Explore Egypt’s Treasures & Relax in Hurghada

Description

Minimum number of people : 2

Egypt beckons with the magnificent monuments of one of the richest ancient civilizations. On this journey, you will visit the pyramids and all the most important historical sites and attractions while enjoying a relaxing cruise along the Nile and wrapping up your trip in Hurghada on the Red Sea. You will begin in Cairo with a visit to the pyramids and the enigmatic Sphinx. From Aswan to Luxor, as you cruise along the Nile, you will explore the grandest sanctuaries and temples along the river: Philae, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Luxor, and Karnak, and you can even add a trip to Abu Simbel. These were built by famous pharaohs who left a lasting mark on history with their stories, achievements, and reigns. You will admire their sanctuaries and tombs, richly adorned with reliefs and hieroglyphs. This history-packed journey is enhanced by the colourful landscape along the Nile, which you can observe from the deck during the cruise. You will conclude your journey in Cairo’s museums, where you will discover the peculiarities of different periods and dynasties through numerous artefacts and mummies. Of course, a visit to Cairo would not be complete without exploring the famous Khan Al-Khalili market, where you can purchase souvenirs and other Egyptian products.To wrap up your trip, you will have a few days of relaxation in Hurghada, where you will be able to bask in the sun and explore the vibrant underwater world of the Red Sea.

Day 1: Arrival to Cairo

Upon your arrival at Cairo Airport, a representative from the RTS agency will be there to greet you. They will transport you to your hotel, assist you with check-in. You will also discuss the start of your tours for the following day. Enjoy dinner and an overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 2: Cairo

After breakfast on the train and your arrival in Cairo, an RTS agency representative will be waiting for you at the train station (the comfortable option). For the royal option, an RTS agency representative will meet you at the agreed-upon time at the hotel reception, they will assist you with check-out and then transfer you to the airport in Luxor for your flight to Cairo. They will assist you with chedk-in for oyur flight. In Cairo, the representative will introduce you to a local guide who will accompany you on your tours. First, you will visit the National Museum, followed by the Museum of Egyptian Civilization. The National Museum houses a rich collection of artefacts from various periods of ancient Egyptian civilisation, including the famous treasures of the pharaohs, including Tutankhamun, which depict the rich history and culture of ancient Egypt. In the newer Museum of Egyptian Civilization, they have relocated mummies, sarcophagi, and burial offerings. After your museum visits, you will have lunch at a local restaurant. Then, you will explore the old part of the city, stopping at the Khan al-Khalili market, where you can also visit Al-Hussein Mosque. Afterwards, you will return to the hotel for dinner and spend the night there.

Day 3: Cairo – Sakkara – Aswan

On the third day, you will be exploring the pyramids. After breakfast and checking out of your hotel, your guide will be waiting for you at the hotel reception at the agreed-upon time. You will first head to the Giza Plateau with the pyramids, the only remaining wonder of the ancient world. This includes the Great Pyramid or the Pyramid of Khufu, which is the largest and oldest, and the slightly smaller pyramids of Khafre and Menkaure (entrance to the pyramids is subject to an additional fee). Adjacent to the pyramids is the mysterious Sphinx, a giant statue with the head of a pharaoh and the body of a lion. After visiting the pyramids, you will have lunch at a local restaurant. Then, you will continue your journey to Saqqara to see the Step Pyramid of Djoser, which served as a precursor to the Giza pyramids. After these tours, you will be driven to the Giza railway station, where your guide will assist you in boarding the Cairo-Aswan tourist sleeper train. If you are flying (royal), you will be taken to the airoirt and an RTS agency representative will help you with check-in for the flight. Uupon landing in Aswan, the RTS agency representative will transport you to the hotel and assist you with check-in. Dinner and overnight accommodation will be either on the train (comfortable) or at the hotel (royal).

