Included in this offer :

• 12-day/11-night group tour
• Stay in a five-star hotel (local standards) in Cairo for 4 nights
• 7-night 5* cruise (local standards) in a Standard Cabin
• Full-board from breakfast on day 2 to breakfast on day 11 (excluding drinks & bottled water)
• Domestic flights mentioned in the itinerary
• Flights departing from the city of your choice
• Shared round-trip airport-hotel and inter-hotel transfers on a shuttle or local bus
• Welcome and assistance at the airport
• Excursions and visits mentioned in the itinerary
• A local Egyptologist guide for the duration of the stay

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THE CHARMS OF NUBIA WITH VISITS INCLUDED

The Egyptian adventure begins in Cairo on the Giza plateau, overlooking the legendary pyramids, guarded by the Sphinx. Fly to Luxor for a 5-star cruise in the footsteps of the pharaohs. Egyptian legends, gigantic monuments, architectural masterpieces... Come and discover the secrets of ancient Egypt!

--> An example of your itinerary, day by day, for a Thursday arrival
Day 1: Arrival in Cairo.
Day 2: In Cairo, visit the Giza Plateau, home to the Pyramids of Cheops and Chephren, the Tomb of Mykerinos and the Sphinx. South of Cairo, visit the Memphis and Sakkarah pyramids.
Day 3: Cairo/Luxor via domestic flight. Boarding of the cruise.
Day 4: Luxor / Esna: Visit Thebes and the Valley of the Kings with 3 tombs. Discover the temple of Medinet Habu or Ramses III. Stop at the colosses of Memnon.
Day 5: **Esna / Edfu / Kom Ombo: Visit the Temple of Horus at Edfu before sailing to Kom Ombo.
Day 6: Kom Ombo / Aswan: Entrance to the temple of Kom Ombo dedicated to 2 deities. Visit to the Philae Temple and a papyrus institute.
Day 7: **Aswan: Morning at leisure or optional visit to Abu Simbel temple. Afternoon mini felucca cruise and visit the Kitchener Botanical Garden.
Day 8: **Aswan / Esna : Free day on board the ship to enjoy the leisure amenities and let yourself be lulled by the slow, magical spectacle of the feluccas sailing down the Nile.
Day 9: Esna / Luxor: Visit to the temple of Karnak then to Louxor.
Day 10: Luxor / Cairo via domestic flight. Visit to the citadel of Saladin el Awouby and the Mosque of Mehmet Ali before strolling through the souks.
Day 11: **Cairo : Visit to the National Museum of Antiquities, the Coptic District, St. Sergius Church and St. Mary's Church
Day 12: Last day in Cairo before your return.

Please note:
- Please note that overnight stays may vary depending on your day of arrival, as cruises depart from Luxor only on Mondays and Saturdays. Thus, the itinerary is adjusted to correspond to the cruise departure.
- The order of visits may also be altered due to local constraints (navigation time, passing locks, etc.), but all visits mentioned in the programme will be carried out.
- Boats and hotels are rated 5-star according to local standards, which may differ from European 5-star standards.

The boat in the photo gallery correspond to the different boats available for this cruise.
- The person who welcomes you is not a guide, but rather an assistant who will help you with the formalities.
- The formalities may take some time.

Practical information:

• For all bookings made on the French market, you will be accompanied by a French-speaking guide

  For all bookings made on the English market, you will be accompanied by an English-speaking guide

  For all bookings made on the German market, you will be accompanied by a German-speaking guide

  For all bookings made on the Italian market, you will be accompanied by an Italian-speaking guide

Your detailed itinerary

DAY 1: CAIRO

Cairo is one of the largest cities in the world and spans the length of both sides of the Nile.
Welcome on arrival and assistance with entry requirements.
Group transfer and time to settle in at the hotel.
Make your own dinner arrangements.

Overnight stay in Cairo at a five-star hotel (local standards)

PLEASE NOTE:
Flying can occur at night on the outward journey as well as on the return journey.

