Egypt on a Yacht


Cairo , Cruise the Nile in a Grand Pacha style on board a Deluxe Dahabiya Then on to Alexandria and Alexander the Great's Siwa Oases - A Grand 19 -Day tour of Egypt

We have even included all the tips . No hidden charges, no additional taxes

The cruise boarding is in either Luxor or Aswan

Cairo , a Nile cruise onboard a Deluxe air-conditioned Dahabiya . Here's the best of Egypt : a good look at Cairo and a one week Yacht Felucca cruise along the Nile , Abu Simbel Ramses temples in Nubia, then we follow the pilgrimage route of Alexander the Great to the Oracle of Amon. He marched westward along the Mediterranean coast, then inland (south) to the great oasis of Siwa . His aim was to visit the great temple of Amun

DAY 1 - CAIRO -Wednesday - Weekly in Cairo , year round
Our representative greets you at the airport and whisks you to your hotel.
Visa may be issued upon arrival at Cairo Airport fora limited number of nationalities such as : American, EU , Canadian , Singaporean and Japanese citizens. You are responsible for having your passport in order valid at least for 6 month beyond the date of your arrival in Cairo. Pay in cash upon arrival at the airport, no photo required , if needed and for other nationalities please contact the Egyptian Consulate nearest you .Welcome fruit basket & Egyptian pastry awaits you in your room with our compliments.

Hotels : City Stars Inter.continental . Nile Hilton , Cairo Conrad or Grand Hyatt or similar , or of course upgrade to the Four Seasons Hotel or the Mena House Oberoi ( Palace wing) , ok to mix and match stay between Four Seasons and Oberoi Mena House hotels , rates as listed below.

Please click here for the Dahabias Photo Gallery .
Sample Deck plan for some of the Dahabbiya's
All are available for private charter

DAY 2 - CAIRO - Thursday (BL)
On your first full day in Egypt we show you the Egyptian Museum including the " Mummies Room" . Lunch is included at Naguib Mahfouz or Al-Azhar Park and El Darb El-Ahmar , then the Citadel of Saladin, and Mohammed Ali Mosque, made of alabaster, then wander through the alleys of the charming Khan El-Khalili Bazaar district.

The Agha Khan Development Network The Azhar Park Project in old Islamic Cairo and the Conservation and Revitalization of Darb al-Ahmar historical treasures . Complimentary Dinner is included at a local home:
Meet the locals, you may wish to bring token gifts to exchange with the host family ( T shirt , small souvenirs of your home town):
This evening we'll venture where few ordinary visitors ever tread . . . right into the homes of some of the people of Cairo l! 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 a quiet evening with your travel companions, by letting us know your preferences.

DAY 3 - CAIRO- GIZA - Friday (BLD)
Today we drive to the edge of Cairo , we are now in Giza , we visit Cheops Royal Barge Museum , stand in awe in front of the Sphinx , and the mighty Pyramids of Giza, complimentary short Camel ride is included, to allow you a photo with the Pyramids in the background, time is limited , so please do not go for what the camel driver tries to convince you , i.e. go for a long ride around the Pyramids . Lunch is included at the Mena House , afternoon tour of Memphis and Sakkara , including the Step Pyramid and the Nobles Mastabas. Dinner is included at La Bodega or Abu El Sid local restaurant.

Day 4 - Saturday - Cairo to Luxor and board your deluxe air conditioned Felucca
Very early morning breakfast and transfer to Cairo Airport. Flight is included in our rate, in economy class , tax included . Morning arrival at Luxor . We'll meet you at the airport , and escort you to your deluxe air conditioned Nile cruise felucca or dahabbiya , Board Luxor ( or Aswan ) . Get ready for a relaxing week sailing the Nile on a luxuriously appointed Dahabbiya.

After lunch, excursion to the West Bank for visits to the burial places of the Pharaohs - the Valley of the Kings - where Howard Carter discovered the tomb of Tutankhamen in 1922. Continue to the adjacent Valley of the Queens, the temple of Medinet Habu and the Colossi of Memnon. Overnight moored on the Nile banks of Luxor. Sample Deluxe Felucca / Dahabia : El Bey .  El Hanem   , Zahra , Amber   ,  and Nesma , Dongola, Zarafa

Day 5 - Sunday - Luxor - On board your Yacht Nile Cruise
You will visit the magnificent temple complex of Amon-Ra at Karnak, with its vast hypostyle hall of 137 columns, followed by the imposing 28 th Dynasty Luxor Temple. Overnight moored in Luxor.

Day 6 - Monday - Luxor to Esna - On board your Yacht Nile Cruise (BLD)
Today will be a leisurely day. After breakfast, commence sailing to Esna where your Dahabbiya will moor

Day 7 - Tuesday - Edfu - On board your Yacht Nile Cruise (BLD)
This morning you will sail to Edfu to visit the wonderfully preserved Temple of Edfu. Overnight on board as we will look for an island in the middle of the Nile where we moor.