Day 4: Aswan

After breakfast on the train and your arrival in Aswan, a representative from the RTS agency will be waiting for you at the railway station. They will introduce you to your guide for the tours in Aswan. Together, you will head to the port and take a motorboat to visit the Philae Temple on Agilkia Island. The temple was relocated here after the construction of the Aswan High Dam and the creation of Lake Nasser, making it one of the most beautiful and well-preserved Egyptian temples. It is dedicated to the goddess Isis. After the tour, you will return to Aswan, where the RTS agency representative will assist you in boarding the Nile cruise boat. Following lunch on the boat and some relaxation, your guide will meet you at the hotel reception at the agreed-upon time. In the afternoon, you will experience the beauty of the Nile on your guided tours. First, you will sail on a felucca (traditional sailboat) to Kitchener’s Island with a botanical garden established in 1860. Here, you will explore lush tropical vegetation and mighty trees that provide shade from the strong sun. Next, you will continue your journey by motorboat through the Nile’s national park with its famous cataracts, concluding the day’s tours in a welcoming Nubian village.You will then be transported back to the boat, where you will have dinner and spend the night.

Day 5: Aswan – Edfu – Nile Cruise

After breakfast, you will have some free time in Aswan. Alternatively, you can choose an optional trip to Abu Simbel in the morning (departure at 04:00) and an RTS agency representative will organise it for you. At Abu Simbel you can visit the magnificent temples built by Ramesses II, carved into the rock and relocated to higher ground to protect them from flooding after building the High Dam in Aswan. After lunch on the boat, you will begin sailing towards Kom Ombo. At sunset, you will visit the unique double temple dedicated to two gods: Sobek, the crocodile god, and Haroris, the falcon god. Interesting reliefs depict the religion, culture, and medicine of ancient Egypt. After the tour, you will continue sailing to Edfu. Enjoy dinner and spend the night on the boat.

Day 6: Edfu – Luxor – Nile Cruise

Before or after breakfast, your guide will be waiting for you at the hotel reception at the agreed-upon time and will take you to visit the Temple of Horus in Edfu. This temple is one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt and was constructed during the Ptolemaic dynasty and the New Kingdom in the traditional Egyptian style with columns, courtyards, and sanctuaries. Inside the temple, you will find reliefs depicting mythological scenes, devotions, and rituals associated with Horus, the falcon god. After returning to the cruise ship, you will continue sailing and have lunch on the deck, providing you with an exciting view of the vibrant life along the banks of the Nile. On your way to Luxor, you will also pass through the locks on the Nile River in Esna, which is a unique experience due to the raising and lowering of the water level. Skilled vendors on the boats will try to sell you jalabiyas (traditional Egyptian clothing) for the evening entertainment on the ship. You will continue your journey towards Luxor, and upon arrival you will have an evening tour of the Luxor Temple, dedicated to the god Amon. The main entrance to the temple is adorned with one of the largest surviving obelisks in the world. In addition to the impressive colonnades and reliefs, you will have the opportunity to closely observe the colossal statues of pharaohs. From the Luxor Temple to Karnak, there is a recently discovered avenue of sphinxes, and some of the most beautifully preserved ones can be found near the temple. Enjoy dinner and spend the night on the boat.

Day 7: Luxor – Hurghada

After breakfast, at the agreed-upon time, you will disembark from the cruise ship with the assistance of the RTS agency representative. Then, with your guide, you will embark on a tour of Luxor’s West Bank, where the sights are related to the afterlife. These sites are guarded by the Colossi of Memnon, two giant statues carved from a single stone depicting the seated pharaoh Amenhotep III. You will visit the mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut. Queen Hatshepsut’s temple is notable for its unique design, as it was carved into the rock face and combines classic Egyptian elements with modern and innovative forms, featuring an impressive terraced structure that rises along the hillside. Next, you will explore the tombs in the Valley of the Kings, where many New Kingdom pharaohs, including Tutankhamun and Ramesses II, are buried in elaborately decorated tombs that display rich symbolism, religious scenes, and hieroglyphic inscriptions. After the tours, there will be a lunch break by the Nile. Then, you will visit Karnak, one of the world’s largest and most impressive religious complexes. It was built and expanded over 2,000 years, during the reigns of numerous pharaohs, and was dedicated to various gods and goddesses. The Karnak Temples include sanctuaries, halls, obelisks, statues, pools, and other structures. The main temple, with monumental columns, is dedicated to the god Amon. After the tours, you will drive with the assistance of the RTS agency representative through the hilly Eastern Desert to Hurghada. The representative will help you with hotel check-in and room allocation. Late dinner and an overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 8 – 9: Hurghada

Free time for swimming and enjoying the beach. You can also arrange one of the optional excursions with the agency representative (at an additional cost). Meals (all-inclusive) and an overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 10: Departure from Hurghada

After breakfast, check out from the hotel (no later than 11:00) and enjoy some free time until your departure to the airport (typically 3 hours before your flight). At the agreed-upon time, a representative from the RTS agency will be waiting for you at the hotel reception. You will be driven to the airport, where they will assist you with the check-in for your flight.

