The Citadel Of Salah El Din

Cairo's greatest historical treasures span more than 5,000 years and three civilisations — pharaonic, Islamic, and Christian — and this private full-day tour covers the best of all three. From the treasures of Tutankhamun in the Egyptian Museum to the Ottoman grandeur of the Muhammad Ali Mosque atop the Saladin Citadel, to the 2,000-year-old churches of Coptic Cairo and the medieval labyrinth of the Khan El-Khalili bazaar — this is the essential Cairo day, expertly guided by a private licensed Egyptologist, with all entrance fees included from $55 per person.

What You Will See

The Egyptian Museum, Tahrir Square

The Egyptian Museum — founded in 1902 — houses the world's most important collection of ancient Egyptian artefacts: over 165,000 objects spanning predynastic pottery (5000 BC) through the Roman period (4th century AD). The centrepiece is the Tutankhamun Galleries — 13 rooms displaying the complete burial equipment of the boy pharaoh, including the iconic solid-gold death mask, the golden throne, and the four nested shrine coffins. Your Egyptologist guide will navigate the museum's vast collection, identifying the most significant pieces and explaining their context — transforming what could be an overwhelming experience into a coherent, gripping story.

The museum also houses the extraordinary Royal Mummies Room (separate ticket 180 EGP, included in this tour) where eleven pharaohs lie in glass cases — including Ramesses II, Seti I, and Thutmose III — their faces still remarkably preserved after 3,000 years.

Note: The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), which opened in November 2025 and houses the complete Tutankhamun collection, can be substituted for the Egyptian Museum on request — please ask at booking.

The Saladin Citadel & Muhammad Ali Mosque

From the Egyptian Museum, your private vehicle drives to the Saladin Citadel — the medieval fortress built by Saladin in 1183 AD on a spur of the Moqattam hills, which has dominated Cairo's skyline for 800 years. Inside the Citadel walls stands the Muhammad Ali Mosque (1830–1848) — the most iconic building in Cairo, its twin Ottoman minarets and lead-clad domes visible from almost every rooftop in the city. The interior is a spectacle of Ottoman grandeur: a central dome 52 metres high, hundreds of hanging glass lamps, and Muhamad Ali's white marble tomb to the right of the entrance.

From the Citadel's eastern ramparts, the panoramic view of Cairo is unmatched: the minarets of Islamic Cairo visible to the north-west, the Pyramids of Giza visible on a clear day to the west, and the Moqattam cliffs behind you to the east. Your guide will point out the key landmarks and explain how the city grew from its founding by the Fatimids in 969 AD to the megalopolis of 22 million it is today.

Old Coptic Cairo

Coptic Cairo — the ancient Christian quarter of the city, enclosed within the walls of the Roman Fortress of Babylon — contains some of the oldest churches in Africa. Your tour includes the Hanging Church (Al-Muallaqah) — its nave suspended above two Roman gatehouse towers, the interior carved with 110 ivory-inlaid panels depicting saints and biblical scenes — and the Church of Abu Serga (Saints Sergius and Bacchus), built over the crypt where the Holy Family is said to have sheltered during their flight into Egypt. The nearby Ben Ezra Synagogue — Cairo's oldest synagogue, where the famous Cairo Geniza collection of medieval manuscripts was discovered — is also visited. The entire Coptic Cairo complex is accessible via the Mar Girgis Metro station, which your guide will point out as a practical note for future independent visits.

Khan El-Khalili Bazaar

The day concludes in the Khan El-Khalili — Cairo's great medieval bazaar, in continuous operation since 1382 AD. Your guide will lead you through the most interesting sections: the gold and silver jewellery quarter, the spice traders, the copper and brass workshops, and the perfume merchants. The El-Fishawi Café — the oldest café in Cairo, which has not closed its doors for over 200 years — is an ideal spot for tea and people-watching. Your guide will explain the fair price for any item you wish to buy, removing the uncertainty from bazaar bargaining.

Why Choose Egypt For Travel

Egypt For Travel holds ETA Category A Licence No. 1947. Every guide is a university-educated specialist in Egyptian history, art, and archaeology. No shared groups, no shopping commissions, no hidden costs. Contact us via WhatsApp: +20 155 555 2466 to book or customise your tour — the Cave Church at Mokattam, the Nubian Village of Gezira Badran, or a specific neighbourhood in Islamic Cairo can all be added on request.

