Egypt: the Nile by Sail Private Journey
Passage to the Ancient World
Trip Details at-a-Glance
| Cost From: | $6495 see pricing |
|---|---|
| Length: | 12 days |
| Arrive: | Cairo, Egypt |
| Depart: | Cairo, Egypt |
| Lodging: | 6 nights in 5-star hotels, 5 nights aboard luxurious private dahabiya vessel, sails from Luxor to Aswan describe |
| Meals: | All meals included except 1 lunch and 2 dinners |
| Activity: | Small Boat & Yacht Cruising, Walking, Archaeology, Cultural Adventures |
| Trip Level: |
Easy to moderate walking tours and cultural exploration, Nile river travel by private vessel
|
Highlights
- Luxurious 100-foot dahabiya sailboat for Nile explorations with your private Egyptologist guide
- Temples at Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae, visits to traditional riverside villages
- Great Pyramids and the awe-inspiring temples of Abu Simbel
The Nile portion of our trip on the Lazuli dahabiya was remarkable. It was so relaxing and the tour pace was a perfect mix of sightseeing and sailing. We loved the crew!Kersten F.—Moncure, NC
Choosing the Right Trip
We work hard to help you choose the right trip for you, paying attention to your individual interests, abilities, and needs. If you have questions about the level of comfort or any of the activities described in this itinerary, please contact us.
Email Area Manager
References
We are proud to have an exceptionally high rate of repeat travelers. For more information, we would be happy to put you in touch with a client who has traveled with us.
Email Area ManagerDeparture Notes
Once you have signed up on the trip, we send a complete packing list, relevant health information, and required travel documents.
Resources
Cairo, the Great Pyramids, Abu Simbel—and the Nile by sail! Explore this storied river by traditional two-masted dahabiya, a beautiful 100-foot sailboat that harkens back to a nostalgic era of travel yet offers all the modern comforts as you discover the ethereal temples, magnificent tombs, and dazzling beauty of the eternal Nile landscape.
Itinerary at a Glance
For a more complete description, Download Full Trip Brochure
Days 1-3
Cairo and the Great Pyramids
The Great Pyramids at Giza epitomize the mystery of ancient Egypt. With your expert Egyptologist guide, explore these wondrous tombs, constructed in 2500 BC for the Pharaohs Cheops, Chefren, and Mycerinus. Visit the lion-headed Sphinx, ancient Memphis, and the necropolis at Sakkara. In Cairo, roam the labyrinthine Khan El Khalili Bazaar and the Egyptian Museum, the world’s most important collection of Egyptian antiquities, spanning an era from 2700 BC to the 6th century AD. In this famed museum, gaze on the extraordinary golden burial mask of King Tutankhamen, Egypt’s celebrated boy king and the face of ancient Egypt.
Day 4
Valley of the Kings
Modern Luxor is the site of ancient Thebes, Egypt’s New Kingdom capital, and the wealth of antiquities here is incredible. Visit the Luxor temple, whose grand colonnades grace the banks of the Nile in the heart of town, and stupendous Karnak, with its forest of stone columns built on a leviathan scale. Head across the Nile to explore the Valley of the Kings and Queens, where magnificent tombs (including the legendary tomb of King Tutankhamen) were carved into the desert rocks, richly decorated, and filled with treasures for the afterlife by generations of Pharaohs.
Days 5-9
The Nile by Sail
Savor the pleasures of the Nile from your sailboat as you journey with your Egyptologist guide from Luxor to Aswan in graceful style. Feast your eyes on the pageant of river life as you sail to Edfu to explore the extraordinary Temple of Horus, with its huge breathtaking walls filled with carved bas-reliefs. The next day, discover the little-visited shrine of Horomheb, the last king of the Middle Kingdom, then enjoy a barbecue dinner prepared by your crew and served by candlelight on remote Maniha Island. Sail to famous Kom Ombo, set on a high dune overlooking the Nile, to explore its stunning Greco-Roman and Ptolemaic temples, and enjoy an evening visit with the villagers of Cobania Island. Continue by sail upriver to romantic Philae, majestically situated on Aglika Island amid volcanic outcrops. Philae’s exquisite temple complex has lured pilgrims for thousands of years. Traveling by private sailboat is the perfect way to enjoy the living beauty of the Nile, lifeblood of Egypt, with scenes of graceful sailing feluccas and mud-brick villages inhabited since the time of the Pharaohs. On board delights include a private chef who prepares excellent meals served al fresco on deck under a shade canopy.
