Friday 18 February 2011. Welcome to Egypt and the start of a wonderful holiday. Arrive Cairo airport and included transfer to your hotel. If arriving before 10:00, you are welcome to join our tour of the Egyptian Museum, alternatively you can undertake your included tour of the Egyptian Museum on day 13. Overnight - Cairo

Cairo - Aswan. Visit to the famous pyramids and lion-headed Sphinx at Giza Plateau. Sole survivors from the ancient Greek-listed Seven Wonders of the World, the pyramids are the planet’s oldest tourist attraction! Gaze in awe at Cheops (Khufu), the largest of the three great pyramids. Constructed from over 2.5 million limestone blocks it is thought to have taken more than 20 years to construct. Continuing to Saqqara, we can explore the myriad tombs and temples at this site and see Zhoser’s step pyramid - constructed by Imhotep, the pharaoh’s chief architect in 27 BC! There is time for dinner before our overnight train to Aswan. Upgrade to sleeper cabin, should you require! Overnight - Train (B)

Arrive Aswan and transfer to our hotel. This morning we enjoy a visit out of town to the mighty High Dam. A modern feat of engineering, the by–product is Lake Nasser, the world’s largest artificial lake! Continuing, we enjoy a short boat trip to Agilika Island for Philae Temple, dedicated to the goddess Isis. Later, free time to explore Egypt's southern most city on your own. Consider taking a walk along the majestic Nile corniche, framed by rolling sand dunes of the Sahara Desert or with a drink in hand, pull up a seat Nile for an amazing sunset.

There is time to rest before departing in the wee hours of the morning on our coach journey toward the Grand Temples of Abu Simbel.In readiness we await for the first rays of golden sunlight to touch the temple gate signifying the start of the Sun Festival of the mighty King Ramses II. Overnight - Hotel/ coach journey to Abu Simbel (B)

Abu Simbel – Aswan. Possibly the most awe-inspiring temple of all ancient Egypt, with its gargantuan rock-cut façade, the great Sun Temple of King Ramses II at Abu Simbel was created to revere the mighty pharaonic ruler King Ramses II. Ramses the Bold, Ramses the Great, Ramses the Narcissist are perhaps all apt titles for one of ancient Egypt’s most powerful rulers. Celebrating a life that spanned nearly a centenary, Ramses had plenty of time for his more than 200 wives and concubines who produced him some 96 sons and 60 daughters.

Built by Ramses II to demonstrate his political clout and divine backing to the ancient Nubians, Abu Simbel is an awesome self-tribute. Guarding the entrance to the temple (built between 1290 and 1224 BC) hewn into the side of a mountain are four famous colossal statues of the pharaoh himself, which sit majestically staring out across the desert, seemingly since time began. Over the centuries, the desert sands imperceptibly shifted until the temple was all but lost to humanity. It was rediscovered by chance in 1813 by a Swiss explorer called John Lewis Burkhardt. Only one of the heads of the pharaohs was showing and only a small part of the rest of the colossal temple peeked above the desert sands. It wasn’t until the British happened upon Abu Simbel and starting excavating, that the full glory of the temple of Abu Simbel was revealed to the modern world. The other rock cut temple at Abu Simbel is the Temple of Hathor, which is fronted by six massive standing statues. Four of them represent King Ramses II, whilst the other two are of his beloved wife, Queen Nefertari.

The temple was dedicated to the deified Pharaoh, King Ramses II, known also as the great builder and the gods Amun-Re, Re-Herakhte and Ptah. In a fit of precision and architectural egotism, Ramses II had the entire temple carefully angled and oriented in order that the sun’s rays would align twice a year on his 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, which has come to be referred to as the Sun Festival of King Ramses II. Crowds pack in to the temple before sunrise and watch the shafts of light slowly creeping through the rock hewn inner Hypostyle Hall (replete with further statues of the king) and through to the Sanctuary. Significantly, the sun illuminates statues of Amun-Re, Re-Herakhte and Ramses the god, whilst the statute of Ptah - the god of darkness - remains in the shadows.

