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Jewel of the Nile
5 Star 10 day Egypt tour
Putting on the ritz. Cruising the River Nile in style & the best of Egypt.
Day 1: Cairo
Friday - Cairo. Welcome to Egypt and the start of a wonderful holiday! Arrive Cairo airport, meet and greet service and included transfer to 5 hotel, located at the foot of the Great Pyramids of Giza.
Overnight - Cairo.
Day 2: Cairo & The Egyptian Museum
Cairo - breakfast. We start with the dazzling antiquities at the Egyptian Museum. Amongst the many exhibits are the treasures of King Tutankhamen. This afternoon offers free time to relax and enjoy the hotel facilities or join us for an optional city tour visiting old Cairo and the Islamic citadel.
Overnight - Cairo.
Day 3: Pyramids of Giza & Saqqara
Cairo - breakfast. Today we visit Egypt's most loved sight - The Great Pyramids of Giza. We explore the Gize plateau, pyramids and massive lion-headed Sphinx. Later, we tour Saqqara - an ancient necropolis with many half-buried tombs and the famous Zhoser’s step pyramid. Overnight sleeper cabin train south to Luxor.
Light dinner and overnight - sleeper train.
Day 4: Valley of the Kings
Luxor - breakfast onboard train. Arriving into Luxor we have a full day of sightseeing ahead of us, dictated by the early departure of all Nile cruisers tomorrow morning. The massive pair of statues known as the Colossi of Memnon are the first monuments you’ll see during our morning visit to the West Bank, home to the legendary Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens. You’ll also see the colonnaded Temple of Queen Hatshepsut. Return to Luxor for check-in aboard our Nile 5 cruiser. Lunch and time to freshen up. Afternoon visit to the magnificent Temple of Karnak. More than a temple, it’s a gigantic and stunning complex of sanctuaries and pylons dedicated to the Theban gods. Later, we visit to the Temple of Luxor built by Pharaoh Amenophis III. Luxor Temple looks stunning at dusk and is beautifully illuminated at night.
Lunch, dinner and overnight - Nile cruiser.
Day 5: Nile cruising
Luxor - Nile cruising - breakfast. As the sun rises it's anchor’s away! Our cruiser will depart Luxor in the early hours of the morning to wait in queue for the opening of the Esna lock. For us, we enjoy a well deserved day of complete R&R. Pull up a deck chair and relax as we sail upstream toward Temple of Horus at Edfu. depending on our cruise schedule we may tour Edfu Temple this afternoon or early tomorrow morning.
Lunch, dinner and overnight - Nile cruiser.
Day 6: Nile cruising & Kom Ombo Temple
Nile cruising - breakfast. A relaxing day as we sail the Nile. Later today, we visit the waterside Temple of Kom Ombo. Arrive Aswan late evening.
Lunch, dinner and overnight - Nile cruiser.
Day 7: Aswan, Philae Temple & the mighty High Dam
Nile cruiser - Aswan - breakfast. Today, we visit the Philae Temple. Later after lunch, a visit to the High Dam and take a felucca boat journey to Elephantine and Kitchener Island. As the sun sets, free time to shop in the colourful souqs and markets or simply relax and watch an amazing sunset in Egypt's southern most town straddling the River Nile.
Lunch, dinner and overnight - Nile cruiser.
Day 8: Optional Abu Simbel or free day to explor Aswan
Aswan - Cairo - breakfast. Consider our optional early morning air excursion to the Temple of Ramses II at Abu Simbel, alternatively enjoy a leisurely morning. Late this afternoon, we board the overnight sleeper train for our journey back to Cairo. Enjoy a light dinner in the comfort of your sleeper cabin.
Dinner and overnight sleeper train.
If joining our departure on Friday 16th October 2009, check out our Abu Simbel Sun festival or box text at the bottom of this page. Sightseeing arrangments for this tour will be re-arranged to include the Abu Simbel Sun festival and all sights as mentioned in our tour itinerary.
Day 9: Cairo at leisure
Cairo - breakfast onboard train. Arriving into Cairo and hotel check in. Today remains free for you to further explore this exciting city or maybe head to Khan el Khalili market for a little last minute souvenir shopping.
Overnight Cairo.
Day 10: Cairo
Sunday - Cairo - breakfast Tour ends after breakfast. Included onward transfer to airport.
Cairo Accommodation
During summer our first Cairo hotel stay will be in the down town area. Our second stay, (after returning from Aswan) will be located by the foot of the Pyramids. In winter first stay will be by the Pyramids and second stay in the downtown area.
Sailing Schedules
Dependent upon sailing schedules, our cruise may start from either Aswan or Luxor. Additionally, Esna Lock is closed twice-yearly usually in June and early December (not during Xmas or New Year) for maintenance. Cruises will then commence or end at Esna and transfers for sightseeing will depart from this point. Content of tour will remain the same.
Jewel of the Nile - Friday 16th October 2009
Join us to watch the Sun Festival of King Ramses II at Abu Simbel on 21st October 2009. Ramses II had his grand temple carefully angled and oriented in order that the sun’s rays would align twice a year on the date of his ascension to the throne (21 February) and on his birthday (21 October) and illuminate the inner sanctum of the temple.
This incredible natural phenomenon provides for a most spectacular sight as the sun illuminates the 3 statues of the living world, whilst the statute of Ptah - the god of darkness - remains in the shadows. The temple was re-located in a multi-million dollar operation in 1972, further up from the shoreline of Lake Nasser. In the temples new position the sun now strikes a day later than Ramses had originally planned.
We offer you an opportunity to witness the phenomenon on our Abu Simbel 'Sun festival bolt-on'.
Includes:
- Economy class flight to Abu Simbel early morning on 22nd October 2009
- Guided visit to Abu Simbel, the sunrise event, all entrance fees and transfers
- Return flight to Aswan after the event and commencement of our sightseeing program.
An exciting event, perfectly co-ordinating with our Friday 16th October 2009 departure, just £119
Tour includes
- Breakfast daily, 4 lunches, 6 dinners (2 light dinners aboard sleeper train)
- 3 nights - 5 star hotels
- 4 nights aboard luxury Nile 5 star cruiser - twin/double cabin with ensuite bathroom
- 2 overnight trains - Cairo - Luxor & Aswan - Cairo with breakfast (1st Class sleeper cabin accommodation)
- Airport 'Meet & Greet' arrival and departure transfer on day 1 and day 10 or when booking pre/post accommodation
- Touring of Cairo, Saqqara, Luxor, Edfu, Aswan
- Felucca sailing afternoon, boat journey to Philae Temple
- Escorted by Egyptian Tour Guide degree qualified in Egyptology
- All relevant transfers and transportation
- Tip kitty for drivers, bellmen, guards at local sights, hotel and cruise reception and housekeeping
Not included
- International flights, visa and entrance fees (budget approx USD70 - 100)
- Tip for your Tour Guide - this is an entirely personal gesture.
- Laundry, drinks, items of a personal nature
