Return to Egypt for the classic long cruise sailing into the desert from Cairo to ancient Thebes visiting the Pyramids and rarely explored temples and tombs with a specialist guide
(limited dates/availability)
Day 1 & 2 - Cairo
Day 3 - Pyramids/Saqqara
Day 4 - Beni Suef
Day 5 - Minya
Day 6 - Beni Hassan
Day 7 - Amarna/Asyut
Day 8 - Sohag
Day 9 - El Balyana/Abydos/Qena
Day 10 - Denderah/Luxor
Day 11 - Return Flight
This cruise follows in the footsteps of Napoleon’s savants, Champollion who uncovered the secrets of the hieroglyphs and the 19th-century British travellers – all travelled south on the Nile to Thebes, enjoying some days of sailing after hectic Cairo – in between visits to the ancient sites.
The ancient capital moved between Upper (Thebes) and Lower Egypt (Memphis), sometimes split and sometimes united, except when the ‘heretic’ Pharaoh Akhenaten and Nefertiti moved the capital to Amarna between the two kingdoms.
Whilst Cairo and Luxor are influenced by tourism, these cruises offer a rare opportunity to observe an old way of life and ancient sites largely unvisited, with the benefit of longer actual cruising than on the classic Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan. For the returning visitor it will ‘fill in’ the gap between the Pyramids and ancient Thebes.
Colourful scenes embellish less-visited tombs in the desert at Tuna el-Gebel, the cliffs at Beni Hassan, the temples at Abydos, necropolis of the pharaohs and Greco-Roman Denderah.
Culture & Riverscapes
Jules Verne Sightseeing
2 UNESCO Heritage Sites
No Single Supplement
Egyptian Tour Manager
Egyptologist
On Board Lectures
Group Size: 6 – 25
A private cocktail reception at the Victorian Lounge in the Old Winter Palace, where Howard Carter announced the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun. Enjoy a memorable visit to the illuminated Luxor Temple.
Day 1 Fly from London Heathrow to Cairo. Transfer to the 5-star Mövenpick MS Darakum for a ten-night cruise. (D)
Day 2 Full-day visit to the Pyramids and Sphinx. Discover the Egyptian Museum, home to the Amarna Room and the treasures of Tutankhamun. Enjoy an oriental Takht music performance on board. (B, L, D)
Day 3 Visit Saqqara step pyramid. Visit Old Cairo including the Coptic museum. Managers cocktail party. (B, L, D)
Day 4 Relax and enjoy your first views of the timeless Nile scenes, interspersed with minarets and Coptic church towers as you cruise to the riverside town of Beni Suef. Enjoy a talk on agriculture, irrigation and village life on the Nile and navigation (bridge visit). Egyptian wine tasting. (B, L, D)
Day 5 Sail to the regional capital, Minya. Birdwatching talk and introductory talk on Akhenaten and Nefertiti. (B, L, D)
Day 6 Visit the tombs, catacombs and temple of Tuna el-Gebel and Ashmunein. Afternoon visit to the beautifully decorated Middle Kingdom tombs of Beni Hassan. Folklore show. (B, L, D)
Day 7 Sail to Tel el Amarna, home of the ‘Amarnian experience’. A presentation on Akhenaten and Nefertiti at the Amarna Visitor Centre. Visit the northern tombs and royal tomb of Akhenaten at Amarna, dedicated to the sun god, Aten. View Prince Tawadros’ monastery from the Nile en route to the provincial town of Asyut, once the head of the caravan route to the Western Desert. Galabeya (traditional dress) party. (B, L, D)
Day 8 A full-day’s sailing to Sohag while listening to talks on modern Egypt, education and hieroglyphs. Learn about Egyptian culture and view pharaonic antiquities, at the newly opened Sohag museum. (B, L, D)
Day 9 Sail to El Balyana. At Abydos, holy city of Osiris God of the Dead, visit the New Kingdom temple of Seti I. Pass two locks and the railway bridge at Naga Hammadi. Sail to Qena town. Quiz night. (B, L, D)
Day 10 Visit the Temple of Hathor at Denderah, viewing the image of Cleopatra and son and the replica of the zodiac that sowed doubt about biblical chronology. Sail to Luxor. Cooking lesson. ‘Luxor Temple by Night and Cocktail at the Victorian Lounge of the Old Winter Palace’. (B, L, D)
Day 11 Return flight via Cairo. (B)
Notes
Temple, tomb and pyramid visits are on foot with steps and uneven surfaces.
The programme may be altered due to navigational factors with locks, water levels or congestion at certain sites.
This luxurious 5-star vessel was specially designed for the ‘long cruise’ and offers a high standard of service with attentive Egyptian staff and Moroccan inspired interior. A spacious restaurant offers excellent buffet and served meals combining Egyptian and international cuisine. The elegant lounge with bar adjoins a comfortable outdoor lounge for observing the continually changing riverside scenes. The large sun deck has a plunge pool, loungers and seats with sunny and shaded areas. Small gym, jewellery and gift shop and WiFi (free/limited). Jules Verne guests receive three small bottles of water per day free of charge.
52 tastefully designed air-conditioned, outside cabins spread over three decks with private facilities, hairdryer, safe, mini-bar, tea/coffee making facilities and satellite TV.