The Petra and Egypt tour takes the reverse direction — you begin in Jordan and end in Egypt. Arriving in Amman, you spend two full days at Petra exploring the Siq, Treasury, Royal Tombs and the Monastery, then a jeep safari through Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea before flying to Cairo. In Egypt you explore the Pyramids of Giza, the Grand Egyptian Museum, Islamic Cairo, and a Nile cruise culminating in a private flight to Abu Simbel — the twin temples of Ramesses II carved into a Nubian cliff, Egypt's most visually dramatic ancient site. Most Egypt and Jordan tours do not include Abu Simbel. This one does.

Tour Highlights

Day by Day Outline

Egypt For Travel’s 9-day travel package to Egypt from the USA covers the three most rewarding dimensions of an Egypt trip — ancient history, Nile sailing, and Red Sea relaxation — at the most accessible price point in our USA portfolio. Three days in Cairo with the Pyramids of Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM). Three nights on a 5-star Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor, sailing past Philae, Kom Ombo, Edfu and the Valley of the Kings. Two nights all-inclusive at a Hurghada Red Sea resort with coral reef snorkelling. Everything included, private throughout, daily departures. From $1,549 per person.

Why This Is the Best-Value 9-Day Egypt Package From the USA

At $1,549 this package delivers the complete Egypt experience — ancient sites, Nile cruise and beach recovery — at a price that undercuts most comparable packages by hundreds of dollars. The key is the structure: 3 nights on the Nile cruise covers the full Aswan-to-Luxor route including Philae Temple, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Karnak and the Valley of the Kings. The 2-night all-inclusive Hurghada finish gives you genuine beach and snorkelling recovery time after the intensity of the ancient sites. Every day is private — your own Egyptologist guide, your own vehicle — with daily departures year-round.

What This 9-Day Package Covers

How This Package Compares to Other USA Egypt Options

What Makes the Hurghada All-Inclusive the Perfect Finish

After three days of walking ancient sites in Cairo and three nights on the Nile, most travelers arrive in Hurghada ready to do absolutely nothing — and the all-inclusive resort format is precisely the right setting for that. Hurghada sits on Egypt’s Red Sea Riviera with 320 days of sunshine per year, water temperatures of 26–28°C year-round, and reef systems that host over 1,200 fish species. The all-inclusive board basis covers all meals and soft drinks, meaning you can spend two full days entirely at the resort pool, beach and reef without making a single decision about food, logistics or cost. Optional activities available through Egypt For Travel: snorkelling trip to Giftun Island National Park, glass-bottom boat tour, or a desert jeep safari into the Eastern Mountains behind Hurghada.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between this 9-day package and the 11-day all-inclusive?

The 11-day all-inclusive adds a 1-night Aswan hotel stay (giving you Aswan as a separate destination with more time at Philae Temple, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk) and a 3rd night in Hurghada (soft all-inclusive vs full all-inclusive). The 9-day package at $1,549 is the better value for travelers who want the complete Egypt experience — Nile cruise and beach — at the most accessible price. The 11-day at $1,799 is better for travelers who want more time in both Aswan and Hurghada.

Does this package include Abu Simbel?

Abu Simbel is not included in this package but is available as an optional add-on from Aswan. The Aswan–Abu Simbel–Aswan return flight departs at 4:00 AM and returns by noon, leaving the afternoon free for other Aswan activities. The temples of Ramesses II and Nefertari carved into the Nubian cliff face are described by most visitors as the most extraordinary ancient site they saw in Egypt — more dramatic in scale than even the Pyramids. If your schedule allows, Egypt For Travel strongly recommends adding Abu Simbel. It can be confirmed at booking or upon arrival.

What is included in the all-inclusive at Hurghada?

The all-inclusive board basis at your Hurghada hotel covers all meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner at the hotel restaurants), unlimited soft drinks, juices and water throughout the day, pool access and beach access. Alcoholic drinks, spa treatments, water sports equipment hire and optional excursions are charged separately. Egypt For Travel selects 4–5 star Hurghada hotels with direct beach access and reef snorkelling from the shore or by short boat transfer. The hotel is confirmed at booking based on availability.

What is the best time for Americans to do this tour?

October to April is ideal: Cairo and the Nile are 18–28°C, perfect for sightseeing, while Hurghada is 22–26°C, warm enough for comfortable beach and snorkelling. December (including Christmas and New Year) is the most popular booking window for American travelers — see our Egypt in December guide for detail. Summer (June–August) is hot in Cairo and Luxor but Hurghada’s Red Sea breeze keeps the coast comfortable. See our complete Best Time to Visit Egypt guide for month-by-month detail.

