Egypt by River and Rail
Nile Cruise Shore Excursion Included

This nine-day Friends Abroad ^tm itinerary includes Abu Simbel Excursions , a four-day (three-night) Nile cruise, and Nile-side journeys aboard a first-class sleeper train.

Upgrade to a suite with balcony on the Nile - Photo Credit : courtesy of Sonesta Nile Cruises
Compare with the 14-Day Ultra Deluxe version . Extend to Hurgada/Red Sea . Or add an extra day in Cairo . CRUISE THE NILE in the comfort of your own
Available as well on board a PRIVATE cruise

Honeymoon on the Nile

DAY 1 - CAIRO Sunday (weekly ,year round)
Our local rep. meets you at the airport and escorts you to your hotel.
Visa fee is not included and maybe issued upon arrival at Cairo Airport for $15 USD in cash or in Euros for a limited number of nationalities such as American , Australian, NZ, Canadian, EU & Japanese citizens with valid passports that are valid for at least 6 month beyond the date of arrival, our local rep. will meet you after you exit the terminal . Compare with the 9 day  ,  10 day , or 11-Day flying one way & return by sleeper

DAY 2 - CAIRO / Sleeper Train - Monday (BLD)
Full day tour of the Egyptian Museum is in the city center, the Pyramids, Cheops Royal Barge Museum and Sphinx . Lunch is included at the Mena House . Afternoon walking tour of Khan El Khalili and Muizz Ledeen Allah medievla districts . In the evening, we depart for Aswan aboard the Nile Express first-class sleeper train. Always in your own PRIVATE compartment, dinner is included on board.

DAY 3 - ASWAN Tuesday (B)
Morning Arrival at Aswan , proceed by an air conditioned vehicle to Abu Simbel, We've planned our visit to Abu Simbel to be a highlight of your Egyptian adventure. We drive along the shore of Lake Nasser to this Ancient Egyptian sacred site.

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 in Abu Simbel for refreshments after which , we begin our leisurely drive back along the shore to Aswan & your hotel.

DAY 4 - ASWAN Wednesday (BLD)
We escort you to your Nile cruise vessel. After a delicious lunch, we tour the awesome Aswan dams, and next an ancient granite quarry complete with an unfinished obelisk. Then we go by motor launch to the island temples of Philae. Re-embarking on our Nile cruiser. We enjoy afternoon tea on board . In the evening, we cast off and cruise down the Nile.
Shore excursions on board the cruise are all included in our rate .

DAY 5 - KOM OMBO - EDFU Thursday (cBLD)
We board horse-drawn carriages (or motor vans) for the ride to Edfu's Temple of Horus, one of the best-preserved Ancient Egyptian temples on the Nile. After lunch , we continue our cruise down the Nile to Luxor. Afternoon tea is served on the sun -deck. Dinner & entertainment on board.

On Board Sonesta's Deluxe M/S Sun Goddess

DAY 6 - LUXOR Friday (BLD)
Today we tour the Valley of the Kings, Queen Hatshepsut's Temple of El Deir El Bahari , and the Colossi of Memnon. After lunch, the afternoon is free for shopping. Afternoon tea is served on deck. Dinner & folk dance show on board.

DAY 7 - LUXOR Saturday (BLD)
We check out of our cabins after breakfast, but the facilities of the vessel are available to us until the evening. We tour the Great Temple of Amon at Karnak , the "mother" of all temples, and the smaller yet charming Temple of Luxor. Lunch is included on board .In the evening, we escort you to the train station for our first-class sleeper train journey back to Cairo.

DAY 8 - CAIRO Sunday (B)
We escort you to your hotel. (Your room may not be ready until noon, but all other hotel facilities are available.) Why not go shopping in Khan el-Khalili bazaar?

DAY 9 - DEPARTURE Monday (B)
After breakfast, we escort you to the airport. Bon Voyage.

Dec 20 - Jan 2 and Easter Week : 15 % supplement applies

The tour rates include :

• All transfers within Egypt.
• Abu Simbel excursion, including round-trip transfers, entrance fees, & local guide.
• Hotel accommodations including tax and service charges.
• Complimentary welcome fruit basket upon arrival at your cabin on board the Nile Cruise.
• Complimentary Welcome drink served as you arrive on board the Nile Cruise.
• Pre set menu meals as shown including B = Breakfast, (or cB, Continental Breakfast), L = Lunch, D = Dinner aboard the train.
• Bottled water ( one large bottle per person delivered to your cabin daily while you are on board the cruise).
• Tea or coffee and bottled water with every & each meal while on board the cruise
• Cairo-Aswan and Luxor-Cairo first-class sleeper train tickets.
• Four-day (three-night) Nile cruise, including, all shore excursions, onboard accommodations, and all meals.

Rate does not include:

• International airfares not included.
• Sightseeing tours in Cairo are not included, and are available at additional cost.
• Tips
• Travel Insurance

• Visa fee is not included and maybe issued upon arrival at Cairo Airport for$15 USD in cash or in Euros for a limited number of nationalities such as American , Australian, NZ, Canadian, EU & Japanese citizens with valid passports that are valid for at least 6 month beyond the date of arrival.

Enjoy the Royal Cleopatra sailing boat on the Nile

Royal Cleopatra, available as well with this itinerary, ask for details