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Overview

Customized travel in Egypt

Simply being aboard a cruise is a trip in its own right, so let yourself be carried away, slowly and peacefully, as the scenery passes by like a slow motion movie. A privileged peek into daily life on the Nile and lake Nasser, where you will make unforgettable, priceless discoveries: behold the Egyptian pharaoh’s most beautiful monuments! This escape on the Nile combines the essential highlights of Upper Egypt with the lesser-known but equally important sites of ancient Nubia, an arid sun-scorched land stretching between Aswan and northern Sudan, now covered by Lake Nasser. Nubian skies and treasures of the Nile is our customized voyage for travelers seeking tranquility. This journey is specially designed for those who have the time to dig deep and discover another side of the pharaohs’ cultural landscape: Nubia, linking Egypt and so-called Dark Africa. In this customized trip, on top of the slow-paced cruise on Nasser Lake, we selected a cruise taking your from Aswan to Luxor on a magnificent yacht. It’s a smaller vessel, so you can be sure the mood will remain easygoing. A customized luxury trip in Egypt with 5-star accommodation, including two 5-star cruises on the Nile and Nasser Lake.

Contact our Egypt specialist for more information on this magnificent customized trip to Egypt!

Itinerary

Day 1| Departure from Canada
International flight

Day 2| Arrival in Cairo
Arrival at Cairo international airport. Meet our representative, pick up your luggage and then hop on a private transfer to your hotel. Dinner at own expense and overnight in hotel.

Day 3| Cairo- The Pyramids, Memphis and Saqqara
First breakfast, and then you are off for a full day of discovery, accompanied by your private driver and guide. You start the day with the famed pyramids of the Giza plateau. Watched over by the famous solitary sphinx with a lion’s body, the three great pyramids of Giza stand tall: Cheops, Khafre, and Menkaure. Entrance to one of the pyramids is included as well as lunch at a local restaurant, and there’s an optional camelback ride on the plateau. In the afternoon you visit Memphis and Sakkara, just outside Cairo. Memphis is a well-known ancient funeral site and was excavated and exhumed by the desert sands, which gradually revealed Sakkara and its necropolis. The eleven pyramids, countless mastabas and isolated Coptic monastery cover an area stretching over more than 7 km from north to south, representing more than 3500 years of Egyptian civilization. In the center of the site sits the pyramid of Djoser, the first ever built and also the first great stone monument ever erected by man. Return to hotel and dinner of your choice. Overnight at hotel. (B, L)

Day 4| Cairo – The great metropolis
Enjoy your breakfast and then it’s another full day of discovery – in Cairo. At the Museum of Egyptian antiquities, the works on display on the first floor will take you back in time, each room showcasing the beauty of a different epoch. The Tutankhamun exhibit houses over 1700 objects taken from his famous tomb, discovered west of Thebes in King’s Valley, across from the city now known as Luxor. Lunch in a local restaurant is included, after which the tour continues with a visit to the Citadel. Both a palace and an impenetrable fortress, the space inside the Citadel’s immense walls is divided into three sections. Entirely Muslim, it includes many mosques and palaces built by succeeding dynasties. The visit continues at Cairo’s most famous bazaar: Khan el-Khalili. This place was meant for traders and tourists. In its narrow alleys you can find jewels, copper artifacts, marquetry, pharaoh imitations, semi-precious stones, carpets, blown glass ornaments, and many other souvenirs. The boutiques are still organized by corporation. Go there just to stroll around, bargain, or lose yourself in this exotic market. You can follow this with a stop at the bazaar’s famous coffee shop, the al-Fichawi, to sample a tea or a coffee-flavored karkade –truly not to be missed. In the evening, you can opt for a sound and light show at the pyramids of Gaza. (B, L)

Day 5| Cairo - Abu Simbel
Breakfast is followed by a transfer to Cairo airport and your flight to Abu Simbel via Aswan. Once on site, you will be welcomed by your private driver and taken for a visit of the temples of Abu Simbel (as part of a group), complete with an English-speaking guide. The pharaoh Ramesses II built the two temples of Abu Simbel. It is dedicated to himself, to the three great Egyptian gods (Amun, Ra, and Ptah), and to his wife Nefertari. Of all the monuments built by Ramesses II, the great temple is considered the most beautiful and the most imposing. When discovered in 1817 by the Italian archeologist Giovanni Battista Belzoni, the site was almost completely buried in sand. After this visit, settle into your hotel. In the evening, enjoy a sound and light show at the temple of Abu Simbel (included). Lunch and dinner at your own expense. Overnight in Abu Simbel. (B)

Day 6| Abu Simbel – start of Nasser Lake cruise – Amada
Breakfast at your hotel. Then, transfer to lake Nasser for the start of your cruise. Still today, it remains the world’s largest artificial lake. Lunch on board. Stopover in Qasr Ibrim, the only Nubian sanctuary still standing in its original location. Navigate towards Amada. Dinner and overnight on board. (B, L, D)

