12 Day Upper Egypt Tour: Dendera, Abydos, Fayoum & Cairo Temple Circuit

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Tour Details

Duration
12 Days / 11 Nights
Tour Location
Cairo / Faiyum / Dendera / Abydous
Tour Type
Daily Tour
Pickup
Cairo Airport

Upper Egypt Temple Circuit Tour 12 Days Package

Discover Egypt step by step with this 12-day Upper Egypt temple circuit tour that guides you like a clear map from the moment you land in Cairo. Day 1 Tripidays representative welcomes you with a smooth airport arrival and a magical Nile dinner cruise, while Day 2 takes you through the core history of ancient Egypt at the Giza Pyramids, the Great Sphinx, the Valley Temple, and the Grand Egyptian Museum. For travellers who want to explore even more classic itineraries, you may browse our Egypt classic tours for all traditional Egypt vacation routes.

Your journey then moves into the heart of the country with a scenic Fayoum Egypt tour, exploring Wadi El Rayan, Lake Qarun, and the landscapes of Gabal El Medawara. Continuing south, this deep Egypt cultural tour in 12 days reveals lesser-known treasures like Tuna El Gabal, Beni Hassan, Tell El Amarna, and Meir Village before reaching the sacred highlights of Abydos and Dendera experiences.

Why Book This Tour

  • Complete 12-day route linking Cairo, Fayoum, Middle Egypt, Abydos, and Dendera.
  • Access lesser-visited sites like Tuna El Gabal, Tell El Amarna, and Meir Village.
  • Travel with professional Egyptologist guides for clear, in-depth explanations at every site.
  • Enjoy a fully organized trip with private transfers, flights, and smooth coordination.
  • Stay in quality hotels and a Nile cruise for comfort throughout the trip.
  • Benefit from transparent pricing with key inclusions and no unexpected costs.
  • Designed for cultural travelers seeking a deep Egypt experience across lesser-visited regions.

Included

  • Meet and assist service upon arrival at Cairo Airport by Tripidays representatives.
  • 3 nights' accommodation in a Cairo hotel.
  • 2 nights' accommodation in the El Minya hotel.
  • 1 nights' accommodation in the Abydos area.
  • 1 nights' accommodation in Luxor at a hotel.
  • 4 nights onboard a Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan.
  • Domestic flights: Aswan → Cairo and Cairo → Aswan.
  • Private Egyptologist guide throughout all major archaeological sites.
  • All transfers in modern private air-conditioned vehicles.
  • Entrance fees to all attractions listed in the itinerary.
  • One bottle of mineral water during all excursions.
  • Meals included as specified in the itinerary
  • Full assistance from our team throughout your stay in Egypt.
  • All taxes and service charges are included with no hidden fees.

Excluded

  • International flights to Egypt.
  • Personal expenses (souvenirs, extra meals, etc.)
  • Tips for guides and drivers.
  • Travel Insurance.
  • Egypt Entry Visa.

Highlights

Giza Attractions

  • The Great Pyramids of Giza
  • The Great Sphinx of Giza
  • The Valley Temple
  • The Grand Egyptian Museum

Fayoum Attractions

  • Lake Qarun
  • Wadi El Rayan
  • Fayoum Waterfalls
  • Gabal El Medawara

El Minya Attractions

  • Tuna El Gabal
  • El Ashmunein
  • Beni Hassan
  • Tell El Amarna
  • Meir Village
  • Al Muharraq Monastery

Luxor Attractions

  • Dendera Temple
  • Abydos Temple
  • Karnak Temple
  • Luxor Temple
  • Valley of the Kings
  • Hatshepsut Temple
  • Colossi of Memnon

Aswan Attractions

  • Aswan High Dam
  • Philae Temple
  • Unfinished Obelisk
  • Abu Simbel Temples

Itinerary

  • Day 1: Arrive in Cairo & Nile Cruise Dinner

    Upon arrival at Cairo International Airport, your Tripidays representative welcomes you with warm Egyptian hospitality and assists you through all arrival procedures. You are then comfortably transferred to your hotel in Cairo, where you can check in, settle down, and relax after your flight while preparing for the start of your Upper Egypt temple circuit journey.

