Egypt’s Nostalgic Nile by Dahabiya

Day 1 - UK - Cairo

Titan’s VIP door-to-door travel service collects you from home for your flight to Cairo. On arrival, we transfer to our hotel for the next three nights, in a spectacular location on an island in the Nile, yet still in the heart of Cairo. It was originally a palace, built for the French Emperor Napoleon III and his wife Empress Eugenie when they visited for the opening of the Suez Canal. Today it’s one of Cairo’s most celebrated hotels.

Cairo Marriott Hotel (5-star)

Day 2 - Cairo

Our tour starts on a high, as we spend the day taking in the might and wonder of Egypt’s most iconic sights. The Pyramids of Giza are the last remaining wonder of the ancient world, having stood for nearly 4,000 years. The scale and perfect geometry of these massive, almost unearthly tombs is breathtaking - photographs don’t do them justice. Next, it’s the enigmatic Great Sphinx, whose purpose and origins continue to baffle and challenge archaeologists to this day. After lunch at a local restaurant, we visit Cairo’s Egyptian Museum, home to the world’s finest collection of ancient Egyptian masks, jewellery and artefacts. The museum also displays Tutankhamun’s priceless burial treasures including chariots, statues, jewellery and his masterpiece gold mask. These are the items Howard Carter found when he discovered the boy-king’s tomb in 1920, 3,500 years after it was sealed. Please note: Entry to Tutankhamun’s room is at your own expense.

Cairo Marriott Hotel (5-star)

Day 3 - Cairo

After the excitement of our first full day in Cairo, today is free to relax. You might want to explore independently or enjoy the hotel’s gardens and outdoor swimming pool. Or if yesterday’s visit has piqued your interest in pyramids, join an optional excursion to see the Step Pyramid at Sakkara. The first of all the ancient Egyptian pyramids, it was constructed an astonishing 4,700 years ago.

Cairo Marriott Hotel (5-star)

Day 4 - Cairo - Luxor

This morning we fly to Luxor, and transfer to our hotel, with a commanding position on the banks of the Nile - perfect for evening strolls into the heart of Luxor along the level promenade. This afternoon we head out to Luxor’s East Bank where two landmark monuments await: Luxor Temple and Karnak Temple. The temples were once linked by the Avenue of Sphinxes, 3km of paved yellow sandstone lined on both sides by over 1,000 statues. Although some have been lost to time or damage, most remain, and it’s still an impressive sight. Karnak Temple is vast, a labyrinth of honey-stoned temples, colossal columns and hieroglyphic-covered walls, and it’s a testament to the power and vision of the ancient Egyptians. We visit Luxor Temple later, after sunset, when atmospheric lighting illuminates the high walls, ancient reliefs and giant statues to great effect.

Sonesta St George Hotel Luxor (5-star)

Day 5 - Luxor

The Valley of the Kings is one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world. Walking through this dry desert ravine where pharaohs including Tutankhamun as well as queens, high priests and other elites were buried in elaborate tombs and mausoleums, is an unforgettable experience. Leaving the valley behind we visit the extraordinary mortuary temple of Hatshepsut and the massive, seated statues known as the Colossi of Memnon. Returning to Luxor, we stop at the rarely visited house where Howard Carter lived during his search for Tutankhamun. It’s a poignant place, just as he left it, complete with his original furniture, books, handwritten notes and décor. After a free afternoon, you have the chance to return to Karnak Temple this evening for a Sound and Light show.

Sonesta St George Hotel Luxor (5-star)

Day 6 - Esna - Edfu - Al Fawaza Island

We start early, driving the short distance to Esna where our dahabiya, Queen Farida, and her crew will be waiting. Stepping onto a dahabiya is like stepping into the past, and soon ropes, rigging and sails are being pulled, trimmed and tied as we set off serenely for our River Nile cruise. For lunch we’ll sit down to our first meal on board, a lavish spread of locally sourced dishes, all prepared by the resident chef. This sets the tone for what’s to come - meals on board are exquisite, a la carte and often several courses long! The cruise continues to Edfu, where we visit one of the best-preserved monuments in Egypt - the Temple of Horus. Once buried by desert sand and with its roof almost intact, its columns, carvings and hieroglyphics have filled many historical gaps since excavations began in the mid-19th century. Tonight, we moor by Al Fawaza Island, with the lilt of the Nile and the sumptuous, air-conditioned comfort of your cabin promising a good night’s sleep.

Queen Farida Dahabiya (4-star)

Day 7 - Al Ramady - Gebel el-Silsila - Al Fares Island

A leisurely sail this morning brings us to the village of Al Ramady, where we go ashore to witness day-to-day life on the banks of the Nile. After lunch on board, we continue south to little visited Gebel el-Silsila, where steep sandstone cliffs on both sides channel us through the narrowest point on the Nile. Going ashore, we explore the rock-cut shrines of Seti I, Ramses II, Merenptah and Horemheb, and see quarries which once produced massive blocks that were floated down the Nile to build temples and complexes in Luxor. Back on board, afternoon tea is served on the canopied top deck as we sail to Al Fares Island to moor overnight.

Queen Farida Dahabiya (4-star)

Day 8 - Al Fares Island - Kom Ombo - Herdiab Island

The Nile is the lifeblood of Egypt, sustaining the rich fertile soil along its riverbank that has been farmed for thousands of years. This morning’s stroll around Al Fares Island offers a glimpse of local life and farming methods today. Sailing on to the island of Kom Ombo, we step off to walk through the spectacular twin temples of Haroeris and Sobek. Sobek was the god of crocodiles, and over 300 mummified crocodiles have been unearthed here. Returning to our dahabiya, we sail on to Herdiab Island where we’ll moor overnight. Tonight’s dinner will be extra special - an Egyptian banquet-style barbecue served on long, lavishly dressed tables under a starlit Nile sky.

Queen Farida Dahabiya (4-star)

Day 9 - Herdiab Island - Aswan - Temple of Philae

Rise early for a walk around Herdiab Island, chatting to locals and seeing daily life unfold. Or perhaps go for a swim off the island’s sandy beaches, a rare opportunity to take a dip in the Nile. After that we sail to Aswan, a laid back and languorous city where Agatha Christie penned Death on the Nile. Lunch is followed by a visit to Philae Temple. This lovely, classical Egyptian temple was taken stone by stone from its original island setting in 1971, when rising Nile waters threatened to wash it away. From here we head to Aswan High Dam, a staggering feat of engineering that shows Egypt can also build modern constructions on a monumental scale.

Queen Farida Dahabiya (4-star)

Day 10 - Aswan

The last day of our Nile dahabiya cruise is at leisure - one last chance to enjoy our ship's sumptuous cushions, throws, sunbeds and sunshades on the top deck, or maybe take a peek inside the hotel where Agatha Christie and Winston Churchill stayed. Alternatively, join us for one last excursion to the temples of Abu Simbel. It’s a long drive - three hours each way - but the rewards are worth it. Abu Simbel showcases the skill and ambition of the ancient Egyptians and is second only to the Pyramids of Giza for its visual impact and scale.

Queen Farida Dahabiya (4-star)

Day 11 - Aswan - UK

Transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK.

Aswan - UK