When you book one of our 12-day Egypt tour packages, you can be sure that your designated tour manager will be standing by at Cairo International Airport to meet and greet you and to escort you to the 4 or 5 star hotel where you’ll be staying during your time in Egypt’s bustling capital city. We realize that most people just want to relax and settle in after their flight to Cairo so our 12-day Egypt tours don’t include any sightseeing on the day of your arrival in the country.

Your unforgettable adventure begins the day after you arrive when your professional tour guide and one of our experienced drivers fetch you from your hotel in a modern air condition vehicle for a full day of sightseeing.

The Great Pyramids of Giza

While itineraries vary, all of our pre-packaged 12-day Egypt tours kick off with a visit to the world famous Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx. While you are at the pyramids, you will also have the opportunity to enjoy a camel ride although this is not included in the price of our 12-day Egypt tour packages.

Visitors can also enter the pyramids but a separate ticket needs to be purchased for each pyramid you want to enter. Frankly, there is not really much to see inside the pyramids other than empty chambers, passageways and plenty of stairs. Still, many people who enter one or more of the Giza Pyramids describe it as being one of the most amazing experiences ever.

The Egyptian Museum

Nearly all of our 12-day Egypt tours include lunch at a good local restaurant after your visit to the pyramids. This is a great opportunity to sample some authentic Egyptian cuisine. After you have enjoyed a good lunch you then make your way to the famous Egyptian Museum in the heart of Cairo.

The Egyptian Museum houses more than 100,000 artifacts showcasing roughly 5,000 years of ancient history. A visit to this museum is well and truly an unforgettable experience. Some tour packages may include a visit to the new Grand Egyptian Museum at Giza instead of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo so be sure to check your preferred travel itinerary. The new Grand Egyptian museum makes for an even more unforgettable experience. All of our 12-day Egypt tour packages are fully customizable, so you can choose which museum you would rather visit.

Khan el Khalili Bazaar

Khan el Khalili Bazaar is a famous market located in an area of the city known as Islamic Cairo. It is a vibrant and bustling marketplace that has been in existence for centuries. The bazaar offers a wide array of goods and products, ranging from traditional crafts and textiles to spices and jewelry. It is a very popular tourist attraction and a must-visit destination for those looking to experience some authentic Egyptian culture. The bazaar is known for its many narrow winding streets filled with shops and stalls, where visitors can haggle and bargain for souvenirs, or simply watch the locals going about their daily lives.

Step Pyramid of Pharaoh Djozer

Most, but not all of our 12-day Egypt tours, include a visit to the Step Pyramid of Pharaoh Djozer which is a significant historical landmark located in the ancient Saqqara necropolis, which is just a short drive away from Cairo. Built during the 3rd Dynasty by the architect Imhotep, it is considered to be the first pyramid ever constructed in Egypt.

The pyramid is characterized by its unique stepped structure, which was a departure from the traditional mastaba tombs of the time.

This architectural innovation laid the foundation for the development of larger and more elaborate pyramids in the years to come. The Step Pyramid of Pharaoh Djozer is not only a testament to the advanced engineering abilities of the ancient Egyptians, but also serves as a symbol of the pharaoh’s power and divine connection. It stands as a mesmerizing relic of Egypt’s rich history and continues to captivate visitors from around the world.Visitors can enter this pyramid without having to buy any additional ticket.

The Cairo Citadel is a medieval fortress that was built in the 12th century by Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi. The citadel served as a stronghold to protect the city from potential invasions. Today, it stands as a significant tourist attraction and an architectural marvel, offering breathtaking views of the city skyline. The Citadel is home to several mosques, museums, and notable landmarks, including the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, which is one of the most famous mosques in Cairo. Visitors, including non-Muslim visitors, are welcome to enter this fabulous mosque but not during prayer times. Be aware that females need to cover their hair, neck and shoulders when entering a mosque. Some, but not all of our 12-day Egypt tours, include a visit to the Cairo Citadel.

All 12-day Egypt tours currently listed on our EgyptVacations.com website include a 5-Star Nile River cruise with full board and breathtaking onshore excursions led by a professional Egyptologist guides. These excursions will see you visiting several of the very best historical sites located in Upper Egypt.

