The Nile and its mysteries

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  Visit of Luxor

  

  Upon your arrival at Cairo airport, your driver will take you to Luxor, the ancient city of Thebes and a true open-air museum. You will board a boat where you can have lunch on board in complete tranquility. At the end of the afternoon, you will have the immense privilege of visiting the Luxor Temple at dusk (sound and light show with optional French version) to better appreciate its beauty. The Luxor Temple, built in the 18th and 19th centuries, is dedicated to the triad of Theban deities: Amun, Mut, and Khonsu.

• day 2

  Historic discovery: Deir el-Medina, Valley of the Kings and Karnak Temple

  Today, you will visit Deir El Medina, a village of ancient Egypt where the brotherhood of craftsmen responsible for building the tombs and funerary temples of the pharaohs and their relatives during the New Kingdom, from the 18th to the 20th dynasty, resided. Then, you will continue to the Valley of the Kings, where you will visit certain tombs. You will make a stop to contemplate the Colossi of Memnon. These two colossal and isolated statues mark the location of the entrance to the ancient funerary temple of Amenhotep III. In the afternoon, you will explore the temple of Karnak (optional sound and light show), located near Thebes, the religious capital, which is also the largest and richest religious center in Egypt. You will have dinner on board a boat heading to Edfu.

• day 3

  Visit of Edfu and the temples

  

  Upon your arrival in Edfu, you will visit the Temple of Horus (Ptolemaic dynasty). Next, you will discover the temple of Kom Ombo, which has the unique feature of being two temples combined into one. It is dedicated to 2 distinct deities: the Falcon god Horus and the Crocodile god Sobek. In the evening, you can attend an oriental evening with a friendly and warm atmosphere. You will depart for Aswan.

• day 4

  Aswan

  In Aswan, you will board a small boat that will take you to Agilkia Island to visit the Philae Temple (optional sound and light show), dedicated to the goddess Isis. You will also visit the granite quarries of Aswan with its unfinished obelisk. Optional activities: If you wish, you can take a motorboat ride in the natural reserve of the first cataract of the Nile, bordered by the desert. You will land near a Nubian village, where you can enjoy a tasty coffee made with a secret recipe.

• day 5

  Aswan - Abu Simbel (optional)

  

  You will be able to enjoy a free morning to fully discover the city of Aswan at your own pace. Optional activities: Departure by coach or plane to Abu Simbel. These two majestic temples, listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites and saved from the waters, are dedicated to Ramses II and his wife Nefertari. During your coach journey, you will have the chance to admire a sunrise in the desert. On the way back, you can enjoy the view of mirages stretching for several kilometers. The Nubian Museum houses the discoveries made during the excavations conducted as part of the UNESCO International Campaign to save the Nubian monuments, which were threatened by the construction of the Aswan High Dam in the 1960s. Opened in 1997, it displays some 3,000 pieces unearthed during the excavations. The Museum is also the custodian of Nubian history and culture. Its collections indeed present Nubia from prehistory to the present day. You will end the day with a visit to a traditional perfumery.

• day 6

  Contemplation on the Nile

  On this new day, you will have the opportunity to admire the magnificent landscapes on the banks of the "god-river". You can fully enjoy your day by relaxing around the pool and/or on the shaded terrace.

• day 7

  Contemplation on the Nile

  

  You will be able to continue admiring and visiting the magnificent landscapes of the Nile, and take advantage of this day to relax in complete tranquility.

• day 8

  The return

  After this 8-day journey discovering the Nile and its mysteries, we will accompany you from Luxor airport to Cairo airport so you can take your return flight.