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Land of the Pharaohs

The Temple of Luxor

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10 days from £1298

excluding international flights

DAY 1 – Arrival in Cairo.

On arrival in Cairo you will be met in the baggage hall by our representative who will assist you through customs. You will then be taken by private car direct to your hotel. Recommended flight from London: bmi from London Heathrow (see below). If you are travelling from a country other than the UK we would be happy to give you guidance on your flight options.
GUARANTEED PYRAMIDS VIEW AT THE MENA HOUSE OBEROI
Your rooms are in the newer Garden Wing of the hotel. You may request a guaranteed Pyramid View Room for a special supplement of £48 per person for the 3 night stay. These rooms are in high demand so early booking is essential. Upgrades are also possible for a supplement to the historic Palace Wing of the hotel - details on request.

DAY 2 – Pyramids, Sphinx and Solar Boat Museum.

Morning visit to the Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx, and the Solar Boat Museum [more].  The afternoon is free, with the option of visiting the site of ancient Memphis and the funerary complex of Zoser at Saqqara [more].  In the evening there is the option of attending the Sound and Light Performance at the Pyramids [more].
Meals included: Full breakfast.

DAY 3 – The Egyptian Museum.

Morning visit to the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities [more]. Return to your hotel in Giza for lunch, or you may choose to stay on in the city and enjoy one of 3 optional excursions in the Old City of Cairo: The Citadel of Saladin, Mosque of Mohamed Ali and the Khan al-Khalili bazaar [more], Islamic Cairo [more], or The Coptic Museum and the Gayer-Anderson House [more].
Meals included: Full breakfast.

DAY 4 – Fly to Luxor to join your Nile Cruise. Sail to Qena.

A wake-up call and breakfast, followed by your private transfer to Cairo Airport for the short flight to Luxor. On arrival you will be met and transferred direct to the Oberoi Philae at its mooring on the eastern banks of the Nile.  After lunch, the Oberoi Philae sails north from Luxor along the Nile to reach Qena for overnight.
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner.

DAY 5 – Denderah.

Your first shore visit is to the Temple of Hathor at Denderah, not usually included in cruise itineraries due to time constraints [more]. After the visit the Oberoi Philae sails back to Luxor.
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner.

Pictured left: Guide at the Temple of Karnak.

DAY 6 – Luxor. Temples of Karnak and Luxor.

The morning is free for you to explore Luxor. As ancient Thebes, Luxor was the capital of Egypt’s New Kingdom (1550-1069 BC) and has attracted tourists and travellers since Greek and Roman times with its incomparable wealth of monuments. You may wish to pay a visit to the Luxor Museum [more] or shop in the lively bazaars. In the afternoon there are included visits to the two great Pharaonic temples of the East Bank: Karnak and Luxor temples [more]. Overnight in Luxor.
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner.

DAY 7 – Valley of the Kings and Western Thebes. Sail to Esna.

In the early morning cross the Nile to visit the magnificent archaeological remains of Western Thebes [more]. Return to the Oberoi Philae for lunch and then enjoy a leisurely afternoon sailing on the Nile in the direction of Esna, where the ship will moor for the night.
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner.

DAY 8 – Temples of Edfu and Kom Ombo.

Sail to Edfu, where you will step ashore to visit the Temple of Horus [more]. Return to the Oberoi Philae and sail to Kom Ombo [more].
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner.

DAY 9 – Sail to Aswan. Aswan sightseeing including the Temple of Philae.

Sail in the morning to Aswan, gateway to Nubia, situated downriver from the First Cataract on the Nile. It was here that the British built a dam between 1898 and 1902, but this was superseded by the Aswan High Dam, constructed by President Nasser in the 1960s, resulting in the creation of Lake Nasser, the largest artificial lake in the world. In the afternoon you will visit the city's highlights [more]. Overnight in Aswan.
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner.

DAY 10 – Depart for home.

Disembark after breakfast. An optional excursion by air may be taken to visit the incredible temples at Abu Simbel on the shores of Lake Nasser. In the early afternoon fly back to Cairo to connect with your homeward flight.
Meals included: Full breakfast.

EXTEND YOUR STAY IN EGYPT

We offer a choice of extensions according to the direction of your cruise.  After the Luxor/Aswan cruise (as shown above), why not spend a few days in Aswan?

ASWAN, GATEWAY TO NUBIA

Aswan is the ideal place for a few days of relaxation at the end of your holiday, giving you time to reflect on the many wonders you have seen in your journey along the Nile. We recommend the excellent Movenpick Resort [more], located on Elephantine Island and offering a regular shuttle boat service to the Aswan corniche.

If your cruise is in the reverse direction (see note below the price grid), you have a choice of extension options.  You may wish to stay longer in Luxor:

LUXOR, AN 'OPEN-AIR MUSEUM'

Unwind in your hotel, go shopping in the souk, or perhaps take a felucca ride on the Nile.  Our favourite hotel is the Moorish-style Hotel Al Moudira [more], which enjoys a peaceful location on the West Bank near the Valley of the Kings.  If you prefer to stay in Luxor town itself on the East Bank, we have a selection of excellent hotels for you to choose from.

Alternatively, why not spend some relaxing days beside the warm waters of the Red Sea?

THE OBEROI SAHL HASHEESH

A 3 hour road journey from Luxor will take you through the eastern desert to the Red Sea coast to reach the Oberoi Sahl Hasheesh [more], a secluded haven boasting white sands, aquamarine waters and vibrabtly-hued marine life.  This is in our opinion simply Egypt's top resort hotel.

International Flights

We recommend the services of bmi from London Heathrow. Flights are non-stop and have a choice of classes. Current timings (subject to possible change) are as follows:
Heathrow/Cairo. Depart at 09.15; arrive Cairo at 16.20
Cairo/Heathrow. Depart at 17.25; arrive Heathrow at 20.50

Land of the Pharaohs (Tour Reference: WDEG001)
2010/2011 Departures
Price per person based on a minimum of two persons travelling together:

* The cruises on these dates operate in the reverse direction, from Aswan to Luxor.  Shore visits are identical, only carried out in a different order. Detailed itinerary available on request.

Single Room Supplements on request.

The price includes:

• Scheduled domestic flights on EgyptAir from Cairo to Luxor and from Aswan to Cairo, including local airport taxes.
• Hotel and cruise ship accommodation as listed above in twin-bedded rooms/cabins with private facilities.
• 9 full breakfasts, 6 lunches and 6 dinners as shown in the itinerary. During the Oberoi Philae cruise, a light afternoon tea will also be served.
• Private transfers at each location.
• All sightseeing as shown (unless indicated as ‘optional’), including entrance fees.
• The services of a private guide for the included sightseeing in Cairo. During the cruise you will join other passengers and have the services of the boat’s English-speaking guide.

Not included in the price:

• International flights (see our recommendation above). We are happy to discuss the flights with you and give you further guidance.
• Optional sightseeing. It is recommended that the optional excursion by air to Abu Simbel is booked prior to your departure from the UK (current price £160 per person).
• International airport taxes.
• Tipping. We will be pleased to give guidance in this often sensitive matter .
• Your Egyptian Visa.  This can be obtained on arrival at Cairo Airport (no forms or photos required).  Current cost is 15 US dollars. 

A deposit of £250 per person is required at the time of booking. The balance of the price for your travel arrangements must be paid at least 8 weeks before your departure date.