The Very Best of Egypt 2012/2013

Egypt Luxury Holiday - 14-day Escorted tour

An enlightened tour of Egypt delivers whispered secrets of the ancients that draw you into an incredible encounter in a land of mystery and intrigue, where monumental reminders of civilisations past instil a sense of wonder and respect.

Tour highlights

• Visiting the Egyptian Museum to see the Tutankhamun collection and Royal Mummies Hall
• Standing enthralled in front of the Pyramids and the Sphinx at Giza
• Relaxing on a wonderful 7-night cruise on the River Nile
• Marvelling at the archaeological sites of Edfu, Kom Ombo, Karnak and Luxor Temple
• Experiencing the vast magnificence of Abu Simbel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Visiting The Valley of The Kings and Valley of The Queens
• Floating in the calms of the Red Sea, on the optional tour extension

Extend Your Holiday
Experience a very different side to Egypt at the end of your voyage of discovery. From your encounter with the epic ancient wonders in Cairo and Luxor, travel to the coast, to one of the world’s natural wonders. At a luxury Red Sea resort, you can rest after your adventures, indulge, laze on pristine white sand beaches and take to the famous salt waters to explore the colourful underwater world, teeming with marine life.

Tour Itinerary

Day 1 Depart Heathrow
Join your Tour Manager and fellow travelling companions for complimentary drinks and snacks in the executive lounge before boarding your flight to Cairo. Once you’ve landed, you’ll transfer to the luxurious Mena House Oberoi hotel, which sits in verdant gardens right next to the famous Pyramids. Settle in and relax, then meet up this evening for welcome drinks and dinner.
Meals: In-flight, Dinner.
Hotel: Mena House Oberoi.

Day 2 Cairo
Today you’ll visit Cairo’s Egyptian Museum; an extremely large museum in the city centre which holds the world’s largest collection of ancient Egyptian finds and archaeological treasures. Probably the most famous of the 120,000 exhibits is the Tutankhamun collection. The relics were discovered by Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon in the young King’s tomb, which is the only tomb to ever have been found intact. From the solid gold, richly decorated funerary mask and solid gold coffin, to the furniture, royal throne and jewellery, the exhibits are fascinating. The Royal Mummies Hall is also a popular visit, and there’s a great deal more to see too. In the afternoon, you’re free to relax in your sublime hotel or head out to explore this vibrant city at your own pace.
Meals: Breakfast.
Hotel: Mena House Oberoi.

Day 3 Cairo
No visit to Egypt would be complete without a trip to explore the Pyramids and Sphinx complex so, after breakfast, you’ll begin your morning tour. One of the seven wonders of the world, the Pyramids are the source of much fascination. You’ll learn how, when and why they were built, and you have the opportunity to actually go into a pyramid and see what it’s like inside. Although now eroded with time, The Sphinx is still an impressive, must-see site. It represents a lion’s body with a human head and was carved from soft sandstone about 4,500 years ago. If it had not have been buried in the sand for most of its life, it probably would have disappeared long ago. In the afternoon, you’re free to explore further, or simply relax in your hotel, gazing out over the Pyramids; a constant reminder of today’s wonderful encounter.
Meals: Breakfast.
Hotel: Mena House Oberoi.

Day 4 Cairo
This morning, you’ll visit the Citadel, which was built by Saladin in the 12th century, as well as the 19th century Mosque of Mohammed Ali. Then you’ll go to the lively Khan El Kalili souk for some serious bartering and shopping! After lunch at the lovely Khan & Kaluti restaurant, owned by Oberoi, you can either relax in the hotel, or choose an optional excursion to Memphis and Sakkhara. These sites are better preserved and considered to be particularly interesting. The city of Memphis was a principal necropolis site. Within it, Sakkara was the principal area for old kingdom burials and most 1st and 2nd dynasty Kings were buried there. It’s most famous for the Djoser, or Stepped Pyramid, which was built for King Djoser of the 3rd dynasty, who wanted a unique tomb that was grand in scale and imposing in design. In addition to the Royal tombs, there are also private tombs, which depict scenes of everyday life, such as painting, furniture making and hunting, and some animal tombs.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
Hotel: Mena House Oberoi.

Day 5 Cairo to Luxor
A morning flight from Cairo takes you to Luxor to board the M/S Darakum for your 7-night luxury Nile cruise. Sit back and take in the views as the on board Egyptologist explains the importance of the Nile and its influence on Egyptian civilisation. This evening, watch the sun set as you sip a sundowner, and join your travelling companions for dinner on board.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner.
Vessel: M/S Darakum.

