Please note: The Single Room price displayed above is for a single room in conjunction with other travellers. A solo traveller price is availabe on request.
Private Holiday with 3-night Nile Cruise
7 Days ex Cairo
Preferred Departure Days:
Deluxe: Wednesday
First Class: Monday
Deluxe: Wednesday
First Class: Monday
Note:
Supplement may apply for tours commencing on other days
Cruises may operate in reverse
Retrace the footsteps of Howard Carter as you explore the secrets and mysteries of ancient Egypt in this one week package. Beginning with arrival assistance inside immigration, have the wonders of antiquity laid bare by your Egyptologist guides as you experience the grandeur of Egypt’s most renowned monuments and sites.
Highlights:
- A warm welcome with a personal meet and assist inside immigration, together with your Egyptian visa on arrival, followed by express immigration assistance
- 24/7 service and full local backup from our seven regional offices throughout Egypt
- Encounter the grandeur of the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx on a private guided tour
- Marvel at the abundant treasures in the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM)
- Feel dwarfed by the incomparable Colossi of Memnon
- Discover ancient Egypt aboard a Nile cruise
- Itinerary
- Accommodation
- Important Information
Day 1: Cairo
After being met by our local operator inside immigration at the airport, you will have your first experience of Egypt as you are transferred to your Pyramids area hotel. Spend the evening soaking up the atmosphere of this ancient kingdom.
An optional Sound & Light Show at the pyramids is a wonderful way to end your first day discovering Egypt (supplement applies)
Day 2: Cairo (B)
Dive straight into Egyptian antiquity with a private guided tour of the truly wondrous Pyramids of Giza plus the enigmatic Sphinx. View the great pyramid built by Cheops and containing more than 2.3 million cubic metres of stone, while many still debate who built the mysterious Sphinx.
This afternoon there is the option to visit the new Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), where you can view the glittering treasures of ancient Egypt (please note the Museum is currently in a soft opening phase), or visit the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC).
Day 3: Cairo – Aswan (BLD)
Optional Abu Simbel Excursion. (Supplement applies)
Fly to Aswan and board your Nile cruise boat for the start of your journey along the life-giving waters that have transported Pharaohs, Royalty, and celebrities for eons. This afternoon visit the High Dam and the serene Temple of Philae. Dedicated to Isis, the island of Philae is said to be the resting place of her husband Osiris.
Aswan, Egypt's sunniest southern city and ancient frontier town located about 100km south of Luxor, has a distinctively African atmosphere with the local Nubian population. Small enough to walk around and graced with the most beautiful setting on the Nile, the pace of life is slow and relaxing. In Aswan, the Nile is at its most beautiful, flowing through amber desert and granite rocks, round emerald islands covered in palm groves and tropical plants. Explore the souk, full of the scent and colour of spices, perfumes, scarves and baskets.
Day 4: Aswan - Kom Ombo – Edfu (BLD)
Savour breakfast on board your boat as you cruise to the Temple of Kom Ombo. This temple, though not as well-known as others in Egypt, is a favourite amongst those who visit. Bas reliefs and carvings show such technological advances as surgical instruments and a pre-Georgian calendar, helping to remind us of just how advanced the Ancient Egyptians were. It also features a fascinating collection of mummified crocodiles. Later that evening cruise to Edfu.
Note: Cruise itinerary may be changed without prior notice due to navigational circumstances. The order of sightseeing may vary and is subject to change.
The Lock at Esna is shut for maintenance for one month of the year. These dates vary and are subject to local authorities and beyond the control of Innovative Travel or our local operator. During this period you will be transferred between Edfu and Luxor by coach.
Day 5: Edfu - Esna – Luxor (BLD)
Today you will visit the Temple of Horus in Edfu and discover the remains of the Old Kingdom and the temple dedicated to the falcon God Horus, constructed during the Ptolemaic period between 237 and 57 BC. The walled descriptions describe its construction and also display important drawings, capturing the Greco-Roman era in ancient Egypt. Later sail across Esna Lock where floating peddlers will offer you their wares with some ingenious bartering from the waters of the Nile, before arriving in Luxor to visit the Temples of Karnak and Luxor. The Karnak Temple is remarked for the way it was continuously added to by a succession of Pharaohs over a period lasting more than a 1000 years – surely one of the longest running building projects in history.
Day 6: Luxor – Cairo (B)
Disembark your cruise this morning and cross the Nile to explore the West Bank.
Today is full of highlights including the Necropolis of Thebes and the Valley of the Kings, where you’ll find the tombs of the Theban rulers including Tutankhamun. The grandeur of Queens Hatshepsut’s Temple and the haunting Colossi of Memnon, named for the Ethiopian king who marched to the aid of Troy, round out the exploration before transferring to the airport, for your flight to Cairo.
Optional tour to Tutankhamun’s tomb. Entrance fees to be paid directly.
Day 7: Cairo (B)
Take one last moment to reflect on your discoveries as you transfer to the airport.