Day 8 - Wednesday - Kom Ombo - On board your Yacht Nile Cruise (BLD)
Today you will sail to Kom Ombo visit see the Ptolemaic temple dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek and the falcon-headed Horus, god of the morning sun. Overnight moored beside a Nile island.

Day 9 - Thursday - Aswan - On board your Yacht Nile Cruise (BLD)
A leisurely day sailing to Aswan where the dahabiyya moors overnight.

Day 10- Friday - Aswan - On board your Yacht Nile Cruise (BLD)
Today you will visit the Aswan High Dam (completed in 1971); the Old Dam (completed in 1902) and the ' unfinished obelisk', lying in situ since the days of the pharaohs. You will also visit the Philae Temple, dedicated to the goddess Isis, a structure rescued from the rising waters of Lake Nasser at the time of the High Dam's construction.

Day 11- Saturday - Aswan - Abu Simbel - Cairo - Alexandria (BL)
Breakfast aboard the dahabiyya and check-out.

We bid farewell to the crew, we switch transportation modes and head for Aswan Airport and your flight to Abu Abu Simbel , where you private guide awaits you , as well as your own private chauffeur and private air-conditioned vehicle

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 , admiring their ancient aura and artistry, after which we fly back to Cairo , where we proceed from the airport to Alexandria in your own your private air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur and private guide escorting you from Cairo to Alexandria , Siwa and back to Cairo . Lunch will be served in Abu Simbel or Cairo , bottled water included. In Alexandria : Sweets and fruit basket await you in you hotel room in Alexandria with our compliments.

Alexandria and your hotel: Helnan Palestine or the Four Seasons ( superior room ) based on your choice of hotel category ( rate listed below )
Domestic air fare within Egypt is always included , business class ( except to/ from Abu Simbel , it will be subject to plane's configuration ) , tax included .

The New Alexandria Library

Day 12- Sunday - Alexandria (BL)
Breakfast is always included daily at your hotel. Touring in Alexandria and Siwa is always using : private air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur and private guide .
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, then it is off to 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 . 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. Return to the hotel late afternoon. In the evening we enjoy a leisurely walking guided tour of the old medina and " El Raml "

Private Egyptologist - Private Air-Conditioned Vehicle . Private Chauffeur

Octavious visiting Alexander the Great's Tomb in Alexandria just after the Roman Emperor defeated Cleopatra & Marc Anthony.  He left his coat as a token of respect to Alexander the Great. The search continues for Alexander the Great's Tomb.

DAY 13 - ALEXANDRIA, EL ALAMEIN - Marsa Matrouh - Monday (BLD)
We'll cross into another era of history today, as we motor westward through the dunes along the Mediterranean coast, following the route of Field Marshall Montgomery to El Alamein. Here we'll visit the fields of battle where Rommel's advance on Cairo was finally halted. We'll visit the museums war memorials . .

As the gateway to Egypt, the Nile and Africa, Alexandria has been contested by armies and navies ever since. In 1798, Lord Nelson defeated Napoleonšs navy just east of Alexandria.
In 1807 the British occupied the city. In 1941, General Erwin Rommel's Afrika Korps stormed across North Africa all the way to El Alamein, only 70 miles west of Alexandria.

Rommel was driven back in desperate fighting by British forces under the command of Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery yet another of the many generals to have struggled for control of this strategic land. Lunch is included at Ala-Alamein Charm Hotel or similar then we are off to Marsa Matrouh where dinner and comfortable beds await us .

DAY 14 - Marsa Matrouh - SIWA, ORACLE OF AMON - Tuesday (BLD)
It's back to ancient days as we follow the pilgrimage route of Alexander the Great to the Oracle of Amon. He marched westward along the Mediterranean coast, then inland (south) to the great oasis of Siwa . His aim was to visit the great temple of Amun which, tradition says, his legendary "ancestors" Heracles and Perseus had visited. He entered the temple and was hailed by the priests as pharaoh, the son of Amun. He then had a private audience with the High Priestess of the oracle, who proclaimed him to be a god, the son of Zeus. She predicted that he would conquer vast territories. He did. Leaving Egypt, he marched into Persia conquering all who came before him, all the way to what is now Lahore in Pakistan.
On his return trip, however, he fell ill and died at the ripe age of 33 in Babylon.

According to ancient inscriptions, Alexander's body was returned to Egypt and buried , but where? Both Siwa and Alexandria are possibilities. His tomb has not yet been identified for sure. In Siwa expect nothing but the best : Adrere Amellal Ecolodge ( must book in advance ) . Imagine a hotel without electricity, let alone internet access, a true dream come true , no faxes , no   e.mail !!

