Nile Cruise & Aswan – Premium Adventure

Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

People, Places & Planet

We work hard to create trips which improve life for the people and places we visit, and look after the planet we explore. Find out more about our sustainable travel ethos and practice here, and find out about the work of the Exodus Travels Foundation here.

Some sustainable travel highlights of this trip include:

People

Tourism can be a real help to local communities, providing income, positive cultural exchanges and a financial incentive to protect their natural environment. Ours is a 'total approach' to responsible tourism, covering everything from the way we plan and operate our trips to the practices of Exodus as a company.

Places

How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.

By travelling in a small group, led by a local guide, we ‘tread lightly’ to minimise our impact on local resources and the environment.
On Day 4, time permitting, you can visit A.C.E (Animal Care in Egypt), a charity dedicated to stopping the suffering of animals in the most deprived communities in Luxor by providing free veterinary care and education. Currently, there is a walk-in clinic, a hospital for crucial surgery and stables for the animals to recover. During term time, they host over 150 children a week to teach them about animal welfare and to better care for their animals.
Our trips adhere to ABTA’s industry-leading animal welfare guidelines to ensure the best possible practices with regard to working animals and wildlife viewing. Our animal welfare policy can be found here.

Planet

How we seek to keep the carbon footprint of this trip low.

Read about Exodus Travels’ Planet Promise here, including our rewilding and carbon compensation commitments for every customer who travels.

Tips for sustainable travel on this trip

Leave no trace: We do all we can to ensure we leave no rubbish behind in the wild and beautiful places we visit; we ask that you do the same. If there are no recycling facilities in-country, we’d ask you to consider bringing recyclable materials home with you.
Plastic waste reduction: Please bring your own re-usable water bottle on this trip; filtered water will be provided where tap water is not drinkable.

Cultural respect:

Keep in mind that Egypt is a mainly Islamic country. Outside of beach resorts, dress modestly. Public displays of affection may be frowned upon. Only use your right hand if eating food with your hands.
Ask before taking someone’s photo.