DAY 2: CAIRO

After breakfast, departure for the visit of the Giza Plateau and its incredible pyramids:
- Cheops (the largest of the three, built around 2650 B.C.), one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World and the only one to have withstood the test of time. For more than 40 centuries, it was the highest monument built by man at 146m high.
- Chephren: the pyramid of Chephren looks taller than Cheops, but in reality it is slightly smaller. The tilt angle is more emphasised, and it is on slightly higher ground, which is what gives this impression.
- Menkaure, the tomb of King MenkauIt. It is much smaller than the other two pyramids at a height of 66 metres.
- The Sphinx: a lion's body with a Pharaoh's head. Its role was to guard the entrance of the tomb against pillagers. It is 73 metres long and 20 metres high.

Lunch near the pyramids.

The afternoon will be spent visiting the sites of Memphis and Saccara. Memphis, in the south of Cairo, is now a palm grove with a few blocks, steles and statues, including the iconic Alabaster sphinx, capital of the Old Egyptian Empire and founded by King Menes around 3000 B.C.
On to the site of Saqqarah and the famous Step Pyramid, built around 2700 B.C. for the pharaoh Djoser by the architect Imhotep.
Dinner at the hotel.

Overnight stay in Cairo at a five-star hotel (local standards)

Optional, at an additional cost, you can reserve a sound and light show at the pyramids (to be booked on site).

DAY 3: CAIRO / LUXOR (via domestic flight)

Breakfast.
Group transfer to Cairo airport and flight to Luxor, Upper Egypt.
Arrival, group transfer to the port and settling into the ship's cabins.
** Lunch on board.**
Afternoon free.

** Dinner and overnight stay on board the five-star ship (local standards)**

DAY 4: LUXOR / ESNA

Breakfast on board.
Departure for the visit of the left bank of the Nile, Thebes with eternal tombs of the pharaohs from the 18th to the 20th dynasty.
Visit of 3 tombs in the Valley of the Kings: From the 18th dynasty onwards, and during the New Kingdom, pharaohs were no longer buried in temples and did not have monuments consecrated to their last journey. It is on the other side of the Nile, on the west bank, the land of the afterlife, that Thutmose I and all the pharaohs who would succeed him decided to be buried. There were no more colossal monuments, such as the pyramids, or even the Mastabas used during the Old Kingdom, but instead, vaults were dug into the rock and access to them was strictly closed and hidden. Perhaps the main reason for this was to avoid grave robbers.
Visit of The Mortuary Temple of Ramesses III at Medinet Habu. This temple is like a castle. It is undoubtedly one of the most spectacular funerary temples. No visit to Egypt would be complete without a visit to the gigantic and monumental site of Ramesses. Ramesses III sought to restore the greatness of Egypt and, at the same time, to immortalise the name of his famous ancestor. He began building his temple as soon as he acceded to the throne, and it has remained one of the largest in the necropolis of Thebes. It is incredible in both size and splendour, and one of the few that still has its original colours.
On the way back, there will be a photo opportunity at the Colossi of Memnon: 2 giant twin statues carved in sandstone, witnesses to the past splendours of the temple of Amenhotep III.
** Lunch on board.**
Sail towards Esna.

** Dinner and overnight stay on board the five-star ship (local standards)**

DAY 5: ESNA / EDFU / KOM OMBO

Breakfast on board.
Sail to Edfu.
** Lunch on board.
Set off by carriage to visit the splendid **Temple of Horus in Edfu. This masterpiece of architectural balance and elegance is one of the best preserved sites in all of Ancient Egypt, a great example of Ptolemaic art from the Graeco-Roman period.
You enter the temple through the great pylon decorated with large, raised images of the king and the gods, heading towards the courtyard with walls depicting the various rituals performed by the king. There are two large black granite falcons, representing the God Horus, which guard the entrance of the temple.
Cruise continues to Kom Ombo.

