You are about to embark of the trip of a lifetime! Cruise the Nile on a private charter just for our group aboard the classic and luxurious SS Karim (previously owned by King Fuad I and his son King Farouk), travel to Abu Simbel by plane, visit the Great Pyramids of Giza with exclusive access, see the Sphinx, and much much more! This is truly a bucket list trip!
Lodging
1 night at the Hilton Heliopolis Cairo, 7 nights stay on board the SS Karim, 3 nights stay at the Marriott Zamalek Hotel in Cairo
Board
Breakfast at all hotels, tea, coffee, and water as well as breakfast, lunch, and dinner while aboard the SS Karim, farewell dinner in Cairo
Transfers
All airport transfers in Egypt
Domestic Flights
All flights originating and ending in Egypt per itinerary
Airport Meet & Greet
Assistance through the airport upon arrival and through check-in upon departure
Visa
Included for all participants from the USA
Luggage Handling
Included at Egyptian airports and boat
Tour Guide/Egyptologist
Private English-Speaking tour guide (Egyptologist) and Escort throughout the tour
Sightseeing
As per itinerary (including Abu Simbel Excursion and related transfer expenses)
High Tea
At the famous Old Cataract Hotel while in Aswan
Entrances
Basic entrance tickets to all sites included in the itinerary
Tour Escort
24 hour Cultured Travel tour escort/consierge available before and during your tour
Passport
Must be valid for 6 months past return date to the the U.S.
Airfare
Transportation from your home to the departure airport, any parking or toll fees incurred, and any airfare necessary to arrive or return. Round-trip airfare in to CAI and out from CAI.
Food and Beverage
Any meals, snacks, or beverages not included per itinerary
Alcoholic Beverages
Optional Excursions
Such as the Hot Air Balloon ride or the Giza Sound and Light Show
Supplemental Entrances
Not specified in the itinerary
Gratuity
Gratuity is not included and is a large part of Egyptian culture. Please prepare to have $300 - $400 USD per person in cash for tips
Travel Insurance
Strongly Recommended
Arrive in Cairo where you will be greeted at the airport and assisted with your visa and transferring through customs. You will then meet up with your new (and possibly old) friends at the Hilton Heliopolis hotel to rest and get ready for your adventure.
If you are arriving on an earlier date, be certain to have arrangements made for your accommodations which will be at an additional cost. If you are arriving in Cairo in the morning, note the check in time is at 3PM. While efforts will be made to get you into your room as soon as possible, to avoid hanging out in the lobby for a prolonged period of time, you may wish to reserve your room for the night prior to your arrival.
Depart Cairo in the morning and fly as a group to Luxor where you will visit Karnak Temple.
After visiting Karnak temple, embark on the SS Karim, the fantastic and historic vessel you will call home for the next 7 nights. Here, you will enjoy a delicious chef prepared lunch and set sail for Esna.
We will start the morning by sailing to our next stop, the Edfu Temple. After that, the journey will continue down the Nile to Kom Ombo.
Begin the morning with a visit to the Kom Ombo Temple and sail on to Aswan. Enjoy a free afternoon in Aswan or join an optional visit to a Nubian Village. Visit the Souk of Aswan in the evening or perhaps even the option to visit a jewelry shop.
Visit the Philae Temple and the Unfinished Obelisk (a mind-blowing undertaking that never quite came to fruition). Enjoy a low key afternoon in Aswan sipping cocktails or mocktails at the Old Cataract Hotel followed by a tour of the Nubian Museum.
Take a morning flight to Abu Simbel and then return to Aswan. Enjoy an afternoon cruising the Nile while sailing to to Edfu.
Visit the Esna Temple in the morning and enjoy the beauty of the vibrant colors which are still visible after all of these years. Following this visit, we will sail from Esna to Luxor. Here, we will visit the Luxor Temple in the evening.
Visit the West Bank including the Howard Carter House, Ramesseum, the Valley of the Kings (visiting the famous tombs of King Tut and Seti I) and Colossi of Memnon, all after enjoying an optional morning balloon ride. We say optional, but you will truly regret not doing this one! Lunch today will be at a local restaurant on the West Bank.
Unless you are truly terrified of heights, this is a magical experience you will want to take part in. You will be departing the SS Karim early, as in prior to 6AM, but catching the sunrise above the Nile is priceless.
Disembark from the SS Karim after breakfast and fly to Cairo. Check into the Marriott Zamalek hotel. Enjoy a free afternoon in Cairo.
Tour Cairo visiting the Grand Egyptian Museum and the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization. You will not want to miss the impressive collection of mummies on display here!
Start the morning by traveling out Sakkara. Then journey onward and visit the Giza Plateau and see the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx in a way that few get to. Enjoy your last evening together a group at our farewell dinner overlooking the Nile and the Cairo skyline.
We know you will be sad to leave, but thrilled with all the the memories and experiences you can share with others back home!