Egypt, Cairo

Cairo and ‘Pharaons Megastar’ Cruise Combo 5^*

Arrival in Cairo.

Cairo, one of the world’s largest cities, stretches majestically along both banks of the Nile. This vibrant and historic city is a fascinating blend of cultures, architecture and history, offering a unique experience for travellers.

On arrival, you will be met and accompanied by a tour assistant (who may not always speak English) with entry formalities.

Afterwards, an English-speaking guide and Egyptologist will take over and accompany you for the duration of your stay.

Enjoy a shared transfer to your hotel.

Overnight stay at a 5-star hotel (local standards).

Breakfast.

Departure for the GEM Grand Egyptian Museum, one of the largest archaeological museums in the world, designed to house the history of Egypt.

Departure for a tour of the Coptic Quarter of Cairo. The Christian religion was introduced by Saint Mark around 45 AD, and thus a Coptic community began to develop, Coptic being a term specifically referring to Christians in Egypt. The Coptic Quarter is best known for its large number of churches within a very small area.

Visit the Citadel of Saladin el Awouby and the Muhammad Ali Mosque, nicknamed the 'Alabaster Mosque' due to its white exterior. Built between 1830 and 1849, it features a large clock in the centre of the courtyard, a gift from King Louis Philippe of France to Muhammad Ali. The Belvedere offers panoramic views of Cairo.

Lunch during the visit.

Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Breakfast.

Transfer to the airport and flight to Luxor, in Upper Egypt.

Arrival, transfer to the port of embarkation and settling into the boat's cabins.

Lunch on board.

Visit to the Temple of Luxor. Built to glorify the god Amun-Re, it was here that he celebrated his wedding anniversary with his wife Mut each year. A procession would leave the Temple of Karnak and follow the banks of the Nile to the Temple of Luxor. The latter was constructed during the reigns of two pharaohs: Amenhotep III and Ramses II.

Visit the Temple of Karnak, the largest and most important temple ever built here. For 2,000 years, men have paid homage to the same god: Amun. Some of the greatest kings, including Seti I, Ramses II, Thutmose III and Ramses III, succeeded one another there. The name 'Karnak', meaning 'fortress', dates from the Islamic conquest.

Dinner and overnight stay on board.

Breakfast on board.

Depart on a tour of the left bank of the Nile and the city of Thebes, home to the eternal tombs of the 18th to 20th dynasty pharaohs. You will visit three tombs in the Valley of the Kings. From the 18th Dynasty onwards, throughout the New Kingdom, pharaohs were no longer buried in temples or monuments dedicated to their final journey. Instead, it was on the west bank of the Nile, in the land of the Afterlife, that Thutmose I and all the subsequent pharaohs chose to be buried. The colossal monuments of the Old Kingdom, such as the pyramids and mastabas, were replaced by vaults carved into the rock with carefully sealed and camouflaged entrances. The main motivation was undoubtedly to escape tomb robbers.

Visit the Temple of Medinet Habu, also known as the Temple of Ramses III. This temple is a true masterpiece, undoubtedly one of the most spectacular funerary temples. A visit to Egypt would not be complete without seeing the gigantic and monumental site of Ramses III. Ramses III sought to restore Egypt's greatness and, at the same time, immortalise the name of his illustrious ancestor. As soon as he ascended the throne, he began building his jubilee temple, which remains one of the largest in the Theban necropolis. Ramses' immense and ancient edifice charms all visitors. It is magnificent in terms of both size and splendour. It is one of the few sites that still retains its beautiful colours.

On the way back, stop for photos at the Colossi of Memnon: two giant twin statues carved from sandstone, witnesses to the past splendours of the temple of Amenhotep III.

Lunch on board.

Sail towards Esna.

Dinner and night on board.

Breakfast.

Sailing to Edfu.

Lunch on board.

Set off to visit the magnificent Temple of Horus in Edfu, a masterpiece of architectural balance and elegance, and one of the best-preserved sites in ancient Egypt. It is a prime example of Ptolemaic art from the Greco-Roman period. You will enter the temple through the large pylon, which is adorned with enormous reliefs depicting the king and the gods. This leads to the courtyard, whose walls depict the various rituals performed by the king. Two large black granite falcons representing the god Horus guard the entrance.

The cruise continues to Kom Ombo.

Visit to the Temple of Kom Ombo, located about five minutes away. Isolated on a promontory on the banks of the Nile, this unique Greco-Roman temple brings together two superb sanctuaries: one dedicated to Sobek, the crocodile god; and the other to Horus, the falcon god. Built during the Ptolemaic period (Greco-Roman era), it stands on the site of an earlier temple from the New Kingdom (dedicated to Thutmose III of the 18th Dynasty). The temple towers on top of a hill overlooking the Nile from a height of 15 metres. Its most striking feature is that it is dedicated to two deities: Haroeris, also known as 'Horus the Great' or 'Horus the Elder', and Sobek, the crocodile god. Everything in this temple is dual: it has two entrances, two parallel corridors and rooms arranged symmetrically on either side of these, all of which lead to the double sanctuary. On the esplanade in front of the entrance, the carved columns reveal shimmering colours. To the right of the entrance is a small building housing a few crocodile mummies, known as the chapel of Hathor.

