The Original Nile by Royal Steamer - 2024

Day 1 Fly from London Heathrow to Aswan via Cairo, and transfer to the Nile to board the paddle steamer SS Misr for your 12-night cruise. Two-night mooring in Aswan.

Day 2 Visit the Nubian Museum for its display of the culture and heritage of Nubia’s ‘Land of Gold’ era; and after lunch aboard, view the High Dam of Lake Nasser, and take a boat trip to the Philae Temple, saved from a watery grave in the lake by moving it to Agilika island; then enjoy a sunset tea, overlooking the river, at the Old Cataract Hotel, from where Agatha Christie wrote ‘Death on the Nile’. (B, L, D)

Day 3 Enjoy a morning at leisure to explore Aswan and its souk, or join us on an optional tour to Abu Simbel, leaving early this morning (4hrs each way by road, pre-bookable £140 per person). Created by Ramses II in the 13^th century BCE, the heroic proportions of the two temples were matched by the massive task of moving them up onto the plateau from their original site, which was soon to disappear into Lake Nasser. Return to the ship to cruise to Kom Ombo this afternoon, and visit its riverside ‘double deity’ temple, dedicated the crocodile-headed Sobek and falcon-headed Horus. Join us for a cocktail party aboard as you sail to Edfu. (B, L, D)

Day 4 Travel by road to visit west-bank Edfu’s temple, its huge edifice among the best-preserved and most atmospheric of Egypt’s ancient monuments, returning to the river to navigate the Esna Lock enroute to a two-night mooring in Luxor. (B, L, D)

Day 5 An early-morning optional tour gives you a sunrise view of Luxor from a hot-air balloon, (pre-bookable £140 per person). Later, tour the west-bank Theban necropolis, the Valley of the Kings, where iconic landmarks include the monumental Colossi of Memnon, the statues soaring 60-feet high; and visit the tiered tomb of Queen Hatshepsut. Amongst over sixty tombs of the pharaohs, there is an option to visit those of Seti I and Tutankhamun, (subject to viewing restrictions, extra charge). Cross to the east bank to explore the Temple of Karnak, its acres of courts, colonnades, and obelisks linked followed by a visit Luxor Museum, its long façade lining the riverbank, its collection of antiquities exhibited in an open-air garden or atmospherically lit interior displays. Explore the Avenue of Sphinxes from Luxor Temple; laid out parallel to the riverbank, it has been in almost continuous use as a place of worship right up to present day and played an essential role in the annual Opet Festival which celebrated the Nile River floods. Enjoy a special experience of witnessing the temple illuminated at night and a cocktail reception at the historic Old Winter Palace. (B, L, D)

Day 6 Sail to Qena and travel by road to Denderah, among the best-preserved of Egypt’s temple complexes, to view the Temple of Hathor, the largest of three on the site. Among its stone carvings are an image of Cleopatra and her son, and the replica of the Zodiac which sowed doubt about biblical chronology. Return to the ship to sail to Naga Hammadi, passing the railway bridge. (B, L, D)

Day 7 Continue downriver to El Balyana and travel to ancient Abydos, to visit the New Kingdom temple of Seti I, where carvings include a ‘List of Kings’ and intriguing hieroglyphs said to show futuristic transport, a helicopter, zeppelin, and submarine. Return to the vessel and sail to Sohag, a major centre of Coptic Christianity. Enroute a talk on agriculture and the Nile. (B, L, D)

Day 8 Enjoy the riverbank views and the fine facilities of the SS Misr on a leisurely day of cruising, navigating Asyut Lock and passing the old caravanserai town, and viewing the monastery of heroic Prince/Saint Tawadros from the Nile enroute to an overnight mooring in Tell el-Amarna. View a documentary on Akhenaten and later join us for a Galabeya party aboard this evening. (B, L, D)

Day 9 This morning, visit the animal catacombs and human tombs of Tuna el-Gebel, where excavations revealed amulets, statues, and stone sarcophagi; and Ashmunein’s ancient Temple of Thoth, the god of wisdom. Afternoon exploration in Tell el-Amarna takes in the Tombs of the Nobles, Ahmose, Meryre and Pentu; and the Royal Tomb of Akhenaten, the pharaoh’s sarcophagus carved with the sun-discs of Aten, god of the setting sun. Cruise to the modern city of Minya, the region’s capital, steeped in legends of Akhenaten and Nefertiti. (B, L, D)

Day 10 Visit Beni Hassan, its Middle Kingdom, rock-hewn tombs of provincial rulers, Baqet, Khety, Amenenmhet and Khnumhotep, adorned with richly coloured frescoes. An interesting lecture on hieroglyphics as you sail to Beni Suef, with its landmark bridge across the river. (B, L, D)

Day 11 Visit the step-pyramid at Meidum, rising tower-like from the desert sands, and the nearby mud-brick ‘mastabas’, built as burial chambers for prominent (but not royal) Egyptians. Return to the vessel for lunch and enjoy the views of the timeless Nile, where egrets and ibis graze in the shallows; enjoy a talk on modern Egypt, as you cruise to Cairo. (B, L, D)

Day 12 A full day of discovery begins at Giza to view the magnificent monolith of the Sphinx and the Great Pyramid of Cheops, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Lunch at the Mena House hotel, with views of the pyramids, is followed by a visit to the Egyptian Museum (or new Grand Egyptian, subject to opening date), to view the wealth of artefacts from statuary to jewellery and the treasures of Tutankhamun’s tomb. This evening, enjoy an Oriental Takht music performance aboard. (B, L, D)

Day 13 Disembark the SS Misr and transfer to Cairo airport for the return flight to London Heathrow. (B)

• Key
• B - Breakfast
• L - Lunch
• D - Dinner