A Once in a Life Time Nile Cruise Experience
Tour Queen Nefertari’s Tomb & Dendera Abydos Temples
A 9-Day Program on a Deluxe Dahabiya Yacht on the Nile. Cruise the same way the Pharaohs did. Private Egyptologist, Private Air-Conditioned Vehicle, and a Private Chauffeur. We have even included all the tips. No Hidden Charges. No Additional Tax. Starts every Friday in either Luxor or Aswan.
Sonesta Dahabiya, the latest addition to the Sonesta Nile Cruises portfolio, combines comfort and beauty in a most inspiring way, promising a remarkable, rewarding cruise experience of legendary hospitality.
The Sonesta Dahabiya will take you back in time to a gentler, more gracious era in a 7-night cruise experience between Luxor and Aswan. A unique experience down the Nile by traditional small sailing vessel that was commonly used during those elegant days of the monarchy (1920s – 40s) when aristocrats and sophisticated travellers loved to cruise the Nile in style. We’ve revived those elegant days with modern comforts and conveniences.
Being part of the Sonesta Nile Cruise’s high-scale brand portfolio of deluxe service Nile cruisers, facilities aboard the Sonesta Dahabiya are endless, including a stylish lounge, an open-air oriental style jacuzzi, a spacious and partially shaded sundeck.
Offering 5 deluxe cabins and 2 elegant suites (with private terrace), Dahabiya allows you to experience an imaginary world of luxury and privacy. All cabins and suites feature private direct-dial telephones, individual climate control. hairdryers, mini-bars, safety deposit boxes, plasma TVs and movie programs.
Day 1 – Luxor- Friday – Dendera and Abydos Temples – Hotel in Luxor (LD)
Your guide will meet you in Luxor at your hotel or at the Luxor Airport (Please advise your arrival details). Private Chauffeur. Private air-conditioned vehicle for your tour, today we drive inland to tour Denderah Temple (tour is in an air-conditioned vehicle) with a chauffeur of course as well as an English speaking guide / Egyptologist. Dendera Temple is among the best preserved in Egypt. This temple as a sight to hold. Indiana Jones would have felt at home, with the massive stones and underground passages. We will also tour Abydos before we head back to Luxor (lunch box included).
DENDERAH IN A DAY: We’ll travel to Denderah to visit the Temple of Hathor, one of the best-preserved in all of Egypt, and also one of the most important. In the ancient beliefs, Hathor was the consort of the god of daylight, ruler of the west, and protector or the underworld. In the manner of wise desert wayfarers, we’ll leave before dawn to take advantage of cool temperatures. Our air-conditioned vehicle will take us through timeless Nileside villages, where life revolves around the irrigation and harvest of crops. Finally, we’ll reach the temple precincts. We’ll take note of the unusually deep tombs, and pass under the celebrated Zodiac, in a chapel dedicated to Osiris. (Denderah is the traditional site of his rebirth.) Our full day will also include a visit to Abydos, traditional home of Osiris, god of the underworld, and a stopping point on the journey of wayfaring souls. We’ll enjoy a box lunch with bottled water included. Reach Luxor late afternoon and your hotel in Luxor. Dinner is included at the hotel in Luxor.
Sample Deluxe: Steigenberger, or Old Winter Palace. Nile view room.
Journey Down The Nile River – Amazing Egypt. Video by mycompasstv.
Day 2: Saturday – Board Your Dahabiya Sailing Cruise – Private Opening of Queen Nefertari’s Tomb- Luxor (BLD)
Breakfast is included at the hotel and then we proceed to the West bank for a private opening of:
Queen Nefertari’s tomb: The Queen for whom the sun shines
Long before Cleopatra humbled the ruler of Rome, an Egyptian queen held power over the heart and soul of Ramses, Egypt’s greatest pharaoh. In the 12th century BC, a brokenhearted Ramses built a grand funerary tomb for Queen Nefertari, “the Beautiful one,” in the Valley of the Queens. It’s been exquisitely restored with the aid of an American endowment, and is among the rarest sights in all Egypt: the only great tomb ever built by a pharaoh for his late queen. Artistically, it is the closest thing you could ever come to see the original Ancient Egyptian art in all of its glory and finesse. Because of its fragile nature, only a limited number of visitors are allowed entry each day. We are the only company to include a visit to Nefertari’s tomb in our daily program. Because of the limited access we must rise early for our visit, appropriate as Ramses named Nefertari “the one for whom the sun shines.”, then transfer to your luxuriously appointed dahabiya.
