on your own at the GEM.

We have high hopes that the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) will be fully open at the time of this tour. Just as the name implies, this will be a world-renowned museum. It is the largest museum in Africa and will also house the largest collection of Egyptian antiquities. At present, there are a number of exhibits already on display, but the major masterpieces and the King Tutankhamen artifacts are still housed in the Egyptian Museum in downtown Cairo. If this is still the case, the tour will include a visit to the museum downtown in the morning and the GEM in the afternoon.

It’s hard to believe our time has reached an end. We have a final meeting and dinner together before preparing to go our separate ways. The hotel is included tonight

Our hotel is right within the airport perimeter and there is a shuttle every 30 minutes that will take you to whichever terminal you need to leave from. The hotel night is included in your tour, so you can leave late tonight or tomorrow morning.

Farewell Egypt! You will continue to live in our hearts! 

DAY 18 – Wednesday, Nov 19, 2025: Departures.
Hotel: none. Meal: BB.

If your flight does not leave until the late afternoon or evening, you might like to visit the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC) where the royal mummies are now housed. The NMEC is a new, modern museum with everything clearly labeled. 

Farewell Egypt! You will continue to live in our hearts!