Coptic Cairo:

National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC)

Discover 5,000 years of Egyptian heritage at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization. Overlooking Ain El-Sira Lake, this world-class museum presents the story of Egypt through an engaging journey from prehistoric times to the present day.

Explore remarkable collections of traditional clothing, craftsmanship, art, religious objects, and everyday life from every major period of Egyptian history.

The museum’s highlight is the world-famous Royal Mummies Gallery, where 22 of ancient Egypt’s most legendary kings and queens are displayed in a carefully designed setting that honors their history and legacy.

With its modern galleries and wide-ranging collection, the NMEC offers visitors a deeper understanding of Egyptian civilization beyond its ancient monuments.

The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM)

Located on the Giza Plateau, just two kilometers from the Pyramids, the Grand Egyptian Museum is the world’s largest archaeological complex dedicated to a single civilization. Covering more than 500,000 square meters, it houses over 100,000 ancient artifacts, including the complete 5,000-piece Tutankhamun collection.

Visitors begin their journey in a spectacular atrium featuring the 3,200-year-old colossus of Ramses II. A grand staircase lined with royal statues leads toward panoramic views of the nearby Pyramids.

Climate-controlled galleries, interactive displays, dining, and modern visitor amenities combine ancient Egyptian heritage with a comfortable contemporary museum experience. Its location makes it an ideal addition to a Pyramids and Sphinx day tour.

Coptic Cairo & Ancient Churches

Situated in Old Cairo around the ancient Roman Fortress of Babylon, Coptic Cairo is the heart of Egypt’s Christian heritage. This compact, pedestrian-friendly district brings together some of Cairo’s most important historic places of worship.

• The Hanging Church: Built above a Roman gatehouse and renowned for its historic icons and 11th-century marble pulpit.
• Church of St. Sergius and Bacchus: Built above the underground crypt where the Holy Family is traditionally believed to have sheltered.
• Church of St. Barbara: A peaceful historic church known for its fine woodwork, religious artwork, and tranquil atmosphere.
• Ben Ezra Synagogue and the Coptic Museum: Revealing the connections between Ancient Egyptian, Roman, Christian, and Jewish history in Cairo.

Together, these landmarks offer a fascinating journey through centuries of faith, architecture, and cultural history in the heart of Old Cairo.

Memnon Colossi

The massive stone statues (60 ft high) flank the entrance of the funeral temple of the rich pharaoh Amonhotel III; who ruled Egypt in 1350 BC. The temple was the largest on the west bank but unfortunately has been damaged by an earthquake and only the 2 statues still rising majestically.

Located on the west side of Luxor.

A short stop on your way to the valley of the kings.

Valley of the Kings

The Valley of the Kings is one of Egypt’s most extraordinary archaeological sites. Hidden among the desert hills, its royal tombs preserve colorful wall paintings, sacred texts, and remarkable scenes created more than 3,000 years ago.

This secluded valley became the principal burial place for the pharaohs and powerful nobles of Egypt’s New Kingdom. Its remote location was deliberately chosen to protect the royal mummies and their treasures for the afterlife.

The valley contains the tombs of celebrated rulers including Tutankhamun, Ramesses the Great, and Seti I. Each accessible tomb offers a fascinating glimpse into ancient Egyptian beliefs about death, rebirth, and the journey to the afterlife.

• Location: West Bank of Luxor.
• Opening hours: Daily from 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Travel time: Approximately 30–45 minutes by car from central Luxor.

Luxor Temple

Built around 1400 BC, Luxor Temple is one of Egypt’s most iconic ancient monuments. Unlike many Egyptian temples dedicated to a particular deity, it was closely associated with kingship, royal ceremonies, and the renewal of pharaonic power.

Several rulers contributed to the temple’s development, including Amenhotep III, Tutankhamun, Ramesses II, and Alexander the Great. Its impressive features include colossal statues, monumental gateways, elegant courtyards, and towering columns.

