CAIRO, THE PYRAMIDS, NILE CRUISE, KARNAK AND LUXOR
Are you intrigued by the mystery of mummies? Have you imagined yourself in a scene from an Indiana Jones film? Here’s your chance to be an amateur Egyptologist, digging into this country’s enigmatic architecture and antiquities. The highlight of our escorted Egypt tour package is the Great Pyramid of Giza, one of the seven wonders of the world. You’ll also cruise along the legendary Nile in a level of comfort even Cleopatra would approve of. Along with captivating commentary, your smarTours® guide will offer tips, tailored to your interests and activity level, on how to make the very most of your free time in the land of the pharaohs.
Itinerary at
a Glance
- International Flight
- 2 nights in Cairo
- 3-night Nile Cruise
- 2 nights in Luxor
- 1 night in Cairo
Tour
Highlights
Your Tour
Includes
- Round-trip airfare from the U.S.
- Airfare taxes, fees & fuel surcharges
- Accommodations at deluxe hotels and on cruise ship
- 17 meals: 8 breakfasts (B), 4 lunches (L), 5 dinners (D)
- Comprehensive sightseeing tours and entry fees
- Experienced English-speaking Tour Director throughout
- Transportation in an air-conditioned bus
Tour Itinerary
Nile Cruise/Edfu/Luxor
Our day starts with a tour of the immense, well preserved Temple of Edfu, built between 237 and 57 B.C. and also dedicated to Horus. Legend says that this was the site where Horus avenged his father’s murder by his uncle, the god Seth. Back on board the Royal Lily, we’ll sail past Esna to Luxor. Often considered the most extraordinary open-air museum in the world, Luxor boasts an imposing array of ruins and monuments. During your afternoon free time, continue sightseeing via one of Luxor’s traditional caleches, aka horse carriages. And for your evening’s entertainment, take in a…
Luxor
The modern name for Thebes (the “city of palaces”), Luxor is also the inspiration for the word luxury, and we’ll see quite a bit of architectural extravagance today. The graceful Temple of Luxor was built over several centuries by Amenhopis III, Tutankhamun, Ramses II and Alexander the Great and features an avenue of sphinxes. We’ll also tour the ancient temple complex of Karnak. The immense wealth of Thebes was spent embellishing and building temples in honor of Amun-Ra, the most important and powerful of ancient Egyptian gods. The balance of the day is at your leisure. B…
Guided Tour Pricing
Price includes round-trip airfare from the U.S. (Land-only pricing available on request.)
| Depart | Return | Depart - Return | Best Value Pricing - Reserve by Mar 29, 2019 | Reserve after Mar 29, 2019 | Select Tour | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 2019 | w/ eCheck Discount | Sale | After Sale | ||
| June 4 | June 13 | Jun 4 - Jun 13 | $2,399 | $2,499 | $2,899 | Book Now: |
| June 18 | June 27 | Jun 18 - Jun 27 | $2,299 | $2,399 | $2,799 | Book Now: |
| July 2 | July 11 | Jul 2 - Jul 11 | $2,299 | $2,399 | $2,799 | Book Now: |
| August 6 | August 15 | Aug 6 - Aug 15 | $2,299 | $2,399 | $2,799 | Book Now: |
| September 10 | September 19 | Sep 10 - Sep 19 | $2,299 | $2,399 | $2,799 | Book Now: |
| September 17 | September 26 | Sep 17 - Sep 26 | $2,149 | $2,249 | $2,649 | Book Now: |
| September 20 | September 29 | Sep 20 - Sep 29 | $2,299 | $2,399 | $2,799 | Book Now: |
| September 24 | October 3 | Sep 24 - Oct 3 | $2,299 | $2,399 | $2,799 | Book Now: |
| October 15 | October 24 | Oct 15 - Oct 24 | $2,199 | $2,299 | $2,699 | Sold Out |
| October 18 | October 27 | Oct 18 - Oct 27 | $2,299 | $2,399 | $2,799 | Sold Out |
| October 22 | October 31 | Oct 22 - Oct 31 | $2,299 | $2,399 | $2,799 | Sold Out |
| October 29 | November 7 | Oct 29 - Nov 7 | $2,399 | $2,499 | $2,899 | Sold Out |
| November 5 | November 14 | Nov 5 - Nov 14 | $2,149 | $2,249 | $2,649 | Sold Out |
| November 8 | November 17 | Nov 8 - Nov 17 | $2,399 | $2,499 | $2,899 | Sold Out |
| November 19 | November 28 | Nov 19 - Nov 28 | $2,399 | $2,499 | $2,899 | Book Now: |
| December 3 | December 12 | Dec 3 - Dec 12 | $2,399 | $2,499 | $2,899 | Book Now: |
| December 10 | December 19 | Dec 10 - Dec 19 | $2,499 | $2,599 | $2,999 | Book Now: |
Rates are per person based on double occupancy.
