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Vacations By Rail · Escorted tour

Grand Tour of Egypt & Five-Star Nile Cruise

Escorted Egypt grand tour: Cairo, Nile cruise, Abu Simbel, twelve days

Illustration of Grand Tour of Egypt & Five-Star Nile Cruise

Vacations By Rail's 12-day Grand Tour of Egypt & Five-Star Nile Cruise is an escorted journey through ancient Egypt, starting in Cairo and concluding in Abu Simbel. The tour combines stays in five-star hotels with a luxury four-night cruise aboard the MS Mövenpick Sunray, traveling from Luxor to Aswan down the Nile River. Rail journeys connect Cairo to Alexandria in First Class and Cairo to Luxor in AC Class. Throughout the tour, a dedicated Tour Manager and specialist Egyptologist guide lead visits to the Great Pyramids, the Valley of the Kings, Karnak Temple, the Edfu and Kom Ombo temples, and the monumental twin temples of Abu Simbel. Days balance guided sightseeing in historic cities with leisure time aboard ship and exploration of ancient sites. The itinerary includes breakfast daily plus selected lunches and dinners. This trip suits history lovers seeking expert-led access to Egypt's major monuments and cultural treasures within a structured, all-inclusive framework.

What to know before you look closer

  • International flights to Cairo and the return home are not included in the from-price and must be booked separately
  • Airport transfers in Cairo are not included; you must arrange independent arrival on day 1 to meet the Tour Manager at the hotel
  • The tour has a Mobility Rating 3, indicating substantial walking and activity; those with mobility concerns should verify specific daily demands with Vacations By Rail before booking

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Cairo

    Arrival in Cairo

    Arrive independently at the five-star riverfront hotel, meet the Tour Manager and specialist Egyptologist guide, and enjoy a group dinner.

    Meals: Dinner

  2. Day 2railovernight: Alexandria

    Reaching the historic port city of Alexandria

    First Class rail to Alexandria; sightseeing tour of the ancient catacombs, Alexandria lighthouse site, Roman theatre, Pompey's Pillar and the Library of Alexandria.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

  3. Day 3overnight: Cairo

    El Alamein & Wadi El-Natrun enroute to Cairo

    Visit the El Alamein WWII battlefield site and the desert village of Wadi El-Natrun, arriving at a five-star hotel in West Cairo near the Great Pyramids.

    Meals: Breakfast

  4. Day 4overnight: Cairo

    The Great Pyramids and Sphinx

    Full day touring the Great Pyramid of Giza and the Great Sphinx with an Egyptologist guide, plus entrance to the Grand Egyptian Museum (Tutankhamun collection).

    Meals: Breakfast

  5. Day 5railovernight: Luxor

    By rail from Cairo to Luxor

    Train journey from Cairo to Luxor with a picnic lunch onboard; check into a five-star hotel on the east bank of the Nile.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

  6. Day 6overnight: ship (MS Mövenpick Sunray)

    Ancient Karnak and the temples of Luxor

    Transfer to the five-star cruise ship MS Mövenpick Sunray to begin the Luxor-to-Aswan cruise; visit the Karnak Temple complex and Luxor Temple.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  7. Day 7overnight: ship

    Uncovering the Valley of the Kings & Queens

    Cruise down the Nile; disembark to tour the Valley of the Kings and the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, then sail overnight to Edfu via Esna.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  8. Day 8overnight: ship

    Edfu and Kom Ombo Temples

    Tour the Temple of Edfu (Temple of Horus) and, after lunch onboard, the symmetrical double Kom Ombo Temple.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  9. Day 9overnight: ship

    Aswan High Dam & Philae Temple

    Sail to Aswan; tour the High Dam, Philae Temple and the Unfinished Obelisk, then a felucca sailing trip to Kitchener Island.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  10. Day 10overnight: Cairo

    The magnificent twin temples of Abu Simbel

    Early flight to Abu Simbel to view the colossal twin temples of Ramesses II on Lake Nasser, then fly back to Cairo and transfer by coach to the first hotel.

    Meals: Breakfast

  11. Day 11overnight: Cairo

    A full day guided tour of Cairo

    Guided tour visiting the Coptic Museum, the Hanging (Suspended) Church and the Jewish Synagogue; farewell group dinner at a Nile-view restaurant.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  12. Day 12

    Traveling home

    Tour concludes after breakfast; transfer to Cairo international airport or continue independently.

    Meals: Breakfast

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2First Class rail journey to Alexandria, followed by tours of the ancient catacombs, Roman theatre, and the Library of Alexandria
  • Day 4Full day visiting the Great Pyramid of Giza and the Great Sphinx with an Egyptologist guide, plus entrance to the Grand Egyptian Museum to see the Tutankhamun collection
  • Day 6Board the MS Mövenpick Sunray to begin the Luxor-to-Aswan cruise; tour the Karnak Temple complex and Luxor Temple
  • Day 7Cruise down the Nile and disembark to explore the Valley of the Kings and the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut
  • Day 10Early flight to Abu Simbel to view the colossal twin temples of Ramesses II on Lake Nasser

Included

  • Expertise of a Tour Manager from start to finish
  • 7 nights' 5-Star hotel accommodation
  • 4-night cruise onboard MS Movenpick Sunray
  • AC Class rail travel
  • All rail, ferry and coach travel throughout your tour
  • All internal flights
  • Breakfast each day, 6 lunches, 6 dinners
  • All guided tours and excursions

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance is not included in the price of the tour but can be arranged
  • Flights and Airport transfers not included

Also sold by

The same itinerary is listed by more than one company. Prices and inclusions can differ; compare before booking.

Questions travellers ask

What trains are included?
Two rail journeys: First Class from Cairo to Alexandria, and AC Class from Cairo to Luxor. All other transport within Egypt (coach, cruise, internal flights) is included.
Is this an escorted tour?
Yes. Vacations By Rail provides a Tour Manager from start to finish and a specialist Egyptologist guide. All tours and excursions are guided.
What accommodation is included?
Seven nights in five-star hotels (Sheraton and Crowne Plaza in Cairo, Four Seasons in Alexandria, Sonesta St George in Luxor) and four nights aboard the five-star cruise ship MS Mövenpick Sunray.
What meals are included?
Breakfast every day, six lunches, and six dinners. Other meals are not included.
Are international flights included?
No. You must arrange and book your own flights to and from Cairo. Airport transfers are also not included.
How physically demanding is this tour?
The tour has a Mobility Rating 3, which indicates substantial walking through temple complexes, the Valley of the Kings, and archaeological sites. Confirm the daily activity details with Vacations By Rail if you have mobility concerns.

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