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Egypt & the Nile

with Jordan extension

Duration: 12 or 16 days
Group size: 15-35
Reviews: 267

Pharaohs and pyramids, sultans and souks, temples and tombs.

Descend into a world of ancient wonders to discover the lands behind the legends. Walk past towering stone icons, through avenues of sphinxes, and into royal valleys amid the desert sands. Then, cruise down the Nile and anchor at remote islands and beside the Theban Hills. End your adventure in Cairo, where historic mosques mingle with today’s modern bustle.

Your tour package includes

6 nights in handpicked hotels
4 nights aboard the Nile River cruise ship
10 breakfasts
6 lunches
8 dinners with beer or wine

Included highlights

Pyramids of Giza
Great Sphinx
Temples of Karnak and Luxor
Luxor Museum
Valley of the Kings

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Day-by-day itinerary

Overnight Flight1 night

Day 1: Travel day

Board your overnight flight to Cairo today.

Giza3 nights

Day 2: Arrival in Cairo & transfer to Giza

Included meal: Dinner

Welcome to Egypt! Arrive in Cairo and transfer to Giza.

This evening, enjoy an included dinner.

Day 3: Sightseeing tour of Giza

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Meet up with a professional Egyptologist, who’s also your Tour Director, and set off on a guided tour of Giza.

• Uncover the Pyramids of Giza, the only Wonder of the Ancient World to have survived the modern era

• Visit the enigmatic Great Sphinx, the largest monolith statue in the world

• Continue to Saqqara, the pharaohs’ royal graveyard for more than 3,000 years, and enter the Imhotep Museum

Gather with your group for a welcome lunch this afternoon.

Day 4: Free day in Giza

Included meal: Breakfast

Enjoy a free day in Giza or add an excursion.

Alexandria

Excursion (additional cost)

Nile River Cruise4 nights

Day 5: Sightseeing tour of Luxor & cruise embarkation

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

(Please note: Some cruise departures will follow days 5–9 in reverse.)

Fly to Luxor and set off on a guided tour.

View the painstakingly excavated Temples of Karnak and Luxor, once connected by an avenue of sphinxes
Step inside the Luxor Museum to see one of the world's highest-quality collections of Egyptian artifacts, including a statue recovered from King Tutankhamen's tomb

Later this afternoon, you’ll board your cruise ship and enjoy an included lunch and dinner aboard the ship.

Day 6: Sightseeing tour of the Nile's West Bank

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Spend the day touring the Nile’s West Bank with your Egyptologist as your guide.

• Explore the Valley of the Kings, a series of tombs hidden in the Theban hills

• Tour the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, devoted to one of the few female pharaohs

• View the 64-foot-high Colossi of Memnon

This afternoon, enjoy an included lunch before sailing toward Edfu. Then, sit down for an included dinner this evening.

Day 7: Sightseeing tour of Temple of Kom Ombo

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Continue your exploration of the wonders of Egypt today.

• Sail along the Nile and learn about Edfu’s Temple of Horus during an engaging talk led by your Egyptologist from the comfort of the ship

• Enjoy an included lunch aboard the ship

• Dock in Kom Ombo to visit the Temple of Kom Ombo, built during the Greco-Roman period and noted for its twin deities, Sobek and Horus

Later today, arrive in the busy market city of Aswan and sit down for an included dinner aboard the ship.

Day 8: Felucca sailboat ride

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Enjoy a free morning on board the ship or add an excursion.

Please note: Depending on flight schedules, the Abu Simbel optional excursion may be offered on day 9 instead of day 8.

Later, enjoy an included lunch before climbing aboard a felucca, a traditional sailboat, to ride past Elephantine Island.

• See the dark granite rocks that resemble a herd of elephants bathing in the river

• Take in panoramic views of the water from the hilltop mausoleum of Agha Khan

Sit down for an included dinner aboard the ship this evening.

