Included in this offer :

• 15-day/14-night group tour
• Accommodation in a 5-star hotel (local standards) in Cairo for 3 nights
• 7-night 5* cruise (local standards) in a Standard Cabin
• 4 nights' stay in a 5* hotel (local standards) in Ain Sokhna
• Full-board from breakfast on day 2 to breakfast on day 15 (excluding drinks & bottled water)
• Flights departing from the city of your choice
• Shared round-trip airport-hotel and inter-hotel transfers on a shuttle or local bus
• Excursions and visits mentioned in the programme
• Cairo-Luxor domestic return flights
• A local Egyptology guide for the duration of the stay
• Welcome and assistance at the airport

✆ Any questions?

NEED HELP FINALISING YOUR BOOKING?

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Everyday from 8am-8pm (Local rates apply)

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DISCOVERING THE NILE AND THE RED SEA

The Egyptian adventure begins in Cairo on the Giza plateau, facing the legendary pyramids guarded by the Sphinx. Then head off to Luxor on a 5*(local standards) cruise, before discovering Ain Sokhna.

Example of a typical itinerary for a Friday arrival:

Day 1: Arrival in Cairo
Day 2: Domestic flight from Cairo to Luxor
Day 3: Esna - Edfu - Kom Ombo
Day 4: Kom Ombo - Aswan
Day 5: Aswan
Day 6: Aswan - Esna
Day 7: Esna - Luxor
Day 8: Domestic Flight Luxor - Cairo
Day 9 :** Cairo - Ain Sokhna
Day 10 - 12 : Ain Sokhna
Day 13: Ain Sokhna - Cairo
Day 14: Cairo
Day 15 : Cairo - Departure

Please note:
- Please note that overnight stays may vary according to your day of arrival. In fact, cruise ships leave Luxor only on Saturdays and Mondays, to allow you to take the departure of the cruise.
- Also, the order of visits may be altered due to local imperatives (navigation time, lock passage, etc.). In any case, all visits mentioned in the program will be respected.
- As indicated, boats and hotels are rated 5* according to local standards. The services provided may not be equivalent to 5* French standards.
- The boat photos shown in the photo gallery correspond to the different boats available for this cruise.
- The person who welcomes you is not a guide, but rather an escort who will help you with the formalities.
- The formalities may take some time

Your detailed itinerary

DAY 1: CAIRO

Cairo is one of the largest cities in the world and spans the length of both sides of the Nile.
Example of a typical itinerary for a Friday arrival:
Welcome on arrival and assistance with entry formalities (may not be in your own language).
Cairo is one of the largest cities in the world and spans the length of both sides of the Nile.
Shared transfer to your hotel. Check-in and overnight stay in your five-star hotel (local standards).

DAY 2: CAIRO - LUXOR

Breakfast.

Shared transfer to the airport for the flight to Luxor in Upper Egypt.

Arrival, shared transfer to the port and settling into the cabins of the five-star ship (local standards).

Lunch aboard.

Set off to visit Thebes on the left bank of the Nile, where the tombs of pharaohs from the 18th to the 20th dynasty can be found, and the Valley of Kings where you'll visit three tombs.
From the 18th dynasty onwards, and throughout the new empire, the pharaohs were no longer buried in temples or monuments dedicated to their final journey, but were interred on the other side of the Nile, on the western bank, the land of the afterlife, and where Thutmose I and all the pharaohs who were to succeed him would decide to be buried. There were no more colossal monuments, such as the pyramids, or even the Mastabas used during the Old Kingdom, but instead, vaults were dug into the rock and access to them was strictly closed and hidden. Perhaps the main reason for this was to avoid grave robbers.
Visit the temple at Medinet Habu also known as the Temple of Ramesses III. This temple is like a castle. It is undoubtedly one of the most spectacular funerary temples. Your visit to Egypt would not be complete without visiting the gigantic and monumental site of Ramesses. Ramesses III sought to restore the greatness of Egypt and, at the same time, to immortalise the name of his famous ancestor. He began to build his jubilee temple as soon as he acceded to the throne, and it has remained one of the largest in the necropolis of Thebes. Visitors are always captivated by this vast ancient fortress built by Ramesses. It is incredible in both size and splendour. It is one of the few that still has vibrant colours.

