13 days / 12 nights

• Pharaonic Egypt meets Classical Mediterranean
• Tombs and temples
• 3 nights on the Nile
• Remote oasis and Bedouin culture
• Library of Alexandria

Insider Access

Note: 2007 cruises operate in reverse direction from Luxor to Aswan. Supplements apply to departure dates (19 & 26 December 2007, 18 March 08, 23 December 08). Cabin upgrades available.

Part of the charm and appeal of a visit to Siwa is gaining a greater understanding of the unique existence of its local villagers. As a guest of A&K you are invited to enjoy some traditional Bedouin hospitality as you join a local family for tea or coffee in their home.

Itinerary

Day 01 Arrive Cairo
Arrival into the Egyptian capital. Settle into your luxury hotel.
Four Seasons Cairo at the First Residence (Standard Room)

Days 02-03 Design Your Days Cairo
The dazzling city of Cairo has much to offer, ancient monuments, glittering mosques, imposing citadels, a labyrinthine bazaar and old Coptic churches. The next two days are yours to explore. Visit the necropolis of Saqqara and the impressive new museum of Imhotep then after lunch spend time at the Great Pyramids, the only present-day survivors of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. See the enigmatic Sphinx and the remarkably preserved Solar Boat and enter the burial chamber of Cheops. Alternatively you can choose from three other options: a walk through 7,000 years of history at the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities including the treasures of Tutankhamun and the Mummy Room; a tour on foot around the attractions of Islamic Cairo; or searching for treasure in the colourful aisles of the Khan El Khalili bazaar. Dine with a local family during your stay (B,L).
Four Seasons Cairo at the First Residence (Standard Room)

Day 04 Cairo — Aswan
An early flight south to board the stately Sun Boat IV moored in A&K’s private Aswan dock. There is the option this morning of visiting the colossal temples of Abu Simbel beside Lake Nasser, one of Egypt’s most awe-inspiring sights before boarding. This afternoon see the highlights of Aswan including the High Dam and the Philae Temple. Join the Captain this evening for a complimentary cocktail and canapés (B,L,D).
Sun Boat IV (Promenade Deck Cabin)

Days 05-06 Nile Cruise
The next two days are spent on the Nile with daily forays accompanied by your Egyptologist. See the temple of Kom Ombo on a glorious bend in the Nile and the Pharaonic temple of Horus at Edfu, the most completely preserved of its kind. Reaching Luxor there is much to see including the Valley of the Kings & Queens, Tutankhamun’s Tomb, Hatshepsut’s Temple, a monument to Ancient Egypt’s only female pharaoh and the temples of Luxor and Karnak (B,L,D).
Sun Boat IV (Promenade Deck Cabin)

Day 07 Luxor — Cairo
A flight back to the Egyptian capital and the afternoon to relax (B).
Four Seasons Cairo at the First Residence (Standard Room)

Day 08 Cairo — Alexandria
Leave Cairo and the Nile behind as your guide travels with you for the 3 hour drive north-west to Alexandria on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast. Arrive in time for lunch and an afternoon to see the important sites of this cosmopolitan city: the National Museum houses an impressive collection of artefacts from ancient times to the modern era; visit also the impressive Library of Alexandria, said to be built on the site of the city’s first library, the catacombs and the amphitheatre (B,L).
Four Seasons Alexandria (Superior Room)

Day 09 Alexandria — Siwa Oasis
A long but rewarding day as you continue west along the coast to the village of El Alamein, scene of one of the decisive battles of World War II. After a picnic lunch near Mersa Matrouh the journey continues into the Grand Sand Sea, the Sahara, to Siwa, Egypt’s westernmost oasis. Your base in Siwa is the unique Adrere Amellal, a leader in ecotourism in Egypt. Situated at the base of a majestic white mountain and overlooking olive and palm groves as well as the Siwa lake, the lodge is a series of traditional kershef houses that have been restored and reconfigured to provide the ultimate in desert-style comfort (B,L,D).
Adrere Amellal Ecolodge (Standard Room)

Days 10-11 Siwa Oasis
Lying at the edge of the Great Sand Sea, the desert landscape surrounding Siwa is breathtaking. The local inhabitants are a combination of Bedouin and Sudanese, whose culture and customs are unique. Over the next two days you will meet a Bedouin family, enjoy some local hospitality and gain new appreciation for their age-old agricultural techniques. Also visit the tombs of Gebel el Mawta which date to late Pharaonic times and the remains of the Temple of Jupiter, presumed site of the Oracle of Amun consulted by Alexander the Great after his liberation of Egypt (B,L,D).
Adrere Amellal Ecolodge (Standard Room)

Day 12 Siwa — Cairo
A long journey today as you return by road to Cairo (B).
Four Seasons Cairo at the First Residence (Standard Room)

Day 13 Depart Cairo
Farewell Egypt on departure from Cairo.

Departure Dates & Prices

Tour Departs: On the following dates

Note: Supplements apply to certain departure dates