A True Grand 16-Day Egyptian Adventure
Alexandra and Siwa Edition

The search continues for the tomb of Alexander the Great

Mosque near the famous Temple of Amun at Siwa Oasis in Egypt.
By VascoPlanet ™ World Photography (Siwa, Egypt (2007-05-076))
[CC-BY-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

DAY 1 – DEPARTURE – Weekly -Tuesday – Year Round
We take off from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, bound for Cairo. Overnight across the Atlantic. Guests who are leaving from the West Coast: You need not to fly via NYC, you fly non-stop to Europe then onward to Cairo.

DAY 2 – CAIRO – Wednesday

VIP Meet & Greet Service at Cairo Airport Upon Arrival
Our local representative greets you at the airport and whisks you to your hotel. Visa fee is included and will be issued upon arrival at Cairo Airport for: Australian, NZ, American, EU, Canadian & Japanese citizens. You are responsible for having your passport in order valid at least for 6 month beyond the date of your arrival in Cairo.

Visa will be issued upon arrival. As you exit the gate, you will pass through a door or two, down some stairs, then walk for 2-5 minutes, until you pass the duty free shops. At the end of a wide corridor, you will see the security officers. There you will be met by a local representative, who will be holding a sign with your name.

Our local representative will then take your passport to obtain a stamp from the cashier / bank window and escort you to speak with the passport officer. He will escort you through another last check on your passport as you exit the passport control, into customs area. He will assist you in collecting your luggage and clearing customs. After exiting the terminal, our local representative will escort you (private vehicle) to the hotel.

DAY 3 – CAIRO, Thursday (BLD)
Today you’ll explore the wonders of the Egyptian Museum, with its treasures of the ancient pharaohs: mummies, statuary, and precious stones and metals. Travellers have long come to Cairo just to gaze on these sights, but your day includes much more. You’ll see the Cheops Royal Barge Museum, and in Giza, on the edge of the desert, you’ll view the mysterious Sphinx and the Pyramids. Lunch is included at the Mena House. Dinner is included at La Bodega restaurant in Zamalek.

DAY 4 – CAIRO, Friday (BLD)
Today, we’ll get to know more of Cairo, both historic and contemporary. We’ll set off for Khan el-Khalili, the labyrinthine bazaar district with its array of spice shops and clothing merchants and purveyors of baskets and brass ware and a thousand other specialties. We’ll also stop at the Citadel of Saladin, the Alabaster Mosque, Sultan Hassan Great Mosque, a true master piece. The afternoon is devoted to seeing more of Islamic Cairo’s sights: Ibn Touloun Mosque, City of the dead with it’s architectural treasures from Medieval Cairo and more contemporary Ottoman Times, Including Khedive’s tombs & Qait Bey.
Evening buffet dinner at Zeitouni restaurant at the Four Seasons Hotel in Cairo. Authentic Lebanese flavours come alive in Zeitouni, 24 hours a day. An extensive buffet display situated in front of the restaurant’s open kitchen offers breakfast, lunch and dinner. Guests enjoy premier views of the Nile from large picture windows. Secluded alcoves, featuring contemporary wood décor, provide a more intimate dining alternative. Specialties: Guests enjoy a wide range of authentic Lebanese specialties such as breads, mezzes and grilled dishes, prepared by a team of gourmet Lebanese chefs.

DAY 5 – LUXOR – Nile Cruise – Saturday (BLD)
After breakfast, we fly to Luxor and proceed right to our Nile cruiser for breakfast. While our bags are looked after, we’ll set out for Luxor Museum, then the imposing Great Temple of Amon at Karnak and the Temple of Luxor. In the evening your guide will call on you for a horse-drawn carriage ride throughout Luxor souks and waterfront.

DAY 6 – VALLEY OF THE KINGS – Sunday(BLD)
We’ll set out across 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. Stop at the Colossi of Memnon before we head back to the boat.

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 7 – ESNA, EDFU -Monday- On Board Your Nile Cruise (BLD)
We’ll make our way up the Nile during the night. After breakfast, we’ll proceed through the Esna locks, and on to Esna itself. Horse-drawn carriages meet us at riverside to take us to the Temple of Horus, best-preserved in all of Egypt. While we continue our sail up the Nile in the evening, we’ll party in Egyptian style. You might well have bought a galabia, the flowing national dress. Now’s your chance to wear it!

DAY 8 – KOM OMBO, ASWAN – Tuesday- On Board Your Nile Cruise (BLD)
Soon after daybreak, we’ll disembark at Kom Ombo to explore the twin temples of Haroeris, the sun god, and Sobek, the crocodile god, then continue our voyage to Aswan. All the while, you will have seen feluccas sailing the Nile. Now we’ll experience Egypt at its most authentic, as we sail in one of these graceful craft. To really immerse yourself, try your hand at camel riding! We’ll take willing passengers on a traditional caravan to enjoy tea with Nubian villagers.

DAY 9 – CAIRO, ALEXANDRIA – Wednesday (BD)
We’ll leave our cruiser after breakfast. Tour he awesome Aswan dams, and next an ancient granite quarry complete with an unfinished obelisk. Then we go by motor launch to the island temples of Philae, dedicated to the Ancient Goddess ISIS.

We proceed to the airport of Aswan where we’ll board a plane to fly northward to Cairo. We’ll be met at the airport, then proceed northward overland to the great port of Alexandria where we’ll settle in to our hotel.

Conqueror of the Mediterranean Coast – Alexander the Great
In 332 BC, Egypt was laboring under Persian military control when Alexander the Great arrived to drive out the invaders without the shedding of a drop of blood. The Persian governor surrendered and the conquering hero was hailed as a liberator and given Egypt¹s double crown symbolizing control of Upper and Lower Egypt. Alexander reinstated Egypt’s traditional government and founded the city of Alexandria at the country’s most important crossroads: where the Nile meets the Mediterranean. In the evening we enjoy a leisurely walking guided tour of the old medina and “El Raml”. Private Egyptologist – Private Air-Conditioned Vehicle. Private Chauffeur

DAY 10 – ALEXANDRIA, EL ALAMEIN – Marsa Matrouh – Thursday (BLD)
We’ll cross into another era of history today as we motor westward through the dunes along the Mediterranean coast following the route of Field Marshall Montgomery to El Alamein. Here we’ll visit the fields of battle where Rommel’s advance on Cairo was finally halted. We’ll visit the museums war memorials.

