9 days from $1699*

Includes airfare, fuel surcharges, great hotels, transfers, many meals, touring and more!

Once again, Friendly Planet is defying skyrocketing travel prices to bring you a fantastic, truly first class Egypt vacation deal fit for a pharaoh. You'll see the famous sphinx & pyramids at Giza, the temples at Luxor & Edfu, King Tut's tomb, old Cairo & much more, plus enjoy 4 nights on a luxury cruise on the Nile. Top it all off with an optional extension to the lost city of Petra and Amman in Jordan!

Pyramids & Nile Cruise Itinerary

Departures prior to September 2009 follow a slightly different itinerary.

Day 1: Depart USA. Your fascinating journey to Egypt begins this evening as you depart JFK International Airport in New York for your flight to Cairo.

Day 2: Cairo. Arrival in Cairo, where East and West come together in a wonderful and chaotic mix of old and new. You'll be met by our representatives in Cairo and assisted with visa and customs formalities.

Proceed to check in at your centrally located 5-star hotel overlooking the Nile River. Your hotel is within walking distance of downtown shopping districts, restaurants, and the famous Egyptian Museum, so enjoy time to explore Cairo independently or rest from your flight and enjoy the facilities at your hotel. This evening, join your fellow travelers on an optional dinner cruise with entertainment aboard a floating Nile River restaurant ($65). Ramses Hilton

Day 3: Cairo, Pyramids & Sphinx. This morning, after a well deserved rest and breakfast, your guide will escort you on a fascinating tour of the most famous of all sites in Egypt—the Pyramids of Cheops and Chephren. These monuments have stood for 46 centuries and are considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World, possibly the most visited monuments of Egypt. The Sphinx, a feline character with the body of a lion and the face of Khufu (Cheops in Greek) is 50 meters long and 22 meters high. Carved from a single stone, it lies just before the Pyramids, and even today its meaning and origin remain shrouded in mystery.

The afternoon is yours to explore Cairo on your own, or take advantage of an optional afternoon tour to the Egyptian Museum, where you'll see, among other treasures, the priceless antiquities of Tutankhamen's tomb ($35). (B)

Day 4: Cairo & Luxor. Transfer to the airport this morning for the flight to Luxor, capital of the New Kingdom when Pharoah Ahmos, in 1580 BC, drove foreign invaders (the Hyksos) from Lower Egypt. It was then that Luxor became a grand city of luxurious palaces, huge temples, large gardens, as well as an important diplomatic and trade center of the ancient world. Transfer from the airport to the pier for embarkation aboard your deluxe Nile cruise ship, the Tamr Henna. Settle into your cabin and enjoy lunch aboard.

This afternoon, visit the East Bank of the Nile. Highlights of today's tour include visits to the Temple of Karnak, one of the most overwhelming monuments of the Pharaonic legacy, with work carried out on the temples over a period of 1500 years, and Luxor Temple, strikingly graceful and added to over the centuries by Tutankhamen, Ramses II, Alexander the Great, and others. Tamr Henna (B,L,D)

Day 5: Luxor & Esna. After breakfast, disembark and board your touring coach to visit the West Bank of the Nile and the Valley of the Kings, where 64 of Egypt's Pharaohs have their royal tombs hewn into the sheer rock. Continue to the impressive Deir El Bahari mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut, an architectural wonder built against the backdrop of a looming cliff face and the Colossi of Memnon, two huge seated statues of Amenhotep III. (B,L,D)

Day 6: Esna, Edfu & Kom Ombo. Your cruise ship sails from Esna to Edfu. As you go south, you will have an opportunity to view rural life in Egypt. The crops, methods of farming, animals and irrigation systems have changed little from 4,000 years ago. Here you best appreciate the fascinating contrast of ancient and modern ways of life, which coexist in Egypt and make it one of the world's most interesting of travel destinations.