** Dinner and overnight stay on board the five-star ship (local standards)**

DAY 6: KOM OMBO / ASWAN

Breakfast.
Visit to the temple of Kom Ombo in the morning.
Secluded on a headland on the banks of the Nile, this temple, the only one of its kind in Egypt, dating back to the Graeco-Roman era, brings together two superb sanctuaries. One is consecrated to Sobek, the Crocodile God, and the second to Horus, the Falcon God. It was built during the Ptolemaic period (Ptolemaic dynasty, Graeco-Roman period) on the site of a temple of the New Empire (consecrated to Thutmes III, 18th dynasty). It is located on the top of a hill, 15 metres above the Nile.
The most surprising feature is that it is consecrated to 2 different Gods: the falcon god Haroeris, "Great Horus", sometimes called "Horus the Elder" and Sobek, the crocodile god. Duality is everywhere in this temple: it has two entrances, two parallel corridors, and symmetrically arranged rooms on either side of these corridors, which all lead to the double sanctuary. On the esplanade in front of the entrance, sculpted columns display shimmering colours. The small building to the right of the entrance is the Hathor Chapel; it houses some crocodile mummies.
Sailing to Aswan, the capital of Nubia.

** Lunch on board.

Visit of the Temple of Philae.
After the construction of the Aswan High Dam by President Nasser in the 1960s, the island of Philae, upstream from the first waterfall of the Nile, was completely covered by water. With UNESCO's support, work was undertaken to dismantle the monuments of Philae, piece by piece, and to reassemble them on the neighbouring island, 400 metres downstream. Philae was entirely consecrated to Isis. This temple of the Ptolemaic period (Ptolemaic dynasty, Graeco-Roman period), has kept its Naos, the stone tabernacle which housed the statue of the God.
Visit to the Papyrus Institute.

** Dinner and overnight stay on board the five-star ship (local standards)**

DAY 7: ASWAN

Breakfast on board.
Free morning.

Optional: Departure to visit the site of Abu Simbel.
Saved from the rising waters during the construction of the Aswan dam, the Abu Simbel Temples were erected to the glory of Ramesses II and his wife Nefertari. In 1965, they were dismantled and rebuilt exactly as they were before, just 110 m higher!
The Colossi of Ramesses, the largest in Egypt, are built directly into the cliff. They are consecrated to the most famous gods of Pharaonic Egypt: Amon-Re, Ramesses and Ptah.
Interior visit and discover the ceilings and walls decorated with reliefs; Visit of the temple next to Hathor; its entrance hall and sanctuary.

** Lunch on board.
Mini-cruise in a felucca,** the only way to reach the left bank and the Kitchener or Elephantine Islands, real gems of the river. Enjoy the breeze while you sail along the calm, blue waters of the ancient Nile. Stop off at Kitchener Island and visit the botanic gardens.
Late afternoon free.

** Dinner and overnight stay on board the 5-star ship (local standards)**

Optional: sound and light show at Philae (to be booked on site).

DAY 8: ASWAN / ESNA

Breakfast.
Free day on the boat to enjoy the facilities or watch the feluccas sail down the Nile.
** Lunch on board.**
Sail to Esna.

** Dinner and overnight stay on board the five-star ship (local standards)**

DAY 9: ESNA / LUXOR

In the early morning, the boat passes through the lock.
Breakfast.
Visit to the Karnak Temple.
The most theological temple ever built here over 2000 years, the faith of men has paid homage to the same god: Amun. The greatest kings (Seti I, Ramesses II, Thutmose III, Ramesses III) succeeded one another. The name "Karnak" meaning "fortress" dates back to the Muslim conquest.
Lunch on board.
Visit to the Luxor Temple.
It was dedicated to the God Amun Re, who celebrated his wedding anniversary every year with his wife Mut. The procession would leave Karnak Temple and walk along the banks of the Nile to Luxor. The construction of the latter dates back to the reign of the two pharaohs Amenhotep III and Ramesses II. Two obelisks stood in the entrance: these were offered to France in 1831 by Muhammad Ali Pasha; one is still in situ, while the other stands on Place de la Concorde in Paris.
Return to the boat and free time.

