Abu Simble
Sun Festival
This special 12-day Egypt tour package takes in Cairo, Aswan, Luxor, and Hurghada. This tour package is fashioned to coincide with the special Sun Festival that takes place at Abu Simbel twice a year. Abu Simbel is one of the most awe-inspiring temple sites in Egypt, 2 gigantic temples built by the legendary Pharaoh Ramses II at Abu Simbel village in the south of Aswan. The temples in Abu Simbel are particularly fascinating for the fact they were cut into the rock cliff-face. The main entrance features 4 colossi statues at its end tunnel, and incredibly care was taken when the temple was hewn so that twice a year, on the dates of Ramses birthday and ascension to the throne, the Sunrise shines right into the tunnel and lights up only 3 statues, leaving the 4th statue of God Ptah, God of Darkness, in shadow. When the Egyptian government decided to build Aswan and Lake Nasser flooded the area around, the temples were subject to over-flood, the UNESCO planned a huge project to carefully dismantle the temples and rebuild them 60 ms higher, out of the flood danger. The tunnel's alignment was carefully maintained so that nowadays the rising sun shines in twice a year on the 22nd October and 22nd February.
Arrival & Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive at Cairo & Hotel transfer
You arrive at Cairo Airport.
Our representative will meet and assist you with customs.
Transfer you to Cairo hotel.
Meals included: None
Day 2: Giza Pyramids, Sphinx & Egyptian Museum
This morning you will be escorted by an Egyptologist tour guide to explore the only still standing wonder of the 7 wonders of the ancient world; The Pyramids of Giza and its guardian Sphinx. You will have a short drive of about 30 minutes to Cairo downtown to explore the overwhelming Egyptian Museum displays a huge and rare collection with over 120,000 ancient objects, considered the largest collection of ancient artifacts in the world, including the treasures from the most famous Tomb of King Tutankhamen that was discovered in the 1920s, and not to forget the optional visit the Royal Mummy room.
Later this evening, you will be transferred to catch the 1st class tourist sleeper train to Aswan (about 12 hours)
Meals included: Breakfast at Cairo hotel, dinner onboard the train.
Day 3: Philae Temple, High dam, Unfinished obelisk
Start your tour by visiting Philae temple on its romantic location at the island of Ajelicka, escorted by a private Egyptologist Tour guide, you will get to know the history of the site together with the interesting story of how the UNESCO managed to relocate the temple from its original Philae Island to the current twin Island of Ajelicka.
You will also visit the Aswan High dam; our main source of power and shield against the annual Nile floods.
Then you will proceed to visit the granite quarry and see the unfinished obelisk that was supposed to be the largest ever, however it cracked and was left in the site to show us how the ancient Egyptians managed to quarry granite rocks and how they made their gigantic Obelisks.
Back to the hotel to check in and freshen up.
Explore the city and its market OR go to bed early this evening to get ready for an early morning start to Abu Simbel Sun festival.
Overnight Aswan Hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast onboard the train.
Day 4: Abu Simbel Sun-festival event
Early this morning, you will check out Aswan hotel.
2.30 AM be ready to board the bus that will drive you about 3.5 hours from Aswan to the UNESCO world heritage site at Abu Simbel.
These amazing temples built by the legendary Pharaoh Ramses II are one of Egypt’s most awe-inspiring sites. We arrive at the temples in plenty of time for some historical explanations by your Egyptologist guide, before going inside the temple while the sun is rising to see how 3 out of the 4 statues at the temple’s shrine are lit up, leaving Ptah, the god of Darkness in shadow.
After you have enjoyed the temples, you will head back to Aswan and arrive around noon time.
This afternoon you will check in to the Nile Cruise starting with Lunch, take some rest at your leisure.
Meals included: Breakfast at Aswan Hotel, Lunch and dinner onboard the Cruise.
Day 5: Free morning & sail to Komombo
Free morning to explore the city and its market or consider a special visit to the unique Nubian village with camel ride.