At Edfu, you'll take a horse-drawn carriage to the Temple of Horus, Egypt's best preserved temple, then board your ship and sail to Kom Ombo, where, in ancient times, sacred crocodiles basked in the sun on the river bank. The Temple of Kom Ombo is unique in all of Egypt and is shared by the two gods Sobek and Haroeris. These Ptolemaic temples overlook the Nile and feature fascinating drawings on the walls, including detailed drawings of surgical instruments. (B,L,D)

Day 7: Kom Ombo & Aswan. Sail to Aswan, the gateway to Africa for the ancient Egyptians. Originally called "Sain" from "sanite", the red granite extracted form its quarries, Aswan became a hub of trade in spices, leather, ivory, fruit, grains, baskets and mummified and living crocodiles. An optional tour to Abu Simbel, the site of the Great Temple of Ramses II and one of the most magnificent of all temples in Egypt, is available early this morning.

Abu Simbel Tour: This extra optional tour is $239/person, if reserved and prepaid. Space is limited and we cannot guarantee availability once you arrive in Egypt, so we strongly recommend booking in advance.

After lunch aboard your cruise ship, visit Philae Temple which for centuries was the holiest site for Isis worshippers. The temple was officially closed down in the 6th century A.D. by the Byzantine emperor Justinian and was & the last pagan temple to exist in the Mediterranean world. After the construction of the Aswan Dam, the half-submerged Temple complex was completely dismantled and rebuilt to the original orientation on the nearby island of Agilika, which rises higher from the water and has been reshaped and landscaped to resemble the original Philae. Metal pylons on the old island of Philae can still be seen rising from the water to the south of Agilika.

Before returning to your cruise ship, enjoy a tour by felucca (a small, swift Egyptian sailboat) around Elephantine Island, once the center of modern Aswan. Conclude today's sightseeing at the magnificent Botanical Gardens of Lord Kitchener. (B,L,D)

Day 8: Aswan & Cairo. This morning's visits include Aswan's High Dam, which controls the Nile and is a major source of hydroelectric power in Egypt. Also visit the granite quarries where a huge, cracked obelisk will clearly demonstrate how the giant stones were carved from rock. Transfer to Aswan airport for the short flight back to Cairo.

Enjoy time at leisure to explore the city on your own. Or, take advantage of an optional guided tour of Old Cairo ($45), including the Citadel of Saladin, built on the remains of a Crusader-style fortress and the Alabaster Mosque. Continue to the world-famous Khan El Khalili bazaars, where the sights, sounds, spices and exotic clothing and jewelry, hand-hammered copper, ceramic ware and other treasures await your deft bargaining to win them at astounding prices. Ramses Hilton (B)

Day 9: Cairo/USA.. Today you'll be escorted to the airport as you bid farewell to Cairo and board your return flight to the USA. Your fascinating journey comes to an end as you arrive in the USA later today. Or, why not take advantage of an extension to the mysterious, rose-red city of Petra in Jordan! (B)

Pyramids & Nile Cruise plus Petra Itinerary

Be sure to also check out our Pyramids & Petra tour.

Days 1-9: Same as above.  However, passengers will spend one additional night in Cairo at the beginning of the tour.

Day 10: Cairo, Amman & Petra. Transfer to the airport for the short flight from Cairo to Amman. After customs formalities, board your touring coach and drive south, via the Kings Highway, to Petra. Arrival early this evening at your deluxe hotel located very close to the archeological site of Petra, where you'll enjoy a spectacular view of the ancient site and surrounding mountains. Join your fellow travelers for dinner and a stroll around the grounds of this fascinating hotel. Taybet Zaman

Day 11: Petra/Amman. Your guided tour begins with a ride on horseback and then a walk through the Siq, a narrow gorge flanked by huge cliffs. As you reach the end of the Siq, you'll behold the breathtaking sight of the Treasury, its elaborately carved façade looming high above you. Explore the various tombs and structures in this site and marveling at the artistry and creativity that must have inspired the Nabateans to construct so marvelous and dramatic a city. Later this afternoon, drive north to Amman and your hotel. Radisson SAS (Landmark) Hotel or le Meridien Hotel (B)

Day 12: Amman. Located in the heart of Amman's diplomatic and business districts—just minutes away from the vibrant city center—your hotel is close to Amman's major historical sites including the Citadel and the Roman amphitheatre. Explore the city at leisure, or take an optional tour to Jerash.

