Egypt

Egypt: Cairo and the Nile by Dahabeya, in a Small Group

Twelve travellers at most, five nights under sail and stops the big boats cannot reach

Egypt

Egypt: Cairo and the Nile by Dahabeya, in a Small Group

Two nights in Cairo for Giza, Saqqara and the Grand Egyptian Museum, then five nights from Luxor to Aswan aboard a dahabeya, the traditional sailing boat of the Nile: six 16 m² cabins with panoramic windows and twelve passengers at most. The boat stops where the big ships cannot go, such as the quarries of Gebel el-Silsila or Al Ramady island, for a barbecue dinner on the beach. Fifteen visits are included.

When

Oct to April

Price

From 3 899€ excl. flights

(based on 2 people sharing)

How long

7 nights

Ideal length

Cairo

Days 1-2

Two nights and one full day in the capital: the pyramids, Saqqara and the Grand Egyptian Museum.

Day 1

Arrival in Cairo

Flight to Cairo. Welcome on arrival by our French-speaking representative, help with visa formalities and transfer to the hotel.

Day 2

Giza, Saqqara and the Grand Egyptian Museum

Visit the Giza plateau, its three pyramids and the Sphinx, then Saqqara and the Step Pyramid of Djoser, built around 2700 BC by the architect Imhotep. After lunch, visit the Grand Egyptian Museum.

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Luxor and Thebes

Days 3-4

Flight to Luxor, where the dahabeya waits at the quay. Karnak and Luxor temple on the first evening, the west bank the next day before setting sail for Esna.

Day 3

Flight to Luxor – Karnak and Luxor temple

Flight to Luxor and settling in on the dahabeya. Visit Karnak temple, then, at dusk, Luxor temple and its avenue of sphinxes.

Day 4

Hatshepsut's temple and the Valley of the Kings – Esna

An excursion on the west bank of the Nile: the temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari, with its three terraces set against the cliff, then the Valley of the Kings and its New Kingdom tombs. Sail towards Esna.

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With the wind: Edfu, Gebel el-Silsila, Kom Ombo

Days 5-6

The heart of the cruise: stops that only small boats can make, between a temple, an island and ancient sandstone quarries.

Day 5

Edfu and Al Ramady island

Sail to Edfu. After lunch on board, visit the temple of Horus, then continue to Al Ramady island: a barbecue dinner on the beach, with traditional music and dances of Upper Egypt.

Day 6

Gebel el-Silsila and Kom Ombo

Sail to Gebel el-Silsila, where the Nile narrows between two cliffs: for thousands of years these quarries supplied the sandstone for Karnak and Luxor. Here you see the rock-cut temple of Horemheb and carved stelae. Then sail to Kom Ombo and visit the temple.

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Aswan

Days 7-9

An early arrival in Aswan for the temple of Philae, the High Dam and the botanical garden, on an island in the middle of the Nile.

Day 7

Philae, the High Dam and the botanical garden

Discover the temple of Philae, dedicated to Isis and Osiris, then the High Dam and its view over Lake Nasser. Lunch on board, then visit the botanical garden, which covers a whole small island in the Nile.

Day 8

Optional Abu Simbel – flight to Cairo

In the morning, an optional excursion to Abu Simbel, payable locally (€120 by coach or €385 by plane, per person). After lunch, disembark and fly to Cairo. Dinner, then transfer to the airport or an optional night, depending on the flight plan.