As the gateway to Egypt, the Nile and Africa, Alexandria has been contested by armies and navies ever since. In 1798, Lord Nelson defeated Napoleon¹s navy just east of Alexandria. In 1807 the British occupied the city. In 1941, General Erwin Rommel’s Afrika Korps stormed across North Africa all the way to El Alamein, only 70 miles west of Alexandria.

Rommel was driven back in desperate fighting by British forces under the command of Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery, yet another of the many generals to have struggled for control of this strategic land. Lunch is included at Ala-Alamein Charm Hotel or similar then we are off to Marsa Matrouh where dinner and comfortable beds await us.

DAY 11 – Marsa Matrouh – SIWA, ORACLE OF AMON – Friday (BLD)
It’s back to ancient days as we follow the pilgrimage route of Alexander the Great to the Oracle of Amon. He marched westward along the Mediterranean coast, then inland (south) to the great oasis of Siwa. His aim was to visit the great temple of Amun which, tradition says, his legendary “ancestors” Heracles and Perseus had visited. He entered the temple and was hailed by the priests as pharaoh, the son of Amun. He then had a private audience with the High Priestess of the oracle, who proclaimed him to be a god, the son of Zeus. She predicted that he would conquer vast territories. He did. Leaving Egypt, he marched into Persia conquering all who came before him, all the way to what is now Lahore in Pakistan. On his return trip, however, he fell ill and died at the ripe age of 33 in Babylon.

According to ancient inscriptions, Alexander’s body was returned to Egypt and buried, but where? Both Siwa and Alexandria are possibilities. His tomb has not yet been identified for sure. In Siwa expect nothing but the best: Adrere Amellal Ecolodge (must book in advance). Imagine a hotel without electricity, let alone internet access, a true dream come true, no faxes, no e.mail!!

The Adrère Amellal lodge (40 rooms and suites), this is a boutique oases of luxury in the Egyptian desert that was built with Siwan labour and care so that it would fit entirely into the architectural styles of the oasis. Siwa and the Adrere border the largest ocean of sands in the world. Built out of indigenous material using traditional Siwan building techniques and styles so as to have a minimal impact on the land. The Adrere Amellal Ecolodge sets an example for being environmentally friendly hospitality establishment. Situated at the base of a majestic white mountain and overlooking palm groves and Siwa lake,
Adrere Amellal consists of a series of traditional Siwan houses that have been restored and re-designed into guests suites and rooms, all of which offer genuine desert-style comfort. Furnishing is simple, but of the highest quality, drawing exclusively on local material and design to reflect Siwa’s rugged spirit. The Siwan homes are built using a a mixture of sun dried salt rock mixed with straw for wall building. Furniture and fixtures are made of palm trunks and ceilings are beamed with palm logs, the carpentry and accessories display the rich and colorful variety of Siwa’s indigenous handicraft. Oil lamps and candles are used for lighting. On cold winter nights, coal-filled braziers are used for heating.

A brazier is a container for fire, generally taking the form of an upright standing or hanging metal bowl or box. Used for holding burning coal as well as fires. Braziers are mentioned in the Bible. The Hebrew word rendered “brazier” (´ach) is of Egyptian origin, suggesting that the brazier itself was an innovation from Egypt. Please do not expect that you’ll be able to access e.mail tonight!

Siwa Adrere Ecolodge … have a drink by the sea!! Sea of sand that is!!

DAY 12 – Siwa, Oracle of Amon – Saturday (BLD)
All meals are included today. Today’s tour includes: At Gebel Mawta, we’ll see tombs of the Greco-Roman era, including one that’s reputed to be Alexander’s own tomb. At Siwa, we’ll see an ancient fortress with winding alleyways, and the Temple of Amon, where Alexander’s divinity and legitimacy were proclaimed. Within a short distance, we’ll traverse centuries as we visit Cleopatra’s Pool, a Roman outpost, and a Ptolemaic temple. Our lunch break will be at the springs of Ain Sharouf, where we might get to take a dip.

At your Adrere Ecolodge, your meals are a true culinary delight using a mix of Egyptian, and Siwan cuisine always fresh, the nearest thing you get to organic in an oases; fresh yogurt, thick date syrup, eggs, local bread, fruit and rich coffee make up breakfast which is served in natural rocky grottos at the base of the mountain, lunch in village style by the swimming pool, hidden within a palm and olive grove and fed by one of the 230 springs in the area, while dinner is by candle light and served in the maze of dining rooms, alcoves and bars, their mud walls studded with salt mini slabs (from nearby salt lakes) that make dining under candlelight like eating in a “Star War” movie set. The lodge is telephone and electricity free. Candles and torches are used for lighting.

Day 13- SIWA, ALEXANDRIA – Sunday (BLD)
Today is a very full and long day as we head back north, we break for lunch at Marsa Matrouh, then off to Al-Alamein for a brief stop at Al-Alamein Charm hotel. Day use rooms will be available for one hour to take showers, freshen up, enjoy supper/light dinner then we’ll retrace the desert route to Alexandria the ancient capital of Cleopatra and your hotel.

DAY 14 – ALEXANDRIA, CAIRO – Monday (BLD)
Today, we’ll get to known Alexandria in depth, as we visit the Roman Amphitheater, the Koum El Shougafa Tombs, the fortress of Kayet Bey, and the new Library of Alexandria. After lunch in an Alexandrine restaurant, we’ll travel to Cairo with a stop at wadi El Natroun, lunch is included enroute. Dinner is included at the hotel.

