Luxury
on the Nile
27-Day Edition - Egypt
and Jordan Version
Including A Foray into the Lost City of Arabia : The Famous Petra
As well as the Biblical Fayoum Oases . Middle Egypt " El Amarna
and Beni Hassan
Dendera Temples. Seti I Abydos Temple. Sharm El Sheikh
resort stay on the Red Sea .
And of course a 5 day Ultra Deluxe Nile Cruise

The
Four Seasons Hotel in Cairo over looking the Nile
The ultimate version of an Egyptian adventure. You'll journey in Egypt
in the comfort of business class, enjoy the most luxurious Nile Cruise
accommodation available , on this upscale package.
Arrive any day ( Subject to availability
of air space & Nile cruise)
DAY
1 - CAIRO
Arrive any day in Cairo (Subject to cruise and hotel availability)
Compare with the 14 Day edition.
Our Cairo staff greets you and escorts you through the excitement
and hubbub of the terminal, and onward to your hotel. Traditional
sweets await you, with our compliments. You'll have time to relax
and unwind. Visa fee is included & issued upon arrival. Available
only to American, Japanese , Canadian, Singaporean & EU citizens,
your passport must be valid for at least 6 month beyond the date of
arrival.
Private
air condition car for your transfer. Private
chauffeur
DAY
2 - CAIRO (BL)
Private air condition car for your tour today . Private
chauffeur .
We'll motor to the mysterious Sphinx and the Pyramids on the edge
of Cairo. Taking
a camel ride (Included) is entirely your own choice!
Your
exploration of ancient Egypt begins today! We'll start after breakfast
with the Egyptian Museum. Here you'll see the treasures of the ancient
pharaohs: Mummies Hall is included , statuary, and precious
stones and metals. Travelers have long come to Cairo just to gaze
on these sights alone. But there's more, after lunch Egyptian-style,
on we go to the Coptic & Jewish
ancient quarter.

DAY
3 - CAIRO (BL)
Private air condition sedan/vehicle is at your disposal today,
with a private guide & a private chauffeur, to take you on a leisurely
tour , including a walking tour of the legendary Khan El Khalili ancient
bazaar district, a shopper's dream. We'll go on a treasure hunt ,
until we break for lunch at a charming local restaurant, after which
we bring you back to the hotel. Reminder of the day at leisure.
DAY
4 - Fayoum Oases (BL)
We leave Cairo by sunrise ( private air conditioned car/driver/guide):
Full day to the Biblical Fayoum Oases including: Hawara Pyramid, El
Lahoun Pyramid, Ruins of Karanis, drive by Lake Qarun, lunch is included
at a local restaurant. Fayoum irrigation system and the Oasis was
said to be designed by Joseph after the Pharaoh entrusted Egypt's
fate to him in facing the 7 years of abundance that are followed by
7 years of drought. Return to Cairo late afternoon.
DAY
5 - LUXOR - Hotel (B)
Early morning flight to Luxor, ( or Aswan) all transfers are on
a private basis, always with an air conditioned car. On to your hotel.
You'll tour the charming Luxor Museum . Remainder of the day at leisure.
Evening Karnak Sound & Light Show. Hotel : Old Winter Palace Nile
view or the Al-Moudira hotel on the West Bank. Please advise us of
your preference ( always subject to availability)

DAY
6 - LUXOR / DENDERAH and ABYDOS (BL)
Breakfast at the hotel . Lunch box provided today from the hotel.
We
drive inland to tour Denderah & Abydos Temples. Among the best
preserved in Egypt. This temple as a sight to hold. Indiana Jones
would have felt at home, with the massive stones & underground
passages :
DENDERAH
IN A DAY
We'll
travel to Denderah to visit the Temple of Hathor, one of the best-preserved
in all of Egypt, and also one of the most important. In the ancient
beliefs, Hathor was the consort of the god of daylight, ruler of the
west, and protector or the underworld. In the manner of wise desert
wayfarers, we'll leave before dawn to take advantage of cool temperatures.
Our air-conditioned van will take us through timeless Nile-side villages,
where life revolves around the irrigation and harvest of crops. Finally,
we'll reach the temple precincts. We'll take note of the unusually
deep tombs, and pass under the celebrated Zodiac, in a chapel dedicated
to Osiris. (Denderah is the traditional site of his rebirth.) Our
full day will also include a visit to Abydos, traditional home of
Osiris, god of the underworld, and a stopping point on the journey
of wayfaring souls. We'll enjoy a box lunch, and return to Luxor late
in the afternoon,
and your hotel .