Day 7| Nasser Lake cruise – Amada, Wadi al-Sebua
Breakfast on board. Visit the oasis of Amada and its temple: its reliefs are considered the finest among all of Nubia’s monuments. Close by, the temple of Derr awaits you. This temple was originally dedicated to the rising sun and to Ramesses II and later used as a church during the Coptic era. Lunch on board. The cruise continues with a visit to the tomb of Pennut, which was moved to Aniba. Sail towards Wadi al-Sebua. Dinner and overnight on board. (B, L, D)

Day 8| Nasser Lake cruise – Wadi al-Sebua, Aswan
Breakfast on board. Visit the oasis of Wadi al-Sebua (the Valley of the Lions) and its large Ramesses II temple, followed by the temple of Dakka, dedicated to Thoth, master of time and of the exact sciences, lord of the letters, and to the goddess Tefnut, symbol of divine intelligence. Lunch on the Qsar Ibrim. The ship will then take you in front of a small roman building known as Maharraka temple. Navigate towards Aswan and the High Dam. Dinner and overnight on board. (B, L, D)

Day 9 | Aswan – End of Lake Nasser cruise, start of Nile cruise
Enjoy breakfast on board before disembarking from your Nasser Lake cruise. Your private transfer will take you from one cruise ship to the other, so that you can board the second ship right before lunch. Now begins your discovery of the treasures of the Nile, the longest river in Africa. Settle into your quarters and enjoy lunch on the ship.
In the afternoon, join a tour group and visit the High Dam and the temple of Philae, the “Pearl of Egypt”, dedicated to the Nubian goddess Isis for over 24 centuries. This temple was built towards the end of ancient Egyptian civilization in the fourth century BC, as were all other buildings on the island: Trajan’s kiosk, Hadrian’s gate, the temple of Maat-Hathor, and the mammisi. An optional tour aboard a felucca will take you around Elephantine island, from where you can admire Agha Khan Mausoleum. Late afternoon, enjoy a welcome cocktail reception to the sound of traditional Egyptian music. Free time in Aswan, whose touristy yet colorful souk remains very popular. Dinner on the ship. Overnight in Aswan. (B, L, D)

Day 10| Nile cruise - Aswan, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Esna
Breakfast on board. In the morning you head towards Kom Ombo, north of Aswan. Visit the temple of Kom Ombo in the company of your English-speaking guide (as part of a group). Erected right on the shores of the Nile, this unusual temple was dedicated to two divinities: Horus and Sobek. While the southern part of the temple is dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek, god of fertility and creator of the world, the other part is dedicated to the falcon god Haroeris, also known as Horus the Elder or Horus the Great. The temple’s walls and corridors are covered with reliefs, many of which still show traces of color. Lunch on board while the ship takes you to Edfu. Later in the morning, discover the temple of Edfu (as part of a tour group), the Ptolemaic era’s best-preserved temple. Dedicated to the falcon god Horus, god of the city of Edfu, its buildings are perfect examples of ancient Egyptian religious architecture. At 137 meters long and columns rising to 36m, it is the largest of its kind after Karnak. Built from sandstone, its perfect dimensions bring the harmonious layout to life. Located about 180 km north of Aswan and 105 km south of Luxor on the left bank of the Nile, the site was of great importance in antiquity, as indicated by the archaic necropolis that was found here. Once you are back on board, you have some free time to enjoy the relaxed pace of the cruise while your ship slowly takes you to Esna. Dinner and entertainment. Arrival in Edna, where the boat will spend the night. (B, L, D)

Day 11| Nile cruise – Esna, Luxor; Eastern shore
Breakfast on board followed by a little leisure time. Once you are past the Esna locks, the journey continues north towards Luxor (former Thebes). After lunch, afternoon visit to the majestic Karnak temple complex (as part of a tour group). Dedicated to the god Amun, protector of the pharaohs of the New Empire, the temple of Karnak was the most important place of worship in all Egypt during Thebes’ rule. The buildings of this temple complex were built, destroyed, restored, expanded, and decorated by myriad Pharaohs. The site includes a complex of sanctuaries, obelisks, and pylons dedicated to the glory of Egypt’s pharaohs. The area covered is gigantic: 1.5 km by 800 m. Impossible to describe, this immense monument must be visited in person in order for its magnitude to truly be felt. From the entrance to the walls of the temple of Amun, you will cross the processional avenue and its ram-headed sphinx, which originally lined a canal linking the temple with the Nile.
At the end of the day, discover the temple of Luxor. This is the time of day when the perfection of the columns of Amenhotep III is particularly highlighted. The fertility of the Nile was celebrated on a yearly basis here during the Optet festival.
The temple of Luxor: even though its entrance is proudly guarded by triumphant statues of Ramesses II, this majestic temple was actually built by Amenhotep III. Over the years, many of Egypt’s legendary rulers, from Tutankhamun to Alexander the Great, endeavored to improve and heighten this grandiose monument’s splendor. After dinner, optional sound and light show (not included). Dinner and overnight in Luxor. (B)

