Egypt & the Nile

A luxury small group journey.

Bask in the timeless majesty of ancient Egypt on an immersive journey through the land of the pharaohs, exploring the quintessential archaeological treasures with an expert A&K Egyptologist.

Also, cruise for four nights along the Nile aboard stylish ‘Sanctuary Sun Boat IV.’ An ultimate journey to remember!

Journey to the heart of an ancient land that has captured the imagination of travellers for millennia. Follow in the footsteps of pharaohs, emperors and conquerors from Cairo to Luxor and along the Nile to Aswan. You’ll cruise aboard A&K’s own award-winning Sanctuary ‘Sun Boat IV’ and explore the country’s myriad archaeological treasures and ancient monuments with a leading Egyptologist, bringing both ancient and modern Egypt to life.

Highlights

• Embark on a four-night Nile river cruise, gliding in comfort through stirring desert landscapes and going ashore to discover ancient Egypt’s most awe-inspiring sites
• Explore the Grand Egyptian Museum to view a vast trove of artifacts, some never before displayed
• Venture inside one of the pyramids, go riding camelback and view the enigmatic Great Sphinx on the Giza Plateau
• Descend into the tomb of King Tut and the colourful tomb of Seti I, father of legendary Ramses II, in the Valley of the Kings
• Marvel at the colossal statues and towering colonnade of the sprawling Temple of Luxor, and listen as your expert A&K Egyptologist deciphers the hieroglyphs carved upon them
• Journey to Abu Simbel to set eyes upon the imposing twin temples of Ramses II and Queen Nefertari

Itinerary

DAY 1 – Arrive Cairo, Egypt

Arrive in Cairo, where you are met by your A&K representative and transferred to your historic hotel ideally situated near the last remaining Ancient Wonder of the World — the Great Pyramid of Giza.

DAY 2 – Cairo | Ancient Treasures

Arrive in Cairo, where you are met by your A&K representative and transferred to your historic hotel ideally situated near the last remaining Ancient Wonder of the World — the Great Pyramid of Giza.

DAY 3 – Giza | Pyramids & Sphinx

Today, roam the Giza Plateau, site of the pyramids of Mycerinus and Chephren as well as the Great Pyramid, built in the Fourth Dynasty (approximately 2690 BC). Revel in the opportunity to enter the interior of one of these legendary structures, and marvel at the massive stones used to construct them. Ride a camel across the sands of Giza, and then view the Great Sphinx backdropped by the pyramids, a setting that has captured the imaginations of adventurers for centuries.

DAY 4 – Luxor | Temple of Luxor & Valley of the Kings

Fly to Luxor, site of the ancient city of Thebes. Begin your full day of exploring by visiting the striking Temple of Luxor. View the three large statues of Ramses II along the front of the temple pylons, the Courtyard of Ramses II and the Colonnade of Amenhotep III, with its 15-metre-high columns. Walk in their shadows, as visitors have done since antiquity, and ponder the astonishing feats of engineering it took to create them. Then, step aboard ‘Sanctuary Sun Boat IV,’ an elegant river cruiser renowned for the warmth and attentiveness of its service staff. Enjoy lunch on board before disembarking to explore the west bank of the Nile river and the Necropolis of Thebes, and view the Colossi of Memnon. Continue to the architecturally stunning Temple of Hatshepsut, ancient Egypt’s first female pharaoh and regarded today as one of its most successful. Carry on to the Valley of the Kings, burial ground of the pharaohs and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For a period of 500 years beginning in the 16th century BC, tombs were built along this valley for pharaohs and nobles, including that of “the boy king,” Tutankhamun. Enter the tomb of Tutankhamun — found in 1922 by British archaeologist and Egyptologist Howard Carter — to discover the secrets of this storied chamber. Next, descend into the beautifully decorated tomb of Seti I, the father of Ramses II, one of the best-preserved tombs in the valley.

