Jewel of the Nile - 10 days Go to Operator's Site

Detailed Itinerary:

Day 1, Cairo

Friday. Welcome to Egypt and the start of a wonderful holiday! Arrive Cairo airport, meet and greet service and included transfer to 5 star hotel, located at the foot of the Great Pyramids of Giza.

Day 2, Egyptian Museum

We start with the dazzling antiquities at the Egyptian Museum. Amongst the many exhibits are the treasures of King Tutankhamen. This afternoon offers free time to relax and enjoy the hotel facilities or join us for an optional city tour visiting old Cairo and the Islamic citadel.

Day 3, Pyramids of Giza and Saqqara

Cairo - Luxor. Today we visit Egypt's most loved sight - The Great Pyramids of Giza. We explore the Giza plateau, pyramids and massive lion-headed Sphinx. Later, we tour Saqqara - an ancient necropolis with many half-buried tombs and the famous Zhoser’s step pyramid. Tonight we take an overnight sleeper cabin train south to Luxor.

If your don't fancy travelling by overnight sleeper train, opt to undertake the journey by flight with our Jewel of the Nile Flight Upgrade. The option includes air travel between Cairo - Luxor and Aswan - Cairo with two nights accommodation in the comfort of 5 star hotels.

Day 4, Valley of the Kings

Luxor. The massive pair of statues known as the Colossi of Memnon are the first monuments you’ll see during our morning visit to the West Bank - home to the legendary Valley of the Kings. You’ll also see the colonnaded Temple of Queen Hatshepsut. Return to Luxor for check-in on board our Nile 5 star cruiser. Lunch at leisure and time to relax until our early evening visit to the Temple of Luxor. Luxor Temple looks stunning at dusk and is beautifully illuminated at night. Lunch, dinner and overnight - Nile cruiser.

Note: Dependant upon Nile Cruiser scheduling it maybe required that we also undertake our excursion to Karnak Temple this afternoon. Should this occur, day 5 will be spent at leisure.

Day 5, Luxor & Nile Cruising

Luxor - Nile cruising. At over 4,000 years old, Luxor is a living museum! Look down upon the ancient city by opting to join us on an early morning hot air ballooning excursion.

Later we tour the ancient city of Thebes (the East Bank), taking in the Temple of Luxor - built by Pharaoh Amenophis III and the magnificent Temple of Karnak. More than a temple, it’s a gigantic and stunning complex of sanctuaries and pylons dedicated to the Theban gods. Anchors away this afternoon as we sail downstream to Esna and the Temple of Horus at Edfu.

Day 6, Kom Ombo & Nile Cruising

Relax as we sail the Nile. Later today, we visit the Temple of Kom Ombo. Arrive Aswan late evening.

Day 7, Philae Temple & the Mighty High Dam

Nile cruiser - Aswan. Today, we enjoy a short boat trip to Agilika Island for Philae Temple - dedicated to the goddess Isis. The temple dates from 4th century BC but the Ptolomies and the Romans up to 3rd century AD built most of the existing structures. In danger of being completely submerged by the rising water of Lake Nasser, in 1972 UNESCO stepped in and an 8-year rescue effort was undertaken to relocate the entire temple 20m higher on nearby Agilika Island.

After lunch, a visit to the High Dam and take a felucca cruise to Elephantine and Kitchener Island. As the sun sets, free time to shop in the colourful souqs and markets or simply relax and watch an amazing sunset in Egypt’s southern most town straddling the River Nile.

Day 8, Aswan

Aswan - Cairo. Consider the optional early morning air excursion to the Temple of Ramses II at Abu Simbel or time to relax. Late this afternoon, we board the overnight sleeper train for our journey back to Cairo. A light dinner is served on board.

Day 9, Cairo

Breakfast in your cabin, upon arriving to Cairo, transfer and check in. Today is free for you to enjoy the hotel facilities or further explore Cairo your own way.

Day 10, Cairo

Sunday. Tour ends after breakfast. Included onward transfer to airport.