We only book our clients on to the very best Nile cruise ships, so you can expect comfortable and spacious cabins, three excellent meals each day, and a vast variety of amenities at your disposal to make your Nile river cruise experience more enjoyable than you could possibly imagine. A good quality Nile cruise will usually also include a variety of onboard entertainment such as belly dancing shows, folkloric shows and more.

Luxurious five star Dahabiya cruises are also available. A Dahabiya Is a traditional wooden river yacht instantly recognizable by its two huge sails, one at the front and one at the rear. These delightful boats only have a few cabins, and due to their far smaller size, they don’t have all the amenities that you will find on the large Nile cruise ships, but they offer a far more serene and tranquil experience.

Since all of our 12-day Egypt tour packages are fully customizable, we can easily replace a regular 5-Star Nile cruise with a 5-Star Dahabiya Nile cruise. It is your vacation so you get to choose. No matter which option you choose, you can be sure that your 5-Star cruise is guaranteed to leave you with lifelong memories.

As has already been mentioned, the Nile cruise itineraries featured in our 12-day Egypt tours have all been designed to showcase many of the very best historical sites in Upper Egypt that represent a fascinating era of ancient Egyptian history. Regardless of whether you book a tour that includes a regular five-star Nile cruise, or whether you book an itinerary that includes a luxury cruise, your journey through Upper Egypt is guaranteed to be an amazing trip during which you will visit absolutely breathtaking ancient temples and tombs, including:

Luxor Temple 

Luxor Temple is a fascinating ancient Egyptian temple located in the city of Luxor, on the east bank of the Nile River. It was built during the New Kingdom period, specifically during the reigns of Amenhotep III, Tutankhamun, and Ramses II. The temple is dedicated to the Theban Triad of Amun, Mut, and Khonsu. It is renowned for its grand architecture, intricate carvings, and well-preserved statues.

Karnak Temple 

Karnak Temple is one of the most significant and impressive ancient Egyptian temples located in the city of Luxor and also the second most visited ancient monument in Egypt. Built over a period of more than 2,000 years, this vast religious complex was dedicated to the worship of Amun. The temple complex covers an area of over 100 hectares and includes multiple temples, chapels, pylons, and obelisks. The main temple, known as the Great Temple of Amun, features massive columns, intricately carved reliefs, and grand avenues. Karnak Temple is not only a testament to the architectural and artistic abilities of the ancient Egyptians but also provides valuable insights into their religious beliefs and practices.

Valley of the Kings 

Valley of the Kings is one of the most visited archaeological sites in Egypt. It an ancient royal necropolis located in Upper Egypt on the west bank of the River Nile near the modern day city of Luxor. The site is home to more than 60 tombs, including the tomb of King Tutankhamun, one of the only tombs in the valley which was still sealed and intact upon its discovery. King Tutankhamun’s mummy remains on display inside his tomb to this day. Our 12-day Egypt tours that include a Nile cruise typically include admission to three or four of the tombs in the Valley of Kings but in order to enter some of the more famous tombs, visitors need to purchase separate tickets at the site.

Hatshepsut Temple 

Hatshepsut Temple, located in Luxor, Egypt, is a remarkable and well-preserved ancient Egyptian temple. Built during the 15th century BC, it was dedicated to the worship of the sun god Amun-Ra and served as a mortuary temple for Queen Hatshepsut. This temple stands out due to its unique architecture, with three terraces that were cut into the rock of the mountain on which it was constructed. The temple is adorned with detailed reliefs and statues that depict the accomplishments of Hatshepsut’s reign. It is a significant historical site that offers insights into the political and religious landscape of Ancient Egypt.

Edfu Temple 

Edfu Temple, also known as the Temple of Horus, is an ancient Egyptian temple located in the city of Edfu, on the west bank of the Nile River. Dedicated to the falcon god Horus, it is one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt and a popular tourist attraction. Built during the Ptolemaic period between 237 and 57 BC, the temple is known for its impressive size and intricate carvings. It consists of various halls and chambers, including a large courtyard, hypostyle hall, and sanctuary.

Kom Ombo Temple 

Kom Ombo Temple is an ancient Egyptian temple and one of the most unique ancient temples ever discovered in the country. It is a unique temple that is dedicated to two ancient Egyptian gods – Sobek, the god of fertility and creator of the world, and Horus, the falcon-headed god of the sky. The temple is famous for its perfectly symmetrical design, with two identical halves mirroring each other. Both halves had to be identical in order to not offend either of the two gods that the temple was dedicated to.