2019 Departures: Single room supplement is $429
Business Class Upgrade:
JFK-CAI-JFK add $3300 (on request)
Apr 23 Departure: This departure will be on the 5-star Mövenpick Royal Lotus cruise ship
For more information on this tour to Egypt, please contact us here or call us during business hours (Mon-Fri, 9:00-5:30 EST) at 800-337-7773.
Please note that the Abu Simbel excursion needs to be prepaid to smarTours in advance of departure.
Reservations and Payments
Reservations can be made by phone (1-800-337-7773) and will be confirmed upon receipt of $300 per person non-refundable, non-transferable deposit which must be received within 48 hours of reservation. Full payment is due 75 days prior to departure. Baggage fees may apply. Space and prices subject to availability. For complete booking information and terms & conditions click here.
Optional Tours Customize your trip with these optional tours.
Pricing is subject to change. Payment (non-refundable) should be made by cash or credit card (VISA, MasterCard or AmEx, subject to service charge).
Featured Accommodations
Before You Depart
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Please make sure to allow sufficient time for clearing customs and immigration if you are planning a connecting flight. We recommend at least three-and-a-half hours. Please note that flight schedules are subject to change without prior notice.
| Departure Date | Airline | Depart JFK | Return JFK |
2019: Apr. 2 – Apr. 26, Jun. 4, Jun. 6, Jul. 2, Jul. 7, Aug. 6, Aug. 27, Sep. 10, Sep. 20, Sep. 24, Oct. 4, Oct. 15, Oct. 22, Oct. 29 | EgyptAir | 6:30PM | 3:30PM |
2019: Mar. 16 – Mar. 26, Mar. 29 | EgyptAir | 7:30PM | 3:30PM |
ADVANCE SEAT ASSIGNMENT
EgyptAir does not assign seats in advance. Seat assignments can only be arranged at the airport upon check-in. If you have a preferred seating choice, please make sure you check-in for your flight as early as possible. EgyptAir does not offer frequent flyer miles.
LAND-ONLY TRAVELERS
International flights to/from the U.S. are not included. Land-only travelers are responsible for arranging entry and exit flights, as well as their arrival and departure transfers. smarTours cannot be held responsible for any damage caused by air schedule changes and delays. Unused land services are non-refundable.
Main Tour: Land-only services start upon independent check-in at your Cairo hotel on Day 2 of the itinerary and end after breakfast at your Cairo hotel on Day 10.
PASSPORT AND VISA INFORMATION
You must possess a passport valid for at least 6 months after the date of travel. Your passport must contain at least one blank page. For U.S. passport holders, a tourist visa is required and may be obtained upon arrival in Cairo for $25 USD. Clients who book air with smarTours will be charged $28, which includes the visa and facilitation service upon arrival. The visa facilitation service is not available for land-only clients and forfeited. Non-U.S. citizens should check with the respective consulates as to the most current visa requirements to all their travel destinations. Please remember that it is your responsibility to obtain the necessary travel documents before the trip.
TICKETS AND FINAL DOCUMENTS
Your airline tickets, along with final instructions and additional travel tips, will be sent to you 7–10 days before the scheduled departure of your tour. Please make sure to advise us in case your address changes.
HEALTH REQUIREMENTS
Immunizations are not currently required; however, you should consult your personal physician, local public health authorities or the Center of Disease Control (CDC) as to their suggestions.
CLIMATE
Night and day temperatures can vary greatly. Here’s what you can expect:
- December–February: Highs in the mid to low 60s with nighttime as low as 48˚F.
- March–November: Highs in the upper 60s to low 70s with nighttime lows in the mid-50s.
- April–October: High 70s and low 80s with nighttime lows in the mid-50s to mid-60s.
- May–September: Average highs in the low 90s with nighttime lows in the high 50s to high 60s.
CULTURE AND DRESS
Given Egypt’s wide range of temperatures, we recommend you bring a sweater and/or layer to accommodate cooler morning/evening temperatures. Egyptians typically dress more conservatively. If you are exploring independently, please note that religious centers such as mosques will often require ankle-length pants, skirts or dresses, and, for women, a scarf to cover their hair.
CREDIT CARDS AND LOCAL CURRENCY
U.S. dollars, Euros and Canadian Dollars are accepted at Egyptian banks and money-changers, which can be found at most of the places that you’ll visit throughout the country. It is typically recommended that you ask for small bills when exchanging money. The currency in Egypt is the Egyptian Pound.
BAGGAGE
Each passenger may bring one piece of checked-in luggage (suitcase) max. 44 pounds, and one carry-on not exceeding 18”x10”x8”. We recommend that you do not overpack and that you take a variety of casual separates with climate and comfort in mind.