Abu Simbel

Excursion (additional cost)

Aswan1 night

Day 9: Disembarkation & sightseeing tour of Aswan

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Your cruise ends this morning in Aswan, where you’ll visit the Aswan High Dam, one of the crowning achievements of modern Egypt. Then, your Egyptologist will introduce you to the temples at Philae.

After dinner with the group, enjoy a free evening in Aswan or add an excursion.

Please note: The Philae by Night optional excursion may be offered on day 8, instead of day 9, on some departures.

Philae by Night

Excursion (additional cost)

Cairo2 nights

Day 10: Flight to Cairo

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Enjoy a free morning in Aswan or add an excursion.

Please note: The Nubian Village Visit optional excursion may be offered on day 9, instead of day 10, on some departures.

Fly to Cairo this afternoon and transfer to your hotel. Then, sit down for an included dinner.

Nubian Village Visit

Excursion (additional cost)

Day 11: Sightseeing tour of Cairo

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Explore Cairo on a sightseeing tour lead by your Egyptologist.

• View a number of the city’s 500 mosques, which display some of the finest examples of Islamic architecture in the world

• Visit the citadel that was built in the 12th century by mighty Salah el-Din and originally used as a fortress before it became the residence of the Sultans until 1850

• Stop at Mohammed Ali Mosque, also known as the Alabaster Mosque

• Enter the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, which houses the famous masks of Tutankhamen

• Enjoy an included lunch

Celebrate your trip with your fellow travelers at tonight’s farewell dinner.

Flight Home

Day 12: Departure

Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)

Transfer to the airport to board your flight home. If you are continuing your tour in Jordan, fly to Amman today.

Extension to Jordan

Since July 1994, when Jordan's King Hussein and the Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin signed a declaration ending the animosity between their two countries, Jordan has opened its doors to the west. Encompassing sweeping verdant and arid landscapes and relics of some of the world's oldest civilizations, Jordan is one of the warmest and most welcoming countries on earth.

Petra2 nights

Day 12: Flight to Jordan

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Fly to Amman this morning and transfer to Petra to settle in to your hotel.This evening, enjoy a home-hosted dinner with a local Jordanian family.

• Talk with the family to learn about the local culture

• Try local specialties such as a famous rice dish called maqluba, a traditional style of chicken known as musakhan, and mansaf, the national dish of Jordan

Day 13: Sightseeing tour of Petra

Included meal: Breakfast

Discover Petra, a city lost to the outside world for centuries. Carved into the red rocks of Mount Hor, Petra has fascinated visitors since its rediscovery in 1812.

Please note: In order to enter Petra, customers should be able to walk two miles round-trip in hot weather. Other modes of transportation may be available for you to book upon your arrival.

Spend a free evening in Petra or add an excursion.

Traditional Jordan: Bedouin Camp Visit & Dinner

Excursion (additional cost)

Amman1 night

Day 14: Amman via Madaba & Mount Nebo

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Today, further explore the history and culture of Jordan on guided tours before continuing on to Amman, the capital city.

• Visit Madaba to tour the City of Mosaics and visit St. George’s Church

• Stop at Mount Nebo, Moses’ burial site, and Wadi Mujib

Sit down for an included dinner this evening.

Overnight Flight1 night

Day 15: Sightseeing tour of Amman, the Dead Sea & departure

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Spend your last day in Jordan getting to know the city of Amman and relaxing in the therapeutic waters of the Dead Sea.

• Take a guided tour of the Jordanian capital, entering the citadel and Roman theater

• Travel to the Dead Sea for time to float in the salty water and share a farewell lunch with your fellow travelers

Later, return to Amman to board your late-night flight home.

Arrive Home

Day 16: Travel day

Arrive home after your overnight flight.

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Reviews

267

4.6 average

Overall: A Disappointment

05/14/2019 by 3rd time traveler Joseph Z.

While our guide was knowledgeable about Egypt and gave us good information , and our tour was comprehensive, the tour director and the organization of the tour fall short of what a tour should be. I received incorrect visa instructions from GoAhead (which I wrote in about in detail). The optio...

