Felucca on the Nile
Private cruise Sailing On the Nile
In 15 days

You've seen those graceful white-sailed feluccas cruising past Pharaonic temples in 19th-century paintings of Egypt. Well, here's your chance to go back in time! But with Today's comfort
Join our small group on a romantic Yacht as we cruise the Nile on this 14-day soft-adventure tour which includes an overnight train journey on the Nile Express . Weekly departure, year round Add a one week stay at an all Inclusive resort in Hurgada on the Red Sea . Larger Parties looking for your private Cruise: Yachts on the Nile . Four air-conditioned Deluxe Dahabbiya with six cabins each

DAY 1 - CAIRO, Wednesday
Your flight arrives in Cairo. Our staff escorts you from the airport to your hotel. Complimentary visa issued upon arrival for American ,Canadian, Australian, NZ & Japanese citizens, passports must be valid at least for 6 month upon arrival. Welcome complimentarily Egyptian sweets & pastries (hotel Room).
Tour starts in Cairo weekly , year round. For a 10 days program please, Click here.

Click here for images of your felucca Dahabia

DAY 2 - CAIRO, Thursday (cBL)
Morning walking tour through the medieval maze of Khan el-Khalili district covering : Wekalet El Ghouri , Saladdin's Citadel, and the Alabaster Mosque built by Mohammed Ali. After lunch at a local restaurant, an afternoon leisurely walking tour of the 12th century district of Khan El Khalili and Al Moez street one of the best preserved medieval time districts. before returning to the hotel . remainder of the day at leisure.

DAY 3 - CAIRO , Friday (cBL)
Today your adventure begins with Egypt's most awesome wonders: We continue our , we'll motor to the edge of Cairo, to the mysterious Sphinx and the Pyramids of Giza.

Those who are fit and adventurous enough may wish to penetrate into the heart of the Great Pyramid, to the King's Chamber (or the interior of Kephren Pyramid, depending ).

Then on to the treasure-filled Egyptian Museum including the treasures of Tutankhamon and the Mummies room. We'll have lunch in a typical Cairene restaurant to get you into the spirit of your Egyptian adventure.

DAY 4 - Sakkara, Memphis, Dahshour , Saturday (cBLD)

The morning is for Memphis and Sakkara, including the Step Pyramid of Zoser & Nobles tombs/Mastabas.

Lunch is included at a local restaurant.
Continue to Dahshour, the newly-opened pyramid field south of Cairo. We visit the great pyramid of Senfru, father of Cheops, and other structure:

The "Discovery" of Dahshour:
For almost half a century, the great field of huge pyramids near the desert village of Dahshour, 25 miles south of Cairo, has been off limits to the public. Confined within the perimeter of a military base were many pyramids, including the great 4500-year-old pyramid built by Senfru, father of Cheops. Senfru's pyramid, the largest in Egypt until his son built Giza's Great Pyramid, is rhomboidal in shape: it tapers more distinctly on its upper half. All the pyramids were coated in thick plaster at one time. Most have lost these protective, decorative sheaths, but Senfru's-miraculously--is still in place. Evening departure by the sleeper train Wagons-Lits. Leaving Cairo at 07:30 PM, dinner is served on board ( always private compartment).

DAY 5 - ASWAN, Kalabsha, Camel Caravan Sunday (cBL)
Our Nile Express train pulls into Aswan station, where our staff meets you and escorts you to your hotel . After settling in, we visit the mighty Aswan High Dam and the temples of Philae.

The Island temple of Philae , dedicated to the Ancient Goddess ISIS :

The Mystery of Isis

Two millennia ago the Mediterranean world was enthralled by the mystery of Isis:

"I, Isis, am all that has been, that is or shall be; no mortal man hath ever seen me unveiled."

Called Aset by the ancient Egyptians, the goddess was a Madonna in the Mediterranean tradition that stretches far, far back to the primitive Mother Goddess from Anatolia, home to some of the oldest human communities on earth.

Isis was the powerful and quick-witted protector of her son Horus, the Sun God. Ancient peoples throughout the Mediterranean regarded Isis and Horus as the perfect Madonna and Child. Another legend says she was
also the mother of the fertility god Min who, judging from the depiction of him on temple walls, needed no help from Viagra!

Because of her wisdom and skill at protection, she was admired as a good magician capable of healing the sick and protecting the dead in their journey to the Underworld.

Isis, the great Mother Goddess. Come explore her mystery in timeless Egypt when you Travel in Style!

Then we hop aboard our camels for a mini- caravan to a nearby Nubian village to see how the locals people live. Afternoon tour of Kalabsha Temple dedicated to the ancient god Mandulis, and the goddess Isis . Built during the reign of the Roman Emperor Augustus , the small rock-cut temple of Beit El Wali, built by Ramses the Great , and the small yet charming Kiosk of Qertassi. ".

DAY 6 - ABU SIMBEL Monday (cBLD)
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. Just as planeloads of visitors arrive to throng the temples we begin our leisurely drive back along the shore to Aswan, arriving in time for a late lunch & your felucca home for the next few days. Royal Cleopatra. Welcome fruit basket awaits you in your cabin.

Day 7 - KOM OMBO Tuesday (BLD)
Set sail in the Royal Cleopatra, headed for Kom Ombo. We visit its twin temple dedicated to the crocodile god of the Nile, then relax on board as we sail to Maneha for lunch. The evening finds us at fares island and dinner. Camp style meals after we sail out of Aswan.

Day 8 Cruising the Nile Wednesday (BLD)
Breakfast on board. Enjoy another grand day of sailing on the Nile watching villages & scenery that changed little since Biblical times.
Lunch at Selwa. Get ready for a galabya costume party, (a galabya will be delivered to your cabin with our compliments), a native barbecue dinner will be served on a small islands in the river .

