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Oberoi Zahra Cruise

Egypt Cruises - Ram-headed Sphinxes, Karnak

Click on the name of the hotel or cruise ship for details

11 days from £2690

excluding international flights

Indulge yourself aboard the most luxurious cruise ship on the Nile - in a class of its own

EGYPT CRUISES FACTFILE

DAY 1 – Arrival in Cairo.

On arrival in Cairo you will be met by a representative of World Discovery who will organise your Egyptian visa and assist you through immigration and customs. You will then be taken by private car direct to your hotel. Recommended flight from London: EgyptAir 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
Your rooms are in the newer Garden Wing of the hotel. You may request a guaranteed Pyramid View Room for a special supplement of £72 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.

Your World Discovery Egypt holiday begins after breakfast when your private guide will collect you from your hotel and take you to the Pyramids of Giza, the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World still intact today.  Beside the Pyramids stands the legendary Sphinx, one of the best known yet least understood monuments of ancient history.  An added bonus with World Discovery this morning is the included entrance to the Solar Boat Museum, located at the foot of the Great Pyramid of Cheops.  The afternoon is free, with the option of visiting ancient Memphis and Saqqara, the latter famous for its unique Step Pyramid, constructed in the 27th century BC.  In the evening there is the option of returning to the Pyramids to watch the spectacular Sound and Light Performance.
Meals included: Full breakfast.

DAY 3 – The Museum of Egyptian Antiquities.

This morning journey with your private driver and guide into the centre of Cairo to visit the world-famous Museum of Egyptian Antiquities on Tahrir Square.  Return to your hotel in Giza for lunch, or you may choose to stay on in the city with your driver and guide and enjoy one of 3 optional excursions in the Old City of Cairo:

The Citadel of Saladin, Mosque of Mohamed Ali and the Khanal-Khalili bazaar

Islamic Cairo, including Ibn Tulun Mosque and the Gayer-Anderson House

The Coptic Museum and the Gayer-Anderson House

The above optional excursions may be booked in advance if required and can be prepaid in the UK with your final invoice.
Meals included: Full breakfast.

STAY ON IN CAIRO
Cairo has so many sights worth seeing, particularly in the Old City, that you may wish to consider staying an extra day (or two!) in order to be able to fit in all the places that interest you.  We can also offer a full day excursion from the capital to the Mediterranean port of Alexandria.  

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 Nile cruise ship will be your home for the next 7 nights. In the afternoon visit the astonishing Temple of Karnak and the Luxor Museum.
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner.

DAY 5 – First visit to Western Thebes. Denderah.

Your luxury Nile cruise continues with an early morning visit to the magnificent archaeological remains of Western Thebes, beginning with the world-famous Valley of the Kings, burial place of the pharaohs of the New Kingdom.  Continue to the Mortuary Temple of Ramses III at Medinet Habu, and then  return to the Oberoi Zahra for lunch, stopping en route to view the free-standing Colossi of Memnon (pictured), badly ravaged by time but still impressive in their size and majesty. Set sail for Qena, where in the late afternoon you will enjoy a private visit to the magnificent Temple of Hathor at Denderah. Return to the Oberoi Zahra for dinner.  Overnight in Qena.
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner.

NOTE: During the winter months (usually late November to early February), the water levels on the Nile north of Luxor are too low for the boat to cruise to Qena.  The Temple of Denderah is therefore visited from Luxor by road.

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. 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.  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 Horus at Edfu.

A leisurely day spent sailing south on the Nile.  In the late afternoon step ashore at Edfu to visit the Temple of Horus. 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.  Enjoy an afternoon's sightseeing, beginning with the High Dam itself, the continuing with a motor boat trip to visit the superb Temple of Philae on its island in the Nile.
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.  Return to Aswan where in the afternoon you will enjoy a felucca ride on the Nile.  In the evening return to Philae for the Sound and Light performance. 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.

Your luxury Nile cruise on the Oberoi Zahra ends this morning. 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 EgyptAir 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 14.00; arrive Cairo at 20.40
Cairo/Heathrow. Depart at 17.45; arrive Heathrow at 21.00
British Airways also have flights from London Heathrow but their return flight from Cairo is early in the morning and you would need to spend an additional overnight in a Cairo hotel at the end of your holiday.

Egypt Cruises: Oberoi Zahra Cruise (Tour Reference: WDEG004)
2013 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.

** The Oberoi Zahra will be in dry dock from 25 May to 5 July 2013

Single Room and Suite 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.
• Your Egyptian visa.  Our agents will organise this on your arrival at Cairo Airport (no forms or photos required).
  

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 £190 per person).
• International airport taxes.
• Tipping.  We will be pleased to give guidance in this often sensitive matter.

A deposit of £500 per person is required at the time of booking. The balance of the price for your Egypt cruise holiday must be paid at least 8 weeks before your departure date.