Meals

All breakfasts, four lunches and four dinners included. In the itinerary, we state which meals are included on which day. For meals not included, we suggest you allow approximately US$15 for lunch and US$20 for dinner (this differs according to the type of restaurant you are looking for). Food in Egypt involves kebabs, chicken, stews, pita bread, falafel, beans, vegetables, pickles and salads. Dishes tend to be simple and wholesome, and vegetarians can be catered for, though the options may be somewhat limited.

Transport

Road transport is by private air-conditioned mini/midi-bus (could be coaster or bus according to group size) and Egypt’s roads are generally good. Travelling is normally restricted to a few hours a day and the mode of transport is varied. As detailed above, during our trip we use a cruise ship and felucca.

Guide

There will be a local leader in Egypt who is a qualified Egyptologist and drivers and local guides where needed.

Accommodation

We stay in four-star hotels (local rating) and spend four nights navigating the Nile on a cruise boat. Below are the places we typically stay during our time in Egypt. Cairo: Steigenberger Pyramids Hotel (nights 1-2) With views over the Pyramids of Giza from the outdoor swimming pool, this elegant property is the ideal place to begin your Egyptian adventure. The pool also has a swim-up bar. Rooms are spacious, a perfect spot to rest after your day’s adventure. Why not ask your sales representative about upgrading to a Pyramids view room? Nile: M/S Nile Style cruise boat (nights 3-6) Climb aboard this stylish cruise boat for an unforgettable journey on the longest river in the world. It has 77 air-conditioned cabins, each with a view over the waters while sailing, allowing you to relax in peace and watch the world drift past. Much of your free time may well be spent on the spacious sundeck, which has a dipping pool and plenty of cushy loungers (shaded and unshaded). Elsewhere, there’s a gym, sophisticated lounge bar and elegant restaurant. Aswan: Basma Hotel (nights 7-8) On the highest hill in Aswan, directly opposite the Nubian Museum, the Basma occupies a privileged spot. Rooms come in a mixture of styles, many with views over the city or the Nile, and you can spend your free time cooling off in the expansive pool. The property is also home to The Lotus restaurant, which serves an eclectic mix of international and local cuisines, plus the Vienna Cafe, where you can enjoy light bites, hot drinks and a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Worth knowing In common with all Nile cruises, the M/S Nile Style moors next to other boats at night, meaning you may only have a view of the river from your cabin while sailing. The accommodation shown has been booked and agreed in advance, however we may need to make changes to a property of similar or higher standard after you have booked. We will endeavour to inform you of any changes in advance which could, on rare occasions, be at late notice.

Not included:

Optional

Other activities and services not included

Insurance

Travel Insurance is not included

Others

— Travel Insurance — Single accommodation (available on request) — Visas or vaccinations

Flights

International flights not included.

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 1: Start Cairo
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Start Cairo

Welcome to Cairo, the capital of Egypt, where the ancient and modern worlds connect seamlessly. Cairo flights can arrive late, and the visa process can take some time. Therefore, we recommend flying into Cairo a day earlier and adding an extra night at your start hotel. There are some excellent sightseeing options available in Cairo if you wish to see more. Speak to your sales representative to book. Accommodation: Steigenberger Pyramids Hotel (or similar)
Day 2 Day 2: Visit The Pyramids At Giza, The Egyptian Museum, El Azhar Mosque And Cairo’S Lively Bazaar (Breakfast)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Visit The Pyramids At Giza, The Egyptian Museum, El Azhar Mosque And Cairo’S Lively Bazaar (Breakfast)

