Ancient Adventure - Cairo, Nile Cruise & Red Sea Tour
( 11 days - FROM $2708 )

Enjoy an 11 day/10 night luxury women's only group tour, taking in the sites of Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and the beautiful beaches of the Red Sea.

Itinerary

Day 1

*Arrival in Cairo*
Upon arrival into Cairo International Airport you will be met by our representative who will assist you with arrival formalities and transfer to your hotel. Relax after your flight before meeting your fellow travellers at our welcome dinner.

Day 2

*Cairo: Pyramids, Sphinx, Saqqara, Memphis*
After breakfast at the hotel we drive to the magnificient Giza Necropolis home of the famous pyramids. Your guide will explain the history of the Pyramids of Cheops, Khafre, Menkaure and the iconic Great Sphinx. Take a horse or camel ride through the pyramid complex, visit the Solar Boat Museum or even venture inside the Great Pyramid and walk through the Grand Gallery. After lunch we drive to Saqqara which features numerous pyramids, including the world famous Step Pyramid of Djoser. Visit the city of Memphis, the capital of Ancient Egypt for over eight consecutive dynasties during the Old Kingdom and see the giant limestone statue of Ramses II. Dinner will be in a local Cairo restaurant.
An extra excursion to the evening Sound & Light Show at the Pyramids is available.

Day 3

*Cairo: Egyptian Museum, Citadel, Coptic Cairo, Khan el Khalili*
After breakfast at the hotel visit the Egyptian Museum which houses over 120,000 artifacts. See statues, sarcophagi, mummies and jewellery from the past 5,000 years and of course the famous Tutankhamun exhibit. After the museum visit the Saladin Citadel, a medieval fortification located on Mokattam Hill with wonderful views over Cairo city. It is an historical site which houses several museums and mosques, the most famous being the Ottoman built Mohammad Ali mosque. After lunch visit Old Cairo and Coptic Cairo which encompasses the Babylon Fortress and the Hanging Church. Stop at a traditional Egyptian coffeehouse before exploring the alleyways of the famous Khan el Khalili souk (bazaar) where you can haggle for a souvenir or two. Dinner will be in a local restaurant.

Day 4

*Red Sea: Sahl Hasheesh*
After breakfast transfer to Cairo airport for the short flight to Hurghada. Upon arrival we take a short drive to the Red Sea resort of Sahl Hasheesh. It's time to relax and unwind for a few days and enjoy the Red Sea which is renowned for its warm crystal clear waters . Spend your days on the sandy beach, go snorkelling or diving or take a local boat for a day trip to the coral reefs. If beach activities are not for you then try a desert safari by camel or horse, quad biking or 4WD safari. You can even spend your days strolling around Sahl Hasheesh. A walk along the Pier is a must as it stretches out into the Red Sea, providing a beautiful walkway in which to view the exotic water species and the Sunken City, a replica of an underwater temple of structures and columns and serves as a playground for an array of colourful fish. Lunches and dinners will be in local restaurants.
(NB: Snorkelling, diving, boat trips, desert safari, quad biking or 4WD safari not included in tour price.)

Day 5

*Red Sea: Sahl Hasheesh*
Spend your days on the sandy beach, go snorkelling or diving or take a local boat for a day trip to the coral reefs. If beach activities are not for you then try a desert safari by camel or horse, quad biking or 4WD safari. You can even spend your days strolling around Sahl Hasheesh. A walk along the Pier is a must as it stretches out into the Red Sea, providing a beautiful walkway in which to view the exotic water species and the Sunken City, a replica of an underwater temple of structures and columns and serves as a playground for an array of colourful fish. Lunches and dinners will be in local restaurants.
(NB: Snorkelling, diving, boat trips, desert safari, quad biking or 4WD safari not included in tour price.)

Day 6

*Luxor: Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple*
Early morning check-out of your hotel for the drive through the Eastern Desert to Luxor. Arriving in Luxor we head straight to the beautiful Luxor Temple which sits opposite the River Nile and is connected to Karnak Temple by the Avenue of Sphinx. Numerous pharaohs contributed to the temple buildings including Hatchepsut, Tuthmosis III, Amenhotep III, Rameses II and Alexander the Great. After the temple visit, check-in to your 5* Nile cruise boat which will be docked in Luxor overnight in order for you to see the ancient sites on both the East and West banks of the Nile. After lunch onboard we take a short drive to the magnificent Karnak Temple. This enormous temple complex is unique due to the length of time it was in use and the large number of pharaohs who made contributions to its buildings. The hypostyle hall is an amazing area housing 134 beautifully carved columns. Return to your boat for dinner and entertainment.
An extra excursion to the evening Sound & Light Show at Karnak Temple is available.