On the way back, there will be a photo opportunity at the Colossi of Memnon: giant twin statues carved in sandstone, witnesses to the past splendours of the temple of Amenhotep III.

Sail to Esna.

Dinner and overnight stay aboard.

DAY 3: ESNA - EDFU - KOM OMBO

Breakfast.

Sail to Edfu.

Lunch aboard.

Set off to visit the splendid Temple of Horus in Edfu. This masterpiece of architectural balance and elegance is one of the best-preserved sites in all of Ancient Egypt, a great example of Ptolemaic art from the Graeco-Roman period. You enter the temple via the great column decorated with large raised images of the king and the gods, and walk towards the courtyard with walls showing the various rituals performed by the king. There are two large black granite falcons representing the god Horus at the entrance of the temple.

The cruise continues to Kom Ombo.

Dinner and overnight stay aboard.

DAY 4: KOM OMBO - ASWAN

Breakfast.

Morning visit to the temple of Kom Ombo, just a few minutes' walk away: isolated on a promontory on the banks of the Nile, this temple, the only one of its kind in Egypt, dates from the Greco-Roman era and brings together two superb sanctuaries, one dedicated to Sobek, the Crocodile God, and the other to Horus, the Falcon God. It was built in the Ptolemaic period (Ptolemaic dynasty, Greco-Roman period) on the site of a New Kingdom temple. It stands on a hilltop 15 meters above the Nile. Everything about this temple is dual: it has two entrances, two parallel corridors, symmetrically arranged halls on either side of these corridors, all meeting at the double sanctuary. On the esplanade in front of the entrance, sculpted columns reveal shimmering colors. The small building to the right of the entrance is Hathor's chapel, housing a number of crocodile mummies.

Sailing to Aswan, capital of Nubia.

Lunch on board.

Departure to the Little and High Dams of Aswan, followed by a visit to the temple of Philae.

Visit to a Papyrus Institute, where shopping is available but not compulsory.

Dinner and overnight on board.

DAY 5: ASWAN

Breakfast aboard.

Free morning.

Lunch aboard.

Mini-cruise in a felucca, the only way to reach the left bank and the Kitchener or Elephantine Islands, real gems of the river. Enjoy the breeze while you sail along the calm blue waters of the ancient Nile. Stop off at Kitchener Island and visit the botanic gardens.

Optional activity to be booked and paid for on-site with our local representative:
Coach trip to Abu Simbel. Saved from the rising waters during the construction of the Aswan dam, the Abu Simbel temples were built to the glory of Ramesses II and his wife Nefertari. In 1965, they were dismantled and rebuilt exactly as they were but 110m higher up! The Colossi of Ramesses, the largest in Egypt, are built directly into the cliff. They are consecrated to the most famous gods of Pharaonic Egypt: Amun-Re, Ramesses and Ptah. Tour of the interior to see the ceilings and walls decorated with reliefs. Visit to the nearby Temple of Hathor, its vestibule and sanctuary.

Late afternoon free.

Dinner and overnight stay aboard.

DAY 6: ASWAN - ESNA

Breakfast.

Free day on the ship.

Lunch aboard.

Sail to Esna.

Dinner and overnight stay aboard.

DAY 7: ESNA - LUXOR

Early morning lock passage.

Breakfast on board.

Visit to the Temple of Karnak, the most theological temple ever built. Here, over 2000 years, the faith of men has paid homage to the same god: Amon. The greatest kings have succeeded one another here. The name "Karnak", meaning "fortress", dates back to the Islamic conquest.

Lunch on board.

