Lake Nasser Cruise – Aswan

Description

Lake Nasser is one of the largest artificial lakes in the world, often referred to as the largest oasis in the middle of nowhere, as the desert surrounds it on all sides. In addition to its pristine nature, it is adorned with numerous temples that were relocated to higher locations to prevent them from being submerged during the construction of the Aswan High Dam. You will visit the temples of Kalabsha, Wadi el-Sebua, Amada, Qasr Ibrim, and, of course, the most magnificent of them all, Abu Simbel. Your journey will begin and end in Aswan, where you will get a more detailed insight into their rich culture at the Nubian Museum. You will also explore the Philae Temple, a magnificent complex on an island dedicated to the goddess Isis. Sailing on a felucca to the botanical garden and taking a motorboat ride through the national park will complement your experience with picturesque views of the Nile and its surroundings. It is a journey of relaxation and enjoyment amidst the blue waters of the Nile and its golden sandy banks.

Day 1: Arrival to Aswan At Aswan Airport, a representative from the RTS agency will be there to welcome you. They will transfer you to a and assist you with check-in. You will also discuss with them the start of your journey the next day. Dinner and an overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 2: Aswan After the tour, you will sail to the pier of the Old Cataract Hotel just in time to enjoy traditional English tea at five (not included in the price) on the hotel’s terrace while observing the sunset. Then, you will be transferred to the hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.

Day 3: Aswan – Lake Nasser Cruise After breakfast, your guide will be waiting for you at the agreed-upon time and will drive you to the Aswan pier on Lake Nasser. They will assist you with boarding the cruise boat. You will begin your journey with a cruise to the temples on New Kalabsha Island near Aswan for your first encounter with the sights of the Nubian Kingdom. After the tour, you will have lunch on the boat and continue cruising on the lake. In this part, the lake narrows, and from the deck, you can admire the beautiful colours and views of the desert shores of the lake. Dinner and an overnight stay on the boat.

Day 4: Lake Nasser Cruise During the cruise to the Lion’s Valley (Wadi el-Sebua), you can observe the awakening of the lake at sunrise. Then, a hearty breakfast awaits you while relaxing on the deck and enjoying the picturesque nature. On the way, you will cross the Tropic of Cancer, and after lunch, you will explore three temples in the Lion’s Valley with your guide. These include the smallest temple on the shore, the Temple of Maharaqqa, then the moderately sized Temple of Dakka on a hill with a magnificent view, and the largest and best-preserved Lion Temple dedicated to the sun god Amon, which you will ascend via a staircase lined with sphinxes. After the visits, you will continue cruising on the lake while admiring the sunset. Dinner and an overnight stay on the boat.

Day 5: Lake Nasser Cruise On this day, you will continue sailing towards Amada, enjoy breakfast, and relax on the deck while enjoying the breathtaking views. With your guide, you will visit Amada, the oldest Nubian temple dedicated to the sun god Amon. The temple features numerous colourful reliefs depicting the lives of pharaohs and hieroglyphic inscriptions of Amenhotep II’s military campaigns in Asia. After the visit, you will continue sailing and admire the lake and its shores. Lunch, dinner, and an overnight stay on the boat.

Day 6: Lake Nasser Cruise – Abu Simbel On the last day aboard the boat, on the way to Abu Simbel, you will have the opportunity to admire the fortress of Qasr Ibrim, built in the 8th century BCE. It is the only ancient monument that survived the flooding of the Nile and remains in the same location, although it used to be on a 70-meter hill before the dam’s construction, and now it is on an island. After lunch, you will continue sailing and soon witness the stunning view of the Abu Simbel temples from the lake, just as Ramesses II envisioned. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be served on the boat.

Day 7: Abu Simbel – Aswan Following an early breakfast, at around 08:00, you will disembark and drive along the desert highway to Aswan. To conclude your journey through the Nubian kingdom, you will visit the Nubian Museum, which will provide further insights into this ancient civilization. Afterwards, a motorboat will take you to a small island with a Nubian restaurant for lunch. Following lunch, you will be transported to your hotel, which is located on an island in the middle of the Nile. A representative from the RTS agency will assist you with the hotel check-in. You will have free time to enjoy the view of numerous sailboats cruising along the Nile and witness the final sunset. Dinner and an overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 8: Departure from Aswan 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 programme changes due to public transportation schedules, weather conditions, and other circumstances beyond our control.

Price

2 persons : 1,299 €

4 persons : 1,199 €

6 persons : 1,099 €

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: 460 €.

Accommodation

2x overnight stay at a 4* hotel Pyramisa on the Isis Island in Aswan (half board).

4x overnight stay at a Lake Nasser Cruise Boat (full board).

1x overnight stay at a Nubian House in Aswan (half board)

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 a 4* hotel Pyramisa on the Isis Island in Aswan (half board). 4x overnight stay at a Lake Nasser Cruise Boat (full board). 1x overnight stay at a Nubian House in Aswan (half board).
1x lunch in Aswan. All transfers and sightseeing in the programme.
English-speaking local guides for all sightseeing in the programme.
Accompanying and assistance by an English-speaking representative from the RTS agency, assistance at airports and 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.
Customary tipping (€50–60 per person).

Further information

• Hotel address : Aswan, Egypt
  
• Duration : 7 nights
• Contact details : botler@boticonline.com

Recommended equipment:

– Comfortable walking shoes.
– Lighter, loose clothing made from natural materials for sightseeing.
– Warmer clothes for the evening/night in the desert.
– Layered clothing for flexibility as temperatures can change rapidly due to the strong sun.
– Sun protection cover, sunglasses, sun cream with a high protection factor

Agency

BOT SAS