We begin our day with a welcome briefing with your leader (usually at 7:00 or 7:30 am) and a chance to meet the other members of your group. Please have your breakfast before the briefing and be sure that you bring your insurance details as the leader needs to gather this information. First on our sightseeing is a visit to Giza, home to the Great Pyramids of Cheops, Chephren and Mycerinus and the mysterious Great Sphinx. Only the throng of sightseers milling around their huge foundations keep you in the 21st century. We next pay a visit to the incredible Egyptian Museum of Antiquities, which contains relics dating back to 4,000 BCE, including the fantastic riches of Tutankhamun’s tomb. Here is a unique opportunity to survey the many fabulous treasures of Egypt in one place and to set the scene for the rest of the adventure. For the remainder of our tour we experience modern Cairo with visits to Al Azhar mosque (the oldest mosque and university in Cairo and still very much in use) (could be closed without prior notice according to authorities) and the small alleyways and streets that make up the bazaar. Please note that we will need to cover up at the mosque (long sleeves and trousers, long skirt for women) and women will also need to cover their hair with a scarf. Accommodation: Steigenberger Pyramids Hotel (or similar)
Day 3 Day 3: Fly To Luxor; Visit Karnak And Luxor Temples. Board Cruise Boat; Free Afternoon To Explore (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Fly To Luxor; Visit Karnak And Luxor Temples. Board Cruise Boat; Free Afternoon To Explore (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

We typically transfer to Cairo airport before sunrise for our flight to Luxor (flight times can vary but we need to be at the airport three hours before the flight so expect a wake up around 2am). A breakfast box will be provided. On arrival, we visit Luxor Temple and the huge Karnak Temple complex on the east bank of the Nile. Built more than 1,500 years, Karnak is a mixture of pylons, courtyards, halls and sanctuaries. The Hypostyle Hall has 134 columns, some of which are more than 75ft (23m) high. We arrive at our cruise boat in time for lunch on board before free time in the afternoon to relax or explore Luxor. Accommodation: M/S Nile Style (or similar)
Day 4 Day 4-5: Valley Of The Kings; Two Days On The Nile With Visits To Edfu And Kom Ombo En Route (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4-5: Valley Of The Kings; Two Days On The Nile With Visits To Edfu And Kom Ombo En Route (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

This morning, we leave our boat very early morning (this timing is to ensure we are back at the boat for the commencement of the cruise time) for a 30-40 minute bus ride to the the Valley of the Kings on the west bank of the Nile. The valley contains the once-hidden tombs of more than 62 pharaohs, including Tutankhamun, Seti I, Ramses III and IV. A discreet entrance in the hillside takes visitors underground; a series of corridors and antechambers leads us down to the burial chamber and sarcophagus. The walls are covered in brightly painted images and hieroglyphs – a map of the afterlife to ensure the king’s safe passage. One ticket allows us to see three tombs. The ticket usually allows entry into what are regarded as the most impressive tombs, but, if you have time, a visit to the tomb of Ramses VI (extra ticket), entry to Tutankhamun’s tomb (extra ticket), payable locally are recommended. Visits to tombs are now strictly controlled to halt further deterioration of wall paintings – each tomb is periodically closed for a number of weeks. On crowded days, make sure to have a quick visit to each of the included tombs if you want to add extra tombs as your leader will give a fixed meeting time in order to return to the cruise boat before it sails. On return to our cruise boat we begin our voyage along the Nile, travelling upstream from Luxor to Aswan. Exact sailing and excursion times cannot be guaranteed for each individual trip but we will visit the temples of Edfu, famed for its roofed inner temples and huge Pylon, in the morning of Day 5. In the late afternoon on Day 5, we visit Kom Ombo temple, before setting sail for Aswan where we will overnight. The sunsets over the Nile are truly stunning and travelling from Luxor to Aswan, enjoying the beauty of the verdant landscape, makes this journey special. Accommodation: M/S Nile Style (or similar)
Day 5 Day 6: Continue Nile Cruise; Optional Visit To Abu Simbel (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Continue Nile Cruise; Optional Visit To Abu Simbel (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