DAY 7 - LUXOR - Nile Cruise (BLD)
After enjoying breakfast at the hotel, our local rep will
assist with your transfer to the Nile Cruise.
A welcome fruit basket awaits you on board your Nile Cruise. Relax,
unpack, and settle into your accommodations on board for the next
four nights. Then we'll set out overland to visit the Great Temple
of Amon at Karnak, followed by the mighty Temple of Luxor. We'll return
in time for afternoon tea. You'll have a chance to explore your ship
before dinner, which tonight features an international buffet.
For
guests booking Presidential Suites on board the cruise :
Our guests , receive special consideration . When you reserve
your Suite , we will provide you with a private valet to take care
of your personal and touring needs, and a private guide / Egyptologist
to answer any questions you may have about the wonders around you.
DAY
8 - LUXOR/ EDFU (BLD)
We'll cross the Nile to view an array of ancient splendors: the
tomb chambers of the Valley of the Kings; the imposing tomb-temple
of Queen Hatshepsut in the Valley of the Queens , and on to Deir
El Medinah is on Luxor's west bank you get a totally different
perspective on ancient Egyptian life, at the ancient workers' settlement
of Deir el-Medinah. While most of the imposing stone monuments and
sites of Egypt honor the lives and after-lives of royalty, Deir el-Medinah
gives us unique and surprising insights into the ordinary citizens
who constructed and decorated the tombs.
Here
we'll see the excavated homes shared by laborers with their domestic
animals. These quarters were surprisingly large, with three good-sized
rooms, courtyard, kitchen, and even storage cellars. While ancient
Egypt might not have been a workers' paradise, we'll see that artisans
and builders were highly regarded in their community. We are proud
to be the only operator to offer regular visits to this singular ancient
settlement in its tour and cruise programs.
On
to
the Colossi of Memnon. On to Edfu. Where we dock for the night. In
the evening, we'll celebrate in Egyptian style, dressed in galabias
( A Galabia will be delivered to your cabin with our compliments),
the galabia is the flowing national costume. While you are on board
the cruise, afternoon tea will be served daily on deck.
DAY
9 - EDFU, KOM OMBO, ASWAN (BLD)
In EDFU: Horse-drawn carriages meet us at riverside to take us to
the Temple of Horus, best-preserved in all of Egypt. After our visit,
we'll re-embark, and enjoy lunch while we proceed upriver. We'll disembark
at Kom Ombo to explore the twin temples of Haroeris, the sun god,
and Sobek, the crocodile god, then continue our voyage to Aswan, while
we party after dinner.
Complimentary "Egyptian sweets" platter will be delivered
to your cabin today with our compliments.
DAY
10 - ASWAN (BLD)
After breakfast, we'll visit the dams at Aswan, including the High
Dam, a modern wonder in this ancient land. At the ancient granite
quarry, we'll see an obelisk left unfinished, then board a launch
to visit the Temples of Philae, rescued from rising waters
, dedicated to the Ancient Goddess ISIS .
Our
farewell dinner is a buffet of Egyptian specialties, followed by a
show featuring oriental performers, including, of course, a belly
dancer.
DAY
11 -CAMEL CARAVAN/SAILING BOATS (BLD)
After breakfast on board, we'll have the opportunity to experience
Egypt at its most authentic, as we sail the Nile in a graceful Felucca,
the age-old sailing vessel of the river. If you wish, try your hand
at camel riding! We'll take a traditional caravan to enjoy tea with
Nubian villagers. Check-out from the suite is after breakfast. Luggage
will be sent to the Old Cataract (subject to availability ).
After the tour you return to check-in at the legendary OLD
Cataract Hotel , Nile View room .
If the Old Cataract is not available, then we'll use the Mövenpick
Elephantine Island.
Afternoon
High Tea included on the famous terrace over looking the Nile, where
Agatha Christi wrote "Death On the Nile " Remainder of the day at
leisure. Make sure you retire to bed early tonight, you leave tomorrow
for Abu Simbel before sunrise

Upgrade
to one of the suites at The Four Seasons Hotel
in Cairo over looking the Nile
DAY
12 - ABU SIMBEL - Ramses the Great - Master Builder of all Times/
Cairo (BL)
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, soft drinks
, tea and light snack . Just as planeloads of visitors arrive to throng
the temples we fly back to Aswan Airport to connect and fly back to
Cairo and your hotel.
