Luxury Nile Cruises, 14 day Luxury Travel to Egypt Adventure | Luxury hotels in Cairo with your Nile Cruise

DAY 1 - CAIRO - Thursday
Our Cairo staff greets you and escorts you through the excitement and hubbub of the terminal, and onward to your hotel. Traditional sweets await you, with our compliments. You'll have time to relax and unwind. Visa fee is included & issued upon arrival. Available only to American, Japanese , Canadian & EU citizens, your passport must be valid for at least 6 month beyond the date of arrival.

Private air condition car for your transfer. Private chauffeur
For Hotel upgrade in Cairo : Four Seasons or the Mena House Palace wing / Pyramid's view ( you may mix & match Cairo stay first stay at Four Seasons and return stay Mena House Palace Wing: please add: $536 for the full stay in Cairo per person in double

DAY 2 - ABU SIMBEL / ASWAN - Friday (B)
Private air condition car for your transfer. Private chauffeur .

Our Cairo personnel will escort you to the airport to board your flight to Aswan for a brief stop before heading to ABU SIMBEL, group tour of the mighty temples of Ramses the Great & Queen Neferatri then fly back to Aswan and the Nile Cruise .

Jacquie Kennedy & Abu Simbel Temples in Egypt :
All Americans alive during the 1960s remember President John F Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy. Most Americans from that time also remember Abu Simbel, the dramatic, ancient pharaonic temple
threatened by the rising waters blocked by the new Aswan High Dam.

It’s worth remembering that it was Jacquie Kennedy who provided crucial support for the mammoth rescue project. Without her help, Abu Simbel might have been lost. Arrive early in Egypt, extend one day to be able to see Abu Simbel . Read More

Sample Nile Cruises: Queen TIYI , Radamis II or the Royal Lotus ( Swiss Managed) or the Moon Goddess , where a fruit basket awaits you, then enjoy lunch on board. We'll have the opportunity to experience Egypt at its most authentic, as we sail the Nile in a graceful Felucca, the age-old sailing vessel of the river. If you wish, try your hand at camel riding! We'll take a traditional caravan to enjoy tea with Nubian villagers. Back in Aswan, we'll board a launch to visit the Temples of Philae, rescued from rising waters when the High Dam was built.This Island temple of Philae was dedicated to the Ancient Goddess ISIS :

Two millennia ago the Mediterranean world was enthralled by the mystery of Isis:

"I, Isis, am all that has been, that is or shall be; no mortal man hath ever seen me unveiled."

Called Aset by the ancient Egyptians, the goddess was a Madonna in the Mediterranean tradition that stretches far, far back to the primitive Mother Goddess from Anatolia, home to some of the oldest human communities on earth.

Isis was the powerful and quick-witted protector of her son Horus, the Sun God. Ancient peoples throughout the Mediterranean regarded Isis and Horus as the perfect Madonna and Child. Another legend says she was
also the mother of the fertility god Min who, judging from the depiction of him on temple walls, needed no help from Viagra!

Because of her wisdom and skill at protection, she was admired as a good magician capable of healing the sick and protecting the dead in their journey to the Underworld.

Isis is portrayed regally, as a queen seated on a throne (which may be the meaning of her name), often holding her son Horus as a baby. Other images show her with broad, magnificent gilded wings able to protect
the world.

Isis, the great Mother Goddess. Come explore her mystery in timeless
Egypt when you Travel in Style!

Then, back aboard our cruiser, we'll sail down river at a stately pace to Kom Ombo, the twin temple dedicated to the crocodile river god, Sobek.
While you are on board the cruise, afternoon tea will be served daily on deck.

DAY 3 - EDFU, ESNA - Saturday (BLD)
Horse-drawn carriages meet us at riverside to take us through Edfu to the Temple of Horus, best-preserved in all of Egypt. Later, we'll cruise to Esna, and by evening, we'll be in fabled Luxor.
Egyptian sweets platter will be delivered to your cabin today with our compliments.

DAY 4 - LUXOR - Sunday (BLD)
We'll cross the Nile to view an array of ancient splendors: the tomb chambers of the Valley of the Kings; the imposing tomb-temple of Queen Hatshepsut in the Valley of the Queens . The Ancient Workers Village at Deir El Medineh, the first known "Workers Village" these were the true creative heroes who built the temples & tombs for the mighty Pharaohs of the Nile Kingdom.

