Cairo and Nile cruise on a dahabeya.

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  Cairo

  Arrival in Cairo, welcome, assistance with customs formalities and pick-up. Accompaniment and check-in at your hotel: (1) The Pyramids Park Resort 4* (local standard) or the Pyramids View Inn, located opposite the pyramids (modest and typical). (2) 5* depending on availability: the Cairo Pyramids Hotel Steigenberger or the Meridien Pyramids Hotel & Spa (standard room with city view).

• day 2

  Cairo

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. Departure for the marvelous site of the Giza plateau, composed of the pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure, as well as the mysterious Sphinx. Departure to reach the eastern cemetery for a visit to the tomb of the Grand Dignitary of King Khufu, where you will be almost alone. Next, you will enter the small pyramid of King Khufu's mother, then visit the temple of King Khafre, whose walls and ceilings are made of granite, and the floor is covered with white alabaster. In the middle of the room is the famous "well"; it was here that the unique statue of Khafre was discovered in 1860 by Auguste Mariette. Barbecue lunch in a typical restaurant in the middle of a palm grove on the road to Saqqara. Departure for an in-depth discovery of the marvelous site of Saqqara. Visit to the funerary complex of Djoser, the first of such importance and the largest ever built in Egypt. Discovery of the exterior of the step pyramid, considered the oldest cut-stone architecture on our planet, then visit to the most famous tombs, called "mastabas," and entry into the pyramid of Teti. Departure off the beaten path: we begin with a walk among the beautiful ruins of the causeway of the cursed pyramid, a 700 m long causeway, a paved road 2.60 m wide, bordered by small limestone walls sometimes decorated with bas-reliefs, near the fields of the latest excavations. Discovery of the exterior of the small communal grave once reserved for the pyramid builders, continuation with the visit of the lesser-known and among the most beautiful tombs of Saqqara, then discovery of the remains of the landing stage of the valley temple of the cursed pyramid, once intended to receive the pharaoh's mummy during his final journey to the afterlife. Then, visit to the small and beautiful Imhotep Museum, where very beautiful pieces from the Saqqara site excavations are exhibited.

• day 3

  Cairo

  After breakfast, departure for the visit of the National Museum of Egyptian Antiquities and its lesser-known rooms, including, among others, the treasure of the great priests and the daily life of Ancient Egypt, the room of mummified animals, not to mention the fabulous treasure of the young pharaoh Tutankhamun, as well as the last great treasure unknown to mass tourism discovered in the 90s. Continue with the visit of the room of King Akhenaten, considered one of the great mystics in the history of humanity. Lunch in a restaurant on the banks of the Nile, under the arbors, with a typical dish (mezzeh and grilled chicken). Then, departure for the visit of the Ibn Tulun Mosque, one of the most beautiful and oldest mosques in Egypt. It is a true masterpiece of Tulunid architecture, one of the largest Islamic architectures in the world, renowned for its high walls, its magnificent prayer courtyard, and its minaret of Iraqi style. With its play of light and geometric shapes, the mosque inspires spirituality, respect, silence, and above all, peace. Departure to reach North Cairo, with its narrow alleys. There you will visit one of the Shiite pilgrimage sites in the world: the famous Shiite mosque of el Hakem. Its architecture, with its massive towers and robust pillars, gives it an aspect of power. Discovery of the exterior of the monumental entrance of Bab el Fetouh (the gate of victories) and the wall of the old city of Fatimid Cairo. You will also discover some trades that are disappearing. Then, departure to reach the little-known tourist district, that of the glassblowers of Gamaleya, where there is only one glass furnace, if it is still operating, belonging to its owner, Hassan El-Daour. Visit of the world Sunni headquarters: the mosque (the mosque with a hundred columns, subject to restoration work) and the university of el Azhar, managed by the sheikh of el Azhar, considered the pope of all Sunnis in the world. It is a place of prayer, of meetings between students who study at Al Azhar University, and also of walks for Egyptian families. Departure for the discovery of the typical souk. It is a must for all families of future brides for the purchase of clothes, fabrics, curtains, etc., another opportunity to get closer to the local population.

• day 4

  Cairo - Luxor

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. Early or morning transfer to Cairo airport and flight to Luxor. Upon arrival, in-depth visit of the Karnak temples (depending on the flight schedule), in the morning or in the afternoon. The Karnak religious complex — often mistakenly called the Karnak temple or simply Karnak — includes a vast ensemble of temple ruins, chapels, pylons, and other buildings located north of Thebes, today the city of Luxor. The Karnak complex, rebuilt and developed over more than 2,000 years by successive pharaohs, is composed of three enclosures. It is the largest religious complex of all Antiquity and was dedicated to the Theban triad, headed by the god Amun-Ra. The complex was connected to the Luxor temple by an avenue of sphinxes nearly three kilometers long. The site has been the subject of excavations conducted since the 19th century by French archaeologists, organized since 1967 within the Franco-Egyptian Center for the Study of the Karnak Temples. The visit continues with the discovery of one of these small temples unknown to mass tourism, after first crossing an impressive display of thousands of stone fragments from the excavation fields undertaken on the site, then visiting a small little-known temple, highly appreciated by the ancient Egyptians, where you will be almost alone. Around noon, transfer and installation on your boat, embarkation on Saturday (includes 3 meals + drinks – mineral water, tea, and coffee). Your cruise on the age-old Nile will take place on the luxury dahabeya Merit. In the late afternoon, departure for the visit of the Luxor temple, illuminated under beautiful lighting that shows it at its most beautiful.

