Riviera Travel Wonders of the Nile: Cairo to Aswan

• Explore the Grand Egyptian Museum and see the treasures of Tutankhamun, including the iconic Golden Mask.
• Visit the Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx and the ancient Step Pyramid at Saqqara.
• Discover lesser-known sites, including Akhenaten and Nefertiti’s city of Amarna.
• Explore Egypt’s remarkable temples, including Abydos, Dendera, Karnak, Luxor and Kom Ombo.
• Tour the Valley of the Kings, visit the Temple of Hatshepsut and see the Aswan High Dam.

• Return flights and transfers
• 14nts on the MS Darakum
• Full board dining
• Complimentary on-board tea & coffee, plus bottled water
• 20 included experiences
• Services of an Expert Tour Manager
• Checked luggage

Day 1: Departure
Take a direct flight to Cairo, arriving in the late evening. Upon arrival, transfer to the MS Movenpick Darakum.

Day 2: The Pyramids, Sphinx and Coptic Museum
Drive out to the Giza plateau for your first close-up of the Great Pyramids (Please note, entry is available at an extra cost locally). In the afternoon, explore Old Cairo, visiting the ‘Hanging Church’, the Coptic Museum and the Ben Ezra synagogue.

Day 3: Saqqara & Grand Egyptian Museum
This morning, head south to the pyramids at the necropolis of Saqqara before returning to the ship for lunch. Then this afternoon, visit the newly opened Grand Egyptian Museum where you can view some of the treasures from Tutankhamun’s tomb.

Day 4: Full day sailing
Today, the ship begins its journey out of Cairo. Enjoy some fascinating lectures on modern and ancient Egypt as you glide past farms and canals. In the afternoon, you’ll arrive in Beni Suef, where the ship will dock for the night.

Day 5: Full day sailing
After breakfast, enjoy the facilities onboard as you sail towards Minya, where you’ll moor the next two nights.

Day 6: Beni Hassan Tombs
Visit Tuna El Gebel, the necropolis of Hermopolis. Explore the tomb of Petosiris and the catacombs. After lunch on the ship, tour the tombs of Beni Hassan, belonging to the 11th dynasty governors of the region.

Day 7: Amarna
This morning, visit the site of the short-lived capital of Pharaoh Akhenaten and Nefertiti. Visit Akhenaten’s tomb before returning to the ship. Enjoy lunch and sail towards Assyut, keeping an eye out for one of Egypt’s most important Coptic monasteries.

Day 8: Full day sailing
Continue your journey down the Nile, having a full day to relax onboard.

Day 9: Abydos
Today, you’ll visit Abydos, one of ancient Egypt’s most mysterious sites as a pilgrimage site of the cult of Osiris. Here you’ll find the Great Temple of Seti I and the Gallery of the Kings. Sail onwards to Naga Hammadi where you’ll moor overnight.

Day 10: Dendera
See the Temple of Hathor, one of the best preserved in Egypt where you’ll see a famous relief of Cleopatra and her son Caesarion. After, sail to Luxor for the night.

Day 11: Luxor West Bank & Valley of the Kings
Cross the Nile to the West Bank to visit the Valley of Kings, as well as Howard Carter’s house that stands near the newly opened replica of King Tut’s Tomb. The morning’s tour ends at the temple of Hatshepsut. Return to the ship at lunchtime and spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Day 12: Karnak & Luxor Temples
In the morning, visit the Temple of Karnak to see the Hypostyle Hall and the Temple of Luxor, originally connected by the Avenue of Sphinxes. After lunch, sail for Edfu, where the ship moors for the night.

Day 13: Kom Ombo
Visit the unique temple of Kom Ombo, dedicated to both Horus and Sobek. Sail to Aswan and moor overnight.

Day 14: Aswan
Visit the Aswan High Dam, one of modern Egypt’s greatest achievements. Continue onto the temple of Philae. After visiting the Nubian museum, take a ride on a felucca to Kitchener Island, which the eponymous general converted to a botanical park.

Day 15: Flight Home
Early in the morning, you’ll make your way to Aswan airport for your return flight

MS Mövenpick Darakum
One of the smaller ships on the Nile, with just 52 cabins and suites, the five-star MS Darakum has been designed with a low draft in order to navigate the full length of the Nile in Egypt. It is currently the only vessel regularly operating this route, so this cruise is very much a unique experience.

All the cabins feature the following amenities:
– Air conditioning
– Hairdryer
– Safe
– Fridge
– TV
– Tea and coffee making facilities
– Turn down service
– Bath with fixed shower
– Complimentary toiletries

Onboard facilities include:
– Sun deck with loungers, sofas, and armchairs
– Air conditioning
– Lounge and bar area to relax in
– Evening entertainment
– Tea and coffee making facilities
– Complimentary bottled water
– Wine tasting and cookery lessons (at an extra charge)

Fact File

• Currency: Egyptian Pound
• Flight Time: Approx. 4 hrs 40 mins
• Language: Arabic
• Time Zone: GMT+2
• Country: Egypt

*All transfer times listed here are approximate and dependent on traffic.

A shorter version of this itinerary is available as the Wonders of Nile: Cairo to Luxor river cruise. This 11 day river cruise follows the same itinerary as the Cairo to Aswan river cruise until Day 11, when those on the shorter itinerary will transfer to Luxor Airport for their flight home instead of continuing on to the Valley of the Kings.

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