    meal

    Nile Dinner Cruise

    As the sun sets, you'll sail on a magical Nile dinner cruise. Glide across the river that shaped a civilization, enjoy delicious meals, watch vibrant Egyptian folklore shows, and admire Cairo’s glittering skyline. It’s the perfect beginning to your adventure.


    meal

    Meals

    Dinner

  • Day 2: Pyramids of Giza & Grand Egyptian Museum

    After breakfast, your guide leads you to the Giza Plateau before the crowds arrive. Then step inside the Grand Egyptian Museum to witness treasures no other museum on Earth holds.

    The Great Pyramids  

    Stand before the timeless giants, the Giza Pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure, wonders of the ancient world that watched over Egypt for more than 4,500 years. Learn how these colossal monuments rose stone by stone and how they shaped Egypt's legacy.

    The Valley Temple  

    Step inside Khafre's ancient purification hall, where pharaohs were prepared for eternity. Run your hand along the original granite blocks and imagine the sacred rituals that once filled this space.

    The Sphinx  

    Meet the mysterious guardian of the plateau, the Great Sphinx, whose silent face has looked over ancient Egypt since 2500 BCE.

    Grand Egyptian Museum

    Wander through 100,000 artifacts in a building designed to rival the treasures inside. Stand before Tutankhamun's golden death mask, trace his 5,000-piece burial collection, and see the Great Pyramid's original construction tools displayed for the first time. If you’re comparing options, you can also browse all Egypt tour packages 12 days to explore similar journey styles.


    meal

    Meals

    Breakfast and Lunch

  • Day 3: Fayoum Waterfalls & Lake Qaroun

    After breakfast, you begin your journey south with a scenic drive to Fayoum to explore its lakes, waterfalls, and desert landscapes. If you want to expand this experience further, you can also add Whale Valley to your Egypt journey.

    Lake Qarun

    Upon arrival, we will visit Lake Qarun, Egypt's largest saltwater lake, with a history dating back to ancient times when it was known as "Moeris" during the Pharaonic era. Once a vital resource for agriculture and fishing in the Middle Kingdom, the lake now offers serene boat rides and stunning natural beauty.

    Wadi El Rayan 

    The park you will visit is also a conservation area that protects endangered species, including the slender-horned gazelle and the Dorcas gazelle. Established in 1985, this park has become a haven for these animals, helping to preserve their populations.

    Fayoum Waterfalls

    Witness Egypt’s iconic man-made waterfalls created by merging natural lakes in the 1970s.

    Gabal El Medawara 

    After that, you will see that Gabal El Medawara is a beautiful and protected mountain range in the Fayoum Oasis of Egypt. It is known for its rich history, unique landscapes, and diverse wildlife. The area has been important for centuries, dating back to ancient Egypt when the Fayoum region was a hub of agriculture and trade during the Middle Kingdom (around 2000 BCE).


    meal

    Meals 

    Breakfast and Lunch 

  • Day 4: Tuna El Gabal & Beni Hassan Tombs

    After breakfast, you start the day traveling to El Minya to discover the hidden tombs and archaeological treasures of Middle Egypt.

    Tuna El Gabal

    Today, your journey begins with a visit to Tuna El Gabal, a fascinating ancient site in Egypt that once served as the capital of the 15th Nome of Upper Egypt, known as Hermopolis.

    El Ashmunein

    Walk the ruins of ancient Khemenu, where Thoth's worshippers once offered thousands of ibis mummies. Your guide decodes the hieroglyphs on the Roman temple walls and reveals how this city shaped Egypt's intellectual heritage.

    Beni Hassan

    Your next stop is Beni Hassan, an ancient Egyptian cemetery located on the east bank of the Nile River. Discover cliff-carved tombs decorated with vivid paintings showing sports, daily life, and military scenes from the Middle Kingdom.


    meal

    Meals

    Breakfast and Lunch

  • Day 5: Tell El Amarna & Coptic Monasteries

    After breakfast, you begin the day exploring Akhenaten’s ancient capital and continue to a historic Coptic monastery and traditional Nile village.

