Egypt & the Nile

Day 1 - Cairo

Welcome to Egypt! Upon arrival in Cairo you will be transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax.

Overnight: Cairo

Day 2 - Pyramids of Giza

Bright and early this morning set off on a guided tour to see Ancient Egypt's most famous site: the iconic Pyramids of Giza and Sphinx. Sole survivors from the ancient Greek-listed Seven Wonders of the World, the pyramids are the planet’s oldest tourist attraction! Known as Cheops, Chephren and Mycerinus, the pyramids were already more than 2,000 years old. Next we explore the sand-strewn tombs and temples of the ancient necropolis of Saqqara, home to the Zhoser’s step pyramid. A visit to a government supervised Papyrus Museum will also be made at some point during today.

Overnight: Cairo

Meals: Breakfast

Day 3 - The Grand Egyptian Museum

Cairo - Aswan. This morning we join our guided tour of the incredible new Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza. This vast 490,000 sq.m complex showcases an astonishing collection of artefacts from nearly every period of ancient Egyptian history. Among the highlights are treasures of King Tutankhamun, with plans for his famous solid gold funerary mask to eventually be showcased here, alongside many items being exhibited for the first time.
Later, we make our way to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, which remains home to a vast collection of statues, jewellery, and sarcophagi. Here, we’ll see the well-preserved mummies of Yuya and Thuyu, high-ranking nobles and the great-grandparents of King Tutankhamun. Some mummies are so well preserved they still have thick locks of hair and visible fingernails. Then there's time to relax back at the hotel before boarding the night train to Aswan this evening. You can opt to fly the distance to Aswan by choosing our 'Fly Cairo to Aswan' Add-on.

Overnight: Sleeper Train

Meals: Breakfast

Day 4 - Aswan & Philae Temple

Mid-morning we arrive into Aswan and enjoy a short boat trip to Agilika Island for Philae Temple - dedicated to the goddess Isis. Returning to Aswan we visit a perfume oil emporium, then check-in on board your Nile Cruiser which will be home for the next three nights. Later, there is free time to perhaps enjoy some shopping in the colourful souks and markets or simply relax in this attractive town which straddles the River Nile.

Overnight: Aswan - Nile Cruiser

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5 - Nile Cruise & Kom Ombo

Aswan - Nile Cruise - Kom Ombo. Early birds can go on an optional excursion to the majestic Temple of Abu Simbel. The gargantuan rock-cut temple at Abu Simbel was created to revere the mighty pharaonic ruler King Ramses II. Guarding the entrance to the temple, the four colossal statues of Ramses II sit majestically, staring out across the desert. This afternoon our cruiser plies its way along the Nile toward Kom Ombo where we disembark to visit the temple which is dedicated to the crocodile headed god - Sobek before returning to our floating hotel for the night,

Overnight: Nile Cruiser

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6 - Nile Cruising

Nile Cruise - Luxor. Relax on the top deck or enjoy a swim in the pool this morning. Let your troubles melt away as we cruise the River Nile to Luxor. Home of the legendary Valley of the Kings and Temple of Karnak, 4000 year-old Luxor is ancient Egypt at its best. Arriving into Luxor this afternoon the rest of the day is free to explore the city before we spend our final night aboard the cruiser.

Overnight: Luxor - Nile Cruiser

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7 - Luxor - Ancient Egypt at it's best

Luxor. This morning we disembark and check into our 5 star Luxor hotel. The day is free to relax and explore. Luxor is home to the legendary Valley of the Kings and Temple of Karnak, 4000-year-old Luxor is ancient Egypt at its best. Tonight, an optional visit to the Temple of Luxor is available.

Overnight: Luxor

Meals: Breakfast

Day 8 - Valley of the Kings

Luxor. This morning we explore the West Bank of the Nile and the legendary Valley of the Kings. Marvel at Colossi of Memnon, the massive stone remains of the temple of Amenophis III, and explore the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut and surrounding tombs.After lunch we visit the Temple of Karnak, a spectacular religious complex dedicated to the gods, and built on a gigantic scale. Here you can get lost wandering around the stone papyrus columns. The rest of the evening is at leisure.

Overnight: Luxor

Meals: Breakfast

Day 9 - Red Sea Riviera

Luxor - Hurghada. Departing Luxor we drive east to Hurghada, which is part of the beautiful Red Sea Riviera for 3 days on the beach!

Overnight: Hurghada

Meals: Breakfast

Days 10-11 - Sun, Sea & Sand

The next 2 days are free to explore Hurghada or simply relax. Today there's an optional day trip to Giftun Island for swimming and snorkelling, which can be booked locally. Hurghada is one of the Red Sea's most popular resorts and it is easy to see why. Hotels and expanded infrastructure provide holidaymakers with excellent aquatic facilities for sail boarding, yachting, deep-sea fishing, SCUBA diving and snorkeling. Hurghada’s central location provides a gateway to prime offshore reefs, which are some of the finest in the world. Hurghada also has plenty of restaurants and late night bars for evening entertainment. Just outside Hurghada is an ancient Roman quarry called Mons Porphyritis and Port Safarga – a famously windy place which is ideal for windsurfing.

Overnight: Hurghada

Meals: Breakfast x2

Day 12 - Cairo - your way

Hurghada - Cairo. This morning we drive to Cairo. The remainder of today is free for you to relax or explore Egypt’s capital at leisure. You can opt to join us on a visit to Khan el Khalili bazaar, the ideal place for some last minute souvenir shopping.

Overnight: Cairo

Meals: Breakfast

Day 13 - Cairo

Cairo. After breakfast, hotel check-out and onward transfer to the airport.

Meals: Breakfast