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Great
Egypt
Cairo and a cruise on Lake Nasser ( the Nubian Sea)
All in a 10- day Egyptian tour. We have even included
all the tips
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This
inclusive tour shows you the true grandeur of Egypt, with visits to
the timeless monuments of cosmopolitan Cairo, and a voyage to the ancient
sites on the vast inland sea of Lake Nasser in Nubia. It's all of Egypt
in 10 days .
Tour
starts weekly in Cairo .
Day
1- CAIRO- Wednesday-
Weekly - Year Round
This tour starts weekly in Cairo. Complimentary visa will be issued
upon arrival for citizens of : Australia, USA, Canada , Japan and EU.
.
Your passport must be valid at least for 6 month beyond the date of
arrival. Upon arrival, we escort you to your hotel. Welcome local pastries
awaits you in your room.
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 the name you prefer to use for the sign .
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. Add
Extra Night : To add Memphis , Sakkara , Coptic Cairo and more, please
click here
DAY
2 - CAIRO- Thursday (BL)
Today we see Cairo's major sights: the Egyptian Museum, including the
Mummies room, Giza Pyramids, the Solar Boat Museum housing the
oldest known Royal Barge that was found next to the Great Pyramid of
Cheops, and was supposed to be ready for the Mighty Pharaoh in his "after
Life" journey !. We tour as well the enigmatic Sphinx. Return to
your hotel late afternoon.
Evening sunset cruise on the Nile : Sailing Felucca, always on a private
basis.
DAY
3 - CAIRO/Aswan or Abu Simbel - Friday (BL)
After an early breakfast, we drive to the airport for the flight to
Aswan, ( or Abu Simbel
).
Early check-in is included at the Old Cataract or Movenpick Aswan .
Morning at leisure.
Afternoon private felucca sailing among the rocky islands of the Nile
, we sail around Elephantine Island , guests who are interested, we
hike up to the Agha Khan Mausoleum , enjoy a short 10-15 minutes camel
ride then down to the Nile and sail back to the hotel. In the evening
your guide will call on you for a horse drawn carriage ride through
Aswan and the Nile Corniche water front.
DAY
4 - ASWAN/ NUBIAN CRUISE -
Saturday (BLD)
After breakfast, enjoy your morning at leisure , Transfer at noon to
your cruiser. Complimentary welcome fruit basket in ear cabin. After
lunch aboard, we visit the Temple of Kalabsha, originally constructed
in Pharaonic style, but later remodeled in Greco-Roman style and dedicated
to the god Mandoulis. Next we visit Beit el Wali, a work of Pharaoh
Ramses the Great, followed by a stop at Kertassi Kiosk, dedicated
to the goddess Isis. We dine aboard our floating hotel.
DAY
5 - CRUISING -Sunday (BLD)
Lake Nasser, Egypt's great man-made inland sea formed by the waters
held behind the Aswan High Dam. As we head south towards Wadi
el Seboua, you have time to relax on deck, take a dip in the pool,
read up on Egyptian history, and get to know your fellow travelers.
DAY
6 - WADI EL SEBOUA, DAKKA & AMADA -Monday (BLD)
Our first port of call is at the Temple of Wadi el Seboua, dedicated
by the mighty Ramses the Great to two of ancient Egypt's most powerful
gods. Our next stop is Dakka Temple, followed by a visit to Amada
and the tomb of Penout, the powerful viceroy of Nubia, one of ancient
Egypt's richest regions. Known as the "Land of Gold," Nubia
was famous for the stream of gold, ivory, precious stones and minerals
which made their way from Africa to Egypt via the Nubian Nile. We dock
at Kasr Ibrim, where we dock for the night.
DAY
7 - KASR IBRIM & ABU SIMBEL Tuesday (BLD)
As the sun brightens the lake shore we gaze at the citadel of Kasr Ibrim,
a once-mighty fortress which time and weather have rendered fragile,
the only structure of its kind still extant in Nubia. We learn about
the history of Nubia and this fortress, then, after lunch, set sail
for Abu Simbel. Arriving at the great temple, we have time to explore
its colossal facade and surroundings before enjoying dinner and spectacular
sound-and light show with the temple as our backdrop.
DAY
8 - ABU SIMBEL & Cairo - Wednesday (B)
Get up early today to enjoy the extraordinary vision of the temple of
Abu Simbel at dawn, when the sacred sunlight penetrates deep
into its holy of holies as its architect intended. The morning sun bathes
the ruddy stone in golden light, providing perfect conditions for photography.
We fly to
to Cairo. Transfer to hotel.
