For my chance to see one of the seven wonders, I got a lot more than I bargained for with even... Jonny Hodgetts, 2019 See more reviews
A busy and enjoyable week. With so much to see, all in a week, Tito (leader) kept encouraging us... Graham Mosley, 2019 See more reviews
This holiday was wonderful though the first two days were excessively tiring and I'm quite... Anne Wilson, 2019 See more reviews
This trip covered everything anyone with an interest in Egyptology would want to see. ... Lewis Owens, 2019 See more reviews
Very culturally inspiring trip, with a considerable variety of points of interest. My grandson,... James Smith, 2019 See more reviews
Seeing and standing next to the real thing is unsurpassed by any screen be it 3D or otherwise. ... Andrew Walsh, 2018 See more reviews
Amazing trip all the sites were safe and our guide Khalid lotfy made the trip ten times better... Michael Willis, 2018 See more reviews
Itinerary Expand all Cairo to Aswan Day 1 Start Cairo. Start Cairo. Accommodation: Pyramids Park Resort Hotel or similar Day 2 Visit Egyptian Museum, El Azhar Mosque and Cairo's lively bazaar; afternoon visit spectacular pyramids at Giza. Visit to Egyptian Museum, Al Azhar mosque and lively Bazaar. We begin with 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. Following our visit to this amazing museum we experience modern day Cairo with a visit to Al Azhar mosque, Cairo's oldest mosque and university, and the small alleyways and streets that make up Cairo's popular bazaar.Dating back to AD970, Al Azhar mosque is a busy and popular mosque today, frequently visited by locals and thus well worth a visit. We will need to cover up (long sleeves and trousers) as when entering all mosques. Women will also need to cover their hair with a scarf.In the afternoon we visit 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. Accommodation: Pyramids Park Resort Hotel or similar Meals included: Breakfast Day 3 Fly to Luxor; visit to Karnak and Luxor temples; free time. 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. Accommodation: M/S Mirage or similar Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Days 4-5 Valley of the Kings; two days on the Nile with visits to Edfu and Kom Ombo en route. We begin Day 4 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. Accommodation: M/S Mirage or similar Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 6 A traditional felucca ride on the Nile; free afternoon or optional visit to Aswan High Dam and unfinished obelisk. This morning we are travelling the Nile in a different, exciting way: by felucca, the traditional Egyptian sailing boat. Using the felucca, we can truly savour the tranquillity of the Nile and the beauty of the surrounding landscape, where the vast desert almost reaches the water's edge. (The sailing by felucca timing might be changed according to weather conditions). In the afternoon there is the option to visit the Nubian Museum, situated opposite the hotel. Opened in April 1998, the museum chronologically charts the history and culture of the Nubian people. Alternatively, we can arrange an optional visit to Philae Temple. In the 1970s it has been 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. Accommodation: M/S Mirage or similar Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 7 Optional visit to Abu Simbel. Today there's the option of a visit to 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. We will be back in Aswan around 3 pm. Our luggage will be moved to the hotel, where we will overnight for the next 2 days. Accommodation: Movenpick Resort Aswan or similar Meals included: Breakfast Day 8 Aswan; St. Simone Monastery optional tour, bazaar and corniche. Today it's our last day in Aswan. A visit to St. Simone Monastery would be one of the available optional tours or we can spend our day discovering the bazaar (market) and corniche in Aswan. Shopping of home-made products can be done at the market, a great opportunity to have a taste of the local culture. Aswan is a laid-back, sleepy town that reflects the character of its largely Nubian inhabitants, known for being friendly and hospitable. Enjoying its atmosphere is a highlight for many on this trip. Accommodation: Movenpick Resort Aswan or similar Meals included: Breakfast Day 9 End Aswan. End Aswan Meals included: Breakfast
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. Please note that recently Egyptian officials have also requested tourists carry a copy of their passport with them whilst in the country.
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.
Cruise Boat & Hotels We use comfortable 4/5 star hotels (Egyptian Classification) on a twin-share basis. The accommodation that we typically use in Aswan is located on an island in the Nile and has fantastic views. The facilities in the rooms and in the hotel itself are excellent, including a choice of bars and restaurants and a spacious swimming pool.In Cairo we generally use the Cairo Pyramids Hotel. Set in a landscaped garden it offers stunning views over the Pyramids. All rooms are en suite. Cruise boatWe sail the Nile on the M/Y Mirage. This cruise boat offers impressive service and great facilities including a swimming pool, a sun deck, gift shop, gym, restaurant and two bars. It stretches 72m in length, 14.4m width and 11.1m height, each of the 58 en suite cabins is fully air-conditioned and has a mini bar. Wi-Fi is available at a cost of $20 (subject to change). Single rooms available, please enquire for prices. Additional AccommodationCan be arranged in Cairo pre or post tour. Please speak to a consultant at the time of booking if you would like additional accommodation.
