Luxurious Upper Egypt 10 days

Description

Would you like to experience Egypt as it was once enjoyed by wealthy visitors? You will enjoy staying at two of the most prestigious hotels along the Nile, the Winter Palace and Old Cataract, popular among celebrities and explorers of ancient Egypt in the previous century. The Winter Palace Hotel in Luxor was built in 1907, and as the name suggests, it served as a winter palace where the affluent would escape the cold and gloomy European winters for the Egyptian sun. The hotel’s interior is traditional, with elements that reflect Egyptian history and culture. On the ground floor, there is a special tribute to the famous British archaeologist Howard Carter, who stayed at the hotel during the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb. The Old Cataract Hotel in Aswan was originally built in 1899, and, with its classic architecture, breathtaking views of the Nile, and exceptional interior, it maintains the charm of the past. The hotel is also known for its historical role in Agatha Christie’s novel “Death on the Nile”. The programme is designed to allow plenty of free time to enjoy these two hotels. A luxurious boat will take you along the Nile from one hotel to another. There will also be ample time for visits to famous ancient landmarks, including the Karnak, Luxor, Hatshepsut, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae, and Abu Simbel temples, as well as the tombs in the Valley of the Kings in Luxor.

Day 1: Arrival to Luxor At Luxor 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 to the Winter Palace hotel. You will also discuss with them the start of your journey the next day. After dinner, you will take a stroll together along the Nile riverside promenade and plan for the start of your tours the next day. An overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 2: Luxor After breakfast, an RTS agency representative will be waiting for you at the reception at the agreed-upon time and will introduce you to the local guide. Together, you will take a stroll to visit the Luxor Temple, which is located near the hotel. The temple is dedicated to the sun god Amon, and its main entrance is adorned with one of the world’s largest preserved obelisks. In addition to impressive colonnades and reliefs, you will also have the opportunity to get up close to the large statues of pharaohs. From the Luxor Temple to Karnak, there is a recently discovered avenue of sphinxes; the most beautifully preserved ones are right by the temple. After the tour, you will return to the hotel for lunch at the restaurant in the beautiful garden of the Winter Palace Hotel. After lunch, you will have free time to relax and enjoy the pool in the tropical garden. In the late afternoon, a representative of the RTS agency will be waiting for you at the reception to take you on a ride on the Nile with a felucca, a traditional sailing boat. During the sail, you will be able to observe the beautiful colours of the sunset. Then you will return to the hotel for dinner. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 3: Luxor After breakfast, a representative from the RTS agency will be waiting for you at the agreed-upon time at the reception to assist you with the hotel check-out. Together with the guide, you will drive to visit Karnak, one of the largest and most impressive religious complexes in the world. It was built and expanded over 2,000 years during the reign of approximately thirty pharaohs. 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 touring the temples, you will be driven to the cruise boat on the Nile. The RTS agency representative will assist you with boarding the boat. You will have lunch on board; after lunch, there will be some time to rest. If you have enough energy, you can arrange with the RTS agency representative to visit the Mummification Museum with the guide after lunch; otherwise, you can enjoy a leisurely afternoon in the sun on the deck. After sunset, a representative from the RTS agency will be waiting for you at the reception for a carriage ride through Luxor and the surrounding villages, allowing you to experience the rhythm of Egyptian life. Return to the boat, dinner, and an overnight stay on the boat.

Day 4: Luxor – Edfu After breakfast, your guide will be waiting for you at the reception at the agreed-upon time, and you will head to the west bank, where the sights of the afterlife are preserved, guarded by the giant statues of the Colossi of Memnon, representing the seated pharaoh Amenhotep III. You will visit the mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut, which stands out with its unique design as it was carved into the rocky cliffs, combining classical Egyptian elements with modern and innovative forms and an impressive terraced structure that rises along the hill. In the Valley of the Kings, there are tombs where many pharaohs from the New Kingdom were buried, including Tutankhamun and Ramesses II. You will explore some exceptionally decorated tombs that depict rich symbolism, religious scenes, and hieroglyphic writing. After the tours, you will return to the ship for lunch. You will start sailing on the Nile, and from the deck, you will be able to observe exciting scenes of life along the Nile. Towards the evening, you will pass through the locks at Esna, where it is fascinating to watch the rising and lowering of the water level, and skilful vendors on boats will try to sell you jalabiyas (traditional Egyptian clothing) for the evening entertainment on the boat. After passing through the locks, you will continue sailing towards Edfu. Dinner and an overnight stay on the boat.

Day 5: Edfu – Kom Ombo – Aswan After breakfast, at the agreed-upon time, the guide will transfer you by carriage or vehicle (depending on traffic) to visit the Temple of Horus in Edfu, one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt. It was constructed during the reign of the Ptolemaic dynasty and the New Kingdom in a traditional style with columns, courtyards, and sanctuaries. A monumental tower marks the temple’s entrance, and the inner courtyard is surrounded by tall columns depicting gods and pharaohs. The reliefs portray mythological scenes, religious rituals, and ceremonies associated with Horus, the falcon god. Upon returning to the boat, you will have lunch on the deck and continue sailing towards Kom Ombo. At sunset, you will explore the unique double temple dedicated to two gods, Sobek, the crocodile god, and Haroris, the falcon god. Intriguing reliefs depict ancient Egypt’s religion, culture, and healing practices. After the tour, you will continue sailing to Aswan with dinner and Egyptian entertainment. An overnight stay on the boat.