DAY 15 – Pharaonic Giza, Tuesday (BLD)
Today we tour Memphis and Sakkara, including the Step Pyramid of Zoser & Nobles tombs/Mastabas, The Serapeum, Unas, Pyramid of Teti and key Mastabas. In the afternoon the tour takes us to Dahshour, the pyramid field south of Cairo:only-opened few years back after Sadat signed the peace treaty with Israel, and the Army let go of this strategically “important” area.

DAHSOUR – we’ll motor to the edge of Cairo, to Dahshour, the newly-opened pyramid field south of Cairo. We visit the great pyramid of Senfru, father of Cheops, and other structures.

The “Discovery” of Dahshour: For almost half a century, the great field of huge pyramids near the desert village of Dahshour, 25 miles south of Cairo, has been off limits to the public. Confined within the perimeter of a military base were many pyramids, including the great 4500-year-old pyramid built by Senfru, father of Cheops. Senfru’s pyramid, the largest in Egypt until his son built Giza’s Great Pyramid, is rhomboidal in shape: it tapers more distinctly on its upper half. All the pyramids were coated in thick plaster at one time. Most have lost these protective, decorative sheaths, but Senfru’s — miraculously — is still in place. We’ll tour as well the famous “Bent” Pyramid. Dinner is included at La Bodega Restaurant.

DAY 16 – CAIRO – Home Hosted Dinner – Wednesday (BLD)
The Culture of Cairo: Today we’ll explore deep into the heart of Cairo, and get to know its daily rhythms, its spirituality, its history, and its modern diversions. We’ll start early, with a visit to a local market, with an immense variety of seasonal fruits and vegetables on offer, both familiar and exotic.

You’ll see that shopping in Cairo goes far beyond a supermarket experience. Be prepared for whispers, gestures, shouting, and controlled chaos. It’s all part of the bargaining process, engaged in by women in traditional modest garb as well as others in Western dress.

Then it’s on to the Museum of Islamic Art, with its tapestries, textiles, swords and other objects exemplifying one of the world’s great decorative traditions. We’ll continue to the Gayer-Anderson House, a serene and classic domestic oasis, right down to its central fountain and exquisite furnishings. Our visit is also a journey into a vanished way of life—the residence is actually two traditional medieval Cairo houses restored by an English physician to a former king. We’ll stop for lunch at a restaurant where Cairenes go, then visit the Bab an-Nasr, the Gate of Victory in Cairo’s old walls. You’ll even see graffiti that survives from soldiers of Napoleon and of the British Empire, among the many who passed this way.

Dinner is included at a local home:
Meet the locals: 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, if you prefer, you may enjoy a quiet evening 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 17 – RETURN HOME – Thursday (B)
After breakfast, our Cairo staff will accompany you to the airport, where you’ll board your flight to start your journey home. Click here for more images from the Oases.

RATES per person in USD, based on departure from New York on Egyptair, Lufthansa via Frankfurt, Air France via Paris or British Airways via London or Olympic Airways via Athens, etc, we will confirm to based on availability at the time you book with us.

• Air fare supplement: Doesn’t apply when you handle your own air fare.
• For travel in May thru end of Sep, please note that a $ 350 airfare supplement is added to the above rates.
• Air fare from your home city: For departures from most west coast cities, as well as Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Orlando or Atlanta please add $ 350 to the above rates. Boston, Miami: $ 250

Rate includes:

• All ground transportation to and from airports and while touring overland.
• Hotel accommodations with tax.
• Domestic air fare in Egypt as per itinerary, economy class, tax included
• Cabin on Nile cruise vessel, with all meals & shore Excursions. Cruise embarkation is from Luxor or Aswan.
• Your Nile Cruise will always Include: Complimentary welcome drink upon arrival on board the Nile Cruise.
• Complimentary welcome fruit basket on board the Nile Cruise.
• Large bottle of water (per person) delivered to you cabin daily while you are on board the Nile Cruise.
• Tea or coffee an bottled water with each / every meal while you are on board the Nile Cruise.
• Airfare from New York to Cairo and return, and domestic air within Egypt as per itinerary, all in economy class, tax included.
• Sightseeing with guide and entrance fees as indicated.
• Meals as indicated, preset menu (B:Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner).
• Visa fee is included and will be issued upon arrival at Cairo Airport for a limited number of nationalities such as: Australian, NZ, American, EU, Canadian, Mexican, South African & Japanese citizens. You are responsible for having your passport in order valid at least for 6 months beyond the date of your arrival in Cairo.
• VIP Meet & Greet Service at Cairo Airport Upon Arrival.

Not included:

• Abu Simbel Excursion
• Trip interruption and cancellation insurance
• Personal expenses.
• Tips.

Distance:

• CAIRO – Bahariya Oasis: 365 Kilometers
• Bahariya Oasis – White Desert: 140 Kilometers
• White Desert – Farafra Oasis: 40 Kilometers

Ask us for more details.

Activities and Tours
This program gives you an idea of the daily flow of activities in Adrere Amellal: Breakfast is served on a shaded terrace overlooking the lake. If you do not know where to head for breakfast, just listen for the sound of the cutlery and plates and they will lead you to the right place.

El Bahariya and El Farafra Oases
Abu Simbel Temples Edition: A 14-day Egyptian Oases Tour

Here are all the splendors of Egypt, from the magnificence of the pharaohs to the glory of Western Sahara, The White Desert, El Bahariya & El Farafra Oases, and a private tour of the mighty Abu Simbel Temples. This itinerary includes a Nile cruise, of course, plus the attractions that most visitors miss. Weekly departure, year round, we have even included the tips.

DAY 1 – CAIRO – Tour operates: Weekly – Tuesday – Year Round

VIP Meet & Greet Service at Cairo Airport Upon Arrival.
Our local representative will greet you at the airport and whisk you to your hotel. Visa fee is included and will be issued upon arrival at Cairo Airport for: Australian, NZ, American, EU, Canadian & Japanese citizens. You are responsible for having your passport in order valid at least for 6 months beyond the date of your arrival in Cairo.

