The travel date and the number of nights in Aswan and Luxor in the following travel program are to be understood as a suggestion. An earlier arrival with correspondingly more days in Aswan and/or Luxor is possible. A later return journey is also possible. However, the transfer from Aswan to Luxor should take place on 31.07.2027 at the latest and the return journey on 05.08.2027 at the earliest.
Arrival in Cairo and transfer to the booked hotel.
Today we will take you to an exceptional Egyptian breakfast at Khufu's restaurant before visiting the Giza Plateau. The upscale restaurant impresses with particularly tasty oriental dishes and probably the best view of the plateau towards the three great pyramids, with the skyline of Cairo in the background. You then shall visit the Giza Plateau with the three great pyramids of Cheops, Chephren and Mykerinos. The pyramids were built during the 4th dynasty of the Old Kingdom (approx. 2580-2560 BC) and served as burial sites for the pharaohs. The pyramid of Pharaoh Cheops is the only surviving wonder of the ancient world. In addition to the three large pyramids, the site also includes a number of smaller and less well-preserved tombs. You will then visit the Sphinx. It depicts a reclining lion with a human head (probably of Pharaoh Chephren) and was probably built under Pharaoh Chephren to guard his tomb (however, there are several theories and the exact purpose of the structure is still not known, even today). The Sphinx is considered the oldest known monumental sculpture in Egypt. The Giza pyramid complex has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979.
.jpg)
Finally, you will visit the imposing, architecturally innovative new archaeological museum (Grand Egyptian Museum), which opened in early 2025. It houses a vast collection of artifacts from ancient Egyptian history, including many important exhibits from the tombs of the pharaohs. Of particular note is the exhibition of Tutankhamun's entire treasure, which is on display for the first time in its full glory. The museum also presents numerous statues, works of art, mummies and everyday objects from ancient Egypt. This will give you an idea of ancient Egyptian culture, which will then help you to better understand the many impressions during the course of the trip. On this day, you will be accompanied by a qualified English-speaking guide.
Optionally (and for an extra charge), we will pick you up from your accommodation at around 18:00 and take you to the Khan el Khalili bazaar. The bazaar was founded in the 14th century and is one of the oldest in the Middle East.
.jpg)
After breakfast, you will first visit the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization. Opened in 2017, the museum is located in Old Cairo and displays exhibits from all phases of human civilization in Egypt, from prehistory and early history to the present day. A particular highlight of the museum is the mummies hall with 20 royal mummies, including some of the most important rulers of Ancient Egypt, such as the mummy of Ramses II, probably the most powerful pharaoh of all time, or the famous Queen Hatshepsut.
.jpg)
We then head up to the citadel and the Mohammed Ali Mosque. The citadel is a medieval Islamic fortress that was built by Saladin in 1176 and further extended by later Egyptian rulers. For almost 700 years, from the 13th to the 19th century, it was the seat of Egypt's government and the residence of its rulers. At the highest point of the citadel, the Albanian-Ottoman governor and de facto ruler of Egypt, Mohammed Ali Pasha, had the impressive mosque named after him built. Built between 1830 and 1848, the building is also known as the "Alabaster Mosque" because the interior is clad in alabaster. On this day, you will be accompanied by an English-speaking, qualified tour guide.
Transfer to Cairo airport and flight to Aswan. Transfer to the booked hotel.
Today you will take a leisurely river cruise on the Nile on a small motorboat. You will glide through the Nile cataract and enjoy the wonderful contrast between the river and the desert along the banks. We take a break at a small café on the banks, where you can enjoy the view of the Nile while drinking traditionally prepared coffee or tea. There will also be a few snacks served on the boat and our boat guide will show you the best spots. After about 4 hours on the water, you will return to your accommodation.
In the afternoon, land transfer close to the old dam in order to cross over to the small island of Angelikia, where you will have the opportunity to visit the cult site of the goddess Isis with the picturesque temple of Philae. The temple complex was originally located on the now flooded Nile island of Philae. However, it was relocated at the end of the 1970s to protect it from the rising waters of the Nasser Reservoir. The temple was mainly dedicated to the goddess Isis and was an important religious center in ancient Egypt, especially during the Ptolemaic and Roman periods. The temple complex includes several smaller temples and shrines, which display impressive reliefs and hieroglyphs dealing with the gods and Egyptian mythology. The architecture of the Temple of Philae is famous for its beauty and complexity. A highlight is the large pylon and the Temple of Isis, which is particularly well preserved and known for its architectural details and ornate reliefs. The temple complex of Philae has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979. During these visits, you shall be accompanied by a qualified English-speaking tour guide.
