This is a great combination for those who don’t want to skimp on the sightseeing, (but shortened to 3 nights Nile Cruising) but would like plenty of time to unwind in Red Sea at the end of their holiday, returning to the UK refreshed and relaxed.
Day 1: Cairo
Depart the UK via a scheduled flight with Egypt Air. Arrive in Cairo and transfer to your chosen hotel. Depending on arrival time, optional excursion to the atmospheric Sound and Light show at the Pyramids.
Day 2: Cairo
Optional full day tour to make the most of your time in this fascinating city. The day starts with a morning visit to the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx followed by lunch and a trip to discover the treasures of the Egyptian Museum with time for shopping at the famous Khan-el-Khalili Bazaar.
Day 3: Cairo, Abu Simbel, Aswan & Philae
Depart Cairo with domestic flight service to Aswan. Arrive in Aswan and transfer to your chosen Nile boat. Optional excursion to Abu Simbel is from £99 per person. Embarkation before lunch. Visit the High Dam of Aswan, the granite quarries from whence the stone came to build most of the temples and the Unfinished Obelisk. Continue to the island of Philae with its stunning Temple of Isis, dedicated to the mother of all the gods, which would have been submerged when the dam was built, had it not been relocated. Sail on the Nile in a traditional felucca around Elephantine and Kitchener’sIsland. Optional excursion to Sound & Light Show at the Temple of Isis at Philae. Dinner & Overnight.
Day 4: Temples of Horus in Edfu & Kom Ombo
After breakfast, sail to Kom Ombo to visit the temple dedicated to the two gods, Haroeris and Sobek, the crocodile Nile god. This was a place where crocodiles used to bask in the sun, although since the building of the dam they are no longer found on this stretch of the Nile. Lunch on board. Sail to Edfu to visit the Temple of Horus, the falcon God, whose battle with his evil uncle, Seth, is told in vivid pictures inscribed on its walls. Continue on to Luxor. Dinner & Overnight.
Day 5: The West Bank, Karnak & Luxor
Breakfast on board and then visit to the West Bank including the fascinating tombs of the Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens. You will visit 2 or 3 tombs in each, to view the intricate wall paintings and learn more of the ancient Egyptians’ beliefs concerning the afterlife. The tombs are open according to a system of rotation, to minimise damage caused by visitors, andthere is an additional charge for visits to the Tomb of Tutankhamun and Ramses VI. Continue to the awe-inspiring Temple of Hatshepsut, the resting place of the only female Pharaoh and the Colossi of Memnon, two gigantic statues, which are all that remain of the temple of Amenophis III, once even bigger than Karnak. After lunch visit the Temples of Luxor and Karnak, dedicated to the Theban deities, and linked by an enigmatic Avenue of Sphinxes. Karnak is the largest of the Nile temples and its most impressive, comprising three separate temple enclosures and a Sacred Lake. The Temple of Luxor is very well preserved and all the more dramatic for its location facing the Nile in the centre of the modern city. Optional Excursion to Sound & Light Show at Karnak Temple. Dinner & Overnight.
Day 6 -10: Luxor, Red Sea
Breakfast followed by disembarkation and transfer in an air-conditioned car from Luxor to a Red Sea resort of your choice. This is the perfect opportunity to relax after some serious sightseeing, soak up the sun and enjoy the beaches or try one of the many activities on offer in the Red Sea such as water sports, diving, and, in some resorts, kitesurfing and golf.
Day 11: Return to UK
Private Transfer to Hurghada airport for your return flights.
Food & Drink
Hotel in Cairo is BB based and Nile Cruise is Full board basis, Breakfast, Lunch , Diner and and afternoon tea included, in Red Sea on your choice All inclusive, HB, FB basis.