Visa will be issued upon arrival. As you exit the gate, you will pass through a door or two, down some stairs, then walk for 2-5 minutes, until you pass the duty free shops. At the end of a wide corridor, you will see the security officers. There you will be met by a local representative, who will be holding a sign with your name.

Our local representative will then take your passport to obtain a stamp from the cashier / bank window and escort you to speak with the passport officer. He will escort you through another last check on your passport as you exit the passport control, into customs area, he will assist you in collecting your luggage and clearing customs. After exiting the terminal, our local representative will escort you (private vehicle) to the hotel.

DAY 2 – CAIRO- Wednesday (BL)
Today you’ll explore the wonders of the Egyptian Museum, with its treasures of the ancient pharaohs: mummies, statuary, and precious stones and metals. Travellers have long come to Cairo just to gaze on these sights, but your day includes much more. You’ll see the Solar Boat Museum, and in Giza, on the edge of the desert, you’ll view the mysterious Sphinx and the Pyramids. In the evening we return to Giza for the Sound and Light Show (Bring a jacket or light sweater).

DAY 3 – CAIRO El Bahariya Oases – Valley of the Golden Mummies – Thursday (BLD)
Early morning departure before sunrise to be able to watch the sunrise over the Sahara. We board a private air conditioned coach or four wheel vehicle (depending on the number of guests) and proceed west on the Sahara Highway, (180 Kilometers from Cairo to El Bahariya), visiting Qaser Sleim, Alexander Tomb & Museum of Golden Mummies. Lunch and Dinner at the hotel: Hotel Palm Village Bahariya Oases, Desert Rose Eco Lodge, or Beshimo Lodge, or similar. Evening Bedouin folk show.

DAY 4 – El Farafra Oases (White Desert) – Friday (BLD)
After a morning tour of El Bahariya we head for the White Desert (180 Kilometers), on the way we’ll stop ay Crystal Mountain to marvel at the different Shapes of Lime Stones, arrive Farafra Oasis, where we will camp for the night (in a tent), dinner will be camp style. This tour may not be suitable for families with children who may not be used to camping, and the lack of hotel amenities. Guests must show proof of insurance before embarking on any camping trip with us regardless of the destination be it Moroccan Sahara, Tunisian Oases or the Egyptian Western Desert or in Sinai. BBQ dinner at the White Desert.

If you prefer to stay at a hotel then we’ll return back to El Farafra Oases and Badawiya Hotel.

DAY 5 – CAIRO – Saturday (BLD)
Early morning camp style breakfast before sunrise, drive back to Cairo (380 Kilometers), and your hotel. Remainder of the day at leisure. Lunch box including bottled water and fruit. Dinner is included at your hotel.

DAY 6 – Medieval CAIRO, Sunday (BLD)
Today, we’ll get to know more of Cairo, both historic and contemporary. We’ll set off for Khan el-Khalili, the labyrinthine bazaar district with its array of spice shops and clothing merchants and purveyors of baskets and brass ware and a thousand other specialties. We’ll also stop at the Citadel of Saladin, the Alabaster Mosque, Sultan Hassan Great Mosque, a true master piece. The afternoon is devoted to seeing more of Islamic Cairo’s sights: Ibn Touloun Mosque, City of the dead with it’s architectural treasures from Medieval Cairo and more contemporary Ottoman Times, Including Khedive’s tombs and Qait Bey. Lunch is included at Abu El Sid restaurant or similar.

Evening buffet dinner at Zeitouni restaurant at the Four Seasons Hotel in Cairo. Zeitouni. Authentic Lebanese flavours come alive in Zeitouni, 24 hours a day. An extensive buffet display situated in front of the restaurant’s open kitchen offers breakfast, lunch and dinner. Guests enjoy premier views of the Nile from large picture windows. Secluded alcoves, featuring contemporary wood décor, provide a more intimate dining alternative.Specialties: Guests enjoy a wide range of authentic Lebanese specialties such as breads, mezzes and grilled dishes, prepared by a team of gourmet Lebanese chefs.

DAY 7 – LUXOR – Nile Cruise – Monday (BLD)
Good morning, a very early morning breakfast, before we head for the airport to board your flight to Luxor! Upon arrival, we proceed to cross the Nile to the West Bank to visit Deir El Medinah, 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, on to Medinet Habu and the Ramesseum, then proceed right to our Nile cruiser for check-in and lunch. A complimentary fruit basket awaits you in your cabin. In the afternoon we’ll set out for the imposing Great Temple of Amon at Karnak and the Temple of Luxor. Cruise itinerary and the order in which you visit the different sites is subject to change even on a last minute basis to accommodate heavy traffic on the Nile and going through the locks in Esna.

DAY 8 – VALLEY OF THE KINGS – Tuesday (BLD)
We’ll set out across the Nile to view an array of ancient splendors: the tomb chambers of the Valley of the Kings including King Tut’s tomb, on to the imposing tomb-temple of Queen Hatshepsut in the Valley of the Queens, stop at the Colossi of Memnon before we head back to the boat.

Picture yourself on a camel in the fabled Valley of the Kings!
The Valley of the Kings and Deir El Bahari are essentials for anyone visiting Luxor. And Travel in Style is one of the few companies that includes King Tut’s tomb on every tour—without exception, and without surprises. (Others leave it to you to make arrangements and pay up on the spot at an additional charge to see this not to be missed attraction.)

And now we also offer the experience of conveyance by camel!

You’ll mount your caravan in the famous Valley of the Kings after your descent to the Tomb of Tut, and with your select group of companions and skilled drovers, proceed over the sand and rocks and hills, gently swaying in the manner of desert travelers of long ago. Have no cares! These sure-footed beasts have evolved to tackle this very terrain, and you’ll soon relax into the rhythm of their gait, and the tranquility of another era, as you regard the desert vistas of multi-hued hills and ancient temples from a privileged perch and breathe the pure air.

