Combine a visit to the Cairo Museum and the Pyramids with a 5-star cruise onboard the MS Amarco. In luxor visit Karnak, view everyday life on the banks of the Nile, unchanged since the times of the Pharaohs, visit the perfectly preserved temple at Edfu and the High Dam at Aswan, a great modern engineering marvel, with time to make an optional excursion to Abu Simbel. Return slowly to Luxor to see the magnificent Valley of the Kings, where Tutankhamen's tomb yielded some of the most memorable Egyptian treasures. Visit the famous temple of Hatshepsut, one of the few female rulers of Egypt. In Cairo again there is an option to visit the Coptic Churches, with their close association to early Christianity, the El Rifai Mosque and the oriental Bazaar.

This is a Personal Choice private tour, organised for two people travelling together.

Itinerary

Day 1 – Fly from London to Cairo. You are met by our Agent’s representative inside the airport before the passport control for help with visa and passport formalities and to pick up your luggage. You then transfer to the hotel for your check in. The guide will also confirm the programme and timing for the rest of the tour.

Day 2 – With a local guide, there will be a visit to the Egyptian Museum and the guide will take you through the history of Pharaonic Egypt with the help of the artifacts exhibited, from Narmer to Akhenaton and Ramses. You will also have time to explore the treasures of Tutankhamen. After lunch continue to the most famous sight in Egypt, the Pyramids at the Giza Plateau, dating back to 2500 B.C. One of the seven classic Wonders of the World, they are the oldest and the only remaining. The visit will take you to the highest point of the plateau to have a panoramic view of the area, to one of the three pyramids (Cheops, Kephren or Mycerinos), where those who wish may enter, as well as the valley temple of Kephren and the mysterious Sphinx

Day 3 – Fly in the early morning to Luxor in the south of Egypt. Upon arrival you will visit the amazing Karnak and Luxor temple complexes, the Vatican of the Pharaonic Era. The temple was built over 2000 years ago. Some of the most impressive sites are the monumental gates and the enormous halls with pillars and beautiful wall carvings. We check in at our 5-star deluxe cruiser MS AMARCO and have lunch.  The rest of day free at leisure, but we would recommend a visit to the Luxor Museum.

Day 4 – in the early morning* the cruise starts towards Esna locks and you can enjoy the panoramic view from the sundeck. Not much has changed in the Nile River valley since the time of the pharaohs and the farmers and their families are busy working in the fields. The intensive green color stands in sharp contrast to the surrounding dry brown desert. We have to queue and wait for our turn in the locks of Esna and will pass through the lock during the afternoon and continue to Edfu.

Day 5 – The visit to Edfu temple is a memorable experience. The Horus temple was built approximately 200 BC and is perfectly preserved.  Back on the cruiser we continue to sail southwards toward Kom Ombo where there is only a short walk from the harbour to the beautifully situated double temple dedicated to the gods of Haroreris and Sobek.  The vessel then continues to Aswan.

Day 6 – Today there is an excursion in Aswan. You will go to the High Dam, a wonder of the new world, and learn a little about how it has changed life in the valley. You then continue to the Philae temple situated on a small island between the old Aswan Dam and the High Dam. Here, according to ancient mythology, the goddess Isis ruled after she was left alone when her husband the god Osiris was murdered. The unfinished obelisk in the granite quarry will be our last stop.

Day 7 – Today there is an optional tour to the Abu Simbel temple, famous for its giant statues of Ramses 2nd and  for the huge rescue operation in the 1960s when the temple was saved from the rising waters of the Lake Nasser. This excursion is possible either by aeroplane or by bus. In the afternoon you can enjoy a small sailing tour in a typical Nile boat the felucca and the rest of day free at leisure to explore Aswan

Day 8 – In the early morning you cruise starts towards Kom Ombo and enjoy a relaxing day onboard. The cruiser will make stops at Kom Ombo and Edfu and will continue to sail northwards toward the lock of Esna. We pass through the lock during the late evening and continue to Luxor.

Day 9 – When we reach Luxor we leave for the western bank of the river, to the Valleys of the Dead. Visit the Valley of Kings where among others the tomb of Tut-Anch-Amoun´s was found almost intact in the 1920s. The texts and the pictures of the walls describe the thoughts and imagination of the transformation from life to death. Approximately 10 of the 60 tombs are opened to the public and you will visit two of them. Continue to the Valley Temple of Hatshepsut, the famous female Pharaoh and also see the Colossus of Memnon which once stood outside the temple of Amunhotep III.

Day 10 – Check out from the MS Amarco this morning and return to Cairo. The day iis either at leisure for independent exploration, or there is an opportunity to join the optional excursion to Coptic and Islamic Cairo.  Christianity came to Egypt with Mark in the first century A.D., and the largest Christian communities in Egypt, the Copts, consider their church one of the oldest in the world. You will hear about the holy family’s flight to Egypt, about the first monks and monasteries and about how Pharaonic art and symbols made their way into the new religion. Then visit the churches which provided shelter to the Holy Family after escaping Herodes. We then continue to one of the most magnificent mosques of Cairo, El Rifai, where we learn more about Islam. The mosque is the burial site of King Farouq and the last Shah of Iran. This tour ends in the oriental bazaar district called Khan El Khalili. While walking through this famous bazaar we observe daily life and the typical shops and cafés. Lunch in a restaurant in the middle of the bazaar..

Day 11 – Transfer to the airport for your return flight to London

*Timings subject to slight variation during the season

Price per person	Single Supplement	Deposit per person
From £725	From £360	£200

These prices are based on two people travelling together and sharing a twin room.

Egypt - Cairo and Nile Cruise

Price Includes:  2 nights in a 5-star hotel in Cairo, 7 nights on board the 5-star MS Amarco, buffet breakfast, 8 lunches, 7 dinners, visa, full itinerary of excursions with local guides., full board and a full itinerary of visits accompanied by a local guide.

Travel: Travel to Egypt and internal flights are not included.  We can either book your flights for you or recommend suitable flights. All flights booked by us must be paid for at the time of booking.

Departures: Fly from the UK on a Saturday (subject to availability).

Optional Excursions:
Coptic and Islamic Cairo - £38 per person including lunch
Abu Simbel by Aeroplane £150 per person
Abu Simbel by bus £95 per person

Other Excursions also available including Bahariya Oasis and the Black and White Desert, and Pre- and Pos-tour Cairo. Please call or e-mail for details.

Suggested Egyptair scheduled flight timings.