This very special tour of ancient Egypt starts with a stay in Cairo, in the shadow of the pyramids, takes to the river for Nile-side temples and tombs of the pharaohs in Luxor, and cruises Lake Nasser to barely known and rarely visited treasures
Itinerary
Day 1
Fly from London Heathrow to Cairo and transfer to the premium Crown Plaza Hotel for a three-night stay.
Key: B - Breakfast L - Lunch D - Dinner
- Itinerary -
Key: B - Breakfast L - Lunch D - Dinner
Day 1
Fly from London Heathrow to Cairo and transfer to the premium Crown Plaza Hotel for a three-night stay.
Day 2
A full day of touring begins at Giza to view the Great Pyramid of Cheops, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, rising from the desert sands surprisingly close to the modern city, and the famously enigmatic Sphinx, stretching 73m long and 20m high. Lunch is included, and we continue to the ruins of Egypt’s first capital, Memphis, and its oldest pyramid at Saqqara.
(B, L)
Day 3
On a second full day in Cairo, visit the Egyptian Museum (or new Grand Egyptian Museum, subject to opening date) to view the wealth of artefacts from statuary to jewellery and the treasures of Tutankhamun’s tomb; enjoy one of our unique experience’s by taking lunch aboard a traditional felucca on the Nile; and explore the walled old citadel, ‘Coptic Cairo’, where landmarks include the Hanging Church, and the Museum of Christian antiquities.
(B, L)
Day 4
Fly to Aswan and transfer to the mooring to embark on the luxurious Steigenberger Omar El-Khayam, the vessel for your four-night foray of Lake Nasser. Enjoy a Nubian show on board, and overnight in Aswan.
(B, L, D)
Day 5
Visit the first of five temple sites which were all moved in the 1960s to save them from being submerged in the imminent flood of the reservoir. A secret treasure on the waters’ edge, the sanctuary, columns and hypostyle hall of Kalabsha Temple were built in 30BC, and carved with Egyptian and Roman motifs and Christian imagery. Return to Aswan and continue to Wadi El-Sebua for overnight mooring, and join your fellow travellers at the captain’s cocktail party this evening.
(B, L, D)
Day 6
Discover the desolate Nubian temple of Wadi El-Sebua (‘Valley of Lions’), where a line of sphinxes leads to the central courtyard, with statues and carvings of Ramesses and Osiris. Sail to the Temple of Amada, the oldest ever found in Nubia. Originally dedicated to the god Amun, greatly altered in following eras, all but forgotten for centuries, and small enough to be lifted in one piece, it is nevertheless a little gem, with fine reliefs in still-vibrant colours. Enjoy the ship’s Galabeya party tonight. Overnight in Amada.
(B, L, D)
Day 7
View the private Kasr Ibrim island from the water as you sail to Abu Simbel. Explore the temple created by Ramesses II in the 13th century BCE, the heroic proportions of the two temples were matched by the massive task of moving them up onto the plateau, 65m higher and 210m northwest of their original site. Enjoy an unmissable event of the Sound & Light show at the temple. Overnight at Abu Simbel.
(B, L, D)
Day 8
Travel by road (4hrs approx.) to Aswan to embark on the Mövenpick MS Hamees for your 3-night cruise down the Nile. In the afternoon, visit the High Dam and take a boat trip to the Temple of Philae, now set on Agilika Island, its watery grave avoided. Overnight mooring in Aswan.
(B, L, D)
Day 9
Cruise to Kom Ombo to visit the riverside ‘twin’ temples, dedicated to two gods, the falcon-headed Horus and crocodile-headed Sobek; and continue downstream to the Temple of Edfu, dating back to the 2nd century BCE, its huge edifice among the best-preserved and most atmospheric of Egypt’s ancient monuments. The ship navigates the Esna lock enroute to its final two-night mooring in Luxor. Enjoy another Galabeya party on the Hamees.
(B, L, D)
Day 10
An optional, early morning ride in a hot-air balloon gives you a bird’s eye view of ‘modern’ Luxor, wrapped around its ancient tombs and temples (pre-bookable). Later, tour the west-bank Theban necropolis, the Valley of the Kings, where iconic landmarks include the monumental Colossi of Memnon, the tiered tomb of Queen Hatshepsut, and over sixty tombs of nobles and pharaohs (we may visit those of Tutankhamun or Seti I (subject to viewing restrictions, at extra charge). After lunch aboard, explore the Nile’s east bank temples; visit the Temple of Karnak with its Great Hypostyle Hall, courts, colonnades, and obelisks. Explore the connecting Avenue of Sphinxes from Luxor Temple; laid out parallel to the riverbank, it has been in almost continuous use as a place of worship right up to present day.
(B, L, D)
Day 11
Disembark the Mövenpick MS Hamees and transfer to Luxor airport for the return flight to London.
(B)
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Notes:
Temple, tomb and pyramid visits are on foot with steps and uneven surfaces.
The programme may be altered due to navigational factors with locks, water levels or congestion at certain sites.