Egypt

Egypt: The Whole Nile by Boat, from Cairo to Aswan through Middle Egypt

Fourteen nights in a suite, 34 passengers, in the footsteps of Akhenaten at Tell el-Amarna

Egypt

Egypt: The Whole Nile by Boat, from Cairo to Aswan through Middle Egypt

The great cruise, the one very few travellers make: fourteen nights on board, from Cairo to Aswan, crossing the Middle Egypt that classic tours fly over. You visit the painted tombs of Beni Hassan, Tell el-Amarna, Akhenaten's capital, then Abydos and Dendera, before reaching Luxor, the Valley of the Kings and Abu Simbel, which is included. The boat, superior 5* (local rating), has suites only and 34 passengers at most. The same route runs in the opposite direction, from Aswan to Cairo (from €8,197 per person).

When

Oct to April

Price

From 8 226€ excl. flights

(based on 2 people sharing)

How long

15 nights

Ideal length

Cairo, on board

Days 1-3

The boat is moored in Cairo and serves as your hotel for three nights: Giza, Saqqara, the Grand Egyptian Museum and the citadel.

Day 1

Arrival in Cairo and boarding

Flight to Cairo. Welcome, visas handed over and help with formalities, then transfer and settling in on board. Depending on arrival time, dinner on board.

Day 2

Giza and Saqqara

Discover the Giza plateau, its pyramids and the Sphinx. After lunch, visit Saqqara, the largest archaeological site in Egypt: the Step Pyramid of Djoser and the pyramid of Teti.

Day 3

The Grand Egyptian Museum and the citadel

Visit the Grand Egyptian Museum, on the Giza plateau: more than 100,000 works shown from prehistory to the Graeco-Roman period, including, for the first time since 1922, the whole of Tutankhamun's treasure, and the solar boat. Continue to the Cairo citadel.

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Middle Egypt: Beni Hassan and Tell el-Amarna

Days 4-8

The boat leaves Cairo heading south. Two days' sailing lead to an Egypt that is seldom visited: governors' tombs in the cliff face and the ruins of the capital of the pharaoh Akhenaten.

Day 4

Sailing to Beni Suef

A day of sailing and rest heading south, watching scenes of riverside life from the deck. At the end of the day, the captain's cocktail.

Day 5

From Beni Suef to Al Minya

The boat continues upstream, past changing landscapes and scenes of river life. All meals are served on board.

Day 6

The tombs of Beni Hassan

Discover the tombs of Beni Hassan, set in the cliff face on the east bank. More than 4,000 years ago, the governors of the region had tombs cut here and covered with frescoes: hunting, work in the fields, games and processions. Twelve tombs are decorated. Sail towards Tell el-Amarna.

Day 7

Tell el-Amarna and Tuna el-Gebel

An early start for Tell el-Amarna, the ruins of Akhetaten, the capital founded around 1360 BC by Akhenaten and dedicated to the single god Aten, in a twelve-kilometre amphitheatre of cliffs. Continue to Tuna el-Gebel, then sail towards Asyut.

Day 8

Sailing from Asyut to Sohag

A full day's sailing through the heart of Middle Egypt, far from the classic routes: farmers in the fields, herds at the water, children swimming.

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Dendera, Abydos and Luxor

Days 9-11

The river reaches Upper Egypt: the temple of Hathor at Dendera, that of Seti I at Abydos, then Karnak and the Valley of the Kings.

Day 9

Dendera and Abydos

Visit the temple of Dendera, dedicated to Hathor and especially well preserved, with its chapels, dark staircases and a roof open to the countryside. Continue with the temple of Abydos, which dates from Seti I.

Day 10

Arrival in Luxor – Karnak and Luxor temple

A morning's sailing towards Luxor. In the afternoon, visit Karnak temple and its hypostyle hall, then Luxor temple.

Day 11

The Valley of the Kings – Edfu

Early in the morning, leave for the Theban necropolis on the west bank, starting with the Valley of the Kings and its New Kingdom tombs. Sail towards Edfu.

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Edfu, Aswan and Abu Simbel

Days 12-16

The last stops, as far as the temples of Abu Simbel, in the heart of Nubia, included in the trip.

Day 12

The temple of Edfu – Kom Ombo

A morning visit to the temple of Horus at Edfu, long buried under sand, which preserved its architecture. Lunch while sailing to Kom Ombo and an evening of entertainment on board.

Day 13

Kom Ombo – Aswan and the High Dam

Visit the temple of Kom Ombo, dedicated to Sobek and Horus. Sail to Aswan, then an afternoon at the High Dam, with its view over Lake Nasser.

Day 14

Abu Simbel

Up at dawn and south to the temples of Abu Simbel, cut into the rock to the glory of Ramesses II and Nefertari. Threatened by the waters of Lake Nasser, they were dismantled and rebuilt identically, 110 metres higher. Return to Aswan.