Treasures of the Nile Valley Tour

WHAT'S INCLUDED

Maximum Group Size: 15
Arrival Transfer: Airport transfer to hotel day 1
Fully Escorted: By Imaginative Traveller tour leader, services of Egyptologists
Transport: Private air-conditioned transport, private Nile cruise boat, overnight sleeper train, day train, donkeys and horse-drawn carriage
Activities: Donkey ride to the Valley of the Kings
Accommodation: 9 nights tourist class hotels, 3 nights on board Nile cruise boat, 1 night overnight sleeper train
Meals: As per itinerary B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner
Entrance Fees: Included for all sites visited as part of itinerary
Local Payment: Must be paid in cash on day 1 of your tour

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

• Explore the little-visited treasures of Middle Egypt
• Cruise along the Nile
• Pyramids and Sphinx at Giza
• Donkey ride to the Valley of the Kings
• Visit the stunning Temple of Ramses II
• Travel to Tell el Amarna, heart of the Middle Kingdom
• See Alexandria, jewel of the Mediterranean.

BRIEF ITINERARY

Day 1, CAIRO: Arrival day. No meals.

Day 2, CAIRO: In the morning we enjoy a guided tour to the Egyptian Museum followed by the magnificent Pyramids & Sphinx at Giza. (B)

Day 3, SAQQARA - MEMPHIS - DASHUR - FAYOUM: Today we visit the ancient capital of Memphis and the Step Pyramid of Saqqara. Continue to the Bent and Red Pyramids at Dashur then on to the Fayoum Oasis, once known as the 'Garden of Egypt'. (BD)

Day 4, FAYOUM - MAIDUM - MINYA: Continue on to Maidum where we visit the first man-made pyramid. From there we head to Minya to spend the night. (BD)

Day 5, MINYA - SOHAG: Today we visit the Middle Kingdom necropolis of Beni Hassan and Tell el Amarna, the ancient capital of the heretic king Akhenaten. Later we drive to Sohag. (BD)

Day 6, SOHAG - LUXOR: Visit the amazing temples of Ramses II at Abydos and the beautiful Temple of Hathor at Dendara before moving on to Luxor. (B)

Day 7, LUXOR - ASWAN: Transfer to Aswan where we check in to our Nile cruise boat. A free day to explore this vibrant Nubian city. Overnight on board the boat. (BLD)

Day 8, EDFU: Optional morning excursion to Abu Simbel before we start cruising up the Nile towards Luxor. We stop en route at Kom Ombo where we will visit the riverside temple, before we continue to Edfu. (BLD)

Day 9, LUXOR: In the morning, we visit the Temple of Horus at Edfu before we continue sailing to Luxor. (BLD)

Day 10, LUXOR: Disembark from the boat and transfer to our hotel. In the afternoon guided tour of Karnak Temple. (B)

Day 11, LUXOR: An early start to ride our donkeys to the Valley of the Kings and Medinat Habu. In the evening we board the overnight train to Cairo. (BD)

Day 12, ALEXANDRIA: Arrive in Alexandria, the jewel of the Mediterranean. Later we enjoy a guided tour of the National Museum, the Catacombs and Pompey's Pillar. (B)

Day 13, ALEXANDRIA - CAIRO: A morning train to Cairo. The rest of the day is free to relax and explore the city. There is plenty of time for further sightseeing or shopping at the famous Khan el Khalili Bazaar. (B)

Day 14, CAIRO: Tour ends after breakfast. (B)

DEPARTURE DATES

TRAVEL STYLE

You love to experience the culture and tradition of a destination but with a level of comfort and organisation that won't test your endurance. Explore without roughing it.

Maximum Group Size - 15: You love to experience the culture and tradition of a destination but with a level of inclusions, comfort and organisation that won't test your endurance. You enjoy the freedom of using privately charted vehicles but also understand that sometimes the best way to go is 'local'. Whether a seasoned or a first time traveller, you love to explore without roughing it.
Tour Extensions: Traveller-class Extension tours are non-group tours, available on request.
Included: All accommodation (usually in comfortable tourist class hotels on a twin share basis), transportation, many meals, and all entrance fees as included in the itinerary.
Single Supplement: (applicable to single travellers who wish to have their own room) Usually available and usually not compulsory (check your specific tour for details). Please note: Single supplements do not apply on all boats, overnight train journeys and whilst camping.[Read more about Imaginative Traveller travel styles]