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Oberoi Zahra Cruise

Ram-headed Sphinxes at Karnak Temple

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11 days from £2995

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. Temple of Karnak.

After breakfast transfer to Cairo Airport for the short flight to Luxor. On arrival you will be met and transferred direct to the Oberoi Zahra at its mooring on the eastern banks of the Nile. This luxury cruise ship will be your home for the next 7 nights. In the afternoon visit the astonishing Temple of Karnak [more] and the Luxor Museum [more].
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner.

DAY 5 – First visit to Western Thebes. Denderah.

In the early morning cross the Nile for your first visit to the magnificent archaeological remains of Western Thebes. Today you will visit the world-famous Valley of the Kings, the monumental mortuary temple of Ramses III at Medinet Habu, and the Colossi of Memnon (pictured) [more]. Return to the Oberoi Zahra and set sail for  Qena, where in the late afternoon you will enjoy a private visit to the magnificent Temple of Hathor at Denderah [more]. Return to the Oberoi Zahra for dinner.  Overnight in Qena.
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner.

DAY 6 – Western Thebes (second visit).  Luxor Temple.

In the morning sail back to Luxor and make a second visit to Western Thebes.  You will explore the fascinating Tombs of the Nobles, markedly different from the royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings. These smaller, less elabarate tombs were not sealed but left open for descendants to make funerary offerings; the scenes depicted on the walls are more likely to illustrate daily life on earth rather than the afterlife. You will also visit the village of Deir el-Medina, the site of a very special workman's village whose ancestors were the craftsmen who built and decorated the tombs of the Pharaohs, and the famous monumental Temple of Queen Hapshepsut at Deir el-Bahari.  In the late afternoon you will visit the XVIIth dynasty Temple of Luxor [more].  This evening before dinner there will be cocktails with live music in the Club Lounge.  Overnight in Luxor.
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner.

DAY 7 – Sail to Edfu.  Temple of Edfu.

A leisurely day spent sailing south on the Nile.  In the late afternoon step ashore to visit the Temple of Horus at Edfu [more]. Overnight at Edfu.
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner.

DAY 8 – Sail to Aswan.  Aswan sightseeing.

Sail 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, including the Temple of Philae [more].
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner.

DAY 9 – Kom Ombo.  Felucca ride.  Sound and Light show at the Temple of Philae.

In the morning sail to Kom Ombo to visit the Ptolemaic temple [more].  Return to Aswan where in the afternoon you will enjoy a felucca ride on the Nile [more].  In the evening return to Philae for the Sound and Light performance [more]. Overnight in Aswan.
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner.

DAY 10 – Aswan.

Day at leisure in Aswan with lots of time to enjoy the spa facilities on the Zahra.  An optional excursion by air may be taken to visit the incredible temples at Abu Simbel on the shores of Lake Nasser.  Tonight before dinner there will be cocktails and entertainment on Mango Island to celebrate the end of an unforgettable cruise through 5,000 years of history.
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner.

DAY 11 – Fly back to Cairo to connect with homeward flight.

Morning free. In the early afternoon fly back to Cairo to connect with your homeward flight.
Meals included: Full breakfast.

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

Oberoi Zahra Cruise (Tour Reference: WDEG004)
2010/2011 Departures
Price per person based on a minimum of two persons travelling together:

* The itinerary shown above is for the cruise in the Luxor to Aswan direction. On alternate weeks the cruise is in the opposite direction, from Aswan to Luxor. The inclusions and visits are the same whichever direction you are sailing.

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.
• Accommodation as listed above in twin-bedded rooms/cabins with private facilities.
• 10 full breakfasts, 7 lunches and 7 dinners as shown in the itinerary. During the Oberoi Zahra 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.