On The Go Tours Jewel of the Nile - 10 days

Overview

PREMIUM TOUR: Embark on a five star Egyptian adventure. Stay in one of Cairo's smartest hotels, cruise the River Nile in style aboard a 5 star Nile cruiser and see Egypt’s best sites, guided by a professional Egyptologist guide for your entire stay.

Highlights

• 5 star Nile River Cruise - Spend four nights onboard a luxury cruise boat
• Cairo - Marvel at the legendary Pyramids of Giza, explore the Necropolis of Saqqara and see King Tut's treasures at the Egyptian Museum
• Luxor West Bank - Discover exquisite tombs at the Valley of the Kings, see the towering Colossi of Memnon and explore the beautiful Temple of Queen Hatshepsut
• Luxor - Roam around the colossal Temple of Karnak and see the beautifully illuminated Luxor Temple at night
• Aswan - Visit the High Dam, take a leisurely boat trip to Agilika Island to explore romantic Philae Temple and wander around the colourful souqs
• Elephantine Island and Kitchener island - Visit the islands on a traditional felucca (sailing boat)
• Kom Ombo - Visit the Nile side Temple of Kom Ombo

Itinerary

• Day 1 Cairo

  Friday. Welcome to Egypt! Upon arrival at Cairo Airport you will be met and transferred to your 5 star hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax by the hotel pool, or those arriving early, opt to join our unique Backstreets tour of Cairo which departs the hotel at 10am today. This optional tour takes you off the beaten track in Egypt's bustling capital, visiting Downtown Cairo, the exquisite mosques and monuments of El Moez Street in Islamic Cairo, Garbage City and the incredible Cave Church of St. Simon.
  
  At 7pm this evening meet your guide and the rest of the group at a Welcome Meeting.
  
  You may also extend your stay in Cairo with our pre or post tour accommodation or tour add-ons.

  Meals:

  Accommodation:

• Day 2 Cairo

  This morning we enjoy a guided visit to the Egyptian Museum. A mind-boggling array of relics and antiquities from almost every period of ancient Egyptian history are housed in the museum, making it one of the foremost in the world. Arguably the most famous exhibit is the solid gold funerary mask of King Tutankhamun. Made of solid gold and weighing 11kg, the mask was found covering the head of the mummy, where it lay inside a series of 3 sarcophagi. This afternoon, relax and enjoy the facilities of your hotel. Note: The Grand Egyptian Museum is set to open in 2020, though an official date has yet to be released. If travelling prior to the opening of the new facility we'll visit the Egyptian Museum this morning.

  Meals: 1 Breakfast

  Accommodation:

• Day 3 Pyramids of Giza

  Cairo - Luxor. Today we visit Egypt's most loved sight - The Great Pyramids of Giza. We explore the Giza plateau, pyramids and massive Sphinx. We continue to explore Saqqara - an ancient necropolis with many half-buried tombs and the famous Zhoser’s Step Pyramid. Later, we travel to Luxor by overnight train. You are accommodated in comfortable twin sleeper cabins and a light dinner is served onboard.
  
  If you don’t fancy travelling by overnight sleeper train, consider our Treasures of the Nile tour that replaces overnight trains with flights and comfortable 5 star hotels.

  Meals: 1 Breakfast 1 Dinner

  Accommodation: Sleeper Train

• Day 4 Luxor

  Arriving into Luxor this morning, we visit the West Bank. The massive pair of statues known as the Colossi of Memnon are the first monuments we see during our morning visit to the West Bank - home to the legendary Valley of the Kings. We also see the colonnaded Temple of Queen Hatshepsut. Return to Luxor for check-in onboard our Nile 5 star cruiser where lunch is at leisure and free time to relax until our early evening visit to the Temple of Luxor. Luxor Temple looks stunning at dusk and is beautifully illuminated at night.
  
  Note: Dependent upon Nile Cruiser scheduling it may be required that we also undertake our excursion to Karnak Temple this afternoon. Should this occur, day 5 will be spent at leisure.

  Meals: 1 Breakfast 1 Lunch 1 Dinner

  Accommodation:

• Day 5 Nile Cruising

  Luxor - Nile cruising. This morning we tour the ancient city of Thebes (the East Bank) and take in the magnificent Temple of Karnak. More than a temple, Karnak is a gigantic and stunning complex of sanctuaries and pylons dedicated to the Theban gods. Anchors away this afternoon as we set sail downstream.

  Meals: 1 Breakfast 1 Lunch 1 Dinner

  Accommodation:

• Day 6 Nile Cruising

  Nile cruising. Relax and soak in the views as we sail the Nile. Later today we visit the Temple of Kom Ombo, a unique riverside temple. It is unusual in that everything architecturally is doubled and perfectly symmetrical along the main axis of the temple including twin halls, courts, colonnades, sanctuaries and entrances. Arrive in Aswan late evening - a prosperous town at the crossroads of the ancient caravan routes.