Ring in the New Year on the Nile — one of the most extraordinary ways to celebrate on earth. Egypt For Travel’s 8-day New Years in Egypt Tour begins in Cairo with three days exploring the Pyramids of Giza, the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) — the world’s largest ancient Egypt museum, opened November 2025 with all 5,398 artefacts from Tutankhamun’s tomb — and the medieval layers of Islamic Cairo. Then you fly south to Aswan to embark a 5-star Nile cruise, sailing north through Kom Ombo, Edfu and into Luxor. New Year’s Eve is celebrated on board with a gala dinner, live entertainment and a midnight countdown as the Nile reflects the fireworks. New Year’s Day begins at the Valley of the Kings at dawn. Departs December 26, 27 and 28 only — book by September.

New Years in Egypt Tour 2026 — At a Glance

New Year’s Eve on the Nile — What to Expect

Every 5-star Nile cruise ship in Egypt For Travel’s fleet runs a special New Year’s Eve gala dinner with a set menu, live entertainment, table decorations and a midnight countdown on the deck as the Nile reflects the celebrations. Guests travelling on the December 26, 27 or 28 departures will be on board the cruise for New Year’s Eve (December 31). A gala dinner supplement applies on most ships ($50–$80 per person — confirmed at booking). As our Egypt in December guide explains, the Nile in late December offers 18–22°C temperatures — perfect for an outdoor deck celebration. New Year’s Day is spent at the Valley of the Kings before the crowds arrive — the most powerful possible start to any new year.

Why Celebrate New Year in Egypt?

Egypt in late December offers a compelling alternative to crowded European or American New Year destinations. The best time to visit Egypt is October to April, and New Year’s Eve falls squarely within this ideal window. Cairo is buzzing with festive energy while the Nile cruise creates a uniquely intimate celebration — your own private gala in one of the most extraordinary landscapes on earth. The combination of the ancient world’s greatest monuments and a world-class New Year’s Eve celebration is an experience you will not find anywhere else.

Egypt For Travel’s 12-day Holidays to Egypt at Christmas and New Year is the most complete festive Egypt package available — combining the ancient world of Cairo, a 5-star Nile cruise, the romantic adventure of an overnight night train across Egypt, and four nights on the pristine Red Sea beach of Sharm El Sheikh. This itinerary covers every dimension of Egypt in one trip: the Pyramids of Giza, the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), the Karnak Temple, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Philae, and the Red Sea. Departs December 20, 21, 22 and 23 only. Book by September — Christmas availability sells out by October.

Holidays to Egypt at Christmas 2026 — At a Glance

Day by Day Outline

Why This Is the Best Egypt Christmas & New Year Package

Most Egypt Christmas packages offer either the Nile or Sharm. This itinerary gives you both — three nights sailing the Nile between Luxor and Aswan with Christmas Day on the river, followed by four nights of full-board Red Sea relaxation in Sharm for New Year’s Eve. The overnight night train from Aswan is itself an experience — sleeping across the Egyptian desert, waking at dawn as the train pulls into Cairo. As we explain in our Egypt in December guide, December’s 20–24°C temperatures make it Egypt’s finest month for sightseeing, while Sharm’s 25°C winter sun makes the beach genuinely warm. The result is an itinerary that delivers Christmas on the Nile and New Year on the Red Sea — the two most memorable Egypt holiday experiences in one 12-day trip.

8-Day Egypt Budget Tour 2026 — Cairo & Nile Cruise from $1099

Discover Egypt without breaking the bank. Our 8-day Egypt budget tour is the most complete and best-value Egypt package available — combining Cairo’s iconic Pyramids and Egyptian Museum with an overnight sleeper train to Aswan and a full 5-star Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor, visiting Abu Simbel, the Valley of the Kings, and Egypt’s most breathtaking temples. Premium experiences at an affordable price, with no compromise on quality.

Every aspect of this tour is 100% private. Your own licensed Egyptologist guide in your language. Your own private air-conditioned vehicle in Cairo and Luxor. A genuine 5-star Nile cruise ship with full board. No shared coaches. No group schedules. Just you and Egypt at your own pace.

What Makes This Egypt’s Best Value Tour

In Cairo (Day 2): The Pyramids of Giza — Cheops, Khafre, and Menkaure — and the Great Sphinx. The Valley Temple of Khafre. The Egyptian Museum with the treasures of Tutankhamun. Then board the overnight sleeper train to Aswan — saving one hotel night while travelling through the Egyptian night in comfort.

On the Nile Cruise (Days 3–6): Board your 5-star Nile cruise in Aswan. Visit Abu Simbel Temple, Philae Temple, the High Dam, Edfu Temple, and Kom Ombo Temple as the ship sails Aswan to Luxor. Full board included throughout the cruise.