DAY
13 - Cairo (BD)
Breakfast
, AAAAAH finally a full day at leisure !
enjoy , relax , and enjoy your stay at the hotel.
Yet in the evening , we host you on a Nile dinner cruise complete
with exotic Egyptian entertainment.
DAY
14 - CAIRO (cBL)
The Culture of Cairo : Today
we’ll explore deep into the heart of Cairo, and get to know
its daily rhythms, its spirituality, its history, and its modern diversions.
We’ll start early, with a visit to a local market, with an immense
variety of seasonal fruits and vegetables on offer, both familiar
and exotic.
You’ll
see that shopping in Cairo goes far beyond a supermarket experience.
Be prepared for whispers, gestures, shouting, and controlled chaos.
It’s all part of the bargaining process, engaged in by women
in traditional modest garb as well as others in Western dress.
Then
it’s on to the Blue Mosque, Wekalet El Ghouri Caravan-serai.
We’ll continue to the Gayer-Anderson House, a serene and classic
domestic oasis, right down to its central fountain and exquisite furnishings.
Our visit is also a journey into a vanished way of life—the
residence is actually two traditional medieval Cairo houses restored
by an English physician to a former king. We’ll stop for lunch
at a restaurant where Cairenes go, then visit the Bab an-Nasr, the
Gate of Victory in Cairo’s old walls. You’ll even see
graffiti that survives from soldiers of Napoleon and of the British
Empire, among the many who passed this way.
DAY
15 - CAIRO - El Minya (cBLD)
After breakfast we head to Cairo railway station to board the train
for El-Minya about 245 kilometers south of Cairo ( 3-4 hours ride
), yet depending on the season , we may use an air conditioned vehicle.
For Egyptians this provincial capital marks the divide between Upper
and Lower Egypt.
This is a special tour to the capital of Nefertiti and Akhenaton kingdom
. When they had their bloodless religious revolution , to escape from
the ever growing power of the church - then of the might Amon-Ra.
Lunch box will be included from Cairo , with bottled water.
Upon arrival we proceed to tour Beni Hassan ( 20 Kilometers south
of Minya ) to tour the ancient tombs necropolis , with an commanding
view, a superb location overlooking the Nile Valley and the Nile River.
The
tombs are cut into the cliffs , the tombs mostly date from the 11th
and 12th dynasties about 2000 years BC. Most of the tombs are unfinished.
When Akhenaton died, the whole capital moved back again to Luxor,
and the old powerful grip of Amon-Ra Chief god priests, declared Akhenaton
a heretic. And all the work on the tombs in Beni Hassan was abandoned.
We cant guarantee which tomb will be open on any given day , but samples
include tombs of Kheti and Amenemhat, then wonder among the desolate
ruins of Tel El Amarana the Ancient Capital of the self exiled Pharaoh
Akhenaton and his queen : Nefertiti.
Dinner and overnight at 3 stars modest hotel ( there is no 4 or 5
stars accommodation in El Minya). Private touring as usual.
Depending
on your comfort level , driving condition , traffic etc, we may have
to tour Tuna El Gabal Necropolis tomorrow
Nefertiti
Turns Egypt Upside Down!! The
first bloodless religious revolution against the established church
in Ancient Egypt And the seat of power that rested with the priests
in Karnak
DAY
16 - El Minya - Cairo (cBL)
Depending
on your comfort level , driving condition , traffic etc, we may tour
Tuna El Gabal Necropolis yesterday or today. Before we head back to
Cairo by train or private air conditioned vehicle.
Day
17 Cairo / Sharm El Sheikh (B)
Breakfast at the hotel before we fly to Sharm El Sheikh . Private
air condition car always for your transfers. We'll settle you into
your Luxury hotel in Sharm : Sonesta , Hyatt, Renaissance Hotel ,
The Ritz Hotel or similar.
DAY
18 - Sharm El Sheikh (B)
Full day at leisure . Hit
the water , or explore Sharm El Sheikh on your own . The Choice is
yours.
DAY
19 - Sharm / Aqqaba (B)
Private car /driver from you hotel in Sharm or Dahab to Nuweiba to
board the Speed boat heading for Aqqaba.
Our staff will meet you upon arrival in Aqaba.(about :3 PM, drive
time Aqqaba/Petra: 1 1/2 hour)
There is no visa requirement for arrival into Aqabba : for American,
EU , Australian, NZ, Mexican & Japanese passport holders. Passport
must be valid at least for 6 month beyond the date of your arrival.
