10 Christmas Days in Cairo, Luxor, and Aswan with Nile cruise

The Giza Pyramids, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, should be your first destination for the Hurghada day tour. Check out the Great Pyramid of King Cheops, which is one of the seven monuments of the ancient world and was so accurately built.

Photograph the entire complex from a wide angle, including all three pyramids. Then, take pictures of yourself standing in front of the timeless Sphinx, a limestone statue.

The next place you are going to visit is the Egyptian Museum, with a major collection of over 120 thousand items detailing the rich history of Egypt. King Tutankhamun's treasures, which were primarily meant for the golden mask and royal items, are among the well-known sights.

You can also decide to go to the Mummy Room, which accommodates the preserved bodies of Egyptian kings and queens. Spend your last breakfast in Cairo, and with some shopping time in the local market, have lunch in one of the local restaurants before taking your overnight train to Luxor.

You go on a guided tour of a section of Cairo known as the Old City. The first is the Citadel of Saladin. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site founded in AD 1183 to save the Crusaders. This Hurghada Christmas vacation includes the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, popularly known as the Alabaster Mosque, for its grand domes and beautiful views from above the city.

Then, visit Old Cairo, which includes the Hanging Church, one of Egypt's oldest Coptic Christian churches dating back to the third century, as well as other related sites such as the much-discussed Ben Ezra synagogue.

Also, visit the Church of St. Barbara and the Church of Abu Serga, said to be built over the very spot where the Holy Family took rest during their journey to Egypt. After spending one day wandering the alleys of Khan el Khalili Bazaar, which offers an incredible variety of worldly goods, board the train to Luxor and prepare for your Nile Cruise adventure.

Welcome to Luxor and transfer to your Nile cruise. This marks the beginning of your legendary journey along the river. After a delicious lunch onboard, prepare to head to the east bank. Head to the Karnak Temple, a massive complex that was virtually the main place of worship for all the Theban gods, more especially Amun-Ra.

Afterward, proceed to the Luxor Temple, a true architectural wonder of the New Kingdom. Mostly built by Amenhotep III and Ramses II, it was renowned for the entrance with statues of Ramses and the beautifully illuminated Avenue of Sphinxes. Board the cruise to enjoy the dinner and overnight stay.

After breakfast, explore Luxor's West Bank, featuring the Valley of the Kings, the burial site of New Kingdom pharaohs such as Tutankhamun. Enjoy the delicately carved and vividly painted depictions of the passage to the afterlife.

Continue on to visit the Colossi of Memnon—two massive statues of Amenhotep III that guarded a grand mortuary temple. Then again, go to visit the Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut - a unique structure blending into cthe liffs of Deir el-Bahri. Its terraces and colonnades are a testament to her reign as one of Egypt’s few female pharaohs.

Return for lunch on the cruise as it sails to Esna and enjoy an evening at ease onboard, with dinner served and served as you sail in Edfu.

Witness the Temple of Horus in Edfu, one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt, at the very beginning of your day. This temple of the Ptolemies has elaborate reliefs on its walls showing the mythical battle between Horus and Seth.

Sail on to Kom Ombo, reaching there by afternoon to visit the unique twin temple complex that is dedicated to Sobek, the crocodile god, and Horus, the falcon-headed god. Visit the chambers and see the crocodile mummies in the nearby museum. Dinner is served onboard while you continue sailing to Aswan.

Start your day in Aswan by visiting the Temple of Philae, which honors Isis, the goddess of magic and love. Its mystique further lies in the serene settings of the temple on an island surrounded by water.

Next, the engineering wonder of the Aswan High Dam that changed the course of the Nile and the resulting Lake Nasser. Proceed to the granite quarries and the Unfinished Obelisk, showcasing ancient stonework. Then, your day with a felucca around Elephantine Island. At the end of the day, return to the cruise for dinner and overnight.

You will drive to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Abu Simbel early in the morning. These temples, the Great Temple to Ramses and the smaller temple to his wife, Queen Nefertari, were carved into the living cliffs by Ramses II and are the very epitome of ancient engineering.

See the beautiful alignment that lets sunlight into the inner sanctum twice a year, as well as the elaborate carvings. After this unforgettable experience, drive back to Aswan to board the sleeping train back to Cairo.

After returning to Cairo, you can choose to take a tour of Alexandria. Visit the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, the Roman Amphitheater, and the Alexandria Library. Take a walk along the Corniche and enjoy fresh seafood overlooking the Mediterranean.

Finish your Hurghada vacation package trip by making your way to Cairo International Airport to depart.