Essential egypt ( thursdays or saturdays)

Welcome to buzzing metropolis that is modern day Cairo, sat on the banks of the Nile for over 1000’s of years this exciting capital city has offered all a tourist could ask for and more, ancient monuments, cool culture and great food mixed with the magnetitic bustle of life. Pick up from the airport by your English-speaking guide and transfer to the Hotel in a luxury A/C vehicle on the way to your hotel get a glimpse of the adventures to come. During the ride, your guide will give you all the information about the coming days tours. Check into hotel and overnight. Possibility, to take an optional tour to see the Sound and Light show at the Pyramids.

Breakfast in the hotel and then we are off to discover the mystic secrets of the Pyramids, discover how the ancient Egyptians, through incredible feats of engineering, finally constructed the world's only remaining Seventh Wonder. Discover why the ancient Egyptians really built and designed these fantastic burial monuments. You will have free time to visit the inside of a pyramid (entrance fee not included) before visiting the amazing Sphinx and the Temple of the Valley. In the afternoon we take a tour of Egyptian Museum, famous for its extensive collection of Egyptian artefacts, here you will be able to see over 5000 years worth of stunning art and treasures and your guide will help you understand the development of Egyptian culture and art through the ages. Return to hotel and overnight

Breakfast in the hotel and at the appointed time transfer to the aiport to take the flight to Luxor. Arrival and transfer to your cruise boat. Check and lunch before discovering Karnak. A vast array of temples, chapels, pylons, and other religious sites including a sacred lake. Here over thirty pharaohs contributed to the construction of the buildings, allowing the area to become the most complex and diverse archaeological site in Egypt. Wonder at the Hypostyle Hall where you will see 134 massive columns over 10 metres tall with a diameter of over three metres arranged in a grid of 16 rows. Wander among the huge statues sculpted in the likes of pharaohs and Gods. Continue to Luxor Temple, here Alexander the Great claimed he was crowned King of Egypt. Visit the chapels built by Amenhotep III of the 18th Dynasty, Alexander the Great as well as other parts of the temple built by Tutankhamun and Ramesses II. Return to your cruise boat, dinner and overnight.

Breakfast on board, accompanied by your Egyptologist transfer to the necropolis of Thebes which Howard Carter made famous with his incredible discovery of Tutankhamun’s Tomb. Here you will discover the secrets of the Valley of the Kings. Over sixty burial tombs of pharaohs, marvel at the colour of the hieroglyphics preserved from the sun in these underground chambers, where they retain their stunning colours and reveal the stories of the late rulers of Egypt. Carry on towards Queen Hatshepsut’s Temple, this magnificent temple is totally unique in Egypt. Its colonnaded terraces, with long ramps and surrounded by steep cliffs make it a fitting tribute to Egypt's only female pharaoh. Finally stop off at the Colossi of Memnon the 18 metre high, 700 ton stone statues are the ancient guardians of the necropolis. Return to the boat and lunch on board. In the afternnoon sit back and relax on the sundeck as you watch the Nile float by. Arrival at Esna , where you will be able to see the cruises pass through the lock . Dinner and overnight on board.

Breakfast on board and after a short horse carriage ride you will arrive at Horus Temple in Edfu, one of the best-preserved shrines in Egypt. Here the inscriptions on the walls provide valuable insight into language, myth and religion during the Hellenistic period in Egypt. Admire the important scenes of the Sacred Drama which tells of the battle between the gods Horus and Seth. Lunch on board and continue down the Nile towards Kom Ombo. Arrival late afternoon. Here we will visit the twin temples, unique in design as courts, halls, sanctuaries, and rooms were duplicated for two sets of gods Haroeris and Sobek. You can visit the collection of mummified crocodiles dedicated to the latter god in the specialised museum Also see the Nilometer which allowed the ancient Egyptians measure the water levels of the Nile. Dinner and overnight on board

Breakfast on board, possibility of an early morning optional tour to Abu Simbel , Discover the story of Ramesses II and his wife Nefertari , visit these stunning temples saved by the UNESCO from the rising waters of the lake with their impressive 30 metre high statues that celebrate the victory of the battle of Kadesh. On your way back to Aswan stop off at the High Dam Aswan. Lunch on board In the afternoon possible optional visit of the Ptolemaic Temple of Isis on the Island of Philae before enjoying a gentle sail around the Nile Cataracts and the Elefantine Island on an old-fashioned Felucca to admire the amazing scenery that inspired Agatha Christie's most famous novel "Death on the Nile" . Dinner on board and overnight.

Breakfast on board and then transfer to the airport at Aswan to take your flight back to Cairo. Arrival and check in to hotel. possibility to continue in the afternoon with an optional tour of Citadel of Saladin, a medieval fortification built in the 12th century that served as the seat of government and residency of the rulers of Egypt for over 700 years. Here you will see the stunning Alabaster Mosque and admire the incredible views of the sprawling city of Cairo, before taking part in every Egyptians favourite pastime a bit of bargaining at the renowned Bazaar of Khan El Khalili. Overnight

Breakfast in hotel and private transfer to the airport and assistance with check in procedures before we finally wave goodbye.
** depending on the departure time breakfast maybe a picnic box