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 on our special women-only departure. You’ll enjoy highlights like the Great Pyramids of Giza, as well as a fascinating lecture about modern Egyptian women! Enjoy homemade food at a Nubian restaurant with a chance to learn more about their traditions before you embark on a cruise down the legendary Nile River in a level of comfort even Cleopatra would approve of. Explore the Valleys of the Kings and Queens and visit a local Egyptian home and farm at the West Bank for tea. 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.
Looking for a roommate or to connect with other women before your trip? Join our smarTours Women-Only Facebook group! Visit the group here (https://www.facebook.com/groups/1145762302478350/) and click the + Join Group button!
For COVID-19 updates, please scroll down to our Before You Depart section.
Did you know that you can make this tour private for your friends and family? Find out more about pricing and options for your group.
Itinerary at
a Glance
- International Flight
- 2 nights in Cairo
- 1 night in Aswan
- 3-night Nile Cruise
- 2 nights in Luxor
- 1 night in Cairo
- Optional 3-night extension to Alexandria
Tour
Highlights
- Great Pyramids of Giza
- Sphinx of Giza
- Philae’s Temple of Isis
- Ptolemaic Temple for Horus and Sobek
- Temple of Queen Hatshepsut
- Temples of Karnak & Luxor
- Egyptian Museum of Antiquities
- Khan El Khalili Bazaar District
Your extension highlights:
- Alexandria Library
- National Museum
- Montazah Gardens
- Catacombs
- Jewelry Museum
Special Women-Only Departure Highlights:
- Modern Egyptian Women Lecture Led by a Female University Professor
- Lunch at Nubian Restaurant
- Visit to Local Egyptian House & Farm
Max. Group Size: 20 Passengers
Your Tour
Includes
- Round-trip airfare from New York (JFK) (passengers may also book this tour without flights)
- Airfare taxes, fees & fuel surcharges
- Accommodations at deluxe hotels and on cruise ship
- 18 meals: 9 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 5 dinners
- Comprehensive sightseeing tours and entry fees
- Experienced English-speaking Tour Director throughout
- Transportation in an air-conditioned bus
Tour Itinerary
Find your special women-only tour experiences in bold in the itinerary below.
Map
Click the Day-by-Day itinerary above (or swipe on mobile devices) to see the experiences that await on each day of your tour.
Depart from the U.S.
Overnight flight to Cairo. Your tour includes round-trip airfare from the U.S.
*Passengers who did not purchase flights will join the tour in Cairo on Day 2.
Arrive in Cairo
Welcome to Egypt’s capital and largest city. Upon arriving at Cairo International Airport, you will be met and assisted through customs and formalities before transferring to your hotel. Take some time to relax and get settled before joining fellow travelers at a welcome dinner.
Cairo Marriott Hotel or similar | Dinner
Pyramids of Giza
Cairo/Aswan
Aswan/Nile Cruise
In the morning, visit a modern-day architectural wonder, the Aswan High Dam, as well as Philae’s Temple of Isis, which was nearly lost to rising water in the 1960s until the dam was built. Afterwards, you’ll board your Nile cruise ship to depart on a three-night journey from Upper to Lower Egypt. There more about the Nile River here.
Movenpick Royal Lily or Steigenberger Minerva | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Nile Cruise/Kom Ombo/Edfu/Luxor
Nile Cruise/Luxor
Luxor
Luxor
Today we will visit a local Egyptian House and farm at the West Bank to have tea. Tea (shai) is the national drink in Egypt and you have the opportunity to connect with the local Egyptians over this pastime. The balance of the day is at your leisure to further explore Luxor or relax by the pool.
Sonesta St. George Luxor or similar | Breakfast
Luxor/Cairo
A morning flight takes us back to Cairo and our last hotel. Today, we’ll explore the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities, which houses the world’s largest collection of artifacts from the era of the pharaohs, including some belonging to King Tut. Afterwards, we’ll wander through the bustling, colorful Khan El Khalili Bazaar. We’ll end the day by sharing memories of our amazing travels through Egypt at a farewell dinner.
Hilton Heliopolis or similar | Breakfast, Dinner
Cairo/U.S.
Take a last look at Egypt before your airport transfer and flight back to the U.S.
*The tour will end for passengers who did not purchase flights on Day 11 in Cairo.
