Cruise
the Nile in Style aboard the
|
Day
1- LUXOR Monday
Arrive early morning. Please
advise your arrival details at the time you make your booking.
We'll meet you at the airport or train station, and
escort you to your hotel ( Movenpick,
Sheraton or similar).Today We tour the magnificent tombs in the Valley
of the Kings and Valley of the Queens, including the great temple of
Queen Hatshepsut, stopping also at the Colossi of Memnon before heading
back to Luxor
This afternoon we stand in awe before the gigantic Great Temple of Amon at Karnak, and the mighty Temple of Luxor.
Day
2- LUXOR, Edfu - CLEOPATRA Tuesday (BLD)
Breakfast at the hotel. Board
your private air conditioned vehicle to Edfu : Check-in , and board
your Felucca the Royal Cleopatra ( rated: modest 3
stars)
( Your crew of 5 will be available to welcome you : the captain, sailor, chef, housekeeper and of course your Resident Egyptologist)
Welcome drink served upon arrival "Karkadeh - Local herb tea". Lunch will be served, as we sail for Edfu. Welcome fruit basket awaits you in your cabin, watch sunset as we dock north of Edfu and sip tea on deck. Dinner follows ) , then to bed, with the ripples of the Nile gently rocking you to sleep
Day
3- EDFU- Wednesday (BLD)
Breakfast in your cabin, or on the sundeck,As
sun rises we continue our sailing towards Edfu.
In Edfu, climb aboard your private horse-drawn carriages, and clip-clop through the town to the Temple of Horus, Egypt's best preserved.
Enjoy a grand afternoon of sailing on the Nile watching villages & scenery that changed little since Biblical times. We enjoy lunch at one of the small islands on the way. Dock at Elmerinat.
Day
4- GABAL ELSISILAH - FARES - Thursday (BLD)
Breakfast on board. We sail further upstream heading for GABAL
ELSISILAH
Enjoy lunch on board . We reach Gabal Elsisilah early afternoon and
tour the ancient sandstone quarries. A charming off the beating track
site that 's not yet overwhelmed with large groups of tourists.
Watch sunset as we sip tea on
deck. Dinner follows, then on to Fares where we dock for the night .
Enjoy the Egyptian southern clear skies with thousands of stars to watch
!
Day 5- FARES-KOM OMBO- Friday (BLD)
After breakfast on board the Royal Cleopatra, we sail heading for Kom
Ombo. We visit its twin temple dedicated to the crocodile god of the
Nile, a true Greco Roman masterpiece.
Inspect the ancient wall carvings that documents the measurements and detailed description of the medical instruments available to the Ancient Egyptian.
We
enjoy a short walking tour through the local village and souks of Kom
Ombo maybe shopping for Egyptian cotton and some souvenirs.
Get ready for a galabya costume party, (a galabya will be delivered
to your cabin with our compliments), a native barbecue dinner will be
served on a small islands in the river, where we dock for the night.
Day
6- ASWAN - Saturday (BLD)
Set sail further south heading for Aswan, time permitting we may stop
in Draw to visit the camel market
( this is seasonal & not guaranteed that we 'll be available at
the tiem of our tour) , we reach Aswan by sunset. Remainder of the day
at leisure.
Day
7 - Aswan- Abu Simbel - Sunday (BLD)
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 begin our leisurely drive back
along the shore to Aswan
in
time for lunch. Evening Farewell dinner
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
8 - ASwan - Camel Caravan - Monday (B)
Enjoy breakfast on board in the comfort of your cabin or on the Sun
Deck. Check- out,we bid
farewell to the crew. Enjoy
a short camel ride/mini caravan to a nearby Nubian Village to meet the
locals .Then we switch transportation modes to a
tour of the Island Temple of Philae dedicated to the Ancient Egyptian
Goddess : ISIS. The
Mystery of Isis
Two millennia ago the Mediterranean world was enthralled by the mystery of Isis: "I, Isis, am all that has been, that is or shall be; no mortal man hath ever seen me unveiled."
Called Aset by the ancient Egyptians, the goddess was a Madonna in the Mediterranean tradition that stretches far, far back to the primitive Mother Goddess from Anatolia, home to some of the oldest human communities on earth.
