Egypt 2026 — Zavella showcase

Egypt · October 2026

Cairo & the Nile

October 16 – 30, 2026 · 14 Nights

CairoAswanLuxorCairo

Confirmation numbers

EgyptAir

ORD ↔ CAI · Oct 16 & Oct 29

••••••

Nile Heritage Tours

Private 13-day land package

Booked

The Giza Terrace Hotel

Cairo · Oct 17–21

Confirmed

MS Nile Serenade

Aswan → Luxor · Oct 21–24

Confirmed

Corniche Garden Hotel

Luxor · Oct 24–27

Confirmed

Zamalek Garden Hotel

Cairo · Oct 27–29

Confirmed

All flights, hotels, and the Nile cruise are confirmed.

Live weather — tap for forecast

Egypt tips

·

Time zone: Cairo is Eastern European Time (UTC+2), 7 hours ahead of Chicago (CDT) in October. Egypt does not observe daylight saving.

·

Currency: Egyptian Pound (EGP). Cards work at hotels; bring small USD/EGP notes for markets, tipping, and site bathrooms.

·

Tipping (baksheesh) is expected everywhere — guides, drivers, cruise staff, housekeeping. Keep a stock of small EGP notes throughout.

·

Dress modestly at mosques and temples — shoulders and knees covered. A light scarf is useful; shoes come off inside mosques.

·

Photography: many tomb and temple interiors require a separate photo ticket, and flash is often banned. Ask your guide before shooting inside.

·

Abu Simbel morning is genuinely cold before sunrise even though the day gets hot — pack a warm layer for the pre-dawn departure on Oct 22.

·

Drink bottled water only — available everywhere, and it's stocked on the cruise and in hotel rooms.

Timeline

October 16 – 30, 2026

Fri Oct 16

Chicago → Cairo

EgyptAir nonstop · 6:45 PM ORD → 12:05 PM CAI (+1)
Economy · Seats reserved together

••••••

Sat Oct 17

Arrive Cairo · Dinner cruise

Meet & assist at CAI, transfer to The Giza Terrace Hotel. Evening: Nile dinner cruise with belly dancing & tannoura show.

Dinner

Sun Oct 18

Giza Pyramids & the Grand Egyptian Museum

Pyramid of Khufu, the Sphinx, the Valley Temple, then the Grand Egyptian Museum's full Tutankhamun collection.

BreakfastLunchDinner free

Mon Oct 19

Alexandria day trip

Catacombs of Kom El-Shoqafa, Pompey's Pillar, Citadel of Qaitbay, photo stop at the Alexandria Library.

BreakfastLunchDinner free

Tue Oct 20

Saqqara, Memphis & Dahshur

The Step Pyramid of Djoser, ancient Memphis, the Bent & Red Pyramids of Dahshur. A last night in Giza before flying south to Aswan.

BreakfastLunchDinner free

Wed Oct 21

Fly to Aswan · Board the cruise

07:15 CAI → ASW, then the High Dam, Unfinished Obelisk, Philae Temple. Board the MS Nile Serenade in the afternoon.

BreakfastLunchDinner

Thu Oct 22

Abu Simbel Sun Festival

Pre-dawn departure (~3–4 AM) to witness the sunrise alignment inside the Great Temple of Ramses II, plus music & festivities. Back aboard by afternoon.

BreakfastLunchDinner

Fri Oct 23

Kom Ombo & Edfu · Sail to Luxor

The twin temple of Kom Ombo, then Edfu Temple. Sail overnight, arriving Luxor late.

BreakfastLunchDinner

Sat Oct 24

Disembark · Karnak & Luxor Temple

Check out of the cruise, Karnak Temple complex, then Luxor Temple beautifully lit at night. Check in to your Luxor hotel.

BreakfastLunchDinner free

Sun Oct 25

Valley of the Kings · West Bank

Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's Temple, the Colossi of Memnon.

BreakfastLunchDinner free

Mon Oct 26

Free day in Luxor

Unscheduled — relax, or arrange an optional sunrise hot air balloon ride over the West Bank.

BreakfastLunch freeDinner free

Tue Oct 27

Fly to Cairo · Museum & Islamic Cairo

Domestic flight to Cairo. National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, the Hanging Church, El-Muizz Street, Khan el-Khalili Bazaar. Check in to Zamalek Garden Hotel.

BreakfastLunchDinner free

Wed Oct 28

Islamic Cairo

Salah El-Din Citadel, Mohamed Ali (Alabaster) Mosque, Sultan Hassan Mosque, Al-Refaie Mosque.

