Egypt, Cairo

In the footsteps of Cleopatra and the Red Sea

Arrival in Cairo

Cairo is one of the world’s largest metropolises, stretching along both banks of the Nile.

Meet and greet on arrival with assistance through entry formalities. Transfer to the hotel.

Check-in and overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Departure to visit the Giza Plateau and its incredible pyramids:
Khufu (the largest of the three, built around 2650 BC), one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and the only one to have withstood the passage of time. For more than 40 centuries it was the tallest monument ever built by humankind, with a height of 146 metres.

Khafre The pyramid of Khafre appears higher than that of Khufu, but in reality it is slightly lower. Its steeper angle of inclination and its position on slightly higher ground create this impression. Menkaure The tomb of King Menkaure, it is much smaller than the other two pyramids, with a height of 66 metres.

The Sphinx, a lion with a Pharaoh’s head, whose role was to guard the entrance to the tomb against looters. It is 73 metres long and 20 metres high.

Lunch during the tour.

The afternoon will be devoted to visiting the sites of Memphis and Saqqara. Memphis, to the south of Cairo, is now nothing more than a palm grove scattered with a few blocks, stelae and statues, including an enigmatic alabaster sphinx. The capital of the Ancient Egyptian Empire, it was founded by King Menes around 3000 BC.

Continue to the site of Saqqara and its famous step pyramid, built around 2700 BC for Pharaoh Djoser by the architect Imhotep.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Early morning departure to explore Alexandria, founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BC and named after him. A former capital of the country in antiquity, it was Egypt’s first port and the leading cultural centre of the Mediterranean basin.

Visit to the catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, regarded as the largest Roman burial site known to date.

Lunch during the excursion.

Return to Cairo at the end of the day.

Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Breakfast.

Transfer to the airport and flight to Luxor in Upper Egypt.

On arrival, transfer to the embarkation port and settle into the boat cabins.

Lunch on board.

Visit to Luxor Temple, built to glorify the god Amun-Ra, who celebrated each year with his wife Mut the anniversary of their marriage. The procession left Karnak Temple and followed the banks of the Nile to reach Luxor Temple. The construction of the latter dates back to the reigns of the two pharaohs Amenhotep III and Ramesses II.

Dinner and overnight on board.

Breakfast on board.

Departure for a visit to the left bank of the Nile, Thebes, with its eternal tombs of the pharaohs from the 18th to the 20th dynasty.

The Valley of the Kings, where you will visit three tombs. From the 18th dynasty onwards, and throughout the New Kingdom, the pharaohs were no longer buried in temples or monuments dedicated to their final journey. It was on the other side of the Nile, on the west bank, the land of the Afterlife, that Thutmose I and all the pharaohs who followed decided to be laid to rest.

Visit to the Temple of Hatshepsut, famous for its terraces built into the cliffs of Deir el-Bahari and constructed during the reign of the female pharaoh of the same name.

Visit to the Temple of Medinet Habu, or Temple of Ramses III. This temple is a true fortress, and undoubtedly one of the most spectacular mortuary temples. A trip to Egypt would not be complete without a visit to the gigantic and monumental site of Ramses. Ramses III sought to restore Egypt’s former greatness and, at the same time, to immortalise the name of their illustrious ancestor.

Photo stop at the Colossi of Memnon: two giant twin statues carved from sandstone.

Sailing towards Esna.

Dinner and overnight stay on board.

Breakfast.

Sailing to Edfu.

Lunch on board.

Departure for a visit to the splendid Temple of Horus in Edfu. This masterpiece of balance and architectural elegance is one of the best-preserved sites in all ancient Egypt, and a beautiful example of Ptolemaic art from the Greco-Roman period. You enter the temple through the great pylon, decorated with huge reliefs showing the king and the gods, leading into the courtyard whose walls depict the various rites performed by the king.

The cruise continues towards Kom Ombo. Morning visit of the Temple of Kom Ombo. Standing alone on a promontory on the banks of the Nile, this unique temple in Egypt, dating from the Greco-Roman era, brings together two magnificent sanctuaries: one dedicated to Sobek, the Crocodile God, and the other to Horus, the Falcon God.