In Luxor (Days 6–7): The Valley of the Kings, the Karnak Temples, and the Luxor Temple. Then the overnight sleeper train back to Cairo.

This tour is perfect for: budget-conscious travelers · backpackers wanting private guided quality · solo travelers · couples on a budget · anyone wanting to see Egypt’s greatest sites at the most affordable price.

10-Day Holy Family Tour in Egypt 2026 — Tracing the Sacred Path from $2,249

Two thousand years ago, the Holy Family — Mary, Joseph, and the infant Jesus — fled into Egypt to escape the persecution of King Herod. Their journey across Egypt left a trail of sacred sites, miracle springs, ancient churches, and holy resting places that are venerated by millions of Christians worldwide to this day. Our 10-day Holy Family tour in Egypt follows this sacred path in its entirety — from the Coptic churches of Old Cairo, through the desert monasteries of Wadi El Natrun, along the Nile to El Minya and Assiut, visiting every major site where the Holy Family rested, prayed, and performed miracles during their refuge in Egypt.

This tour is a genuine spiritual pilgrimage, not simply a sightseeing trip. Every site on this itinerary is historically documented in the Coptic Orthodox tradition and recognised by the Egyptian government as part of the official Holy Family Trail. The tour combines deep spiritual significance with Egypt’s extraordinary Pharaonic heritage — including the Pyramids of Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum — for a complete experience of Egypt’s 5,000 years of history. Every aspect is 100% private with your own licensed guide.

The Sacred Path of the Holy Family in Egypt

According to Coptic tradition and historical records, the Holy Family entered Egypt through the Sinai and travelled as far south as Assiut before returning north. Their journey through Egypt lasted approximately 3.5 years and covered over 3,500km. Along the way they rested in what are now Cairo’s oldest churches, performed miracles at sacred springs, and sheltered in the monasteries of the Nile Valley that became the foundations of Egyptian Christianity.

Key sites on this tour include: the Church of the Virgin Mary in Ma’adi (where the Holy Family boarded a boat on the Nile) · the Hanging Church (Al-Muallaqa) in Coptic Cairo · the Church of St Sergius (Abu Serga) — built over the cave where the Holy Family sheltered · Mary’s Tree in El Matariya (Heliopolis) — the sacred sycamore tree under which the Holy Family rested · the Desert Monasteries of Wadi El Natrun — four ancient monasteries founded in the 4th century, among the oldest Christian monasteries on earth · the Cave of the Holy Virgin in Gebel El Tair · the Church of the Virgin in Drunka, Assiut.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Holy Family Tour in Egypt?

The Holy Family Tour in Egypt is a pilgrimage route tracing the journey of Mary, Joseph, and the infant Jesus through Egypt as described in the Gospel of Matthew. According to Coptic Christian tradition, the Holy Family entered Egypt from the Sinai, travelled through the Delta and Cairo, south along the Nile to Assiut, and then returned north before crossing back to Palestine. Egypt’s Coptic Orthodox Church has preserved and documented these sacred sites for 2,000 years. The Egyptian government has officially designated the Holy Family Trail as a national heritage route. Key stops include Coptic Cairo, El Matariya (Mary’s Tree), the Wadi El Natrun monasteries, El Minya, and Assiut — all visited on this 10-day private tour.

Is the Holy Family Tour in Egypt suitable for all Christian denominations?

Yes. While the Holy Family Trail is most closely associated with the Coptic Orthodox tradition — the ancient Christian church of Egypt founded by St Mark the Apostle — the sacred sites are venerated by Catholic, Protestant, Anglican, and Eastern Orthodox Christians alike. Every year thousands of pilgrims from all Christian denominations travel the Holy Family route. Our private tour is designed to be spiritually meaningful for all Christian travelers regardless of denomination. Many of our Holy Family tour guests come from Italy, France, the USA, Ethiopia, and Eastern Europe. The tour is conducted with full respect for the spiritual significance of every site visited.

Egypt For Travel’s 11-day all-inclusive Egypt tour from the USA is the complete Egyptian journey — ancient history, the world’s greatest river cruise, and a Red Sea beach recovery, all in one seamlessly arranged private package. It begins in Cairo with the pyramids and ends on a sun lounger in Hurghada. Everything between is one of the most concentrated sequences of extraordinary experiences available anywhere on earth. From $1,799 per person, daily departures year-round, with a licensed Egyptologist guide from the moment you land at Cairo Airport to the moment you transfer to Hurghada International Airport.

Tour Overview — At a Glance