Days 10-12
Abu Simbel and Cairo
Fly to Abu Simbel to see the Nile-side temples built by Ramses II, an example of both ancient grandeur and modern preservation. Four immense statues of Ramses dominate the facade of the great Sun Temple, their faces gazing sternly across the water. In the 1960s, UNESCO arranged the disassembly and relocation of these precious temples to save them from the rising waters of Lake Nasser. Your final day is in Cairo, exploring its fascinating Coptic sites. Depart on Day 12.
For a more complete description, Download Full Trip Brochure
Optional Extensions
If you would like to continue your adventure, we offer the following extensions:
- Alexandria Extension (3 days)
- Jordan: Petra and The Dead Sea Extension (7 days)
What the Trip is Like
This trip is rated Level 1, easy. It is an overland touring trip with day walks to explore the fascinating temples and wonderful towns of this ancient and modern civilization. This trip can be enjoyed by anyone in good health who has no mobility restrictions.
When to go
October to April
For our Private Journey trips, you choose your own group and your preferred dates—there are no set departure dates. Private Journeys are available to groups as few as two people or as large as you like. Contact us for availability, questions, or to book your adventure!
Tour Costs
Prices valid through November 2010
$6495 (8-10 members)
$6995 (6-7 members)
$7695 (5 members)
$8395 (4 members)
$9795 (3 members)
$12195 (2 members)
Single supplement: $1650
Internal airfare: $510 (subject to change)
December surcharge: from $350 per person
Extension Costs
Alexandria Extension
from: $790
Jordan: Petra and The Dead Sea Extension
from: $2695
Includes all land transportation and Egyptologist guide throughout
more on pricing
Tour Cost Includes:
- All accommodations
- All meals as indicated in the Full Trip Brochure and bottled water
- Services of Trip Leader and local guides
- Sightseeing, all land transportation, and airport transfers as noted in the Full Trip Brochure, and baggage handling
Tour Cost Does Not Include:
International airfare, visas, meals not specified at the end of each itinerary day in the Full Trip Brochure, travel insurance, airfare or airport departure taxes, optional tipping or gratuities to leaders or staff, additional hotel nights that may be necessitated by airline schedule changes or other factors, cost of medical immunizations (if any), and other expenses of a personal nature (alcoholic and other beverages, laundry, etc.), camera fees at certain sites (approx. $2.50 per site).Mena House Oberoi
Days 1 to 3 (3 nights), Giza, Egypt
People love this place for a compelling reason—it’s literally right across from the Pyramids. When you look out your hotel room window, ...
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Sonesta St. George
Day 4 (1 night), Luxor, Egypt
We enjoy a new standard of luxury at the Sonesta St. George on the East Bank of Luxor, a relaxing location to watch feluccas as the sun sets on the ...
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Lazuli I
Days 5 to 9 (5 nights), Egypt
Our home base for five nights is the 100-foot dahabiya Lazuli I, a traditional Nile sailboat built at the end of the 19th century and ...
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Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza
Days 10 to 11 (2 nights), Cairo, Egypt
Located on the Nile at its widest point and within walking distance to the famous Egyptian Museum, the Nile Plaza offers beautiful guest rooms and ...
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Extension Accommodations
If you would like to view the accommodations offered with our extensions options:
- Alexandria Extension (3 days)
- Jordan: Petra and The Dead Sea Extension (7 days)
Note: Listed above are our signature accommodations for this trip. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
Client Comments
The Nile portion of our trip on the Lazuli dahabiya was remarkable. It was so relaxing and the tour pace was a perfect mix of sightseeing and sailing. We loved the crew!Kersten F., Moncure, NC
Super from beginning to end. The Trip Leader was the very best I have ever had!Carol S., Louisville, KY