Isis was the powerful and quick-witted protector of her son Horus, the Sun God. Ancient peoples throughout the Mediterranean regarded Isis and Horus as the perfect Madonna and Child. Another legend says she was also the mother of the fertility god Min who, judging from the depiction of him on temple walls, needed no help from Viagra!
Because of her wisdom and skill at protection, she was admired as a good magician capable of healing the sick and protecting the dead in their journey to the Underworld.
Isis is portrayed regally, as a queen seated on a throne (which may be the meaning of her name), often holding her son Horus as a baby. Other images show her with broad, magnificent gilded wings able to protect the world.
Isis, the great Mother Goddess. Come explore her mystery in timeless Egypt when you Travel in Style!
With these vivid impressions in mind, we drive to the airport or train station , for the flight to your onward destination. (Please consult us regarding flights.) Bon Voyage
For your enhanced privacy and security, your sailing crew will spend the night on a small tug, which will always be at your disposal to assure your progress even on windless days. Your Egyptologist-guide will have his own quarters aboard the Royal Cleopatra, and can assist with your free-time activities. If you prefer, he can stay shore and be called upon only to accompany you during your daytime visits.
These rates are per person in US $:
| Individual
Booking up to 6 guests |
|
| Triple | $
2575.00 |
| Double | $
2675.00 |
| Single | $
4200.00 |
The
Cleopatra accommodates up to six guests comfortably. We will be pleased
to include a seventh family member on a complimentary basis in the
limited available space.
This
is a Honeymooner's Special - For private sailing for Honeymooners
Total Cost for the 2 guests: $ 8000
We
can ensure that you and your new spouse would have the utmost privacy
and you can request when and what you would like to tour along your
journey. In addition, we have a wonderful chef to make your intimate
dining one to remember, whether you want private dining in your cabin
or one on deck.
This will be entirely up to you! Flowers
and other details can also be arranged for additional prices. These
are just some ideas we have for you.
As you can imagine, the Cleopatra is in high demand, so please contact us as early as possible if you wish to reserve your yacht on a charter basis.
Regrettably, discounts are not available for children that are 6 years if age or older , on this cruise/tour.
Please remember that we can also arrange a cruise for you on one of
our large, spacious, luxurious air-conditioned Nile cruisers with
all the conveniences: a different experience from the intimate ambiance
of the "Royal Cleopatra."
Rates are per
person in US $ . Itinerary
is subject to change without notice.
Rate include:
Not Included:
Guide on board :
For your enhanced privacy and security, your sailing crew will spend the night on a small tug, which will always be at your disposal to assure your progress even on windless days. Your Egyptologist-guide will have his own quarters aboard the Royal Cleopatra, or, if you prefer, he can stay ashore and be called upon only during the day. He will accompany you during your visits and assist with your touring and free-time activities, always keeping to your sailing schedule. For the serious Egyptologists and devoted amateurs among our guests, we can even customize a private charter and schedule to allow you to spend extended time at selected sites with your guide.
No airfares included. Please click here to add domestic air fare
The
Royal Cleopatra is a:
Traditional wind-driven sailing craft, and is subject to the uncertainties
of wind, weather and riverine traffic conditions on the Nile. We will
do our best to follow published itineraries, but they must be considered
tentative in all cases. We reserve the right to modify or cancel any
sailing itinerary as conditions warrant. In case of insufficient wind,
weather danger or difficult riverine traffic conditions on the Nile
or through the Nile locks, or other cause of cancellation, we reserve
the right to accommodate Royal Cleopatra passengers aboard a deluxe
Nile cruise vessel, and / or to transport passengers between some
sites by motor vehicle along the Nile, to be able to keep up with
the itinerary , at our option.
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. Lightweight comfortable & casual clothing.
Swimsuits, sun hat.
For men, suggest to bring a battery operated shaver.
Boat shoes are required on board the boat
.
From: Liz ...................
To: Elkabbanies
Sent: Monday, January 26, 2004 7:18 PM
Subject: MGI PhotoSuite III digital photo.
Dear Sherif,
I just want to thank you for the best vacation of a lifetime! Everything
was simply wonderful!!! The tours were great and the Dahabia was beyond
description. Everyone keeps asking me about the trip and I can only
tell them that it was indescribable.
