Gardens & Temples of Ancient Egypt

Join our arrival transfer from the airport or meet your tour manager and fellow travellers that evening at our hotel.

Meals: Dinner

Accommodation: Ramses Hilton, Cairo

After breakfast, we begin our full day of discovery in the company of a local expert Egyptologist, visiting Pharaonic Cairo and Saqqara, arguably the best-preserved ancient burial ground in Egypt. This is also the site of the Step Pyramid, the first true pyramid, built for King Zoser in the 27th century BC by the architect Imhotep. Lunch is served at a local restaurant before we enjoy a visit to a privately owned botanical garden, a peaceful oasis showcasing an impressive collection of tropical and ornamental plants.

Later, we discover the Great Pyramids and Sphinx of Giza. Rising from the desert, the three pyramids, erected by King Cheops and guarded by the mysterious Sphinx, are considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and remain among Egypt's most iconic landmarks.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Ramses Hilton, Cairo

Today, we visit the Grand Egyptian Museum, which sits on the edge of the Giza plateau with the pyramids within view. A huge undertaking which started over 20 years ago, the museum boasts over 750,000 sqm in floor size, 12 exhibition halls and thousands upon thousands of artefacts. At 45m long, the cedarwood Solar Boat of King Khufu, once housed in a cramped exhibition hall at Giza, now fits easily within the vast space of the GEM and two exhibition halls are entirely devoted to Egypt’s most famous pharaoh, Tutankhamun, alone. For the first time, almost all of the 5,000 objects discovered in his tomb are on display. Costing nearly a billion dollars in its creation, this is the biggest museum in the world.

The Citadel of Salah Al-Din was built between 1176-1182 AD and this citadel fortress provides a panoramic view of Cairo from the Moqattam Hills. We then visit the Al-Orman Garden – a stunning botanical garden, which dates from 1875 and the reign of Khedive Ismail Pasha, who established the garden on a larger site than it presently occupies as part of the Palace of the Khedive. This became a public botanical garden in 1910 and was put under the Ministry of Agriculture management. Today, the garden contains a herbarium building, a rock garden, a rose garden, cactus gardens and the most notable feature, the lotus pond. Al-Orman Garden is located west of the River Nile and east of Cairo University in the Giza Governorate.

Later, we visit Khan El-Khalili bazaar, where treasures include spices, perfumes, gold and silver, carpets, brass and copperware, leatherwork, glass, ceramics and Egyptian cotton.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Ramses Hilton, Cairo

Today we transfer to Cairo airport for our flight to Luxor. On arrival, we enjoy lunch at the elegant Al Moudira Hotel on Luxor's West Bank. This unique boutique hotel is renowned for its distinctive architecture, tranquil courtyards and beautifully landscaped gardens, providing a memorable setting to relax before we transfer to our hotel for the evening.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Ramses Hilton, Cairo

This morning, we enjoy a private tour in Luxor on the East Bank. Highlights include the Temple of Luxor, built by Amenophis III and which was originally connected to the Karnak Temple via a long stone processional street called a dromos. The well-preserved dromos was built by Nectanebo I and was originally lined on either side by sphinxes. We later transfer to the five-star M/S Nile Premium, our home for the next four nights, and enjoy lunch on board. The afternoon is free to relax before dinner and evening entertainment.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Ramses Hilton, Cairo

We enjoy a full day exploring the West Bank today. Here, we discover a variety of tombs, starting with the Valley of the Kings, which contains tombs from the 18th and 19th Dynasties. Outside the Valley of the Kings, the road passes by Antef, named after the 11th Dynasty princes buried there. Some tombs are still visible as we head towards the Temple of Seti I. The road winds westward until reaching the Valley of Asasif. These are tombs from the 25th and 26th Dynasties and at the foot of a cliff called Deir el-Bahri is a spectacular complex of temples. The Temples of Mentuhetep I, Hatshepsut and Thutmose II here are must-sees. We return to our river vessel for lunch and time to reflect on the sights and sounds experienced today before cruising overnight to Esna.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Jolie Ville, Luxor

We begin with a private tour of Edfu Temple – one of the best-preserved shrines in Egypt. The temple was built in the Ptolemaic Kingdom between 237 and 57 BC. The inscriptions on its walls provide important information on language, myth and religion during the Hellenistic period in Egypt. After lunch on board, we visit Kom-Ombo Temple. Built by the Ptolemaic dynasty during the Roman invasion, this temple is dedicated to two gods, Sobek the crocodile god and Haroeris, the falcon god Horus.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: 

Today, we journey to Aswan and begin with a private tour of the High Dam. This impressive structure measures 3,830 metres in length, 980 metres wide at the base, 40 metres wide at the crest and stands 111 metres tall. It holds 43 million cubic metres of material and up to 11,000 cubic metres of water per second can flow through the dam. Next, we visit the Unfinished Obelisk, an ancient granite monument abandoned thousands of years ago in Aswan's quarries. This archaeological treasure offers invaluable insight into the stonemasonry techniques of ancient Egypt.

We then proceed to the Philae Temple, located on the tiny island of Philae, which spans only 450 metres in length and less than 150 metres in width. Known as the Pearl of Egypt, the island has captivated travellers for centuries with its beauty. Fertile deposits in the granite bedrock's crevices allowed plants and palm trees to thrive. The skyline is adorned with elegant Graeco-Roman temples, colonnades, kiosks and sanctuaries. After exploring the temple, we return to our river vessel for lunch before taking a delightful felucca ride around the Aswan Islands, followed by a visit to the Botanical Gardens.

Covering 6.8 hectares, the Aswan Botanical Garden is home to thousands of birds and many exotic plants imported from many parts of the world, offering a beautiful and unique escape from the city. Dinner on board tonight is followed by a Nubian Show.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation:

This morning, there is the opportunity to join an optional excursion by air to Abu Simbel (at extra cost). Built by Ramesses II, the magnificent temple is famed for its four colossal statues guarding the entrance and stands as one of ancient Egypt's greatest monuments.

Later, we transfer to our hotel in Aswan. This afternoon, you may choose to enjoy an optional High Tea at the legendary Old Cataract Hotel (at extra cost), where Agatha Christie famously wrote Death on the Nile. Savour this iconic experience while admiring beautiful views across the Nile to Elephantine Island before returning to the hotel for dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, Afternoon Tea, Dinner

Accommodation: Mövenpick Aswan

Free time to relax before we transfer to Aswan airport for our flight to Cairo, where we transfer to our hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation: Ramses Hilton

Today, we travel to Alexandria for an exciting and fulfilling day of exploration. We visit the Catacombs of Kom El-Shouqafa and the Roman Amphitheatre. Lunch is served at a local restaurant before we continue to the Montazah Palace Gardens, situated at the eastern edge of Alexandria along Egypt's northern coast. This expansive 360-acre complex is a stunning property, featuring palm-lined walkways, multiple greenhouses and a semi-private beach overlooking Al Montaza. Afterwards, we return to Cairo for dinner at our hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Ramses Hilton

After breakfast, you will be transferred back to the airport where your tour ends.

Meals: Breakfast, In-Flight