You—or your children—can choose to ride atop a horse, or even a donkey. It’s entirely up to you to make it the most fun!

Your caravan concludes after half an hour at the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir El-Bahari.

Of course, it’s your choice to travel in the traditional desert manner, or to continue in the air-conditioned vehicle that brought you to the Valley. Should you decide to dismount early, your vehicle is always at your disposition. You’ll want to give the caravan a try.

There’s no additional charge for your royal caravan, only an additional measure of fun! Must request this option at the time you book your reservation with us.

DAY 9 – ESNA, EDFU – Wednesday (BLD)
We’ll make our way up the Nile during the night. After breakfast, we’ll proceed through the Esna locks, and on to Esna itself. Horse-drawn carriages meet us at riverside to take us to the Temple of Horus, best-preserved in all of Egypt. While we continue our sail up the Nile in the evening, we’ll party in Egyptian style. You might well have bought a galabia, the flowing national dress. Now’s your chance to wear it!

DAY 10 – KOM OMBO, ASWAN – Thursday (BLD)
Soon after daybreak, we’ll disembark at Kom Ombo to explore the twin temples of Haroeris, the sun god, and Sobek, the crocodile god, then continue our voyage to Aswan. All the while, you will have seen feluccas sailing the Nile. Now we’ll experience Egypt at its most authentic, as we sail in one of these graceful craft. To really immerse yourself, try your hand at camel riding! We’ll take willing passengers on a traditional caravan to enjoy tea with Nubian villagers.

DAY 11 – Aswan / Abu Simbel / CAIRO, Friday (BL)
In the morning we check-out form your cabin. Tour the awesome Aswan dams, and next an ancient granite quarry complete with an unfinished obelisk. Then we go by motor launch to the island temples of Philae, dedicated to the Ancient Goddess ISIS.

We proceed to the airport of Aswan, where we’ll board a plane to fly southward to Abu Simbel, where your private air-conditioned vehicle and private guide will be waiting for you. Lunch box and bottled water will be provided by your chef on board.

In the larger temple dedicated to Ramses the Great, colossal figures of Ramses are seated with the gods and attended by his queen and daughters. The smaller temple is dedicated to Queen Nefertari, who appears as Hathor, the goddess of love, joy and fertility, symbolized by the benevolent cow. We explore these fine temple then fly back to Aswan in time for the connection back to Cairo and your hotel, transfers are ALWAYS included and are on a private basis.

Jacquie Kennedy & Abu Simbel:
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. Read More

DAY 12 – Pharaonic Giza, Saturday (cBL)
Today we tour Memphis and Sakkara, including the Step Pyramid of Zoser & Nobles tombs/Mastabas, The Serapeum, Unas, Pyramid of Teti and key Mastabas.

In the afternoon the tour takes us to Dahshour, the pyramid field south of Cairo – only-opened few years back after Sadat signed the peace treaty with Israel, and the Army let go of this strategically “important” area.

DAHSOUR – we’ll motor to the edge of Cairo, to Dahshour, the newly-opened pyramid field south of Cairo. We visit the great pyramid of Senfru, father of Cheops, and other structure:

The “Discovery” of Dahshour:
For almost half a century, the great field of huge pyramids near the desert village of Dahshour, 25 miles south of Cairo, has been off limits to the public. Confined within the perimeter of a military base were many pyramids, including the great 4500-year-old pyramid built by Senfru, father of Cheops. Senfru’s pyramid, the largest in Egypt until his son built Giza’s Great Pyramid, is rhomboidal in shape: it tapers more distinctly on its upper half. All the pyramids were coated in thick plaster at one time. Most have lost these protective, decorative sheaths, but Senfru’s — miraculously — is still in place. We’ll tour as well the famous “Bent” Pyramid.

DAY 13- CAIRO – Home Hosted Dinner – Sunday (BL)

The Culture of Cairo
Today we’ll explore deep into the heart of Cairo, and get to know its daily rhythms, its spirituality, its history, and its modern diversions. We’ll start early, with a visit to a local market, with an immense variety of seasonal fruits and vegetables on offer, both familiar and exotic.

You’ll see that shopping in Cairo goes far beyond a supermarket experience. Be prepared for whispers, gestures, shouting, and controlled chaos. It’s all part of the bargaining process, engaged in by women in traditional modest garb as well as others in Western dress.

Then it’s on to the newly restored el-Darb El Ahmar site. We’ll continue to the Gayer-Anderson House, a serene and classic domestic oasis, right down to its central fountain and exquisite furnishings. Our visit is also a journey into a vanished way of life—the residence is actually two traditional medieval Cairo houses restored by an English physician to a former king. We’ll stop for lunch at Naguib Mahfouz restaurant (or similar, then visit the Bab an-Nasr, the Gate of Victory in Cairo’s old walls. You’ll even see graffiti that survives from soldiers of Napoleon and of the British Empire, among the many who passed this way.

Complimentary Dinner is included at a local home:
Meet the locals: 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, if you prefer, you may enjoy a quiet evening 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 – RETURN HOME – Monday (B)
After breakfast, our Cairo staff will accompany you to the airport, where you’ll board your flight to start your journey home.

Rate includes:

• Domestic air in Egypt as per itinerary, in economy class
• Sightseeing with guide and entrance fees as indicated.
• Meals as indicated, preset menu (B:Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner).
• All ground transportation to and from airports and while touring overland.
• Hotel accommodations with tax.
• Cabin on Nile cruise vessel, with all meals & shore Excursions. Cruise embarkation is from Luxor or Aswan. Your Nile Cruise will always Include:
• Complimentary welcome drink upon arrival on board the Nile Cruise.
• Complimentary welcome fruit basket on board the Nile Cruise.
• Large bottle of water (per person) delivered to you cabin daily while you are on board the Nile Cruise.
• Tea or coffee an bottled water with each / every meal while you are on board the Nile Cruise.
• Visa fee is included and will be issued upon arrival at Cairo Airport for a limited number of nationalities such as: Australian, NZ, American, EU, Canadian, Mexican, South African & Japanese citizens. You are responsible for having your passport in order valid at least for 6 month beyond the date of your arrival in Cairo.
• VIP Meet & Greet Service at Cairo Airport Upon Arrival.

