Grand Tour of Egypt

17 Days from €2400 per person

Premium Highlights
• Admire the artifacts recovered from the tomb of Tutankhamun in Cairo's Egyptian Museum
• Drive to the Pyramids to witness the magical Sound and Light Show
• Visit the Temple of Hatshepsut and tombs of the Pharoahs in the Valley of the Kings
• Travel by motorboat to the Temple of Isis on the Island of Philae
• Venture inside one of the Pyramids on your guided tour of Giza
  
  Quality Dining
• Egyptian dinner and Galabea Party with entertainment while cruising (HD)
• Highlight Dinner at a local restaurant in Alexandria (HD)
• 16 Buffet Breakfasts (BB), 7 Lunches (L) and 9 Dinners (D), plus bottled water and tea or coffee whilst cruising

Day 1 IRELAND - CAIRO
On arrival in Cairo you are met and transferred to your sophisticated tour hotel. Hotel: Fairmont Heliopolis 

Day 2 CAIRO - ST CATHERINE
After driving through the tunnel under the Suez Canal, look out for the huge cargo ships as they negotiate this famous waterway. Cross the Sinai Peninsula to St. Catherine's village in the shadow of Mt Sinai. You are also invited for tea with the local Bedouins. Later there is time to relax before dinner. (BB D) Hotel: Morgen Land

Day 3 ST CATHERINE - GULF OF SUEZ
Passengers who choose to ascend Mt Sinai will see the cave where Moses hid and the sunrise from the summit. Later, one of the priests guides you through St. Catherine's Monastery (if open). Drive on to your seaside resort. (BB D) Hotel: Palmera Ain Sukhna

Day 4 GULF OF SUEZ - ALEXANDRIA 
Drive through the desert to Alexandria, Egypt's major port, founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BC. (BB D) Hotel: Helnan Palestine

Day 5 ALEXANDRIA SIGHTSEEING
Your full day city tour includes the National Museum, Roman Amphitheatre and Roman Catacombs. After a visit to the 15C Quayet-Bey Fortress, your final stop is at the Montazah Gardens. Tonight, your Highlight Dinner is at a local restaurant. (BB HD)

Day 6 ALEXANDRIA - CAIRO
Drive into the Western Desert to El-Alamein. Time here to pay your respects at the War Cemeteries and visit the Military Museum. En route to Cairo make a stop at the Coptic Monasteries at Wadi El Natrun (if open). (BB) Hotel: Marriott

Day 7 CAIRO SIGHTSEEING 
Enjoy views over the city from the Citadel of Salah El Din and then visit Mohammed Ali's great alabaster mosque. Continue to the Egyptian Museum to gaze upon Tutankhamun's treasure. Later, experience a Sound & Light Show at the Pyramids of Giza! (BB)

Day 8 CAIRO - LUXOR - JOIN CRUISE
Fly to Luxor on the banks of the Nile, to tour the Temple complex of Karnak. Walk through the avenue of Ram-headed sphinxes, past the statue of Rameses II, to the vast Hypostyle Hall, a veritable stone forest, housing 134 giant decorated columns. Later, get to know your cruise boat, and set sail for Dendara. (BB L D) Ship: MS Miriam/Ms Giselle. 

Day 9 ON BOARD SHIP
Visit the Temple of Hathor in Dendara, one of the best preserved temples in Egypt and containing a rare depiction of Cleopatra and her son Caesarian, whose father was Julius Caesar. Return to Luxor around midday where you are at leisure. In the cool of early evening, visit the ancient Temple of Luxor, founded in 1400 BC during Thebe's Golden Age. (BB L D)

Day 10 ON BOARD SHIP
Travel by air-conditioned coach to the West Bank of the Nile to see the Colossi of Memnon, and visit both the Temple of Hatshepsut and Valley of the Kings, where many Pharoahs were buried. Return to your cruise boat and sail via the Esna Lock to Edfu. (BB L D)

Day 11 ON BOARD SHIP
Visit the well-preserved Temple of Horus at Edfu, dedicated to the Falcon God. After exploring this fascinating site, your cruise continues to Aswan. Don your galabeas, (traditional Egyptian attire), for a fun-filled Egyptian Dinner and Galabea Party. (BB L HD)

Day 12 ON BOARD SHIP
A full day of sightseeing includes a visit to the Aswan High Dam and Granite Quarries to see the enormous unfinished obelisk. Travel by motorboat to the Temple of Isis, rising from the waters of the Nile on the Island of Philae. Later, return to Aswan to sail in a traditional Nile felucca around Aswan's Botanical Gardens. (BB L D)

Day 13 ON BOARD SHIP
Perhaps join the optional excursion by air to the temples of Abu Simbel ? Later, sail to Kom Ombo to visit the only double temple of Egypt dedicated to two gods, the crocodile headed, Sobek and falcon headed Horus the Elder. (BB L D)

Day 14 ON BOARD SHIP
Your cruise continues along the life giving waters of the Nile. In the evening arrive back in Luxor where there is time for last minute shopping and sightseeing. (BB L D)

Day 15 LUXOR - CAIRO 
Disembark from your cruise and transfer to the airport for your return flight to Cairo. This evening you have time at leisure. Hotel: Marriott (BB)

Day 16 CAIRO SIGHTSEEING 
Drive to Memphis to admire the statue of Rameses II and the great alabaster sphinx. Continue to Sakkara to see the Step Pyramid of King Zoser, the oldest in the world. Now enjoy a highlight visit inside one of the Pyramids of Giza and see the guardian Sphinx. (BB)

Day 17 CAIRO - IRELAND
Transfers to Cairo airport for your return flight. (BB)

Single supplement €480