Egypt

Egypt: Cairo, the Fayoum Oasis and a Nile Cruise

Four nights in Cairo, the Valley of the Whales by 4x4 and seven nights' cruise

Egypt

Egypt: Cairo, the Fayoum Oasis and a Nile Cruise

A tour of 21 visits that adds to the classic route a day in the Fayoum oasis, two hours from Cairo: desert and lake landscapes, and the Valley of the Whales, Wadi el-Hitan, reached by 4x4. The stay in Cairo, in a 5* hotel (local rating), covers Giza, Saqqara and the Grand Egyptian Museum; it is followed by seven nights' cruising on a superior 5* boat between Luxor and Aswan.

When

Oct to April

Price

From 2 587€ excl. flights

(based on 2 people sharing)

How long

11 nights

Ideal length

Cairo and the Fayoum oasis

Days 1-4

Four nights in Cairo. Between the pyramids and the museum, a whole day escapes to the Fayoum, a patch of green on the map, and its protected desert areas.

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

The Fayoum oasis and the Valley of the Whales

An early start for the Fayoum, a vast farming area criss-crossed by canals, reached after two hours' drive. Leave by 4x4 for Wadi el-Hitan, the Valley of the Whales, through desert and lake landscapes. Return to Cairo at the end of the day.

Day 3

The Grand Egyptian Museum and Khan el-Khalili

Visit the new Grand Egyptian Museum, close to the pyramids, with Tutankhamun's treasure and the monumental statues of the pharaohs. Lunch in town, then explore the Khan el-Khalili bazaar. Optional, payable locally: Coptic Cairo (€45) or Saladin's citadel and Islamic Cairo (€55).

Day 4

Giza and Saqqara

Visit the Giza plateau: Khufu, Khafre, Menkaure and the Sphinx. Lunch in a typical restaurant, then an afternoon at Saqqara: the Step Pyramid of Djoser, the pyramid of Teti and a decorated mastaba.

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From Luxor to Aswan

Days 5-9

Flight to Luxor and boarding a superior 5* boat. Luxor temple at dusk, Karnak, then Edfu, Kom Ombo and Aswan.

Day 5

Flight to Luxor – Luxor temple at dusk

Flight to Luxor and settling in on board. At the end of the day, visit Luxor temple, with its statues, its avenue of sphinxes and its obelisk, whose twin stands on the Place de la Concorde in Paris. Optional: the Karnak sound and light show.

Day 6

The temple of Karnak – Esna

Visit Karnak temple and its hypostyle hall of 134 columns. An afternoon's sailing to Esna, where you arrive at tea time.

Day 7

Edfu and Kom Ombo

Visit the temple of Horus at Edfu, one of the best preserved in Egypt. After lunch on board, sail to Kom Ombo and visit its double temple, dedicated to Sobek the crocodile and Horus the falcon. Sail overnight to Aswan.

Day 8

Aswan: the dams and Elephantine Island

Leave for the Low and High Dams of Aswan, with a view over Lake Nasser, then a felucca ride around Elephantine Island, once the capital of Nubia. A stop at a papyrus workshop and a free afternoon.

Day 9

Aswan – optional Abu Simbel

In the morning, an optional excursion to Abu Simbel, by coach or plane. A free day on full board for those who stay on the boat, then set sail for Esna.

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Thebes and the journey home

Days 10-13

The boat sails back down to Luxor for the west bank at Thebes, kept for last, before the flight to Cairo.

Day 10

Sailing back to Luxor

A day's sailing towards Luxor, on the upper deck, facing the feluccas and riverside villages. Farewell dinner on board.

Day 11

Thebes: the west bank and Medinet Habu

Leave for Thebes and the eternal homes of the pharaohs of the 18th to 20th dynasties, on the west bank of the Nile. Visit Medinet Habu, the temple of Ramesses III, one of the largest in the necropolis.

Day 12

Luxor – Cairo

Flight to Cairo, welcome and transfer for dinner. Depending on the flight plan, transfer to the airport in the evening, or an optional night near the airport (€92 per person in a double room).