Dahabiya: Cairo, Dahabiya & Aswan

Itinerary

day 1

Home - Cairo

On arrival into Cairo International Airport you will be met by a Soliman Travel representative prior to passport control, our representative will obtain your entry visa which is included in your trip (British Passport holders only). You will than have a private transfer to your hotel.

Spend 3 nights at the Marriott Mena House Hotel based on Bed & Breakfast

Overnight Cairo

day 2

Pyramids of Giza & Sakkara

Full day private guided tour to visit the spectacular Pyramids of Giza, the legendary Sphinx and The Valley Temple. Drive further south to Memphis to visit the Step Pyramid of Sakkara.

Optional evening tour: Sound & Light Show at the Pyramids of Giza

 Overnight Cairo

day 3

Cairo City Tour

A full-day private guided tour exploring this wonderful city of contrasts, where the ancient world sits comfortably with the hustle and bustle of the modern world. Start the day wondering through the innumerable ancient artefacts and treasures housed at the Egyptian Museum, on the famous Tahrir Square. Continue the day exploring Old Coptic Christian Cairo including the Hanging Church (built high on top of the Old Roman Babylon Fort) and Abu Serga Church. Visit the Ben Ezra Synagogue in the Old Jewish Quarter, Followed by the 12th-Century Citadel of Salah El Din and the Mohamed Ali Mosque. Finish the day , exploring Khan El Khalili Bazaar, one of the world's oldest markets and the largest in the Middle East.

day 4

Cairo to Luxor

Upon arrival into Luxor International Airport a Soliman Travel representative will meet you outside the airport, you will than have a private transfer to your Dahabiya.

Spend 5 nights on board the Nour El Nil Malouka based on full board

Esna, located some 33 miles south of Luxor, is where you will board your dahabiya and meet the crew. A thriving merchant town, Esna is best known for the small ancient Temple of Khnum, which sits 9 meters below street level. Your trip will begin with a brief walk to the temple and a stroll through streets filled with beautiful textiles and other exotic goods.

day 5 

El Kab, on the East bank of the Nile, was once the capital of Upper Egypt and is still home to the temple of Nekhbet, as well as a row of fascinating decorated tombs carved into the slope of the mountains. Upon docking, you will embark on a beautiful walk through a small fishermen village to visit the necropolis.

In the afternoon, the boat will arrive at Edfu, home to the Greco-Roman temple dedicated to the god Horus. This is among the best preserved of all Egyptian temples. Horse and carriage will take you to the temple through the busy city streets. After returning to the boat, you will set sail for a beautiful island.

day 6

This is a day devoted to the river: immediately after an optional morning walk and breakfast, you will set sail. In the afternoon, you will stop at an island for a stroll or to swim in the Nile. As dusk begins, there may be an opportunity to walk into the desert along a valley lined with boulders covered in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs and stone-age inscriptions. These images mark the beginning of the shortest trail through the desert to Libya (28 days in ancient times). At night, the boat will tie up the foot of floodlit temple of Gebel Silsileh.

day 7

Here, the Nile, flowing between two mountains ranges, is at its narrowest. You will often be the only visitors at this fascinating site, as large Nile cruisers are not allowed to stop here. After visiting the small temple of Horemheb and walking through the sandstone quarries, where ancient Egyptians cut stone for many of their most famous temples, you will visit a picturesque café to enjoy tea and shisha (Cafe temporarily closed). You will then sail to a picturesque riverbank where you will stop for lunch and swimming.

day 8

After a night on the water and beneath the stars, the morning trip will take you to the town and temple of Kom Ombo. The temple was built during the Ptolemaic period on the site of an older temple and at one of the most beautiful locations, on a bend on the river. The temple was dedicated to Sobek, the crocodile-headed god. After enjoying the temple, you will visit the new Crocodile Museum, which contains many mummified crocodiles, attesting to the importance the creature played in this region in ancient times.

day 9

Awake to the beautiful sight of the desert closing in on the river at Aswan Bridge. Here your cruise comes to an end. You will leave relaxed and refreshed in the morning.

A representative from Soliman Travel will meet you from your cruise and transfer you to the Sofitel Legend Old Cataract.

2 nights at the Sofitel Legend Old Cataract based on bed & breakfast.

day 10

Optional visit to Abu Simbel (This is at an additional charge, please enquire for further information & pricing).

day 11

You will be picked up from your hotel for your private transfer to Aswan Airport.

Aswan - Cairo - Home