Itinerary

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Cairo

Aswan

Fly to Cairo
Fly to Cairo.
Premium Accommodation: Cairo Marriott Zamalek, Cairo (5 star)
Day 1
Start Cairo
Start Cairo.
Premium Accommodation: Cairo Marriott Zamalek, Cairo (5 star)
Day 2
The Egyptian Museum, El Azhar Mosque and Cairo's lively bazaar
Today, on our second full day in Cairo, we next pay a visit to the incredible Egyptian Museum of Antiquities, which contains relics dating back to 4000 BC, including the fantastic riches of Tutankhamun's tomb. Here is a unique opportunity to survey the many fabulous treasures of Egypt in one place and to set the scene for the rest of the tour.
For the remainder of the day, we experience modern Cairo with visits to Al Azhar Mosque, which despite being Cairo’s oldest mosque and university, is still very much in use today, and the small alleyways and streets that make up Cairo's popular bazaar. Please note that we will need to cover up at the mosque (long sleeves and trousers) and women will also need to cover their hair with a scarf.
Premium Accommodation: Cairo Marriott Zamalek, Cairo (5 star)
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 3
Visit the Pyramids at Giza
After breakfast, we depart our hotel for a half day tour of the Pyramids at Giza.
Home to the Great Pyramids of Cheops, Chephren and Mycerinus and the timeless and enigmatic Sphinx; these great monuments to the afterlife defy the imagination. Only the throng of sightseers, Egyptian and foreign, milling around their huge foundations, keep the viewer in the 21st century.
Afterwards, in the afternoon, there will be some free time if you wish to relax by the pool at the hotel, or take an optional excursion to Sakkara.
Premium Accommodation: Cairo Marriott Zamalek, Cairo (5 star)
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 4
Fly to Luxor; visit Karnak and Luxor temples. Board our premium cruise vessel, the Movenpick Royal Lily or Royal Lotus; free afternoon
We typically transfer to Cairo airport before sunrise for our flight to Luxor (flight times can vary). On arrival in Luxor, we visit Luxor Temple and the huge Karnak Temple complex on the east bank of the Nile. Built over 1500 years, Karnak is a confusion of pylons, courtyards, halls and sanctuaries. Its Hypostyle hall has 134 columns 23 metres high and 15 metres in diameter! Both temples are incredibly impressive. We arrive at our cruise boat in time for lunch on board before having free time in the afternoon to relax or explore Luxor.
Premium Accommodation: MS Movenpick Royal Lily or Royal Lotus (5 star)
Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Days 5-6
Valley of the Kings; two days on the Nile with visits to Edfu and Kom Ombo en route
We begin Day 5 with a visit to the Valley of the Kings on the west bank of the Nile, which contains the once hidden tombs of over 62 Pharaohs, including Tutankhamun, Seti I, Ramses III and IV. A discreet entrance in the hillside takes the visitor underground; a series of corridors and ante-chambers leads us down to the burial chamber and sarcophagus. The walls are covered in brightly painted images and hieroglyphs - a map of the afterlife to ensure the king's safe passage. One ticket allows us to see three tombs. The ticket usually allows entry into what are regarded as the most impressive tombs, but if you have time a visit to the tomb of Ramses VI is also highly recommended. Visits to tombs are now strictly controlled to halt further deterioration of wall paintings - each tomb is periodically closed for a number of weeks. On return to our cruise boat, we begin our voyage along the Nile, travelling upstream from Luxor to Aswan. Exact sailing and excursion times cannot be guaranteed for each individual trip but we will visit the temples of Edfu, famous for its roofed inner temples and huge Pylon, and Kom Ombo. The cruise boat has good facilities: a sundeck with sun loungers, bar and small pool, restaurant, gift shop and library - these can all be taken advantage of when the cruise boat is docked or during sailing. The sunsets over the Nile are truly stunning and travelling from Luxor to Aswan, enjoying the beauty of the lush verdant landscape make this journey special.
Premium Accommodation: MS Movenpick Royal Lily or Royal Lotus (5 star)
Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Day 7
Continue Nile cruise; optional visit to High Dam, Unfinished Obelisk and Philae Temple; sunset felucca sailing
Today there is the possibility for an optional visit to Philae Temple. In the 1970s it was relocated by UNESCO to Aglika Island after it became evident that the original site of Philae would submerge on completion of the Aswan High Dam. It represents a magnificent and enduring testament to both ancient and modern engineering. During this excursion, we will also visit Aswan High Dam and Cleopatra's Unfinished Obelisk.
Later in the day, we enjoy a sunset sail on a felucca, a traditional wooden sailing boat. Feluccas have been a fixture on the Nile River for centuries and are used in the protected waters of the Red Sea and eastern Mediterranean. The Felucca’s deck is strewn with soft colorful cushions and rugs and equipped with a canopy that offers shade and protection.
We the spend our last evening on board the MS Movenpick Royal Lily or Royal Lotus.
Premium Accommodation: MS Movenpick Royal Lily or Royal Lotus (5 star)
Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Day 8
Disembark cruise; full day in Aswan or optional visit to Abu Simbel
After breakfast on board, we disembark our boat and there is the choice to have a full day in Aswan or there is also the option for an optional visit to Abu Simbel for those who are interested.
Aswan is a laid-back, sleepy town that reflects the character of its largely Nubian inhabitants, known for being friendly and hospitable. By virtue of its position on the old caravan route, it has always been a trading centre and we thoroughly recommend a visit to the packed bazaar today where merchants display a wealth of exotic spices, carpets, leather goods and countless other wares.
Today there is also the option (for those who are interested) to visit Abu Simbel, 300 km. to the south through the Nubian Desert. The optional bus tour starts at 3.30/4 in the morning when we get picked up from the boat. A breakfast box is provided. Around 8 am we will arrive at the destination, where we are given approx. 3 hours to visit the temples. Built by Ramses II the two temples are certainly some of the most spectacular in Egypt. Originally on the banks of the Nile, the temples were raised to a new site above the lake in the late 1960s, as the waters from the new Lake Nasser rose behind the Aswan High Dam. The four great seated statues of Ramses II stare east towards the rising sun. For those who do take the optional excursion to Abu Simbel, you will arrive at the hotel in Aswan around 3pm.
The hotel in Aswan is well known for its perfect location. Enjoy views of the River Nile from your hotel room or head up to the Panorama Restaurant & Bar, the highest point in Aswan for unbeatable 360 degree views of the Nile. For lunch or dinner options, there’s a great choice of bars and restaurants if you don’t want to venture into the town. Otherwise, the historical town is just a short walk away
Premium Accommodation: Movenpick Resort, Aswan (5 star)
Meals included: Breakfast
Fly to London via Cairo
Fly to London
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 9
End Aswan
The trip ends this morning in Aswan after breakfast.
Meals included: Breakfast

Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

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Essential Info

Visas

Egypt

Visas are required by all non-Arab nationalities and currently cost approximately GBP20. It is recommended that you obtain your visa before you travel (although it’s still possible to get a tourist visa on arrival). You can get a visa online at Visa2Egypt or alternatively, the address of the Egyptian Embassy in London is 2 Lowndes Street, SW1. Tel: 020 7235 9777. Visas are now generally available for same day collection, although this should NOT be relied upon. Opening hours are 09.30 to 12.30 for applications, 14.15 to 16.00 for collection of passports after the visa has been issued. Postal applications direct to the embassy for visas are not recommended as the service takes 15 to 20 days.