Day 12| Nile cruise - Luxor (end of cruise); West bank
After breakfast, you say goodbye to the cruise ship. Then begins a busy day of discovery of the Theban necropolis on the west bank of the Nile. This land of mystery was the domain of the god Osiris during the New Empire. Next, you visit the valley of the pharaoh Kings, whose magnificently decorated tombs tell the story of the voyage of the defunct in the hereafter. This Valley of Kings scrupulously hides its secrets…because the great pyramids built by the pharaohs during previous dynasties were too tempting for thieves. As a result, 26 sovereigns from the XVIIIth to the XXth dynasties decided to have their tombs built in this isolated valley (tombs open to the public may vary). You will also visit Queen Hatshepsut’s surprising terraced temple, nestled at the foot of a high limestone cliff. Hatshepsut was Egypt’s greatest sovereign. Throughout her 20-year rule, marked by peace and prosperity, she succeeded in fighting off the male heirs to her throne. Partially set in the mountain, her temple is almost 40 m wide. Its rows of colonnades shaped like beehives blend in perfectly with the natural lines and bends of the mountainous backdrop. The temple of Hatshepsut represents an extension of the temple of Mentuhotep II, even though it is considerably larger. Seen from far away, the two temples come together in such a homogenous way that it is impossible to distinguish one from the other. On the way, stop to admire the Colossi of Memnon, two monumental stone statues on the road to the Theban necropolis. They are the last remains of Amenhotep III’s gigantic palace of a million years, built during the XVIIIth dynasty. Return to Luxor and transfer to your hotel in Luxor. Leisure time for the rest of the day, and dinner at own expense.
Optional afternoon visit with private driver and English-speaking guide to Denderah (a site dedicated to the Hathor, goddess of dance and music, which also served as ancient celebration grounds) and Abydos (well-maintained sanctuary of the head of the god Osiris, and pilgrimage site for ancient Egyptians). Overnight in Luxor. (B)
Note: not all cruises include a visit to the Valley of the Nobles and the Valley of the Queens. In such cases, it is possible to add these visits as part of a private service, or we can also suggest longer and more complete cruises.

Day 13| Luxor - Cairo
Depending on the schedule of your flight to Cairo, it is possible to organize additional visits or activities in Luxor or Cairo, complete with private English-speaking guide. Private transfer to Luxor airport and flight to Cairo. Staff welcome upon arrival followed by private transfer to your hotel in Cairo. Lunch and dinner at own expense (in Luxor or Cairo). Last night in Cairo. (B)

Day 14| Departure from Cairo
Breakfast and, depending on your flight schedule, transfer to international airport and check-in for your return flight. (B)

Symbols: (B) Breakfast (L) Lunch (D) Dinner

Budget

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Lodging

Overview

From tradition to modernity, Egypt is a country which has succeeded in creating a present that is as fascinating as its past. Since the end of the nineteenth century, Egypt has been evolving at a very high speed. Its political, economical and cultural life has undergone striking changes. From the inscription of the first hieroglyph to the construction of the new hi-tech Smart Village, Egypt has always been a pioneer on the frontier for emerging information technologies in the Arab world.

Geography

Located at the crossroads of Africa, Asia and Europe, Egypt is built around the Nile Valley, a very fertile land bordering the river and bounded by 2 seas : the Mediterranean Sea (to the north) and the Red Sea (to the east). The thin area on either side of the Nile was historically where 90% of the population settled. To the east of the valley is the Arabian Desert, bounded by a high ridge of mountains. To the west is the Libyan Desert which stretches across the top of North Africa.

The demarcation line in Cairo, the capital city, separates Lower Egypt (everything north of Cairo) from Upper Egypt (everything to the south). To the east, across the Suez Canal is the triangular wedge of Sinai with Mt Sinai and Mt Catherine, the highest mountain in Egypt (2642m).

Culture

With 72,000,000 inhabitants, Egypt represents one quarter of the population of the Arab world. The city of Cairo itself counts about 16,000,000 people. The Egyptian population is composed of people from various origins. Most Egyptians originate from Ancient Egypt and the Nile Valley. Others come from the Arabic and Levantine descents and the Nubians of Upper Egypt.

Climate

During the summer, from March to November, the climate is hot and dry in most of the country. December to February can be quite cold in the north. The sky is usually blue and cloudless. The temperature varies considerably in Egypt. It can be extremely hot during the day and very cold at night, especially in the desert. It rains more often in Alexandria than in Aswan and Cairo. During the early days of the spring season, a hot wind called "Khamasin" blows in from the western desert at up to 150 km/h.