For
May-Sep Month :
Proceed on a complimentary Visit the Wadi Rum Desert and its awesome
moonlike landscape.
We board four-wheel-drive vehicles for our expedition to Wadi Rum,
the "Valley of the Moon" where T. E. Lawrence ("Lawrence of Arabia")
organized Arab resistance to Ottoman rule during World War I.
For
rest of the year,we'll offer a complimentary panoramic tour of Aqaba.
After our visit ( if the ferry time table changes or when there is
a delay, then you may not be able to visit Wadi Rum. On to your hotel
in Petra .
DAY
20 - PETRA (B)
Today the fabulous Nabatean City of Petra awaits us. Made famous in
the Indiana Jones movie "Raiders of the Lost Ark," its ancient temples,
tombs and striking Khazneh (Treasury) were hewn right from the pink
and violet sandstone. We spend a full day here to visit the many sites
of Petra, the city that was caved into the rose-red Sharah Mountains
by the Nabateans and lost to civilization until it was rediscovered
by the Swiss Burkhardt. Walk through the Siq, a narrow and winding
fissure between the cliffs, to reach the treasury, the Roman Theater,
the Courts, Qasr Bint Pharaoun, Temple of the Winged Lion and other
monuments. A break for optional lunch, or you may wish to climb up
to the Monastery. Overnight in Petra.
DAY
21 - Sharm El Sheikh (B)
We drive to Aqqaba in time to board the 10 AM Speed Boat back
to Nuweiba & Sinai. Your private air conditioned coach/car will
await you . Our local rep will assist with a new visa to re-enter
Egypt ( Fee is included on a complimentary basis).
DAY 22- Sharm El Sheikh (B)
Full day at leisure . Enjoy
your hotel facilities , or venture into the nearby Bedouin village
to see how the local people live-as you like.
DAY
23 - MOUNT SINAI - St. CATHERINE ( Santa Katarina / Catarina ) Monastery
(BL)
Relax! This is one more day in "Paradise", enjoy the beach
the Egyptian sun and maybe fishing , snorkeling or diving in the Red
Sea. Or join us on a complimentary tour
to Mount Sinai then in the cool before sunrise, we drive into
the wilderness of Sinai, through which Moses led his people
to the Promised Land. Our goal is the Monastery of St. Catherine,
built on the site of the burning bush at the base of Mount
Sinai. We tour the monastery, rich in history,icons and sacred paintings,
returning to Sharm late in the evening.
You must be in good physical condition if you wish
to consider climbing Mt. Sinai. The climb is
not recommended for those affected by heights.
DAY
24 -CAIRO - HOME HOSTED FAMILY DINNER (BD)
Fly to Cairo remainder of the day in Cairo, at leisure.
You'll have one more opportunity to experience the excitement of this
great city and, of course, do some last-minute shopping.
This evening we'll venture where few ordinary visitors ever tread
. . . right into the homes of some of the people of Cairo ! 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 dinner in a quiet restaurant with your travel
companions, by letting us know your preferences.
You may wish to bring token gifts to exchange with the host family
( T shirt , small souvenirs of your home town).
DAY
25 - ALEXANDRIA - (BL)
Conqueror
of the Mediterranean Coast - Alexander the Great
In
332 BC, Egypt was laboring under Persian military control when Alexander
the Great arrived to drive out the invaders without the shedding of
a drop of blood. The Persian governor surrendered and the conquering
hero was hailed as a liberator and given Egypt's double crown symbolizing
control of Upper and Lower Egypt. Alexander reinstated Egypt's traditional
government and founded the city of Alexandria at the country's most
important crossroads: where the Nile meets the Mediterranean.
Today,
we'll get to known Alexandria in depth, as we visit the Roman Amphitheater,
the Koum El Shougafa Tombs,lunch is included in an Alexandrine restaurant.
Helnan Palestine Hotel or Hilton Alexandria
DAY
26 - ALEXANDRIA / Cairo - (BL)
Today
our tour includes Qayet Bey Fortress
built on the same site of the ancient wonder of the world : the famous
Alexandria Light House. A
brief stop at " El Selsela" the site of the Underwater reserve
where Cleopatra Place was discovered, as well as Caesar Kiosk ,
then its off to the new site for the Alexandria Library before heading
back to south. Time
permitting we 'll visit the new museum in Alexandria , the building
was originally built in 1926 for the US consulate in Alexandria and
is a masterpiece in 1920's architecture & Mediterranean style
buildings.
