Dr. Ehab Yousif
Your private Tour Guide, Professor, Egyptologist, Field Archaeologist, and licensed guide. Every excursion and lecture is personally led by Dr. Yousif.
All tours
Egypt's Finest Tour
March 13–25, 2027
March 2027: Sold Out
From $3,549double occupancy
$680 single supplement
This once-a-year tour has a special cash price.
Reserve your spot with a $600 deposit per person.
Maximum tour size: 12 guests
Our March 2027 departure is full. New dates coming soon. Join the interest list to be the first to know.
Picture yourself standing at the foot of the Great Pyramids, chasing the sunrise at Abu Simbel, and venturing deep into the mystical Western Desert of Egypt. This isn't just a vacation; it's an exclusive, private expedition through the world's most legendary ancient wonders!
Your hosts
Exclusive expert leadership.
Deanne Panighetti
Your private American Escort and Certified Travel Advisor. She provides full-time accompaniment for seamless travel logistics.
At a glance
Tour highlights
- Small group travels through the land of gods and pharaohs
- 15+ private guided tours led by Dr. Ehab Yousif, including 3 days among the landmarks of the Cairo region
- Historical lectures and discussions led by Dr. Yousif to deepen your understanding of Egypt's past, present, and future
- American escort Deanne Panighetti manages all group logistics so you can focus entirely on the thrill of discovery
- Serene sailing on "Father River" during your 3-night / 4-day Nile River cruise
- Witness the breathtaking morning sun illuminate the colossal statues of Ramses II at the dawn guided tour of Abu Simbel
- 2-night / 3-day Western Desert adventure to explore vast and otherworldly landscapes with Bedouin guides
- Activities, meals, transportation, accommodations, tips, and service charges are included as listed. No hidden charges.
Included
Private guided tours
Cairo
- Step Pyramid of Djoser
- Great Pyramids & Sphinx
- Grand Egyptian Museum
- Coptic Cairo
- Salah El Din Citadel
- Khan El-Khalili Bazaar
Aswan
- Philae Temple Complex
- Abu Simbel Temples
- Kom Ombo Temple Complex
- Crocodile Museum
Luxor
- Luxor and Karnak Temples
- Valley of the Kings, including 3 tombs
- Hatshepsut Temple
- Temple of Medinet Habu
- Esna Locks
El Heiz Oasis
- Black Desert
- Crystal Mountain
Farafra Oasis
- White Desert
- Ain al Serw
- Djara Cave
- Small Sand Sea
Bahariya Oasis
- Valley of the Golden Mummies
- Golden Mummies Hall
- Tomb of Bannantiu
- Qarat Qasr Salim
Additional learning experiences
Ancient Egyptian craftsmanship is part of the journey, from papyrus making and carpet weaving to alabaster carving, spices, and medicinal oils.
You will shop in Khan El-Khalili, watch boats pass the Esna Locks, join lectures with Dr. Yousif, spend an evening with Bedouin music, and swim in desert oasis springs.
Day by day
Itinerary
Depart your home airport on an overnight flight to Cairo.
International airfare reservations and costs are not included in the trip cost. Deanne will assist guests in arranging airfare if needed.
Airport assistance, visa service, transfer to hotel, leisure time to explore on your own or relax at the hotel. Join us for our Welcome Dinner to get to know your fellow travelers.
Cairo hotel / Dinner
After breakfast we tour the Step Pyramid Complex of Djoser to learn about the birthplace of pyramids. We also visit a carpet weaving school in Saqqara where local families keep the ancient craft alive by teaching traditional hand-knotting techniques to younger generations. The evening is your time to relax at the hotel or explore the local area.
Cairo hotel / Breakfast
After breakfast we gather for our guided tours of the Giza Pyramids, Sphinx, and Grand Egyptian Museum. When the tour is over, you have time to explore the other areas of the museum and lunch at one of the GEM restaurants. A trip to Egypt is not complete without learning about the art of papyrus making, so we visit a papyrus gallery to see a papyrus-making demonstration. Evening on your own to relax or explore the local area.
Cairo hotel / Breakfast
Early departure tomorrow.
We have an early transfer to Cairo airport for a 1.5-hour flight to Aswan. Once in Aswan we take a short boat ride on the Nile to Agilkia Island for our guided tour of the Philae Temple Complex. Egyptians have used oils and spices for medicinal and aromatic purposes since antiquity. To help us understand their properties, we visit an oil palace before boarding our Nile cruise boat. We have time to settle into our cruise cabin and have lunch. Enjoy a quiet sail on the Nile this afternoon on a private felucca ride in Aswan. Spend your evening after dinner relaxing on the sundeck or enjoying the live entertainment in the lounge.
Nile cruise cabin / Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Tomorrow we depart very early to travel to Abu Simbel.