Dinner and overnight on board.

Breakfast on board. Sail to Aswan, the capital of Nubia.

Visit of the Temple of Philae. After the construction of the Aswan High Dam by President Nasser in the 1960s, the island of Philae, upstream from the first cataract of the Nile, was completely submerged. Thanks to UNESCO, work was undertaken to dismantle the monuments of Philae stone by stone and reassemble them on the neighbouring island, 400 metres downstream. Entirely dedicated to Isis, this temple from the Ptolemaic period (Ptolemaic dynasty, Greco-Roman era) has preserved its naos, the stone tabernacle that housed the statue of the deity.

Then enjoy a mini-cruise to the botanical garden. This is the only way to reach the left bank and the islands of Kitchener or Elephantine, true gems of the river. Let the breeze carry you as you glide over the calm blue waters of the timeless Nile. Stop at Kitchener Island and visit its botanical garden.

Visit a Papyrus Institute.

Lunch, dinner and overnight stay on board.

Breakfast on board.

Morning at leisure.

Lunch on board.

Dinner and overnight on board.

Breakfast.

Day at leisure on the boat.

Lunch on board.

Sail to Esna. Dinner and overnight on board.

Early in the morning, passage through the lock.

Breakfast on board.

A visit to Karnak Temple, the most important religious complex ever built in Egypt. For over 2,000 years, worshippers honoured the same deity here: Amun. One great ruler after another left their mark on this vast sanctuary, creating a monumental legacy unlike any other.

Lunch on board.

Return to the boat.

Time at leisure.

Dinner and overnight stay on board.

Breakfast on board.

Departure by coach to Hurghada.

Transfer and check-in at the hotel on the shores of the Red Sea.

Lunch

Stay on an all-inclusive basis.

Not included in the all-inclusive package: imported drinks, all wines (local and international), espresso coffee, fresh fruit juices, cocktails.

Overnight at the hotel.

Days at leisure

Breakfast.

Coach transfer to Cairo.

Lunch en route.

Stroll through the Khan el Khalili souks. This colourful bazaar, built in the 14th century, showcases traditional copperware, wooden objects inlaid with mother-of-pearl, embroidered garments decorated with beads and gold and silver thread, and a wide range of handmade oriental crafts.

Arrival and check-in at the hotel.

Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Visit to the Grand Egyptian Museum, which houses the largest collection of Pharaonic artefacts in the world. A true architectural masterpiece, it offers a spectacular presentation of the history of ancient Egypt, from the time of the pharaohs to the present day.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Depending on the flight schedule, transfer to the airport.

Have a safe journey home and see you soon for new adventures.

A local English-speaking Egyptologist guide will accompany you throughout your stay.

Tips: ‘bakchich’! A word you’ll soon become familiar with! Whilst it’s easy to refuse those who ask for tips, it is part of local custom and serves as a reward for a job well done and good service. Tips for guides are never included; they are left to each individual’s discretion.

A pay-as-you-go internet connection available throughout the boat may be offered to you. However, we cannot guarantee the quality of the connection that will be available during your stay.

The luggage allowance for the domestic flight is 23kg in the hold per person, plus one small cabin bag weighing up to 7kg. Any additional weight will be charged at the airport.

Accommodation meets local standards.

Security checks at airports in Egypt can be extensive and unpredictable depending on the number of tourists, which is why the tour leader advises arriving well in advance.

Due to potentially heavy traffic in Cairo, journey times may be long.

During excursions, you will be grouped with other participants.
This package includes periods of free time during which you can explore at your leisure. However, you will be responsible for the cost of any transfers.

Optional excursions are subject to an additional charge, payable on site to your guide or local representative.

The pace of the visits may be quite intense (see the full list of included visits in the day-by-day itinerary), which means you will need to get up very early in the morning (excluding the times when the boat is sailing)

Egypt is a cultural destination

PLEASE NOTE:
For those booking the ‘hotel only’ package (without an international flight), please provide us with your flight details as soon as possible via the contact form in the ‘Help and Contact’ section at the bottom of the page, so that we can organise your transfers.