Get started on your trip
It’s never too soon to get in touch, we are here to help with every stage of your planning.
Nile Valley, river cruise & Siwa Oasis
USD 13750
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 really good quality properties, perhaps without the intense polish of the very top lodges, but also without the premium price tag.
Trip Summary
Start location : Cairo International Airport
Cairo
Siwa
04 : Adrere Amellal
05 : Adrere Amellal
06 : Adrere Amellal
Cairo
Luxor
08 : Al Moudira Hotel
09 : Al Moudira Hotel
10 : Al Moudira Hotel
11 : Al Moudira Hotel
12 : MV Agatha 5S
13 : MV Agatha 5S
14 : MV Agatha 5S
15 : MV Agatha 5S
Aswan
End location : Aswan 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
Hyatt Regency Cairo West
Hyatt Regency Cairo West is located 7km north of the pyramids.
The location is rather bland, but you can just about see the pyramids on a clear day.
Guest accommodation is in 250 rooms of various specifications ...
... including 26 larger suites.
The great pyramids of Giza lie on the western periphery of Cairo.
These pyramids 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 Tunnel.
Exploring the pyramids by horse or camel is surprisingly good fun.
The Grand Egyptian Museum is home to an incredible collection of artefacts.
The relatively quiet area of Saqqara is usually visited as a day trip from Giza or Cairo.
The pyramids of this area are older prototypes of the better-known ones to the north.
The pyramid is at the centre of a large necropolis ...
... which is accessed through this reconstructed entrance.
The stepped Pyramid of Djoser dates all the way back to 2686-2648BC.
The Southern Entry is easy to flat, leading to this awesome burial chamber.
The original North Entry is by special permission only ...
... and leads to an extensive network of over 4km of tunnels in the bedrock below.
The adjacent museum has some interesting exhibits.
The short distance to the Serapeum is ideal for a taster camel ride.
The Serapeum is incredibly impressive ...
... with tunnels leading to remarkable granite sarcophagi for sacred bulls.
The Red Pyramid was the first to have that authentic geometrical shape and also contains a good network of tunnels and chambers.
Saving the best until last ... The Bent Pyramid was built by Pharaoh Sneferu (2575-2551BC) ...
... whose unusual shape may have been the result of a design failure.
The interior is by far the most exciting of the pyramids that are generally open to the public.
The view east from the Bent Pyramid to the mudbrick Black Pyramid.
The modern city of Cairo is a very hectic place, with incredible traffic issues.
The medieval Citadel of Saladin is an impressive landmark ...
... with a huge mosque from the late 1800s.
Far more interesting is the walled Old City ...
... which is largely pedestrianised.
If you have time, it's definitely worth exploring for a few hours.
The less interesting modern city lies between the Old City and the River Nile ...
... home to the Victorian era Old Cairo Museum ...
... which remains a pleasant aesthetic experience ...
... and still contains a good range of exhibits.
Wherever you go in Cairo, the skyline always seems to feature those iconic pyramids.
Siwa
Set in the desert around 500 km west of Alexandria and 250 km inland from the Mediterranean, Siwa Oasis is a very dramatic and historic location, home of a highly influential oracle. The area is centred on two large lakes, surrounded by palm groves, agriculture and several Berber settlements. Points of interest include the vast desert, plus various ancient fortresses, temples and therapeutic bathing areas.
Day 4 , 5 , 6
lodge
Adrere Amellal
Adrere Amellal is located at Siwa Oasis in the northwest of Egypt.
The property is impressively constructed in the local vernacular.
Adrere Amellal is located at Siwa Oasis in the northwest of Egypt.
The property is impressively constructed in the local vernacular.
The oasis is centred on the crumbling city of Siwa ...
... most of which is long-since abandoned.
The western lake is surrounded by palm groves, with a scattering of small hotels.
The eastern lake is heavily mined for salt and other minerals ...
... providing some crystal clear swimming pools.
Parts of the the surrounding desert are also relatively scenic.
The area certainly offers a great contrast to the aras along the River Nile.
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 7
lodge
Hyatt Regency Cairo West
Hyatt Regency Cairo West is located 7km north of the pyramids.
The location is rather bland, but you can just about see the pyramids on a clear day.
Guest accommodation is in 250 rooms of various specifications ...
... including 26 larger suites.
The great pyramids of Giza lie on the western periphery of Cairo.
These pyramids 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 Tunnel.
Exploring the pyramids by horse or camel is surprisingly good fun.
The Grand Egyptian Museum is home to an incredible collection of artefacts.
The relatively quiet area of Saqqara is usually visited as a day trip from Giza or Cairo.
The pyramids of this area are older prototypes of the better-known ones to the north.
The pyramid is at the centre of a large necropolis ...
... which is accessed through this reconstructed entrance.
The stepped Pyramid of Djoser dates all the way back to 2686-2648BC.
The Southern Entry is easy to flat, leading to this awesome burial chamber.
The original North Entry is by special permission only ...
... and leads to an extensive network of over 4km of tunnels in the bedrock below.
The adjacent museum has some interesting exhibits.
The short distance to the Serapeum is ideal for a taster camel ride.
The Serapeum is incredibly impressive ...
... with tunnels leading to remarkable granite sarcophagi for sacred bulls.
The Red Pyramid was the first to have that authentic geometrical shape and also contains a good network of tunnels and chambers.
Saving the best until last ... The Bent Pyramid was built by Pharaoh Sneferu (2575-2551BC) ...
... whose unusual shape may have been the result of a design failure.
The interior is by far the most exciting of the pyramids that are generally open to the public.
The view east from the Bent Pyramid to the mudbrick Black Pyramid.
The modern city of Cairo is a very hectic place, with incredible traffic issues.
The medieval Citadel of Saladin is an impressive landmark ...
... with a huge mosque from the late 1800s.
Far more interesting is the walled Old City ...
... which is largely pedestrianised.
If you have time, it's definitely worth exploring for a few hours.
The less interesting modern city lies between the Old City and the River Nile ...
... home to the Victorian era Old Cairo Museum ...
... which remains a pleasant aesthetic experience ...
... and still contains a good range of exhibits.
Wherever you go in Cairo, the skyline always seems to feature those iconic pyramids.
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 8 , 9 , 10 , 11
Fly : Cairo CAI to Luxor LXR
lodge
Al Moudira Hotel
Day 12 , 13 , 14 , 15
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 16 , 17
lodge
Sofitel Old Cataract Aswan
... especially the shockingly expensive Sir Winston Churchill Suite ...
... and the similarly eye-wateringly priced Agatha Christie Suite.
Day 18
Departure : Aswan 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.
