Pyramids & Nile Cruise

Your itinerary

Day 1: UK/Cairo

Meet your travelling companions in the executive lounge, prior to your scheduled flight to Cairo for a two night stay. This evening there will be a welcome drink at the hotel.

Day 2: Pyramids & the Sphinx

Today’s included tour takes us to the great Pyramids of Giza on the western bank of the Nile. They are the most famous, intensely measured, studied and debated monuments in the world and an imperishable landmark to the geometrical accuracy and technical skill that went into their making. Close by lies the magnificent Sphinx, a huge statue of a recumbent lion with a human Pharaonic head. This afternoon we visit the world-famous Egyptian Museum in central Cairo, which includes the treasures from the tombs of Tutankhamun and other Pharaohs.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 3: Cairo & Luxor

Early morning transfer to Cairo airport for your flight to Luxor, where you will board your river cruiser for four nights. Luxor is a huge open-air museum set on both sides of the Nile. Here you will find an awe-inspiring collection of ancient monuments. You will visit the Temple of Karnak and the Luxor Temple. Dedicated to the creator god Amun, Luxor was originally linked to Karnak, the oldest, largest and most imposing Pharaonic temple complex famous for its pillared halls, one of which has 134 gigantic columns. Highlights include the Avenue of Sphinxes, the monumental Great Hypostyle Hall and Queen Hatsheput’s pink granite obelisk. According to legend, a wish made beside the sacred lake is certain to come true.

Meals: Breakfast / lunch / dinner

Day 4: Valley of the Kings

Today you will visit the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, dedicated to the coweared goddess Hathor and the highlight of today, the fabulous Valley of the Kings. So far, 64 Pharaohs’ tombs have been excavated, including Tutankhamun’s burial chamber discovered by Howard Carter in 1922. Vivid carvings and paintings depict the religious rituals and earthly goods needed by deceased Pharaohs in the afterlife. We cruise on to Edfu this afternoon.

Meals: Breakfast / lunch / dinner

Day 5: Edfu

We travel to see the 2,000 year old Ptolemaic Temple today with its incredibly well preserved frescoes, dedicated to the God Horus. It is perhaps the best preserved temple in Egypt. Work on the temple began in the year 237 BC and there is a spectacular view across the site from the top of the 118ft high, intricately carved pylon. We cruise to Kom Ombo over lunch. This afternoon we visit the Temple of Kom Ombo, dedicated to Sobek the Crocodile God and Horus the Hawk God. The amazing Hieroglyphics and carvings show that the Egyptians knew much about medicine, used a 30 day/12 month calendar and produced perfumes.

Meals: Breakfast / lunch / dinner

Day 6: Aswan

This morning we sail to Aswan. Later this afternoon, we enjoy a felucca ride around Elephantine Island and see the Philae Temple, dedicated to the goddess Isis, before an evening on board.

Meals: Breakfast / lunch / dinner

Day 7: Cairo

Disembark after breakfast.

This morning we offer an optional trip by air to Abu Simbel, one of the most spectacular manmade features on earth. This magnificent temple boasts four seated figures of the Pharaoh Ramses II carved out of the rock and standing 60ft high. To avoid being flooded when Lake Nasser was formed by the opening of the Aswan High Dam the temples were moved to higher ground by UNESCO between 1968 and 1972 in an incredible feat of engineering.

Included today is a visit to the Aswan Dam, constructed when Egypt was still a British Protectorate. The 364 foot high walls hold back the 300 mile long body of water that is Lake Nasser, the world’s largest reservoir. We also visit the Unfinished Obelisk and the Temple of Philae. Transfer to the airport for your flight to Cairo, where we stay overnight.

Day 8: Cairo/UK

Transfer to the airport for the return flight to the UK.

Meals: Breakfast