Day 6: Aswan After breakfast, at the agreed-upon time, the guide will transfer you to the pier, and you will take a motorboat ride to visit the Philae Temple on Agilkia Island. The temple was relocated to this island during the construction of the Aswan High Dam and the creation of the artificial Lake Nasser. This magnificent temple, dedicated to the goddess Isis, showcases the architectural and artistic prowess of ancient Egypt. Its impressive architecture and intricately carved reliefs represent a unique blend of Pharaonic, Hellenistic, and Roman influences. The temple is renowned for its grand collonaded facade, columns, detailed depictions of mythological scenes, religious rituals, and the life and rule of pharaohs. After the tour, you will return to the boat for lunch. In the afternoon, at the agreed-upon time, a representative from the RTS agency will be waiting for you at the reception and will take you on a felucca to Kitchener’s Island, with a botanical garden established in 1860. Here, you will be able to explore lush tropical vegetation and majestic trees that provide visitors with shade from the intense sun. You will return to the boat in time for dinner and spend the night on board.

Day 7: Aswan After breakfast, at the agreed-upon time, a representative from the RTS agency will be waiting for you at the reception, assist you with disembarking, and take you on a relaxing ride by motorboat through the national park of the Nile with its cataracts. You will also visit a Nubian village and enjoy lunch at a Nubian restaurant. Upon your return, you will dock at the Old Cataract Hotel. The RTS agency representative will assist you with the hotel check-in and room allocation. You will then have a free afternoon to enjoy one of the most luxurious hotels along the Nile, spending time on the terrace by the pool with a magnificent view of the Nile. You can also indulge in a proper English tea at five o’clock (not included in the price) while watching the enchanting sunset. Dinner will be served at the hotel’s terrace restaurant. An overnight stay at the Old Cataract Hotel.

Day 8: Aswan After breakfast, you will have free time to enjoy the hotel and its numerous amenities. You can indulge in the various services it offers (for additional costs). Lunch will be served in the hotel’s terrace restaurant. We highly recommend that you end your day with exquisite cuisine at the famous à la carte restaurant, 1902 (not included in the price). An overnight stay at the Old Cataract Hotel.

Day 9: Aswan – Abu Simbel – Aswan After breakfast, at the agreed-upon time, your guide will be waiting for you at the hotel reception and will take you to the airport for a flight to Abu Simbel (the excursion lasts approximately 6 hours). In Abu Simbel, you will visit the greatest attraction of the Nubian kingdom. Both temples, built by Ramesses II and carved into the rock, were relocated to a higher location during the construction of the High Dam in Aswan and the creation of the artificial Lake Nasser to prevent them from being flooded. It is almost unimaginable when you stand at the foot of the magnificent statues of Ramesses II. The main temple of Ramesses II is dedicated to the gods Ra-Horakhty, Amon, and Ptah. It also features a grand interior with intricately carved reliefs depicting scenes of warfare, religious rituals, and other significant events. The smaller temple, dedicated to Queen Nefertari, the wife of Ramesses II, known for her exceptional beauty and significant role in the political and religious affairs of ancient Egypt, is famous for its elegant reliefs depicting the queen and various goddesses who, in contrast to the warrior Ramesses II, worked for peace. Upon returning from the excursion, you will have free time until dinner on the terrace of the Old Cataract Hotel. An overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 10: 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

The price of the package per adult sharing a double room /tent

2 persons : 3,999 €
4 persons : 3,699 €
6 persons : 3,499 €

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: 1,490 €.

Accommodation

2x overnight stay at a 5* hotel the Winter Palace in Luxor (1x full board and 1x half board).
4x overnight stay on a Nile Cruise Boat (full board).
3x overnight stay at a 5* hotel Sofitel Legend Old Cataract in Aswan (full 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 5* hotel the Winter Palace in Luxor (1x full board and 1x half board).
4x overnight stay on a Nile Cruise Boat (full board).
3x overnight stay at a 5* hotel Sofitel Legend Old Cataract in Aswan (full board). 1x lunch in Aswan.
All transfers and sightseeing in the programme (except entrance fees to enter some tombs in the Valley of the Kings where there is an extra charge).
English-speaking local guides for all sightseeing in the programme. Accompanying and assistance by an English-speaking representative from the RTS agency throughout the trip, 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.
Dinner in á la carte restaurant 1902 (price around €120 per person) and tea at 5 five o’clock in the Old Cataract Hotel (price around €30).
Other sightseeing and transfers not included in the programme.
Customary tipping (€80–100 per person)

Further information

• Hotel address : Luxor, Egypt
• Duration : 9 nights
• 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.

Agency

BOT SAS