Day 6 Karnak and Luxor Temples
After breakfast, you’ll visit Karnak, a very large city complex which has been a place of pilgrimage for nearly 4,000 years. The hypostyle hall measures 50,000 square feet and has 134 columns, making it one of the largest rooms of any religious building in the world. You can also visit the smaller temples and the vast sacred lake. You’ll then head to Luxor Temple, which is the largest temple complex on the east bank, with an impressive and dramatic entrance along a 1.5 mile avenue, lined with ram-headed Sphinxes
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Vessel: M/S Darakum.

Day 7 Temple of Horus and Kom Ombo
Today’s tour starts with a visit to Edfu Temple on the west bank of the Nile; Egypt’s second largest temple. Dedicated to Horus, the falcon-headed god, it gives a real insight into how the temples would have appeared at the time. You’ll then sail on to Kom Ombo, and get your first glimpse of this unusual double temple as the cruise ship moors up. One side of Kom Ombo is dedicated to Sobek, the crocodile god, and the other side to Haroeris, the falcon headed god. Back on board, you’ll continue to Aswan.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Vessel: M/S Darakum.

Day 8 Aswan and Philae Temple
After breakfast, you’ll visit Aswan’s High Dam. This feat of engineering provides electricity to rural Egypt, so is of huge importance to the country’s economy. You’ll continue on to the Unfinished Obelisk, which weighs 1,100 tons. Had a crack not developed, preventing the construction being completed, this would have been the heaviest obelisk in Ancient Egypt. Your next stop is Philae Island, dedicated to the goddess Isis, before boarding a traditional Egyptian sailing vessel, called a felucca, for the short journey to Kitchener Island to see the Botanical Gardens. This tranquil location is surprisingly verdant, with plenty of exotic trees and plants.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Vessel: M/S Darakum.

Day 9 Abu Simbel
This morning, you’ll take a short flight south to see the magnificent temple complex of Abu Simbel, built by one of Egypt’s greatest Pharaohs, Rameses II. One of the temples is dedicated to Rameses, and the other to his wife, Nefertari. To say the site is enormous is no understatement. Many of the Egyptian archaeological sites you will visit on this tour are large and impressive, but Abu Simbel is significantly more so. The two seated statues on the facade of the Rameses temple alone measure twenty metres in height. You’ll understand how astounding the precision of the engineering and construction is, when you consider that the statue of Rameses in the inner sanctuary is only lit by the sun on two specific days each year; on the King’s birthday, and on his coronation day.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Vessel: M/S Darakum

Day 10 Cruise Aswan to Luxor
Today you’ll spend a relaxing day on board your cruise ship as you sail back to Luxor.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Vessel: M/S Darakum.

Day 11 Valley of the Kings
On your last cruise excursion, you’ll visit the west bank of Luxor, home to the Valley of The Kings, where Egypt’s rulers were laid to rest. At first sight, the rocky terrain looks desolate, but this was the reason the site was originally chosen; to disguise the tombs and deter robbers from looting the jewels, money and lavish gifts contained within. In fact, the only tomb that remained undetected for centuries was that of Tutankhamun. Many tombs feature beautiful wall paintings depicting their King’s life and achievements and his journey into the afterlife. You’ll also visit The Valley of The Queens and Medinet Habu, the Mortuary Temple of Rameses III, before returning to the cruise ship for your final evening on board.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Vessel: M/S Darakum.

Day 12 Luxor
After breakfast, you’ll leave your cruise ship and transfer to the Hilton Luxor Resort and Spa, where you have a free day to relax, recharge and indulge.
Meals: Breakfast.
Hotel: Hilton Luxor Resort and Spa

Day 13 Luxor
Today is a free day, and your Tour Manager can recommend optional excursions or sightseeing trips around Luxor. However, as your hotel has one of the best-situated infinity pools in the world, overlooking the Nile, with excellent views towards The Valley of the Kings, you might simply want to make the most of your luxurious surroundings. In the evening, you’ll meet back up with your travelling companions for a farewell dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner.
Hotel: Hilton Luxor Resort and Spa.

Day 14 Arrive Heathrow
You’ll return to normal life today, flying to Heathrow via Cairo, although normal life might never feel quite the same again.
Meals: Breakfast, In-flight

Any questions? Chat to your Personal Travel Advisor on 0161 491 7616