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Day 1: Join tour Cairo
Overnight Standard Hotel (H+)
Day 2: Full day sightseeing of Cairo; overnight train to Aswan
Today we visit the last remaining wonder of the ancient world, the magnificent Pyramids of Giza, sandwiched between the sprawling mass of Cairo and the open plains of the desert and dominated by the Great Pyramid of Cheops. You can opt to venture inside these magnificent structures, or perhaps visit the magnificent Solar Boat, designed to transport the Pharaohs soul to the afterlife (both these visits are optional). The complex also includes the splendid Granite Temple and the enigmatic and mysterious Sphinx, the Father of Terror, a crouching lion with a human head that is carved from a single piece of solid rock. From the Pyramids we then head to a papyrus institute, where you can learn something of the ancient methods of paper making in the Egypt of the pharaohs, before continuing on to the remarkable Museum of Antiquities. A spectacular repository of some 120,000 items, the Egyptian Museum encompasses all aspects of the world of the Ancient Egyptians, from its ornate jewellery and towering granite statues, to the mummified remains of past Pharaohs and, of course, the treasures of Tutankhamun himself. This incredible museum houses some of the finest artefacts in Egypts long and fascinating history and even the briefest glimpse of some of these priceless treasures presents us with a truly unique insight into one of the worlds great ancient civilisations.You may also have an opportunity to visit the Children's Museum at the Egyptian Museum where you can try you hand a building your own Pyramid!! Our final stop of the day will be at the railway station, where we board the evening train south, travelling through the night towards the city of Aswan.
Overnight Train (U)
Day 3: Arrive Aswan; Transfer to Lake Nasser
Arriving in Aswan later this morning we then transfer to Garf Hussein by private bus to board our boat for the cruise through Lake Nassers unique landscapes. Lake Nasser is the worlds largest artificial body of water and from the High Dam at Aswan it stretches back a staggering 330 miles into the Sudan, presenting us with one of Egypts most beguiling of landscapes. It is a world bereft of human habitation, where the expansive waters of the lake and the rolling dunes of the desert provide a haven for gazelle and foxes, monitor lizards and Nile crocodiles, the only testaments to mans intrusion being the Pharaonic temples that dot the desert shores. Stopping at temples of Kalabsha we will depart the boat and take a short walk to some ancient engravings that cover both the Egyptian and prehistoric colonisation of the land, before returning back to navigate towards Sukaar Beach, where we will stop for lunch and a chance for a swim, before navigating our way to Madiq.In the afternoon the boat will continue sailing till Gazal archipel for an evening walk and first contact with the nature; Nile crocodiles, monitor lizards, desert foxes and different bird species in that region. We return for dinner and our first night in the Nubian Desert.
Overnight Accommodation on Boat (U) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Sail back to Aswan; PM board felucca to sail down the Nile
This morning we sail back to Aswan then board our feluccas around lunchtime. We then set off down the Nile, sailing through a landscape of timeless grandeur, where glowing red dunes present a magical backdrop against an ever changing scene of rural Egypt that has probably changed little over the intervening centuries. Perfect for sedate sailing, these enchanting vessels afford us an opportunity to explore the Niles bewitching highlights in a style all but forgotten in the constant rush for modern convenience, following a sailing tradition that dates back to the times of the Pharaohs. Over the coming days you will get a chance to sail the felucca yourselves and the camp duties and cooking chores will be the responsibilities of the younger members of the group, so free time for mum and dad on this trip!
Overnight Accommodation on Boat (U) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5: On the Nile: swimming, village walks, visit Kom Ombo Temple
Today sees us spending a leisurely day along the Nile, taking our time to enjoy this most serene of landscapes as we stop to enjoy some swimming in the Nile and take the chance to explore something of village life along the great river. Well pull our boats into the shore as we go and take a walk through some of the riverside communities, before taking the opportunity to pay a visit to the magnificent ruins of the Ptolemaic temple at Kom Ombo. This remarkable temple lies on the banks of the Nile and is unique in that it is dedicated to not one, but two gods: Horus, the falcon headed god and Sobek the crocodile god, a useful deity to have on your side given that this stretch of the river was inundated with crocodiles until the early years of the last century! This evening we will stop and set up our camp for the last time, making the most of a final night on the river to enjoy the special magic of this most captivating of settings.