If you are obtaining your visa online then please ensure you have a scan of your passport ready. The file size should be small and ideally saved as a JPEG or PDF otherwise you might not be able to load it on the visa application.

You will need to provide your host’s information on the application – please use the following details:

South Sinai Travel
79 Merghany Street
Cairo
Egypt
Tel: +20 22418 7310
www.southsinai.com

[email protected]

Please note that recently Egyptian officials have requested tourists carry a copy of their passport with them whilst in the country.

Vaccinations

Egypt

There are no mandatory vaccination requirements. Recommended vaccinations are: Tetanus, Typhoid, Hepatitis A. Although not usually advised, other vaccinations to consider include rabies and Hepatitis B.

Eating and Drinking

All breakfasts, 4 lunches and 4 dinners included.

In the itinerary we state which meals are included on which day. We suggest you allow GBP60-90 (approx. . USD100-140) for meals not included. Food in Egypt involves such things as kebabs, chicken, stews, pitta-bread, felafel, beans, aubergine and other vegetables, pickles, salads. Dishes tend to be simple and wholesome and vegetarians can be catered for if they accept that the options may be somewhat limited.

Weather

Rain is very rare in all parts of Egypt and most days are sunny and clear. Summer temperatures often reach the upper 30's but this is particularly true for the period between June and September. The winter months can be surprisingly cold, especially on the Nile or at night. The average daytime maximum in Cairo in January is 20ºC, night time minimum is 8ºC. In the summer these temperatures are 35ºC and 22ºC respectively. Daytime temperatures are on average 3 or 4 degrees higher in Aswan.

Is this trip for you?

This trip has been graded as grade 1 (leisurely). Leisurely grade trips are suitable for all clients with average health and fitness. No experience of any activity involved is necessary.

Most days involve early starts (especially Day 4 when we catch an early flight to Luxor) but this allows us to get the most from our time in Egypt and avoid the worst of the heat.

Egypt can get hot, especially during our summer, which can cause discomfort whilst travelling. Care should be taken to keep hydrated. The hottest months tend to be June to September when temperatures can reach as high as 38 to 40ºC in the south of the country.

The hotels and cruise boat that we use on this trip are of a high standard, providing excellent levels of comfort.

Please note that the new Egyptian Museum is scheduled to open in October 2020 but that this is subject to change. We will change to the new museum when it is open.

Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as not suitable for full wheelchair users, but it may be suitable for other persons of reduced mobility. Please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.

Call for general departures:

1 844 227 9087

Call for private group trips:

1 844 227 9087

Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

Accommodation

Premium Hotels & Cruise

Relax in 5-star handpicked accommodation throughout. Each property has been chosen for its excellent location, its comfort and style, and its unique characteristics.

Cairo Mariott Zamalek (5 star). 3 nights.

Marriott Cairo- Salon Royal

A former Royal Palace with six acres of gardens and views of the Nile
Excellent location in the heart of downtown Cairo
24-hour gym, outdoor pool, and spa

MS Movenpick Royal Lily or Royal Lotus (5 star). 4 nights.

With only 56- 60 cabins, they are fewer but more spacious than average (22sqm)
Sun Deck with swimming pool or plunge pool, heated whirlpool or jacuzzi, pool bar and a canopied area
Salon Deck incorporating a lounge and bar with panoramic windows

Movenpick Resort Aswan (5 star). 1 night.

Movenpick Aswan- double room

Unique location on Elephantine Island on the Nile River (free boat shuttles available to shore)
Panorama Restaurant & Bar is the highest point in Aswan and offers a 360-degree view of the Nile
Quiet tropical gardens and terraces
Choice of over five restaurants
Swimming pools and health club

The accommodation shown has been booked and agreed upon in advance, however, we may need to make changes to a property of similar or higher standard after you have booked. While we will endeavour to inform you of any changes in advance which could, on rare occasions, be at late notice.

Additional Accommodation

It is possible to book additional nights before or after the tour, subject to availability - please enquire for details and prices.

Single Accommodation

If you would like to have your own room, there are a limited number of single supplements available on request. Please enquire for details.

Call for general departures:

1 844 227 9087

Call for private group trips:

1 844 227 9087

Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

Experts

Contact a member of staff who has done this trip

Expert Leader - Attia Shawky Ekladyous

Expert Leader

Expert Leader - Ahmed El Meligy

Expert Leader

Expert Leader - Andrew Neamtalla Shenouda

Expert Leader

See all experts

Call for general departures:

1 844 227 9087

Call for private group trips:

1 844 227 9087

Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.