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Overview

Tailor-made trip to Egypt

Let Egypt reveal all its splendor in this incredible 11-night itinerary, beginning with a four-night luxury cruise along the Nile, followed by three nights in historic Cairo and a fabulous three-night stay along Egypt's Red Sea coast. Your ship on the Nile, the luxurious Sonesta St. George I, will transport you through history as you float along the great river, visiting Egypt’s most amazing temples and tombs. This is the newest ship in the Sonesta fleet, and no detail has been overlooked in offering passengers exclusive elegance and comfort.

Spend three nights in Cairo at the impressive, award-winning Four Seasons First Residence, located in the heart of this amazing city. Enjoy tours of the pyramids at Giza, the Egyptian Museum, and Khan el-Khalili Bazaar – all this in the company of a highly qualified, university-trained Egyptologist.

Finally, travel from Cairo to Hurghada, along the Red Sea coast, and spend three unforgettable nights at the luxurious Oberoi Sahl Hashish, an exclusive resort specifically designed for the most discerning international travelers. Make the most of the beautiful beaches and enjoy the excellent water sports on offer, meanwhile taking in amazing surroundings and the resort’s spectacular architecture.

Contact our Egypt specialist today for more information on this tailor-made trip to Egypt!

Itinerary

Day 1| International flight

Day 2| Arrival at Cairo
Welcome to Cairo, Egypt! Upon arrival, a representative will welcome you and treat you to our Signature VIP meet and greet services. Our representative will handle all your Visa formalities for you upon arrival and assist you every step of the way. After customs formalities and baggage pick-up, you will be transferred to your hotel, the Fairmont Heliopolis, where help will be available for the check-in process. Your room will feel like a beautiful retreat after a long flight and the quiet and comfort of the luxury amenities and facilities will ensure a good nights' rest.
Accommodation: Fairmont Heliopolis

Day 3| Cairo - Luxor
Good morning! Awake refreshed and relaxed and enjoy breakfast in the hotel. Your guide will meet you and arrange for your transfer to Cairo Airport, where you will board your flight to Luxor. Upon arrival, you will be welcomed and transferred to the cruise ship which will be your home for the next four nights: the ultra-luxurious Sonesta St. George. The newest ship in Sonesta's Nile Cruise ship sailing fleet, the Sonesta St. George offers passengers the ultimate in exclusive luxury and comfort. With only with 47 deluxe cabins and 10 suites, the Sonesta St. George is one of the most elegant ships on the Nile, offering a full-service spa and fitness center, restaurant, bars, nightly entertainment and guided excursions. With so few passengers on board at any one time, the level of service throughout the ship is first-class and staff members are at the ready to assist you with your every need. Enjoy the ship’s amenities, which include a swimming pool, sauna, spa, full service luxury spa center, gym, jogging track and more. Relax and unwind with incredible cuisine in the ship’s restaurant and enjoy nightly entertainment on board every evening.
This morning your first stop will be Karnak Temple in Luxor. After lunch, you will visit the West Bank of the Nile and the Luxor Temples. Later in the afternoon, enjoy tea onboard the ship. Relax, refresh and unwind for the remainder of the day until this evening's dinner. After dinner, you will be treated to a Belly Dance Show that will leave you spellbound.
Accommodation: Sonesta St. George. Meals: B, L, D

Day 4| Luxor - Esna
This morning early, the ship will set her sails towards Esna. After you awaken, enjoy breakfast with the other passengers or in the comfort and privacy of your suite. Relax as the ship makes her way along the Nile and enjoy history as it passes by her bow. The pool may beckon you – or perhaps you would be more interested in a spa or other treatment? This evening, you will be properly welcomed at the Captain's Cocktail Party. After dinner, enjoy the disco onboard the ship and take a stroll around the ship’s deck to enjoy the warmth of Egypt.
Accommodation: Sonesta St. George. Meals: B, L, D

Day 5| Edfu
Good morning, today guests will enjoy a tour of the temples of Edfu. Horus Temple was built in the Ptolemaic Period (304-30 BC) at a time when the country was ruled by a dynasty of kings who were of Macedonian Greek origins. Of all the temple remains in Egypt, the Temple of Horus at Edfu is the best-preserved. Once you are back on board, enjoy an afternoon tea as your ship sets sail towards Kom Ombo. This evening, enjoy a delicious meal and afterwards attend a Galabya party!
Accommodation: Sonesta St. George. Meals: B. L, D

Day 6| Kom Ombo - Aswan
This morning after breakfast, prepare to explore Kom Ombo. The temple is an unusual double temple also built in the Ptolemaic dynasty. One side of the temple is dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek, god of fertility and creator of the world, according to Egyptian history. The other side is dedicated to the falcon god Haroeris, also known as Horus the Elder. The temple is perfectly symmetrical along the main axis and stands strong despite considerable damage caused by the Nile's floodwaters, earthquakes, and later builders who used the stones for other projects. Inside this incredible temple guests will view several samples of the more than three-hundred crocodile mummies discovered in the vicinity, now on display for the public. Return to the ship for lunch. This afternoon's sites will include many important structures and regions of Egypt. First you will visit the High Dam. This impressive tribute to engineering marvels provides electricity and prevents excessive flooding. Construction began in 1889 and lasted until 1902. It is a favorite site among visitors and a must see on any Nile tour. Later, you will visit the Granite Quarries which provided many of the stones used during construction of the monuments in Aswan. When guests tour this region, they can't help but marvel at the strength and determination it must have taken to move these massive stones for many miles. Your tour ends with a trip to the Temple of Philae. This small island holds many beautiful ruins and the scenes here are both lovely and breathtaking. Philae was held in high reverence both by the Egyptians to the North and the Ethiopians to the south and it was once deemed profane for anyone but a priest to dwell therein. Return to the ship to relax and unwind before dinner. This evening, you will be entertained by a Nubian folklore show.
Accommodation: Sonesta St. George. Meals: B. L, D

