Pharaohs legend : Cairo and luxor by train in 6 days

 Welcome to Egypt and the start of your holiday! Arrive Cairo, included airport arrival transfer to hotel and overnight.

Cairo – Luxor. Today a visit to the incredible pyramids and huge Sphinx at Giza Plateau. It’s estimated the largest – Khufu (Cheops) was constructed from no less than 2.5 million quarried limestone blocks, weighing around 6 million tonnes. No mean feat, when you consider the pyramids were built without the use of modern equipment! Maybe opt for a camel ride. Travelling on to the necropolis of Saqqara, innumerable sand strewn temples and tombs await discovery. It’s at Saqqara where you’ll see Zhoser’s step pyramid. Rising 6 steps, it served as the prototype for ancient Egypt’s most enduring architectural legacy. This evening we travel by overnight sleeper train to Luxor.

This morning we arrive into Luxor and check into our hotel. One of the world’s greatest open-air museums, the 4000 year old site of ancient Thebes – known today as Luxor is our base for two exciting days of exploration. Enjoy some rest and relaxation. Tonight, there is an optional visit to Temple of Luxor. The temple is magically illuminated by a thousand coloured lights at night fall, book and pay locally. Remainder of the evening at leisure with a chance to enjoy the facilities of our hotel.

Luxor – Cairo. Take flight over ancient Luxor with an optional hot air ballon ride early this morning before we cross to the West Bank of the Nile. The massive pair of statues known as the Colossi of Memnon are the first monuments we’ll see as we start our day’s sightseeing. They are all that remains of the temple of Amenophis III. Today, we visit the Valleys of the Kings and the imposing colonnaded temple of Queen Hatshepsut.
Returning to our hotel, we enjoy free time before visiting Karnak. More than a temple, Karnak is a spectacular complex of sanctuaries, pylons and obelisks – built on a grand scale. During the height of Theban power, Karnak was the most important place of worship. Tonight, we return to Cairo by overnight sleeper train.

Arrive to Cairo and hotel check-in. Later, a guided visit to the Egyptian Museum. See the famous King Tutankhamun solid gold death mask or opt to see the Royal Mummy room. Remainder of the afternoon and evening is free to do your own thing.

 Our tour ends after breakfast and included onward departure transfer to the airport.