DAY
9 - OLD CAIRO- Ottoman Cairo. Home Hosted Dinner - Thursday
(BLD)
Coptic Cairo :The treasure filled Coptic churches & Synagogue are
our goal this morning. After which we tour the former Royal palace of
Abdeen, where Sadat welcomed Nixon in the 70's , Nixon was the first
American president to visit Egypt since Roosevelt made a brief visit
during W.W.II
We
enjoy lunch at Naguib Mahfouz restaurant then embark on a walking tour
of the legendary 12th century district of Khan El Khalili including
the Caravanserai: Wekalet el Ghouri & the 15th century Ottoman style
house of Beit El Kritlya ( Gayer Anderson Museum).
Dinner
is included at a local home:
Meet the locals,
you may wish to bring token gifts to exchange with the host family (
T shirt , small souvenirs of your home town):
This
evening we'll venture where few ordinary visitors ever tread . . . right
into the homes of some of the people of Cairo l! You'll be invited to
a family dinner, and while you enjoy wholesome home-cooked specialties,
you'll learn about and appreciate the outlook, aspirations, and way
of life of your hosts. Be assured, as curious as you may be about your
new friends, they're sure to have questions about your own background.
Once the ice is broken, you'll enjoy a lively evening, and find that
you have more in common than you ever suspected. Of course, you may
enjoy a quiet evening t with your travel companions, by letting us know
your preferences.
DAY
10 - DEPARTURE - Friday (B)
Our staff escorts you to the airport for your flight home.
Rates
are per person in USD $
|
Deluxe |
First
Class |
| Triple |
US$
2760.00 |
US$
2450.00 |
| Double |
US$
2835.00 |
US$
2510.00 |
| Single |
US$
3630.00 |
US$
3110.00 |
- For
Christmas, New Year, Easter, please add:15 % supplement.
-
For Mena House Hotel , or Four Seasons : 30 % supplement to
the Deluxe rate.
- Private
Guide on board the CRUISE : Supplement $250 per person.
Rates
include:
- All
transfers in Egypt on private basis.
- Guided
sightseeing as listed including all entrance fees.
- Hotel
and cruise accommodations.
- All
the tips to your drivers, guides, crew on board the cruise etc.
- All
shore excursions on board the cruise as listed, including all entrance
fees.
- Complimentary
welcome drink upon arrival on board the Lake Nasser
Cruise. and a
welcome fruit basket
- Large
bottle of water ( per person ) delivered to you cabin daily while
you are on board the Lake Nasser
- Tea
or coffee an bottled water with each / every meal while you are on
board the Lake Nasser
-
Meals as listed including cB = Continental Breakfast, L = Lunch, D
= Dinner.
- Domestic
airfare within Egypt "Y" economy class.
- Complimentary
visa will be issued upon arrival for citizens of Australia,NZ, USA,
Canada , Japan, Mexico, Singaporean & EU . Your passport must
be valid at least for 6 month beyond the date of arrival.
Not
included:
More
Choices:
Dining
Room Reservations: Meet other passengers : YOU will not require
any, our dining rooms do accommodate all our guests in one seating,
one less thing to worry about while you are on the Nile. Enjoy the cosmopolitan
atmosphere with several different languages being heard at dinner.
Sample
Deluxe ships on Lake Nasser :
The
Ships
The
M.S. Kasr Ibrim was named after the ancient citadel on Lake
Nasser, the only Nubian monument that still exists in its original location.
The Kasr Ibrim citadel, standing on a high bluff overlooking the river
valley, was adapted to suit the needs of its diverse occupants throughout
the ages. Likewise, the M.S. Kasr Ibrim provides an epic setting for
international travelers, while commemorating the citadel as an enduring
link with Egypt's distant past.
Relax in the ship's spacious lounge areas, its restaurant or bars. On
deck you will find a shaded area, a mosaic-lined swimming pool and deckchairs
to make the most of idle luxury. Kasr Ibrim's facilities also include
a sauna, steam bath, exercise equipment, state-of-the-art water filtration
systems, and is fully air-conditioned.
Service is thoughtful and friendly; the cuisine is superb. Each day
we anchor beside one of Lake Nasser's historic sites, where a launch
will take you ashore to explore.
Cabins
M.S.
Kasr Ibrim was launched in September 1997. The ship is 79 meters long,
with just 55 cabins for maximal comfort, and 10 luxurious suites. The
interior décor reflects the Art Deco style of the 1920's.
The ship fifty-five spacious cabins measure 22.75 m2, each with an ensuite
bathroom (bath, shower, washbasin, w.c. and hairdryer). There are seven
29 m2 junior suites; two 59 m2 Royal suites and one 140 m2 Imperial
suite (all ten suites have bathrooms with jacuzzi, shower, washbasin,
w.c. and hairdryer).
The
Executive Deck has 12 twin-bedded cabins, each with a private balcony
(total space 22.75 m2). The Executive Deck cabins (400 numbers) are
available at an additional surcharge per cabin and per night.
