Please note: A visa is required for U.S. and Canadian passport holders to enter Egypt.

Take an unforgettable 12-day tour through the stunning pyramids of Egypt. Cruise along the Nile and visit the numerous temples that make Egypt so famous. You’ll discover firsthand the rich, ancient culture of this magnificent country.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 - Giza & the Pyramids

Board your overnight flight to Egypt.

Day 2 - Giza & the Pyramids

Touch down in Cairo. A Go Ahead representative meets you at the airport and accompanies you on the transfer to Giza. Enjoy an included welcome dinner. (B in flight, D)

Day 3 - Giza & the Pyramids

Your tour director, a professional Egyptologist, is an expert in the history and anthropology of the regions you’ll visit. Today, your tour director leads a fascinating tour of ancient Egypt. Of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Pyramids of Giza is the only one to have survived to the modern era, and your tour introduces you to the three pyramids here: the stunning Great Pyramid of Cheops, pyramid of Khafre and pyramid of Menkaure. Then visit the enigmatic Sphinx, made up of a lion’s body, human face and royal beard. Continue to Saqqara, site of the Step Pyramid of Zoser, and Memphis, the ancient capital of Egypt that predated Cairo by more than 3,500 years. (B, D)

Day 4 - Giza & the Pyramids

Enjoy a free day in Giza or join an optional excursion to mysterious Alexandria (weather permitting), ancient site of the lost library and capital of Alexander the Great's Egypt. (B, D)

$105 USD

Alexandria *A Go Ahead Favorite excursion!* Visit Egypt's second-largest city where relics date back as far as the 2nd century. Visit the new Alexandria library, the Roman Amphitheater plus other Egyptian treasures.

Day 5 - Nile River Cruise

Fly to Luxor for the start of your Nile cruise. Spend the day touring the Nile's West Bank. Your tour director/Egyptologist leads you to the secluded Valley of the Kings, a series of tombs hidden in the Theban Hills. This "Place of Truth," as the ancient Egyptians called it, is the location of the tombs of Pharaohs Tutankhamun and Ramses. You'll enter a few of the tombs for a tour.  Then visit and tour the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, devoted to one of the few female pharaohs. Also, view the 64-foot-high Colossi of Memnon and tour the Valley of Nobles, whose temples depict amazing scenes of daily Egyptian life. This evening, you might opt for a Sound and Light Show. (B, L, D)

$45 USD

Evening Sound and Light Show After sunset, the area around the Karnak temples is cleared for the Sound and Light Show. Watch a performance of synchronized light and music amid the ancient monuments of Egypt.

Day 6 - Nile River Cruise

This morning, visit theTemples of Karnak and Luxor, built on ancient Thebes and long considered two of the world’s richest archaeological treasures. Then relax onboard as you sail towards Edfu. (B, L, D)

Day 7 - Nile River Cruise

Dock in Edfu and begin the day with a visit to the Temple of Horus, the second-largest temple in Egypt and one of the best-preserved. Next, voyage to the Temple of Kom Ombo. On your guided tour, look at the amazing Roman reliefs of medical instruments, proof that Egyptian medicine was already a sophisticated science nearly 2,000 years ago. (B, L, D)

Day 8 - Nile River Cruise

Tour the Aswan Dam, one of the greatest engineering projects of the 20th century. Also view the Temple of Isis at Philae and the Unfinished Obelisk, once destined to be the largest structure of worked stone in the world. (B, L, D)

Day 9 - Aswan

Your cruise ends this morning. After disembarkation, take a felucca (traditional Egyptian sailboat) ride past Elephantine Island, which takes its name from the granite rocks resembling elephants bathing in the river. Also view the mausoleum of Agha Khan. (B, L, D)

Day 10 - Cairo

Opt for a half-day excursion to Abu Simbel and the magnificent Temple of Ramses II. Then board your flight to Cairo and enjoy an optional Egyptian Folklore Evening. (B)

$295 USD

Abu Simbel In Abu Simbel, visit the Temples of Ramses II and his wife Nefertari, which were relocated block by block to make way for the construction of the Aswan High Dam. Please note: This excursion requires advance booking and payment at least 35 days prior to departure.

$75 USD

Egyptian Folklore Evening From atop Nile riverboat, you'll enjoy this evening's dinner and live performance where you'll savor a menu of local specialties.

Day 11 - Cairo

Today, your tour director/Egyptologist leads a comprehensive sightseeing tour of historic and modern Cairo. The city’s spectacular mosques, of which there are more than 500, display some of the finest examples of Islamic architecture in the world. Visit the Citadel and Mohammed Ali (Alabaster) Mosque. Also visit the Egyptian Antiquities Museum, housing the famous masks of Tutankhamun. You might also choose to join an optional lunch in Cairo. (B, D)

$35 USD

Traditional Cairo Lunch Taste authentic Egyptian cuisine, including mezze and kebobs, at a local restaurant on this afternoon excursion.