  Meals: 1 Breakfast 1 Lunch 1 Dinner

  Accommodation:

• Day 7 Aswan

  Nile cruiser - Aswan. Today, we enjoy a short boat trip to Agilika Island to explore Philae Temple, dedicated to the goddess Isis. The temple dates from 4th century BC, but the Ptolemies and the Romans up to 3rd century AD built most of the existing structures. In danger of being completely submerged by the rising water of Lake Nasser, in 1972 UNESCO stepped in and an 8-year rescue effort was undertaken to relocate the entire temple 20m higher on nearby Agilika Island. We then make a stop at a perfume oil emporium. Perfumed oils in Egypt date back to 2700BC and were used by women, pharaohs and by temple priests.
  
  After lunch, we visit the High Dam and take a traditional felucca sailing trip to Elephantine and Kitchener Island. As the sun sets, enjoy free time to shop in the colourful souqs and markets or simply relax and watch an amazing sunset in Egypt’s southernmost town straddling the River Nile.

  Meals: 1 Breakfast 1 Lunch 1 Dinner

  Accommodation:

• Day 8 Optional excursion to Abu Simbel

  Aswan - Cairo. Consider our optional early morning excursion to the Temples of Ramses II at Abu Simbel. Possibly the most awe-inspiring temple of all ancient Egypt, with its gargantuan rock-cut facade is the magnificent Abu Simbel. Guarding the entrance to the temple are 4 colossal seated statues of the pharaoh himself, staring out across Lake Nasser. This excursion is not to be missed!
  
  Alternatively you can spend the morning at leisure. If you choose not to embark upon this optional excursion, there is plenty to do in Aswan. You can explore Aswan with its beautiful shoreline and corniche or perhaps do a spot of shopping. Late this afternoon, we board the overnight train (twin berth sleeper cabins provided) for our journey back to Cairo. A light dinner is served on board.

  Meals: 1 Breakfast 1 Dinner

  Accommodation: Sleeper Train

• Day 9 Cairo

  This morning, have breakfast in your train cabin and upon arrival to Cairo we transfer to our hotel for check in. The rest of the day is free for you to enjoy the hotel facilities or you can join our optional tour of Old Cairo, Coptic Cairo and the Citadel of Saladin (book/pay locally).

  Meals: 1 Breakfast

  Accommodation:

• Day 10 Cairo

  Sunday. Our amazing holiday comes to an end and we bid farewell to our guide and fellow travellers. Included airport departure transfer.
  
  For information about visas, top travel tips and much more, take a look through our travel guide.

  Meals: 1 Breakfast

  Accommodation:

*Prices on this page may be out of date. For the most up to date price click on the Departure Date

Inclusions

• Breakfast daily, 4 lunches and 6 dinners (2 aboard the sleeper train)
• 3 nights 5 star hotels, 4 nights aboard luxury 5 star Nile Cruiser (en suite cabin)
• 2 overnight trains from Cairo to Luxor and Aswan to Cairo (Private 2 berth sleeper cabin) including meals
• Airport arrival and departure transfer on day 1 and day 10
• Touring and sightseeing in Cairo, Giza, Saqqara, Luxor and Aswan
• Felucca sailing around the islands of Aswan
• Escorted by an Egyptian tour guide degree qualified in Egyptology (groups of 4 or more)
• All relevant transfer and transportation in private modern air-conditioned vehicles

Accommodation

5 Star

• Le Meridien Pyramids, Cairo - 5 Star Hotel
• Steigenberger Cairo Pyramids Hotel, Cairo - 4 Star Hotel
• Sheraton Cairo Hotel, Cairo - 5 Star Deluxe Hotel
• InterContinental Semiramis, Cairo - 5 Star Hotel
• Sleeper Train, Cairo - Train
• Moon Dance, Nile Cruising - 5 Star Deluxe Cruise
• M/S Royal Lotus, Nile Cruising - 5 Star Deluxe Cruise
• M/S Premium, Nile Cruising - 5 Star Deluxe Cruise
• M/S Farah, Nile Cruising - 5 star cruise boat

Exclusions

• International flights and visa
• Tip for Nile Cruise staff. Tip for your tour guide - we recommend you allow USD$5-7 per day, per traveller for your guide, though ultimately tipping is an entirely personal gesture
• Entrance Fees: USD$80-100pp, paid in local currency

Map

Notes

Age Policy

Pricing Information

"Guaranteed" refers to departures that are confirmed for departure. Pricing is Per Person.