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INTRODUCTION
This classical tour offers a luxury experience and introduces some of the very best of Egypt and the Nile, including Egypt's most important archaeological sites. Accompanied by a tour leader and a local English-speaking Egyptologist, we spend two nights in Cairo, fly to Aswan for a four-night luxury Nile cruise and spend two nights in Luxor. Hotels are 5-star and the cruise ship is graded 5-star deluxe. This is a high quality cultural holiday that should appeal to the discerning traveller looking for a high-quality experience. We fly by scheduled flight (not charter) with Egypt Air to Cairo, returning to UK direct from Luxor.
A visit to Egypt would be incomplete without visiting Cairo and we have included a guided tour with an Egyptologist to the Great Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx and the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities. Included is an optional visit to Abu Simbel. Spend the last two days in Luxor. In Aswan we visit the Unfinished Obelisk, Old Dam and High Dam and our cruise ship sails from Aswan to Luxor visiting many places of historic fame such as Sobek Temple, Edfu, Valley of the Kings, Valley of the Queens, Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, Colossi of Memnon, Luxor Temple and the Temple of Karnak.
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Our Nile cruise vessel is the 5-Star Deluxe M/S Royal Lotus, an excellent choice for our four night journey down the Nile from Aswan to Luxor. We believe this modern luxurious cruise ship will comfortably meet the expectations of our discerning guests.
Two nights at the 5-star Luxor Nile Palace Hotel at the end of the holiday provide an opportunity to relax in style or explore the fascinating city of Luxor.
The weather should be perfect in late April with warm sunny days without humidity.
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| Dates: |
24 April - 2 May 2011 |
| Price incl. flights: |
£1895 |
| Single supplement: |
£499 |
| Grade: |
Moderate [M] More info |
| Availability: |
Places available |
| Book this holiday now |
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HIGHLIGHTS
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Nile Cruise Ship - M/S ROYAL LOTUS
The 5-star deluxe M/S Royal Lotus sails between Aswan and Luxor and visa versa, a distance of 220km with overnight stays at Aswan and Luxor. The vessel has 62 spacious cabins with en suite shower rooms and enjoys all the latest amenities,
 including individually controlled air-conditioning, panoramic windows, telephone, TV, mini-bar and hairdryer.
On board facilities include an excellent restaurant, observation bar, lounge and dance area used as the venue for the welcome cocktail party and galabeyya themed evening. The stylish and spacious sun deck has a plunge pool linked to a Jacuzzi, sun loungers around the pool along, with a choice of Bedouin style low seating or large comfortable sofas.
Cabin interiors mirror the colours of upper Egypt; the M/S Royal Lotus provides a sublime way to cruise the Nile River.
The ship's Lotus Restaurant has a reputation for providing gastronomic excellence, offering a sublime choice of cuisine, whilst the Crescent Lounge and Observations Bar are the perfect locations for meeting fellow travellers, cocktail receptions and evening entertainment.
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ITINERARY
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Day 1 - Sunday 24th April 2011 - FLY UK/CAIRO
Connecting flight from Manchester to be advised.
Depart Heathrow (T3) 15:00 (flight MS778)
Arrive Cairo 20:45
(Flight duration 5h05. Dinner is served on the flight)
Met on arrival by a representative of Sakkara Travel, who assist with Customs & Immigration and Entry Visas. Transfer by private air conditioned coach to the 5-star Le Meridian Pyramids Hotel for check in and overnight.
Day 2 - Monday 25th April 2011 - Cairo
After breakfast our Egyptologist guide escorts us on an unforgettable tour of the Great Pyramids of Giza that represent the highest and best achieved level in pyramids construction. They are among the world's greatest tourist attractions and never lose their ability to inspire and overwhelm visitors. Enter the temple of the mysterious Sphinx, an ancient figure shrouded in legend and mystery. Our Egyptologist will enthrall us with the tales told of this fascinating figure. Duration: approximately four hours.
Note: the rates include the entrance fees of the pyramids plateau; and exclude the entrance fees to any of the three pyramids or the Solar Boat Museum.
After lunch at the Oberoi Mena House we continue the guided tour of 7,000 years of Egyptian history with a visit to the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities. The Museum houses the world's greatest collection of Ancient Egyptian artifacts, including 12 rooms filled with golden treasures from the world-famous tomb of the boy-king Tutankhamen.