TOUR INCLUSIONS:
- VIP Meet and assistance including Egyptian Visa at Cairo Airport
- Airport departure assistance
- Private airport transfers
- Accommodation: 3 nights Cairo (2 nights Pyramids area and 1 night Downtown), 3 night Nile cruise
- A/C transportation
- Daily breakfasts
- All meals on board the Nile Cruise
- Flights Cairo/Aswan and Luxor/Cairo
- Private Egyptologist guide and sightseeing in Cairo
- Join small group sightseeing on the Nile cruise
- Entrance fees
- Egypt Travel Notes - issued by Innovative Travel
TOUR EXCLUSIONS:
- International airfares
- Optional tours and excursions
- Porterage
- Tipping/Gratuities (please refer to tour notes for a recommended guideline)
- Personal Expenses
- Departure taxes
- Hotel charges for minibar or any extra charges
- Visas (unless specified)
- Any other services not clearly mentioned in the inclusions above
NOTES:
Cruise schedules may operate in reverse.
The day-by-day Nile Cruise itinerary may vary according to the cruise boat confirmed.
Itineraries may be changed without notice due to river flows, local or other conditions and these changes are beyond the responsibility of Innovative Travel or our local operators.
Accommodation based on the following or similar:
Cairo Pyramids Area
First Class - Steigenberger Pyramids (Garden View Room)
Deluxe Class - Hyatt Regency Cairo West (Pyramids view)
Nile Cruise
First Class - Blue Shadow
Deluxe Class - Sonesta Moon Goddess
Cairo City
First Class - Steigenberger Tahrir (Standard Room)
Deluxe Class - Cairo Marriott
Cruising the Nile
Please use cruise itineraries as a guideline only. The order of sightseeing and overnight destinations may vary and are subject to change due to the operation of Esna Lock, or at the discretion of the of the cruise company. Should a change of boat be required due to any unforeseen circumstances prior to departure, an alternative of the same standard or better will be offered if available
There are many river boats that cruise between Luxor and Aswan. They provide accommodation and transportation for the majority of tourists travelling to Egypt. Each night and whilst moored for sightseeing, it is common for 4-5 cruise boats to be parked abreast of each other. The location of your boat will vary from port to port however in many cases your view from your cabin will be restricted to cruising periods only.
Sightseeing on Nile Cruise boats is operated by the cruise company. You will be allocated an English speaking guide and small group of other English speaking tourists for sightseeing upon embarkation. The order of sightseeing may vary depending on the local port authorities. If a tomb or temple is unable to be visited an alternative will be provided where possible.
Sightseeing (non cruise)
All sightseeing unless specified is on a private basis with a driver and guide. Sightseeing generally takes place in the cooler periods of the day ie early morning or late afternoon therefore on occasion some early starts may be necessary to avoid the heat
Valley of the Kings: Not all the tombs within the Valley are currently open to the public. Many are closed periodically for resting and renovation (Entrance fees to three tombs is included in tour packages. Entrance fees to Tutankhamen’s Tomb is not included. Currently EGP100pp - subject to change).
Ramadan
During the Holy Month of Ramadan Muslims fast, abstaining from eating, drinking & smoking during daylight hours (approx. 7am-6.30pm). As a sign of respect, tourists should also try to refrain eating in public during the fasting hours. Restaurants and Cafes in Hotels and Cruise boats will be open, however limited alcohol may be available over this time. In 2024, Ramadan is expected to begin on the evening of Sunday 10th March. After 30 days, or on sighting the full moon, Eid Al Fitr is celebrated & most public and private institutions close for at least three days.
Domestic Flights in Egypt
Flight times will reconfirmed by the local operator upon arrival in Egypt.
Note, Flights from Cairo to Aswan and Luxor generally involve early morning starts due to flight schedules in the summer season. For flights to Abu Simbel certain flights are allocated to clients travelling for day trips from Cairo and overnight programmes. These flights are set by Egypt air and are outside of the operators control
Dress Codes
Modest dress is required for entrance to holy sites – Men: Long pants, Women – skirt or long pants and shoulders covered.
Hotels
Hotels in regional areas (i.e Abu Simbel/ Siwa/ St Catherine ) can be of a lower standard than the properties in the main tourist centres., with more basic/ less developed infrastructure due to location and surrounding conditions. The options chosen are the best available.
Trip prices and dates are correct at the time of the website going live, however all offers are subject to reconfirmation at the time of booking. All featured tour itineraries and offers may be subject to change due to seasonal variations without notice, or due to local conditions or other conditions. Please confirm all details at time of booking. Travel insurance is mandatory for all Innovative Travel bookings. All passports must be valid for 6 months prior to your return to your home country. Visas are the responsibility of the traveller. Special VIP meet and assist offers are available in some destinations for New Zealand passport holders, for other nationalities please check at the time of booking. For full terms and conditions, please refer to our Booking Conditions page.