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Reviewed April 2019 Andy Longden Trip: Nile Cruise - Premium Sensational sightseeing, but the trip should be longer and better structured. Egypt is a stand-out destination, but Exodus needs to review how this trip operates. Group flights were at anti social times, losing a full night of the trip and necessitating extremely early starts. If group flights are used and the excursion to Abu Simbel is taken, 4 of the 8 nights are materially disrupted. Four nights are spent in luxury hotels, but there is virtually no time to enjoy the facilities. This trip should be longer, or at the very least Exodus should have options to extend the holiday both at the start and end of the trip. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? For those interested in ancient Egypt, the sightseeing on this trip is sensational throughout, but you need to stay awake to appreciate it! What did you think of your group leader? Tifa was charismatic, experienced and very personable, with good English and historical knowledge. He guided well, given the time constraints we invariably faced. Admin was mildly chaotic, especially over collecting money for optional trips, but we forgive him for that! Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Exodus didn't make it easy to pay for optional trips, so we'd advise you carry US dollars to avoid having excessive amounts of Egyptian pounds (you should allow up to $250 per person for these options). Souvenir shopping in Egypt is uncomfortable for tourists due to the amount of hassle - this can feel very intimidating, especially to women. On the other hand, we felt safe everywhere we went, and Egyptians are very friendly, although they will require payment for rendering any kind of service, however minor!! The boat trip is enjoyable, with at least some time to relax and unwind. Unlike other Muslim countries, alcohol (particularly beer) is freely available and inexpensive (also on the boat). Is there anything else you would like to add? In summary, if you can manage the sleep deprivation, this is a well guided and interesting trip to Luxor and Aswan, but one day (which only started at 11 am because of the overnight group flight) is way too short to even begin exploring the Pyramids and the rest of Cairo. We also thought that there were too many optional excursions - some of these should have been priced into the holiday. With hindsight, we would have booked a comparable but longer trip with another operator, but we did still enjoy many aspects of the trip, and the excellent company of our group.
Reviewed April 2019 Jonny Hodgetts Trip: Nile Cruise - Premium Memorable For my chance to see one of the seven wonders, I got a lot more than I bargained for with even more amazing sights What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Seeing Abu Simble What did you think of your group leader? Fantastic and quirky Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Make sure to take sanitizer Is there anything else you would like to add? Worth going
Reviewed April 2019 Graham Mosley Trip: Nile Cruise - Premium Ex - dooooss! OK Guys! A busy and enjoyable week. With so much to see, all in a week, Tito (leader) kept encouraging us in his inimitable way so that we made the most of our time. There was also, however, some relaxing time on the cruise boat to watch it all sliding past. We were a large (20) and varied group which mixed well. Overall, it was a more enjoyable trip than I was expecting. So, if in doubt, - go for it! What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Sunsets. What did you think of your group leader? Tito was excellent; indefatigable. Always smiling and ready to share his bottomless store of knowledge, both ancient and modern, which he imparted in a lively and engaging manner. In particular, he looked after the group completely but always had an eye to the needs of individuals and small groups. He is a great ambassador for Egypt. - and a really nice bloke! Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Be prepared for early starts on some days - e.g. flight from Cairo to Luxor, Abu Simnel option. But they are worth it. Otherwise, just read the notes. I did do a little background reading on Egyptian history, ancient to modern, beforehand. I'm glad I did this because it gave some perspective to what I was seeing. It made more sense. Is there anything else you would like to add? It seems that most of the Nile cruisers sail on the same days following similar itineraries. And there are a lot of them.This means that occasionally, when a number of boats hits a temple at the same time, it gets very busy. I couldn't understand why the cruisers don't stagger their sailing dates - it would be better for all concerned, including the desperate stallholders who get hit by surges of tourists. At night the boats moor up side by side, so your cabin window looks onto another boat. It was not a big deal, but it would make more sense to me.
Reviewed April 2019 Anne Wilson Trip: Nile Cruise - Premium Fantastic but tiring! This holiday was wonderful though the first two days were excessively tiring and I'm quite an energetic person! This was because the flight timing plus security clearance plus travel time to our first hotel (incl loss of two hrs)meant we didn't get to our beds until midnight and immediately shifted to very early starts to avoid heat and crowds on day one and to catch a 6am flight on day 2. After that the holiday was just right. It was still busy but calmer and the end of the holiday and cruise gave recovery time. I would suggest ending day 1 after the museum visit..ie .cut out mosque and souk in Cairo. ( Instead go to mosque in Asswan if intro to Islam is wanted and visit the lovely souk there as it was infinitely better...not being so entirely touristy). Alternatively fit Cairo in on the return...as we all changed flights there on our way home...but that might add a day to the holiday which may not suit some. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The Cairo museum and the optional trip to Abu Simbel What did you think of your group leader? Tito was excellent. He was very personable and he kept a very mixed group going well on an extremely full trip. He would adapt details to suit peoples needs whilst still looking after the whole party and made sure we saw all the key parts of every site we visited. His knowledge was impeccable. He told us what we needed to know but, when questioned, he demonstrated he knew even more just for the asking. He had to work really hard day after day with a group of 20 to lead through some extremely crowded areas and with lots of optional trips to lead as well but he did it indefatiguably and with unfailing good humour. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Go well rested in the knowledge you will have time to catch up on sleep after day 2!