Visit to the Temple of Luxor, built to glorify the god Amon Ra, who celebrated the anniversary of their marriage with his wife Mut every year. The procession left the temple at Karnak and followed the banks of the Nile to Luxor. The construction of the latter dates back to the reigns of the two pharaohs Amenhotep III and Ramses II. (It is possible to visit Luxor temple at night)

Sound and Light Show at Karnak Temple.

Dinner and overnight on board

DAY 8: LUXOR - CAIRO

Breakfast aboard.

Domestic flight to Cairo.

Set off to visit the Giza Plateau and its incredible pyramids: Khufu (the largest, built around 2650 B.C. B.C.), one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and the only one to have withstood the test of time. For more than 40 centuries, it was the highest monument built by man at 146 m high.
Khafre: the Pyramid of Khafre looks taller than Kheops, but in reality, it is slightly smaller. The illusion is created by the steeper incline and the fact it sits on slightly higher ground.
Menkaure: the tomb of King Menkaure. At a height of 66 m, it is much smaller than the other two pyramids.
The Sphinx: a lion's body with a Pharaoh's head. Its role was to guard the entrance of the tomb against pillagers. It is 73 metres long by 20 metres high.

Lunch by the pyramids.

Stroll through the Khan El Khalili souks, a bazaar built in the 14th century. It is highly colourful and has traditional goods, but also offers a fabulous choice of gold, gold thread and silver jewellery and a selection of oriental handicrafts.

Dinner and overnight stay at your five-star hotel (local standards).

DAY 9: CAIRO - AIN SOKHNA

Breakfast.

Transfer to your hotel in Ain Sokhna. Check-in at the hotel and you have the rest of the day free to do what you like with.

Ain Sokhna is located 120 km east of Cairo and 55 km east of Suez. Ain Sokhan owes its name to its sulphur springs - Ain Sokhan translates as hot spring. Set between the sandy hills and the sea, this city has a beautiful sandy beach with calm and clear waters, which makes it the premier seaside resort in Cairo.

Enjoy the dolphins swimming from the Red Sea to the Suez Canal in search of food. Divers will enjoy the turquoise waters of the Red Sea, where they can see marine life and coral reefs.

Dinner and overnight stay at your five-star hotel (local standards).

DAY 10 - 12: AIN SHOKHNA

Breakfast.

Free days.

Lunch, dinner and overnight stay at your five-star hotel (local standards).

DAY 13: AIN SOKHNA - CAIRO

Breakfast at the hotel.

Travel to Cairo.

Lunch on the way.

Optional activity to be booked and paid for on-site with our local representative:
The Baron Palace. If you make a stop in Cairo, visit the Baron Palace and discover the mysteries that are hidden there. Baron Empain arrived in Egypt in January 1904, with the intention of saving one of his wife's development projects: the construction of a railroad that would link Al-Matariyyah to Port Said. Despite losing the train contract with the British, Empain remained in Egypt.

Dinner and overnight stay at your five-star hotel (local standards).

DAY 14: CAIRO

Breakfast

Optional extra activity to be booked and paid for on site with our local representative:
- Sakkara Memphis: The afternoon will be devoted to visits to the sites of Memphis and Sakkarah. Memphis, south of Cairo, is now little more than a palm grove where a few blocks, stelae and statues lie, including an enigmatic alabaster sphinx. Capital of the Ancient Egyptian Empire, founded by King Menes around 3000 BC. Continue to Sakkarah and its famous step pyramid, built around 2700 BC for the pharaoh Djoser by the architect Imhotep

- Alexandria: Breakfast at the hotel, the representative of our agency will welcome you at the reception desk of your hotel in Cairo, then accompany you on an excursion to Alexandria, the country's second capital and one of Egypt's most beautiful cities. Alexandria is a two- to three-hour drive away. The pearl of the Mediterranean, Alexandria was for many years the capital of Egypt and an important city in the Greek world. The city's buildings still bear the traces of an ancient history marked by a strong culture. The day will unfold with the following visits: - Kom El Chouqafa catacombs. A world-famous archaeological site, Kom-El-Chouqafa is reputed to be one of the Seven Wonders of the Middle Ages. It is the largest Roman burial site in Egypt known to date. - After lunch in a local restaurant, visit Qaitbay Fort, an imposing fortress built on the site of Alexandria's ancient lighthouse.

