Day 1 - Depart

Overnight flight to Cairo.

Day 2 - Arrive Cairo

Welcome to Egypt, a country rich in wonders and mysteries - many are revealed on this tour. You are met at Cairo airport and transferred to your tour hotel. Relax and settle in. Hotel: Marriott.

Day 3 - Cairo

Have your cameras at the ready as you embark on a fascinating sightseeing tour of Cairo. Drive to Memphis, the famous capital of the Old Kingdom, see the colossal statue of Rameses II and the great Alabaster Sphinx. Continue on to Sakkara to view the Step Pyramid of Zoser I, which dates from 2686BC and is the oldest in the world. Marvel at one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient world when you visit the Great Pyramids at Giza, and their guardian, the Sphinx. (BB)

Day 4 - Cairo, Overnight Train

Visit the incredible Egyptian Museum and its exhibits from all periods of Egyptian history. Don’t miss King Tutankhamun’s mask and his other priceless treasures, which were recovered from the Pharaoh’s tomb in the Valley of the Kings. Visit the citadel of Salah El Din to enjoy breathtaking views over the whole city before visiting the alabaster Mosque of Mohamed Ali, with its highly ornate interior. Spend a leisurely afternoon in Cairo before boarding your overnight sleeper train to exotic Aswan. (BB,D)

Day 5 - Aswan Sightseeing

Begin a sightseeing tour of the city of Aswan with a visit to the modern Aswan High Dam. Continue by motorboat to the beautifully preserved temples of Philae, which rise from the waters of the River Nile. See the unfinished obelisk in the granite quarries before continuing to your hotel. As the evening descends, enjoy afternoon tea on the terraces so loved by Agatha Christie. Hotel: New Cataract. (BB)

Day 6 - Cruising Aswan

Take an optional excursion to the magnificent Temples of Rameses II at Abu Simbel, cut from their hillside origin in the 1960s and repositioned in their new home above the waterline of the newly created Lake Nasser . Later, board your luxury Nile cruiser. (BB,L,D)

DAY 7 - Cruising Edfu

Enjoy a relaxing ride around the Aswan Botanical Gardens on a traditional Nile felucca before setting sail for Kom Ombo. Here, visit the Temple of Sobek, the crocodile-headed god appropriately situated on the banks of the Nile. Sit back and enjoy the ever changing scenery as you cruise towards Edfu. (BB,L,D)

Day 8 - Cruising Luxor

Visit the the beautifully preserved Temple of Horus, the Falcon God. After exploring this fascinating site, continue your cruise through Esna Lock to Luxor where you visit Luxor Temple. Spend this evening enjoying a fun-filled Egyptian dinner and Galabea party. (BB,L,HD)

Day 9 - Luxor, Cairo

Cross to the West Bank of the Nile to see the huge Colossi of Memnon, the only remains of the Funerary Temple of Amenphis III. Visit the wonderful Temple of Hatshepsut which blends dramatically into the cliff face above. Continue to the Valley of the Kings and explore the final resting place of many of Egypt’s important ancient rulers. After visiting several of the Pharoahs’ extraordinary tombs, return to Luxor and the enormous Temple complex of Karnak. Among its many splendours is the Hypostle Hall, the largest of any temple in the world, with its roof blocks supported by colossal columns 70 feet high. Transfer to the airport for your flight back to Cairo. Hotel: Marriott. (BB)

Day 10 - Return Home

The tour comes to an end after breakfast when you will be transferred to the airport for your onward flights. (BB)

• Departure Dates & Prices

Tour inclusion

• Guided City Tours In depth sightseeing tour, in Cairo. Orientation tours in Luxor and Aswan.

Excursions & Sights

• See the Rameses II statue & Alabaster Sphinx in Memphis
• See the Step Pyramid of Zozer in Sakkara, oldest in the world
• See the Great Pyramids of Giza & the Sphinx
• See Tutankhamun’s treasure in the Egyptian Museum
• Views over Cairo from the Citadel & visit to Mohamed Ali’s alabaster Mosque
• Visit the Aswan High Dam & see the unfinished obelisk in the granite quarries
• Sail on a traditional ‘felucca’ around Aswan’s Botanic Gardens
• Visit the Temples of Horus at Edfu & Sobek at Kom Ombo
• Tour the Temple of Sobek at Kom Ombo
• Tour the magnificent temple complexes of Luxor & Karnak
• See the Colossi of Memnon and visit Hatshepsut temple and the Valley of the Kings

Five Star Cruising

• 3 Night Nile cruise on MS Miriam or MS Sapphire (or similar)
  with all cruise boat gratuities included
• First Class and Deluxe hotels with service charges, taxes & porterage
  Scheduled air travel between Luxor to Cairo
• Overnight sleeper train, Cairo to Aswan with twin berth cabins
  Sightseeing by air-conditioned coach
• Professional multi-lingual Egyptologist/ Tour Director to escort you
  Services of Insight’s Resident Manager in Cairo
• Travel bag, document wallet, map book journal and information pack

First Class Hotels

• Cairo: Deluxe Cairo Marriott
• Aswan: New Cataract Hotel
• Ship: M.S Miriam or Sapphire

Airport Transfer

• Complimentary arrival and departure transfers between Cairo airport and the tour hotel

 

Quality Dining

• Egyptian Galabea Party with entertainment
• 8 buffet breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners, or buffets, (plus bottled water or tea or coffee while cruising)