Our 9 day Nile river tours start on dry land in Egypt's Capital City, Cairo. Here, you will meet your representative, who will brief you on your tour itinerary.
Day 2 will include the chance to see one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Great Pyramid of Giza.
The next day you will catch a flight down to Aswan, where you will be transported to the 5-star boat on which you will sleep for the next three nights.
The luxury boat will sail down the Nile past fertile lands, ancient temples and mystical sites. You will enjoy a number of guided tours in the area,
including tours of the City of Edfu and the Kom Ombo Temple, the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatsheput and the Colossi of Memnon. After travelling
to Hurghada, you will have a full free day in this beautiful Red Sea resort - there are plenty of activities on offer, or you could opt to simply relax
on the beach.
Our Nile tour of Egypt has been carefully planned to provide the perfect balance of guided excursions with free time so that you can explore these ancient
sites at your own pace. All Nile tours dates are set in advance and are guaranteed to depart. The Nile Jewel Tour offers excellent value for money
as it includes the Nile Cruise, all coach transportation, overnight accommodation in four star hotels and some meals for a magical and memorable getaway
that won’t cost the earth.
Day 1 - Cairo
After arriving in Cairo and transferring to your hotel you will have free time to explore the Egyptian capital before the tour starts tomorrow morning.
Day 2 - Giza Pyramids
This morning you will experience the icons of ancient Egypt! Your Egyptologist guide will accompany you to the Giza pyramid complex, where you can see
the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Pyramid of Khafre, the Pyramid of Menkaure, and the Great Sphinx. We'll then visit Sakkara to see the unique step pyramid
of Zoser (also known as Djoser), the first ever pyramid, constructed of six tombs built on top of each other.
Day 3 - Aswan
Early this morning you will be transferred to the airport for a short internal flight down to Aswan. Upon arrival you will be transferred to our 5-star
Nile cruise ship. After some time to freshen up we'll begin our Nile quest by visiting the High Dam of Aswan, where your guide will explain to you
how the construction of the dam and subsequent creation of Lake Nasser required the relocation of the Nubian people and several important historical
monuments, including Abu Simbel, which you have the opportunity to visit tomorrow. We'll then take a short boat ride to Agilkia Island to explore the
Temple of Isis at Philae. Built during the Ptolemaic Kingdom (305 BC to 30 BC), the temple is dedicated to Isis, one of the oldest goddesses of ancient
Egypt and worshipped as the paragon of motherly virtues. It is believed that the last Egyptian hieroglyph was written on the island of Philae in the
late fourth century.
Day 4 - Nile Cruise
This morning you will have the opportunity to join our optional excursion to the temples of Abu Simbel, two massive temples in southern Egypt. Part of
a UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the "Nubian Monuments", these iconic temples were carved out of the mountainside in the 13th century BC, during
the reign of Pharaoh Ramesses II.
The tour then continues with a visit to the Temple of Kom-Ombo, a unique 'double' temple dedicated to both the crocodile god Sobek, and the falcon god Haroeris (Horus). After some time to explore the temple, we'll head to Edfu. Also dedicated to Horus, this temple is more than 2,000 years old but was covered by sand until it was re-discovered by a French expedition in 1798. Because it was hidden for so long it is the most well-preserved temple in Egypt. We'll then continue on to Luxor, where we'll spend the night onboard the 5-star cruise ship.
Day 5 - Luxor
After breakfast we will arrive in Luxor and tour the East Bank of Luxor. Experience the incredible Karnak temple complex, part of the ancient city of Thebes. Dedicated to the powerful ram-headed god Amun, it offers a vast mix of temples, chapels, statues and
obelisks. We'll then explore Luxor temple, an place of worship that is dedicated to three gods: Amun, his wife Mut and his son Khons. Together these temples and gods are key players in the great Opet Festival which was held each year during the flood season.
Day 6 - Hurghada
This morning we'll start our tour of the west bank with a visit to the World famous Valley of the Kings, where you can enter some of the incredible tombs
of the New Kingdom Pharaohs, such as King Tutankhamen. We'll then get to experience the Temple of Hatshepsut (Deir El Bahary), the mortuary temple
of the only Pharaoh Queen that ruled Egypt. The day will finish off with a visit to the great Colossi of Memnon, the last remains of Amenophis III’s
temple. We'll then take our air-conditioned private bus to Hurghada on the Red Sea coast, where we'll be staying in an all-inclusive resort.
Day 7 - Hurghada Free Day
This is a free day for you to enjoy however you wish. The resort in Hurghada offers a large swimming pool complex, long sandy beaches and all-inclusive food and drink; total relaxation awaits! Alternatively, you can choose to take part in any number of water sport
activities, including full-day snorkelling and scuba diving excursions. The seas around Hurghada offer some of the best coral reef dive spots in the world, giving the opportunity to see many colorful fish species, including the Red Sea Clownfish, Emperor Angelfish, Picasso Trigger Fish and Moray Eels. Overnight at the resort
in Hurghada.
Day 8 - Cairo
This morning we'll take an air-conditioned private minibus back to Cairo. After some time to freshen up at our hotel, we'll visit the Egyptian museum to learn more about the country's incredible ancient history, followed by the old city of Cairo where you can explore Khan El Khalili, a bazaar crammed with souvenir shops, cafés and shisha bars.
Day 9 - Tour conclusion
Our tour concludes today!
If you are extending your stay in Cairo you may wish to join one of our optional excursions.
- The Sights of Alexandria
- Memphis and Dashure