.jpg)
Today you will take a day trip to Abu Simbel at the southern end of Lake Nasser (approx. three and a half hours' drive). The famous temple complex of Abu Simbel consists of two temples that were carved into rock in the 13th century BC under the powerful Pharaoh Ramses II. The larger temple, dedicated to Ramses II, features gigantic statues of the pharaoh and symbolizes his power and divinity. The smaller temple is dedicated to the goddess Hathor and the pharaoh's royal wife, Nefertari. Abu Simbel was originally at a different location, but was moved to its current location in the 1960s due to the construction of the Aswan Dam and the associated risk of flooding. The temples are famous for their splendid architecture and exceptional solar orientation, with sunlight illuminating the inner sanctuary chamber of the great temple twice a year. The Abu Simbel temple complex has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979. You will be accompanied in the temple complex by a qualified English-speaking tour guide.
You will then be taken to the Eskaleh Nubian Eco Lodge, which is picturesquely situated directly on the bank of Lake Nasser. You can have something to eat (perhaps grilled fish from Lake Nasser) and/or drink there, before starting the return journey (food & drinks not included in the total price). Transfer back to your hotel in Aswan.
.jpg)
Transfer from Aswan to your accommodation in Luxor. On the way to Luxor, you will visit the double temple of Kom Ombo, which is unique in its construction. The temple was built during the Ptolemaic dynasty (180 - 47 BC) and is particularly remarkable because it combines two parallel temple complexes for two different gods: Sobek, the crocodile god, and Horus the Elder, the falcon god. The architecture of the Kom Ombo temple is unique, as the two halves of the temple are arranged symmetrically and as mirror images. It is located directly on the west bank of the Nile and impresses with well-preserved reliefs of crocodiles and medical instruments, among other things. The temple once served not only religious purposes, but also as an important sanctuary for the local population. In honor of Sobek, countless crocodile mummies were buried here and their well-preserved bodies can be admired in a small museum.
.jpg)
Approx. 60 kilometers further north we reach the city of Edfu. Visit the imposing temple complex with one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt. It was dedicated to the falcon-headed god Horus and was built between 237 and 57 BC during the reign of the Ptolemies. The temple is 137 meters long and 79 meters wide and is aligned in a north-south direction. Originally, a thick brick wall, which is still partially preserved today, surrounded the outer walls of the temple. The pylon at the southern entrance to the temple consists of two massive towers that frame the main portal. During the Ptolemaic period, numerous festivals were celebrated here as part of the Osiris and Horus cult.
.jpg)
Finally, about 60 kilometers from Luxor, in Esna, you will visit the Ptolemaic-Roman temple dedicated to the ram-headed god Khnum, not far from the banks of the Nile. The only surviving part of the temple is the pronaos, the vestibule of the actual temple. This hall consists of 24 columns that support the still intact roof and stands in the middle of the city of Esna, approx. 200 meters west of the river bank and almost ten meters lower than the current ground level. The column capitals are gilded and decorated with exotic flowers, plants and hieroglyphic cartouches. The ceiling paintings depict the cosmos with the sun, moon and stars, as it was known at the time. Transfer to your hotel in Luxor. During the trip from Aswan to Luxor, you will be accompanied by a qualified English-speaking guide.
.jpg)
After breakfast, you will take a small boat to the east bank, to Luxor City, and visit the Luxor Museum. It houses numerous splendid exhibits that were found during the excavations around Luxor. You will then visit the Mummification Museum. It provides an interesting insight into the technique of mummification and houses numerous animal mummies as well as the mummy of the high priest Masaharta. Both museums shall be visited without a tour guide.
Today is marked by the longest total solar eclipse until the year 2114. The duration of the total phase in Luxor is an exceptional 6 minutes & 20 seconds and begins shortly after 10:00 am UT (1:00 pm local time) with the sun almost vertical (81 degrees). The event will last approximately 2 hours & 45 minutes from the start of the partial eclipse.
Experience this phenomenon of the century on the roof terrace of your hotel or about 5 kilometers north of Luxor on the west bank of the Nile, in a garden rented exclusively for our guests. This spot is not far from the center line of the totality zone, where the duration of the total phase is 6 minutes & 22 seconds, only one second less than at the spot of the maximum of the eclipse, southwest of Luxor in the middle of the desert.