The crew on the dahabia was fantastic. We all want to return forever
and live on the boat. The food was incredible and we all feel healed
from the past year from floating down (up?) the Nile. What a wonderful
experience. I am so angry at myself for getting sick and now I want
to go back and hang out on Elephantine Island with Mustafa and the
boys. As soon as I felt better, I wanted to return.
Hussein was absolutely terrific. I think we have all make good friends
and we miss him and Ahmed a lot. Abdu was great, too. We had a lot
of fun with him and we feel like we have adopted him.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for making this all possible. It was
a dream come true for all of us. If anyone wants to have some references
for Gat Tours, give them our email and we will tell them how wonderful
it was. We will be changing our email very soon, but I will let you
know what our new address is.
Thanks again, Sherif. You were wonderful. We felt very pampered and
comfortable with absolutely everything and everyone.
Hugs and smooches,
Liz
This digital photograph was sent from MGI PhotoSuite III: The world's
leading PC photography software. Visit http://www.photosuite.com for
more information.
Feluccas are the traditional sailing vessel of much of the Mediterranean world, and the traditional Nile felucca, or dahabeah, was the mainstay of travel in ancient Egypt.
With shallow drafts, sails, and oars, feluccas could navigate not only the great river, but the maze of canals threading through its banks, with or without wind, reaching every part of the kingdom.
Feluccas long ago transcended their role as humble transports. They held the ancient empire together, carrying troops, decrees, and the very mystery of the pharaoh.
Royal feluccas 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 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 dahabeah 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.
In later times, pashas, emirs, and sultans found that feluccas were indispensable. When Napoleon invaded Egypt, the Mameluke 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 Italie, which was used by his officers to explore Upper Egypt.
In the nineteenth century, the well-equipped Nile felucca was essential to the upper-crust adventurer. Lord Kitshner 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.
Now, Travel in Style and Nubian Nile Cruises re-create the grand era of Nile adventure. Through their special contacts, they have arranged cruises on private Nile vessels. Completely refitted, our craft will delight the discriminating traveller, with full amenities, and modern conveniences and safety features unimaginable by upper-crust visitors of old or even the ancient pharaohs.
Our private Nile cruisers are at your disposal to accommodate couples, honeymooners, families, and small groups, affording the unique experience of navigating the ancient river on your own.
The
M/S Cleopatra is a lateen-rigged Nile sailing vessel, 62 feet
long by 24-1/2 feet wide, with sleeping accommodations for two
to six people. 
Spacious quarters include a main salon, bar, and sun deck. Each of two staterooms has a panoramic picture window, and private sink, shower, and toilet, and may be configured for your voyage with a queen bed, a queen and single, or up to three single beds.
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.
Meals may be taken as you wish in your cabin, in the salon, or on deck while you watch the timeless way of life along the banks of the river, and villages twinkling at dusk. The temptation to spend at least one night gazing at stars and sleeping on deck may be irresistible. Enjoy luxury and unique adventure, made possible at a price delightfully within your reach through Travel in Style!
For
charter and a PRIVATE Nile Cruise booking :
A NON REFUNDABLE deposit of $ 500 PER PERSON for Royal Cleopatra
is required within 7 days from the date we confirm. Any booking made
45 days or less requires FULL PAYMENT.
If you cancel a chartered private boat less than 44 days or less
, a 100 % cancellation fees apply, there is no refund.
The
Cleopatra is a:
Traditional wind-driven sailing craft, and is subject to the uncertainties
of wind, weather and riverine traffic conditions on the Nile. We will
do our best to follow published itineraries, but they must be considered
tentative in all cases. We reserve the right to modify or cancel any
sailing itinerary as conditions warrant. In case of insufficient wind,
weather danger or difficult riverine traffic conditions on the Nile
or through the Nile locks, or other cause of cancellation, we reserve
the right to accommodate Royal Cleopatra passengers aboard a deluxe
Nile cruise vessel, and / or to transport passengers between some sites
by motor vehicle along the Nile, to be able to keep up with the itinerary
, at our option.
The Staff of Life: The Camel
You may know the camel as a gangling, ill-tempered beast of burden, but for generations of desert-dwellers, this magnificent brute has been far more than a curiosity. Camels are shelter: their skin is fashioned into the tents of Bedouins. They ward off the night chill, in blankets and clothing woven from their wool. Their milk nourishes the young, and their flesh, roasted over open fires at desert encampments, feeds the sojourner. They are sport and recreation. And yes, camels are company in the vastness, with personalities and quirks, requiring at once a firm hand and an understanding soul.