Overnight Edfu
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and dinner onboard the Nile Cruise.
Day 6: Horus temple at Edfu & Sail to Luxor
This morning you will visit the temple of Horus at Edfu; the best preserved among all temples in Egypt, back to the boat for meals and enjoy the sailing towards Luxor.
You may consider an amazing sunrise Hot-air balloon trip in Luxor (Need to be booked at least 3 days before due to the peak, this trip is pre-booked and non-refundable).
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and dinner onboard the Nile Cruise.
Day 7: Cruise checkout & Luxor East bank tour:
This morning you will check out from the Cruise and store luggage in the bus, proceed to your tour to explore the Gigantic complex of Karnak temple to get lost between its ruins and massive columns, after your visit to the Karnak complex you will also visit Luxor temple that was named after the city itself and was dedicated to the patron God Amon-Ra.
After your tour, you will be transferred to check into Luxor Hotel for an overnight.
You will have time to explore the city or attend the sound and light show at Karnak temples complex.
Meals included: Breakfast onboard the Nile Cruise.
Day 8: Luxor West bank & Drive to Hurghada
This morning, you will check out, and after breakfast, you will visit the west bank sites, including the dusty tombs at the valley of the kings; where the tomb of King Tutankhamen was discovered, then have a short drive to the mortuary temple of the female pharaoh Queen Hatshepsut, then drive back to the Cruise.
To arrive Hurghada and check into your rooms.
Hotel, dinner in Hurghada hotel.
Day 9: Hurghada free day
Hurghada is the place to chillax, enjoy the amber beaches, or discover the Paradise under the Red Sea; the second best snorkeling spot in the world after the great barrier reef in Australia.
Optional diving, snorkeling, and Safari trips.
Meals included: All inclusive in Hurghada
Days 10,11: Hurghada free days
Optional diving, snorkeling, and Safari trips.
Meals included: All inclusive in Hurghada.
Day 13: Final departure & optional city tour
Based on your flight details, you will get to collect your memories and pack up to head to Cairo Airport for final departure.
If you have time before your flight, you may consider an optional city tour to visit the Citadel of Saladin, which is one of the most famous Islamic sites in the Middle East built in 1172 AD, the castle also houses the Alabaster mouse of Mohamed Ali built in 1823 AD.
The tour also covers the religious community area of Coptic Cairo to visit some of the oldest churches in the history of Christianity; such as the Hanging church built in the 5th century and dedicated to the Holly virgin Marry, the Cavern Church that houses the Holly crypt where the Holly family sheltered running from the Romans, and the Jewish temple "Synagogue".
Airport transfer to catch your departure flight back home.
Meals included: Breakfast in Cairo Hotel.
Tour Inclusions
• 2 nights in Cairo based on BB.
• 1 night onboard the sleeper train based on HB.
• 1 night in Aswan Hotel based on BB.
• 3 nights onboard the Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor based on FB.
• 1 night in Luxor based on BB.
• 3 nights in Hurghada based on all-inclusive soft drinks.
• 2 Airport meets and assists transfers.
• Transportation by a private AC tourist vehicle.
• Local Sim card to communicate with your family and friends while on tour.
• 2 small bottles of water during tours.
• Qualified Egyptology guide.
• Entry fees to the main sites mentioned in the itinerary.
• All taxes & service charge.
Tour Exclusions
International flight ticket.
Entry visa (can be obtained upon arrival for most nationalities).
Extra expenses (drinks – shopping).
Hotel extras (phone calls and laundry etc.)
Sites not included in the itinerary (such as Cairo city tour $50).
Tipping and gratuities (Feel free to discuss while booking or during your tour).
Tour Highlights
Nile cruise, Abu Simbel Sun festival, Tutankhamen's tomb, Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut temple, Giza Pyramids, Sphinx, Egyptian Museum, Tutankhamen treasuries, and Hurghada on the Red Sea.