Safari Highlights
Outstanding scenery
Interesting rural countryside
Historical and Cultural interaction
Routing: Cairo-Aswan-Kom-Ombo-Edfu-Luxor-Cairo.
On this 9 day tour, you get to sample the best of modern and ancient Egypt. From the Egyption Museum where you will see a huge collection of Egypt’s past to the Pyramids of Giza – one of the 7 Wonders of the ancient world. Enjoy the Nile cruise as you sail while at the same time visiting some of the famed monuments spread between the towns of Aswan and Luxor. You finish the tour by a day trip to Abu Simbel, the site of the temples of the great Pharaoh Ramses II and his beloved wife, Queen Nefertari.
Day 1: Arrival Egypt - Cairo
When you arrive at the Cairo International Airport, you will be met and assisted by Hallmark Travel Planner’s representative to clear with passport control formalities, luggage identification & portage. You are then be transferred by air-conditioned private vehicle to your hotel where our steward will assist you with check-in. Overnight at Zoser Hotel or similar.
Day 2: Day in Cairo – Tour of Cairo Museum & Pyramids of Giza
Breakfast at the hotel. After your breakfast, you will meet with the day's tour guide to begin the tour of Cairo. Your tour of today takes you to the Egyptian Museum and then the Pyramids of Giza, where you will also see the Sphinx. This is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. At your own pleasure you may enjoy a camel ride round the Pyramids as you contemplate the achievements of Ancient Egypt. Return to the hotel. Dinner on your own account. Overnight at Zoser Hotel or similar.
Day 3: Day in Cairo. Overnight train from Cairo to Luxor
You have your breakfast at the hotel. You then spend the rest of the day at leisure in Cairo. You may choose to relax at the hotel of go for shopping. In the evening you transfer to the station to take the Sleeper Train for the overnight ride to Luxor. Dinner & overnight onboard Sleeper Train.
Day 4: Arrive Luxor
Breakfast will be served onboard Sleeper Train. This morning you arrive Luxor and transfer to your Nile cruise boat. After lunch on board, you will be introduced to your guide. Afternoon visit of the West Bank where you will see and photograph the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatshepsut and Colossi of Memnon. Luxor is arguably the highlight of the Nile cruise. The range, magnificence and diversity of the monuments in the Luxor area is unsurpassed in all of Egypt. The Valley of Kings is where the rulers of the period historians refer to as the New Kingdom period (BC 1550-1070) awaited the afterlife. Over 60 tombs have so far been excavated in the valley. Among the best tombs to visit are those of Ramses I, Tuthmosis III and Ramses VI. Tutankhamun's is the most famous today. On the other side of the Valley of Kings is the Temple of Deir el-Bahri, built by Queen Hatshepsut. The temple is very impressive from a distance and is a great place to take photos. Take more photos at the Colossi of Memnon - 2 huge statues that are the sole legacy of the temple of Amenhotep III. Return to the boat. After dinner, you may enjoy dance music. Overnight onboard Nile Cruise.
Day 5: Sail from Luxor to Esna to Edfu
Breakfast on board. After breakfast, you visit the East Bank where you find the temple of Luxor and the Karnak temple. The Temple of Luxor was dedicated to the god Amon. The temple's entrance is lined with Sphinxes, and inside you find colonnades, courts, obelisks and wall murals. The Temple of Karnak is a huge, incredibly impressive complex that was dedicated to the god Amon. In the New Kingdom period, this was the most important temple is Egypt. It is probably the largest religious building ever and it can carry no less than 10 average Christian cathedrals. Some of the interesting structures within the complex are the gigantic hypostyle hall, the Kiosk of Tarhaka, statue of Ramses II, temple of Ramses III and the sacred lake. Later, you return to the Nile Cruise where you will have lunch onboard as you sail on to Esna and onwards to Edfu.
