Taste of Egypt
Egypt
Ten days from Cairo to Cairo: three nights in Cairo for Giza, Sakkara, Memphis, the Egyptian Museum, Old Cairo and the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, then a flight to Luxor for a four-night Nile cruise on the MS Farah — Karnak, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings and Queens, Hatshepsut's temple, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Aswan and Philae — and a final night back in Cairo with a felucca sail and the Khan al-Khalili bazaar. An Egyptologist guides the sightseeing; 9 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 4 dinners are included.
From $5,199 pp
Per person, two sharing · lowest cabin, cruise only — flights from home not included · 10 days
- Next departure
- Dec 11, 2026 · $4,949
- Departures open
- 40
- Meals
- 9 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 4 dinners
- Operator
- Avalon Waterways (Globus)
Or call / text 954-698-4438
Itinerary, hotels and inclusions checked against Avalon Waterways (Globus)'s own page on Sep 3, 2026. Dates and prices are read live from the operator's feed.
Our take
Of the two Egypt itineraries we list, this is the fuller one: it adds Sakkara, Memphis, Old Cairo, the Valley of the Kings and Philae to what the Globus tour covers, at the cost of two extra days. The Nile portion is on the MS Farah, a Nile ship rather than one of Avalon's European Suite Ships, so expect a different product on board. Egypt is hot, early-start territory with a lot of standing on stone; the payoff is that nearly everything you have read about is on this route.
Highlights
- Four-night Nile cruise on the MS Farah between Luxor and Aswan, with the Valley of the Kings included
- Egyptologist-guided sightseeing in Cairo, Giza, Sakkara, Luxor, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Aswan
- 10 days from Cairo to Cairo
- 40 departures currently open across 2026 and 2027, from $5,199 per person (lowest cabin, cruise only, flights from home not included)
Who this trip suits
- Travelers who want the complete classic Egypt list — Giza, Sakkara, Luxor, the Valley of the Kings, Aswan, Philae — in one trip
- People who prefer a river ship and an Egyptologist to arranging guides themselves
- History-minded couples and friends comfortable with early starts and heat
- Anyone comparing this with the 9-day Globus Egypt tour and wanting the West Bank included
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who struggles with heat or needs step-free access — temple sites and the ship do not offer it
- Travelers expecting Avalon's European Suite Ship standard; the MS Farah is a chartered Nile ship
- People who want Abu Simbel included — it is an optional excursion on Day 7
- Those uneasy about internal flights; there are two
Day by day
Avalon Waterways (Globus)'s published itinerary, checked Sep 3, 2026
1Cairo, EgyptCairo, Egypt
Welcome to Cairo, “Mother of the World”
No meals included
2Desert Sands and Secrets of the SphinxCairoBreakfast
Today's touring is the guided sightseeing listed below.
Your choice · Guided sightseeing — Classic: Enjoy a visit the Egyptian Museum. Peruse King Tutankhamun’s fabulous treasures and many other priceless artifacts of ancient Egypt. · Classic: Take a close-up look at one of the World’s Seven Wonders and guardian of the great pyramids, the enigmatic Sphinx, and the Great Pyramid of Giza. Cheops, with an original height of 496 feet, is the most colossal pyramid ever built, and of course enjoy the visit to the newly discovered Noble Tombs.
Meals: Breakfast
3Ancient Cairo, a Boy King, and the Christ ChildCairoBreakfastLunch
Afterwards, enjoy lunch in a local restaurant.
Your choice · Guided sightseeing — Classic: Drive to walled city of Old Cairo, with Saladin’s 12th-century citadel, and the Alabaster Mosque of Mohammed Ali. Afterwards drive to Memphis to admire the statue of Ramses II · Classic: Drive to Sakkara, a vast desert necropolis built for kings and nobles, and its “Stairway to the Sky,” the oldest of all pyramids. Also admire the special tomb of Mary Roca and the Step Pyramid of King Zoser.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
4The World’s Greatest Open-Air MuseumCairo–Luxor (embarkation)BreakfastLunchDinner
Fly 300 miles up the Nile Valley to Luxor to embark on your Nile River cruise. Embark your ship and enjoy your first lunch onboard. This evening, enjoy live entertainment on board.
Your choice · Guided sightseeing — Classic: See the stunning monuments of Karnak complex, developed over more than 1000 years. Walk among the pillars of the colossal Temple of Amun Ra for an experience you will treasure for a lifetime. · Classic: In the afternoon enjoy a visit to Luxor temple, one of the two primary temples on the east bank, together with Karnak.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner · Overnight docking in Luxor
5Royal Resting Places of Kings and QueensLuxor–EdfuBreakfastLunchDinner
Visit Deir El-Bahri, Queen Hatshepsut’s monumental rock temple. Stop for pictures at the two Colossi of Memnon guarding the valleys.
