16 Day Land Of Pharaohs & Kenya Safari

Welcome to the trip of a lifetime! Board your flight to Egypt and prepare to be spellbound by the ancient wonders of the Pharaohs.

Salaam Aleikum! Welcome to Egypt. You’ll be met at the airport and transferred to your incredible stay at the 5-star Le Meridien Pyramid Resort, overlooking the Great Pyramids of Giza – what a way to start your adventure.

This evening, depending on the time of arrival from your flight, meet your Tour Leader in the hotel lobby at 6pm for an introductory briefing where you'll get the chance to meet your fellow travelers.

Please note: Some flights may depart the day before.

Check in: Passengers will be arriving at various times throughout the day from as early as 6am through to late evening. If arriving prior to the standard check-in time, which is 2pm local time, you are welcome to leave your luggage with hotel reception and explore your surroundings until check-in becomes available, as there are generally no scheduled activities on Day 1 of the itinerary. The hotel may grant early check-in, however this is strictly subject to availability and at the hotel’s discretion.

This morning, meet your guide and head out to see some of the world’s most iconic sights – the Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx. Explore these structures that have stood tall for some 4,500 years and learn about the ancient history of the monuments. The oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the only one to remain largely intact, the pyramids are a sight to behold.

Afterwards,  we visit the the Egyptian Museum in Cairo is one of the world’s most renowned museums, housing the largest collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts. Located in Tahrir Square, the museum was established in 1902 and features over 120,000 items, including the treasures of Tutankhamun, royal mummies, and intricately carved statues. Its vast halls showcase the grandeur and complexity of ancient Egyptian civilization, offering visitors a journey through thousands of years of history, art, and culture.

Special Information

Please note: The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) is scheduled to open on November 5, 2025. Departures after this date are planned to visit the GEM in place of the Egyptian Museum. The opening date is subject to change and is outside of Inspiring Vacations’ control.

Today, enjoy a free day at leisure.

Later this afternoon you'll be transferred to the airport to board your included flight to Luxor.

Special Information

Your internal flight for this day is arranged by our local partner. Specific flight details will be provided by your Tour Leader upon arrival and cannot be provided in advance. Please note that these group flights cannot be upgraded, amended, or checked in online. Your Tour Leader will manage the check-in process for the group.  

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel then we'll explore the magnificent Karnak Temple, which is perhaps the most impressive of all the ancient pharaohs' monumental works. One of the world's most celebrated temple complexes, Karnak was built over some 200 years and was once known as the 'Chosen of Places'. Your guided tour of this vast temple of impressive pylons, obelisks and chapels will reveal its finest sections, such as the Avenue of Sphinxes and the Great Temple of Amun.

Then it’s time to embark on your luxury Nile cruise that will be home for the next 4 nights. You’ll cruise between Luxor and Aswan on this elegant ship, with all the comforts you would expect from a 5-star floating hotel.

Please note that since the sailing distance between Luxor and Aswan is approximately 200kms, that it is typical for all cruises operated along the Nile to be docked for majority of the time to conduct sightseeing, with the sailing to occur of an evening. The vessel will be docked either in Luxor or Aswan. Depending on the time of year and number of vessels operating at the same time, you will also find that all vessels are docked beside one another, which is beyond our control.

To ensure that our customers have appropriate expectations prior to their journey, it is important not to compare this experience to that of a European River Cruise, which tend to cover a greater distance and on larger vessels. Instead, you will experience a Deluxe stay on-board your vessel, offering a great chance to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the banks of the Nile while you sit back and relax. Your cruise schedule will be provided once on-board.

Today we'll discover some of the many wonders of ancient Thebes. Our first stop is the Colossi of Memnon – two 17-metre-high statues on Luxor's west bank. Carved from granite blocks, they represent the Pharaoh Amenhotep III and were once part of an impressive colonnade.

Continue on to the spectacular royal burial site of the Valley of the Kings. Buried under the arid hills here are the tombs of more than 60 pharaohs, many richly decorated with reliefs and paintings. Explore this sprawling and spectacular place with your guide, where the pharaohs of the New Kingdom (16th to 11th century BCE) were secretly interred for all eternity, and where archaeological discoveries are still being made. Your guide will explain the history of and legends surrounding these remarkable people, their funerary rites, and the significance of the many paintings and hieroglyphics, still well-preserved in the deepest tombs.

After paying a visit to three of the most interesting royal tombs we'll continue to the Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, a stunning colonnaded building of sharp lines that contrasts beautifully against the craggy high cliffs behind it, creating a spectacular natural amphitheatre. One of Egypt’s greatest queens, this temple was built to prove her importance among the ancestors.

