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Cairo, Alexandria and a Nile Cruise

£2,545.00

Standing back to admire a panoramic view of the mighty Pyramids at Giza – an unforgettable moment.

Remember the wide-eyed wonder of learning about ancient Egypt at school? On this comprehensive Egypt tour and Nile cruise, we discover ancient Alexandria (location of one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Lighthouse of Alexandria) and learn of the astonishing workmanship that created the Pyramids of Giza near Cairo. In Luxor, we explore the mind-blowing Valley of the Kings, where pharaohs lie entombed. We meander through the relaxed city of Aswan and visit its 111m High Dam, built to regulate river flooding. In between these unforgettable highlights, we enjoy a comfortable seven-night river cruise along the Nile aboard the MS Nile Plaza – a small ship that carries a maximum of 110 passengers, with 55 cabins, a restaurant, bar and sundeck.

  • 9 excursions & visits
  • 29 meals
  • Active traveller pace
Category:

Your itinerary

Day 1 – Cairo

Our door-to-door travel service collects you from home for your flight to Cairo. Upon arrival, we transfer to our hotel.

Swiss Inn Pyramids Hotel, Cairo (4-star)

Today includes…

Dinner

Day 2 – Giza

Fifteen minutes’ drive from our hotel in Cairo, stand the extraordinary Pyramids of Giza, the last surviving wonder of the ancient world. Mystery still surrounds their exact purpose, the construction methods and the baffling accuracy of measurement, alignment and workmanship that they demonstrate. Our Egyptologist guide will explain what is known as we admire the ‘Great Pyramid’ of Khufu, comprising some two million colossal blocks of stone; the Pyramid of Khafre and the third, smaller Pyramid of Khephren. Nearby, the majestic Sphinx looks on. A wonderful way to begin our Egypt tour.

Swiss Inn Pyramids Hotel, Cairo (4-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Visit the Pyramids of Giza (afternoon)

Breakfast and Dinner

Free time

Profile of the Great Sphinx, including pyramids of Menkaure and Khafre in the background, on a sunny day in Giza, near Cairo, Egypt

Day 3 – Cairo

Today is free in Cairo, with the opportunity to join one of the guided optional excursions to the Egyptian Museum and Citadel.

Swiss Inn Pyramids Hotel, Cairo (4-star)

Today includes…

Breakfast and Dinner

Free time

Exterior of the Muhammad Ali mosque in Cairo - Saladin Citadel

Day 4 – Alexandria

A full-day excursion reveals the treasures of Alexandria. Egypt’s attractive Mediterranean port city was founded by Alexander the Great and the power base of Cleopatra, whose royal palace now lies submerged in the bay. This was also the location of the legendary Pharos Lighthouse (the Lighthouse of Alexandria), one of the Seven Wonders of the World, and the lost Library of Alexandria, the largest in the ancient world. We make stops at the National Museum, Roman amphitheatre and the Bibliotheca before some free time to wander the lively Corniche.

Swiss Inn Pyramids Hotel, Cairo (4-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Tour to Alexandria with local guide (all day)

Breakfast and Dinner

The Roman Amphitheatre is one of the most popular monuments in Alexandria, Egypt.

Day 5 – Cairo – Luxor

We’ll take a flight to Luxor ready for the Nile cruise section of our Egypt holiday, transferring upon arrival to our comfortable ship. It&s a small ship that carries a maximum of 110 passengers, with 55 cabins, a restaurant, bar and sundeck.

MS Nile Plaza (4-star)

Today includes…

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Free time

Presidential Nile Cruises vessel, river cruise

Day 6 – Luxor

We head out to explore the West Bank, beginning at the awe-inspiring Valley of the Kings, where pharaohs were buried from the 16th-11th centuries BC. Our guide will introduce a few of the most impressive tombs including that of Ramses VI and you may also choose to enter the plainer, ‘cursed’ Tomb of Tutankhamun (extra charge). We also visit the impressive mortuary temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon, before returning to the ship.

MS Nile Plaza (4-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Visit the West Bank of Luxor, including the Valley of the Kings (morning)

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, View of the temple in the rock in Egypt

Day 7 – Kom Ombo – Aswan

There can be few more serene and romantic ways for you to pass time than gliding down the Nile on a river cruiser. We sail to the fascinating Greco-Roman double-temple of Kom Ombo. A temple dedicated to the falcon-headed Horus, Egyptian god of the sky, hunting and war; and crocodile god Sobek, the god of the Nile, creator of the world, and worshipped for his strength and fertility. We return to the ship, ready to set sail southwards to Aswan.

MS Nile Plaza (4-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Visit the Temple of Kom Ombo (morning)

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Kom Ombo temple, Egypt. Temple at sunset on the Nile in Egypt

Day 8 – Aswan – Temple of Philae

Today pays tribute to ancient and modern feats of architectural engineering, with visits to the 111m-high Aswan High Dam and the Temple of Philae, perhaps Egypt’s most beguiling and beautiful. We also take in the Nubian Museum this afternoon, a stunning showcase of Nubia’s history, art and culture, including horse armour.

MS Nile Plaza (4-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Visit the High Dam and Temple of Philae (morning)Nubian Museum (afternoon)

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Philae Temple Complex in Egypt

Day 9 – Aswan

Explore the laid-back Nubian city of Aswan independently or choose to take an optional excursion by bus or plane to legendary Abu Simbel, built by Ramses II. This afternoon we’ll enjoy a Felucca ride.

MS Nile Plaza (4-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Felucca ride (afternoon)

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Free time

Stunning views across The Nile in Aswan, Egypt

Day 10 – Edfu – Esna

A morning of relaxation aboard our vessel, as we sail to Edfu. The afternoon is free, or you can choose an optional excursion to visit Edfu Temple. We then sail back along the Nile to dock overnight in Esna.

MS Nile Plaza (4-star)

Today includes…

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Enjoying the views across the River Nile

Day 11 – Luxor

We sail to Luxor, the ‘open-air museum’ where the number and preservation of ancient monuments is unparalleled anywhere in the world. This is the site of the famous city of Thebes, capital of Egypt at the height of the empire’s influence. This afternoon we visit two astonishing temples on the East Bank of the Nile – Luxor Temple and Karnak Temple, linked by the wonderful Avenue of Sphinxes. Karnak in particular is absolutely breathtaking; a complex of more than 100 hectares (larger than some ancient cities) with immense pylons and obelisks, tranquil lakes and sanctuaries and the Hypostyle Hall, where 134 soaring columns, each with a diameter of more than 3m, are arranged in perfect geometric rows, all covered in exquisite hieroglyphs.

MS Nile Plaza (4-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Visit the East Bank of Luxor (afternoon)

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

The ancient Temple of Karnak, Egypt

Day 12 – Luxor – Departure

Transfer to the airport for your return flight. Upon arrival, our vehicle will be waiting for the journey home.

Today includes…

Breakfast