Early morning departure to see the sun rise over Abu Simbel and a guided tour of the two temples. On return to the boat, you have time to relax and enjoy the changing scenery as we sail the Nile. In the late afternoon, we step off the boat at the doorstep of the Kom Ombo Temple Complex for a guided tour of this very unique temple. We also visit the Crocodile Museum. Spend another lovely evening on board enjoying dinner, conversation, or the nightly entertainment.
Cruise cabin / Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Enjoy sleeping a bit later than the previous days. Mid-morning, gather for an Egyptian history lecture on the sundeck while sailing toward the Esna Locks. Marvel at the engineering of the lock elevator as it lifts and lowers boats up to 32 feet to join the two segments of the Nile River. Upon arrival in Luxor, we have guided tours of Karnak and Luxor Temples and a visit to the spice shop to learn the unique nature of Egyptian spices.
Cruise cabin / Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast we disembark the boat and travel to the Valley of the Kings to explore some of Egypt's most famous tombs. We also have guided tours of Hatshepsut Mortuary Temple and the Temple of Medinet Habu. A visit to the alabaster factory will show us how the local alabaster is sculpted and carved into a variety of objects, from the ornate to the practical. We depart Luxor in the early evening for a short flight to Cairo.
Cairo hotel / Breakfast
After an early breakfast, we depart for our Desert Adventure! Our first stop is El Heiz Oasis. Here we have lunch, meet our Bedouin guides, and climb aboard the 4x4s to cross the desert sand. Guided tours of the desert and Crystal Mountain fill our afternoon. Before climbing into tents to enjoy the silence of the desert, delight in a good Egyptian BBQ and Bedouin music.
Bedouin camp / Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After a hearty breakfast, our adventure continues across the "Small Sand Sea" to Djara Cave, Farafra Oasis, and the White Desert. Cool off with a swim at the Ain al Serw and Bir Sita springs. We enjoy our last desert evening at a Bedouin camp, with dinner and music under the stars.
Bedouin camp / Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Before leaving the desert behind, we tour Bahariya Oasis and the Valley of the Golden Mummies, including the Golden Mummies Hall, the Tomb of Bannantiu, and Qarat Qasr Salim. Dusting the sand off our shoes, we arrive in Cairo in the late afternoon.
Cairo hotel / Breakfast, Lunch
After breakfast, spend the day on guided tours through the history of Cairo: tour Salah El Din Citadel; walk the streets of Coptic Cairo to the remnants of the Babylon Fortress and a cave church said to have been home to the Holy Family during their exile in Egypt; and enjoy the sights and sounds of Khan El-Khalili Bazaar as you have lunch at one of the local outdoor cafes and wander the 800-year-old alleys of the famous market. This evening we gather for a Farewell Dinner marking the end of this journey, with our sights set on the next.
Cairo hotel / Breakfast, Dinner
Transfers are arranged to take you to the airport for your flights home.
Breakfast
Itinerary may be altered to accommodate a smoother journey or to meet the needs of the group.
What's included
- Private tours led by Dr. Ehab Yousif
- American escort with you before and throughout the journey
- Meet and greet at Cairo airport prior to passport control
- 15+ private guided tours
- Lectures and discussions led by Dr. Yousif
- Admission to every location on the itinerary
- Ground transportation in air-conditioned coaches
- Economy airfare between Cairo and Aswan, and between Luxor and Cairo
- 6 nights in premium Cairo and Giza hotels, with breakfast
- 3-night / 4-day deluxe Nile River cruise with full board
- 2-night / 3-day Western Desert adventure with full board
- All tips and service charges
- Meals as listed on the itinerary
What's not included
- Round-trip international flights
- Egypt visa ($30, payable in cash)
- Meals not included in the itinerary
- Alcoholic beverages
- Personal expenses
- Entrance inside the Great Pyramid and premium Valley of the Kings tombs (see optional add-ons)
Optional
Add-ons and excursions
Approximate cost.
Giza Pyramids, entrance inside the Great Pyramid
$30
Valley of the Kings extra tombs
Three tombs are included with the ticket. These tombs are extra: Tutankhamen $15, Tomb of Ay $5, Ramses V & VI $5, Seti I $42.
$5–$42
Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Ride
As the sun rises over the ancient city of Luxor, float gently above the Nile River, green fields, and iconic archaeological sites.
$180 + tip per person
Camel Ride & Photo Op at the Great Pyramids
$35 + tip per person
Before you book
Reservation and payment
- $600 deposit per person is required at the time of reservation
- 50% of the balance is due 120 days before departure, and the remainder is due 90 days before departure
- If Osiris Dream Vacations arranges your international flights, that airfare is due when the airline reservation is made
- We strongly recommend travel insurance. This March 2027 departure is full. Join the interest list to hear when new dates are announced.
Our commitment
We host these tours out of a passion to share the historically significant wonders of Egypt with you in a manner that is respectful of you, your interests, and your abilities. This is an active tour, and we make accommodations as best we can, but know that Egypt is old, with uneven and unpaved surfaces that we must traverse. Unlike some tours, we do not receive a percentage of sales at the shops and galleries you visit with us. We select these locations based on the quality of experience they offer you.