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Amazing trip

05/14/2019 by 5th time traveler Anonymous

Let me start by saying the trip itself was wonderful. We saw such amazing things, the food was good and the accommodations were above what I was expecting. I really never thought I would have the chance to see the pyramids, the Sphinx, the Nile, the Sahara, Petra or the Dead Sea. The guides were ...

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A trip of a lifetime

05/03/2019 by 6th time traveler Anonymous

This tour was perhaps the best one of several that I have taken with go ahead. The tour was fast-paced and intense, with a great deal of walking on uneven terrain required. Nevertheless I feel it was the only way to properly see all of the fantastic sites this country has to offer. The hotels were ...

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Kemet 2019

05/03/2019 by 4th time traveler Dr. K.

Solid and good tour! If you’re a group person, it works well. However, if you’re not into being punctual and considerate at all times, this tour may not be the best fit. I’ve taken 4 groups on this same tour and love the itinerary! Many optionals used to be included. Now you pay to participate in mo...

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Sleep-deprived

05/13/2019 by 3rd time traveler Steven T.

1. No hot water at the Steigenberger Giza the whole stay. Not funny. 2. Never enough sleep! Early morning wake-up calls and late dinners. Poorly timed itinerary. Best bet is to research, then skip the boring minor sites. Rest and recharge instead. Those who did were much happier. 3. Steam-tabl...

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Our reviews are authentic and unedited.

Hotels, flights, & FAQ

Here's the nitty-gritty—where you’ll stay, how you’ll get there, and what to know about your destination before you go.

Hotels

We handpick every hotel to strike the balance of comfort, location, and local charm. Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date, but these are frequently used hotels for this tour and we're confident you'll be satisfied.

Ramses Hilton

This contemporary hotel is located in the Sharkas neighborhood. Guests enjoy a gym, outdoor pool, and restaurant. Nearby, you'll find the Egyptian Mus...

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Movenpick Resort Aswan

This resort-style hotel is located on Elephantine Island in Aswan. Guests enjoy a pool, tennis courts, and laundry services. Nearby, you'll find Kitch...

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Flights

Round-trip flights are one more thing we handle to make your journey as smooth as possible. Our team of travel experts will find the best flight itinerary for you at a competitive rate, thanks to our partnerships with top airlines.

Add our airfare package and you'll get:

Round-trip flight for your tour
Airport transfers at your destination
A great price locked in today
24/7 support from our dedicated service team
Options for arriving early, staying longer, or requesting an upgrade
Flexible rebooking options if your tour itinerary changes

Find out more about flights

FAQ

Passport & visa requirements

In order to enter Egypt (and Jordan on the tour extension), U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport with an expiration date extending at least six months beyond the date of reentry.
We recommend having at least two blank passport pages for entry stamps.
U.S. and Canadian passport holders must obtain a visa in order to enter Egypt. You can purchase your visa at the airport upon arrival for $25. The entry authorities require exact change in crisp, new bills. You can also purchase your visa in advance by using a visa provider, such as our partner VisaCentral.
On the tour extension, a group visa for entry into Jordan will be provided for all travelers whose flights have been arranged through Go Ahead Tours.
If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact each destination country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.

Tour pace

You will walk for about 2.5 hours daily across uneven terrain, including cobblestone streets and paved roads, with some hills and stairs.
Travelers should be healthy enough to participate in all included walks without assistance. Adding optional excursions may increase the total amount of walking on your tour.
You should feel comfortable managing your own baggage at times, as well as getting in and out of small boats.
Go Ahead Tours and the Tour Director who accompanies your group are unable to provide special, individual mobility assistance to travelers on tour. The responsibility of the Tour Director is to ensure the group as a whole enjoys a relaxing and informative journey, and he or she cannot be relied upon to provide ongoing, individualized assistance to any one traveler.
If you have any mobility concerns or physical restrictions, please contact our Customer Experience Team.

