Sailing by Dahabiya to the Temples of the Nile

In the Wake of Cleopatra

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The River Nile by sail! This is a traveler’s dream journey—exploring by 8-passenger dahabiya, the traditional two-masted yacht of the Nile. We discover the great monuments of ancient Egypt that line this legendary river valley from Luxor to Aswan, as well as fascinating out-of-the-way sites. Ours is an intimate Nile experience, with behind the scenes visits to villages, lovely picnics on sandy riverbanks, and our crew guiding us to dock the traditional way, under oar. Our sailboat harkens back to a nostalgic era of travel, yet it has all of the modern comforts. The great sites of Cairo and the awe-inspiring temples of Abu Simbel round out this ultimate traveler’s odyssey amid the wonder that is ancient Egypt.

Below is an Itinerary-in-Brief. To view a complete Detailed Itinerary, Download Full Itinerary or Email our Area Specialist

Itinerary-in-Brief

Days 1-3
Cairo and the Great Pyramids

The Great Pyramids at Giza epitomize the mystery of ancient Egypt. We explore these wondrous tombs of the Pharaohs and visit the lion-headed Sphinx, ancient Memphis, and the necropolis at Sakkara. With two full days in Cairo, we also roam the lanes of the labyrinthine Khan El Khalili Bazaar and explore the Egyptian Museum, with its amazing collection spanning the Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms and the treasures of King Tutankhamen, the Boy King. The Mummies Room is a true highlight of this famed museum.

Day 4
Luxor / Karnak Temple

We fly to Luxor, the former Thebes, ancient Egypt's New Kingdom capital, and visit stupendous Karnak, with its forest of stone columns, and the Luxor temple, gracing the banks of the Nile.

Days 5-9
Valley of the Kings / Sailing the Nile

Across the Nile from Luxor is the Valley of the Kings, where Howard Carter made his epic discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamen in 1922. We explore the graceful tombs and mortuary temples of the valley, then embark aboard our dahabiya. The term dahabiya means "golden boat," as they were once the preserve of the royals and were common on the Nile in 19th and early 20th centuries. With a shallow draft, these vessels navigate not only on the main river but also in the maze of canals threading through its banks. This allows us to visit lesser-known sites such as El-Kab, home of Nekbet, the vulture goddess of Upper Egypt, along with famed Nile-side temples including Edfu, the best preserved ancient temple in Egypt, and Kom Ombo, on a high dune overlooking the Nile. From time to time, we enjoy barbeques and picnics at beautiful spots, and one evening, we moor at Conania Island for a visit with local villagers.

Days 10-12
Aswan / Abu Simbel / Cairo

We disembark at Aswan and fly to Abu Simbel to see the wondrous Nile-side temples of Ramses. Our final day is in Cairo, exploring the Coptic sites. Depart on Day 12 or join our 3-day Alexandria extension.

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Tour Costs $5995 (8 members) $6395 (6-7 members) $6795 (5 members) Single supplement: $795 Internal airfare: $475 (subject to change) Alexandria extension: $975 Petra & Dead Sea extension: $1895 *Prices are for 2008 dates only **Airfare is not included in Tour Cost unless indicated

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