DAY 5 – Cruising the Nile | Luxor to Esna

Journey once more to the east bank of the Nile, this time visiting the Temple of Karnak, where generations of pharaohs wished to record their names. Walk through the Great Hypostyle Hall, strolling among its expertly aligned columns, which soar 25 metre high. This afternoon, cruise to Esna and visit the Temple of Khnum to marvel at its superb art and hieroglyphics.

DAY 6 – Cruising the Nile | Temple of Horus & Kom Omba

Today, view the Temple of Horus, falcon-headed god of the sky. Built in 230 BC by Ptolemy III, this amazingly well-preserved and colourful structure reveals what temple worship in ancient Egypt was like. Back on board, learn to prepare local dishes during a Chef ’s Table experience: a cooking lesson with an onboard chef. Later this afternoon, enjoy a refreshing Scenic Sundowner as you cruise to Kom Ombo. Disembark at Kom Ombo (hill of gold) to visit the Greco-Roman temple dedicated to Haroeris (the sun god) and Sobek (the crocodile god), whom some ancient Egyptians considered the creator of the world. View the mummified remains of several crocodiles that once basked along the ancient Nile shore, just as their descendants do today.

DAY 7 – Aswan | Majestic Philae

Cruise to Aswan and proceed to the ancient granite quarries and site of the Unfinished Obelisk. Illustrating the skills of Egypt’s stonemasons, this monolith is taller than any other ancient Egyptian obelisk. Board a motorized boat to picturesque Philae Temple on the island of Agilika. A sacred complex dedicated to the goddess Isis, it reflects a fusion of three great civilizations: Egyptian, Greek and Roman. Later, Ride Like a Local around the Aswan Islands in a felucca (traditional sailboat).

DAY 8 – Abu Simbel |Temples of Ramses II and Nefertari

Today, bid farewell to ‘Sanctuary Sun Boat IV,’ disembarking to fly to Abu Simbel and discover the commanding twin temples of Ramses II and his wife, Queen Nefertari. The former’s façade is dominated by four 22-metre-tall statues of the pharaoh. Perhaps even more impressive, this entire site was disassembled and moved here to save it from the floodwaters caused by the construction of the Aswan High Dam. Return to Cairo for an evening at leisure.

DAY 9 – Cairo | Design your Day

Drive to Sakkara, site of hundreds of tombs and 14 pyramids, including the famous Step Pyramid of Djoser. After lunch, enjoy one of these Design Your Day activities:

• Discover Coptic Cairo, visiting a church built where the Holy Family stayed, as well as St. Barbara and the Church of the Virgin Mary.
• Tour Islamic Cairo, including a walk in El-Moaz Street, and the Khan el-Khalili Bazaar.
• View the Royal Mummies, and countless other artifacts, as you tour the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization.

This evening, gather with your fellow guests to reflect on your journey through Egypt and along the Nile at a farewell dinner.

DAY 10 – Depart Cairo

After breakfast, transfer to the airport and depart.

This small group journey includes

• 5 Nights luxury accommodation in Cairo
• 4 Nights aboard Sanctuary Sun Boat IV
• English-Speaking Resident Tour Director and Local Guides
• Airport Meet and Greet with Private Transfers
• Travelling Bell Boy Luggage Handling
• Breakfast in Bed on Select Days
• Full Breakfast Daily; Select Lunches and Dinners
• Your Choice of Activity on Design Your Day
• Traveller’s Valet Laundry Service
• Internet Access
• Entrance Fees, Taxes and All Gratuities Except Resident Tour Director
• 24/7 A&K On-Call Support
• Guaranteed Departures with Just Two Guests
• Internal air included: Cairo/Luxor; Aswan/Abu Simbel/Aswan/Cairo
  This journey contains some active elements.

• 10 Day / 9 Nights
• Cost from $15,345 per person

Small Group Journey ~ Maximum 18 guests
Other dates exist for 2024