February 18: Depart Cape Town at 5 pm on Qatar airlines
February 19: Arrive Luxor via Doha at 9:35 am. While moving across the Nile to the west bank to check into our hotel we will pass the Colossus of Memnon.
After a rest we will visit Ramses II funerary temple and Habu Temple which is Ramses III funerary temple and right across the road from our hotel.
This temple has the most colourful preserved paintings in Egypt.
Dinner is included and prepared by my old friend Mohamed at the Habu hotel.
Overnight Amenhotep Hotel
February 20: Valley of the Kings, Tombs of the Nobles.
Overnight Amenhotep hotel
February 21: Optional Hot Air Balloon ride at 5:30am…$? We are back for breakfast.
Queen Hatshepsut’s Temple in the Valley of the Queens, Workman’s village and tombs.
Overnight Amenhotep Hotel
February 22: Free day – Optional trip to Abydos and the Temple of Osirus, or rent bicycles and explore the west bank villages. (prices to be negotiated).There is also tea at the Winter Palace and/or a bit of shopping.
Optional visits to either Set I tomb or Nefertari’s tomb or both.
Overnight Amenhotep hotel
There will be optional visits to Seti I tomb in the Valley of the Kings, and Queen Nefertari’s Tomb in the valley of the Queens. Each will cost you US$60.
February 23: Today before we board our Dahabiya we will visit Karnak Temple and the Luxor temple.
The Dahabiya is smaller with the ability to motor and sail the Nile. They will take us where the large cruisers can’t go which allows us to see more. We are it’s only passengers.
Three meals are prepared for us each day.
Until the 1870’s the Dahabiya was the standard for tourists to travel up and down the river.
Originally built to carry celebrities and royal families, the Dahabiya was a luxury pleasure boat for the Nile.
We are picked up and taken to Esna (50 km south of Luxor) where the crew of the Dahabiya will take us to board the boat. Your Nile adventure starts by sailing towards El Kab, the ancient city of Nekheb, where you can see the remains of the temples and the tombs. The sailors set sail for a small island where the boat will moor for the night. Enjoy your dinner on the sundeck or the banks of the river Nile.
*Breakfast, Lunch, and dinner included while we are on the boat.
Overnight Dahabiya
February 24: Today we sail to Edfu where you see the beautifully preserved temple of Horus, which was buried under the desert sand for hundreds of years. Continue sailing to an island near Wadi el Shat for a walk through small villages and the desert.
Overnight Dahabiya
February 25: Relax in a deck chair and watch the riverside pass by while the crew sails to Gebel El Silsila. You can explore the rock-cut chapels of Seti I, Ramesses II, Merenptah and Horemheb and also remnants of the monuments in the old sandstone quarries. During lunch on the sun deck the Dahabiya sails towards Kom Ombo.
Here you go ashore to see the double temple of Sobek and Haroeris. Dinner will be served around a campfire along the Nile.
Overnight Dahabiya
February 26: The captain sets sail for the village of Daraw, once the last stop for camel traders from Sudan after a forty days long journey through the Libyan desert.
After a walk through the village and camel market the boat sails further towards Koubania; a Nubian village near Aswan, with lovely gardens filled with citrus and mango trees.
Overnight on Dahabiya
February 27: Disembarkation in Aswan after breakfast on board. Transferred by boat to our Nubian Guesthouse.
Afternoon we travel by motor boat to the Philae Temple, the Temple of Isis.
Overnight at Nubian Gusthouse…dinner included.
February 28: Early crossing the Nile by felucca. We then ride camels to a 5th century Coptic Monastery 30 minutes into the desert. Afternoon visit to the Nubian museum.
Overnight at Nubia Guesthouse – dinner included
March 1: Early Morning Transfer to Abu Simbal, visit Abu Simbal temple and back to Aswan.
Flight to Cairo. Check into hotel and relax. Optional Sound and Light Show at pyramids.
Overnight at the Mena House.
The origin of the Mena House was that of a royal lodge for the Khedive Ismail, used as a rest house for himself and his guests when hunting in the desert or visiting the Pyramids at Giza.
The Mena House is one of the most unique hotels in Cairo. This palacial hotel is located in the shadows of the Great Pyramids of Giza in Cairo. The royal history of the hotel is reflected in it’s luxurious interiors that are embellished with exquisite antiques, handcrafted furniture, and original works of art. Mena House has played host to Kings, Emperors, Heads of state and celebrities. There are unmatched views of the Pyramids at sunrise and sunset.
March 2: Islamic Cairo. For those who like to shop we will go to the Khan Kalili Bazaar, smoke shisha, drink tea or coffee and watch the world go by in the famous café Mahfouz sat and wrote in.
1400 tiny shops to investigate.
Overnight at Mina House
March 3: Visits to Saqqara, Pyramids, and Sphinx. We will ask the security if we can meditate in the pyramid, he will expect a tip for this. A visit to a Perfumerie
Overnight at Mina House
March 4: Egyptian museum. Luggage packed and left for departure.
Our flight departs at 7 pm.
March 5: We arrive in Cape Town at 11:30 am
Included: Hotels with breakfast, breakfasts, lunches and dinners on the Dahabiya, breakfasts and dinners at the Nubia Guesthouse.
All transport, transfers, Dahabiya cruise, tours and entrances.
Domestic airfares, most tipping.
Excluded: International airfare, many meals, travel insurance, visas, Entrances to Seti I and Nefertari’s tombs,items of a personal nature.