    Tell El Amarna

    Your day begins with a guided tour of Tell El-Amarna, an ancient Egyptian site built in 1346 BCE by Pharaoh Akhenaten. This city, Egypt's capital during his reign, symbolized his shift to worshiping Aten, the sun disk, as the main god.

    Al Muharraq Monastery

    In the afternoon, you will visit Al Muharraq Monastery near Luxor, one of the oldest Coptic Orthodox monasteries in Egypt. It was founded in the 4th century AD during the time of Saint Macarius the Great, a key figure in early Christian monasticism.

    Meir Village

    After visiting the monastery, you will make your way to Meir Village, a quaint and charming village located on the west bank of the Nile. This village is known for its traditional handicrafts, such as hand-woven rugs and pottery.


    meal

    Meals 

    Breakfast and Lunch

  • Day 6: Discover Dendera & Abydos Temples

    After breakfast, you start the day visiting two of Egypt’s most sacred temples, Abydos and Dendera, the highlight of your spiritual journey.

    Abydos Temple 

    Your first stop will be at Abydos Temple, one of the oldest and most important temples in Egypt, dedicated to the god Osiris, the ruler of the afterlife in ancient Egyptian mythology, built by Seti I and completed by Ramses II. Its carvings are among the finest in all of Egypt.

    Dendera Temple

    Marvel at the beautifully preserved Temple of Hathor, where vibrant astronomical ceilings still glow with ancient colors.


    meal

    Meals

    Breakfast and Lunch

  • Day 7: Luxor East Bank & Nile Cruise

    After breakfast, you begin the day exploring Karnak and Luxor Temples before boarding your Nile cruise in Luxor.

    Karnak Temple 

    Your first stop today will be at Karnak Temple, the largest religious complex ever built in ancient Egypt. It was dedicated to the god Amun, his wife Mut, and their son Khonsu.

    Luxor Temple

    After lunch, you will visit the Temple of Luxor, an incredible temple built to honor the god Amun-Ra. The construction began around 1400 BCE during the reign of Pharaoh Amenhotep III and was later expanded by Pharaoh Ramses II in the 13th century BCE.


    meal

    Meals 

    Breakfast, lunch, and Dinner 

  • Day 8: Valley of the Kings & Hatshepsut's Temple

    After breakfast, you start the day exploring the royal tombs of the Valley of the Kings and the grand Temple of Hatshepsut.

    Valley of the Kings

    Today, you will visit the famous Valley of the Kings, located on the west bank of Luxor in Egypt. This ancient burial site was used from around 1550 BCE to 1070 BCE during the New Kingdom period.

    Hatshepsut's Temple

    The next stop is Hatshepsut's Temple, built in honor of Queen Hatshepsut, one of ancient Egypt’s most remarkable female pharaohs. Located in Deir el-Bahari, near Luxor, this magnificent temple was constructed during her reign in the 15th century BCE (circa 1479–1458 BCE)

    Colossi of Memnon

    Finally, you will visit the Colossi of Memnon, two giant statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III, who ruled Egypt during the 18th Dynasty (around 1390–1352 BCE)


    meal

    Meals

    Breakfast, lunch, and Dinner 

  • Day 9: Edfu & Kom Ombo Temples

    After breakfast, you begin the day sailing along the Nile to visit the beautifully preserved temples of Edfu and Kom Ombo.

    temple of edfu

    Edfu Temple

    Edfu Temple, located on the west bank of the Nile River, is one of the best-preserved temples from ancient Egypt. It was built between 237 BC and 57 BC during the Ptolemaic period and is dedicated to Horus, the falcon god.

    temple kom ombo

    Kom Ombo Temple

    In the afternoon, visit Kom Ombo Temple, built during the Ptolemaic period (around 180–47 BC). This unique temple is dedicated to two gods: Horus, the falcon god, and Sobek, the crocodile god.


    meal

    Meals

    Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

  • Day 10: Abu Simbel Temples

    After breakfast, you start the day with an early journey to Abu Simbel to witness Ramses II’s monumental rock-cut temples.