Dinner and overnight stay on board.

Breakfast.

Sailing to Aswan, capital of Nubia.

Lunch on board.

Visit the Temple of Philae next. Following the construction of the Aswan High Dam by President Nasser in the 1960s, the island of Philae, located upstream of the first cataract of the Nile, became submerged. Thanks to UNESCO's assistance, the monuments of Philae were dismantled piece by piece and reassembled on a neighbouring island, 400 metres downstream. The island of Philae was entirely dedicated to Isis. Dating back to the Ptolemaic period (Greco-Roman era), this temple has preserved its naos, the stone tabernacle that housed the statue of the deity.

Visit to a Papyrus Institute.

Dinner and overnight stay on board.

Breakfast on board

Morning at leisure.

Lunch on board.

Mini cruise and Kichener Botanical Garden, an unmissable experience to discover the left bank and the Kitchener or Elephantine Islands, true treasures of the Nile. Let yourself be lulled by the gentle breeze and sail peacefully on the blue waters of the ancient Nile.

Stop at Kitchener Island and visit its botanical garden.

Late afternoon at leisure.

Dinner and overnight stay on board.

Breakfast.

Time at leisure on board.

Lunch on board.

Sailing towards Esna.

Dinner and overnight on board.

Early morning passage through the lock.

Breakfast and lunch on board.

Arrival in Luxor.

Time at leisure.

Dinner and overnight stay on board.

Breakfast on board.

Transfer to Hurghada by road and check-in at the hotel.

Lunch.

Day at leisure on an all-inclusive package.

Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Days at leisure on an All-inclusive package.

Breakfast.

Transfer by road to Cairo.

Lunch during the day.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Depart on a tour of the Giza Plateau and its incredible pyramids: The Great Pyramid of Giza (also known as the Pyramid of Khufu or the Pyramid of Cheops), built around 2650 BC, is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and the only one to have stood the test of time. For over 4,000 years, it was the tallest monument ever built by humans, standing at 146 metres.

Khephren: The Pyramid of Khephren appears taller than the Great Pyramid of Giza, but in reality it is slightly shorter. Its more pronounced angle of inclination and its location on slightly higher ground give this impression. The tomb of King Mycerinus, also known as the Pyramid of Mycerinus, is much smaller than the other two pyramids, standing at just 66 metres tall.

The Sphinx is a statue of a lion with the head of a pharaoh. Its role was to defend the entrance to the tomb against looters. It measures 73 metres in length and 20 metres in width.

Lunch during the visit.

The afternoon will be devoted to visiting the sites of Memphis and Saqqara. Situated south of Cairo, Memphis is now little more than a palm grove containing a few blocks, steles and statues, including an enigmatic alabaster sphinx. Founded by King Menes around 3000 BC, it was the capital of the Ancient Egyptian Empire. Next, continue to the Saqqara site and its famous step pyramid.

Free time to stroll through the souks of Khan El Khalili, the famous market located in the heart of Cairo's Islamic quarter.

Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to the airport according to your flight schedule.

Tips: ‘bakchich’! A word you will quickly learn! While it is easy to refuse solicitors, tipping is part of the culture and rewards a job well done and good service. Tips for guides are never included. They are left to the discretion of each individual.

A pay-as-you-go internet connection is available throughout the boat. However, we cannot guarantee the quality of the connection during your stay.

The luggage allowance for domestic flights is 23kg of hold luggage per person and one small carry-on bag weighing no more than 7kg. Any additional weight will be charged on site.

Accommodation is in line with local standards.

The level of security checks at airports in Egypt can be significant and unpredictable depending on the number of tourists, which is why the tour leader plans the schedule as far in advance as possible.

Due to heavy traffic in Cairo, travel times can be long.

During excursions, you will be grouped with other participants.

This package includes periods of free time during which you can explore at your leisure. However, you will have to pay for any transfers yourself during that time.

Optional extras are subject to a surcharge, payable on site to your guide or local representative.

The order of visits may be changed due to local circumstances (sailing time, passage through locks, etc.), but the visits listed will be respected.

The pace of visits may be fast (see all visits included in the day-by-day details), which means waking up very early in the morning (outside of the boat's sailing times).

Egypt is a cultural destination.

PLEASE NOTE: For those booking the ‘hotel only’ package (without international flights), please provide us with your flight details as soon as possible via the contact form located in ‘Help and Contact’ at the bottom of the page, so that we can arrange your transfers.