Drive through central Cairo around the bustling main squares then on to Gezira Island, Cairo Tower and New Opera House and return to the hotel. Duration: approximately four hours. BLD
Day 3 - Tuesday 26th April 2011 - Cairo / Aswan / Abu Simbel / Nile Cruise
Depart Cairo (T1) 09:00 (flight MS401)
Arrive Aswan 10:25 (flight duration 1h25min)
After breakfast, transfer to Cairo domestic airport for the short domestic flight to Aswan.
Met on arrival at Aswan airport by your Sakkara representative will assist with the transfer by private air conditioned coach to the Royal Lotus 5-star Nile Cruise for check in before lunch, or assist with the flight connection for Abu Simbel. Arrangements will be made for luggage to be transferred direct to the Royal Lotus.
** This would be an ideal time for those wishing to take an Optional Tour to visit Abu Simbel (by flight)
The temples of Abu Simbel are perhaps among the most magnificent monuments in the world. The Egyptian Government secured the support of UNESCO in 1964 for the removal and reconstruction of the two temples, when they were threatened by submersion in Lake Nasser due to the construction of the Aswan Dam.
Optional visit to Abe Simbel:
Fly from Aswan to Abu Simbel (almost 40 minutes) to visit its relocated temples built by Ramses II, 1200 B.C., then fly back to Aswan.
The two temples face east to receive the rays of the rising sun. It is said that twice a year, the sun shines on the face of the King, once on his birthday and once on his coronation day. It is still a mystery to archaeologists how the ancient Egyptians could have designed and built such miraculous structures. Duration: approximately 5 hours
Depart Cairo 06:00 (flight MS130)
Arrive Abu Simbel 08:45 (duration 2h45)
Depart Abu Simbel 11:45 (flight MS 133)
Arrive Aswan 12:30 (duration 45mins)
After lunch on board, sail by felucca to visit the botanical garden of Lord Kitchener, a paradise of exotic trees and plants brought over from Africa and the Middle East; continue sailing to view the mausoleum of the Agha Khan. Dinner on board and overnight in Aswan. BLD
Day 4 - Wednesday 27th April 2011 - Nile Cruise
After breakfast on board you will visit the High Dam, the Temple of Philae dedicated to Isis, the goddess of love and beauty and the Unfinished Obelisk, which was abandoned by ancient stone cutters.
Sail to Kom Ombo.
Lunch on board.
After lunch visit Kom Ombo temple, the only one dedicated to two deities; the left half to the hawk-headed Haroeries and the right to the crocodile-headed Sobek.
Sail to Edfu during afternoon tea.
Dinner on board and overnight in Edfu. BLD
Day 5 - Thursday 28th April 2011 - Nile Cruise
After breakfast on board visit the temple of Horus at Edfu that is the best-preserved ancient temple in Egypt and the second largest after the Temple of Karnak. The temple was built during the Ptolemaic period on the site of the great battle between Horus and Seth. Horus was the falcon headed god.
Sail to Esna with Lunch on board & Free time at leisure.
Enjoy afternoon tea during sailing to Luxor.
Dinner on board and overnight in Luxor. BLD
Day 6 - Friday 29th April 2011 - Nile Cruise
After breakfast on board we visit the West Bank including the Valley of Kings, Valley of Queens, temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir El Bahari and Colossi of Memnon; a vast City of the Dead where magnificent tombs were carved into the desert rocks, decorated richly, and filled with treasures for the afterlife by generations of Pharaohs.
Lunch on board.
After lunch we visit the ancient city of Thebes where an avenue of sphinxes once connected the glorious temples of Luxor and Karnak. Luxor Temple, built during the reign of Amenhotp III, was expanded by Ramses II who also erected two obelisks; one is still onsite while the other is situated in the Place de la Concorde in Paris The awesome Temple of Karnak, with its huge hypostyle hall covering 50,000 square feet has 134 enormous columns, richly carved, with some thrusting skyward to 23m. The great temple at the heart of Karnak is so big that St. Peter and Notre Dame Cathedrals could be lost within its walls.
Afternoon tea.
Dinner on board and overnight in Luxor. BLD
Day 7 - Saturday 30th April 2011 - Nile Cruise / Luxor
Disembark after breakfast and transfer to the 5-star Steigenberger Nile Palace Hotel for check in.