Luxor Temple is especially atmospheric after sunset, when its illuminated statues and columns create a completely different experience from a daytime visit.

• Location: Luxor city center on the East Bank.
• Opening hours: Daily from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
• Travel time: Approximately 10–15 minutes by car from most central Luxor hotels.

Felucca Ride on the Nile

Enjoy relaxing and watching the birds while floating on a sail-boat with a view of Luxor from The Nile. The boat will take you to the Banana Island on the other side of The Nile while you can explore the little island with all the banana and citrus trees grown by the farmers, plus visiting the crocodile pools and other animals they have.

Hatshepsut Temple (also known as Deir El Bahary temple)

The beauty immense temple of Hatshepsut that’s sunk in the heart of the limestone cliffs; partly carved into the mountains, was built around 1478 BC. A master piece of architecture, that was commissioned by the strong lady who ruled Egypt as a king for 22 years.

• Location: Located on the west side of Luxor.
• Opening hours: Opens daily: 6 a.m – 5 p.m.
• Travel time: It takes about 30-45 minutes to get there by car. Only a few minutes ride from the valley of the kings.

The High Dam

The rock-fill dam is Egypt’s most important and impressive achievements in modern history. That engineering miracle took about 10 years to be built; work started in 1960 and was inaugurated in January 1971. The dam’s construction required about 44 million cubic meters of building materials, and a workforce of about 34000 people with an investment of 1$bn.

From the top of the dam you can gaze across Lake Nasser which was created by the dam and considered to be one of the biggest man-made lakes in the world; it extends all the way into the Sudan with a total length of about 340 miles (550 km). It serves the irrigation needs of both Egypt and the Sudan, controls flooding, generates power and helps navigation on the river Nile all year round.

Philae Temple: (Isis Temple)

No doubt that Philae temple has one of the most attractive locations among all monuments in Egypt, since it’s built on one of the islands in the reservoir of the Old Aswan Dam, therefore the only way to get there is by a little motor boat. Approaching the island, the scenery is beyond words with the temple presiding over the new island Agilika as it had to be moved due to the rising water of the dam.

Philae temple was built and dedicated to the goddess Isis in 690 BC, and it was the last place where the ancient Egyptian religion was practiced up until 550 A.D. A sound & light show adds more charm to the island at night.

Located on Agilika island close to the old Aswan Dam and only reachable by motor boats.

Opens daily 7 a.m – 4 p.m.

It takes about 25 minutes to get there by car and another 15 minutes for the boat ride.

Karnak Temple Complex

Covering approximately 200 acres, the Karnak Temple Complex is one of the largest and most impressive religious sites ever constructed. Its temples and monuments were developed over nearly 2,000 years by generations of Egyptian rulers.

This remarkable open-air museum contains monumental gateways, sacred temples, towering obelisks, ceremonial shrines, colossal statues, and the famous Great Hypostyle Hall with its immense decorated columns.

• Location: East Bank of Luxor.
• Opening hours: Daily from 6:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Travel time: Approximately 15–25 minutes by car from central Luxor.

Karnak offers an unforgettable journey through the architecture, beliefs, and royal history of ancient Egypt.

Giza Pyramids & The Sphinx

The last remaining wonder of the ancient world which are about 4000 years old; today they stand to prove the might, organization and achievements of the Ancient Egyptians, leaving people speechless with so many unanswered questions.

The Pyramids are part of the Giza necropolis which dates back to the 4th dynasty in the Old Kingdom period of the Egyptian history. The biggest pyramid belongs to king Khufu which took about 20 years to be built, while the other two belong to Khafre and Menkaure (well known by other Greek names).

The Sphinx is a limestone structure; a mythical creature represented in the lion’s body and human’s head. It’s also one of the world’s largest monuments measuring 240 feet (73 meters) long and 66 feet (20 meters) high. It was built by King Khafre around 2600 BC.

Located about 8 miles (13 km) southwest of the city center of Cairo.

Opens daily 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

It takes about an hour or less to get there by taxi from the city center depending on traffic.