This marks the conclusion of your trip with a flight to your chosen destination.

*Please note that we reserve the right to make program changes due to public transportation schedules, weather conditions, and other circumstances beyond our control.

Price

The price of the package per adult sharing a double room

• 2 persons : 1,499 €
• 4 persons : 1,249 €
• 6 persons : 1,149 €

Discounts for children: up to the completed 2nd year free of charge; for children from 2 to the completed 12th year, 50% of the package if they share a room with parents.

Supplement for a single room: 380 €.

Accommodation

• 2x overnight stay at the 4* (local category 5*) hotel in Cairo (half board).
• 1x overnight on the sleeping train Cairo-Aswan (half board)
• 3x overnight stay at the 5* Nile Cruise boat (full board).
• 3x all inclusive stay at the 5* hotel in Hurghada.

Location

Terms and conditions

Payment:

• 30% of the package price when the reservation is confirmed (with an additional 22 € for the registration fee)
• the remaining 70% to be paid at 15 days prior to departure

Cancellation:

• Cancellation is free of charge until 35 days prior to departure
• Afterwards 100% cancellation charges will apply

Included/not included

Included:

• 2x overnight stay at the 4* (local category 5*) hotel in Cairo (half board).
• 1x overnight on the sleeping train Cairo-Aswan (half board)
• 3x overnight stay at the 5* Nile Cruise boat (full board).
• 3x all inclusive stay at the 5* hotel in Hurghada.
• 2x lunch in Cairo, 1x lunch in Luxor.
• All transfers and sightseeing in the programme (except entrance fees to enter inside any of the pyramids and some thombs in the Valley of the Kings where there is an extra charge).
• English-speaking local guides for all sightseeing in the programme.
• Assistance by an English-speaking representative from the RTS agency at airports, train stations and all check-ins/check-outs.
• 24-hour availability over the phone of an English-speaking representative from the RTS agency.
• Costs of arranging and organizing the journey.

Not Included :

• Any international flights.
• Any local flights.
• Entry visa to Egypt ($25).
• Personal expenses.
• Other sightseeing and transfers not included in the programme.
• Entrance fees to enter inside any of the pyramids and some thombs in the Valley of the
• Kings where there is an extra charge.
• Customary tipping (€70–80 per person).

Optional excursions (not included in the package rate):

• Abu Simbel = €120 per person by bus; start from 04:00 in the morning (with breakfast box) and returning around 12:00, in time for lunch or = €250 by plane (the duration of the trip is around six hours).
• Hot air ballooning in Luxor = €95 per person, from 04:30 in the morning (with breakfast box) and returning at 07:30.
• Sound and Light Shows: Giza Pyramids = €45 per person. Philae Temple = €45 per person. Karnak Temples = €40 per person.

In Hurghada:

• Glass boat = €25 per person; from 10:30 and returning at 13:00, in time for lunch.
• Boat trip to Giftun Island for snorkeling = €45 per person, from at 08:30 in the morning, returning back at 16:00, includes two stops for snorkeling, renting of snorkeling equipment, lunch and soft drinks.
• Sunset Desert Safari = €50 per person; starts at 14:30 and returning at 19:30, includes 4×4 car rides in the desert, camel riding and BBQ dinner.
• Quad Biking through the Desert = €45; from 15:00 to 18:00.

Further information

• Hotel address : Cairo, Egypt
• Duration : 10 days
• Contact details : botler@boticonline.com

Recommended equipment:

• Comfortable walking shoes.
• Bright-coloured, loose-fitting clothing made of natural materials for sightseeing.
• Warmer clothing for evenings/nights in the desert.
• Layered clothing for flexibility as temperatures can change rapidly due to the strong sun.
• A hat for sun protection, sunglasses, and high SPF sunscreen.
• A small backpack for water and personal essentials during walks and tours.

Agency

BOT SAS