You disembark at Edfu to visit the Temple of Horus. Edfu was the cult centre of Horus the falcon god. It is perhaps the best preserved of ancient temples of Egypt. Two majestic granite falcons adorn the entrance. Return to the boat. Dinner & overnight onboard Nile Cruise.
Day 6: Sail Edfu to Kom Ombo to Aswan
After breakfast on the cruise, you sail on to Kom Ombo. You will have lunch onboard. After lunch, disembark to visit the Temple of Kom Ombo. The Graeco-Roman Temple found in Kom Ombo consists of 2 separate temples. Each of the temples has its own entrance, colonnades, hypostyle hall and sanctuary. The southern temple is dedicated to Sobek who was the crocodile god, while the northern one honors Horus - falcon god. After this tour you sail on to Aswan. After dinner enjoy a disco party Dinner & overnight onboard Nile Cruise.
Day 7: Aswan
Today, visit the Aswan High Dam after, you will also visit the Old Dam, and the Temple of Philae. The Philae Temple was dedicated to the goddess Isis, an important figure in Egyptian mythology. Later you return to the cruise for lunch onboard. You will spend the rest of the day at leisure in Aswan. Dinner & overnight on board Nile Cruise.
Day 8: Day trip to Abu Simbel - Train Aswan to Cairo
After breakfast on the boat, you disembark. This morning you drive to Abu Simbel to visit the Great Temple of Ramses II and the Temple of Hathor. Ramses II was a great builder of monuments. The great temple was dedicated to Ramses II himself and the gods Harakhty, Amon, and Ptah. You cannot miss the four massive statues of Ramses II. On the walls are reliefs celebrating the triumphs of the pharaoh in many battles. The Temple of Hathor was built to honour Nefertari, Ramses II's much beloved wife, and the goddess Hathor. Both the pharaoh and Nefertari appear on some of he wall murals. Then drive back returning to Aswan to take the Sleeper Train to Cairo. Dinner & overnight onboard Sleeper Train.
Day 9: Depart Cairo
You breakfast will be served on board Sleeper Train. After arrival in Cairo, either transfer to a hotel for the rest of the day or transfer to International Airport for your flight back home.
End of services
| Tour Rates | ||||
Season | Period | Adult Rate in US$ (per person sharing) | Single Room Supplement in US$ | |
Low | 1-Jan-2010 to 28-Feb-2010 | 1111 | 780 | |
| Mid | 1-Mar-2010 to 31-Mar-2010 | 1191 | 780 | |
| High | 1-Apr-2010 to 31-Jul-2010 | 1111 | 780 | |
| Peak | 1-Aug-2010 to 31-Aug-2010 | 1191 | 780 | |
| High | 1-Sept-2010 to 31-Nov-2010 | 1111 | 780 | |
| Peak | 1-Dec-2010 to 31-Dec-2010 | 1191 | 780 | |
Instead of the Sleeper Train, you may fly Cairo - Aswan and Luxor - Cairo
Cost. US$210 per person.
There will be a supplement during the Easter Period: April 2 to April 5 inclusive. Cost to be advised.
Children Rates
Children under 12 years of age, pay 50% of the price when sharing with 2 adults.
The prices given above include:
- 3 nights in Cairo at a 4 star hotel on bed & breakfast basis
- 4 nights in 5 stars Nile Cruises - all meals included
- All transfers in the program by air-conditioned coach
- Sightseeing in Cairo / Cruise with English speaking guide
- Trip to Abu Simbel including entrance fees
- Entrance fees during sightseeing'
- Sleeper Train Cairo- Aswan & Luxor- Cairo (including dinner & breakfast)
- Extras at the lodges –tips, drinks, telephone, laundry or any other personal expenses
- International flight into/out of EGYPT - Check out Great Prices for Flights into Africa Here
- Entry Visa to EGYPT
- All the entrance fees of the sites.
- We do not charge in advance for site entrance fees to allow flexibility to your program. You may choose to skip some of the sites depending upon your interests.