Deir El Medinah is on Luxor's west bank you get a totally different perspective on ancient Egyptian life, at the ancient workers' settlement of Deir el-Medinah. While most of the imposing stone monuments and sites of Egypt honor the lives and after-lives of royalty, Deir el-Medinah gives us unique and surprising insights into the ordinary citizens who constructed and decorated the tombs.

Here we'll see the excavated homes shared by laborers with their domestic animals. These quarters were surprisingly large, with three good-sized rooms, courtyard, kitchen, and even storage cellars. While ancient Egypt might not have been a workers' paradise, we'll see that artisans and builders were highly regarded in their community. We are proud to be the only operator to offer regular visits to this singular ancient settlement in its tour and cruise programs.

DAY 5 - LUXOR, Check-out from the Cruise - Monday (B)
Breakfast on board the cruise. Check-out. We'll visit the imposing Great Temple of Amon at Karnak and the Temple of Luxor before we head back to the Meridien Luxor or similar .
For the Old Winter Palace: Nile View please add ; $80 USD per person in double ( no triple occupancy).
If you prefer to extend your stay in Upper Egypt , please click here

DAY 6 - LUXOR, Sharm - Direct flight or Via CAIRO - Tuesday (B)
We head to the airport to catch our flight to Sharm El Sheikh , direct or via Cairo .Private air condition car always for your transfers. We'll settle you into your Luxury hotel in Sharm : Sonesta , Hyatt, The Ritz Hotel or similar. If you prefer to extend your stay in Upper Egypt , please click here

DAY 7 - Sharm El Sheikh - Wednesday (aBD)
Full days at leisure . Hit the water , or venture into the nearby Bedouin village to see how the local people live-as you like. Dinner is included daily on a complimentary basis at the hotel.

DAY 8 - Sharm El Sheikh - Thursday (aBD)
Full days at leisure . Hit the water , or venture into the nearby Bedouin village to see how the local people live-as you like. Dinner is included daily on a complimentary basis at the hotel.

DAY 9 - Sharm El Sheikh - Friday (aBD)
Full days at leisure . Hit the water , or venture into the nearby Bedouin village to see how the local people live-as you like. Dinner is included daily on a complimentary basis at the hotel.

DAY 10 - MOUNT SINAI - St. CATHERINE ( Santa Katarina / Catarina ) Monastery - Saturday (BL)
Relax! This is one more day in "Paradise", enjoy the beach the Egyptian sun and maybe fishing , snorkeling or diving in the Red Sea. Or join us on a complimentary tour to Mount Sinai then in the cool before sunrise, we drive into the wilderness of Sinai, through which Moses led his people to the Promised Land. Our goal is the Monastery of St. Catherine, built on the site of the burning bush at the base of Mount Sinai. We tour the monastery, rich in history,icons and sacred paintings, returning to Sharm late in the evening. You must be in good physical condition if you wish to consider climbing Mt. Sinai. The climb is not recommended for those affected by heights.

DAY 11 -CAIRO - Sunday (aBD)
Fly back to Cairo and your hotel.
Remainder of the day in Cairo, at leisure.

DAY 12 - CAIRO - Monday (aBLD)
Private air condition car for your tour today . Private chauffeur .

Your exploration of ancient Egypt begins today! We'll start after breakfast with the Egyptian Museum. Here you'll see the treasures of the ancient pharaohs: Mummies Hall is included , statuary, and precious stones and metals. Travelers have long come to Cairo just to gaze on these sights alone. But there's more, on we go to the Coptic & Jewish ancient quarter then the Royal Manial Palace of the former Crown Prince Mohamed Ali. After lunch Egyptian-style, we head back to the hotel. Dinner at the hotel.

DAY 13 -CAIRO - HOME HOSTED FAMILY DINNER - Tuesday (aBD)
Fly to Cairo remainder of the day in Cairo, at leisure.
You'll have one more opportunity to experience the excitement of this great city and, of course, do some last-minute shopping.
This evening we'll venture where few ordinary visitors ever tread . . . right into the homes of some of the people of Cairo ! You'll be invited to a family dinner, and while you enjoy wholesome home-cooked specialties, you'll learn about and appreciate the outlook, aspirations, and way of life of your hosts. Be assured, as curious as you may be about your new friends, they're sure to have questions about your own background. Once the ice is broken, you'll enjoy a lively evening, and find that you have more in common than you ever suspected. Of course, you may enjoy dinner in a quiet restaurant with your travel companions, by letting us know your preferences. You may wish to bring token gifts to exchange with the host family ( T shirt , small souvenirs of your home town).

