Egypt

Day 1: UK/Cairo
Depart on your scheduled flight to Cairo today. On arrival, transfer to your hotel for a two-night stay.

Day 2: Cairo
Today we include a fascinating full-day excursion to the legendary Pyramids and the Sphinx. The great Pyramids of Giza stand on a rocky plateau on the western bank of the Nile. They are the most measured, studied and debated monuments in the world and stand as a lasting testament to the geometrical accuracy and technical skill that went into their making. The Great Pyramid of Cheops alone is constructed from two-and-a-half million hand-carved limestone blocks and reaches a point at 450 feet above the ground.

Close to the Pyramids lies the magnificent Sphinx, a huge statue of a recumbent lion with a human head believed to be fashioned in the likeness of the pharaoh Chephren. During the afternoon you will visit the world-famous Egyptian Museum in central Cairo, which houses one of the world’s richest collections of artefacts, including treasures from the tomb of Tutankhamun.

Day 3: Luxor
Early this morning you will transfer to Cairo airport for the short flight to Luxor, where you will join MS Tamr Henna, a 5-star Nile cruiser, your base for the next four nights.

Luxor is a huge open-air museum set on both sides of the mighty Nile, where awe-inspiring sights will be brought to life thanks to the knowledge of the Local Guides who will accompany you on your cruise. Your first stop will be made at the vast Temples of Karnak and Luxor. Dedicated to the God Amun, Luxor was originally connected to Karnak – the oldest and most imposing temple complex, famous for its pillared halls, one of which boasts 134 gigantic columns.

Highlights include the Avenue of Sphinxes, the great Hypostyle Hall and Queen Hatshepsut’s pink granite obelisk. According to legend, a wish made beside the sacred temple lake is certain to come true!

During your cruise all meals are served on board your ship, which overnights in Luxor this evening.

Day 4: Valley of the Kings
Join today’s included excursion to the mesmerising Valley of the Kings. Here 64 tombs, including that of boy king Tutankhamun, have been discovered. As you descend into one of the tombs you will be astonished by the condition of the intricate carvings and colourful hieroglyphics that adorn the walls.

On today’s tour you will also visit the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, dedicated to the cow-eared goddess Hathor, and see the Colossi of Memnon. Lunch is served on board as your cruise continues and passes through the locks at Esna, where your ship docks overnight.

Day 5: Edfu and Kom Ombo
Enjoy a leisurely buffet breakfast on board this morning before taking an included horse and carriage ride through the streets of Edfu to visit the wonderfully-preserved Temple of Horus. There’s time to shop for souvenirs if you wish before you rejoin your ship for lunch.

Relax on deck as your ship sails on to Kom Ombo, where you’ll catch your first glimpse of this picturesque waterfront temple which is dedicated to two gods – Sobek the crocodile god and Horus the falcon-headed god. The unique layout features two temples in one, with each side having its own gateways and chapels. Your ship docks in Kom Ombo tonight.

Day 6: Aswan
As you take breakfast on board your ship you’ll notice the river scenery change from fertile fields to rocky banks and desert slopes as you cruise to Aswan, described by many as the most beautiful of Egypt’s river towns.

Included today is a visit to the unfinished obelisk, the Aswan High Dam and the island temple of Philae. The dam’s 364ft high walls contain Lake Nasser, the world’s largest man-made reservoir at approximately 300 miles in length. We also include a trip aboard a felucca sailing boat around Elephantine Island and past the Mausoleum of the Aga Khan. With so much to see, we also include High Tea at the wonderful Old Cataract hotel, plus there is an optional Aswan Highlights tour to visit the fabulous Mosque and Souk.

Day 7: Aswan/Abu Simbel
After breakfast you can spend your last few hours on board enjoying the facilities. Alternatively, join our unmissable optional excursion to Abu Simbel, where you’ll see the four colossal statues of Ramses II which stand guard over this ancient site. Not only are the two temples here among the world’s most magnificent monuments, but their removal and reconstruction when they were threatened by submersion in Lake Nasser was a spectacular and historic feat. During this salvage operation the temples were dismantled and raised more than 60 metres up the sandstone cliff where they were built more than 3,000 years before and reassembled in exactly the same position to each other and the sun.

After your excursion you will fly back to Aswan for an afternoon flight to Cairo, for our final overnight hotel stay.

Day 8: Cairo/UK
Today you’ll transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK, or choose our Red Sea add-on for five more nights.

Please note
This holiday includes walking in areas of rough ground, gradients and steps.

Accommodation throughout is in hotels of a comfortable standard. You will stay in the:

4-star hotel Le Meridien Pyramids
4-star hotel Le Passage in Cairo
All bedrooms feature en suite facilities, TV, telephone, air-conditioning and mini-bar. Hotel facilities include a restaurant, bar and swimming pool.

Your ship

Your cruise ship will be the MS Tamr Henna, a 5-star vessel set over four decks. Facilities on board include a sun deck with small swimming pool and loungers, bar, dining room, disco, library, gift shop and a fitness room equipped with sauna and Jacuzzi bath. Internet access is available and guests can play bridge, table tennis and pool while on board.

Comfortable cabins feature sliding windows, air conditioning, hairdryer, telephone, satellite TV, mini-bar, safety deposit box and en suite facilities.

Friendly and helpful crew members accompany you on your cruise, and evening entertainment is provided.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Included excursions and visits

Pyramids, Sphinx and Egyptian museum tour (full day)
Temple of Karnak and Luxor Temple tour
Valley of the Kings and the temple of Queen Hatshepsut tour
Temple of Horus and Kom Ombo
Aswan Dam, Philae Temple and unfinished Obelisk tour
Felucca boat ride
High Tea at Old Cataract Hotel

Optional excursions

Aswan Highlights
Take tea at author’s favourite spot
This tour includes the opportunity to enjoy Afternoon Tea and watch the sun setting over the Nile on the terrace of the elegant Old Cataract Hotel in Aswan. The hotel is where ‘Queen of crime’ writer Agatha Christie penned her masterpiece Death on the Nile.

Your holiday includes

Scheduled flights and internal flights
Overseas transfers and other transportation
3 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast
4 nights on a full-board basis on board MS Tamr Henna
The services of a Travelsphere Tour Manager and Local Guide
Hotel porterage (one bag per person)
All airport taxes and security charges
UK Airline Passenger Duty
All state and local taxes

With 50 years’ experience in arranging escorted tours to exciting destinations across the globe, Travelsphere have built an excellent reputation founded on quality and value.

By choosing a Travelsphere escorted holiday you can travel with confidence, knowing that every aspect of your holiday has been carefully planned and arranged from start to finish. Further to this they are ATOL bonded and members of ABTA.

Travelsphere’s thorough planning of travel arrangements, itineraries and accommodation combined with the unique insight of their knowledgeable Tour Managers and Local Guides will enable you to experience the culture, traditions and hidden away places less accessible to other travellers.

Our Opinion
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