-Visit the Coptic quarter: The Christian religion was introduced by St. Mark around 45 AD, and a Coptic community grew up. Coptic being a term referring specifically to the Christians of Egypt. The Coptic Quarter is best known for housing a large number of churches in a very small area. The Eglise Saint-Serge is one of the oldest Christian churches, built around the 3rd or 4th century AD. The church was named after a former war general who converted to Christianity. The Christians built a church on this very spot, as it is believed that the Holy Family took refuge in this place, which had previously been a grotto. The Church of St. Mary, or Eglise Suspendue, is a beautiful monument, accessed via a stairway preceded by a corridor featuring mosaics depicting biblical scenes. The church is nicknamed the "Suspended Church" because it is built above the trunks of palm trees that support it like stilts. The interior is richly decorated, and the main room features a Coptic icon of the Virgin Mary with Jesus in her arms. Her gaze seems to follow you as you walk around her

dinner and overnight in a 5* hotel (local standards).

DAY 15: CAIRO - DEPARTURE

Breakfast.

Depending on your flight schedule, shared transfer to Cairo airport.

Your Accommodation

During your tour you will stay for 3 nights in Cairo in a five-star hotel (local standards), 7 nights aboard a five-star cruise ship (local standards) and 4 nights in Ain Sokhna in a five-star hotel (local standards) or similar:

Cairo: Five-star (local standards) Le Passage Hotel & Casino or similar

Cruise: Five-star (local standards) M/S Zeina or similar

Ain Sokhna: Five-star Grand Ocean (local standards) or similar

Your full-board package

Your tour will be on a full-board basis from breakfast on day 2 to breakfast on day 15.
The package excludes drinks and bottled water (tap water is not drinkable in Egypt).

USEFUL THINGS TO KNOW

Tips: "baksheesh"! A word you'll soon get to know! While it's easy to refuse solicitors, on the other hand it's part of the customs and rewards work and service well done. Gratuity for guides is never included. It's up to each individual to decide.

Wifi is available only at reception and at a charge during the cruise

The baggage allowance for domestic flights is 23kg in the hold per person, and a small bag in the cabin of 7kg maximum. Any additional kilos will be charged locally.

Accommodations are up to local standards.

The level of control at the airport in Egypt can be high and random depending on the number of tourists, which is why the tour leader anticipates schedules as far as possible.

Due to the dense traffic in Cairo, journey times can be long.

On excursions, you will be grouped with other participants.
This package includes periods of free time during which you can wander around at your leisure. However, transfers are at your own expense.

Optional extras are extra and must be paid for on site with your guide or local representative.

The order of visits is subject to change due to local imperatives (navigation time, passage of locks, etc.)

The order of visits may be modified according to local imperatives (navigation time, passage of locks, etc.)

The pace of visits can be quite long (see all the visits included in the day-by-day details), which means waking up very early in the morning (outside the boat's navigation periods)

Egypt is a cultural destination

PLEASE NOTE: If you are booking a "hotel only" package (without international flights), please let us know your flight details as soon as possible using the contact form in "Help and contact" at the bottom of the page, so that we can organize your transfers.

Good to know

If you are travelling alone, you will be asked to pay a surcharge for a single room. This additional charge will be automatically included in your quote.

Child rates will be applied for children from 2 to 12 years old in the case where the child shares the room with two adults. If the child is travelling with just one adult, the surcharge may be applied on an adult basis. If your child or children do not fit into the age group mentioned above, the rate will be communicated to you at the time of processing your order. If the room is equipped with a bunk bed, the bed height is not suitable for children under 6 years of age.

For safety reasons, the wellbeing facilities of most establishments are not accessible to children under 16 years old. Similarly, it is possible that some amenities or services require an additional charge or are unavailable for exceptional reasons.