• day 5

  Luxor

  After breakfast, departure in the morning for a visit to part of the grandiose necropolis of Thebes, where the rulers of the New Kingdom were buried in hypogea dug into the mountain, containing luxurious and abundant funerary furniture. We will visit three tombs in the Valley of the Kings, then you will visit monuments with a more specific aspect. Next, visit one of the most beautiful monuments of ancient Egypt, little known to mass tourism. Departure to reach the Valley of the Nobles, which groups together tombs arranged for the notables of the New Kingdom (1552-1069 BC). They house the highest dignitaries of the country (viziers, governors, mayors or viceroys of Nubia), as well as important officials (royal scribes or general inspectors). Sometimes, notables of lesser influence are among the owners: architects, overseers, minor administrators, secondary scribes, astronomers, doctors... We begin with a visit to the tomb of Rekhmire, the mayor of the City (Thebes) and vizier – that is, the most important person in the State after the Pharaoh – during the last nineteen years of the long reign (53 years) of Thutmose III, and then again at the beginning of that of Amenhotep II. Rekhmire was certainly one of the remarkable figures in the history of the 18th dynasty. The main episodes of his professional life are abundantly illustrated in his tomb, as if he wanted to leave a precise testimony of all the details of his various duties and, above all, those of vizier. Continue with a visit to the tomb of Sennfer, the famous "tomb of the vines." Through the originality of its decoration, its freshness, and the masterful orchestration of funerary rituals, the "tomb of the vines" is among the great masterpieces of the west bank of Thebes. The artisans exploited its irregularity to decorate it with vines, hence the name "Tomb of the Vines" for the monument. A true initiatory journey of the Egyptian afterlife is presented to us. Visit the Colossi of Memnon. At the end of the morning, return to the boat for lunch. Navigation to reach the Esna locks. Dinner and overnight on board. During your cruise on the Nile, you will admire the banks of the river, sometimes desert where the sand glides, sometimes rural – real, magnificent green fields, little pieces of paradise where palm groves are replaced the next moment by mango trees, banana trees, or sugar cane – and you will discover the daily life of the locals, allowing you to discover authentic Egypt. Unforgettable dinners and nights on the age-old Nile.

• day 6

  Edfu

  

  Breakfast, sailing towards the city of Edfu. Upon arrival, visit one of the largest and best-preserved temples of ancient Egypt, dedicated to the falcon god "Horus". Continuation of the sailing: you will admire scenes of daily life, fishermen, boats transporting people, cars and animals between the two banks of the Nile, as well as the magnificent passage! A mix of sands, mountains and green fields, fruits and vegetables, and agricultural activities. Arrival in the evening at the island of "El-Fouza". Dinner and overnight on board.

• day 7

  Kom Ombo

  After breakfast, sailing to reach the small town of Kom Ombo. Upon arrival, we visit the temple of Kom Ombo, dedicated to two deities: the god Haroeris (Horus the Great) and the crocodile god Sobek. Sailing to Ramdi Island – docking near Ramdi Island. Sailing to Aswan. Dinner and overnight on board.

• day 8

  Aswan

  After breakfast, departure by car and then by boat to visit the Philae Temple, which is without a doubt the "Pearl of the Nile," built on an island submerged in the 1970s by the rising water level of the old Aswan Dam's reservoir, following the construction of the High Dam. The temples and monuments built on the island during the Pharaonic and Greco-Roman periods were moved to the new island, also called Philae. You will visit, among others, the Temple of Isis, which is clearly the main structure of Philae. It is one of the major sanctuaries of the goddess in Egypt. After that, you will visit the chapel of the goddess Hathor. To conclude, visit the Kiosk of Trajan, which is the main feature of the site. Then, departure to reach Lake Nasser, first crossing the Old Dam. From above, you will see the first cataract from your car. Upon arrival, visit the Aswan High Dam. Upon our arrival, lunch on board. Free afternoon for personal discovery and its famous souk. Dinner and overnight on board.

• day 9

  Aswan - Cairo

  

  Breakfast on board, check-out from your cabin. Optional: visit to the temples of Abu Simbel by car (290 km), then transfer to Aswan airport and flight to Cairo. Lunch will be included or not depending on the Aswan/Cairo flight. Arrival at the airport, meet and greet and transfer to your hotel, the Passage Heliopolis at Cairo airport (5*).

• day 10

  Cairo

  Breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Cairo airport and assistance with customs formalities according to your flight schedule. Obtaining a visa to travel to Egypt For many destinations outside Europe, it is necessary to apply for a visa that will allow you access to the country, regardless of the reason for your trip. There are a few formalities to follow to obtain your visa for Egypt, which will then be affixed to the top of your passport. What is a visa? A visa is a document attesting to your right to enter a country outside Europe. Affixed to your passport, the visa indicates the duration of your stay in the country, which can range from a few days to several months depending on different legislations. The formalities, conditions of issuance, and fees depend on each country and each situation: it is possible to apply for a visa for a tourist stay, for studies abroad, a business trip, and many others. Formalities to obtain a visa for Egypt To obtain a visa for Egypt, a few formalities must be followed. The visa application can be made online: you just need to have your passport, fill out an online form, then you can receive, after verification and validation, an electronic visa. The electronic visa is obtained more quickly than a paper visa.