Day 7| Aswan - Cairo
Good morning! Enjoy breakfast onboard the ship and be prepared to disembark at Aswan this morning. Our representative will meet you there and transfer you to the airport where you will board your flight to Cairo. Upon arrival in Cairo, you will be met by a representative and transferred to your hotel: welcome to the Four Seasons First Residence. For the next three nights you can indulge in this hotel’s incredibly luxurious rooms. Located in the heart of Cairo, the First Residence is one of the finest addresses in the city for travelers. The impressive design of the hotel still turns heads years after its construction. As one of the tallest structures in Cairo, the views from the hotel are truly incredible. Floor-to-ceiling windows showcase the historic Nile River from some beautiful vantage points, while other views are of the spectacular pyramids, making each traveler feel as if they stepped into another world. The Four Seasons First Residence has won numerous luxury awards in the past, most recently in 2008, when it was honored with First Place Luxury status from Lifestyle Magazine. This afternoon and evening relax and unwind as you prepare for your next full day of sightseeing around Cairo. Perhaps you would like to take advantage of the full gym facilities or the heated pool to help feel refreshed after your flight. Tonight, as you close your eyes for some much-needed sleep, let the Egyptian cotton envelope you in dreams of what is to come – Queens, Kings and the delights of Egypt's past. Accommodation: Four Seasons First Residence. Meals: B

Day 8| Cairo
Good morning! Wake up to a beautiful Egyptian sunrise and arrive to breakfast fully refreshed and relaxed. Afterwards you will meet your English-speaking Egyptologist guide. The guides have been trained at the University and are well-versed in Egyptian history, customs, and folklore. Today, you will begin a full-day tour of the Pyramids, Memphis & Sakkara. Your day begins with a leisurely drive to the Giza Plateau to view the incredible Pyramids of Giza. The largest and oldest of the three structures is called Khufu's Pyramid or the Pyramid of Cheops. It is the only remaining member of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It is believed by Egyptologists that the pyramid was built as a tomb for Fourth dynasty Egyptian pharaoh Khufu (or Cheops in Greek) and was constructed over a 20-year period. In the early afternoon, enjoy a lovely break during your tour by having lunch at the Oberoi Mena House. For the remainder of your afternoon you complete your tour. Return to the hotel in time to relax and unwind. Take a swim or hop in the sauna. The rest of the evening is yours to enjoy at your leisure.
Accommodation: Four Seasons First Residence. Meals: B, L

Day 9| Cairo
Good morning! Today you will enjoy a fabulous tour of Cairo's history and culture. You will explore the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities. Visitors are often mesmerized for hours in this vast treasure trove of rare Egyptian works of art, history and symbols. View the golden coffin and mask of King Tut along with many other artifacts from his tomb. Depending on the touring schedule of the exhibit, the museum maintains a fabulous assortment of exhibits at all time. Explore the jewels, symbols and history of the greatest dynasties of Egypt. Take a moment to absorb this incredible slice of important history which has affected the entire world in so many areas – from mathematics and literature to astronomy and strategies of battle. After your museum tour, you will be treated to a shopping afternoon at the famed Khan el Khalili Marketplace, Egypt's oldest and most lively place to enjoy color, bargains and people. Enjoy lunch at the Naguib Mahfouz in the Khan. Well known for its outstanding cuisine, but even more so for its ice cream – it has a delicious reputation all on its own! Return to the hotel in time to relax and refresh. Take a swim or a sauna. The rest of the evening is yours to enjoy.
Accommodation: Four Seasons First Residence. Meals: B, L

Days 10 to 12| Cairo - Hurghada
This morning, after breakfast, you a representative will join you and you will be transferred to Cairo airport where you will board your flight to Hurghada and Egypt's Red Sea. You will be met upon arrival and transferred to your luxury hotel, the Oberoi Sahl Hashish.
The Oberoi Sahl Hasheesh is a luxurious all-suite resort set on the coast of the Red Sea at Hurghada. With 48 acres of palm-filled grounds and 850 meters of private sandy beach, Sahl Hasheesh is a spectacular and dramatic resort. Shady marble colonnades, domed pavilions, atriums open to the sky, and the elegant tradition-inspired contemporary Arabic architecture are a perfect complement to the setting. Unlike so many resorts, the buildings here enhance their environment. The resort’s interior features pristine marble public areas with galleried courtyards and fountain pools. Paths meander between the domed private suites, set in green lawns with palms for shade and bougainvillea for color. All this set against the brilliant blue of the Red Sea. Guests at the resort enjoy luxuriously appointed and spacious suites, fine dining, a world-class spa and an in-house dive center. Sahl Hasheesh is the exclusive retreat of choice for the discerning international traveler.
Guest dining takes on a new meaning here at the Sahl. The Restaurant has commanding views of the sea and offers an a la carte menu of Continental and Oriental cuisine for dinner. It is possible to dine alfresco here, to take advantage of the stunning fairytale glow of the resort’s illuminated domes after dark. Guests looking for romance and splendor may choose The Pergola, located by the pool, overlooking the sea. Romance and elegance come alive in Zaafran, styled in shades of blue and silver, featuring an eclectic choice of Oriental and Indian cuisines. Explore, enjoy and relax beachside, take in some marine activities, enjoy the spa, pool and other amenities of this fabulous, award-winning luxury resort.
Accommodation: Oberoi Sahl Hasheesh. Meals: B

Day 13| Hurghada - Cairo
This morning, after breakfast, a representative will join you and you will be transferred to Hurghada airport where you will connect with your return flight back to Cairo. International flight to Canada.

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.