Eye protection: Observing a solar eclipse without protective filters (solar eclipse glasses) can lead to serious and permanent damage to the eyes, including blindness. HERE you will find expert tips on how to protect your eyes.
.jpg)
Today you will first visit the magnificent temple complex of Medinet Habu, which was built in honor of Ramses III. The mortuary temple of Ramses III in Medinet Habu, near Luxor, is one of the best-preserved temples of the New Kingdom. It impresses with huge reliefs depicting the victories of Ramses III over the "Sea Peoples". The temple follows the classic pattern of Egyptian mortuary temples with monumental pylons, a spacious courtyard and richly decorated columned halls. The well-preserved colors of the reliefs and the detailed depictions of rituals and battles are particularly noteworthy. The surrounding palace complex also features royal living quarters. Among other things, the pharaoh's bathroom can be visited. Medinet Habu was not only a cult center, but also a fortified complex that served as an administrative center. A fascinating testimony to ancient Egyptian architecture.
.jpg)
The tour then continues to the Valley of the Kings. The Valley of the Kings lies a few kilometers west of the Nile, opposite the city of Luxor, and was the burial place of many Egyptian pharaohs of the New Kingdom (ca. 1539-1075 BC). It is famous for its richly decorated burial chambers, which were carved deep into the mountains. A total of 64 tombs have been found here, including Howard Carter's discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922. The tombs in the Valley of the Kings are known for their impressive and very well-preserved wall paintings, which contain scenes from the lives of the deceased as well as religious depictions. The Valley of the Kings has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979. You will visit three magnificent tombs in the Valley of the Kings. Your guide will select the most interesting and beautiful tombs, as the tombs open to visitors rotate (not necessarily the same tombs are always open). You will be accompanied by a qualified German-speaking guide on this day.
.jpg)
After a stop by the imposing Memnon Colossi from the 18th dynasty (two colossal statues standing side by side, representing Pharaoh Amenophis III, which once stood in front of the pylons towards the entrance to his mortuary temple), today you will first visit the extraordinary rock-cut temple of Hatshepsut, probably the most important building on the west bank. The mortuary temple of the famous queen dates back to the 18th dynasty (15th century BC) and has a characteristic, rather idiosyncratic architecture that seems almost modern. The temple was dedicated to the imperial god Amun, the god of the dead Anubis and the goddess Hathor. The decoration of the temple depicts, among other things, Hatshepsut's historic expedition to Punt. The mortuary temple of Hatshepsut has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979.
.jpg)
After visiting the temple of Hatshepsut, you will take a small motorboat to the temple complex of Karnak on the east bank of the Nile. The Temple of Karnak in Luxor is the largest temple complex in Egypt and one of the most impressive buildings of antiquity. Extended for over 2,000 years, it was the most important sanctuary of the god Amun. The centerpiece is the Great Hall of Columns with 134 monumental columns up to 23 meters high. The complex includes several temples, obelisks and sacred lakes. The huge pylons and finely chiseled reliefs are particularly imposing. The temple was a spiritual and political center of ancient Egypt and still impresses today with its enormous architecture and detailed art. The temple complex of Karnak has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979. On this day, you will be accompanied by an English-speaking, qualified tour guide.
.jpg)
Transfer to Luxor airport. Alternatively, you also have the option of extending your trip to the Red Sea.
Services included in the price: All local transfers with modern air-conditioned vehicles*, domestic flight from Cairo to Aswan, accommodation in double rooms (3 nights in Cairo, 3 nights in Aswan, 5 nights in Luxor), meals: Half board, sightseeing and excursions according to program, all entrance fees, German-speaking** tour guide as noted in the program, water bottle, Eclipse T-shirt or Eclipse cap, solar eclipse glasses, individual support by Beluga staff on site, insolvency insurance.
*All guided tours and excursions that are part of this program are carried out in small groups of a maximum of 8 people.
**Other languages on request.
Price per person: from € 3.349,- with accommodation in typical local hotels (in Cairo accommodation in the Pearl Hotel, in Aswan accommodation in the Artika Wadi Kiki Hotel).
Minimum number of participants for this program: 4 participants.
On request: Visa & airport service. One of our associates shall be waiting for you inside the airport terminal to take care of the visa formalities. € 30,- per person (subject to visa price increases).
We are also happy to offer you a flight to Egypt & back (flight schedules are expected to be published in September 2026).
.jpg)
Your data will be collected and processed exclusively for the purpose of answering your inquiry.
The tour operator for all trips listed on this website is Beluga Reisen GmbH.
