When visiting Egypt, images of the ancient world spring to mind and trust us, on this river cruise down the world’s longest river, the Nile river, you will get plenty of ancient Egyptian delights to explore.
Wonders of the Nile – Cairo to Luxor – 11 days
When visiting Egypt, images of the ancient world spring to mind and trust us, on this river cruise down the world’s longest river, the Nile river, you will get plenty of ancient Egyptian delights to explore.
The holiday does begin in Cairo where modern day and ancient times blend together with a mixture of Western, Islamic and Christian cultures thrown in too. It is a great city to be in and during your time here, you will get to see the famous pyramids and Sphinx of Giza. Plus you can wander along the corridors of the spectacular Egyptian Museum.
Once you leave Cairo, it is time to discover the gems of the River Nile. Throughout this trip, you will get the chance to see some of the lesser-known sites giving you a truly authentic experience. You will head to Abydos where you will see some of Ancient Egypt’s most imposing temples followed by seeing some of the country’s best-preserved temples in Dendera.
This is a fabulous holiday where you get to visit the best sites in Egypt whilst travelling in relaxed comfort that will ensure you fall in love with this ancient country.
Day 1: Day 1 - Depart the UK
Today you will fly directly from London Heathrow to Cairo and will board the MS Movenpick Darakum in the late evening, which will be your home for the next ten nights.
Day 2: Day 2 - Cairo; Egyptian Pyramids and Museum
Today you will get an up-close view of the three main pyramids of Giza where you will be awed by their size. You can choose to enter the pyramids but this is payable locally. Nearby, you will see the world’s largest free-standing sculpture, the Sphinx of Giza.
Afterwards, it is time to explore all the treasures in the Egyptian Museum. A highlight is the dedicated section to what was buried in Tutankhamun’s tomb. There was so much buried with him that it took ten years to examine, photograph, catalogue and finally remove all the items. There are also plenty of items to see showing how the ordinary people in Ancient Egyptian times lived, giving you a true idea of what it was like back then.
Day 3: Day 3 - Saqqara and Coptic Museum
You head south to the pyramids at the necropolis of Saqqara. Soon the lush fields give way to barren desert and you will see the giant ‘step’ pyramid. What makes this so special is that it was built using smaller bricks than those used for the Pyramids of Giza and thus showing how the ancient Egyptians evolved their building techniques over time.
The afternoon will be spent going to old part of Cairo where you will learn about the city’s Christian history including a visit to the Hanging Church. Afterwards, you will continue to the Coptic Museum and the nearby Ben Ezra synagogue, said to be where the Pharaoh’s daughter found Moses in his basket amongst the reeds.
Day 4: Days 4 & 5 - Full days sailing and relaxing
Day 5: Day 6 – Beni Hassan Tombs
After breakfast, you will set out with a visit to Tuna El Gebel, the necropolis of Hermopolis, sacred to the Greek god Hermes and his Egyptian counterpart Thoth, God of writing and wisdom. Explore the tomb of Petosiris and the catacombs which once held thousands of mummified ibis and baboons.
Once you have indulged in a tasty lunch on board, we continue with a tour of the tombs at Beni Hassan, with wonderful views across the valley.
Day 6: Day 7 – Amarna
Amarna was the capital city for a brief time during the reign of Pharaoh Akhenaten and his queen Nefertiti. You will visit Akhenaten’s tomb, as well as those of some of his courtiers.
Day 7: Day 8 – Full day sailing and relaxing
Today is all about putting your feet up after a busy few days exploring as you continue your journey southwards. It is time to start getting excited about the second part of this river cruise with the best temples and sites coming up in the next few days.
Day 8: Day 9 – Abydos
You will be seeing a real highlight of Ancient Egypt today. Abydos remains one of ancient Egypt’s most mysterious sites, with the Great Temple of Seti I as its centrepiece. Dedicated to the cult of Osiris, god of the dead, Abydos was a pilgrimage centre for thousands of years. The temple is known for its Gallery of the Kings, which lists all the pharaohs, as well as some hieroglyphs which look like modern machines! We sail on to Qena where we moor overnight.
Day 9: Day 10 – Dendera
It is here where you will find the temple of Hathor. It is one of the most complete and best-preserved in all of Egypt. Hathor was the Egyptian goddess of love, beauty, joy and healing, and her temple, although only completed in Roman times, nevertheless follows the architecture and style of much older temples. Once you have marvelled at this spectacular site, you will sail the short distance to Luxor where you will moor overnight.
Day 10: Day 11 – Return Home
Today is a sad day as your river cruise along the River Nile comes to an end. You will be transferred to Luxor Airport to get your flight back home via Cairo.
One of the smaller ships on the Nile, with just 52 cabins and suites, the five-star MS Movenpick Darakum has been designed with a low draft in order to navigate the full length of the Nile in Egypt. It is currently the only vessel regularly operating this route, so this cruise is very much a unique experience!
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