Rest of the day at leisure.
Why not visit the famous Luxor market filled with small shops and factories for all manner of crafts and goods in addition to Egyptian spices shops.
At nightfall experience an enthralling Sound and Light performance against the backdrop of one of the most fascinating monuments. The Sound and Light Show in the Temple of Karnak begins with a historical introduction covering the birth of the great city of Thebes and the construction of the Temple. Depicting the glorious achievement of the Pharaohs, spectators listen to the lyrical and poetic descriptions of artistic treasures, grand festivals, heroic deeds and literature of the times. Duration: the performance itself takes 1h15.
Dinner in local restaurant. Overnight at the Steigenberger Nile Palace Hotel. BD
Day 8 - Sunday 1st May 2011 - Luxor
Breakfast at the hotel and the day to be spent at leisure enjoying the facilities of the Steigenberger Hotel or exploring the fascinating city of Luxor including optional visit to Luxor Museum, a short walking distance from the hotel.
The museum is hosting masterpieces of the Egyptian sculptures and statues discovered recently in the open court of Luxor Temple. The Luxor Museum, opened in 1975, has one of the best displays of antiquities in Egypt. Housed within a modern building, the collection is limited in the number of items, but they are beautifully displayed. These displays of pottery, jewelry, furniture, statues and stelea were created by the Brooklyn Museum of New York.
Dinner in local restaurant. Overnight at the Steigenberger Hotel. BD
Day 9 - Monday 2nd May 2011 - FLY TO UK
After an early breakfast we transfer by private air conditioned coach to Luxor International airport for our return flight to the UK:
Depart Luxor 09:45 (flight MS761)
Arrive Heathrow (T3) 13:20
(In-flight lunch)
Connecting flight to Manchester to be advised. B
B = breakfast L = lunch D = dinner
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ACCOMODATION
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Le Meridien Pyramids Hotel, Cairo - 5-star (2 nights)
This majestic resort provides unrivalled views of the Giza Pyramids, survivors of the Seven Wonders of the World, and is 15 minutes from the centre of Cairo. The hotel offers a spectacular swimming pool complex and boasts a variety of international restaurants.
Luxor Nile Palace Hotel - 5-star (2 nights)
Centrally situated in the heart of Luxor with its historic heritage, this luxurious hotel blends an authentic ancient atmosphere with superior accommodation. Rooms are spacious with balconies overlooking the courtyard.
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Please refer to the Itinerary for information about Egypt Air flight details, which are the latest known and are subject to confirmation and change by the airline. All times are local.
Connecting shuttle flights from Manchester are available on request.
Flying time Heathrow to Cairo around 5 hours.
Egyptian time is GMT + 2 hours.
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| Price per person sharing a two-bedded room with en-suite facilities |
£1895 |
| Sole occupancy of a double room |
£499 |
| Supplement for departure from Manchester |
£TBC |
| Optional visit to Abu Simbel, including return flights from Luxor, transfers, entrance fees and guide |
£TBC |
WHAT THE FULL PRICE INCLUDES
- International return Economy flights from Heathrow including taxes
- Internal flight Cairo to Aswan including taxes
- Egyptian visa
- Assistance with Customs and Immigration on arrival
- Services and back up of our local agents in Egypt
- Airport security charges
- Air Passenger Tax
- Guided tour of the Egyptian Museum and Cairo with an Egyptologist
- Guided tour of the Pyramids and Sphinx with an Egyptologist
- 5-star hotel accommodation - 4 nights
- 5-star deluxe Nile cruise including all meals, sightseeing and entertainment - 4 nights
- Karnak Temple Sound and Light Show in Luxor
- Visit to Luxor Museum
- All meals shown in the itinerary
- Private air-conditioned coach for the land travel arrangements
- Entrance fees
- Local taxes and VAT
- Accompanying Tour Leader throughout
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED
- Holiday/Travel Insurance
- Beverages
- Gratuities, which are optional
- Any Government taxes or compulsory charges that may be introduced after the publication of this web page
Please Note:
For reasons of safety, weather conditions and unforeseen circumstances, it may be necessary to make changes to the programme without advance notice. Every effort will be made to avoid this if at all possible.
E&OE
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