BreakfastLunchDinner free

Thu Oct 29

Depart Cairo

Check out, transfer to CAI. EgyptAir nonstop · 11:55 PM CAI → 5:30 AM ORD (+1)
Economy · Seats reserved together

Breakfast

••••••

Fri Oct 30

Arrive Chicago

Land ORD 5:30 AM.

Flights

EgyptAir international · domestic transfers

EgyptAir — International

EgyptAir

Economy · 2 travelers

••••••

Outbound · Fri Oct 16

ORD

6:45 PM

EgyptAir

Chicago → Cairo · 11h 10m nonstop

CAI

12:05 PM*

*Arrives Sat Oct 17

Traveler 1

Seat •• · Economy

Traveler 2

Seat •• · Economy

Return · Thu Oct 29

CAI

11:55 PM

EgyptAir

Cairo → Chicago · 12h 25m nonstop

ORD

5:30 AM*

*Arrives Fri Oct 30

Traveler 1

Seat •• · Economy

Traveler 2

Seat •• · Economy

EgyptAir customer service

+1 (866) 400-6004 (US) egyptair.com

Domestic flights — via Nile Heritage Tours

Cairo → Aswan

Ref: •••••• · Vendor locator ••••••

Confirmed

Wed Oct 21

CAI

7:15 AM

EgyptAir

Nonstop · 1h 25m

ASW

8:40 AM

Luxor → Cairo

Ref: •••••• · Vendor locator ••••••

Confirmed

Tue Oct 27

LXR

9:30 AM

EgyptAir

Nonstop · 1h 10m

CAI

10:40 AM

Hotels & Cruise

4 stays · 12 nights

Cairo · Giza area

The Giza Terrace Hotel

Confirmed

Address

Near the Giza Plateau, Giza

Check-in

Sat Oct 17

Check-out

Wed Oct 21

Room

1 Double Room

Guests

2 guests

Note

Pyramid-view rooms, a short drive from the Grand Egyptian Museum.

Contact

Booked through Nile Heritage Tours. Your guide can help with any hotel requests.

Aswan → Luxor

MS Nile Serenade

Confirmed

Board

Wed Oct 21, Aswan

Disembark

Sat Oct 24, Luxor

Cabin

1 Double Cabin

Board basis

Full board

Ship

Five-star river cruiser · sun deck & pool

Contact

Cruise arranged by Nile Heritage Tours. Your guide travels with you on board.

Luxor

Corniche Garden Hotel

Confirmed

Check-in

Sat Oct 24

Check-out

Tue Oct 27

Note

Garden hotel on the Nile, a short drive from Luxor Temple and Karnak.

Cairo · Zamalek

Zamalek Garden Hotel

Confirmed

Address

Zamalek, Cairo

Check-in

Tue Oct 27

Check-out

Thu Oct 29

Room

1 Double Room

Contact

Booked through Nile Heritage Tours. Your guide can help with any hotel requests.

Your Tour

Nile Heritage Tours · private guided

Nile Heritage Tours

Licensed Egyptian tour operator

Tour

Private 13-day Cairo, Nile & Luxor tour

Style

Fully private touring — not shared

Contact the tour operator

24-hour line: +20 ••• ••• ••••

Your guide on WhatsApp: +20 ••• ••• ••••

What's included

·

Meet & assist at Cairo International Airport, private A/C vehicle throughout

·

2-way domestic flights (Cairo↔Aswan, Luxor↔Cairo)

·

Private Egyptologist guide throughout — typically a different guide per region (Cairo, Aswan, Luxor)

·

Admission fees to all sites on the itinerary, including Abu Simbel Sun Festival access

·

Meals as noted per day in the Timeline tab

·

5 nights Cairo hotel (B&B), 1 night Aswan-area (extra Cairo night), 3 nights Nile cruise (full board), 3 nights Luxor hotel (B&B)

Not included

·

International airfare, Egypt entry visa, personal expenses, tipping/gratuities

·

All beverages aboard the Nile cruise (including water & soft drinks)

·

Optional tours (e.g. the Luxor hot air balloon ride)

Travel insurance

No policy on file yet — add provider & policy number here once purchased.

Dining

For the evenings without a tour dinner

Cairo Free evenings: Oct 18, 19, 20, 27, 28

Terrace Restaurant Your hotel

On-site at The Giza Terrace Hotel, with pyramid views at sunset. The easy option for your first few evenings (Oct 18–20).