Your choice · Guided sightseeing — Classic: Venture to the Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens on the west bank of the Nile where generations of pharaohs and nobles were entombed in Cliffside crypts. See where 63 royal tombs have thus far been discovered, of which one was virtually intact—the splendid tomb of Tutankhamun discovered in 1922. · Discovery: This afternoon, join an exclusive lecture on this ancient civilization by your Egyptologist while sailing to Edfu.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner · Overnight docking in Edfu
6Egyptian Gods of the River and SkyEdfu–Kom Ombo–AswanBreakfastLunchDinner
Enjoy a leisurely sail to Kom Ombo. This evening enjoy a party night on board.
Your choice · Guided sightseeing — Classic: This morning visit Edfu Temple, also known as the Temple of Horus with its menacing black stone statue of the falcon god. · Discovery: While sailing enjoy a Egyptian cooking class. · Classic: Enjoy beautiful Kom Ombo for a short walk to its bluff-top twin temples. The right side is dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek-Ra, while the left side is dedicated to the falcon god Horus.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner · Overnight docking in Aswan
7Temples from Above and Islands BelowAswanBreakfastLunchDinner
This morning, consider joining a Guided Optional Excursion of the massive sandstone temples of Abu Simbel (by coach).
Your choice · Guided sightseeing — Classic: Board a motorboat · Classic: and cross the blue waters of the Nile. En route, see the ancient water measurement system, “Nilometer,” on the Nile’s Elephantine Island and the splendid Aga Khan Mausoleum.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner · Overnight docking in Aswan
8Work in Progress and the Goddess IsisAswan (disembarkation)–CairoBreakfast
Board your flight back to Cairo later today.
Your choice · Guided sightseeing — Classic: Join a Guided Sightseeing Excursion at to explore the Granite Quarries that supplied ancient Egypt with its hard stones for the pyramids in Giza. See the famous unfinished obelisk, still remaining in the quarry. Board a motor launch to the island of Agilika between the two dams and visit the Temple Of Isis, which was dismantled from the submerged island of Philae and reassembled here. Take a photo stop at the gigantic Aswan High Dam, completed in 1970.
Meals: Breakfast
9Amazing Civilization and Marketplace MazesCairoBreakfastLunch
This evening, consider attending an Optional Dinner Cruise on the Nile to celebrate your Egyptian adventure.
Your choice · Guided sightseeing — Classic: Start the day with a guided tour of the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization. No visit would be complete without time to experience the Royal Mummies’ Hall, considered the crown jewel of the museum. · Classic: Drive to “Coptic Cairo” to Abu Serga Church, not only the oldest church in Egypt but built on the spot where the Holy Family stopped and rested towards the end of their journey to Egypt. Proceed to visit the hanging church, which dates back to the fourth century, built on the remains of an old Roman Babylon fortress. Walk to see Cairo’s oldest Jewish synagogue, founded in the 9th century. · Classic: Take in a full panoramic view of Cairo from the Nile River—on board a traditional wooden sailing vessel (Felucca) and enjoy a typical Egyptian light lunch. · Classic: Browse the maze of shops in the vast labyrinths of the Khan al Khali Souk bazaar and Medieval alleyways.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
10CairoCairoBreakfast
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
Meals: Breakfast
Dates & prices
Read from Avalon Waterways (Globus)'s departures feed · per person, two sharing · lowest cabin category, cruise only — flights from home not included
| Departs | Returns | Group | From pp | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 30, 2026 | Nov 8 | Cruise | $4,949$5,199 | Sold out |
| Nov 6, 2026 | Nov 15 | Cruise | $4,949$5,199 | Please call |
| Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 22 | Cruise | $4,949$5,199 | Please call |
| Nov 20, 2026 | Nov 29 | Cruise | $4,949$5,199 | Please call |
| Nov 27, 2026 | Dec 6 | Cruise | $4,949$5,199 | Please call |
| Dec 4, 2026 | Dec 13 | Cruise | $4,949$5,199 | Please call |
| Dec 11, 2026 | Dec 20 | Cruise | $4,949$5,199 | Available |
| Jan 7, 2027 | Jan 16 | Cruise | $5,599 | Available |
| Jan 14, 2027 | Jan 23 | Cruise | $5,599 | Few seats left |
| Jan 21, 2027 | Jan 30 | Cruise | $5,599 | Few seats left |
| Jan 28, 2027 | Feb 6 | Cruise | $5,599 | Available |
| Feb 4, 2027 | Feb 13 | Cruise | $5,599 | Available |
| Feb 11, 2027 | Feb 20 | Cruise | $5,599 | Few seats left |
| Feb 18, 2027 | Feb 27 | Cruise | $5,599 | Available |
37 more departures scheduled — ask us for the full calendar. Prices are the operator's current published rates and can change until a deposit is paid; we reconfirm on enquiry.
Where you stay
Hotels as listed by Avalon Waterways (Globus), “as shown or similar.” Tap a hotel name to see it on Google Maps.
Cairo
Fairmont Nile CityFirst-Class
Impressive Resort situated in prime residential area, near embassies; equal distance (5 km) between downtown & Cairo Intl Airport.
