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. After its grand opening in November 2022, visit the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), which will be the largest archaeological museum in the world. 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. 5/5 stars on Tripadvisor!
Extend Your Trip! Enjoy our 14-day Splendors of Egypt with Alexandria tour which includes 2 nights in Alexandria with visits to the Alexandria Library, National Museum, Montazah Gardens, and more plus an extra night in Cairo!
For COVID-19 updates, please scroll down to our Before You Depart section.
Did you know that you can make this tour private? Find out about pricing and options for groups of 10 or more travelers.
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
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 or Grand Egyptian Museum*
- Khan El Khalili Bazaar District
*Visit the Grand Egyptian Museum instead of the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities starting in November 2022 when the Grand Egyptian Museum opens.
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
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.
Day 1: Depart from the U.S.
Day 2: Arrive in Cairo
Day 3: Pyramids of Giza
Day 4: Cairo/Aswan
Day 5: Aswan/Nile Cruise
Day 6: Nile Cruise/Kom Ombo/Edfu/Luxor
Day 7: Nile Cruise/Luxor
Day 8: Luxor
Day 9: Luxor
Day 10: Luxor/Cairo
Day 11: Cairo/U.S.
Guided Tour Pricing
Prices listed as “with flights” below include round-trip airfare from New York (JFK) for 2022 departures. Travelers may choose to purchase the tour only, and arrange their own arrival in destination. Please note this may change your tour start date.
Because we can’t secure airline pricing more than a year in advance, 2023 dates and prices listed below are for the tour only. Once flights are available, we’ll notify you of your options.
| 2022 Tours | Tour Only | With Flights | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Thursday
October 6 Sunday
October 16 |
From
$2,699
$2,199
|
Flights not available |
Select Only 1 spot left |
|
Thursday
October 13 Sunday
October 23 |
From
$2,699
$2,199
|
From
$3,499
$2,999
|
Select Only 1 spot left |
|
Monday
October 24 Thursday
November 3 |
From
$2,699
$2,199
|
From
$3,499
$2,999
|
Select |
|
Thursday
November 3 Sunday
November 13 |
From
$2,699
$2,199
|
From
$3,499
$2,999
|
Select Only 2 spots left |
|
Thursday
November 10 Sunday
November 20 |
From
$2,599
$2,099
|
From
$3,399
$2,899
|
Select Only 3 spots left |
|
Monday
December 5 Thursday
December 15 |
From
$2,399
$1,899
|
From
$3,199
$2,699
|
Select |
| 2023 Tours | Tour Only | With Flights | |
|
Monday
January 9 Thursday
January 19 |
From
$2,499
$1,999
|
From
$3,299
$2,799
|
Select |
|
Monday
January 16 Thursday
January 26 |
From
$2,599
$2,099
|
From
$3,499
$2,999
|
Select Only 5 spots left |
|
Thursday
February 9 Sunday
February 19 |
From
$2,499
$1,999
|
From
$3,299
$2,799
|
Select |
|
Thursday
February 23 Sunday
March 5 |
From
$2,499
$1,999
|
From
$3,399
$2,899
|
Select |
|
Monday
March 6 Thursday
March 16 |
From
$2,699
$2,199
|
From
$3,599
$3,099
|
Call to book |
|
Monday
March 20 Thursday
March 30 |
From
$2,499
$1,999
|
From
$3,399
$2,899
|
Select |
|
Monday
April 24 Thursday
May 4 |
From
$2,399
$1,899
|
From
$3,299
$2,799
|
Select |
|
Thursday
May 4 Sunday
May 14 |
From
$2,499
$1,999
|
From
$3,399
$2,899
|
Select |
|
Monday
May 22 Thursday
June 1 |
From
$2,399
$1,899
|
From
$3,399
$2,899
|
Select |
|
Thursday
June 8 Sunday
June 18 |
From
$2,399
$1,899
|
From
$3,599
$3,099
|
Select |
|
Monday
September 11 Thursday
September 21 |
From
$2,549
$2,049
|
From
$3,449
$2,949
|
Select |
|
Monday
September 18 Thursday
September 28 |
From
$2,399
$1,899
|
From
$3,299
$2,799
|
Select |
|
Thursday
October 5 Sunday
October 15 |
From
$2,599
$2,099
|
From
$3,399
$2,899
|
Select |
|
Monday
October 16 Thursday
October 26 |
From
$2,499
$1,999
|
From
$3,399
$2,899
|
Select |
|
Thursday
November 9 Sunday
November 19 |
From
$2,399
$1,899
|
From
$3,299
$2,799
|
Select |
* Departures designated as "Guaranteed" may be canceled or rescheduled only under Extraordinary Circumstances, for example in situations deemed to be unsafe or nonviable due to local conditions. See Terms & Conditions for full details.
Rates are per person based on double occupancy.
Single supplement applies when not sharing a room. Select a date above to see the rates for that specific departure.
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 online or 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 $300 per person. Full payment is due 90 days prior to departure. Space and prices subject to availability. Please see the smarTours Terms and Conditions for complete booking information.
Optional Tours Customize your trip with these optional tours.
Enhance your trip with our recommended optional tours. Indicated optional tours are available to pre-book when you reserve your trip and can be added to your reservation up to final payment. This is the best option to guarantee your spot on your preferred optional tour! Optional tours require a minimum number of participants. Optional tours are non-refundable unless they do not operate.
Some optional tours can be purchased in-destination and may cost extra. The payment methods and currency information to purchase tours in-destination will be provided on final documentation.
Half-Day & Sakkara Tour
Sound & Light Show at the Pyramids
Abu-Simbel by Air
Luxor Museum Visit
Luxor Hot Air Balloon Ride
Felucca Ride
Featured Accommodations
Egypt Room Upgrades
Cairo Marriott Hotel
Movenpick Aswan
Movenpick Royal Lily
Sonesta St. George Luxor
Cecil Hotel
Before You Depart
COVID-19 UPDATE
Departing the U.S.: For the safety of everyone in the group, smarTours has implemented COVID-19 travel requirements which apply to all tours regardless of destination. To learn more, click here.
Please note destination entry requirements are changing rapidly. smarTours will communicate entry requirements in your Tour Documents 10-14 days prior to departure. For up-to-date information, please click the links below.
- Entry requirements
- State Department Travel Advisory Updates (Egypt)
- Center for Disease Control Updates & Information (Egypt)
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) |
| 2022: Aug. 18, Sep. 12, Nov. 3, Nov. 10, Dec. 5 | EgyptAir | 6:30 PM | 3:30 PM |
| 2022: Oct. 6, Oct. 13 | EgyptAir | 5:15 PM | 2:40 PM |
| 2022: Oct. 24 | EgyptAir | 5:15 PM | 3:30 PM |
| 2023: All dates | EgyptAir | 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 11.
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
Final instructions and additional travel tips will be sent to you 14-21 days before the scheduled start of your tour via email. If you have not received your final documents, please check your spam folder or contact smarTours.
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.