In the hotel, Giza

Abu Sid

Beloved, atmospheric spot for traditional Egyptian home cooking — mezze, molokhia, slow-cooked classics. A Zamalek institution.

Zamalek, Cairo

~45 min from Giza-area hotel

Sequoia

Sprawling Nile-side lounge and restaurant on the tip of Zamalek island — beautiful water views, popular for a relaxed evening out.

Zamalek, Cairo

Reserve ahead — gets busy

Naguib Mahfouz Café

Historic café right inside Khan el-Khalili bazaar — a natural stop the evening you're already there shopping (Oct 27).

Khan el-Khalili, Cairo

Zamalek Garden Hotel restaurants Your hotel

Restaurants and a garden bar right at the hotel. An easy option for your last two evenings (Oct 27–28) in Zamalek.

In the hotel, Zamalek

Luxor Free evenings: Oct 24, 25, 26

Al-Sahaby Lane

Rooftop dining with a striking direct view of Luxor Temple, especially magical after dark. Traditional Egyptian menu.

Near Luxor Temple, Luxor

Sofra

Set in a traditional Egyptian house with warm, layered decor — home-style recipes passed down through generations. Try the koshari and chicken mahshi.

Central Luxor

Sites

What you're seeing, by region

Cairo

Oct 17–21, 27–29

1

Giza Pyramids Complex

The Pyramid of Khufu, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and the largest at Giza, plus the pyramids of Khafre and Menkaure, the Great Sphinx, and the Valley Temple.

Directions

2

Grand Egyptian Museum

The world's largest archaeological museum, beside the Giza Plateau — the complete Tutankhamun collection displayed together for the first time.

Directions

3

Saqqara, Memphis & Dahshur

The Step Pyramid of Djoser (the earliest large cut-stone monument), the alabaster Sphinx of ancient Memphis, and the Bent & Red Pyramids at Dahshur.

Directions

4

National Museum of Egyptian Civilization

Traces Egypt's history from prehistory to today, including the Royal Mummies Collection.

Directions

5

The Hanging Church

One of Egypt's oldest and most significant churches, built over the Roman Babylon Fortress — dates to the 3rd century AD.

Directions

6

Salah El-Din Citadel & Islamic Cairo

Medieval fortress seat of government, plus the Mohamed Ali (Alabaster) Mosque, Sultan Hassan Mosque, and Al-Refaie Mosque.

Directions

7

Khan el-Khalili Bazaar

The largest open-air market in the world — spices, textiles, jewelry, and souvenirs, in the heart of Islamic Cairo.

Directions

Alexandria

Oct 19

1

Catacombs of Kom El-Shoqafa

A major Roman burial site blending Egyptian and Roman art and architecture — one of the Seven Wonders of the Middle Ages.

Directions

2

Pompey's Pillar

A soaring red granite Roman triumphal column, the largest built during the Roman Empire outside of Rome and Constantinople.

Directions

3

Citadel of Qaitbay

A 15th-century fortress on the site of the legendary Pharos Lighthouse, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Directions

4

Bibliotheca Alexandrina

The modern library and cultural center evoking the legendary ancient Library of Alexandria — photo stop on the itinerary.

Directions

Aswan & Abu Simbel

Oct 21–22

1

Abu Simbel Temples

Two temples carved from the mountainside by Ramses II — the biannual Sun Festival on Oct 22 illuminates the inner sanctuary at dawn, timed to his birthday.

Pre-dawn departure ~3–4 AM

Directions

2

High Dam

Built 1960–1970 with UNESCO's help — protects Egypt from flooding and is the country's main source of electricity.

Directions

3

Unfinished Obelisk

The largest obelisk ever attempted, abandoned in the quarry after cracking — still shows ancient stone-cutting techniques.

Directions

4

Philae Temple

Dedicated to Isis, goddess of love and magic — set on its own island, reached by a short motorboat ride.

Directions

Luxor

Oct 23–26

1

Kom Ombo Temple

A rare double temple, dedicated to two gods — Sobek the crocodile god and Horus. Depicts the ancient world's first known calendar and medical instruments.

Directions

2

Edfu Temple

The best-preserved Greco-Roman temple in Egypt, dedicated to Horus, with richly detailed wall inscriptions.

Directions

3

Karnak Temple Complex

The largest temple complex ever built — three temples spread across 247 acres, generations in the making.

Directions

4

Luxor Temple at night

Built largely by Amenhotep III and Ramses II — beautifully lit after dark, once the setting for the ancient Opet festival.