Egypt, Cairo

A tour in Cleopatra's footsteps 5^*

Arrival in Cairo.

Cairo is one of the world's largest cities. It stretches majestically along both banks of the Nile. This vibrant and historic city is a fascinating blend of cultures, architecture and history, offering a unique experience for travelers.

Upon arrival, you will be greeted by a tour guide who will assist you with entry formalities.

An English-speaking guide and Egyptologist will then take over and accompany you for the duration of your stay.

Enjoy a shared transfer to your hotel.

Spend the night at a 5-star hotel (local standards).

Breakfast at the hotel.

Set off to visit the Giza Plateau and its incredible pyramids: Khufu (the largest, built around 2650 B.C.), one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World and the only one to have withstood the test of time. For more than 40 centuries, it was the highest monument built by man at 146 m high.
Khafre: Also known as Chephren, this pyramid looks taller than Giza, but in reality it is slightly smaller. Its tilt angle is more pronounced, and it sits on slightly higher ground, which gives this impression.
Menkaure: The tomb of King Menkaure. With a height of 66 metres, it is much smaller than the other two pyramids.
The Sphinx: A lion's body with the head of a pharaoh. Its function was to guard the entrance to the tomb against looters. It is 73 metres long and 20 metres high.

Lunch by the pyramids.

You will spend the afternoon exploring the sites of Memphis and Saqqara. Memphis, south of Cairo, is now a palm grove containing various stone blocks, tablets and statues, including the iconic alabaster sphinx. The capital of the ancient Egyptian empire, Memphis was founded by King Menes around 3000 BC.

Continue to the site of Saqqara and the famous Step Pyramid, built around 2700 BC for the Pharaoh Djoser by the architect Imhotep.

Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel (local standards)

Breakfast.

Transfer to the airport and flight to Luxor, Upper Egypt.

Arrival, transfer to the port and settling into the ship's cabins.

Lunch on board.

Free afternoon on the boat

Dinner and overnight on board the 5-star (local standards) ship

Breakfast.

Transfer to the airport and flight to Luxor, Upper Egypt.

Breakfast on board.

Set off to visit the left bank of the Nile, Thebes, where tombs of pharaohs from the 18th to the 20th dynasty can be found.

The Valley of the Kings, where you will visit three tombs. From the eighteenth dynasty and throughout the New Kingdom, the pharaohs were no longer buried in temples or monuments dedicated to their final journey. Thutmosis I and all the pharaohs who followed him chose to be buried on the other side of the Nile, on the West Bank - the land of the afterlife. There were no more colossal monuments like the pyramids or even the mastabas of the Old Kingdom, but instead vaults were dug into the rock and access to them was strictly closed and hidden. Perhaps the main reason for this was to avoid tomb raiders.

Visit to the temple at Medinet Habu also known as the Temple of Ramses III. This temple resembles a castle. It is undoubtedly one of the most spectacular burial temples. Your visit to Egypt would not be complete without a visit to the gigantic and monumental site of Ramses. Ramses III wanted to restore the greatness of Egypt and at the same time immortalise the name of his famous ancestor. He began building his jubilee temple as soon as he ascended the throne, and it remains one of the largest in the necropolis of Thebes. Visitors are always fascinated by this huge ancient fortress built by Ramses. It is incredible in both size and grandeur. It is one of the few that still has beautiful colours.

On the way back there is a photo opportunity at the Colossi of Memnon: 2 giant twin statues carved in sandstone, witnesses to the past splendour of the temple of Amenhotep III.

Lunch on board.

Sail for Esna.

Dinner and overnight on board the 5-star (local standards) ship

Breakfast.

Sail to Edfu.

Lunch on board

Take a horse-drawn carriage tour of the magnificent Temple of Horus at Edfu. This masterpiece of architectural balance and elegance is one of the best-preserved sites in all of Ancient Egypt, a great example of Ptolemaic art from the Greco-Roman period. You enter the temple via the great column decorated with large raised images of the king and the gods, and walk towards the courtyard with walls depicting the various rituals performed by the king. At the entrance to the temple are two large black granite falcons representing the god Horus.

The cruise continues to Kom Ombo.

Dinner and overnight on board the 5-star (local standards) ship

Breakfast. In the morning visit the temple of Kom Ombo, just a short walk away. Located on a promontory on the banks of the Nile, this temple, the only one of its kind in Egypt, dates back to the Greco-Roman period and combines two magnificent sanctuaries. One is dedicated to Sobek, the crocodile god, and the other to Horus, the falcon god. It was built during the Ptolemaic period (Ptolemaic dynasty, Greco-Roman period) on the site of a temple of the New Kingdom (dedicated to Thutmes III, 18th dynasty).
The temple is located on the top of a hill, 15 metres above the Nile. Its most surprising feature is that it is dedicated to 2 different gods: the falcon god Haroeris, "Great Horus", sometimes called "Horus the Elder", and Sobek, the crocodile god. Duality is everywhere in this temple: it has two entrances, two parallel corridors and symmetrically arranged rooms on either side of these corridors, all leading to the double sanctuary.
Carved columns in the esplanade in front of the entrance display shimmering colours. The small building to the right of the entrance is the Chapel of Hathor.

Sail to Aswan, the capital of Nubia.

Lunch on board.

Next, visit to the Philae Temple.

