From the desert oasis of the Sahara to the myriad of fish and coral in the Red Sea, Egypt is an eternal land of contrast, mystery, intrigue, and romance. This delightful suggested itinerary combines Cairo, a Nile cruise on the Oberoi Philae & the Red Sea.
Cairo, where your journey begins, is truly a city of many faces. With the busy spice bazaars and mosques that fill the medieval town to the glass and steel towers that dot the Nile, Cairo offers an undeniably fascinating experience.
The Pyramids at Giza, Memphis, and Sakkara are a delightful start to any tour of Egypt. These are the first of a series of fascinating relics that transpose you back to the Egypt of old. These collective wonders have drawn travellers for centuries.
You will then fly to Aswan, where you will board the Oberoi Philae. This modern, yet undoubtedly sophisticated ship ensures your journey will be relaxing, yet stimulating. As the sugar cane fields and villages of rural Egypt drift by, you will enjoy the delicious food, old-world service, and laid-back opulence. You will occasionally stop to see some of the magnificent temples and buildings left by the ancient Egyptians. Your cruise culminates at Luxor, or Thebes, as it was in ancient times. These breathtaking monuments at Luxor, Karnak, and the Valley of the Kings are the highlights of this undeniably mesmerizing destination.
You can extend your stay in Luxor to soak up more of the atmosphere and visit many of the lesser-known, but equally fascinating archaeological sites. If you have had your history-fix, you will drive across the desert to the beach resort town of Hurghada. You will stay away from the crowds at the Oberoi Sahl Hasheesh for five nights (or more).
It is just a suggested itinerary, and we can also tweak and change any element to suit your individual needs.
| £4450 |
|---|
| Days | Location | Hotel |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1-3 | Cairo | Four Seasons First Residence |
| Day 4-8 | Nile Valley | The Oberoi Philae |
| Day 9-12 | Hughada | Oberoi Beach Resort, Sahl Hasheesh |
| Day 13 | Hughada | Fly Home |
To begin with, arrive in Cairo where you will be met and taken by private transfer to the Four Seasons First Residence. Afterwards, spend the rest of the day at leisure.
Today, you will be met by your private driver and guide and taken to the Great Pyramids at Giza, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. After that, embark on a voyage to pharaonic times at the Solar Boat Museum. Visit the mysterious Sphinx before heading for lunch in a traditional Egyptian restaurant. After lunch, visit the famed Egyptian Museum, a repository of many of the glories of antiquity, including the spectacular treasures of King Tutankhamen. Finally, descend into the past to experience the 11 royal mummies in the world-renowned Mummy Room.
Begin with the less-visited pyramids at Dashour, including both the unusual Bent Pyramid and the Red Pyramid, which was built by the father of Cheops. Continue to Saqqara, an entire complex built by Imhotep. It is particularly famous for the Step Pyramid, the earliest of all classic memorials. Return to Cairo for lunch in the bustling Khan el-Khalili souq before taking an immersive walking tour of Islamic Cairo.
Today you fly to Aswan. You can stop off at Abu Simbel to see the superb temple located here. On arrival in Aswan, take a private transfer to the Oberoi Philae. After lunch, you will visit the Nubian Museum before having tea followed by cocktails and dinner.
After an early breakfast, you will explore the particularly impressive Philae Temple. In addition, you will see the High Dam, which was built between 1960 and 1971 to create Lake Nasser. You then depart for Kom Ombo, visiting the temple after lunch. Finally, sail onto Edfu where you dock for the night.
After breakfast, explore the unquestionably stunning Temple of Horus at Edfu. You then sail into Luxor via the Essna Lock, where you dock for the night.
Your tour includes a visit to the West Bank including the Valley of the Nobles, Dier El Madina and the Temple of Hatchepsut. In the afternoon, explore the Karnak and Luxor Temples.
Today, transfer four hours to the Red Sea resort of Hurghada. You will spend five nights here.
Today, take a private transfer to the airport for your flight home, via Cairo.
We can tweak and change any element of this itinerary and you can depart on any day you want, add nights here and there, and we can fully customise your day-to-day experiences depending on your interests. Here are just a few ideas of many that we can look at and discuss when we come to plan your tailor-made itinerary.
Firstly, The Oberoi Philae also offer a longer 6 night / 7 day itinerary. This undoubtedly gives you a more relaxing cruise. Above all, you are rushing out after having a lovely breakfast or dinner. What's more, you tend to see the main sights in more detail.
You can also cruise in the opposite direction from Luxor to Aswan. This generally means you start with the older sites in Luxor, and then see the newer sites in Aswan. However, it is more tricky to then link up with the beach destinations.
Occasionally, we find guests don't fancy an Egyptian beach element. We can also offer a few nights in Aswan or Luxor. There are some superb hotels here for some R&R such as the Old Cataract.
You might not be particularly interested in the attractions of Cairo, maybe except for the Pyramids. You can generally shorten your time here to two nights.
A surprisingly wonderful combination or extension is to continue to Jordan. A Nile cruise coupled with visiting Petra makes for a longer three-week itinerary.
Explore Egypt on this privately-guided suggested itinerary combining Cairo, Luxor and Aswan without taking a cruise along the Nile.
Delve into timeless antiquity in undoubtedly two of the world’s most historically rich destinations, Egypt & Jordan.
Uncover the ancient world of Egypt on this classic tour of Egypt. Explore Cairo and the Pyramids before cruising down the Nile from Luxor to Aswan.
The Oberoi Zahra is unquestionably one of Egypt’s most luxurious and iconic Nile cruises. You'll cruise along the Nile, being looked after by the finest Egyptologists. Stay in fabulous cabins and relishing world-class cuisine and spa treatments.
We arrange totally bespoke trips and design an itinerary that is designed around you. You may have seen a suggested itinerary that we can base your plans around, or we can start with a blank sheet and paper and design something from scratch. You can leave a phone number and suggest a time to call you back, and we can also arrange to do this during the evenings or at weekends if you are busy during the daytime. We can also meet up with you in you fancy a coffee and are based in and around London.