DAY 14- -CAIRO - Giza - Wednesday (aBLD)
We'll motor to the mysterious Sphinx and the Pyramids on the edge of Cairo.

Those who are fit and adventurous enough may wish to penetrate into the heart of the Great Pyramid, to the King's Chamber your ticket is included with our compliments (or the interior of Kephren Pyramid). Taking a camel ride (Included) is entirely your own choice! After lunch we tour Memphis and Sakkara including the Step Pyramids (Zoser ). Conclude a memorable day as we host you on a Nile dinner cruise complete with exotic Egyptian entertainment.

DAY 15 - Cairo Fayoum - Thursday (cBL)
On Desert Safari for the Day - Fayoum Oases - And you thought the Pyramids were old

The wilds of the desert begin right on the outskirts of Cairo, and continue for hundreds of miles to the east and west, through sands, rock, mountains, oases, and a surprising variety of scenery and inhabitants.

Join us for a day ranging across the desert like modern nomads. In place of camels, we’ll travel in comfortable, reliable four-by-four Toyota Land Cruisers. Your guide and drivers will meet you at your hotel, and soon you’ll leave bustling Cairo behind as you undertake the drive toward the Oasis of El Fayoum, 150 kilometers to the southwest. Hard as it is to believe, a great inland sea once covered these sands. It was a holy reserve of sacred crocodiles, symbolized by the god Sobek.

We’ll visit the temple of Kom Oshim, drive over ancient lake beds, and alongside the waters of today’s Fayoum Lake to reach the fishermen’s village of Chak Chouk. There we’ll stop for a lunch of fish caught fresh that morning. There will be time to wander the village lanes and discreetly watch the everyday activities of baking flatbread, irrigating crops from the lake’s waters, and bringing in the catch. We’ll also include the craft and pottery museum where the best works of local artisans are on display.

Then it’s into our four-by-fours again, for an off-road adventure! We’ll head alongside and across desert washes, between dunes, and over ancient lake beds for 35 kilometers to the Valley of the Whales ( In Arabic : Wadi-El-Hitan) . Incredibly, these great mammals once thrived - almost forty million years ago- in waters surrounded by sands. We’ll stop and gaze in amazement at their fossilized remains alongside smaller sea creatures that remain in stone.
This valley was discovered in 1936 , by the German geologist George Schweinfurth in the northwestern corner of Wadi El-Rayan.

The valley provides evidence of one of the major changes in this mammal evolution has been declared by the UNESCO to be a World Heritage Site. It is believed that these land based whales once had feet that may have helped them somewhat while ashore . A team from the University of Michigan discovered in the late 80's that these Zeuglodon whales did have rudimentary feet , this was a startling discovery , suggesting that whales of Wadi -El-Hitan had recently started living in water as well , these whales were not related to any of the whales we have today , rather a more slender body and may grow up to 75 feet long. Several skeletons of whales are exposed in the sand. George Schweinfurth named this extinct specie the Zeuglodon Isis Whales .

In the evening, you’ll return to your hotel in Cairo. Land transportation in air-conditioned four-wheel-drive Toyota Land Cruiser with the services of driver and English-speaking driver. Lunch is included

DAY 16 - DEPARTURE - Friday (aB)
Private air condition car for your transfer. Private chauffeur .Our Cairo-based staff escorts you to the airport, where you'll begin your journey home . Salaam and Bon Voyage! Compare with the 14-day edition

The all suites M/S Amarco , ultra Deluxe please add supplement of 20 % to the listed rates

For travel at Easter, Christmas or New Year's, a 10 percent supplement applies.

Air transportation in Egypt as mentioned in itinerary, in business class, when available on board subject to according to aircraft configuration.
All ground transportation, including airport greeting.
Deluxe hotel accommodations, including tax based on: Marriott, , Mena House ( New Wing) or The Grand Hyatt downtown overlooking the Nile. or Le Meridien Pyramids.
For Mena House Palace wing /Pyramid's view , Four Seasons : please add: $536 for Cairo total stay, per person in double.
In Sharm El Sheikh: Hyatt, Savoy , Sonesta or similar hotels . In Luxor : Meridien , Sheraton or similar
Luxury Nile cruise, with all meals, a welcome fruit basket, an Egyptian sweets platter, complimentary bottle of water for each guest , delivered to your cabin daily while on board the cruise.
All shore excursions, aboard, the ultra luxury ,Radamis, Sonesta, Queen TiYi, according to availability.
For guests booking Suites on board the cruise :
Our guests , receive special consideration . When you reserve your Suite , we will provide you with a private valet to take care of your personal and touring needs, and a private guide / Egyptologist to answer any questions you may have about the wonders around you.

