Overview
Steeped in history, romance and legend, a tour of Egypt is one of the grandest adventures a traveller can enjoy. Discover the country from top to toe, from the shores of Alexandria to the immense temples at Abu Simbel, at Egypts southernmost edge. En route, be entranced by ancient pyramids, medieval catacombs, Coptic monasteries and colossal statues, and enjoy a 5* Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan.
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– Fully Inclusive
Touring with guides and entrance fees
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– Included Meals
Breakfasts: 10 , Lunches: 9 , Dinners: 10
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– Flights
International flights and current taxes
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– Accommodation
10 nights in 3+/4 star accommodation
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– Group Tour
Max Group Size: 18
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– Physical Rating 1
Walking, some steps and time on your feet
Itinerary
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Fly to Cairo and transfer to your hotel in the city centre.
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Visit Egypt’s most iconic sites: the Pyramids of Giza and the unblinking Sphinx, along with the atmospheric Egyptian Museum with its collections of statues, mummies and pharaonic treasures. Later, explore the Khan el Khalili Bazaar, a souk famed for its precious and semiprecious jewellery.
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Spend the morning exploring Cairo’s oldest district, the Coptic Quarter, with its impressive churches and the Christian artefact collection at the Coptic Museum. Later, continue to Sakkara, an ancient necropolis famed for its painted catacombs and the Step Pyramid of Djoser. Tonight’s dinner will be at the revolving restaurant atop Cairo Tower the best viewpoint in the city.
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Take the desert road to Alexandria, on the coast. This afternoon, you’ll discover Alexandria’s many highlights, from the Roman theatre to the atmospheric Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa, dating back to the 2nd century. Pause for a photo at the renovated 15th-century Qaitbay Citadel, once one of the most important defensive strongholds of Africa’s Mediterranean coastline.
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DAY 5
El Alamein and Monastery of St Macarius
This morning, we visit El Alamein, the site of two key battles in WWII. The Allied victory in the second battle was instrumental in ending the Axis threat to Egypt. Explore the military museum and war cemeteries before travelling southeast back to Cairo. Stop en route to visit the still-active Monastery of St Macarius, inhabited by Coptic Orthodox monks since the 4th century AD.
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DAY 6
Cruise the Nile River
Take a short one-hour flight from Cairo to Luxor, where we transfer to the port and board your 5* Nile cruise ship for our four-night cruise. Refresh yourself before this afternoon’s excursions around Luxor’s East Bank. Begin at the Temple Complex of Karnak, famed for the majestic Hypostyle Hall with its 134 gigantic stone columns, along with the Avenue of the Sphinxes and the Sacred Lake.
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DAY 7
Explore the West Bank
Explore the West Bank of Luxor, one of Egypt’s most stunning landscapes. Admire the mysterious Colossi of Memnon statues en route to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, the gigantic funerary complex of Egypt’s second-ever female Pharaoh. This afternoon, visit the Valley of the Kings, resting place of many pharaohs of the New Kingdom. Here, visit the tomb of Tutankhamun along with other richly-painted tombs of your choice. Tonight, we sail for Esna.
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Enjoy a morning visit to the Temple of Horus at Edfu, one of Egypt’s most beautiful and well-preserved temples, dating back to the 3rd century BC. Return to the ship for lunch as you cruise on to the town of Kom Ombo, where we visit the unusual double temple of Kom Ombo, dedicated to Horus and Sobek. Sail on to Aswan, where we dock for the next two nights.
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Discover the many highlights of Aswan on this full-day tour. Visit the 111-metre tall Aswan High Dam, see the Unfinished Obelisk in place at Aswan’s ancient quarry, and visit the Temple of Philae on Agilkia Island. After lunch, embark on a felucca (traditional Nile sailing boat) and cruise to Elephantine Island and Kitchener’s Island, where we visit the botanical gardens.
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Disembark the ship and journey southwest to the iconic twin temples of Abu Simbel, at Egypt’s furthest edge. This atmospheric temple complex, perhaps the greatest in Egypt, is dedicated to Ramesses II, often considered the greatest pharaoh of the New Kingdom. Admire its many halls and imposing statues before returning to Aswan for your flight back to Cairo.
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Transfer to the airport for your return flight home.
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