A fabulous ‘return to Egypt’ for those who have seen its most famous sites, this cruise focuses on the less-visited length of the Nile, between Cairo and Luxor, travelling through tranquil scenery to unsung tombs, temples, and towns, off the tourist track
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.
Overview
- Day 1 & 2 - Cairo
- Day 3 - Pyramids / Saqqara
- Day 4 - Beni Suef
- Day 5 - Minya
- Day 6 - Beni Hassan
- Day 7 - Tell el-Amarna / Asyut
- Day 8 - Sohag
- Day 9 - El Balyana / Abydos / Qena
- Day 10 - Denderah / Luxor
- Day 11 - Return flight
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Tour Highlights
- Culture & Riverscapes
- Jules Verne Sightseeing
- 2 UNESCO Heritage Sites
- Egyptian Tour Manager
- Egyptologist
- On Board Lectures
Unique Experiences
Cocktail Reception & Luxor Temple by Night
During this cruise enjoy a private cocktail reception at the Victorian Lounge in the Old Winter Palace, where Howard Carter announced the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun and a memorable visit to the illuminated Luxor Temple by Night.