Just for fun, we'll even engage a local fortune - teller , knowledgeable in the mystic secrets of ancient Egypt, to read the future in your palm or your coffee grounds!
Sightseeing with guide and entrance fees to archaeological sites.
Meals as indicated, with preset menu (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner), American breakfast (aB) in Cairo
Visa fee upon arrival in Cairo (applicable to Japan, US, UK, and Canadian passport holders with six months of remaining validity)

Not included:

Trip interruption and cancellation insurance (We'll be glad to mail you the insurance brochure)
Personal expenses, including excess baggage or shipping charges, beverages, and personal charges in hotels for laundry, telephone, or other services
Gratuities
Optional Excursion
Hot air balloon adventure over the Valley of the Kings, 60 to 90 minutes flying time, weather permitting, $300 per person.

Radamis I
The four-deck, 72-meter (236-foot)-long Radamis I operated by the Swiss Mövenpick hospitality experts has 71 deluxe staterooms, four deluxe suites, a gourmet restaurant, swimming pool, bar and boutique.

Radamis II
The four-deck, 72.3-meter (237-foot)-long Radamis II operated by the Swiss Mövenpick hospitality experts has 80 luxurious staterooms (including six suites), swimming pool, gourmet restaurant, three bars, nightly music and dancing in the lounge/discotheque, onboard boutique,
hari dresser

CRUISE NOTES AND TIPS

Dining room reservations are not required. Our cruise vessels have a single seating, simplifying life on board.
Days are warm, and sometimes hot, in Luxor and Aswan, while evenings and mornings can be cooler.
Comfortable walking shoes and clothing of natural fabrics are suitable for shore excursions.
On board, dress is relaxed for breakfast and lunch, smart casual for dinner. Take a sun hat and, of course, a swimsuit.
All ships are fully air-conditioned. Typical amenities (which vary from vessel to vessel; inquire for details) include large view windows; in-cabin minibar, hair dryers and safes; and pools, boutiques, and dance lounges.
This program is available on Private Basis for 2 guests : private, car/driver/guide, As well as a PRIVATE guide on board the NILE Cruise supplement is $250 per person in double. Minimum 2 guests.

Gourmet Cuisine on board the boats we use:
As you might expect , special attention is given to cuisine on board. Celebrity chefs craft their works of art in the best tradition of luxury cruising. Their freshness, flavor, and artful presentation exceed that of most luxury hotels and guarantee memorable dining experience every day.

Beside spacious restaurants, on board facilities include lounges with dancing every evening, large swimming pools, sun decks, a variety of bars and lounges, and shops.

Presidential Suites :
Our guests , receive special consideration . When you reserve your Presidential Suite , we will provide you with a private valet to take care of your personal and touring needs, and a private guide / Egyptologist to answer any questions you may have about the wonders around you.

Just for fun, we'll even engage a local fortune - teller , knowledgeable in the mystic secrets of ancient Egypt, to read the future in your palm or your coffee grounds!

The Great Pyramid of Cheops . . . Are You Up to the Adventure?

A journey into the heart of the Great Pyramid is a real-life Indiana Jones adventure. But it can also be a taxing and frightening one.

You'll follow claustrophobic passages cut into the heart of the pyramid, feel the pull of the mass of stone directly above. For better or worse, you have placed yourself in the hands of the engineering expertise of the ancients.

As you continue along the unventilated passages, the oxygen becomes depleted, the air becomes noticeably warmer and more pungent. The ascent of steep stairways consumes more energy than you imagined, and you find yourself short of breath. Lighting is dim, every footstep must be carefully calculated. Low passageways repeatedly oblige you to advance while bent down, and your muscles protest. Where walls disappear into the dark above, you feel wedged into a shaft. Despite warnings, and your own resolve, claustrophobic feelings are hard to suppress.

Finally, you behold the King's Chamber at the heart of the Great Pyramid. The effort to reach it has made the reward more exhilarating than you imagined. If only you can face the return.

Is the King's Chamber for you? If you're not used to bending and regular exercise, you might find the challenge beyond your capabilities. Turning back is more difficult the farther you go, and the experience could leave you aching for days afterwards.

Be realistic about yourself, your abilities, and your disposition. And remember that there are many other rewarding sights and adventures at Giza, without the physical challenge and risks of the King's Chamber.

The decision is up to you.