Egypt, just the name is enough to set your imagination spinning back to the start of recorded human history - to a time when all-powerful Pharaohs controlled a mysterious and fabulously wealthy empire which lasted virtually intact for over 5,000 years! Our Nile cruise explores the mighty monuments, the intriguing history and the extraordinary artistic masterpieces from the greatest and oldest of all the ancient civilizations.
We start in Cairo, the heart of modern-day Egypt. The largest city on the African continent and much-maligned for its traffic congestion, Cairo remains a fascinating fusion of western, Islamic and Christian culture, all mixed up with something a lot more ancient. The iconic symbols of these ancient roots are the three Great Pyramids and the Sphinx at Giza, on the edge of the city. Visited by the greatest names in history, from Alexander the Great, to Caesar and Napoleon, the Pyramids are actually the world's oldest tourist attraction!
Right in the centre of Cairo, the Egyptian Museum houses so many priceless treasures, that it would take months to see it all. Its Tutankhamun exhibition alone contains over 3,500 finds from the small tomb that Howard Carter discovered in 1922. Although the centre of the collection is the mesmerising solid gold funerary mask, equally impressive is the section devoted to the daily life of the ancient, as are the touchingly realistic funerary portraits from Egypt's Graeco-Roman period.
We'll also visit the Step Pyramid of Djoser in Saqqara, just south of Cairo and built over 4,600 years ago, this is Egypt's first proper pyramid, and is now considered to be the oldest stone building in the world.
After two days of relaxing sailing on the world's longest river our tour continues with visits to the tombs of Beni Hassan, followed by one of the most imposing temples in all of Egypt, at Abydos. Our exploration continues with the temple of Hathor at Dendera, built during the time of the Ptolemies, heirs to Alexander the Great's empire.
Today's Egyptians are immensely proud of their ancient lineage and with typical middle-eastern courtesy and hospitality they are some of the most welcoming and friendly people you are likely to meet.
We start in Cairo, the heart of modern-day Egypt. The largest city on the African continent and much-maligned for its traffic congestion, Cairo remains a fascinating fusion of western, Islamic and Christian culture, all mixed up with something a lot more ancient. The iconic symbols of these ancient roots are the three Great Pyramids and the Sphinx at Giza, on the edge of the city. Visited by the greatest names in history, from Alexander the Great, to Caesar and Napoleon, the Pyramids are actually the world's oldest tourist attraction!
Right in the centre of Cairo, the Egyptian Museum houses so many priceless treasures, that it would take months to see it all. Its Tutankhamun exhibition alone contains over 3,500 finds from the small tomb that Howard Carter discovered in 1922. Although the centre of the collection is the mesmerising solid gold funerary mask, equally impressive is the section devoted to the daily life of the ancient, as are the touchingly realistic funerary portraits from Egypt's Graeco-Roman period.
We'll also visit the Step Pyramid of Djoser in Saqqara, just south of Cairo and built over 4,600 years ago, this is Egypt's first proper pyramid, and is now considered to be the oldest stone building in the world.
After two days of relaxing sailing on the world's longest river our tour continues with visits to the tombs of Beni Hassan, followed by one of the most imposing temples in all of Egypt, at Abydos. Our exploration continues with the temple of Hathor at Dendera, built during the time of the Ptolemies, heirs to Alexander the Great's empire.
Today's Egyptians are immensely proud of their ancient lineage and with typical middle-eastern courtesy and hospitality they are some of the most welcoming and friendly people you are likely to meet.
- Happy by day two or we'll bring you home with a full refund
- Guided tour to the lesser-known ‘Step Pyramid’, the oldest stone structure in the world
- Visit the incredible Pyramids at Giza and get up close to the enigmatic Sphinx
- Marvel at the Golden Mask of Tutankhamun on our visit to the incomparable Egyptian Museum
- Guided tours of amazing, yet rarely-visited sites such as the city of Amarna, created by the pharaoh Akhenaten and Nefertiti
- Visit the mysterious temple dedicated to Osiris, god of the dead, at Abydos
- No single supplement on lower deck cabins, with limited availability
- Marvel at of Egypt’s best preserved temples at Dendera
- 10 nights on board the MS Darakum, with a choice of spacious cabins and suites, all with river views
- All meals included, including complimentary on-board tea & coffee
- Return scheduled flights