    Abu Simbel Temples

    Stand dwarfed by four 65-foot seated statues of Ramses II guarding his Great Temple. Your guide reveals the astronomical precision: twice yearly, sunlight penetrates 180 feet to illuminate the inner sanctuary statues on Ramses' birthday and coronation day. In the smaller temple, admire how Queen Nefertari was honored as Hathor herself, a rare elevation of a royal wife to divine status.


    meal

    Meals

    Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

  • Day 11: Aswan Monuments & Return to Cairo

    After breakfast, you begin the day exploring Aswan’s major landmarks before flying back to Cairo in the evening.

    Aswan High Dam

    Your first stop in Aswan will be the famous Aswan High Dam, an incredible engineering project completed in 1970. Built with support from the Soviet Union, this dam was designed to control the annual flooding of the Nile River, which had shaped Egypt’s agriculture for thousands of years. For travelers seeking a different route, you can also extend into oasis territory with alternative desert-focused itineraries.

    Unfinished Obelisk

    Next, you will visit the Unfinished Obelisk, an incredible ancient monument located in Aswan, Egypt. This obelisk was ordered during the reign of Queen Hatshepsut around 1500 BC, but was never completed because a crack appeared in the granite during its construction.

    Philae Temple

    Your journey concludes with a visit to the magnificent Philae Temple, an awe-inspiring site dedicated to the goddess Isis. Originally located elsewhere, the temple was meticulously relocated to Agilkia Island during the construction of the Aswan High Dam.


    meal

    Meals

    Breakfast and Lunch

  • Day 12: Departure from Cairo

    After breakfast, you start your final day with hotel checkout and airport transfer for departure.

    Departure

    Your amazing 12 Days Cairo, Dendera, Abydos & Fayoum  Tour is coming to an end. We will make your airport transfer to Cairo International Airport stress-free. 

Frequently Asked Questions

This 12-day upper Egypt temple circuit tour is designed as a chronological journey through Egypt’s civilisation, combining iconic landmarks with rare archaeological sites like Tuna El Gabal, Beni Hassan, Abydos, and Dendera. Unlike standard routes, it focuses on deep Egypt cultural exploration rather than only Cairo and Luxor highlights. temple circuit tour is designed as a chronological journey through Egypt’s civilisation, combining iconic landmarks with rare archaeological sites like Tuna El Gabal, Beni Hassan, Abydos, and Dendera. Unlike standard routes, it focuses on deep Egypt cultural exploration rather than only Cairo and Luxor highlights.

This upper Egypt temple circuit tour is 12 days, includes airport meet and assist, private Egyptologist guide, all transfers in air-conditioned vehicles, domestic flights where required, and accommodation in carefully selected hotels. It also covers entrance fees to all listed archaeological sites, such as the Giza Pyramids, Fayoum attractions, Abydos, and Dendera.

The Fayoum section of this Fayoum Egypt tour offers a natural contrast with waterfalls, lakes, and desert scenery, making it a refreshing break from temple visits. It enhances the journey with unique landscapes not found in typical Egypt tours.

Middle Egypt includes hidden gems like Tuna El Gabal, Beni Hassan, Tell El Amarna, and El Ashmunein. These sites reveal daily life, art, and religion, making this section a key highlight of any Egyptology tour focused on authentic cultural depth.

Yes, the tour follows a chronological path from Old Kingdom sites in Giza to Middle Kingdom tombs and New Kingdom temples in Luxor and Abydos. This makes it a structured Upper Egypt tour package that tells Egypt’s history step by step.

What to Pack

Hat Backpack Comfy Shoes
Powerbank Medical Kit Comfy Clothes
Sunglasses & Sunscreen Personal Hygiene Products Valid Passport For 6 Months

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Email

info@tripidaysegytours.com

Phone

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+1 (310) 817-0099

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