Queen Nefertari playing Senet.
Today as well, we visit the magnificent temple complex of Amon-Ra at Karnak, with its vast hypostyle hall of 137 columns, followed by the imposing 28 th Dynasty Luxor Temple, and Luxor Museum, then on to: Deir El Medinah is on Luxor’s west bank where 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, we include as well a tour of Madinet Habu and the Ramesseum.
Private Egyptologist. Private Air-Conditioned Vehicle-Private Chauffeur. Overnight moored on the Nile banks of Luxor. Evening Sound and Light show at Karnak. Please bring a jacket. Cabin amenity for tonight: A fruit basket awaits you in your cabin with our compliments.
Day 3: Sunday
Today we head to the West Bank for visits to the burial places of the Pharaohs – the Valley of the Kings – where Howard Carter discovered the tomb of Tutankhamen in 1922. Continue to the adjacent Valley of the Queens, the temple of Medinet Habu, the Ramesseum and the Colossi of Memnon. In the evening your guide will call on you for a horse-drawn carriage ride throughout Luxor souks and water front. Overnight moored in Luxor.
Cabin amenity for tonight: Kartouches with your names in Hieroglyphic with our compliments. Private Egyptologist. Private Air-Conditioned Vehicle-Private Chauffeur.
Temple of Khnum at Esna, Egypt.
Photo by Steve F-E-Cameron, Wikimedia Commons.
Day 4: Monday – We Include the Tour to Esna Temple.
Today will be a leisurely day. After breakfast, we sail to Esna, go through Esna Locks. Private guide to visit Esna Temple. Cabin amenity for tonight: Egyptian sweets platter. With our compliments. Private Egyptologist. Private Air-Conditioned Vehicle-Private Chauffeur.
Day 5: Tuesday – On Board Your Nile Cruise
This morning you will sail to Edfu to visit the wonderfully preserved Temple of Edfu. Overnight moored beside a Nile island. Cabin amenity for tonight: Galabya (the local flowing traditional garb),with our compliments. Private Egyptologist. Private Air-Conditioned Vehicle-Private Chauffeur.
Day 6: Wednesday- On Board Your Nile Cruise
Today you will sail to Kom Ombo visit see the Ptolemaic temple dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek and the falcon-headed Horus, god of the morning sun. Overnight moored beside a Nile island. Private Egyptologist. Private Air-Conditioned Vehicle-Private Chauffeur.
Day 7: Thursday – Aswan – Soheil Island
A leisurely day sailing to Aswan where the dahabiyya moors overnight. Upon arrival we invite our interested guests to a short camel ride to a nearby Nubian Village and, time permitting, we may be able to go to Soheil Island. In the evening your guide will call on you for a horse-drawn carriage ride through the Aswan souks and waterfront. Private Egyptologist. Private Air-Conditioned Vehicle-Private Chauffeur.
The Richmond Party Sonesta Luxury Yacht Dahabiya Cruise on the Nile. Photo by The Mighty Alan – aka Mighty Ra.
Day 8: Friday – Aswan
Today you will visit the Aswan High Dam (completed in 1971); the Old Dam (completed in 1902). You will also visit the Philae Temple, dedicated to the goddess Isis, a structure rescued from the rising waters of Lake Nasser at the time of the High Dam’s construction. We tour the Nubian Museum before heading back to the Sonesta dahabiya. Evening Sound and Light show at Philae Temple.Private Egyptologist. Private Air-Conditioned Vehicle-Private Chauffeur.
Day 9: Saturday – Aswan
Breakfast aboard the dahabiya and check-out. We’ll disembark at Aswan after breakfast. You’ll continue your travel homeward, or perhaps you’ll choose to linger for a few days where royalty have traditionally spent a winter in the fine, dry climate amid splendid dining and entertainment.
| Rates in USD$ (Rates are per cabin) | |
| Double or single cabin | USD$ 14,070.00 |
| Peak Season period (Rates are Per Cabin) | |
| Double or single cabin | USD $ 15,186.00 |
| Rate for Easter will be valid for 2 weeks during Easter. Rate for Christmas and New Year (Dec 20 – Jan 1). | |
| Rates for the suite with private balcony (This is the total per suite) | |
| Double or single cabin: Total for the SUITE | USD $ 27,455.00 |
Rate Includes:
- All transfers in: Dendera, Abydos, Luxor and Aswan, always on a private basis.