Not included:

• Trip interruption and cancellation insurance.
• Personal expenses.
• Tips.
• International air fare, from / to your home country

sample Hotels or similar:

• El Bahariya: Hotel Palm Village Bahariya Oases, Desert Rose Eco Lodge, or Beshimo Lodge, or similar.
• El Farafra: Tent / Camping (please click for info on your camping experience)

in Egypt’s Western Desert

Tutanhkamun pendant with Wadjet
By Jon Bodsworth [see page for license], via Wikimedia Commons

It’s back to ancient days as we follow the pilgrimage route of Alexander the Great to the Oracle of Amon. He marched westward along the Mediterranean coast, then inland (south) to the great oasis of Siwa. His aim was to visit the great temple of Amun which, tradition says, his legendary “ancestors” Heracles and Perseus had visited. He entered the temple and was hailed by the priests as pharaoh, the son of Amun. He then had a private audience with the High Priestess of the oracle, who proclaimed him to be a god, the son of Zeus. She predicted that he would conquer vast territories. He did. Leaving Egypt, he marched into Persia conquering all who came before him, all the way to what is now Lahore in Pakistan.

On his return trip, however, he fell ill and died at the ripe age of 33 in Babylon. According to ancient inscriptions, Alexander’s body was returned to Egypt and buried but where?

Both Siwa and Alexandria are possibilities. His tomb has not yet been identified for sure. At Gebel Mawta, we’ll see tombs of the Greco-Roman era, including one that’s reputed to be Alexander’s own tomb. At Siwa, we’ll see an ancient fortress with winding alleyways, and the Temple of Amon, where Alexander’s divinity and legitimacy were proclaimed. Within a short distance, we’ll traverse centuries as we visit Cleopatra’s Pool, a Roman outpost, and a Ptolemaic temple.

A note about meals served
Please note that some meals will be served in local desert style. For your Egyptian breakfast expect orange juice, tea and coffee, marmalade, a selection of two cheeses, beans, and eggs. A picnic lunch will typically include either tuna, sausage, sardines or beef with a green salad or a salad of cheese, tomato and fruit. For dinner, expect a beef or chicken main coarse, with vegetable and rice or pasta. Please inform your hosts in advance of any dietary requests.

Royal Dahabiya Yachts on the Nile

Special Category
The Nile Aboard King Farouk Steamship: The S/S Misr

Egypt’s Last Royal Family. King Farouk,
Queen Farida and Princess Feryal

S/S Misr

Built for King Farouk toward the end of the nineteenth century, His Majesty King Farouk’s Steamship Misr (Egypt) is no re-creation of the grand era but the real thing. It offers 16 state room and 8 suites.

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Now you can live the luxury, amenities and style of days gone by aboard the steamship Misr. Built for the Royal Navy towards the early years of the twentieth century: 1918, implementing for the first time Stevenson Link reversing system for a vertical steam engine.

The steamer was purchased and later converted into a luxury Nile steamer for King Farouk. it is no re-creation of this grand era, but the real thing, lovingly restored, among the last of its kind to cruise the great river. You’ll cruise as princes, kings, ambassadors and royal retainers once did, to ancient temples and villages bypassed by time.

One of the invitations cards that was found on board did read “on the occasion of celebrating the birthday of his majesty King Farouk I, The governor of Cairo requests the honor of your company on board the Misr Nile Steamer at 08 P.M. on February the 10th, 1939”.

The name of that Nile Steamer ship “Misr” is the Arabic for Egypt and the interior decor reflects the style of the period with each cabin having its own individual style. Each Sailing is limited to 45 guests maximum. The steamer is about 63 meters long and offer 24 cabins including 8 suites all are fully air-conditioned, all are with private facilities.Each stateroom has large panoramic window. The steamer offers eight suites, the suites are very much in demand, and it is first come, first serve, we regret that we do not offer any wait listing for the suites. Average square meter space for the cabin is about 18 – 20 square meter, suites are about 30 square meter.

For nature lovers we include a tour of the Botanical Garden Island in Aswan (while others will simply have you sail around the island without setting foot on it!), then we go on to Gharb Sehail and tour some of the mini nature protected Islands in the middle of the Nile with sandy beaches and beautiful rare plants. Compare with other Royal Dahabiyas, the Dongola Photo Gallery and the Zarafa (Giraffe) built for Sultan Hussein Kamel, King Fouad’s Father.Compare with King Farouk’s Father’s Personal Dahabiya Yacht, His Majesty King Fouad’s Steamship: The Sudan

The Nile Aboard the Steamship Misr
Eight Days/ Seven Nights on board PLUS one night Hotel Stay in Cairo

The steamer Misr is faithful to its origins, with authentic fixtures and period furniture, rich woodwork, leather upholstery, brass bedsteads, paneled passageways, and wooden decks. Yet modern conveniences are integrated in the most sensitive fashion, including luxurious plumbing, and air conditioning. Sixty crew member are on board and anticipate every need and caters to every request.

Watch Egypt pass by from the comfort of the upper deck, retire to the lounge to read quietly, or enjoy conversation or a card game with new friends, and dine on the finest Egyptian and French cuisine.

And travel with the assurance that the steamer Misr embodies responsible tourism. Cooling water is recycled to steam boilers, and waste is treated. Local craftsmen and contractors restore, maintain, and re-create the heritage environment.

Travel in Style to Egypt, unforgettably and responsibly, aboard the steamship Misr.

Eight Days Nile Cruise – Seven Nights: PLUS one night Hotel Stay in Cairo:

Dining room on the SS Misr.