Located 30 miles north of Amman, Jerash is considered one of the largest and most well-preserved sites of Roman architecture in the world outside Italy. To this day, its colonnaded streets, baths, theaters, plazas and arches remain in exceptional condition. Within the remaining city walls, archaeologists have found the ruins of settlements dating back to the Neolithic Age, indicating human occupation at this location for more than 6500 years.

After lunch, return to Amman where you'll visit the major historical sites, including the Roman amphitheatre, Archaeological Museum, and the ruins of the Temple of Hercules ($100 per person). This evening, you're invited to join your fellow travelers for an optional dinner at a local restaurant ($25). (B)

Day 13: Amman/USA. Today you'll be escorted to the airport as you bid farewell to Amman and board your return flight to the USA. Your fascinating journey comes to an end as you arrive in the USA later today. (B)

Optional Tours in Egypt

To take full advantage of your visit to Egypt, we offer several optional tours to other "must see" sites. These are not "seat in coach" tours that pick up passengers in various hotels. All the optional tours are operated for Friendly Planet groups only.

• Dinner cruise on the Nile, with entertainment
• Half-day of guided touring of Cairo's Old City
• Half-day guided tour of the Egyptian Museum and the Khan El Khalili bazaars

These optional tours are available for the special package price of $130/person when booked and prepaid prior to departure. Optional tours will be available for booking individually in Egypt for a little more.

Optional Tours in Jordan

For passengers traveling to Jordan, the optional tours package includes the above tours in Egypt, plus:

• Jerash City Tour
• Farewell dinner at local restaurant

These optional tours are available for the special package price of $230/person when booked and prepaid prior to departure. Optional tours will be available for booking individually in Jordan for a little more.

Destination FAQs

Quick answers to Frequently Asked Questions about travel to Egypt.

Quick answers to Frequently Asked Questions about travel to Jordan.

Pyramids & Nile Cruise
Included Features

• On the Pyramids & Nile Cruise, round trip flights from New York (JFK) via EgyptAir including fuel surcharges (flight schedule)
• On the Pyramids, Nile Cruise, & Petra tour, round trip flights from New York (JFK) via Royal Jordanian Airlines including fuel surcharges (flight schedule)
• Arrival and departure transfers with meeting, assistance and porterage
• All intra-Egypt flights and ground transportation
• Five star hotel accommodations at the Ramses Hilton Hotel on the east bank of the Nile
• 4 nights aboard the 5-star Tamr Henna ship in outside balcony cabin (lower deck)
• Buffet breakfast daily and all meals aboard the cruise, including mineral water and complimentary local wine and local beer (B,L,D)
• Half day of included touring in Cairo featuring the famous Pyramids at Giza and the Sphinx.
• Optional Extension to the Lost City of Petra in Jordan

TourCode: d-000

Pyramids & Nile Cruise Departures & Prices* Depart Return Book by Jul 31 After Jul 31 2009 DEPARTURES Jul 4 Jul 12 $2299 Aug 1 Aug 9 $2199 $2499 Aug 15 Aug 23 $2199 $2499 Sep 2 Sep 10 $1399 $1699 Sep 9 Sep 17 $1499 $1799 Sep 16 Sep 24 $1599 $1899 Sep 23 Oct 1 $1699 $1999 Oct 7 Oct 15 $1799 $2099 Oct 21 Oct 29 $1899 $2199 Nov 4 Nov 12 $1899 $2199 Dec 2 Dec 10 $1899 $2199 Dec 30 Jan 7 $2399 $2699 2010 DEPARTURES Jan 13 Jan 21 $1899 $2199 Feb 10 Feb 18 $1899 $2199 Mar 17 Mar 25 $1899 $2199 Mar 31 Apr 8 $2299 $2599 Apr 7 Apr 15 $1899 $2199

Tour prices are per person, double occupancy, including airfare. Prices in red reflect an early booking discount if you reserve by July 31, 2009. * Prices do not include Additional Taxes, Fees & September 11th Security Fee for this tour of $100.