Following the construction of the Aswan High Dam by President Nasser in the 1960s, the island of Philae, upstream from the Nile's first waterfall, was completely submerged. With the support of UNESCO, the monuments of Philae were dismantled piece by piece and reassembled on the neighbouring island, 400 metres downstream. Philae was entirely dedicated to Isis.

Visit to a Papyrus Institute, where you can make a few purchases - although it is not mandatory.

Dinner and overnight on board the 5-star (local standards) ship

Breakfast on board.

Free morning.

Lunch on board.

Mini-cruise in a **felucca and Kitchener's Botanical Garden. A felucca is the only way to reach the left bank and the Kitchener or Elephantine Islands, true jewels of the river. Enjoy the breeze as you sail the calm blue waters of the ancient Nile.

Stop off at Kitchener Island and visit the botanical garden

Late afternoon free.

Dinner and overnight on board the 5-star (local standards) ship

Optional activity to be booked and paid for on site with our local representative:
Coach trip to Abu Simbel: An exceptional site 160 miles south of Aswan, this great temple was saved by UNESCO in 1969. The Colossi of Ramses, the largest in Egypt, are built directly into the cliff. They are dedicated to the most famous gods of Pharaonic Egypt. The Great Temple is dedicated to the god Amon-Re, the Temple of Hathor.

Breakfast.

Free day on the boat.

Lunch on board.

Sail to Esna

Dinner and overnight on board the 5-star (local standards) ship

In early morning, the boat passes through the lock.

Breakfast on board.

Visit to Karnak Temple, the most theological of the temples built here over a period of 2000 years and a place of worship to the god Amun. The greatest kings (Seti I, Ramses II, Thutmosis III, Ramses III) succeeded each other. The name "Karnak", meaning "fortress", dates from the Muslim conquest.

Lunch on board.

Visit to Luxor Temple, built to glorify the god Amun-Re, who celebrated his wedding anniversary with his wife Mut every year. The procession left Karnak Temple and travelled along the banks of the Nile to Luxor. The construction of the latter dates back to the reign of the two Pharaohs Amenhotep III and Ramses II. (The Luxor Temple can be visited at night).

Return to the boat.

Free time to spend however you like.

Dinner and overnight on board the 5-star (local standards) ship

Breakfast on board the boat, then disembarkation

Flight to Cairo

Lunch

Discovery of Cairo with a visit to the Citadel of Saladin and the Muhammad Ali Mosque (built between 1830 and 1849, it is so white that it is nicknamed the "Alabaster Mosque"). In the centre of the courtyard is a large clock, a gift from King Louis Philippe of France to Muhammad Ali Pasha. The Belvedere offers a panoramic view of the city of Cairo.

Stroll through the Khan El Khalili souks, a bazaar built in the 14th century. It is highly colourful and has traditional goods, but also offers a fabulous choice of gold, gold thread and silver jewellery and a selection of oriental handicrafts.

Check-in at the 5-star hotel (local standards) in Cairo

Breakfast.

Then, located close to the Pyramids of Giza, visit the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), the largest museum in the world dedicated to ancient Egypt. This vast, modern complex houses more than 100,000 artefacts spanning over three millennia of history. From the moment they enter, visitors are greeted by the impressive colossal statue of Ramses II.

The museum also showcases the entire treasure of Tutankhamun, displayed for the first time in a single location. A spectacular visit to the heart of one of the most fascinating civilisations in history.

Dinner and overnight stay at a 5-star hotel (local standards)

Breakfast.

Depart in the morning to explore Alexandria, founded in 331 BC by Alexander the Great, who gave it its name. The former capital of this region in ancient times, it was the first port of Egypt and the largest cultural centre in the entire Mediterranean basin.

Visit to the catacombs of **Kom El **, considered to be the largest Roman burial site known to date. Diocletian's Column, built in honour of the emperor.

Lunch during the visit

Return to Cairo at the end of the day

Dinner and overnight stay at the 5-star hotel (local standards)

Breakfast

Depending on your flight schedule, group transfer to the airport.

Assistance with check-in formalities

A local English-speaking Egyptologist guide will accompany you for the entire duration of the stay.

Tips: 'bakchich'! A word you'll soon be familiar with! It's easy to say no to a solicitor, but it's a way of rewarding work and service well done. Gratuities for guides are never included. It is at the discretion of each individual.

A paying connection accessible throughout the boat may be available. However, we cannot guarantee the quality of the connection that will be available during your stay.

The baggage allowance for domestic flights is 23 kg in the hold per person, and a small cabin bag, 7 kg max. Any additional kilos will be subject to a supplementary charge at the airport

Accommodation is rated according to local standards.

There can be a lot of random, extensive checks at the airport in Egypt depending on the number of tourists, which is why the tour leader plans the schedule ahead as much as possible.

Because traffic can be heavy in Cairo, journey times can be long.

The excursions are in groups, with other participants.
This package includes free time to wander around at your leisure. However, you are responsible for paying for any transfers.

Optional extras are at an additional cost, to be paid for with your guide or local representative

The tour itinerary may be amended due to local conditions (travel time, passing through locks, etc. however, stated tours will take place)

The pace of the visits can be quite intensive (see all the visits included in the day-by-day itinerary details), which means waking up very early in the morning (outside the ship's sailing periods)

Egypt is a cultural destination

PLEASE NOTE: For those booking the **hotel only package (without international flights): please inform us of your flight details as soon as possible via the contact form located in the “Help and contact” section at the bottom of the page, so that we can organise your transfers