Cairo, Luxor & Nile Cruise

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Catch your breath as you encounter the wondrous Pyramids at Giza and marvel at the collections of Cairo's stunning Egyptian Museum. Gaze in awe as you cruise along the tranquil Nile, past riverbank scenes unchanged in centuries, visiting some of the most important relics of Ancient Egypt, as well as the truly phenomenal High Dam at Aswan. Opportunities to visit Alexandria and Abu Simbel on optional excursions complete this extraordinary, unforgettable holiday in Egypt.

What's Included

Discover the sights of Cairo and visit the astonishing Egyptian Museum, with its relics of Tutankhamun
Gaze in awe at Giza's fabled Pyramids and Sphinx
See the Temples of Karnak and Luxor, including the Valley of the Kings
Visit the Aswan High Dam
Sail on a felucca round Kitchener Island
Three nights' bed and breakfast accommodation in the five-star Cairo Pyramids Hotel, plus one lunch
Seven nights' full-board accommodation aboard five-star rated MS Royal Princess
Return flights to Cairo, returning from Luxor, and internal flights from Cairo to Luxor
Coach travel and transfers throughout
Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced Tour Manager
Single rooms are available for a supplement

Itinerary

Day 1

Fly to Cairo and transfer by coach to your five-star hotel in the shadow of the Pyramids at Giza, for a three-night stay.

Day 2

Enjoy a full day's guided tour, which will include a visit to the Pyramids - the vast, extraordinary monuments to the ancient Egyptians' wealth and power watched over by the fabled Sphinx. Other highlights will include the the step-pyramid at Saqqara, Cairo's Egyptian Museum, with its fabulous treasures recovered from the tomb of the Boy King Tutankhamun, and the imposing medieval fortress Citadel.

This evening, return to the Pyramids for the 'Sound and Light' optional excursion. On this mystical trip you'll hear the tale of how the Pyramids were built and what life was like in Ancient Egypt in 2611 BC, with a spectacular light show adding to the story-telling.

Day 3

Return for another exploration of Cairo's treasures, or join today's optional excursion to Alexandria, once the centre of the Hellenistic world, and now a bustling port-city that preserves an air of nostalgia - in the traditional coffee houses and cafes - for the 'Alex' of old.

Visit the fascinating Graeco-Roman Museum, explore Egypt's only Roman amphitheatre, wander the eerie catacombs at Kom Ash-Shuqqafa and see the Citadel of Quilt Bay - a 15th-century fortress located on the coastline.

Day 4

Transfer to the airport for the short flight to Luxor and board the magnificently appointed five-star rated MS Royal Princess, your home for the next seven nights. After lunch aboard, journey to the East Bank of the Nile, to visit Luxor Temple with its colonnades and courtyards, and the staggering Temple of Karnak, where the vast columns of the giant hypostyle hall dwarf awestruck visitors. Enjoy a first dinner aboard ship, and moor overnight in Luxor.

Day 4

Cross to the West Bank to visit the Valley of the Kings, where in 1922 Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon discovered the sand-blocked entrance to the tomb of Tutankhamun. You'll also visit the temple of female Pharaoh Hatshepsut and gaze in awe at the twin 'colossi' of Memnon. Return to MS Royal Princess for lunch and begin the journey south, cruising through scenes seemingly unchanged in centuries, with fishermen sailing traditional feluccas and villagers washing their clothing in the river's waters. Moor overnight in Edfu.

Day 5

Visit perhaps the best preserved of all Egypt's Pharaonic relics, the stunning Temple of Horus, before you return to the ship and cruise towards the magnificent riverside Temple at Kom Ombo, with its hypostyle halls, burial chambers and mummified crocodiles. You'll visit the twin temple of pharaohs Sobek and Haroeris, before cruising on to Aswan, where you will moor for three nights, giving you the opportunity to explore this mesmerising city with its backdrop the Aga Khan's great mausoleum.

Day 6

Today you'll visit the extraordinary Aswan High Dam, which holds back the waters of great Lake Nasser, and see the granite quarries from where many of the ancient obelisks were fashioned. See the 'Unfinished Obelisk' - left behind because of a flaw in the stone from which it is cut. Take a motorboat ride across the Nile to the great Temple of Isis on the island of Philae, then this afternoon join the included tour, enjoying a felucca ride around mid-stream Kitchener's Island, with its botanical gardens.

Day 7

Explore some of the attractions of Aswan, perhaps visiting the Nubian Museum charting the history of one of Africa's most ancient peoples, or wandering the colourful souks. Alternatively, join one of two optional excursions - by coach or air - to remote Abu Simbel, where the staggering temples of Ramses II and the goddess Hathor are carved out of the mountainside. Rediscovered in the early 19th Century, the temples and their relics are amongst Egypt's greatest treasures.

Day 9-10

MS Royal Princess makes her lazy way north downriver once more, heading back past the sites at Kom Ombo and Edfu, and mooring for a last night in Luxor. Take the opportunity to spend two days enjoying the tranquility of the ship, dipping in and out of the pool and making the most of the on-board amenities as the stunning scenery passes gently by.

Day 11

Bid farewell to the ship and your Egyptian hosts, and transfer to Luxor airport for the return flight to the UK.

Cairo, Luxor and Nile Cruise Touring Hotels

Hotel transfer times

The transfer time from the airport to your hotel is approximately 30 minutes.

Passports and visas

British citizens will require a visa to enter Egypt. The current cost is US$25 (approximately £19). You can obtain your visa on arrival and should make payment in Sterling, US Dollars or Euros. Passports must be valid for six months beyond the return date to the UK and contain one blank page for the visa.

Grand Egyptian Museum at Giza

The Grand Egyptian Museum at Giza, containing many treasures of Tutankhamun, is expected to open in 2018. The tour will be adjusted to include the new museum when it is opened to the public.

Cruise itinerary

Please note that the order of included day-to-day visits on board the cruise is subject to change.

Special requirements

If you have notified us of any special requirements, please check that they have been noted and acknowledged. This is especially important with any dietary needs you may have.

Disabled access

The majority of our tours involve a certain amount of walking, including a short walk from the coach stop to the town, attraction or venue you're visiting. If you are bringing a wheelchair, please let us know at the time of booking so that appropriate arrangements can be made. In many developing countries access is sometimes not as easy as at home. Should you have walking difficulties, getting around monuments and attractions may be harder and, in some cases, impossible. Should you have any concerns whatsoever please do contact us prior to travel.

Itinerary changes

Occasionally, for operational reasons, we may have to change the order of the excursions on your holiday. The final day-by-day itinerary will be confirmed on your Final Travel Documents, which you will receive approximately three weeks prior to your departure.

Travel vaccinations

Requirements and advice can vary over time, and from person to person, so please contact your GP about eight weeks before your trip to check whether you need any vaccinations or any other preventive measures.

Foreign Office Travel Advice

Visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice to find out the latest Foreign And Commonwealth Office travel advice for your holiday destination, as well as information about passports and visas.

Road Conditions

In developing countries road networks are continually being improved and expanded, which can mean that, from time to time, roadworks and rough road surfaces can extend journey times. Some journeys are made on winding mountain roads and passes, which may also make for slow travelling - although the scenery is usually worth it! Many roads do not have separate pavements or safety barriers, and great care should be taken when crossing or walking alongside roads.

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Cairo, Luxor and Nile Cruise Touring Hotels

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