Egyptian Red Sea And Nile Cruise Tour

Overnight Standard Hotel

Africa’s largest capital, Cairo, is known as the city of a thousand minarets. Driving to Giza we see the Pyramids and Sphinx, among the most impressive man-made spectacles in the world. The Great Pyramid of Cheops is the largest of the group (originally 145m high with a square base 232m). Second is the Pyramid of Chephren (136m high, width 210m). The complex includes the Sphinx, a crouching lion with a human head carved from solid rock, and the splendid Granite Temple. We also visit the Egyptian Museum, which contains the treasure of Tutankhamun.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Today is a free day for optional trips to Saqqara the impressive step pyramid/necropolis of Zozer (Djoser) – the earliest of the pyramids of Egypt and the recently opened Red and Bent Pyramids at Dashur. Or an optional trip to Islamic Cairo to visit the illustrious Citadel, one of Saladin’s many strongholds during the Crusades period. There will also be the opportunity to enter one or more of the medieval mosques of Cairo. Alternatively you could use this free time to revisit the vast Egyptian museum. This evening we will have our flight to Luxor and transfer to our Riverboat.

Overnight Basic Cabin Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

This morning you have the chance to enjoy a spectacular balloon flight over the West Bank, for an experience of a lifetime! This morning we have our included visit by ‘calesh’ (horse drawn carriage) to the stupendous Temple of Amun at Karnak, the labour of numerous pharaohs. Begun about 2000 BC, this vast temple was still being added to in Cleopatra’s time (1st century BC).There may also be the option in the afternoon to visit Deir-el- Medina and Medinet Habu - relatively little visited sites and for many a real highlight of the tour.

Overnight Basic Cabin Included meals: Breakfast

Rising very early this morning, we cross the Nile to enjoy an adventurous donkey trek passing through an enchanting landscape of irrigated farmland and mud brick villages en route, pausing to view the famous Colossi of Memnon, the last remains of the once mighty temple of Amenhotep III then on to the extraordinary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, Egypt’s only female Pharaoh, who usurped the throne from her son, the future Tuthmoses III. The scale of the temple and its magnificent setting are breathtaking, but perhaps even more remarkable are the details - look out for the fine carving of the ‘Expedition to the Land of Punt’. We then take a short taxi ride to the Valley of the Kings’ to explore some of the more important sites made famous in 1922 by the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun by Howard Carter. We visit three tombs. On our return to the Nile riverboat we set sail upstream towards Edfu, passing en route the dam at Esna, built in 1906 to regulate the Nile floodwaters.

Overnight Basic Cabin Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

In the morning we visit Edfu, the largest Egyptian temple after Karnak and supposedly marking the position where the god Horus met and vanquished his father Osiris’s murderer Seth. A falcon-headed god guards the Temple of Horus that is in almost perfect condition, in fact the temple is unusual in that its roof has survived intact. We then continue upstream, seeing the intensive cultivation of the Nile Valley and at intermittent points, small villages which depend upon the river for their livelihood. In the afternoon we aim to reach Kom Ombo. The temple of Kom Ombo is unique in that it is dedicated to two gods, Horus and Sobek. Sobek the crocodile god was much needed at this spot as the river here was noted for crocodiles until early this century. After our visit we continue to Aswan.

Overnight Basic Cabin Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we disembark. Aswan is Egypt’s most southerly city, traditionally regarded as the frontier post of Upper Egypt. Sited on the east bank, it stands just below the First Cataract and is the meeting point of Arab culture with Nubia and Black Africa. Today we have the chance to travel by bus or air to the fabulous rock-hewn temple of Abu Simbel, a major highlight of the tour. Cut into the rock face, this enormous structure was raised 61m to save it from inundation by the artificial lake created by the Aswan High Dam. The 20m high statues represent Ramses II, known as the Great Builder. Alternatively wander the streets of this fascinating city, where stalls laden with colourful spices line the streets.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

A popular optional excursion is the camel trek to the deserted Coptic Monastery of St. Simeon. You may wish to take an excursion to Philae Temple, situated on a picturesque island in the Nile, whilst other sightseeing trips can be made to Kitchener’s Island, a botanical wonder, the renowned Nubian Museum and the Unfinished Obelisk.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Heading north we take the train to Luxor, at around lunchtime, the remainder of the day is left free for personal exploration in Luxor, during which you may like to take a calesh tour of local villages, or visit the Explore sponsored Sunshine Orphanage. There is much to discover and your Tour Leader will be on hand to give advice and help make arrangements.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Heading northeast we cross the mountainous region of the Eastern Desert, famed in antiquity for its gold mines and granite quarries, to reach Safaga, our base for exploring the wonders of the Red Sea. Staying at a comfortable hotel, our time has been left free for you to choose a variety of optional excursions or simply unwind under the clear blue skies.

Please note the following itinerary for days 11, 12 and 13 is a suggestion only and is subject to change. It is also worth noting that other optional excursions are available, details of which will be supplied by your Tour Leader.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

The Red Sea is famous for its superb coral reefs and multi-coloured fish. Living in such favourable conditions are schools of beautifully marked and iridescent species, alongside barracudas and small sharks. We will arrange an optional snorkelling trip by boat (6 to 8 hours) over the coral reefs around Safaga. Scuba diving is another possibility. Simply laze on the beach or by the pool casting an occasional eye on the boats plying the Red Sea.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Today we can try our hand at scuba diving (optional). This is a full day for divers of all levels. Those who have never dived before will spend the morning learning the basics in a pool before going for an afternoon dive. There are also refresher courses available for those who have not dived for over a year and there are advanced dives available for anyone holding a PADI or equivalent qualification. Please note that all training, instruction and accompanied dives are operated with fully qualified instructors. Alternatively, you can simply enjoy relaxing on the beaches.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

This morning there is a chance for one last dip in the sea before boarding our bus for the long drive back to Cairo (8-10 hour journey). Leaving Safaga we follow the long, arid coastal road north along the Red Sea and the Gulf of Suez. As we approach the Nile Valley the landscape changes, becoming more fertile and densely populated. Finally we arrive back in Cairo.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

A full day in Cairo to enjoy some of the sites of the capital not visited at the start of the tour. Among the options available is a visit to the wonderful mosques and the Citadel of Islamic Cairo, and a chance to discover the markets of the world famous Khan el Khalili. Alternatively the impressive Step Pyramid complex of Saqqara, is well worth a visit in conjunction with the Red and Bent Pyramids at Dashur.

Included meals: Breakfast

Included meals: Breakfast