NILE
ESCAPE 9 DAY TOUR Day 1: Cairo Your trip starts today in Cairo.
No activities are planned so you may arrive at any
time. Rooms are generally available after 1.00 pm.
If you have not pre-booked an arrival transfer you
will find taxis available on arrival at Cairo Airport.
Make sure you agree the price before you set off
into town! Your tour leader may make contact tonight,
otherwise you will see him tomorrow morning at the
tour briefing, which usually takes place after breakfast.
Day
2: Cairo-Aswan Cairo
is the ‘Mother’ of all cities, a massive, sprawling
metropolis of some 16 million people. Our first
stop today is the celebrated Egyptian Museum, where
our local guide explains the history and mysteries
of Ancient Egypt. We see the golden mask of King
Tutankhamun, and numerous other treasures and later
we drive out to the edge of the desert to explore
the pyramids and the nearby Sphinx. We also visit
the beautiful Valley Temple of King Chephren, a
superb example of Old Kingdom engineering. In the
evening we are transferred to the station for the
night train to Aswan. Our air-conditioned carriage
has large, comfortable seats (similar to business
class seats on a ‘plane) that recline to about 45?,
and a simple dinner and breakfast are served on
board. There is a toilet located at the end of the
carriage.
Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 dinner Day 3: Aswan On arrival in Aswan we head
to our hotel where we can relax for a while before
heading out to explore the Nubian bazaar - a long
and colourful street that snakes through the centre
of town. Another option is a visit to the stunning
Temple of Isis at Philae Island. After a break for
lunch we might decide to head out on a felucca sailboat
and then take a camel ride towards the Monastery
of St. Simeon - a great way to spend the afternoon!
Meals included: 1 breakfast Day
4: Abu Simbel-Nile Cruise Rising
early we travel by road to Abu Simbel, one of the
most impressive temples ever built and one of the
highlights of our visit to Egypt. We follow the
shores of Lake Nasser and generally arrive at the
temple just after sunrise, a perfect time for photographs.
We enjoy a tour of the site and later return to
Aswan, arriving around midday, where we board our
Nile Cruise boat. After lunch the rest of the day
is free to sleep or relax on the sundeck.
Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner
Days 5-6:
Nile Cruise Cruising
along the Nile is a magical experience, sitting
on the sundeck, watching timeless scenes as we glide
over the dark waters. We stop at Komombo to visit
the Temple of Sobek, a Greco-Roman temple that overlooks
the river, and at Edfu we explore the well-preserved
Temple of Horus, considered one of the finest examples
of temple construction. All meals are served in
the comfortable dining room, and on one evening
we enjoy an impromptu fancy-dress party, which is
always great fun. On arrival in Luxor we take horse-drawn
carriages to the massive complex at Karnak, built
over a period of some 2000 years, and one of the
greatest temples ever constructed.
Meals included: 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners
Day
7: Luxor-Cairo We
rise early to cross the Nile, where our donkeys
are waiting to take us into the Valley of the Kings.
After matching up the donkeys to our riders we head
off, just as the sun begins to rise in the eastern
skies. It’s a great experience and one of the highlights
of our visit to Egypt. We return to the east bank
where the afternoon is free to explore the bazaar.
In the evening we take the overnight recliner train
back to Cairo, with dinner served on board.
Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 dinner Day 8: Cairo Arriving back in Cairo we are
transferred to our hotel and the rest of the day
is free to explore. In the older part of the city
there is a lot to see, including some beautiful
old mosques and, of course, the fantastic Khan El
Khalili bazaar – an amazing mix of shops and stalls
that have traded goods and gossip since the Middle
Ages. There’s time for everything and our tour leader
can help organise taxis: but be prepared to bargain!
This evening we can enjoy a final night out together.
Meals included: 1 breakfast Day
9: Cairo Our
trip ends today, after breakfast. Check-out time
is usually around 12.00 noon and you are free to
leave at any time.
Meals included: 1 breakfast
Included:
An experienced English-speaking local leader, local
guides at some sites, all transportation, accommodation,
meals and sightseeing as indicated.