The Adrere Amellal lodge ( 40 rooms and suites) , this is a boutique oases of luxury in the Egyptian desert that was built with Siwan labour and care so that it would fit entirely into the architectural styles of the oasis. Siwa and the Adrere border the largest ocean of sands in the world . Built out of indigenous material using traditional Siwan building techniques and styles so as to have a minimal impact on the land . The Adrere Amellal Ecolodge sets an example for being environmentally friendly hospitality establishment . Situated at the base of a majestic white mountain and overlooking palm groves and Siwa lake,
Adrere Amellal consists of a series of traditional Siwan houses that have been restored and re-designed into guests suites and rooms, all of which offer genuine desert-style comfort. Furnishing is simple, but of the highest quality, drawing exclusively on local material and design to reflect Siwa's rugged spirit. The Siwan homes are built using a a mixture of sun dried salt rock mixed with straw for wall building. Furniture and fixtures are made of palm trunks and ceilings are beamed with palm logs , the carpentry and accessories display the rich and colorful variety of Siwa's indigenous handicraft. Oil lamps and candles are used for lighting. On cold winter nights, coal-filled braziers are used for heating.

( A brazier is a container for fire, generally taking the form of an upright standing or hanging metal bowl or box. Used for holding burning coal as well as fires .Braziers are mentioned in the Bible. The Hebrew word rendered “brazier” (´ach) is of Egyptian origin, suggesting that the brazier itself was an innovation from Egypt. ) . Please do not expect that you 'll be able to access e.mail tonight !

Siwa Adrere Ecolodge ... have a drink by the sea !! Sea of sand that is !!

DAY 15 - Siwa, Oracle of Amon - Wednesday (BLD)
All meals are included today :
Today's tour includes : At Gebel Mawta, we'll see tombs of the Greco-Roman era, including one that's reputed to be Alexander's own tomb. At Siwa, we'll see an ancient fortress with winding alleyways, and the Temple of Amon, where Alexander's divinity and legitimacy were proclaimed. Within a short distance, we'll traverse centuries as we visit Cleopatra's Pool, a Roman outpost, and a Ptolemaic temple. Our lunch break will be at the springs of Ain Sharouf, where we might get to take a dip.

At your Adrere Ecolodge , your meals are a true culinary delight using a mix of Egyptian , and Siwan cuisine always fresh, the nearest thing you get to organic in an oases ; fresh yogurt, thick date syrup, eggs, local bread, fruit and rich coffee make up breakfast which is served in natural rocky grottos at the base of the mountain, lunch in village style by the swimming pool, hidden within a palm and olive grove and fed by one of the 230 springs in the area, while dinner is by candle light and served in the maze of dining rooms, alcoves and bars, their mud walls studded with salt mini slabs (from nearby salt lakes) that make dining under candlelight like eating in a " Star War " movie set . The lodge is telephone and electricity free. Candles and torches are used for lighting.

DAY 16 - SIWA, ALEXANDRIA - Thursday (BLD)
Today is a very full and long day as we head back north , we break for lunch at Marsa Matrouh , then off to Al-Alamein for a brief stop at Al-Alamein Charm hotel . Day use rooms will be available for one hour to take showers , freshen up, enjoy supper / light dinner then we'll retrace the desert route to Alexandria the ancient capital of Cleopatra and your hotel: Helnan Palestine or the Four Seasons ( superior room ) based on your choice of hotel category ( rate listed below )

DAY 17 - ALEXANDRIA, CAIRO - Friday (B)
Today, we'll fly back to Cairo in business class and your hotel.
Hotels : J. W. Marriott ( Suite ) , Sonesta Cairo ( Suite) . Nile Hilton , Cairo Conrad or Grand Hyatt ( Suite) or similar , or of course upgrade to the Four Seasons Hotel or the Mena House Oberoi ( Palace wing) , ok to mix and match stay between Four Seasons and Oberoi Mena House hotels , rates as listed below.

DAY 18 - CAIRO - Saturday (BL) 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 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.

In the evening , it's time for a fun brief belly dance workshop, about 90-minutes session of belly dance ( ladies ) and folk dance ( gents) . The workshop will be at the hotel or one of the local gym's . This is the time to try on your galabiya !

Henna ( temporary tattoo ) For Ladies only with our compliments :
( for interested guests , please book with us at the time of booking.
One of the "insiders" excursions into Egyptian Bedouin and Fellaheen culture, a chance to attend a henna party, the painting of hands and body with this natural red dye is a symbol of joy at weddings and regarded as a way to enhance one's beauty

DAY 19 - CAIRO/ Departure - Sunday (B)
Our representative escorts you to the airport for your homeward flight. Bon Voyage.
Please click here for the Dahabias Photo Gallery . Sample Deck plan for some of the Dahabbiya's - All the dahabiyas are available for private charter.

* There is no triple occupancy cabins

* Compare with the Ultra Deluxe Version
   based on Four Seasons and /or Mena House Palace Section

• The 9 Day version : Cairo and the Deluxe Dahabiya cruise . Add Abu Simbel