Enjoy lunch upon your return to the boat. There is time to relax on deck, or in your cabin, before we set sail for Edfu. Generally the journey from Luxor to Edfu takes place between 1pm an 11 pm, though the departure time may vary, depending on river traffic. En route to Edfu we pass through the Esna Lock and head upstream.

Special Information

Please note: Entry to the Tomb of King Tutankhamun is not included in today’s scheduled activities. Tickets cost approximately USD $20 and can be purchased on-site with assistance from your trip leader. Be aware that there may be long queues, so plan accordingly to allow enough time for your visit.

Today we will moor near Edfu – home to ancient settlements and temples, as well as a bustling town centre and a bazaar.

Later we'll return to the boat where we’ll continue travelling upriver, with plenty of free time for relaxing on the sundeck and taking in the surrounding sights – from fishermen casting nets and farmers working their land to the desert hills that frame the lush riverbanks.

This afternoon we'll arrive at Kom Ombo Temple. Set dramatically on the bank of the Nile, 47 kilometres north of Aswan and 168 kilometres south of Luxor, the soaring, chunky columns of the double temple are a magnificent sight to behold as you arrive from the river.

Dedicated to the gods Sobek and Haroeris, the temple's finely carved reliefs give a sense of this area's prominence as capital over the surrounding region during the Ptolemaic era. Today, Kom Ombo may be a sleepy agricultural backwater surrounded by sugar cane fields, but its prime position along the Nile meant it was once one of Upper Egypt's most important centres. Wander through the temple's colonnades, gazing up at scenes of kingly propaganda, and you'll get a sense of this rich history for yourself.

Return to the cruise boat where you’ll continue travelling upriver towards Aswan.

Please note: the only mode of transport available to visit the Temple of Edfu is by locally managed horses and carriages. As a business that seeks to promote responsible travel, animal welfare is extremely important to us at Inspiring Vacations, and unfortunately, some operators of the horse and carriages have been found to be in breach of our animal welfare guidelines. It is for this reason we do not include the visit the Edfu Temple. While we recommend that you do not use the horse and carriage to visit the Temple, the decision is ultimately up to you and your guide can help arrange transport and ensure the best horses are used.

Today you will awake before sunrise for an early morning start. Sit back and relax as you drive to the ancient Abu Simbel temples, near the southern Egyptian border. You will have an early arrival into Abu Simbel to view one of the most incredible sights you will see. The two enormous sandstone structures were built in the 1200s BCE by Ramses II to serve as lasting monuments to himself and his favourite wife Nefertari. The larger temple, dedicated to three major Egyptian deities, features four large statues of Ramses II on its façade, while the smaller temple is dedicated to the goddess of love, Hathor, with statues designed to embody Nefertari.

Set on the banks of the artificial Lake Nasser, the structures were once in danger of being flooded with the construction of the Aswan High Dam but were saved via an extensive project to cut the temples into pieces and move them to higher ground, where they are seen today.

On our return to Aswan the rest of the day is free for you to make your own discoveries.

This afternoon, we'll enjoy a sailboat ride around the Nile River islands in a traditional felucca (a small, traditional Egyptian sailboat).

Today we will leave Aswan and make the short flight back to Cairo. On our return to Cairo enjoy your free time relaxing or doing some last-minute sightseeing.

Special Information

Your internal flight for this day is arranged by our local partner. Specific flight details will be provided by your Tour Leader upon arrival and cannot be provided in advance. Please note that these group flights cannot be upgraded, amended, or checked in online. Your Tour Leader will manage the check-in process for the group.  

You’ll have free time in Cairo today until your flight to Kenya tonight. At the appropriate time, you’ll be transferred to the airport.

Welcome to Kenya! You’ll be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel.

While also a thriving modern capital, Nairobi is known as the safari capital of Africa. Some of the world’s most exciting national parks are right on its doorstep – it’s not uncommon to see animals as you drive along the highway from the airport.

Please note: As your flight to Nairobi is not until 9:30pm, you will have use of your hotel room in Cairo until your airport transfer.

We’ll set off for Lake Elmenteita this morning, in the Great Rift Valley.

This soda lake is a haven for birds and wildlife. It’s known for its flamingoes, as well as over 400 other bird species and it’s the only breeding colony in East Africa for Great White Pelicans. In fact, it’s an important breeding site for many threatened bird species; home to 13 species that are globally threatened. As well as those distinctive, bright Greater and Lesser flamingos, you can also see zebra, gazelle and warthog families on the lake shores.