** Dinner and overnight stay on board the five-star ship (local standards)**

Optional, at an additional cost, you can opt for a sound and light show at the Karnak Temple (to be booked on site).

DAY 10: LUXOR / CAIRO

Breakfast on board.
Transfer to Luxor airport. Flight to Cairo.
Lunch.
Discovery of Cairo and visit to the Citadel of Saladin and the Mosque of Muhammad Ali (built between 1830 and 1849, it is so white that it is nicknamed "Alabaster mosque"). There is a large clock in the centre of the courtyard, which was a gift from the King Louis Philippe of France to Muhammad Ali Pasha. The Belvedere offers a panoramic view of the city of Cairo.
Walk in the souk of Khan El Khalili, a bazaar built in the 14th century. It is very colourful and has traditional goods, but also a fabulous choice of gold, gold thread and silver jewellery, and a selection of North African handicrafts.

** Dinner and overnight stay at the five-star hotel (local standards)**

DAY 11: CAIRO

Breakfast **
Visit to the National Museum of Antiquities** whose treasures range from the prehistoric age to the Roman period. You will see among others the famous treasure of Tutankhamun. It houses more than 250,000 pieces, it is one of the largest museums in the world. It allows visitors to discover the history of ancient Egypt through 5 millennia.
Lunch during the visit
Departure for the visit of the Coptic Quarter** of Cairo. The Christian religion was introduced by St. Mark around 45 A.D. and thus a Coptic community - Coptic being a term specifically referring to Christians in Egypt - began to develop. The Coptic Quarter is best known for having a large number of churches in a very small area.
The Church of St. Sergius is one of the oldest Christian churches, built around the third or fourth century AD. The church was named after a former war general who converted to Christianity. The Christians built a church on this very spot because it is believed that the Holy Family took refuge in this place, where a cave had once stood.
The Church of St. Mary or Hanging Church is a very beautiful monument. One reaches it by stairs preceded by a corridor where there are mosaics recalling biblical scenes. This church is nicknamed the Hanging Church because it is built above the trunks of palm trees that support it like stilts. The interior is richly decorated, in the main room, a Coptic icon, shows the Virgin Mary with Jesus in her arms. One has the impression that she follows us with her eyes when we go around her.

Dinner and overnight stay at the 5* hotel (local nomes)

DAY 12: CAIRO

Breakfast.
Depending on your flight schedule, group transfer to Cairo airport.
Have a safe journey home!

Your accommodation

During your tour, you will spend 4 nights in a 5-star hotel (local standards) in Cairo and 7 nights on board a listed 5-star boat (local standards) or similar:

CAIRO: 5-star Le Passage Cairo Hotel (local standards) or similar
5-STAR BOAT* (local standards): M/S Zeina (local standards) or similar

Please note: the boat may cause some noise pollution

Your full-board package (drinks not included)

During your stay, you'll enjoy full board from breakfast on day 2 to breakfast on day 11 (drinks and bottled water not included)

Tap water is not drinkable in Egypt

GOOD TO KNOW

Tips: "bakchich"! You will quickly get to know this word! While it's easy to ignore such requests, you could say that this is part of the local tradition and rewards a job or service well done. Tips for guides are never included. It is left to everyone's discretion.

A fee-based connection may be available throughout the ship. However, we cannot guarantee the quality of the connection during your stay.

The baggage allowance for domestic flights is 23 kg in the hold per person, and a small cabin bag, 7 kg max. Any additional kilos will be subject to a supplementary charge on-site.

Accommodation is according to local standards.

