Description

Cairo, Nile Cruise & Hurghada (12D-11N)

Highlights:

• Pyramids of Giza
  Several of the Giza pyramids are counted among the largest structures ever built.
  The Pyramid of Khufu is the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World still in existence.
• Aswan
  Aswan is a busy market and tourist centre located just north of the Aswan Dam on the east bank of the Nile at the first cataract. The city is part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the category of craft and folk art.
• Luxor
  Luxor is one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world is often referred to as the “world’s greatest open-air museum”.

Tour Overview: 

Day 1 . Arrival in Cairo
Welcome to Egypt!

Your tour manager will meet and assist you at Cairo International Airport and will then escort you to your hotel in Cairo in an air-conditioned deluxe vehicle. After check in at the hotel, your tour manager will take you through the tour itinerary to confirm details and pick-up times.
Overnight in Cairo.

Day 2 . Cairo & Pyramids
After breakfast, your personal guide will take you to the Giza Plateau to visit one of the seven wonders of the ancient world: the Great Pyramids of Cheops, Chefren and Mykerinus; along with the famous Sphinx and Valley Temple.
There is the option of a visit to the Solar Boat in front of the Cheops Pyramid (payable locally).
After lunch proceed to the Sakkara Complex to see the first pyramid ever built – the Djoser Pyramid.

Overnight in Cairo.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 3 . Cairo & train to Aswan
After breakfast, check out, meet your private guide and together, visit the Egyptian Museum.
Lunch in a local restaurant.
Continue driving to Islamic Cairo to explore Khan El Khalili, Cairo’s old bazaar. Later, you will be transferred to the Giza Railway Station to board the sleeper train to Aswan. Dinner and breakfast will be served on board.
Overnight inside your compartment on the train.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Day 4 . Aswan
On arrival at Aswan station, meet your guide and transfer to the hotel. Time for leisure.

Optional tour (not included): Enjoy a tour to one of Egypt’s top tourist attractions, the Abu Simbel Temples. They were carved out of the mountainside during the reign of Pharaoh Ramesses II in the 13th century BC, as a lasting monument to himself and his Queen Nefertari.
Note: If you would like to do the Abu Simbel Tour, you will do it on day 5 and the Aswan sightseeing tours will be on day 4.
Overnight in Aswan.
Meals: Breakfast.

Day 5 . Aswan & Nile River Cruise
After breakfast, transfer to the river and board your Nile River Cruise.
Enjoy visiting the world famous High Dam; the Philae Temple devoted to the two goddesses, Isis and Hathor; and the Unfinished Obelisk – the largest known ancient obelisk, located in the northern region of the stone quarries of ancient Egypt.

Dinner on board.
Overnight aboard your cruise in Aswan.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Day 6 . Nile River Cruise, Kom Ombo & Edfu
Tuck into a delicious breakfast on board while sailing to Kom Ombo. Visit Kom Ombo Temple, a temple shared by two gods, Sobek and Haeroris.
Sail to Edfu while enjoying lunch on board.
In the afternoon, visit the best-preserved cult temple in Egypt, the Horus Temple in Edfu.

Afternoon tea during sailing to Esna.

Dinner on board.
Overnight aboard your cruise in Esna.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Day 7 . Nile River Cruise, Luxor West Bank

Sail to Luxor, have breakfast on board and then visit the West Bank. Enjoy an excursion to the royal cemetery for 62 Pharaohs in the Valley of the Kings. Then, continue to the Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, built by the architects of the New Kingdom Pharaoh Hatshepsut in the 15th century BC, at El-Deir El-Bahari and the Colossi of Memnon.

Lunch on board. Relax over afternoon tea during sailing. Dinner on board.
Overnight aboard your cruise in Luxor.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Day 8 . Luxor East Bank – Hurghada

Breakfast on board. Disembark from your Nile cruise after breakfast. Then, transfer to visit Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple. In the afternoon, continue to Hurghada at the Red Sea.
(Driving time from Luxor to Hurghada is about 3.5 hours.)
Overnight in Hurghada.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

Day 9 . Hurghada
Time for leisure in Hurghada.

Optional tours to experience the exquisite diving and snorkelling among the Red Sea coral reefs and see some amazing rare fish. Or choose one of the many other activities such as windsurfing, sailing and deep-sea fishing.
Overnight in Hurghada.
Meals: Breakfast.

Day 10 . Hurghada
Time for leisure in Hurghada.

Optional tours to experience the exquisite diving and snorkelling among the Red Sea coral reefs and see some amazing rare fish. Or choose one of the many other activities such as windsurfing, sailing and deep-sea fishing.
Overnight in Hurghada.
Meals: Breakfast.

Day 11 . Hurghada – Cairo
Breakfast at your hotel in Hurghada followed by free time. Then transfer to the bus station to take the first-class coach to Cairo (about 6 hours driving time).
Upon arrival in Cairo, you will be met and transferred to your hotel followed by free time.
Overnight in Cairo.
Meals: Breakfast.

Day 12 . Departure from Cairo
After breakfast in the hotel in Cairo, there is free time before the transfer to Cairo International Airport for your departure.
Meals: Breakfast.