Egypt: Love on the Nile

Tailor Made: Private travel customized to your interests

• Send this Trip to a Friend
• Print This Trip

Itinerary

Days 1-2: USA or Canada/Cairo, Egypt

Board your overnight flight to Cairo, where the history and romance of ancient Egypt still lives. Upon arrival, you are met by an Abercrombie & Kent representative and transferred to your hotel, where you are assisted with check in. The remainder of your day is at leisure.

Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at the First Residence

Day 3: Cairo

This morning, visit the world-famous Egyptian Museum of Antiquities, home to the relics of Egypt’s glorious, bygone era. The pink-granite building was constructed in the 19th century, and original Pharaonic statues and monuments pepper the lush gardens on museum grounds. Tour this impressive museum, home to relics dating back to 4000 BC, among them the treasures of Tutankhamen and the Mummy Room. After lunch, begin your tour of the breathtaking pyramids. The Pyramid of Cheops, the largest of the three, was built around 2690 BC and is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Marvel at the mysterious Sphinx, 190 feet long and 65 feet high, carved out of a single piece of rock. This evening, enjoy a private dinner on board a felucca (traditional sailboat), listening to the soft sounds of the oud (Egyptian lute) as you glide along the magical Nile.

Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at the First Residence   |   Meals: B L D

Day 4: Cairo/Abu Simbel/Aswan

Early this morning, fly south to Aswan and then board a short flight to Abu Simbel. Abu Simbel is home to the magnificent temple of Ramses II, with its four 60-foot-high statues of the pharaoh. After exploring this stunning temple, fly back to Aswan and continue overland to your private sailing vessel, the ‘Zein Nile Chateau.’ With its airy white sails and elegant interiors, this dahabieh (traditional Egyptian sailboat) is the perfect setting for a romantic getaway. Enjoy a lovely lunch on board as you set sail toward Aswan's High Dam, from which you can gaze down the huge lake created to control the floodwaters of the Nile. Continue on your gentle cruise to the exquisite Temple of Philae on the island of Agilika. End the afternoon at the granite quarries, which supplied the ancient Egyptians with most of the hard stone used in pyramids and temples. Here you will find the 1,500-ton Unfinished Obelisk, a glorious example of the technique used by the ancient Egyptians in producing these enormous monoliths.

'Sanctuary Zein Nile Chateau'   |   Meals: B L D

Day 5: Aswan/Kom Ombo/Edfu

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast on board your dahabieh as you continue cruising the river, en route to Kom Ombo. Disembark and explore the lovely Greco-Roman temple dedicated to Haroeris (the Sun God) and Sobek (the Crocodile God). The temple, built in the third century BC, stands at a bend in the Nile where, in ancient times, sacred crocodiles basked in the sun on the riverbank. Afterward, return to your vessel for lunch in the shade as the ‘Zein Nile Chateau’ sets sail for Edfu. Arrive in the early evening at the well-preserved Temple of Horus (the Falcon God), built in 230 BC by Ptolemy III.

'Sanctuary Zein Nile Chateau'   |   Meals: B L D

Day 6: Edfu/Esna/Luxor

Today, travel to Esna, home to the Greco-Roman Temple of Khnum. The beautifully preserved Great Hypostyle Hall was built during the reign of the Roman Emperor Claudius. The walls of the temple are covered with inscriptions, most of which date back to the Roman period. After contemplating this architectural marvel. Return to your vessel to enjoy another romantic lunch. The balance of your afternoon is at leisure to sit back and enjoy the breathtaking scenery passing by as the ‘Zein Nile Chateau’ makes her way along the Nile toward Luxor. You also catch a glimpse into daily life on the river’s banks, which in many areas has remained almost unchanged for centuries.

'Sanctuary Zein Nile Chateau'   |   Meals: B L D

Day 7: Luxor

This morning, your journey takes you to the famous Valley of the Kings and Queens, where over 60 tombs have been discovered. Afterward, pause by the lovely terraced funerary temple of Queen Hatshepsut, Egypt's first female pharaoh, and pass by the fabled Colossi of Memnon. Following lunch on board the ‘Zein Nile Chateau,’ pay a visit to the awe-inspiring Temple of Karnak, a huge complex where 134 great columns once supported an enormous roof, an extraordinary engineering feat for the 12th century BC. Continue to the strikingly graceful Temple of Luxor, built by Amenhotep III, Tutankhamon, Haremhab and Ramses II during their respective reigns and dedicated to the god Amun. Along the front of the temple, three large statues remain of Ramses II, while the Colonnade of Amenophotep III features 14 towering papyrus-headed columns. Walk hand in hand amid these timeless temples, reflecting on a breathtaking culture and its legacy. Return to your dahabieh in the afternoon for some time at leisure before dinner.

'Sanctuary Zein Nile Chateau'   |   Meals: B L D

Day 8: Luxor/Cairo

This morning, bid farewell to your ‘Zein Nile Chateau’ crew as you disembark and are transferred to the airport for your flight back to Cairo. The balance of the day is at leisure. You may wish to arrange a private car and driver for further explorations of the city or to complete some last-minute shopping. Tonight, dine privately in the Churchill Gardens of the historic Mena House Oberoi Hotel, where your table overlooks the magnificent pyramids.

Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at the First Residence   |   Meals: B D

Day 9: Cairo/USA or Canada

Transfer to the airport for your homebound flight.

Meals: B