Reach Cairo early evening and your hotel.

The
New Alexandria Library
DAY
27 - DEPARTURE (B)
Private air condition car for your transfer. Private chauffeur .Our
Cairo-based staff escorts you to the airport, where you'll begin your
journey home . Salaam and Bon Voyage!
This
tour starts daily in Cairo , throughout the year. Subject to the availability
of the Nile Cruise.
Please
note that the Nile vessels and cruise itineraries are subject to change.
Click here for more info on these luxurious cruises: M/S Mojito ,
Queen TiYi , Royal Lotus or the
Radamis II ( Swiss Management) , Moon Goddess
all suites with private balconies ,

Petra at Night
Rates
per person, in deluxe accommodations, in US$:
| Hotel
Accommodation |
Hyatt
or Conrad Hotels or similar In Cairo And Sharm |
Four
Seasons Hotels
Cairo and Sharm
Standard Rooms |
| Cruise
Accommodation |
Outside
Cabin |
Outside
Cabin |
|
Sharing in Triple occupancy |
US$
5280.00 |
US$
5930.00 |
|
Double occupancy |
US$
5440.00 |
US$
6080.00 |
| Single
occupancy |
US$ 6575.00 |
US$ 7735.00 |
For
Presidential suite on board the cruise , please scroll down .
For travel during Easter, Christmas or New Year's ( Dec 20-Jan 3 )
, a 15 percent supplement applies.
Rate
includes:
- Air
transportation within Egypt as mentioned in itinerary, in business
class, when available on board subject to according to aircraft
configuration.
- All
ground transportation private basis ( except for the Nile
cruise shore excursion) , including airport greeting.
- Deluxe
hotel accommodations, including tax as listed : sample hotels
in Cairo : The Grand Hyatt , the Conrad , the Inter.Continental
downtown overlooking the Nile. Petra Movenpick in Petra
or similar
In
Sharm El Sheikh: The Hyatt,Marriott , Sofitel , Renaissance Hotel
, Savoy , Sonesta or similar hotels.
- Luxury
Nile cruise, with all meals, a welcome fruit basket, an Egyptian
sweets platter, complimentary bottle of water for each guest ,
delivered to your cabin daily while on board the cruise.
- All
shore excursions, aboard, these ultra luxury
Nile cruises :
M/S Amarco
,
Monaco
, M/S Royal Lotus M/S Mojito ,
M/S Queen TiYi , Movenpick Radamis,
Sonesta,
Queen of Hansa , or the M/S
Princess Sara , subject to availability.
For
guests booking Suites on board the cruise :
Our guests , receive special consideration . When you reserve
your Suite , we will provide you with a private valet to take
care of your personal and touring needs, and a private guide
/ Egyptologist to answer any questions you may have about the
wonders around you.
- Sightseeing
with guide and entrance fees to archaeological sites.
- Meals
as indicated, with preset menu (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch,
D = Dinner), American breakfast (aB) in Cairo
- Visa
fee issued upon arrival in Cairo and Aqaba (applicable to
Australian, NZ , EU, Mexican , S. African, S. Korean Singaporean,
Japan, US,and Canadian passport holders) ,
your passport must be valid and in order.
- Ferry
ticket between Sinai & Aqqaba Jordan
Our
Nile cruise passengers come from all countries of the world, more
from Europe, but also from North America, South America and Asia,
and naturally they'll often keep the company of their own language
and culture.
Your
patience and extra efforts to interact are sure to bear rewards.
Some guests from the USA did bring up the issue that in some cases
the boat did have 2 or 3 English speaking couples onboard, and that
they expected more !
Most sailings have a few native English speakers, though the numbers,
of course, vary by season, and are not guaranteed.
Upgrade to the presidential suite on board one of the following
Nile cruises or similar :
Monaco,
Mojito, Princess Sara, Queen of Hanza, Movenpick Royal Lotus, Movenpick
Royal Lily
Rates
per person, in deluxe accommodations, in US$:
| Hotel
Accommodation |
Hyatt
or Conrad Hotels or similar In Cairo And Sharm |
Four
Seasons Hotels
Cairo and Sharm
Standard Rooms |
| Cruise
Accommodation |
Presidential
Suite |
Presidential
Suite |
|
Sharing in Triple occupancy |
US$
5850.00 |
US$
6550.00 |
|
Double occupancy |
US$
6010.00 |
US$
6760.00 |
| Single
occupancy |
US$ 7950.00 |
US$ 8055.00 |
|