Jewel of the Nile - 10 days
Premium Tour. Enjoy a five star Egyptian adventure, Stay in one of Cairo's smartest hotels and cruise the River Nile in style aboard a 5 star Nile cruiser. Relax and unwind, enjoy the serenity of the Nile Valley, whilst discovering the very best of ancient Egypt!
Day 1: Cairo
Friday. Welcome to Egypt and the start of a wonderful holiday! Arrive Cairo airport, meet and greet service and included transfer to 5 star hotel, located at the foot of the Great Pyramids of Giza. Overnight - Cairo
Day 2: Egyptian Museum
We start with the dazzling antiquities at the Egyptian Museum. Amongst the many exhibits are the treasures of King Tutankhamen. This afternoon offers free time to relax and enjoy the hotel facilities or join us for an optional city tour visiting old Cairo and the Islamic citadel. Overnight - Cairo (B)
Jewel of the Nile - 10 days Go Guide : :Check out the go guide for details of the tour, info on visas, climate, money, what to bring and more!
Day 3: Pyramids of Giza and Saqqara
Cairo - Luxor. Today we visit Egypt's most loved sight - The Great Pyramids of Giza. We explore the Giza plateau, pyramids and massive lion-headed Sphinx. Later, we tour Saqqara - an ancient necropolis with many half-buried tombs and the famous Zhoser’s step pyramid. Tonight we take an overnight sleeper cabin train south to Luxor.
If your don't fancy travelling by overnight sleeper train, opt to undertake the journey by flight with our Jewel of the Nile Flight Upgrade. The option includes air travel between Cairo - Luxor and Aswan - Cairo with two nights accommodation in the comfort of 5 star hotels. Overnight - Sleeper Train (B, D)
If your don't fancy travelling by overnight sleeper train, opt to undertake the journey by flight with our Jewel of the Nile Flight Upgrade. The option includes air travel between Cairo - Luxor and Aswan - Cairo with two nights accommodation in the comfort of 5 star hotels. Overnight - Sleeper Train (B, D)
Day 4: Valley of the Kings
Luxor. The massive pair of statues known as
the Colossi of Memnon are the first monuments you’ll
see during our morning visit to the West Bank - home
to the legendary Valley of the Kings. You’ll also see
the colonnaded Temple of Queen Hatshepsut. Return to
Luxor for check-in on board our Nile 5 star cruiser. Lunch
at leisure and time to relax until our early evening visit
to the Temple of Luxor. Luxor Temple looks stunning
at dusk and is beautifully illuminated at night. Lunch,
dinner and overnight - Nile cruiser.
Note: Dependant upon Nile Cruiser scheduling it maybe required that we also undertake our excursion to Karnak Temple this afternoon. Should this occur, day 5 will be spent at leisure. Overnight - Nile Cruiser (B, L, D)
Note: Dependant upon Nile Cruiser scheduling it maybe required that we also undertake our excursion to Karnak Temple this afternoon. Should this occur, day 5 will be spent at leisure. Overnight - Nile Cruiser (B, L, D)
Day 5: Luxor & Nile Cruising
Luxor - Nile cruising. At over 4,000 years old, Luxor is a living museum! Look down upon the ancient city by opting to join us on an early morning hot air ballooning excursion.
Later we tour the ancient city of Thebes (the East Bank), taking in the Temple of Luxor - built by Pharaoh Amenophis III and the magnificent Temple of Karnak. More than a temple, it’s a gigantic and stunning complex of sanctuaries and pylons dedicated to the Theban gods. Anchors away this afternoon as we sail downstream to Esna and the Temple of Horus at Edfu. Overnight - Nile Cruiser (B, L, D)
Later we tour the ancient city of Thebes (the East Bank), taking in the Temple of Luxor - built by Pharaoh Amenophis III and the magnificent Temple of Karnak. More than a temple, it’s a gigantic and stunning complex of sanctuaries and pylons dedicated to the Theban gods. Anchors away this afternoon as we sail downstream to Esna and the Temple of Horus at Edfu. Overnight - Nile Cruiser (B, L, D)
Day 6: Kom Ombo & Nile Cruising
Relax as we sail the Nile. Later
today, we visit the Temple of Kom Ombo. Arrive Aswan
late evening. Overnight - Nile Cruiser (B, L, D)
Nile cruiser - Aswan. Today, we enjoy a short boat trip
to Agilika Island for Philae Temple - dedicated to the
goddess Isis. The temple dates from 4th century BC but
the Ptolomies and the Romans up to 3rd century AD
built most of the existing structures. In danger of being
completely submerged by the rising water of Lake Nasser,
in 1972 UNESCO stepped in and an 8-year rescue effort
was undertaken to relocate the entire temple
20m higher on nearby Agilika Island.
After lunch, a visit to the High Dam and take a felucca cruise to Elephantine and Kitchener Island. As the sun sets, free time to shop in the colourful souqs and markets or simply relax and watch an amazing sunset in Egypt’s southern most town straddling the River Nile. Overnight - Nile Cruiser (B, L, D)
After lunch, a visit to the High Dam and take a felucca cruise to Elephantine and Kitchener Island. As the sun sets, free time to shop in the colourful souqs and markets or simply relax and watch an amazing sunset in Egypt’s southern most town straddling the River Nile. Overnight - Nile Cruiser (B, L, D)
Day 8: Aswan
Aswan - Cairo. Consider the optional early morning
air excursion to the Temple of Ramses II at Abu Simbel
or time to relax. Late this afternoon, we board the
overnight sleeper train for our journey back to Cairo. A light dinner is served on board. Overnight - Sleeper Train (B, D)
Day 9: Cairo
Breakfast in your cabin, upon arriving to Cairo, transfer
and check in. Today is free for you to enjoy the hotel
facilities or further explore Cairo your own way. Overnight - Cairo (B)
Day 10: Cairo
Sunday. Tour ends after breakfast. Included onward transfer to airport. (B)
Jewel of the Nile Sun Festival - 14 October 2012
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If planning on travelling with us in October 2012, consider our Jewel of the Nile Sun Festival tour. Our Jewel of the Nile tour includes arrangments similar ot those of our Jewel of the Nile with the added highlight of witnessing the Sun Festival of King Ramses II at Abu Simbel on 22 October 2012. Ramses II had his grand temple carefully angled and oriented in order that the sun's rays would align twice a year on the date of his ascension to the throne (21 February) and on his birthday (21 October) and illuminate the inner sanctum of the temple. This incredible natural phenomenon provides for a most spectacular sight as the sun illuminates the 3 statues of the living world, whilst the statute of Ptah - the god of darkness - remains in the shadows. The temple was re-located in a multi-million dollar operation in 1972, further up from the shoreline of Lake Nasser. In the temples new position the sun now strikes a day later than Ramses had originally planned. Includes: Coach from Aswan to Abu Simbel early morning on 22nd October 2012. Guided visit to Abu Simbel, the sunrise event, entrance fees and visitor ticket for this excursion. Return coach journey to Aswan after the event. |
Tour Details
- Starts in: Cairo / Ends in: Cairo
- Departs: Fridays - year round
- No local payment required
- Breakfast:9, Lunch: 4, Dinner: 6
- Hotel Rating: 5 Star superior
- Tour Guide: Yes
The Inside Track
Exploring the temple of Abu Simbel, Egypt
Trevor from Flight Centre went with us recently on a tour to Egypt and was blown away by the temple ..
Extra time in… Cairo
Our very own Andy Henderson lived in Cairo for two years, and these are his top spots to see if got ..