Breakfast
Guided Tour Pricing
Prices and dates below include round-trip airfare from New York (JFK). Travelers may choose to purchase the tour only, and arrange their own arrival in destination.
| 2022 Tours | Tour Only | With Flights | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Monday
October 3 Thursday
October 13 |
From
$2,199
$1,699
|
From
$3,299
$2,799
|
Select |
Rates are per person based on double occupancy.
Single room supplement is $579
Alexandria Extension: Add $649 per person double occupancy / $948 single occupancy
Business Class Upgrade:
JFK-CAI-JFK add $3300 (on request)
For more information on this tour, please contact us here or call us during business hours (Mon-Fri, 9:00am – 5:30pm EST) at 1.800.337.7773.
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 your non-refundable, non-transferable deposit, which must be received at the time of reservation. Deposits are $99 per person for all 2021 departures, and $300 per person for all 2022 departures. Full payment is due 90 days prior to departure. Baggage fees may apply. Space and prices subject to availability. Please see the smarTours Terms and Conditions for complete booking information.
Extended Tours
Discover Alexandria on our new 3-night extension available in 2020!
Cairo/Alexandria
This morning, you’ll transfer from Cairo to Alexandria. Begin exploring this historic port city with a visit to the famous Alexandria Library, fascinating National Museum, and magnificent Montazah Palace Gardens. Spend the evening at your leisure. Your guide can help you find great restaurants nearby.
Cecil Alexandria Hotel or similar | Breakfast
Alexandria
Today, discover the city’s Roman influences with a tour of the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, a stop at Pompey’s Pillar, and a visit to the Amphitheatre. We’ll also browse the Royal Jewelry Museum and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.
Cecil Alexandria Hotel or similar | Breakfast, Lunch
Alexandria/Cairo
After a wonderful two days in this Alexandria, we’ll depart this storied city to drive back to Cairo. Along the way, we’ll visit the El Alamein War Cemetery. Then, rest and relax during your last night in Egypt.
Hilton Heliopolis or similar | Breakfast
Cairo/USA
Get picked up this morning from your hotel and transfer to Cairo airport to depart back to the USA.*
The tour will end for passengers who did not purchase flights on Day 14, in Cairo.
| Breakfast
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).
Half-Day & Sakkara Tour
- Cairo
- From approx. $44 Per Person
Visit Sakkara, the Step Pyramid on which Imhotep experimented with the design of his stone tomb, beginning with a standard mastaba like those built in mud-brick at Abydos and Saqqara by the 1st and 2nd dynasty Kings. The Sakkara Step Pyramid, constructed 4,700 years ago, is said to be the oldest monumental masonry structure in the world.
AVAILABLE TO PRE-BOOK!
Abu-Simbel by Air
- From approx. $335 Per Person, including flight
Luxor Museum Visit
- From approx. $36 Per Person
This wonderful little museum is located on the Corniche about halfway between the Luxor and Karnak Temples, and is home to a small but well-chosen collection of relics from the Theban temples and necropolis. Displays of pottery, jewelry, furniture and statues were created by the Brooklyn Museum of New York.
AVAILABLE TO PRE-BOOK!
Featured Accommodations
Cairo Marriott Hotel
CairoYour home base in Cairo is a historic palatial property with lush gardens and 5-star accommodations. Pool, casino, spa, on-site dining.
16 Saray El Gezira Street • Zamalek, Cairo, Egypt 11211
Movenpick Royal Lily
Nile CruiseTravel in style on this flagship cruiser, which features 56 spacious cabins. The MS Royal Lily also features a spa, restaurant on the Main Deck and the Salon Deck, where you can enjoy expansive views with afternoon tea.
Sonesta St. George Luxor
LuxorSet on the banks of the Nile, this luxurious contemporary hotel welcomes you with a spa, array of fine dining choices and superb level of amenities. Don’t miss the outdoor terrace with majestic Nile views.
Corniche El Nile Street • Luxor, Egypt
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 (Main Tour) | Return JFK (Alexandria Extension) |
| 2022: Mar. 14 | EgyptAir | 6:30 PM | 3:30 PM | 3:30 PM |
| 2022: Oct. 3 | EgyptAir | TBA | TBA | TBA |
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.
Main Tour + Extension: 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 14.
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.
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.
NON-INCLUDED MEALS
You may dine at the hotels or restaurants recommended by your Tour Director. The average cost for a hotel dinner (excluding drinks) in a casual restaurant is about $20-25 per person. Restaurants outside the hotel may be less expensive.
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.