Pyramids & Nile Cruise plus Petra Departures & Prices* Depart Return Book by Jul 31 After Jul 31 2009 DEPARTURES Jul 4 Jul 15 $2899 Aug 1 Aug 12 $2799 $3099 Aug 15 Aug 26 $2799 $3099 Sep 1 Sep 13 $2199 $2499 Sep 8 Sep 20 $2299 $2599 Sep 15 Sep 27 $2399 $2699 Oct 6 Oct 18 $2599 $2899 Oct 20 Nov 1 $2699 $2999 Nov 3 Nov 15 $2699 $2999 2010 DEPARTURES Jan 12 Jan 24 $2699 $2999 Jan 26 Feb 7 $2699 $2999 Feb 9 Feb 21 $2699 $2999 Mar 16 Mar 28 $2699 $2999 Mar 30 Apr 11 $3099 $3399 Apr 6 Apr 18 $2699 $2999

Tour prices are per person, double occupancy, including airfare. Prices in red reflect an early booking discount if you reserve by July 31, 2009. * Prices do not include Additional Taxes, Fees & September 11th Security Fee for this tour of $150.

Pyramids & Nile Cruise Taxes & Fees Service Price Additional Taxes, Fees & September 11th Security Fee +$100 Egyptian Visa Fee* (paid separately) +$20

* Fee is paid locally upon arrival

Pyramids & Nile Cruise plus Petra Taxes & Fees Service Price Additional Taxes, Fees, & September 11 Security Fee +$150 Egyptian Visa Fee* (paid separately) +$20

* Fee is paid locally upon arrival

Pyramids & Nile Cruise Optionals & Upgrades Service Price Discounted Optional Tours Package +$130 Abu Simbel Optional Tour +$239 Single Room Supplement   Dec 30, Mar 31 +$548 All other departures +$398 Cruise Single Supplement (for third passenger in party of 3)*   Dec 30, Mar 31 +$499 All other departures +$339 Cabin Upgrades Lower Deck included Middle Deck, double occupancy +$75 Middle Deck, single occupancy +$110 Upper Deck, double occupancy +$125 Upper Deck, single occupancy +$190 Jacuzzi Suite, double occupancy +$500 Jacuzzi Suite, single occupancy +$900 Royal Panoramic Suite, double occupancy +$700 Royal Panoramic Suite, single occupancy +$1,300

* This cruise supplement applies only to the third passenger in a party of three. Triple occupancy hotel rooms are available on this tour. However, triple occupancy cabins are not available on the cruise ship. The cruise supplement listed above provides a single cabin on the cruise portion of the tour.

Pyramids & Nile Cruise plus Petra Optionals & Upgrades Service Price Discounted Optional Tours Package-Cairo & Amman +$230 Abu Simbel Optional Tour +$239 Single Room Supplement   Mar 30 +$838 All other departures +$658 Cruise Single Supplement (for third passenger in party of 3)*   Mar 30 +$499 All other departures +$339 Cabin Upgrades Lower Deck included Middle Deck, double occupancy +$75 Middle Deck, single occupancy +$110 Upper Deck, double occupancy +$125 Upper Deck, single occupancy +$190 Jacuzzi Suite, double occupancy +$500 Jacuzzi Suite, single occupancy +$900 Royal Panoramic Suite, double occupancy +$700 Royal Panoramic Suite, single occupancy +$1,300

* This cruise supplement applies only to the third passenger in a party of three. Triple occupancy hotel rooms are available on this tour. However, triple occupancy cabins are not available on the cruise ship. The cruise supplement listed above provides a single cabin on the cruise portion of the tour.

Departure Airport: This tour departs from New York Kennedy International (JFK).

Coming from somewhere else? Unfortunately, we don't offer departures from other cities for this tour, but you can book your own connecting flights separately.

Travel Insurance: Our comprehensive policy is available for only $99-$159 per person (depending on total trip cost) and is recommended to protect your investment.

Important Note: If you are reserving this tour less than 60 days prior to departure, confirmation is subject to space availability. We will advise you within 48 hours if we can confirm your reservation. In the meantime, no credit cards will be debited for deposits or payments until we are able to confirm your reservations.

Already Booked? Print and complete your Tour Registration Form (PDF).

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* Some tour prices reflect an early booking discount on select dates. Prices do not include Additional Taxes, Fees & September 11th Security Fee.

Though we do our best to provide accurate and up-to-date information on our site about our tours, sometimes oversights and typographical errors can occur. Please confirm all tour prices and details with us via email or phone prior to booking. We will not be held responsible for misunderstandings arising from such errors.

TourCode: d-000