- Private: Guided sightseeing including all entrance fees, all as per itinerary. (our competitors offer you group touring)
- Private air-conditioned vehicle with a private chauffeur
- Pre set meals as listed including B = Breakfast, (or cB, Continental Breakfast), L = Lunch, D = Dinner
- Tea/ coffee and afternoon tea while on board the Deluxe Nile Cruise
- One large bottle of water (for each guest) delivered to your cabin daily while on board the cruise.
- One small bottle of water for each guest, with each meal, every day while on board the cruise
- An Egyptian Gallabiya (100% Egyptian Cotton) with our compliments, delivered to your cabin
- A welcome fruit basket, awaits you in your cabin upon arrival with our compliments.
Rate Does Not Includes:
- Travel Insurance.
- Tips
- International air fare from / to your home country.
- Domestic air fare within Egypt.
- Any visa fees.
Long before Cleopatra humbled the ruler of Rome, an Egyptian queen held power over the heart and soul of Ramses, Egypt’s greatest pharaoh. In the 12th century BC, a broken-hearted Ramses built a grand funerary tomb for Queen Nefertari, “the Beautiful one,” in the Valley of the Queens. It’s been exquisitely restored with the aid of an American endowment, and is among the rarest sights in all Egypt: the only great tomb ever built by a pharaoh for his late queen. Artistically, it is the equivalent of Tutankhamon’s tomb. Because of its fragile nature, it is no longer open to the public, access is very limited to a few guests with permits, and ours is the only tour to visit it as part of a normal itinerary. Because of the limited access we must rise early for our flight and our visit, appropriate as Ramses named Nefertari “the one for whom the sun shines.” Tomb of Queen Nefertari: our visit to the Valley of the Queens allows you this rare treat: a visit to the beautifully restored royal tomb of Queen Nefertari, wife of Ramses II. Exquisitely restored with the aid of an American endowment, it is among the rarest sights in all Egypt: the only great tomb ever built by a pharaoh for his late queen.
The romantic story of Nefertari and Ramses is best told by the great temples at Abu Simbel (south of Aswan in Nubia). On one, Ramsis is seated with the gods and attended by his queen and daughters. The other is dedicated to Queen Nefertari, who appears as Hathor, the goddess of love, joy and fertility, symbolized by the benevolent cow. Nefertari thus precedes Cleopatra, Helen, Roxelana, and the Elizabeths of Russia and England as one of the world’s great queens. Your visit to Abu Simbel may be considered the highlight of your Egyptian adventure. As you fly over and along the shore of Lake Nasser, watching the sky lighten and the sacred sun rise above the horizon. We try to book early morning flights to reach the temple while the air is clean, clear and cool, and the sun’s light still golden—just right for photographs. We explore the huge temple, admire its ancient aura and artistry, then retire to a comfortable hotel for refreshments.
PLEASE NOTE: Abu Simbel Temples tour (when listed in any of our tour program) starts from Aswan not Luxor, we list the info as part of Queen Nefertari’s story here.
The Sonesta Dahabeya – the Amirat was launched in February, 2009 – offers a cruise experience like no other on the Nile. It is intended to take you back in time to a gentler, more gracious era on the Nile during your 7 night cruise between Luxor and Aswan. Facilities include 6 cabins and 2 suites, open air oriental-style Jacuzzi, spacious sundeck and stylish common lounge. All cabin accommodations are full board, and feature private direct-dial telephones, individual climate control, hairdryers, mini-bar, safe deposit boxes, plasma televisions and movie channels. The suites each offer a private terrace. Daily guided excursions are offered to renowned Egyptian temples, tombs and ruins along the Nile. As a member of the Sonesta fleet of deluxe-service Nile cruisers, this small cruise boat will combine comfort and beauty in an inspiring way, offering a spectacular opportunity for an extended family or small group to discover the Nile on a private cruise.
Highlights of a Nile Cruise include the Karnak Temple, one of the largest temples in the world, the extraordinary Luxor Temple, Thebes and the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut and the Valley of the Queens, the well preserved Edfu Temple, Esna Temple and Kom Ombo Temple, the twin temples of Abu Simbel and the romantic island Temple of Isis at Philae.
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