Day 9  EDFU & ESNA Thursday (BLD)
We dock in Edfu, climb aboard horse-drawn carriages, and clip-clop through the town to the Temple of Horus, Egypt's best preserved. Returning to the Royal Cleopatra, we sail for Esna . We dock at Esna for the night .

Day 10 LUXOR Friday (BL)
We bid farewell to the crew, check out, then we switch transportation modes to get a closer look at life along the riverbank, making our way to Luxor by car.
We tour the magnificent tombs in the Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens, including the great temple of Queen Hatshepsut, stopping also at the Colossi of Memnon before heading back to our hotel for lunch . In the afternoon we stand in awe before the gigantic Great Temple of Amon at Karnak, and the mighty Temple of Luxor. With these vivid impressions in mind,we board our overnight train back down the Nile to Cairo.

DAY 11 - CAIRO, Alexandria Saturday (cBL)
After arrival at Cairo station We speed across the Delta in our comfortable first class air conditioned train to Alexandria,( or private car/driver), lunch is included enroute , remainder of the day at leisure.

DAY 12 - CAIRO, Alexandria Sunday (cBL)
We visit the Greco Roman Museum, the Catacombs, Kayet Bey Fortress and the Roman Amphitheater before we head back to Cairo with a stop at Wadi El Natroun Monasteries , lunch box enroute.

DAY 13 - CAIRO, Monday (cBL)
We embark on a full-day tour of the Egyptian capital, visiting its ancient walls and gates, the eerie City of the Dead necropolis, the former Royal palace of Abdeen , and the bustling camel market. At the end of the day, you'll have years of stories to tell at home!

DAY 14 - CAIRO, HOME HOSTED MEAL , Tuesday (cBD)
Full day at leisure in the Cairo metropolis.

Evening Home hosted dinner, meet the locals you may wish to bring token gifts to exchange with the host family (T shirt or small souvenir from your home town). If you rather have a quiet meal at hotel, please let's know.

DAY 15 - DEPARTURE, Wednesday (cB)
Our staff escorts you to the airport for your flight home. Bon Voyage
Tour departs weekly , year round. For a 10 days program please, Click here.

Rates per person in US $

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Your Tour Includes:

• Abu Simbel excursion by car, including entrance fees & local guide.

• Meals as indicated: cB = Continental breakfast; L = set-menu lunch; D = set-menu dinner

• All airport, dock and train station transfers in Egypt.
• Guided sightseeing as per itineraries including all entrance fees.

• Resident guide/Egyptologist onboard the Royal Cleopatra.
• One bottle of water for each guest on board / per day while on board the Royal Cleopatra.
• Welcome fruit basket on board your sailing boat.
• Complimentary Galabya.

• Hotel accommodations in Cairo, Aswan and Luxor according to the tour itinerary

• Sailing cruise as described in the tour itinerary on M/S Royal Cleopatra with private cabin, private bath.
  
• All sleeper train & first class train tickets in Egypt as listed.
• Egyptian visa fee but only for American, western Europe, Australian, Canadian, NZ & Japanese citizens.

Rate doesn't include:
Trip cancellation nor travel insurance, which you may purchase if you like, international air fare .

Sample Hotels:
All will be confirmed and submitted for your review & approval before you send us your deposit.

Deluxe : Hilton, Sheraton, Meridien

First : Maadi, Oases, Novotel

For a 10 days program including a felucca sailing. Click here.

The Royal Cleopatra is a traditional wind-driven sailing craft, and is subject to the uncertainties of wind, weather and riverine traffic conditions on the Nile. We will do our best to follow published itineraries, but they must be considered tentative in all cases. We reserve the right to modify or cancel any sailing itinerary as conditions warrant. In case of insufficient wind, weather danger or difficult riverine traffic conditions on the Nile or through the Nile locks, or other cause of cancellation, we reserve the right to accommodate Royal Cleopatra passengers aboard a deluxe Nile cruise vessel, and / or to transport passengers between some sites by motor vehicle along the Nile, to be able to keep up with the itinerary , at our option.

Royal Cleopatra's Lay Out

What other guests say about Royal Cleopatra ?

Jan 2005 :

Wallace Party - On the Royal Cleopatra - Private cruising on the Nile :

Hi,

I've been meaning to email you since we arrived home - the trip was Great!!! All the crew was helpful and friendly - they had their work cut out for them helping us with the old ladies, but they were fabulous with them .

everyone had a fantastic time-the accommodations were lovely and the food delicious. Id certainly recommend it to others!!

Finally, Ahmed, our tour guide was the best - again, friendly, knowledgeable, and easy to be with for 5 days - as much as we loved our guide in Cairo, we were sad to leave Ahmed!!

Thanks for everything

Jen

Royal Cleopatra is a modified felucca type vessel, officially called a sandal , is modestly furnished and crewed by it's own private staff of 5 members: Captain, Sailor, Chef, Housekeeper, and Resident Tour Guide. There are exactly two cabins on-board the vessel, each with its own bathroom.

Normally, we have the resident tour guide stay on-board with our guests, in the rear guide's cabin. However, and upon your request , for added privacy while you are on board , we would ask the resident tour guide to meet you at all sight seeing excursions along the way.

In addition, the craft is powered by sails only. We have a private tug boat (Called Garrar - In Arabic!) that would accompany you along the way, in-case of wind loss.


Although a very ancient way of traveling the Nile (ie. Felucca Style) - Felucca, Sandal, and Dahabia Private Charter has become a growing trend for vacationing in Egypt. Especially for those repeat customers, that want a new experience (rather than a typical Nile Cruise).

For your private Cruise

Yachts on the Nile
Four air-conditioned Deluxe Dahabbiya or Felucca