Unless otherwise stated in the service description, activities and any additional services available at destination, are provided in the language of the destination country and in English.

The opening times and hours of the activities, restaurants and bars are provided as an indication only and may be subject to change. Contact the reception desk in order to be informed of any changes.

Appropriate dress is required. We remind you that gambling may involve risks of isolation, indebtedness, and dependency...

Any additional special requirements the traveller may request which are not included in the travel service description will be communicated to our service provider. Sending this information does not imply acceptance and PerfectStay.com cannot be held responsible for the fulfilment of these special requests. Only the service provider of PerfectStay.com can access this request on location and any additional costs may be paid locally by the traveller.

Unless expressly stated in the description of the services and accommodation, the hotel is not suitable for people with reduced mobility.

Transportation

Choose an offer and, according to your preferences, opt for a seat in economy, business or first class.

See the 'View flight info' section for details on each trip.

In order to best organise your time in the airport, we advise that you arrive 2 hours before boarding for a medium-haul flight, or 3 hours before boarding for a long-haul flight (more than 5 hours). Take advantage of your early arrival to pass through security and check your luggage.

You will be informed whether or not luggage is included at the time of your booking.

You will have the opportunity to add additional luggage for a fee.

There are several different cities that are typically offered as departure points. Your arrival destination will show in your travel documents.

Depending on the flight schedule, some arrivals or returns may be made at night with early arrival or late departure. You will not always be able to have your room available immediately and will need to refer to the check-in and check-out conditions of the hotel.

In the event that your transfer is not included in your hotel reservation, it may be offered at the time of your reservation as an additional option. Unless specifically mentioned, transfers may be made in groups of 15 to 55 people.

Important: the modification or the cancellation of a booking is only possible within the limits and including the fees outlined in our general conditions of sale.

Thank you for kindly taking note of the CO2 emissions produced by your means of transport: http://eco-calculateur.aviation-civile.gouv.fr

Formalities

The following details apply to any British citizen who, during a trip sold by PerfectStay goes to a foreign country. The following is a resource directing you to information related to your travel formalities (identification documents, vaccines, VISA, safety, travel advice, etc.), and may be subject to change. Please note that Brexit negotiations are likely to include travel document modifications, therefore please regularly check most updated information. Please see official resource for British citizens wishing to travel:
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

The official UK Foreign Travel site has updates on safety and security, including incidents such as pickpocketing and robbery, along with larger incidents such as measuring the risk of terrorism.
Detailed country by country here:
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

If you are travelling with minors, please be sure to verify whether or not you will require a consent: https://www.gov.uk/permission-take-child-abroad

Please note that these details serve as a guiding resource in order to ensure that you have access to important information in order to pursue the necessary travel formalities required before travelling abroad with PerfectStay. Please note that PerfectStay will not engage in obtaining travel documents for you, such as visas, and you are solely responsible for knowing the potential health risks you may face in the course of your travels for which you may require vaccinations or medications. PerfectStay is not responsible for ensuring your travel formalities are properly undertaken and will only act as an intermediary directing you to resources which have been known to provide reliable information concerning travel formalities specific to British citizens.

VACCINE




VISA




IDENTITY

Travel documents

Once your reservation has been made, you will receive a confirmation e-mail before your travel documents are sent.

Regarding the transport documents (in the case of a reservation with transport included), we will provide you with all the information relating to check-in and luggage in the "Your travel documents" email, allowing you to leave with peace of mind.

To take advantage of all your reserved services (hotels, transfers, activities, etc.), you will receive one or more exchange vouchers to be presented to each supplier.

The contact details of the establishment will be specified in these documents, to help make your arrival at your destination as straight-forward as possible.

✆ Any questions?

NEED HELP FINALISING YOUR BOOKING?

020 3318 2660
Everyday from 8am-8pm (Local rates apply)

From Abroad +44 20 3318 2660 International call rate