Transportation & arrival information

Round-trip flights booked through Go Ahead Tours arrive in and depart from Cairo (or from Amman on tour extension). A representative from Go Ahead Tours will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. Please remain in the arrival lounge, as the representative might be escorting one of your fellow travelers to the bus at the time of your arrival.
Transfers to and from the airport at your destination are included for travelers who have purchased their flights through Go Ahead Tours. Travelers who purchase their own flights may request airport transfers with Go Ahead Tours for an additional cost.
Flights from Cairo to Luxor and Aswan to Cairo are included in the price of your tour. (The tour extension also includes flights from Cairo and Amman.)
A four-night Nile River Cruise and boat rides are also included in the price of your tour.
All other included transportation on this tour is by private motor coach.

Baggage allowance

Please note that our travelers are limited to one checked bag and one carry-on bag per person due to storage limitations on motor coaches and other transfers, which may include train connections or flights.
Contact your airline(s) for baggage size and weight restrictions for your flights, which may include on-tour flights in addition to your round-trip flights to and from tour. Please note that your included on-tour flights may have more restrictive baggage limits.
Some airlines may impose additional charges if you choose to check any baggage or exceed baggage size and weight restrictions. Be advised that you are responsible for any baggage fees incurred on all flights.
Make sure you label your baggage and keep valuables, medication, and documents in your carry-on bag.

Clothing & packing tips

We recommend packing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that can be easily layered, as well as a light jacket or rainwear. Please note that temperatures will dip with changes in elevation throughout your tour.
A sturdy pair of walking shoes or sneakers is recommended for sightseeing.
A sun hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen is recommended for outdoor activities.
A small bottle of hand sanitizer may be helpful when other facilities are not readily available while on the road.
You may want to pack dressier attire if you plan to visit a high-end restaurant or attend a special performance.
It is preferable not to visit mosques or other religious sites with bare legs or shoulders (entrance may be denied on this basis).

Health

At least 60 days prior to departure, check with your healthcare provider for the latest updates and entry requirements, or visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov.
Please be sure to take proper care with sun exposure, the sun can be especially strong in some of the areas you are visiting.
Drink bottled water only. Refrain from drinking tap water, including when brushing your teeth.
Bring a small first aid kit, including antacids, anti-diarrhea medication, motion sickness medication, and any prescription medications in your carry-on bag.
Avoid eating fresh fruits and vegetables unless they are cooked or washed in clean water and peeled.
Public restrooms in Egypt can be quite bare. We suggest carrying bathroom tissue and hand sanitizer with you.
Depending on season and weather patterns, air pollution in Cairo may be problematic for travelers with a history of respiratory problems. Based on your health history, please discuss any precautions with your healthcare provider prior to departure.
If you have medication that you take daily, be sure you have enough for each day of the tour and any possible delays encountered.
Certain over-the-counter and prescription medications may be banned in one or all of the countries on this tour. Importing these drugs can carry severe consequences, including imprisonment. Please consult your healthcare provider prior to departure to ensure that any drugs you may want to bring with you are legal in all countries you will visit.
If you have dietary restrictions and/or food allergies please notify Go Ahead Tours at least 30 days prior to your departure by logging in to your account and updating your traveler info. To update this information closer to your departure date, please call our Customer Experience Team.

Cuisine

Egyptian cuisine uses the bountiful harvests of the Nile Valley—corn, eggplant, zucchini, onions, tomatoes, cabbage, chickpeas, and citrus fruits are popular in many dishes. Don’t miss out on Egyptian interpretations of typical Mediterranean staples like baba ghanoush, falafel, and stuffed grape leaves. Tea is the national drink and is offered at breakfast, after lunch, and in most social situations.
Meals on board the cruise ship are served buffet-style and provide a wide variety of international offerings. Afternoon tea is offered every day.
On the tour extension, Jordanian cuisine resembles that of the rest of the Middle East. Olives, hummus, sesame seeds, and herbs are typical in many meals. Falafel is the main street food and many meals are served with rice. Hummus and salad are also popular and available at many restaurants. You'll find plenty of opportunities to sip mint tea or Turkish coffee.