The level of control at the airport in Egypt can be significant and random depending on the number of tourists, which is why the attendant plans ahead as much as possible.

The excursions are in groups with other participants.

This tour includes periods of free time during which transfers are not guaranteed and will be at your own expense.

Optional extras are at an additional cost, to be paid for with your guide or local representative.

The tour itinerary may be amended due to local conditions (travel time, passing through locks, etc. however, stated tours will take place).

Visits may be fast-paced (see all the visits included in the day-by-day details), which implies waking up very early in the morning (outside the ship's sailing periods).

Egypt is a cultural destination.

Good to know

If you are travelling alone, you will be asked to pay a surcharge for a single room. This additional charge will be automatically included in your quote.

Child rates will be applied for children from 2 to 12 years old in the case where the child shares the room with two adults. If the child is travelling with just one adult, the surcharge may be applied on an adult basis. If your child or children do not fit into the age group mentioned above, the rate will be communicated to you at the time of processing your order. If the room is equipped with a bunk bed, the bed height is not suitable for children under 6 years of age.

For safety reasons, the wellbeing facilities of most establishments are not accessible to children under 16 years old. Similarly, it is possible that some amenities or services require an additional charge or are unavailable for exceptional reasons.

Unless otherwise stated in the service description, activities and any additional services available at destination, are provided in the language of the destination country and in English.

The opening times and hours of the activities, restaurants and bars are provided as an indication only and may be subject to change. Contact the reception desk in order to be informed of any changes.

Appropriate dress is required. We remind you that gambling may involve risks of isolation, indebtedness, and dependency...

Any additional special requirements the traveller may request which are not included in the travel service description will be communicated to our service provider. Sending this information does not imply acceptance and PerfectStay.com cannot be held responsible for the fulfilment of these special requests. Only the service provider of PerfectStay.com can access this request on location and any additional costs may be paid locally by the traveller.

Unless expressly stated in the description of the services and accommodation, the hotel is not suitable for people with reduced mobility.

Transportation

Choose an offer and, according to your preferences, opt for a seat in economy, business or first class.

See the 'View flight info' section for details on each trip.

In order to best organise your time in the airport, we advise that you arrive 2 hours before boarding for a medium-haul flight, or 3 hours before boarding for a long-haul flight (more than 5 hours). Take advantage of your early arrival to pass through security and check your luggage.

You will be informed whether or not luggage is included at the time of your booking.

You will have the opportunity to add additional luggage for a fee.

There are several different cities that are typically offered as departure points. Your arrival destination will show in your travel documents.

Depending on the flight schedule, some arrivals or returns may be made at night with early arrival or late departure. You will not always be able to have your room available immediately and will need to refer to the check-in and check-out conditions of the hotel.

In the event that your transfer is not included in your hotel reservation, it may be offered at the time of your reservation as an additional option. Unless specifically mentioned, transfers may be made in groups of 15 to 55 people.

Important: the modification or the cancellation of a booking is only possible within the limits and including the fees outlined in our general conditions of sale.

Thank you for kindly taking note of the CO2 emissions produced by your means of transport: http://eco-calculateur.aviation-civile.gouv.fr

Formalities

The following details apply to any British citizen who, during a trip sold by PerfectStay goes to a foreign country. The following is a resource directing you to information related to your travel formalities (identification documents, vaccines, VISA, safety, travel advice, etc.), and may be subject to change. Please note that Brexit negotiations are likely to include travel document modifications, therefore please regularly check most updated information. Please see official resource for British citizens wishing to travel:
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

The official UK Foreign Travel site has updates on safety and security, including incidents such as pickpocketing and robbery, along with larger incidents such as measuring the risk of terrorism.
Detailed country by country here:
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

If you are travelling with minors, please be sure to verify whether or not you will require a consent: https://www.gov.uk/permission-take-child-abroad

Please note that these details serve as a guiding resource in order to ensure that you have access to important information in order to pursue the necessary travel formalities required before travell...