Day 1 – Cairo / Luxor/ Esna – Monday – (Dinner)
Please advise us of your hotel name in Cairo, or arrival flight details into Cairo Airport. Our local rep. will assist with your private transfer to the airport to board your flight to board the cruise. Flight is in First Class or Business Class, tax included. In Luxor our local rep, will meet and escort you from the airport to the cruise. The crew of King Farouk steamer Misr will welcome you aboard and settle you into your luxurious cabin or suite. After dinner, we will sail for Esna.

Day 2 – Edfu, Kom Ombo – Tuesday (BLD)
Sail to Edfu where we horse-drawn carriages await to convey us to Edfu temple, one of the best-preserved in the land, dedicated to the gods Horus and Hathor, begun in the fourth century BC. We resume our cruise, to arrive in Kom Ombo at sunset, the perfect time to admire its double temple, dedicated to both Sobek the crocodile god and Horus the falcon. You may wish to dress tonight for dinner in late 50’s style.

Day 3 –Kom Ombo, Aswan – Wednesday (BLD)
We sail northward from Kom Ombo in the morning to reach Aswan, gateway to Nubia, the southern region of Egypt that stretches on to Sudan.

Day 4 – Aswan – Thursday (BLD)
Our visit today includes the island temple of Philae, dedicated to the goddess Isis, mother and wife of Osiris, and embodiment of fertility and motherhood. Its reliefs and frescoes make it one of the most attractive temples in Egypt. We’ll have time to stroll through Aswan to discover the climate, crafts and cultures that have long attracted wintering royalty before enjoying our dinner together on board.

The bar on the SS Misr

Day 5 – Aswan / Abu Simbel / Aswan / Edfu – Friday (BLD)
Very early breakfast. Off to the airport, where we board your flight to Abu Simbel, where your private guide and air-conditioned vehicle await you. In Abu Simbel we tour: Ramses the Great larger temple, colossal figures of Ramses are seated with the gods and attended by his queen and daughters. The smaller temple is dedicated to Queen Nefertari, who appears as Hathor, the goddess of love, joy and fertility, symbolized by the benevolent cow. We explore these fine temple, admiring their ancient aura and artistry, after which retire we fly back to Aswan. Back on board, we cruise to Edfu.

Day 6 – Luxor – Saturday (BLD)
A grand day of sailing along the Nile with scenes that changed little since biblical times. Reach Luxor in time for dinner on board.

Day 7 – Luxor – Sunday (BLD)
We’ll cross the Nile this morning to visit the sites of the Valley of the Kings, where the rulers of ancient Egypt and their wives were laid to rest for eternity in fabulous tombs that befit living deities. Our tour included King Tut’s tomb. At Medinet-Habu, we visit the temple of Ramses III, almost entirely intact, exemplifying the temple tombs of the Ramses dynasty. We tour as well Queen Hatshepsut  El Deir El Bahari Temple.

Cabins are always: Upper decks

Day 8 – Luxor, Cairo – Monday (BL)
After breakfast, you’ll commence your explorations with visits to the temples of ancient Thebes: the Temple of Amon at Karnak—the largest religious complex anywhere—and the Temple of Luxor with its seemingly endless colonnades, built during the reign of Amenophis III, and enlarged by Ramses II. After lunch on board your Royal Dahabiya: on to the Airport and your flight back to Cairo in Business Class, tax included. Transfers are always on a private basis with a private air-conditioned vehicle and private chauffeur. In Cairo, our local rep. will be waiting for you and assist with your transfer to the J. W. Marriott – Club Level Room, or the Grand Hyatt: Grand Suite.

Day 9 – Cairo – Tuesday (B)
After breakfast. Check-out, our local rep. will assist with your transfer to the airport, always on a private basis.

Compare with other Royal Dahabiyas: the Dongola Photo Gallery; the Zarafa (Giraffe) built for Sultan Hussein Kamel, King Fouad’s Father; and His Majesty King Fouad’s steamship The Sudan.

For Dec 20 – Jan 2, Easter Season: Please add: 15 % supplement

Price includes:

• Transportation aboard the Nile steamer Misr
• Tips are INCLUDED!
• Nile Cruise Dahabiya accommodation with all shore excursions and meals
• Taxes and service charges
• Services of English-speaking guide and on-board personnel
• Entry fees to sites on itinerary
• All meals (BLD) while on board
• Transfers between the Sudan and sites visited on the itinerary
• As well as airport transfers in Aswan and Luxor
• One night hotel accommodation in Cairo after the cruise at the: the J. W. Marriott – Club Level Room, or the Grand Hyatt: Grand Suite, or the Four Seasons: Standard room. Please advise your preference.
• Domestic air fare between Cairo and the cruise, round trip in business class, with tax included.

Not included:

• Air fare from your home to Egypt, or within Egypt (We will gladly make these arrangements)
• Optional beverages or services not specifically mentioned
• Expenses of a personal nature
• Trip interruption and cancellation insurance

While on board King Farouk steamer Misr, you will have 60 highly experienced crew members working on making your stay on board a very enjoyable one.

Some more details on King Farouk steamer Misr

• Length 63 meters – Width 13 meters – Height 10.75 meters
• Water purification comprehensive system.
• Electric current 220 volts.
• Fire detection and alarm system.
• Sprinkler system.
• 3 Generators.
• Sailing camera.
• Satellite channels (while docking).
• House music
• Safety Deposit Box
• Elegant Restaurant Seating 50 Guests
• Large And Luxurious Lounge
• Gift Shop

Each cabin on board King Farouk steamer Misr offers:

• Private Bathroom
• Hair Dryer
• Color TV
• Internal Phone
• Mini bar in each cabin
• 2 life Jackets.

Royal feluccas and Dahabbiyas bore a larger-than-life image of the pharaoh, seated on a throne, to be seen and venerated by inhabitants even along the most remote canal. In turn, imbued with the same “ka,” or spirit, as the living pharaoh himself, it would keep watch over his subjects and their activities.