Electricity & air conditioning

Egypt operates on 220 volts and use Types C or F plugs with two round pins.
Jordan, on the tour extension, operates on 220 volts and uses Type C or G plugs with two round pins or three flat pins, respectively.
We recommend packing a universal adapter, as well as a voltage converter if you plan on using your own hairdryer or other device without a built-in converter.
The strength of the air conditioning in hotels in these regions is often not as strong or as cool as what one might be used to in the U.S. or Canada. When air conditioning is available, it is usually regulated seasonally and controlled centrally by the hotel.
Your hotels may provide hairdryers, irons, and other small appliances. However, these amenities cannot be guaranteed.

Connectivity

Wi-Fi is available in most hotels, though some charges may apply.
There is no Wi-Fi on any of the motor coaches.
Please contact your mobile service provider for information on roaming charges.

Time zones

Egypt is 6 hours ahead of Eastern Time (ET).
Jordan, on the tour extension, is seven hours ahead of ET.
When it's noon in New York City, it's 6pm in Egypt (and 7pm in Jordan).

Currency

You will use the Egyptian pound in Egypt (and the Jordanian dinar on the tour extension).
Better rates of exchange are usually available abroad, although it’s worth ordering some currency from your local bank to use when you first arrive.
We strongly advise that you take debit/bank cards and credit cards, which can be used to withdraw cash at local banks as needed.
You can use most debit/credit cards at ATMs on the international networks Cirrus and Plus, but make sure to check with your home bank about withdrawal fees.
Inform your bank and credit card company of your travel plans so that they won’t confuse your international purchases for fraudulent charges.
International banks and businesses primarily accept debit and credit cards that work with the EMV chip system. If you do not already have at least one debit or credit card with a chip in it, we strongly recommend requesting one from your bank prior to your tour.
Any shipboard purchases are directly added to your room account. Purchases made from on-board shops can be paid in USD or Egyptian pounds.
You may find it useful to have a supply of U.S. currency in small denominations when bargaining for everything from taxi rides to souvenirs.

Tipping

At the conclusion of your tour, it’s customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a gratuity in local currency. Please keep current exchange rates in mind.
We recommend tipping the equivalent of $7USD to $10USD per person per day for your Tour Director, $1USD per person per day for the bus helper, $3USD per person per day for your driver, and $20USD to $25USD per person for cruise ship personnel.
If applicable, we also recommend the equivalent of $2USD per local guide.
In Egypt, tipping is an important part of the local economy and you may be solicited to tip locals who assist you in public places. While it is not required, we recommend having small bills (in USD) or local currency for this purpose.
Tips can only be paid in cash.

Purchasing excursions on tour

Most optional excursions will be available for purchase while you are on tour.
Your Tour Director will only accept cash (in USD only), Visa, or MasterCard as payment for excursions.
Please be advised that if you pay for an excursion by credit card while on tour, it may take up to three months for your card to be charged.
Some optional excursions may only be purchased in advance. See page four of your tour itinerary for more information.

Safety

As dictated by Egyptian Tourism Police, all foreign groups must be accompanied by an armed guard and/or convoy.
Be aware of your surroundings, as pickpockets are active at most tourist sites. We recommend leaving your passport in the hotel safe, and concealing credit cards and cash in a money belt or a hidden pouch.
Bring photocopies of your passport, credit cards, and other important documents. Keep them separate from the originals. International travel is, by its very nature, unpredictable. We must therefore reserve the right to change this itinerary, without advance notice, to meet with local conditions at the time of travel. We appreciate your understanding. Please refer to our website for Terms & Conditions, dates, and prices.

Choose your dates to start a quote

70 Departures

Tour prices are per person, before flights from your departure city, and based on two travelers per hotel room. Tour prices include on-tour flights where applicable.