44 twin/double cabins
(215 sq. ft.),
two Junior Suites
(279 sq. ft. – Deck Two),
two Senior Suites
(430 sq. ft. – Deck Three),
two Senior Suites
(430 sq. ft. – Deck Four) and
two Panorama Suites
(366 sq. ft. – Deck Three).
All cabins have large picture windows except Lower Deck cabins which have sealed marine windows.
Extension - Luxor to Aswan
Exclusive programme for the returning visitor to less-known Nile sites between Thebes and Nubia.
Day 1 At the West Bank, visit the Temple of Medinet Habu, Tombs of the Nobles and Workmen at Deir el-Medina and Howard Carter’s house. (B, L, D)
Day 2 Visit Luxor Museum and explore the souks of Luxor. Sail to Edfu. (B, L, D)
Day 3 Visit el-Kab temple and tombs. Sail to Kom Ombo. Visit Gebel el-Silsila quarries. Sail to Aswan. (B, L, D)
Day 4 Visit the Tombs of Nobles and Lake Nasser’s Kalabsha Temple. (B, L, D)
Day 5 Return flight via Cairo. (B)
This luxurious 5-star vessel was specially designed for the ‘long cruise’ and offers a high standard of service with attentive Egyptian staff and Moroccan inspired interior. A spacious restaurant offers excellent buffet and served meals combining Egyptian and international cuisine. The elegant lounge with bar adjoins a comfortable outdoor lounge for observing the continually changing riverside scenes. The large sun deck has a plunge pool, loungers and seats with sunny and shaded areas. Small gym, jewellery and gift shop and WiFi (free/limited). Jules Verne guests receive three small bottles of water per day free of charge.
52 tastefully designed air-conditioned, outside cabins spread over three decks with private facilities, hairdryer, safe, mini-bar, tea/coffee making facilities and satellite TV.
44 twin/double cabins
(215 sq. ft.),
two Junior Suites
(279 sq. ft. – Deck Two),
two Senior Suites
(430 sq. ft. – Deck Three),
two Senior Suites
(430 sq. ft. – Deck Four) and
two Panorama Suites
(366 sq. ft. – Deck Three).
All cabins have large picture windows except Lower Deck cabins which have sealed marine windows.
Extension - Red Sea
Discover more of Egypt’s natural beauty. Travel along the Nile and through the mountains and desert to el-Gouna (5 hrs). Relax for five nights at the 5-star Mövenpick el-Gouna and view the underwater world from a semi-submarine. Half-board included.
Day 1 Travel along the Nile and through the mountains and desert to el-Gouna on the Red Sea (5 hrs). An excursion on a semi-submarine viewing the underwater world is included during your stay. (B)
Day 2 Day at leisure. (B)
Day 3 Day at leisure. (B)
Day 4 Day at leisure. (B)
Day 5 Day at leisure. (B)
Day 6 Return flight from Hurghada via Cairo. (B)
A 5-star resort hotel on a peninsula with private beach and extensive grounds. 10-20 minutes from the centre and marina (included bus/boat shuttle pass). Restaurants, bars, café, pools, gym, jacuzzi, spa, WiFi (chargeable) and 554 air-conditioned rooms with private facilities, hairdryer, safe, mini-bar, tea/coffee making facilities, satellite TV and balcony/terrace.
per person in a Lower Deck twin/double cabin
Egyptair from Heathrow
(limited dates/availability)
Supplements per person
Single Supplement
NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
Lower Deck double for sole use
(limited dates/availability)
Double for sole use £845
Cabin Upgrades
Main Deck £195
Double for sole use £995
Upper decks £295
Deluxe Cabin (Junior Suite - Main Deck) £495
Senior Suite £795
Extension Options
Extension - Luxor to Aswan
4 nights £795
NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENT Lower Deck
Double for sole use (limited availability)
Main Deck £70
Upper decks £100
Suites and extra nights at Mövenpick Resort Aswan or Old Cataract available.
Extension - Red Sea
Mövenpick el-Gouna - 5 nights £495
Single supplement £225
Extra Nights – Luxor
Pavillon Winter (per night) £39
Single supplement £25
Departure transfer add £10
Sofitel Old Winter Palace (per night) £120
Single supplement £110
Departure transfer add £10
Extra nights – Aswan
Sofitel Old Cataract (per night)
Standard twin/double £225 (May - Sep £185)
Single supplement £195 (May - Sep £115)
Arrival or departure transfer add £12
Extra Nights - Cairo
Steigenberger Pyramids Cairo
Standard twin/double £65
Standard single supplement £35
Pyramids view twin/double £85
Pyramids view single supplement £50
Arrival or departure transfer add £15
Independent Arrival
Save £400
Arrival transfer add £15
Departure transfer add £10
Price Includes
Air travel and taxes, all port charges, transfers, 10-night cruise, full board on cruise vessel, excursions, Egyptian Tour Manager/Egyptologist and local representatives. If our specially negotiated airfares are unavailable at the time of booking, a supplement may apply.
Not Included
Travel insurance, visa procurement, optional excursions, tipping, any government taxes or compulsory charges introduced after publication.
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VAT No. 805146159
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