Today there’s the option of a visit to Abu Simbel 186mi (300km) to the south through the Nubian Desert. The optional bus tour starts at 3.30am/4am in the morning when we get picked up from the boat. A breakfast box is provided. We arrive at the destination around 8am, where we are given approximately two hours in the area to visit the temples. Built by Ramses II, the two temples are certainly some of the most spectacular in Egypt. Originally on the banks of the Nile, the temples were raised to a new site above the lake in the late 1960s, as the waters from the new Lake Nasser rose behind the Aswan High Dam. The four great seated statues of Ramses II stare east towards the rising sun. We will be back in Aswan around 1.30pm before lunch. Accommodation: M/S Nile Style (or similar)
Day 6 Day 7: Disembark Cruise; Tour Of Bazaar Or Optional Excursion To Philae Temple, Aswan High Dam And Cleopatra’S Unfinished Obelisk (Breakfast)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Disembark Cruise; Tour Of Bazaar Or Optional Excursion To Philae Temple, Aswan High Dam And Cleopatra’S Unfinished Obelisk (Breakfast)

After breakfast on board, we disembark and have a full day in Aswan. This is a laid-back town that reflects the character of its largely Nubian inhabitants, known for being friendly and hospitable. By virtue of its position on the old caravan route, it has always been a trading centre and we thoroughly recommend visiting the packed bazaar today, where merchants display spices, carpets, leather goods and countless other wares. There is also the option to visit the Nubian Museum, situated opposite our usual hotel in Aswan (please ask your tour director if you are interested and when it can be arranged). Opened in April 1998, the museum chronologically charts the history and culture of the Nubian people. Alternatively, we can arrange an optional visit to Philae Temple. In the 1970s it was relocated by Unesco to Aglika Island after it became evident that the original site of Philae would submerge on completion of the Aswan High Dam. It represents a magnificent and enduring testament to both ancient and modern engineering. During this excursion we will also visit Aswan High Dam and Cleopatra’s Unfinished Obelisk. Accommodation: Basma Hotel (or similar)
Day 7 Day 8: Optional Visit To Nubian Museum; Afternoon Felucca Ride (Breakfast)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: Optional Visit To Nubian Museum; Afternoon Felucca Ride (Breakfast)

Today is our last in Aswan. Our morning is free to relax or book an optional excursion to St Simone Monastery or a nearby Nubian museum. In the afternoon, we explore the Nile by felucca, the traditional Egyptian sailing boat. Using the felucca, we can truly savour the tranquillity of the Nile and the beauty of the surrounding landscape, where the vast desert almost reaches the water’s edge. (The timings of the felucca sailing might be changed according to weather conditions). Accommodation: Basma Hotel (or similar)
Day 8 Day 9: End Aswan (Breakfast)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 9: End Aswan (Breakfast)

You’ve marvelled at the Great Pyramids, gazed at King Tut’s treasures and journeyed down the Nile. Now, however, it’s time to start your return journey home. Of course, if you’re not quite ready for the adventure to end, talk to your sales representative about extending your stay – Egypt has a lifetime of wonders to discover.

9 days tour

Ancient Egypt & Nile Cruise

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Ancient Egypt & Nile Cruise

Day 1: Start Cairo

Day 2: Visit The Pyramids At Giza, The Egyptian Museum, El Azhar Mosque And Cairo’S Lively Bazaar (Breakfast)

Day 3: Fly To Luxor; Visit Karnak And Luxor Temples. Board Cruise Boat; Free Afternoon To Explore (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

Day 4-5: Valley Of The Kings; Two Days On The Nile With Visits To Edfu And Kom Ombo En Route (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

Day 6: Continue Nile Cruise; Optional Visit To Abu Simbel (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

Day 7: Disembark Cruise; Tour Of Bazaar Or Optional Excursion To Philae Temple, Aswan High Dam And Cleopatra’S Unfinished Obelisk (Breakfast)

Day 8: Optional Visit To Nubian Museum; Afternoon Felucca Ride (Breakfast)

Day 9: End Aswan (Breakfast)

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