Discover Egypt and Luxor on a dahabieh cruise.

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  Cairo

  Departure to Egypt and Cairo. Upon your arrival, your driver will be waiting for you at the airport to take you to your hotel. It's time for you to get a feel for the Egyptian capital! Your hotel: Hotel le Baron or similar • Your meals: No meals • Your transportation: By car with driver

• day 2

  Visit of the pyramids of Giza and Saqqara

  This morning, set off with your Egyptologist guide towards the Giza plateau. A unique site in the world, where we will quickly be captivated by the grand spectacle of the "Great Pyramids: Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure," located on the edge of the modern city and at the border of the desert. For the more adventurous among you, know that it is possible to visit the inside of the pyramids. You will then continue your day with the lesser-known site of Saqqara, which was particularly active during the Old Kingdom. There you will find the superb funerary tomb of Djoser, named after the same pharaoh! It is the first king's burial in pyramid form and one of the largest in Egypt. Saqqara is the largest Egyptian necropolis. For dinner, you will need to search for and discover a small restaurant to taste the local flavors… Your hotel: The Baron Hotel or similar • Your meals: Breakfast, lunch • Your guide: French-speaking Egyptologist guide • Your transportation: By car with driver

• day 3

  Visit of the Egyptian museum, the Coptic quarter and the citadel.

  This morning, set off with your French-speaking Egyptologist guide for a visit to the Egyptian Museum. Located in the center, on Tahrir Square, the Egyptian Museum is a must-see when visiting Cairo. It was built to house and shelter the antiquities of ancient Egypt. Inside is the largest and most precious collection of archaeological antiquities from ancient Egypt in the world. In the afternoon, your visit continues with the discovery of Cairo, the old city, the Coptic and Islamic quarters. There, among other things, we will see the Ben-Ezra Synagogue. We will not leave the district without having visited the El-Moallaqah Church "The Hanging Church", which gets its name from its exceptional location. Afterwards, we head towards the citadel overlooking Cairo, which houses the Mosque of Mehemet Ali. At the end of the day, transfer to the station for your overnight train to Luxor. Dinner included on board. You will sleep: in a sleeper train You will have your meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner You will be accompanied by: French-speaking Egyptologist guide You will travel by: train, car with driver.

• day 4

  Karnak and Horus Temple

  This morning, the train stop signals your arrival at Luxor station! A driver is waiting for you to explore the ancient Egyptian capital. An open-air museum awaits you, whose reputation is well established. We head towards the Karnak temple. Generations of pharaohs worked to embellish it. We will be amazed by this architectural complex whose construction spanned more than 2000 years! Next, you will head to Edfu by minibus, to visit the temple of Horus dedicated to the falcon god. It is the best-preserved temple in Egypt! The temple, entirely built of sandstone, is remarkable and its state of preservation, spectacular. You will then go to the pier where your sandal or dahabieh awaits you, the famous traditional sailing boats of the Egyptian Nile. Settle on the boat and get ready to experience your first sunset on the Nile... Exceptional!!! You will sleep: On board • You will have your meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner • You will be accompanied by: French-speaking Egyptologist guide • You will travel: By car with driver and by boat

• day 5

  Edfu and cruise

  Morning of navigation – beautiful walk around the marsh and through the fields, meeting farmers working in their alfalfa, sugar cane fields, or near the date palms. Return on board, then after lunch or at the end of the day, stroll through the charming and very welcoming village. Night at Bassaw or at the foot of the speos of Horemheb (depending on current possibilities). You will sleep: on board You will have your meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner You will be accompanied by: French-speaking Egyptologist guide You will travel: by boat, by car with driver if necessary.

• day 6

  Silsileh Quarries and cruise

  Navigation allows you to discover life along the banks of the Nile, and stops in the villages are an opportunity to meet the local population. Today, stop at the pharaonic quarries of Gebel Silsileh, which were used to build the main temples of Egypt. Gebel Silsileh began to be exploited during the New Kingdom as a sandstone quarry and became the most important source of this material in Egypt, as the good quality stone was easily accessible and easy to transport thanks to its proximity to the Nile. Short navigation and a walk of about 2 hours to Farès, through the palm groves: a wide variety of fruit trees and plants will be found along your way (doum palms, date palms, etc.). Return on board and relaxation while the boat sails smoothly to the evening stop at Maniha. You will sleep: On board • You will have your meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner • You will be accompanied by: French-speaking Egyptologist guide • You will travel: By boat, by car with driver if necessary

• day 7

  Kom Ombo and cruise

  Continue your journey to the site of Kom Ombo, to visit its majestic temple, whose sight will be a pleasant surprise. Unique in the country, this temple is dedicated to two deities: Sobek, the crocodile god, and Haroeris, the falcon god. Take the time to admire so much beauty! Next, a guaranteed change of scenery in the village of Daraw, certainly one of the highlights of the trip. You will stroll through the bustling popular market, where the colors and scents of the Orient and Africa mingle in a symphony for the eyes and the nose! You will sleep: on board • You will have your meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner • You will be accompanied by: a French-speaking Egyptologist guide • You will travel: by boat, and by car with a driver if necessary.

• day 8

  Aswan, cruise and Philae temple

  Your boat trip continues to reach Aswan, gateway to Nubia and former stronghold of the kingdom of Upper Egypt. In Aswan, it is by boat that we will reach the Temple of Philae, dedicated to the goddess of fertility, Isis, unique for its location and architecture. One of the most picturesque in Egypt, it was saved from the waters by UNESCO in the 60s. Possibility of an early morning visit to Abu Simbel (optional €€). You will sleep: on board. You will have your meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner. You will be accompanied by: French-speaking Egyptologist guide. You will travel: by boat and by car with driver.

• day 9

  Luxor and the discovery of the WEST bank

  You will leave the boat for the return to Luxor, where you will begin the visits with the Valley of the Kings, the eternal resting place and favorite site of the pharaohs. We will then proceed to the majestic temple dedicated to Queen Hatshepsut, the only woman to have ascended the pharaonic throne and unique in her kind. As we continue, two seated stone giants will emerge before us: these are the famous Colossi of Memnon who "sit enthroned" in the middle of cultivated lands. You will sleep: 4-star hotel in Luxor • You will have your meals: Breakfast, lunch • You will be accompanied by: French-speaking Egyptologist guide • You will travel: By boat and by car with driver

• day 10

  Luxor

  This morning, your driver will drop you off at Luxor airport for your return flight to France. End of services! You will have your meals: Breakfast. You will travel: by car with driver. P.S.: Please note that the itinerary and the sequence of visits are subject to change to facilitate the smooth running of the trip. However, the entire program will be respected.