We'll
be privileged to take a close-up look at man and camel as we journey
from the banks of the Nile to the village of Draw. Here, traders from
all over Nubia have brought their camels to market over the centuries.
We might even witness the arrival of a caravan that has journeyed all
the way from the Sudan. We'll get tips on what to look for when in the
market for a camel, try our hand at evaluating the merchandise, and
encounter a cast of characters, human and otherwise. And we'll get caught
up in the haggling, gestures, sounds, aromas, and excitement of the
camel fair, as we come to understand just how unimaginable would be
the Nubian way of life without these magnificent, lumbering quadrupeds.
It's an insider's look at desert life afforded rarely to visitors. Don't
miss it!
Le base de la vie: Le chameau
Vous connaissez peut-être le chameau comme une bête de mauvaise humeur, mais pour des générations de nomades, ce brute magnifique a été bien plus qu'une simple curiosité. Les chameaux sont l'abris: leur peau devient les tentes des Bedouins. Ils protègent du froid durant la nuit avec les couvertures et vêtements tissés de leur laine. Leur lait nourrit les enfants, et leur chair, rôtie par les feux de campements de désert, nourrit les voyageurs. Ils sont des sports et des loisirs. Et oui, les chameaux sont des compagnons dans l'immensité des sables, avec des personalités et des caprices, exigeant d'une part une main ferme et d'une autre une âme qui les comprend.
Nous serons assez privilégiés pour prendre un regard sur l'homme et le chameau, en voyageant des rives du Nil au village de Draou. C'est à ce marché que les commerçants ont apporté leurs chameaux de toute la Nubie depuis dès siècles. Nous pourrions peut-être même observer l'arrivée d'une caravane qui a voyagé du Soudan. Nous recevrons des avis sur ce que le paysan cherche en achetant un chameau en plein marché, et même essayerons à évaluer la marchandise, tout en rencontrant une gamme de caractères fascinants, humains et autrement. Et nous nous perdrons dans les négociations, les gestes, les sons, les arômes, et l'agitation de la foire des chameaux, pendant que nous arriverons à comprendre comment serait inconcevable la façon de vie des Nubiens sans ces bêtes magnifiques. C'est une chance de prendre un regard privilegié sur la vie du désert, une chose rarement étendue aux visiteurs. N'y manquez pas!
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.
No
one questioned that the temple must be saved. UNESCO developed a marvelous
plan to cut the huge monument into 1,423 stone blocks and move it 200
meters (219 yards) north and 63 meters (207 feet) higher,
just above the estimated level of Lake Nasser, the vast inland sea that
would be created by the new dam.
But
who would pay? As a developing country, Egypt could not shoulder the
burden alone. Other countries could contribute, but only one country--the
United States of America--truly had the resources for this
monumental rescue effort.
No matter how much wealth there is, it is never enough. Many legitimate, worthwhile projects compete for funds. What Abu Simbel needed was an advocate, someone who recognized the temple for the irreplaceable world art treasure that it was.
First
Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, already famous for her grace, refinement, and
sensitivity to the arts, saw the need to work for the salvation of Abu
Simbel. It was she who urged Congress to allocate $10 million for the
rescue effort (a sum roughly equivalent to $100 million today). It was
an enormous amount of money, but she saw that America
must step up to the challenge of saving this treasure of worldwide importance
for all time.
The rescue funds were approved by Congress and the temple was saved.
In
appreciation for her efforts, Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser
presented the First Lady and the president with a 4000-year-old Egyptian
statue (which is now preserved in the John F Kennedy Library &
Museum in Boston). (http://www.jfklibrary.org/visit_museum-14.html)
President
Nasser wanted also to give a gift of thanks to the people of the United
States for their valuable support. He asked Mrs Kennedy to choose an
appropriate monument. She suggested the small Temple of
Dendur (c. 15 BC), and the gift was readily approved. The temple was
brought to the United States in 1965 and installed at New York’s
Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1967.
(http://www.metmuseum.org/collections/
view1.asp?dep=10&full=0&item=68%2E154)
Times change, leaders come and go, but some acts of support and generosity are remembered through the decades.
First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy loved Egypt, and Egypt still loves her.