Day 7

*Luxor: Valley of the Kings, Hatchepsut Temple, Esna Lock*
After breakfast onboard we drive to the West Bank of Luxor where you will visit the Colossi of Memnon, which once stood at the entrance to Amenhotep III’s memorial temple, the Valley of the Kings, where you can enter the tombs of the ancient pharaohs including Tutankhamun's tomb and Hatchepsut Temple, the female pharaohs funerary temple. Lunch is served back onboard your cruise boat which will set sail after lunch. It’s time to relax up on deck and watch life on the River Nile as you cruise south to Esna where the ship will pass through the Esna Lock. Dinner and entertainment onboard.
An extra excursion of a sunrise hot air balloon ride over Luxor is available.

Day 8

*Cruising: Edfu Temple, Kom Ombo Temple*
After breakfast onboard you will disembark the boat and take a caleche (horse and carriage) ride to Edfu Temple, one of the best preserved temples in Egypt. The inscribed walls provide important information on language, myth and religion during the Greco-Roman period in ancient Egypt. Return to the boat which continues it's cruising down the Nile towards Aswan. Lunch and afternoon tea will be served onboard before arriving at the town of Kom Ombo where you will take a short walk to Kom Ombo Temple, a unique ‘double’ design temple with some interesting reliefs of surgical instruments. Dinner and entertainment onboard.

Day 9

*Aswan: Abu Simbel*
Early morning transfer to Aswan airport for the flight to Abu Simbel. Situated on the banks of Lake Nasser is the Great Temple of Rameses II and the Temple of Hathor, originally carved out of the mountainside during the reign of Pharaoh Rameses II as a lasting monument to himself and his queen Nefertari. The Great Temple is one of the most beautiful in Egypt and remains one of the top tourist attractions. After return flight to Aswan enjoy lunch back onboard your boat and relax for the afternoon before we take a sunset felucca sail around the islands and rocky islets of the Nile. Dinner and entertainment onboard your cruise boat.

Day 10

*Aswan: High Dam, Philae Temple, Nubian Village*
After breakfast onboard and check-out of cruise boat we visit the Aswan High Dam which was constructed to regulate the annual river flooding and to provide storage of water for agriculture and the generation of hydroelectricity. We then catch a motorboat to the island of Philae to visit the beautiful Philae Temple, the last pagan temple to exist in the Mediterranean world. Returning from Philae stop for a walk through a traditional Nubian village, see the colourful houses and local handicrafts. After lunch transfer to the airport for the flight to Cairo. Check-in to hotel and farewell dinner in a local restaurant.

Day 11

*Cairo*
Transfer from hotel to Cairo International Airport for your flight home.

Inclusions & Exclusions

What's Included

Tour includes:

* All airport transfers within Egypt.
* 4 nights in Cairo 5* hotel.
* 2 nights in Red Sea resort of Sahl Hasheesh in 5* hotel.
* 4 nights onboard the deluxe "MS Farah totally different" Nile cruise.
* 10 breakfasts, 9 lunches, 10 dinners – incl welcome & farewell dinners.
* Transport in private modern air conditioned car/motor coach.
* Private, English speaking Egyptologist guides.
* Women’s Tours to Egypt representative.
* Entrance/ticket fees as per itinerary.
* Economy class domestic airfares: Cairo/Hurghada, Aswan/Cairo.
* Gratuities and tipping (except tip for tour guides).

Sightseeing included:

* Giza Pyramids and Sphinx
* Entry into Solar Boat Museum or camel ride around the Pyramids
* Saqqara and Memphis
* Egyptian Museum including entry into the Royal Mummy Room
* Citadel and Mohammad Ali Mosque
* Karnak Temple
* Luxor Temple
* Valley of the Kings including entry into Tutankhamun tomb
* Hatchepsut Temple
* Edfu Temple and caleche ride
* Kom Ombo Temple
* Abu Simbel Temples (including return flights from Aswan)
* Aswan High Dam
* Philae Temple and motorboat ride
* Felucca sailing

What's Excluded

Tour excludes:

* International airfares – click here for further information on flights.
* Egyptian entry visa – click here for further information on visas.
* Travel insurance – it is the traveller’s responsibility to obtain travel insurance prior to travelling.
* Food and drinks unless specified in itinerary.
* Extra tickets as mentioned.
* Personal items.
* Tips for tour guides (at your own discretion).