Ancient Nile

An 8-Day Tour of Egypt . Including Abu Simbel and Denderah Temples , on Board one of the Ultra Deluxe Sonesta Nile Cruises, such as M/S Moon Goddess, and the M/S Star Goddess (Mozart Suite) . All state-rooms with private Balconies. We have even included all the tips

Add Hotel stay in Aswan

How would you like to cruise the Nile the way the Pharaoh & Cleopatra did ? These graceful boats will allow you to cruise the great river in a stately Pharaonic style. Our 7-day "soft adventure" cruise visits all of Upper Egypt's top sights, and gives you the chance to see the timeless Nile as adventurers have seen it throughout the ages.

This 8 day , including a 7-day Nile cruise is the perfect for covering the Highlights of Ancient Nile Package as well as Denderah temple . Weekly on Wed , Embarkation: Luxor or Aswan. All inclusive ,no surprises, no hidden costs, even tips are included. !!!!! - Click here for the 11 -Days with extra stay in Aswan and Luxor

DAY 1 - LUXOR WEEKLY - Year Round on Wednesday (LD)
Provide us with your hotel name in Cairo . or we will be glad to assist with booking a hotel for you in Cairo.

Transfer to Cairo Airport to board your flight to Luxor ( or Aswan ) , where our local rep. will meet and assist with your transfer to your Nile cruises ( compare with the sleeper train version from Cairo ) , check- in is at noon, if/when you arrive earlier , your cabin may not be ready , yet all the public facilities son board are at your disposal. A complimentary welcome fruit basket awaits you in your cabin

After a delicious lunch, we leave for Qena. Afternoon tea is served on deck, reach Qena in time for dinner , Complimentary welcome fruit basket.

Nile Cruise Shore Excursions : For private guide, private air-conditioned car, private driver for cruise shore excursions, please add $ 250 per person to the above listed rate. This supplement doesn't apply when you book the Presidential Suite.

DAY 2 - DENDERAH / LUXOR Thursday (BLD)
After breakfast we drive inland to tour Denderah Temple. Among the best preserved in Egypt. This temple as a sight to hold. Indiana Jones would have felt at home, with the massive stones & underground passages. Sail back to Luxor as we sip our afternoon tea on deck.
Evening Welcome Cocktail & Dinner . Evening Sound & Light show at Karnak Temple.
Cabin amenity : One large bottle of water.

DAY 3 - KARNAK- ANCIENT CITY OF GODS Friday (bBLD)
Morning tour of 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.

After lunch we tour the Mighty Karnak Complex of temples, Obelisks, Avenue of the Sphinx , the Sacred Lake, and the smaller Amon Luxor Temple. Cabin amenity: Complimentary Egyptian sweets/pastry platter.

DAY 4 - VALLEY OF THE KINGS Saturday (bBLD)
This morning we visit the Valley of the Kings, including King Tut's tomb, Valley of the Queens, including Queen Nefertari's tomb: closed until further notice for urgent repairs, as soon as repairs are completed , we will reinstate this tour in our program

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 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 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 it's on to Queen Hatshepsut's Temple and the Colossi of Memnon. After a shipboard lunch. Sail for Edfu where we dock for the night. Complimentary Galabya delivered to your cabin.

DAY 5 - EDFU ,KOM OMBO & ASWAN Sunday (cBLD)
In Edfu, we board horse-drawn carriages for the ride to the Temple of Horus. The best preserved temple in Egypt. Returning to our ship, we set sail for KOM OMBO We explore the twin Temples of Haroeris , the Sun God, and Sobek , the Crocodile God . Returning to our ship in time for tea. We set sail for Aswan. Complimentary Galabya will be delivered to your cabin , you may wish to try on for the evening when there's a jolly galabia party aboard.

DAY 6 -ASWAN & CAMEL CARAVAN Monday (BLD)
Get ready for the tour of Aswan Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk, The Nubian Museum, and Philae Temple ,before we head back for our lunch aboard. In the afternoon we board a graceful felucca and cruise among the islands of the Nile, be our guest if you wish on a complimentary short camel caravan to a near by Nubian Village for tea with the locals. Return to the ship in time for your " afternoon Tea" Evening Folk show & Belly dance.

DAY 7- Disembarkation Tuesday (B)
After breakfast, we check out: Aswan
Tour of Kalabsha Temple dedicated to the ancient god Mandulis, and the goddess Isis . Built during the reign of the Roman Emperor Augustus , the small rock-cut temple of Beit El Wali, built by Ramses the Great , and the small yet charming Kiosk of Qertassi, then back to Aswan and the legendary colonial style : Old Cataract ( Subject to availability) or the Elephantine Island Aswan Hotel ( on the Island of Elephantine in the Middle of the Nile ).

DAY 8 - Abu Simbel/ Aswan - Wednesday (B)
One way private car / driver and Egyptologist, and one way flying back
Very early breakfast. Abu Simbel We've planned our visit to Abu Simbel to be a highlight of your Egyptian adventure. Rising before dawn, we drive along the shore of Lake Nasser, watching the sky lighten and the sacred sun rise above the horizon. We reach the great temples while the air is clean, clear and cool, and the sun's light still golden;just right for photographs.
In the 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 by ourselves in the quiet of the morning, admiring their ancient aura and artistry, after which retire to a comfortable hotel for refreshments. Just as planeloads of visitors arrive to throng the temples we head for Abu Simbel Airport for your flight back to Cairo via Aswan ( this air ticket is included in our rate , in economy class, one way Abu Simbel Aswan Cairo , tax included .

In Cairo , our local rep. will assist with your transfer to your hotel in Cairo or connect to another flight to Europe at Cairo Airport . End of our service.

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

RATES per person in USD

Christmas, New Year's & Easter: Please add 15% holiday supplement.

Rate includes :

• Ultra deluxe , all suites category , deluxe Nile cruise with all shore excursions.
  
• All the tips to the crew on board ( except guides)
  
• Private tour to Abu Simbel by private air-conditioned car.
  
• Domestic air ticket within Egypt , in economy class,as per itinerary , tax included .
  
• Entrance fees.
  
• The service of an English Speaking guide .
  
• All meals while on board : B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner.
  
• Afternoon tea daily onboard.
  
• Arrival & Departure transfers are provided on a PRIVATE air -conditioned sedan and private chauffeur
  
• 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.

Private Nile Cruise Shore Excursions :
For private guide, private air-conditioned car, private driver for cruise shore excursions, please add $250 per person to the above listed rate. This supplement doesn't apply when you book the Presidential Suite.

Presidential Suite rate Includes the service of

• A PRIVATE ENGLISH SPEAKING GUIDE WHILE ON BOARD THE CRUISE covering all shore excursions.
• Private air-conditioned vehicle / private chauffeur and /or horse drawn carriage where available
  

Not Included:

- Tips to guide

- Insurance ( please ask for the flyer)

- Airfare is not included: Please click here to add air fare

- Any hotel accommodation

What to Pack: Most of the year look forward to warm, even hot weather in Luxor & Aswan, morning & evenings are cooler. For Shore excursions, we suggest comfortable cotton & natural fabric lightweight clothing. Comfortable walking shoes are essential.

Clothing on Board : Lightweight comfortable & casual clothing. Swimsuits, sun hat. Dining room dress code is casual for breakfast & lunch, but smart casual for dinner. All ships are fully air conditioned