Together with Lake Nakuru and Lake Bogoria, it makes up a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Kenya Lake System. This is the single most important foraging site for the Lesser flamingo in the world.

Your stay for the next two nights is at Lake Elmenteita Serena Camp – a small, intimate, luxury tented camp in the Soysambu conservancy. It’s the perfect balance of adventure and relaxation, with a rustic charm, on the shores of this dazzling lake in the African wilderness.

After lunch, we’ll embark on an afternoon game drive in the Soysambu conservancy. This private conservancy feels like safari paradise – it’s home to 10,000 mammals; over 50 species including the endangered Rothschild’s Giraffe. Nearly a third of the world’s Lesser Flamingos call this diverse ecological haven home.

We’ll return to the camp for dinner.

We’ll take a picnic lunch and drive to Lake Nakuru Park for game viewing. Surrounded by wooded and bushy grassland, its diverse landscapes make for exciting safari adventures.

Of course, this lake is especially known for its flamingo population. Across the UNESCO-listed Kenya Lake System, up to four million Lesser flamingos travel between the three lakes during the year. Flamingo numbers have reduced here but the park is still one of Kenya’s finest. It’s home to more than 50 mammal species – including the usual suspects like zebra, hyena, hippo and buffalo – and over 500 flora species, as well as around 400 bird species. It’s a sanctuary for one of the world’s largest populations of black rhino.

We’ll return to the camp for dinner.

Today we’ll head to the Masai Mara National Reserve, the traditional land of the Maasai people, who are permitted to graze their cattle in this area. The Masai Mara covers an area that includes the riverine forests along the banks of the Mara and Talek Rivers, acacia forests and the open plains of the savannah.

We’ll have lunch at Sarova Mara Camp before an afternoon game drive on the way to our lodge.

The only safari lodge in the famed Mara Triangle, your stay at Mara Serena Lodge provides the perfect backdrop for your safari adventure. Set high on a hill, you’ll savour sweeping views over the rolling plains of the African savannah and down to the shores of the hippo-filled Mara River. Enjoy staying in comfort as you take in the rich history and culture of this magical area.

Dinner is served on arrival.

You’ll have the whole day for game viewing in the world-renowned Masai Mara National Reserve, with morning and afternoon game drives. This is one of Kenya’s oldest and most loved safari destinations. Here the various habitats are home to a great variety of game including lion, leopard, cheetah, zebra, wildebeest (gnu), giraffe, buffalo, jackal, topi, gazelle, impala and elephant. Hippopotamus and crocodile are also plentiful in the rivers and the bird life is abundant.

All members of the famed Big Five – lion, leopard, elephant, cape buffalo and rhinoceros – can be found in the Masai Mara National Reserve. Like the Serengeti, the wildebeest are dominant, with numbers estimated in the millions. The plains are also home to the distinctive Masai giraffe and it’s a major research centre for the spotted hyena.

The Great Wildebeest Migration here is world famous, with around two million animals – mainly wildebeest, with some zebra and antelopes – arriving here from the Serengeti, from about July through to October.

We’ll continue to explore prime game viewing locations in the famous Masai Mara, with morning and afternoon game drives. Kenya’s dramatic landscapes and boundless plains make for an enthralling setting.

Enjoy one last delicious breakfast this morning, before your Kenyan safari adventure comes to an end.

You’ll be transferred to the airstrip this morning for your flight to Kenya’s capital.

Nairobi is a cosmopolitan, lively and interesting city. Its central business district is nicely compact and it’s a great place to tune into modern urban African life.

Your lunch is included on this day, at the award-winning, internationally renowned Carnivore Restaurant. As the name would suggest, it’s a meat-lover’s dream, with exotic delicacies like ostrich, crocodile and camel on offer, alongside juicy favourites. This open-air dining experience, set in tropical gardens, boasts a delightful atmosphere.

The rest of the afternoon is free for you to explore Nairobi, until you are transferred to the airport for your flight home.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this extraordinary journey.

Check out: Passengers will be departing at various times throughout the day. Standard hotel check-out times will apply no matter what time your flight is scheduled to depart. Check-out time is generally anywhere from 10am-12pm. You are welcome to leave your luggage at hotel reception and spend your final moments of free time exploring the area or, alternatively, please speak with hotel staff if you would like to extend your check-out time. Please note this service is subject to availability and will likely come at an additional cost. Your tour guide (or hotel staff) will confirm the time of your airport transfer with you directly.

Arrive home today after your amazing adventure, we hope you have been Inspired!