Aswan High Dam 

The Aswan High Dam is a significant engineering marvel that was constructed across the Nile River in the 1960s and serves multiple purposes. The dam provides hydroelectric power, improves irrigation and agriculture, and helps in flood control. By regulating the flow of the Nile, the dam has played a crucial role in controlling the yearly flood patterns, which previously caused devastation to crops and communities. Additionally, the hydroelectric power generated by the dam has greatly contributed to Egypt’s economic development, providing a stable and reliable source of energy. The Aswan High Dam is today a very popular tourist attraction and also incredibly popular among locals.

Unfinished Obelisk 

The Unfinished Obelisk is an ancient monument located in Aswan, Egypt. It is a massive stone structure that was being carved out of the bedrock but was ultimately abandoned before completion. The obelisk is estimated to date back to the New Kingdom period, around 1500 BC. It is believed that the obelisk was intended to be erected as a symbol of power and prestige by the ancient Egyptians. However, due to a flaw in the stone, the carving process was halted, and the obelisk was left unfinished. Despite its incomplete state, the Unfinished Obelisk provides valuable insight into the techniques and methods used by ancient Egyptians in quarrying and shaping stone.

Philae Temple 

Philae Temple is an ancient Egyptian temple located on the island of Philae in the Nile River. It was dedicated to the goddess Isis and was considered one of the most important religious sites in ancient Egypt. The temple was constructed in the Ptolemaic dynasty and is renowned for its architectural beauty and intricate carvings. Due to the construction of the Aswan High Dam in the 20th century, the temple was relocated to Agilkia Island to preserve it from being submerged under the rising waters of the Nile. Today, Philae Temple remains a popular tourist attraction that features in nearly all good Nile River cruises, including the Nile cruises that feature in our 12-day Egypt tour packages.

Abu Simbel Temples 

The Abu Simbel Temples of Ramses II are two gigantic rock-hewn temples that were constructed to serve as lasting monuments of pharaoh Ramses II and his beloved wife, Queen Nefertari. They were also symbols of his great wealth and power. Today they are considered to be true ancient Egyptian masterpieces. Some, but not all of our 12-day Egypt tours, include an optional half day trip from Aswan to this breathtaking site. Visiting the site from Aswan involves quite a long bus ride, about 4 hours in both directions. However, if you opt in for one of these tours, you will be traveling on a first class air-conditioned tour coach. Again, these are typically optional tours which can be added to your chosen Egypt itinerary if requested.

Hot Air Balloon Rides in Luxor

For an even more memorable trip, consider going for an early morning hot air balloon ride over the ancient runes and temples of Luxor. These are optional and are therefore not included in the price of our 12-day Egypt tours. We can however include a balloon ride to your chosen itinerary if you want us to.

Fun in the Sun on the Red Sea Coast

If you don’t want to spend your entire vacation sightseeing, consider booking an itinerary which includes some quality relaxation time on Egypt’s beautiful Red Sea coast, either at Hurghada, Sharm El Sheikh or at Marsa Alam. All three of these destinations offer exceptional snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities, along with many other activities such as windsurfing and kite boarding. Of these three destinations, Sharm El Sheikh is the most vibrant and most lively, while Marsa Alam is best suited for those who wish to avoid crowds of tourists. Whatever you choose to do while you’re on the Red Sea coast you’re guaranteed to have an amazing time.

All of our 12-day Egypt tours focus on quality, unforgettable sightseeing, and your personal comfort and satisfaction, with 5-Star service from the moment you land at Cairo Airport, until the time you board your flight back home. After all, when you book 12-day Egypt tours through us, you are booking your vacation through an Egypt travel agency that has been offering high quality Egypt tours for more than 65 years.

If you have been longing to visit the Land of the Pharaohs, we have all the experience and expertise needed to make your dream trip come true, with lifetime memories guaranteed! Not only are all of our tours fully customizable, but we can also help you to create your own unique travel itinerary from scratch.

So, what are you waiting for? Visit us now to begin planning your trip to the fascinating land or to book one of our 12-day Egypt tours today.