13-Day Egypt & Istanbul Highlights
Tour Style: Private Tour (No Join-in Group Tour)
- Learn about ancient Egyptian history through the magnificent collection in the Egyptian Museum
- Visit the emblematic Pyramids of Giza to admire the glorious history of former Egyptian royalty
- Walk around the Aswan Dam and listen to the story behind it
- Sail along the Nile to see some ancient temples and enjoy the charming landscape on board the Nile Cruise
- Explore the well kept glorious Karnak Temple that features its Hypostyle halls
- See the amazing structure and luxurious holdings that Topkapi Palace provides



Itinerary
Show/Hide all days- Day 1
International Arrival, Cairo
Upon arrival at Cairo Airport, you will be met by our representative, assisted through formalities and transferred to your hotel.
Overnight: Cairo
- Day 2
Cairo, Pyramids of Giza
After breakfast, follow your private tour guide to explore the ancient capital Memphis, where the Alabaster Sphinx and the statue of Ramses II resides; and Saqqara, where the famous Unas Pyramid is located; King Zoser Step Pyramid, Mastaba of TI, and the Tomb of Ptahotep. This afternoon, continue on to the great Pyramids of Giza and the mysterious Sphinx, a colossal lion with a pharaoh’s head.
Overnight: Cairo
Meal: Breakfast - Day 3
Cario City Tour
After the breakfast, you will explore the Egyptian Museum, where houses a magnificent collection of Pharaonic antiquities, especially the golden treasures of Tut Ankh Amun. Later you will proceed to Old Cairo to visit the citadel of Salah El Din, and the Mohammed Ali Mosque situated high above the city. Stop at the Khan El Khalili Bazaar to browse and shop as you wish.
Optional Shisha (Arabian hookah) experience can be arranged at the Khalili Bazaar at USD15/person.Overnight: Cairo
Meal: Breakfast - Day 4
Cairo - Aswan
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your short flight to Aswan. Upon your arrival in Aswan, transfer to your Nile cruise for embarkation. Later in the afternoon, you will take an Egyptian felucca passing by the Elephantine Island, and then step ashore the Botanical Gardens on the Kitchener Island.
Note: Felucca is completely driven by natural wind, when there is not enough wind, you will take motor boat instead.Overnight: Onboard
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner - Day 5
Nile Cruise: Aswan- Kom Ombo-Edfu
After the breakfast, you will visit the High Dam and Philae Temple. Then the cruise will sail to Kom Ombo, where you will visit Sobek Temple by two gods Sobek & Haeroris. The cruise will continue to sail to Edfu and overnight there.
Overnight: Onboard
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner - Day 6
Nile Cruise: Edfu-Luxor
Today you will visit Horus Temple in Edfu, a well reserved temple from the Ptolemaic era. And then sail through the locks of Esna and continue to Luxor.
Overnight: Onboard
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner - Day 7
Luxor Discovery Tour
After the breakfast, you will check out the cruise. Then you will have full day visit to West Bank and East Bank of Luxor which includes Valley of the Kings, the Hatshepsut's Funerary Temple at Dier El Bahari, the Colossi of Memnon. Afterwards, you will be escorted to your hotel.
Overnight: Luxor
Meal: Breakfast - Day 8
Luxor - Cairo
Today you will you will visit the great Luxor Temple and the magnificent Karnak Temple of Amon with its famous Hypostyle hall and the 134 huge columns, the statue of Ramses II, the Obelisk of Queen Hatshepsut and the Sacred Lake. After that, you will be transferred to the airport for a short flight back to Cairo. Upon your arrival at Cairo, met and be transferred to your hotel.
Overnight: Cairo
Meal: Breakfast - Day 9
Cairo - Istanbul
Enjoy time of leisure in Cairo before drive to the airport for departure to Turkey. Upon arrival at Istanbul Airport you will be met and transferred to your hotel in Istanbul.
Overnights: Istanbul
Meal: Breakfast - Day 10
Istanbul Tours (Bosphorus Cruise)
After breakfast, be transferred to a 1-hour scenic cruise on the Bosphorus Strait, which is boundary of Europe and Asia, connecting the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara. Later, you will visit the Rumeli Fortress, built in an incredibly short time in 1452. Continue on to explore an exotic spice market where a multitude of herbs have been sold since the 15th century.
Overnight: Istanbul
Meals: Breakfast - Day 11
Istanbul Tours, Blue Mosque
This morning, ascend to Topkapi Palace, and take in the views of its fabulous collections of jewels and other artifacts. Continue to visit the Imperial Harem, another palace inside the Topkapi. Explore the Hagia Sophia, which is a museum encompassing both Christianity and Islam nowadays. Next visit the Blue Mosque, famous for its blue tiles decorating interior walls, considered the landmark of Istanbul. Discover the Basilica cistern, was constructed by Justinian in 532 to supply water to the Byzantine Palace primarily. Later, you will visit the highlights of the ancient hippodrome, Egyptian Obelisk, Serpentine Column, and others.
Overnight: Istanbul
Meal: Breakfast - Day 12
Istanbul Tours City Tours
Today, you will discover those major pieces of Islamic art and ethnographic textiles displayed in the Islamic Art Museum. After, encounter the Covered Bazaar, an age-old labyrinth of streets filled with all sorts of tempting items to purchase. Tour to Dolmabace Palace is included. Continue on to enjoy a walking tour along the old streets and trade areas to the mosque complex of Suleiman the Magnificent this afternoon.
Overnight: Istanbul
Meal: Breakfast - Day 13
Istanbul, Departure
After breakfast, transfer to Istanbul International Airport for departure flight.
Meal: Breakfast
Reviews About Our Service
How Private Tour Works
Accommodation
Enjoy a comfortable stay at competitive rates and with the insider bonus of our partnership with international and local hotel chains. Most of the options are recommended based on our field inspections to ensure quality. Kindly note that hospitality service in remote areas cannot usually maintain the same standard as those in the cities.
Meals
Meals provided will be clearly outlined in the confirmed itinerary. In most cases, breakfast is served in the hotel. To make the trip go smoothly, lunch is recommended to be included for a set menu or a la carte, local flavor or western style, depending on your liking. Restaurants are selected according to positive feedback with your diet requirements in mind. Dinner is the time when you are free to explore the destination’s hidden delights, but we are always happy to give a recommendation or offer assistance. In remote areas, meals are likely to be arranged in a tourist restaurant or a local family due to limited options, in remote areas, meals are likely to be arranged in a tourist restaurant or a local family's home.
Tour Guide & Transfer
Every tour comes with English-speaking guides (or other languages on request) and private transfers in each city. The licensed, professional tour guides are local and will be a friendly, knowledgeable company to travel with. When it comes to your personal driver or chauffeur guide, they are experienced and service-minded, all driving well-maintained, air-conditioned vehicles.

Any part of this itinerary can be altered to fit your needs, e.g.accommodation, add/skip city, tour length...

- The Harley market
- mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut
- Pyramids of Giza
- Turkey Kanark Temple
- Istanbul The Bosphorous
- Inside the Blue Mosque