The
Upper Deck has 18 twin-bedded cabins each with a private balcony (total
space 22.75 m2). A guaranteed allocation to one of the Upper Deck cabins
(300 numbers) is available at an additional surcharge per cabin and
per night.
The
Main Deck has 18 twin-bedded cabins each with a private balcony (total
space 22.75 m).
The
Lower Deck has 7 twin bedded cabins without balconies (22.75 m); these
can also be used for triple occupancy.
M.S.
Eugenie
The
Eugenie was proudly named to evoke an historic event in Egypt's recent
past: the grand opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, attended by the crown
heads of Europe including the Empress Eugenie of France. The completion
of the Suez Canal marked Egypt’s passage into modernity, and a
new era of international trade and interaction.
Likewise the Eugenie, the first ship to sail Lake Nasser, launched a
new era of tourism, offering travelers fresh vistas of Egypt’s
natural beauty and archeological treasures. Lake Nasser extended the
boundaries of Egypt’s touristic possibilities, while the Eugenie
reminds us of this ancient country’s endless capacity for renewal.
The
M.S. Eugenie was constructed in 1993 in the style of a turn-of-the-century
Nile steamship. It is 74 meters long, with just 52 cabins for maximal
comfort, and two luxurious suites. Each cabin has an ensuite bathroom
with shower, washbasin, w.c. and hairdryer.
The Eugenie’s facilities include a sauna, steam bath, exercise
equipment, sun decks, a swimming pool, air-conditioning and state-of-the-art
water filtration systems.
The
Upper Deck has 22 twin-bedded cabins each with a private balcony (total
space: 21m2). Cabins 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 307, 308, 309, 310,
311 and 315 are ‘executive cabins’ available at an additional
surcharge per cabin and per night.
The Main Deck has 20 twin bedded cabins, also with private balcony (21m2)
and two single bedded cabins, also with private balconies (cabins 201,
202).
The Lower Deck has 8 twin bedded cabins without balconies (21m2); these
can also be used for triple occupancy.
Sailing ( Subject to change )
Aswan / Kalabsha to Wadi El Seboua 11 hours
Wadi El Seboua to Amada 4 hours
Amada to Kasr Ibrim 2.5 hours
Kasr Ibrim to Abu Simbel 4 hours
DRESS
CODE :
All
of our Nile cruise vessels are fully air conditioned. Onboard dress
is casual except at dinner, when smart casual is the rule. Lightweight
cotton and other natural fiber clothing is best, with swimsuits and
sun hats for the sundeck and pool. Bring a light sweater or light jacket
for cool mornings and evenings, but most days are warm to hot, with
very little rain. Comfortable walking shoes are essential for shore
excursions.
What to Pack:
Most of the year look forward to warm, even hot weather in Cairo , Luxor
& Aswan, morning & evenings are cooler. During Winter
... very rare do we get rain, if so , very brief showers. No need for
real rain wear/gear.
Before sunrise , after sun-set , you'll need a light jacket , or light
sweater .
For Nile cruise shore excursions, we suggest comfortable cotton &
natural fabric lightweight clothing.
Comfortable walking shoes are essential for all tours in Cairo or Upper
Egypt.
Daily
Telegraph
Peter Hughes
Saturday 13 May 2006
'Going
with the flow'
...'The
riad I found was not in the city but on the Nile. It's a dahabiya,
a traditional, two-masted Nile sailing cruiser. Anywhere else it would
be called a yacht. King Farouk had several. So if a riad is a small
princely palace on land - now given over to holiday making - a dahabiya
is a riad on the river...'
...'Mahogany
panelled and with two faux-glass oil lamps swinging from the beams
- a perfect touch for a sailing ship - the look was of a colonial
club. Hercule Poirot could have popped up at any moment. There were
button-back leather sofa and chairs, an antique bookcase and Scrabble,
and tables where we ate when the weather was too chilly for the deck.
The food was outstandingly good...'
...'
While the big ships charged by as if permanently late, the El Bey
moved at the same courtly pace as the Nile - slow enough to enable
us to smell woodsmoke from the villages and watch the kingfishers
hover. Under our isosceles sails we were as much a curiosity as the
boys laying fishing nets and the women doing laundry, the donkey carts
and buffalo. But it was the sight of some 40 huge cruise boats, moored
in ranks, cheek by gunwale up to 10 deep, at the pretty little temple
of Kom Ombo that made the greatest sense of dahabiya travel. The dahabiyas
don't take you to sites different from the norm, but they do take
you in irresistibly different style...'
...'The
greatest compliment to the El Bey was that, for all the wonders of
ancient Egypt, shown to us by our own guide, the part of the week
my fellow passengers enjoyed most was the time on the river...'
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