Day 12 - Cairo

Transfer to the airport for an early morning departure, or journey to Sinai for our beach resort extension. (B in flight)

Protect your investment with affordable travel protection

Basic Trip Cancellation/Interruption Coverage
Protect yourself in the event you need to cancel your trip or leave your tour unexpectedly due to an emergency. Or choose one of the comprehensive packages below, and receive a discounted rate!

TravelSafe Plus — For one low price, you’ll receive:

• Trip cancellation & interruption protection
• Medical & accident protection
• Baggage & property protection

TravelSafe Gold with Flight Cancellation Protection
Take advantage of the best possible deal for your investment dollar. For $60 USD more, you’ll get all of the above plus additional coverage (up to $1,000 USD) if the flight to your tour is cancelled due to reasons beyond your control.

Purchase your travel protection package early and receive an added benefit!
Purchase one of the above TravelSafe packages within 14 days of reserving your tour, and you’ll automatically receive AnyTime Travel Protection at no additional charge. This means you can cancel for any reason up to 72 hours prior to the departure of your initial flight and still protect your investment. You will be provided with a credit voucher towards your next Go Ahead tour.

What’s unique about these protection plans?

• Most primary travel protection companies don’t cover international travel.
• Under the AnyTime Travel Protection Plan, you can cancel for any reason and your investment is protected in the form of a credit voucher.
• Efekta travel protection covers lost or stolen cash while on tour.
• Efekta travel protection covers the cost towards replacement of valuable documents—such as passports, airline tickets and visas while on tour.
• In the event that your roommate cancels for a reason covered under the policy, you will be reimbursed for the single supplement fee, should you still choose to travel.
• The following policies are also available to be purchased separately:
  • Medical & Accident: $70 USD
  • Baggage & Property: $60 USD

Extended Protection Plan
The Extended Protection Plan allows you to purchase extended coverage for any travel you do before or after meeting up with your Go Ahead Tours tour group (with flights arranged by Go Ahead Tours).

For more detailed descriptions of the benefits available under Efekta Insurance International LTD's Travel Protection Plans please call 1-800-597-0350 or download a PDF copy of the Efekta Travel Protection booklet here.

Passport & Visa

In order to enter Egypt, U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport. The expiration date must extend at least six months beyond the date of your return home.

A visa is also required. The visa charge for entering Egypt is now $15 (subject to change without notice), and visas can be obtained upon arrival at the airport. Alternatively, you may apply for your visa in advance through Zierer Visa Service (1-866-788-1100; www.zvs.com); an application will be mailed to you with your confirmation letter. Canadian citizens should use Visa Connection to obtain their visa (www.visaconnection.biz).

If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact the Egyptian consulate for your specific entry requirements.

Health

Certain vaccinations and preventive medications are advised for travel to Egypt. Your physician can give you specific recommendations. Be sure to consult your physician several weeks before your departure, as some medications must be taken in advance of your trip. We recommend that you drink only bottled water and avoid eating fresh fruits or vegetables that cannot be peeled.

Transportation / Walking on tour

Most sightseeing is conducted by private motorcoach. For some included visits and optional excursions, be prepared for some more walking through elaborate monuments and museums, with steps.

Clothing & Packing Tips

Light, loose fitting cottons and linens are best for Egypt's heat, and comfortable, lightweight shoes are essential. Modest dress is strongly recommended, especially for women—it is best to avoid wearing shorts, tank tops, or short dresses. Sunglasses, hat and sunscreen are advisable for protection from the strong Egyptian sun. In December through March you may want to bring a sweater for cooler evenings. Remember not to visit mosques or other religious sites with bare legs or shoulders as entrance may be denied.

Be sure to visit www.travelsmith.com, official outfitter for Go Ahead Tours. Please enter JY9220 in the field for Catalog Key Code when creating your account!

Currency

Currency is the Egyptian pound. A supply of US currency in small denominations is useful for bargaining for taxi rides and souvenirs. Banking hours are 8:30am -2pm Sunday -Thursday; closed Friday, Saturday and most holidays.

Tipping

In restaurants, if a service charge is not included, a 10% tip is appropriate. If it is included, it is still customary to leave a tip of 5% or less for your server. Taxi drivers and local guides expect small gratuities. It is customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a token of your appreciation at the tour's end. We recommend $2 per person per day for the driver and $3-5 per person per day for your Tour Director.