Reviewed March 2019 Lewis Owens Trip: Nile Cruise - Premium Bucket list ticked This trip covered everything anyone with an interest in Egyptology would want to see. Would highly recommend if you want a comprehensive trip covering all the main ancient sites. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Karnak Temple and King Tut's tomb. What did you think of your group leader? Excellent and very knowledgeable. Very personable. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Take small notes, 5, 10, 20's. You will need 5's for public bathrooms and smaller notes for tips. US dollars and Euros are also used widely but ensure they are fresh and non damaged notes.
Reviewed March 2019 Andrew Mason Trip: Nile Cruise - Premium Nile Cruise 2019 A whistlestop tour of the main sites in Egypt What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Sites like Karnak, Philae, the pyramids at Giza and the Valley of the Kings lived up to all expectations. I also loved cruising down the Nile and watching the world go by - this was my first river cruise and I would do more now. What did you think of your group leader? Teefa was excellent - like having a friend guide you round the sights. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? It's not a leisurely trip - there are a number of very early starts and you cover a lot of sites in a week. February is a perfect time to go - it's a very pleasant mid 20s during the day, and cool in the evenings. Is there anything else you would like to add? I really enjoyed the visit to the Al Azhar mosque in Cairo, a fascinating experience at sunset.
Reviewed March 2019 James Smith Trip: Nile Cruise - Premium Nile Cruise - Premium Very culturally inspiring trip, with a considerable variety of points of interest. My grandson, Will, said it all: "It was awesome; more than I expected". Our tour guide really had his act together, and kept a close watch on each and every tour member, yet giving them freedom to do their own extra things (like collecting soil samples and geocaching). One big thing I did learn about the aristocracy of the distant past. The top 1% of societies wanted to leave their mark for not only those who followed, but they also made a way that they could attain another life into the future (from their perspective). From what my grandson and I saw and experienced, we now better know that primitive societies were really quite advanced to be able to cut, transport, and assemble what resources were available - stone. Very inspirational trip!! What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? When we entered Karnak Temple. It took Will's breath away. So massive and well preserved. I believe that was the first temple we visited, and as such, even left a bigger impressions on us. What did you think of your group leader? Achman was very well organized and obviously educated in ancient Egyptian history. He did an excellent job at explaining details, at the same time giving the group an overall impression of the historical, cultural, and religious themes. He also was attentive to special needs of individuals in the group. I have nothing negative to say our tour guide. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? When haggling, start real low. My grandson did and met with success on numerous occasions. Don't worry about vendors getting mad. That's to be expected and part of the game. When passing through a market area on your way to see a famous temple, tomb, of pyramid, keep your head up, eyes on a straight course, and of course hide your wallet. Never let them know you even have a purse or wallet. And the smaller the camera you carry, the less the vendors will bother you. I had a big camera. Mistake. They measure you by what you are carrying and will set prides accordingly. Expect big crowds of tourists, and go with the flow...and don't worry if you have to pay a little to use the John. It's their culture and we are the guests. Is there anything else you would like to add? Take this trip, by all means, and pay for the additional tours. Abu Simbel was one of the greatest temples we visited. In my case, I paid the extra so I could take photographs. To me, they are personal; Postcards, although likely cheaper, will not give you the memory of what your own photo would.
Reviewed January 2019 John Duffield Trip: Nile Cruise - Premium An amazing trip and a fantastic value! Loved it. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Going up the shaft in the #2 Pyramid. Wasn't expecting what an adventure that would be. What did you think of your group leader? Amazing. Was a step ahead throughout.
Reviewed December 2018 Andrew Walsh Trip: Nile Cruise - Premium Absolutely awe inspiring. Seeing and standing next to the real thing is unsurpassed by any screen be it 3D or otherwise. Good pace if booking the extra excursion/visits, almost all of which were worth the effort. The cruise part was very relaxing and a welcome break from the grey cold wet xmas hustle. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The monuments were fabulous... 4 thousand years old... still coloured, still there !!! Physically and mentally impressive. What did you think of your group leader? Our leader Sayed was fantastic - enthusiastic, knowledgeable, friendly. He was even prepared to take a few of us out for extra walks in the evening and for meals in restaurants. He really did care. Great bloke. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? DO NOT DO the light show at Phalae - its just rotten. This has not been updated since the day they put it in. Dialogue like some 50's Hollywood black and white film and just playing with the dimmer switch does not constitute a show.! Make sure you have plenty of small change for tips. Be prepared for constant hustling by people trying to sell you souvenirs almost everywhere. You do need to have Egyptian money as some places wont accept anything else but lots of places accept cards and other currency . You can change money on the boat, in hotels.
Reviewed November 2018 Michael Willis Trip: Nile Cruise - Premium A must do Amazing trip all the sites were safe and our guide Khalid lotfy made the trip ten times better with his genuine friendship and knowledge Highly recommended and if you can request a guide ask for Khalid Lotfy! What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Seeing the pyramids and valley of the kings What did you think of your group leader? The best group leader you could get
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