Queen Of The Nile
Queen Of The Nile Tour
Day 1: Cairo - Flight to Cairo.
DAY 2: Cairo
Welcome at the airport by the Egyptologist guide, then transfer and check-in at the hotel.
Day 3: Cairo
Discovery of the Giza plateau and the site of the pyramids of Cheops, Chephren and Mykerinos: an emblem of Egypt listed as a UNESCO world heritage site. You can also admire the statue of the Sphinx, which stands in front of the great pyramids. Camel ride in the desert, followed by dinner facing the pyramids. In the afternoon, visit the site of Saqqara, the vast necropolis of Memphis and first capital of Lower Egypt, then the site of the step pyramid of Djoser, the Teti pyramid and a mastaba, an Egyptian funerary building . Welcome cocktail followed by dinner at the hotel. (PD-D-S)
DAY 4:
Visit to the Egyptian National Museum entirely dedicated to Egyptian Antiquity. Dinner, then visit
the Saladin citadel, an imposing fortress built in the 12th century, and the alabaster mosque of Mohammed Ali Pasha. Dinner at the hotel. (PD-D-S)
DAY 5: Cairo - Alexandria - Cairo
Departure to Alexandria: visit to the catacombs and pass in front of Pompey's column. Discovery
of the Qaitbay citadel, which dates from the 15th century and the famous library. Dinner by the sea, then return to Cairo and dinner at the hotel. (PD-D-S)
Day 6: Cairo - Luxor
Early departure for the flight to Luxor, an ancient city located 700km south of Cairo. On arrival, visit the Karnak temple, a UNESCO site which includes a vast collection of ruins, temples, chapels and pylons. Subsequently, visit the temple of Luxor, located in the heart of ancient Thebes and built for the God Amon. Board your boat for a
7-night cruise on the Nile. (PD-D-S)
Day 7: Luxor - Esna -Edfu
Early in the morning, possibility of taking a hot air balloon ride above the necropolis of Thebes ($), then discovering this region on the west bank of the Nile where the tombs of many pharaohs of the New Kingdom are located. Visit to three of them, in addition to that of Tutankhamun. Continue to the funerary temple of Queen Pharaoh Hatshepsut, then visit two tombs in the Valley of the Queens. Possibility of visiting the tomb of Nefertari ($). Return to the boat for dinner and navigation for the rest of the day, including passage through the lock. (PD-D-S)
Day 8: Edfu-Kom Ombo-Aswan
Visit the temple of Edfu, one of the best preserved in Egypt.
Dinner on board then navigation to Kôm Ombo.
Visit the temples of Sobek and Haroëris, falcon and crocodile gods. Return to the boat and sail towards Aswan. (PD-D-S)
Day 10: Aswan-Abu Simbel- Aswan
Departure in the morning and stop at the new hydroelectric dam built from 1960 to 1970. Drive to Abu Simbel, a UNESCO heritage site to visit the temples of ancient Egypt carved into the rock and built for Ramesses II and his wife Nefertari . Late dinner in a local restaurant, then sound and light show on this legendary site. Return to the boat at the end of the evening. (PD-D-S)
Day 9: Aswan
Visit the temple of Isis in Philæ, an island submerged in the
1970s by the lake retained from the old Aswan dam, whose temples and monuments were moved and restored thanks to the intervention of UNESCO. Visit to a workshop to discover the making of perfumes and medicinal oils followed by a stop at the spice market. Dinner on board. (PD-D-S)
Day 10: Aswan-Abu Simbel- Aswan
Felucca ride to admire the banks of the Nile followed by a visit to the botanical garden. Boat trip in the Aswan nature reserve where you can observe several species of birds, then discovery of a Nubian village and their culture. Return to the boat and continue sailing towards Luxor. (PD-D-S)
Day 11: Aswan - Luxor
Felucca ride to admire the banks of the Nile followed by a visit to the botanical garden. Boat trip in the Aswan nature reserve where you can observe several species of birds, then discovery of a Nubian village and their culture. Return to the boat and continue sailing towards Luxor. (PD-D-S)
Day 13: Luxor - El Gouna
Disembarkation, visit the temple of Dendera, place of worship dedicated to the goddess Hathor. Continue to the seaside resort of El Gouna on the Red Sea. Check-in at the hotel for the next four nights. Dinner in downtown El Gouna. (PD-D-S)
Day 12: Luxor
Visit the temple of Ramses III. Dinner in a local restaurant, then photo stop to admire the Colossi of Memnon. Visit to a papyrus workshop, followed by a horse-drawn carriage ride in the lively atmosphere of Luxor with its merchants and the famous Alley of the Sphinxes. (PD-D-S)
Day 14: El Gouna
Free morning. In the afternoon, tuk tuk ride to El Gouna. (PD)
Day 15: El Gouna
Glass bottom boat trip on the Red Sea. Rest of the day free. (PD)
Day 16: El Gouna
Free day. (PD)
Day 17: El Gouna - Cairo
Coach transfer to Cairo. Visit to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization and the room of mummies. In the early evening, sound and light show followed by dinner in a local restaurant. (PD-D-S)
Day 18: Cairo
Visit the Coptic district, the museum and the famous hanging church El Moallaqa. Walk through Cairo's largest souk, Khan al-Khalili, located in the heart of the Islamic quarter; the largest open-air museum of Islamic monuments in the Egyptian capital. Farewell dinner with a glass of wine at the hotel. (PD-D-S)
Day 19: Cairo - Montreal
Transfer to the airport and return flight to Montreal. (PD)