Overnight Accommodation on Boat (U) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6: Disembark felucca and drive to Luxor via Edfu Temple; PM visit Karnak Temple
Disembarking our boats this morning we catch the early convoy north, following the fertile ribbon of the Nile Valley towards Luxor, the once ancient city of Thebes. Described by Homer as the ‘city of a hundred gates and the capital of Egypt under some of its most famous and powerful pharaohs including Ramses, Tuthmose, Akhenaten and, of course, Tutankhamun, Luxor lies on the east bank of the Nile, a vibrant mix of the traditional and the modern, where the daily bustle sees horse drawn carriages (caleshes) and splendidly robed Egyptians sharing the streets with the more usual trappings of modern life. Our journey takes us via the magnificent Ptolemaic temple at Edfu, which, after Karnak, is the largest in the Nile Valley. Dating back to the 3rd-1st centuries BC it was, according to legend, built on the site where the god Horus met and vanquished Seth, the murderer of his father Osiris. A sacred and almost perfectly preserved falconheaded figure guards the dark entranceway into the Temple of Horus, whilst the massive Pylon is covered with intricate carvings attesting to the might and power of the ancient kings. The temple is one of the bestpreserved in Egypt, thanks largely to the fact that it lay buried for centuries beneath the desert sands, until its excavation by the French in the 1860s. Indeed you can still find the odd scratching of graffiti left by Napoleons troops amongst the upper reaches of the high walls. After our visit we continue to Luxor and check into our hotel. The afternoon then sees us travelling by calesh (horse drawn carriage), to visit the stupendous Temple of Amun at Karnak. Built over a period of some 1500 years, under the watchful eyes of numerous pharaohs, Karnak dates from around 2000 BC and its scale and grandeur is incredible, covering as it does an area the size of 10 European cathedrals. An avenue of silent sphinxes leads up to the entrance, where the Temple Precinct encloses the Festival Temple of Tuthmosis and the magnificent Hypostyle Hall with its 134 towering pillars (see how many of you its takes to encircle one pillar). We will visit Hatshepsuts obelisks and explore a myriad of chambers and temples, before gazing out across the Sacred Lake. In the Court of the Cachette a unique upstanding stele documents a pact between Ramses II and the Hittite king, an undertaking that presents us with one of the first international treaties ever recorded.
Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast
Day 7: AM Donkey trek to Hatshepsut Temple and visit the Valley of the Kings; PM Free
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, Egypts 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 with a local guide. The afternoon is then left free for you to relax and enjoy, either by the pool or along the bazaars.
Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast
Day 8: Drive to El Gouna
This morning we head east today, to El Gouna on Egypts Red Sea coast. El Gouna was established in the 90's by an Egyptian man who wished to carve a paradise out of the desert. Since then it has developed into a vibrant community by the Red Sea's azure waters boasting a blend of modern and traditional architecture, a wide variety of food and activity choices including an opportunity to sample their locally brewed beer and wine! We will have plenty of time to enjoy the treasures off shore during our time here and this afternoon we begin with an included windsurfing lesson.
Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast
Day 9: Full day boat trip
The reefs and seas off this coast teem with life, and with over 400 varieties of corals and 1500 species of fish, the Red sea is a hard act for anyone to follow. Egypt can boast some 800km of magnificent reef filled coastline that stretches from Israel in the north to the Sudan. There are brightly coloured shoals of spectacular reef fish of every shade and hue living amongst the corals, as well as turtles, rays, small sharks and a brilliant canvas of soft corals and anemones. Today we include a full days boat trip out into these spectacularly rich waters, to enjoy the reefs and sand islands off Safagas coast and spend some time exploring these remarkable seas.
Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 10: Fly to Cairo
Transferring to the airport in Hurghada, we fly back to the Egyptian capital today, where the rest of the day is free to relax or explore as you wish. The Egyptian capital presents a seemingly endless array of options to make the most of your final day here, including perhaps a visit out to the pyramid complexes at Dashur and Saqqara, one of the richest archaeological sites in Egypt and site of the worlds oldest stone building, the Stepped Pyramid of Zoser. Another option is to explore the fascinating religious heart of Cairo with a tour of its Coptic and Islamic quarters, before taking a wander through the bustling bazaars of the Khan el Khalili. Alternatively you may wish to simply soak up the eclectic chaos and charms of one of Africas most enthralling cities, perhaps seeking out a last minute bargain in the bustling souks before the journey home.
Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast
Day 11: Tour ends Cairo
Included meals: Breakfast