Famously, the temple was re-located in a multi-million dollar operation in 1972, further up from the shoreline of Lake Nasser, which had threatened to erode the foundations of this monolithic temple complex. For this reason, the sun now strikes a day later than Ramses had originally planned, though the event this morning itself is no less stunning. After the event, there will also be plenty of time to explore the Sun Temple of King Ramses II and also the Temple of Hathor and take plenty of pictures.

Afterward returning to Aswan, the afternoon offers time to relax and enjoy the hotel facilities. Later this evening we'll head to the colourful local souq (market) for a little bargain hunting. The lively night market offers comic entertainment as the sellers go about the business of hocking their wares. The market also offers an extensive array of cotton products, spices, wooden and copper ornaments, alabaster statues, beaded jewellery and mother of pearl trinkets at some of the best prices in the country. Overnight - Aswan (B)

Aswan - Nile Felucca Cruise. This morning offer rest and relaxation and an opportunity to laze by the hotel swimming pool or return to the labyrinth bazaar for just a little more shopping.

Early this afternoon we board our Nile felucca for a 2 night voyage downstream on the River Nile.

If sailing by felucca does not appeal, navigate the River Nile on board a 5 star luxury Nile Cruiser with private cabin and ensuite bathroom. 5 star cruising is available by purchasing our Nile Cruise Upgrade or Pharaoh's Pass. Overnight - onboard Felucca (B, L, D)

Relax, go for a swim or just chill out in the sun on deck. Let your troubles melt away, as the felucca plies its route. Overnight - onboard Felucca (B, L, D)

Kom Ombo - Edfu - Luxor. Disembarking our felucca, we visit the riverside Temple of Kom Ombo and continue onward to the Temple of Horus at Edfu, before driving north to Luxor. Home of the legendary Valley of the Kings and Temple of Karnak, 4000 year old Luxor is ancient Egypt at it’s best. Enjoy some rest and relaxation. Tonight, an optional visit is available to the Temple of Luxor (book and pay locally) alternatively enjoying the evening your way. Overnight - Luxor (B)

Luxor - Dahab. Optional early morning hot air balloon ride over Luxor before crossing to the west side of the Nile and commencing our tour of the Valley of the Kings. One of the first sights you’ll see is the Colossi of Memnon, this huge pair of enthroned statues is all that remains of the temple of Amenophis III. Explore the highly decorated tombs at the Valley of the Kings and the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut. After a little R&R, we visit Karnak Temple. This evening we travel by overnight bus to Dahab via Hurghada. Overnight - Bus journey to Dahab (B)

Arriving at Dahab, our base for the coming days, there is plenty of time to explore the Sinai – a region of incredible beauty. Dahab offers great diving, snorkelling, swimming and sun-worshipping possibilities. Check out our exciting range of 4 day dive bolt-ons. Optional excursions such as snorkelling at Dahab's Blue Hole or an energetic climb to the summit of Mt Sinai and a visit to St Katherine's Monastery are available. Camel and jeep treks into the surrounding Sinai Desert are also available. Dahab waterfront is dotted with laid back cafes, bars and shops, perfect for eating, drinking and a little relaxing retail therapy. Overnight - Dahab (B:4)

Dahab - Cairo. Early this morning (approx 05:00), we bid farewell to Dahab and travel back to Cairo. Arriving near noon there is time to freshen up before enjoying a guided visit at the Egyptian Museum. Prize exhibit has to be the priceless funerary treasures of King Tutankhamen, including his legendary solid gold death mask, second the uncanny Royal Mummy Room. Spend the remainder of the afternoon and evening shopping or further exploring Cairo - your way. Overnight - Cairo (B)

Thursday 03 March 2011. Our tour concludes after breakfast, hotel check out at 12 noon and onward departure transfer to the airport. Happy travels! (B)