Before diving the fantastic Red Sea, experience the wonders of Ancient Egypt on an amazing Nile cruise, then finish your visit in exciting Cairo!
Arrive in Cairo to begin your visit with the Giza Pyramids and the new Grand Egyptian Museum.
From Cairo we fly to Aswan. There we'll board our small cruise ship for a four-day adventure down the Nile accompanied by our own English-speaking Egyptologist, stopping along the way at stunning temples built on the banks of the river. Ending in Luxor, you'll be amazed by the Temple of Karnak, the Valley of Kings, and the temple of Queen Hatshepsut. After our cruise, we'll be transferred across the Eastern Sahara to Port Ghalib to board our LGBTQ+ Red Sea Grand Tour liveaboard.
After diving, we'll return to Cairo for two nights in the fashionable and walkable Zamalek neighborhood, plus a tour of old Cairo and shopping at Khan al Khalil bazaar.
"All Egypt is the gift of the Nile." - Herodotus
Travel with us to experience Egypt in comfort, safety, and style!
Cairo Highlights:
- The Great Pyramid of Cheops (Khufu) – The Great Pyramid is situated in Giza and is one of the Seven Wonders on the World. Cheops, the second Pharaoh of the IVth Dynasty, built it. It once rose to a height of 146 meters. Owing to natural wear and tear, however, its present height is 137 m.
- The Sphinx – The Sphinx is one of the most famous monuments of ancient Egypt. It stands as a guardian of the ancient necropolis.
- The new Grand Egyptian Museum, including the golden mask of King Tutankhamen.
Nile Cruise Highlights:
The Temple of Karnak
Built in the 20th century B.C., it is the biggest of the ancient Egyptian temples and was the seat of the god Amun, and the administrative capital of the country. A visit to the temple begins at the sacred quay, decorated with a Nilometer showing flood levels of the Nile and then passes through an avenue, bordered by statues of ram-headed sphinxes, to the temple itself. Inside the temple there is an open courtyard with a smaller temple on the left-hand side. Then there is a large hypostyle hall, built during the reigns of Seti I and Rameses II, containing 134 pillars, twelve of which are topped with capitals in the form of open papyrus flowers.
The Luxor Temple
Built by Amenhotep III as a private residence for god Amun, but Rameses II later added statues of himself to either side of the temple: two seated and two standing. Inside there is an open coutyard built by Rameses II, comprising a pillared colonnade; and a second courtyard by Amenhotep III with pillars decorated with papyrus designs. The Luxor Museum contains a remarkable collection of ancient Egyptian sculpture found during the course of restoration at the Karnak and Luxor temples.
 The Valley of the Kings
This site contains a large number of tombs of the Kings and Pharoahs, including the tombs of: Seti I, Rameses II, Horemheb and Tutankhamun, which was the only tomb to be discovered intact.
The Temple of Edfu
This temple dates to the Ptolemaic period and is the largest and most complete of the different temples situated along the banks of the Nile. It is located in the city of Edfu. It was a center of the cult of Horus.
The Temple of Kom Ombo
The double temple dates to the Ptolemaic period and its inscriptions contain references to the Ptolemies and to the Roman Emperors, Domitian, Trajan, and Caracalla.
Optional Abu Simbel Flight Excursion:
Visit the stunning temple of Abu Simbel, an entire mountain face moved above the rising waters of Lake Nasser after the completion of the Aswan High Dam.
Planned Itinerary
The tour dovetails perfectly with one of our Egyptian Red Sea liveaboards and includes air-conditioned motorcoach transfer between the Nile cruise and Port Ghalib.
Cairo + Nile Cruise Itinerary:
- October 17 (Saturday):
Arrive Cairo. Meet & greet at airport. Overnight in Cairo's upscale Heliopolis area.
- October 18 (Sunday):
Tour of the Giza plateau featuring the Great Pyramid and Sphinx, plus the new Grand Egyptian Museum where you will be amazed by King Tut's treasures. Overnight in Cairo.
- October 19 (Monday):
Morning flight to Aswan. Visit the Unfinished Obelisk, High Dam, and the Temple of Philae.
Check in to Nile cruise for lunch. Afternoon felucca sail.
Optional evening Sound & Light show at Temple of Philae. Overnight in Aswan.
- October 20 (Tuesday):
Optional flight excursion to Abu Simbel, or morning at leisure.
Sail to Kom Ombo and visit the Kom Ombo Temple dedicated to two gods, Haroeris and the Crocodile God Sobek.
Sail to Edfu and visit the Temple of Horus in Edfu.
- October 21 (Wednesday):
Sail to Luxor. Afternoon guided tour of the Temple of Luxor. Overnight in Luxor.
- October 22 (Thursday): Disembark cruise. Visit Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, and the Colossi of Memnon. End with the jaw-dropping Temple of Karnak.
Motorcoach transfer to Port Ghalib and board Royal Evolution liveaboard.
Non-divers fly to Cairo accompanied by our guide for tours there October 22 & 23.
- LGBTQ+ Red Sea Grand Tour Liveaboard: October 22-29, 2026 (Thursday – Thursday)
- October 29 (Thursday): Fly from Marsa Alam (RMF) to Cairo. Afternoon at leisure.
Hosted group dinner in Cairo this evening. Overnight at Cairo Marriott.
- October 30 (Friday): Tour of Old Cairo, the Citadel and Alabaster Mosque, and Khan al Khalil bazaar to shop for souvenirs. Overnight in Cairo.
- October 31 (Saturday):
Depart for home anytime today, including very early morning.
Itinerary subject to modification.
Included:
- Four nights hotel in Cairo, double occupancy, and sightseeing
- Three-night Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor, including meals and guided sightseeing.
- Tourist site entrance fees
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner on cruise. Four breakfasts, two lunches, and two dinners in Cairo.
- English speaking guide throughout
Not included:
- International and domestic airfare
- Royal Evolution LGBTQ+ liveaboard October 22-29, 2026
- Optional flight excursion to Abu Simbel if desired (currently $400)
- Egyptian Visa ($25 upon arrival)
- Travel Insurance (required for this expedition)
- Any additional hotel nights in Cairo
Deposit:
A $500 deposit is due upon booking. Interim deposit of $750. Balance due 90 days prior to departure.
Travel to Egypt
- From North America, you can fly non-stop from JFK on EgyptAir, a Star Alliance member airline, to arrive in Cairo on Saturday morning or book one of the many flight options via Europe - whatever is convenient for you.
- Plan to depart from Cairo on Saturday, October 31.
- Additional hotel nights can also be arranged for early arrivals or longer stays.
- E-mail us for assistance with international flight selection.
We'll help you find the best option online for your flights.
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