So integral was the Nile Dahabbiya and felucca to the ancient Egyptian way of life that it assumed legendary attributes. Even today, you can see the oldest known Nile felucca, the regal pharaonic Dahabia of Cheops, the ruler immortalized by the Great Pyramid at Giza. Known as the Solar Boat, it was believed to sail through the skies carrying its royal passenger along sunbeams in his single cabin, the royal suite of its day.

The regal pharaonic Dahabia of Cheops Museum in Giza is a must see.

In later times, pashas, emirs, and sultans found that feluccas were indispensable. When Napoleon invaded Egypt, the Mamluks rulers observed the Battle of the Pyramids from their dahabeahs, and in the wake of defeat, set them afire, still laden with treasures, in the middle of the river. Always one to adapt to local practice, Napoleon even had his own dahabeah, the Italy, which was used by his officers to explore Upper Egypt.

In the nineteenth century, the well-equipped Nile Dahabbiya and felucca was essential to the upper-crust adventurer. Lord Kitcheners used several feluccas for his famous trip from Cairo to Khartoum.

It took from two to three months to ascend the Nile under wind power, and another month-and-a-half to float back downstream, stopping at the great temples along the way. King Farouk, Churchill, Montgomery, Mark Twain and others settled in for the journey, and a certain Lady Edwards even had a piano installed on her sailing vessel.

Eventually, steamers displaced dahabeahs, opening up an Egyptian adventure to greater numbers on Thomas Cook’s tours, and trains nearly finished them off. But never completely. Even today, despite the inroads of rail, steam power, and highways, the graceful Nile felucca retains its place.

A skilled river captain is on board at all times. A guide is at your disposal to plan your itinerary and escort you through the sites you choose to visit. The crew has completely separate quarters, to ensure your privacy.

A Once in a Life Time Nile Cruise Experience
Tour Queen Nefertari’s Tomb & Dendera Abydos Temples

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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.

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.

Boarding Aswan

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Yachts on the Nile. Cruise the same way the Pharaohs did. Private Egyptologist, Private Air-Conditioned Vehicle, and Private Chauffeur. We have even included all the tips. No Hidden Charges. No Additional Tax. Starts every Saturday in either Luxor or Aswan. An Eight Day / seven night journey. Add a once in a life time tour of the restored Queen Nefertari’s Tomb, as well as Dendera and Abydos Temples.

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: Saturday – Aswan (or Luxor)
Transfer is included in Aswan from your hotel or Aswan Airport (Please advise your arrival details). Private chauffeur and private air-conditioned vehicle for your transfer. Embarkation in Aswan for a relaxing week sailing the Nile on a luxuriously appointed Sonesta dahabiya. For interested guests: please join us on a short camel ride to a nearby Nubian Village, 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. Overnight, the ship moors on the Nile banks of Aswan. Private Egyptologist, Private Air-Conditioned Vehicle, Private Chauffeur. Cabin amenity for tonight: A fruit basket awaits you in your cabin with our compliments.

Aswan, Egypt. Photo by youssef_alam, Wikimedia Commons

Day 2: Sunday – Aswan – On Board Your Nile Cruise
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.

For nature lovers we include a tour of the Botanical Garden Island in Aswan (while others will simply have you sail around the island without setting foot on it!), then we go on to Gharb Sehail and tour some of the mini nature protected Islands in the middle of the Nile with sandy beaches and beautiful rare plants.

Evening Sound and Light show at Philae Temple. Overnight moored in Aswan. Private Egyptologist. Private Air-Conditioned Vehicle-Private Chauffeur. Cabin amenity for tonight: Kartouches with your names in Hieroglyphic. With our compliments.

Day 3: Monday – On Board Your Nile Cruise
Morning sail to Kom Ombo to 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. Cabin amenity for tonight: Egyptian sweets platter. With our compliments.

The Richmond Party, Sonesta Luxury Yacht Dahabiya Cruise on the Nile. Photo by The Mighty Alan – aka Mighty Ra.

Day 4: Tuesday – On Board Your Nile Cruise
This morning you will sail to Edfu to visit the wonderfully preserved Temple of Edfu. Private Egyptologist. Private Air-Conditioned Vehicle-Private Chauffeur. Overnight moored beside an island. Cabin amenity for tonight: Galabya (the local flowing traditional garb). With our compliments.

Day 5: Wednesday – We Include the Tour to Esna Temple
Today will be a leisurely day. After breakfast, sail to Esna and go through Esna Locks. We Include the tour to Esna Temple, and onward to Luxor, where your dahabiya moors overnight. Private Egyptologist. Private Air-Conditioned Vehicle-Private Chauffeur.

Day 6: Thursday- On Board Your Nile Cruise
Excursion to the West Bank to visit the great 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, Medinet Habu Temple, the Ramesseum Temple and the Colossi of Memnon, 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.

Overnight moored on the Nile banks of Luxor. Evening Sound and Light show at Karnak. Please bring a jacket. Private Egyptologist. Private Air-Conditioned Vehicle-Private Chauffeur.

Karnak, Egypt. Photo by Ron Guay.

Day 7: Friday – On Board Your Nile Cruise
You will 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. 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. Private Egyptologist. Private Air-Conditioned Vehicle-Private Chauffeur.

Day 8: Saturday
Breakfast aboard the dahabiya followed by disembarkation. Transfer is included – always on a private basis – to the airport or train station – Bon Voyage.

Rate Includes:

• All transfers in 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/ coffle 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 Galabiya (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.
• Visa fee is $ 15 payable in cash upon arrival at Cairo or Luxor Airport, the visa will be issued upon arrival at Cairo Airport for: American, EU, Canadian, Singaporean and Japanese citizens. You are responsible for having your passport in order valid at least for 6 month beyond the date of your arrival in Cairo. Our local rep. will meet you with a sign in your name after you exit the terminal.