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Nile Valley & Red Sea
USD 11050
SEP-JUN
17 NIGHTS
Select your style
We are able to vary the price of this trip considerably, simply by swapping out the lodges that it contains. This is likely to have a very significant effect on the level of polish of the trip, but in all cases it will remain cool and authentic. Make your selection here and the lodges will automatically change in the itinerary below.
USD 13750 per person
This trip includes only the very best lodges in each location, suitable if you are looking for the ultimate polished and elegant experience.
Trip Summary
Start location : Cairo International Airport
Cairo
01 : Marriott Mena House
02 : Marriott Mena House
03 : Marriott Mena House
Luxor
04 : Al Moudira Hotel
05 : Al Moudira Hotel
06 : Al Moudira Hotel
07 : Al Moudira Hotel
08 : MV Agatha 5S
09 : MV Agatha 5S
10 : MV Agatha 5S
11 : MV Agatha 5S
Aswan
Hurghada
14 : Oberoi Sahl Hasheesh
15 : Oberoi Sahl Hasheesh
16 : Oberoi Sahl Hasheesh
17 : Oberoi Sahl Hasheesh
End location : Cairo International Airport
Cairo
Set on the Nile, around 200 km inland from the Mediterranean, Cairo is the vast and sprawling capital of Egypt, with a population of over 21 million people. Highlights include the pyramids of Giza, the monuments of Saqqara and the mediaeval Old City. Accommodation options are very limited and always compromised.
Day 1 , 2 , 3
Arrival : Cairo Airport CAI
lodge
Marriott Mena House
Marriott Mena House is located in the Giza area of western Cairo.
It has long-since been the best hotel in the immediate vicinty of the pyramids.
Guest accommodation is in 331 rooms, in various specifications including ...
... Deluxe Pool View ...
... Deluxe Pyramid View ...
... Executive Pool View ...
... Grand Deluxe ...
... and Pyramid Suites.
The Pyramids of Giza are amongst the oldest monuments in Egypt ...
... dating back to the Old Kingdom, 2686-2181 BC.
The Sphinx is thought to pre-date the pyramids and previously had the head of a lion.
The Great Pyramid was built by Pharoah Khafre around 2570 BC ...
... and can be entered via the Robber's Tunnel.
The relatively quiet area of Saqqara can also be visited as a day trip from Giza.
The pyramids of this area are older prototypes of the better-known ones to the north.
The stepped Pyramid of Djoser dates all the way back to 2686-2648BC.
The pyramid is at the centre of a large necropolis ...
The Bent Pyramid was built by Pharaoh Sneferu (2575-2551BC) ...
... who also went on to build the Red Pyramid, the first smooth-sided design.
After Saqqara, most people fly south to Luxor.
Luxor
Set alongside the River Nile in southern Egypt, Luxor is the beating heart of this ancient land, home to some of the most spectacular archaeological sites from the New Kingdom, including the remarkable Valley of the Kings and the prestigious temples of Luxor and Karnak. The usual start location for cruises up river to Aswan.
Day 4 , 5 , 6 , 7
Fly : Cairo CAI to Luxor LXR
lodge
Al Moudira Hotel
Day 8 , 9 , 10 , 11
lodge
MV Agatha 5S
MV Agatha 5S is a four or five night boat trip that travels south from Luxor to Aswan.
MV Agatha is a luxury two-masted dahabiya.
The boat is owned by people with a deep passion for unusually authentic Nile experiences.
The boat has two Panoramic Suites ...
... and 8 Luxury Rooms.
Nights are spent at various pleasantly rural mooring locations.
The journey starts above the lock at Esna, 50 km south of Luxor.
The town itself is relatively modest ...
... but does contain a New Kingdom temple built by Thutmose II (1493-1479 BC) .
Cruising south from Esna, we approach the town of Edfu ...
... where horse-buggies are ready to take us across town to the archaeological sites.
The Temple of Horus dates from 237-57 BC, during the Hellenistic (Greek) Period ...
... and is arguably the best preserved temple in the whole of Egypt.
We continue our leisurely progress south ...
... eventually mooring alongside the archaeological site of Kom Ombo ...
... which dates mainly from the Ptolemic (Greek) Period (186-145 BC).
Some guests depart the cruise here at Kom Ombo after four nights on board.
Whilst others continue to end the journey with a fifth night in Aswan.
Aswan
Set alongside the River Nile in southern Egypt, Aswan is the location of the First Cataract, the historic border with Nubia. The modern city, which is the natural termination of river cruises from Luxor, provides access to some impressive historic sites, including the Temple of Philae, as well as colourful Nubian culture.
Day 12 , 13
lodge
Sofitel Old Cataract Aswan
... especially the shockingly expensive Sir Winston Churchill Suite ...
... and the similarly eye-wateringly priced Agatha Christie Suite.
Hurghada
Set on the Red Sea Coast, around 250 km northeast of Luxor, Hurghada is a bustling coastal town, flanked on either side by ribbons of beach resorts and condo developments. The area is renowned for its high quality diving and is a popular beach resort for both international visitors and wealthy Egyptians, with multiple daily flight connections with Cairo and European flight hubs.
Day 14 , 15 , 16 , 17
lodge
Oberoi Sahl Hasheesh
Oberoi Sahl Hasheesh is located in the Hurghada area of eastern Egypt.
Hurghada is a busy modern town, surrounded by hundreds of of resorts and condos.
The area contains some pretty islands and remote beaches ...
... and is renowned for its superb reef and wreck diving.
This coastline can be reached by road from Luxor on the River Nile.
Day 18
Departure : Cairo International Airport
Alternative Trips
Here is a small selection of related sample trips.
Of course, your actual trip will be precisely tailor-made.
Of course, your actual trip will be precisely tailor-made.