Cairo
Hilton HeliopolisFirst-Class
The Hilton Heliopolis is conveniently located in Heliopolis, a prestigious modern neighborhood that is home to diplomats and politicians. This 589-room resort style hotel has lush outdoor gardens and…
What's included
- Egyptologist guide for the sightseeing, plus Avalon's cruise staff on board
- 3 hotel nights in Cairo (Days 1–3), 4 nights on the MS Farah (Days 4–7) and 2 hotel nights in Cairo (Days 8–9), hotels as listed or similar
- 9 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 4 dinners — see the day-by-day for which days
- Flights Cairo–Luxor and Aswan–Cairo as shown in the itinerary
- Guided visits as listed: Giza and the Sphinx, the Egyptian Museum, Sakkara and Memphis, Old Cairo, Karnak and Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings and Queens, Hatshepsut's temple, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae and the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization
- Felucca sail on the Nile with a light lunch, and a visit to the Khan al-Khalili bazaar
- Onboard Egyptologist lecture and an Egyptian cooking class while sailing
What's not included
- International airfare — prices are cruise-and-land only from Cairo; we quote flights from South Florida
- Airport transfers in Cairo unless booked with Avalon air
- Abu Simbel (optional on Day 7) and the optional Nile dinner cruise
- Meals not listed — about 4 lunches and 5 dinners, plus drinks
- Gratuities for guides, drivers and ship staff
- Egyptian visa, travel protection and a single supplement for solo travelers
The real cost of this trip
The “from” price is the operator's land-only rate. This is what sits on top of it, so the number you budget is the number you pay.
| Flights from South Florida | Not included. We price them with your dates; the ship's boarding cutoff is mid-afternoon on Day 1, so arriving the day before is the safe play. |
| Transfers | Airport-to-ship transfers are included only when air is booked through Avalon; otherwise we arrange a car. |
| Abu Simbel | Optional on Day 7 and priced separately. |
| Visa | U.S. passport holders need an Egyptian visa, available on arrival or online for a fee; Avalon's notes put visa responsibility on the traveler. We confirm the current process when you book. |
| Cabin category | The 'from' price is the lowest cabin on the MS Farah; suites cost more. |
| Gratuities | Crew, Cruise Director and Local Guide tips are extra; Avalon publishes guidance we share before you sail. |
| Travel protection | Not included. We recommend it for a cruise at this price point and quote it with the fare. |
| Solo travelers | A single supplement applies unless a waiver promotion is running on your departure — the dates feed shows current promotions. |
Good to know
- Water levels
- In the event of technical or water level issues, it may be necessary to operate the itinerary by motorcoach or alter the program, including hotel overnight when necessary.
- Schedules
- Guided Tours, Optional Excursions, activities, sailing and docking schedules may be contingent on weather conditions or other issues outside of our control and could therefore be subject to change at any time.
- Visas
- Please check visa requirements with your local consulate(s); responsibility for obtaining visas rests with the traveler.
- Boarding
- Cairo hotel check-in is mid-afternoon on Day 1; the program starts on Day 2.
- Price basis
- Per person, based on two sharing the lowest cabin category, cruise only plus the Cairo hotel nights — flights from home not included. Higher categories and suites are quoted on request.
- Start and finish
- 10 days from Cairo to Cairo.
Group minimums
Group rates and amenities unlock at these tiers. Negotiated through Travel Connects' supplier relationships.
| Tier | What you get |
|---|---|
| 8+ cruisers | Group discounts begin at 8 travelers. |
| 10+ cruisers | Avalon's published group terms include a free traveler at 10+ — we'll confirm exact terms when we quote. |
| 20+ cruisers | Custom pre- or post-cruise itinerary; larger groups can explore partial or full ship charters. |
Gallery
Questions we get about this trip
Is airfare included?
No. Prices on this page are cruise-only (plus the Cairo hotel nights on the Egypt itinerary). We quote flights from Fort Lauderdale or Miami with your dates, and Avalon can bundle air with transfers.
Is the Valley of the Kings included?
Yes — Day 5 visits the Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens, Hatshepsut's temple and the Colossi of Memnon. Abu Simbel on Day 7 is the one major site that is optional.
What is the ship?
The MS Farah, a Nile river ship with 51 cabins and 4 suites, chartered for this itinerary. It is not one of Avalon's European Suite Ships, so the cabin and dining product differ; we walk you through what to expect.
How much walking is there?
Excursions are guided walks in old towns, on cobbles and steps; the ship itself is easy to move around. Active options add bike rides and hikes; Classic options are the gentlest. Tell us if mobility is a concern and we will match the choices to it.
Which dates are cheapest?
Prices vary by departure and cabin — the dates table on this page reads Avalon's own feed, so what you see is current. Shoulder-season sailings are usually the lower-priced ones.
What if we need to cancel?
Avalon's published terms apply and the fee schedule depends on the departure and whether air is booked through them. We link the terms rather than restate them, and we walk you through the exact figures on your reservation before you pay a deposit.
Cancellation policy
Avalon Waterways' published Travel Terms & Conditions apply. Deposit amounts, final payment dates and the cancellation fee schedule vary by cruise, cabin category and departure date; the exact figures are confirmed on your reservation. Full terms: avalonwaterways.com/terms
