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Days
9
Price from
$2,567NZD
Map of Nile Valley Highlights including Egypt

The more you see of Egypt, the more you’ll want to explore! From the mighty pyramids of Giza, the temples of Abu Simbel, or busy Khan al-Khalili Bazaar, this nine-day journey is a great place to start.

Before booking on this trip we recommend that you read the ‘Safety’ section in the Essential Trip Information regarding special safety considerations for Egypt trips.

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Terms & Conditions
Start
Cairo, Egypt
Finish
Cairo, Egypt
Destination
Egypt
Style
Peregrine
Code
PGNV
Physical rating
Traveller’s rating
138 reviews
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1, Max 12

Why you'll love this trip

  • A day spent among the incredible Pyramids of Giza is only the beginning. This trip packs an impressive number of highlights into just nine days, without compromising on comfort and relaxation.

  • Explore the famed & mysterious tomb of King Tutankhamun.

  • Travel to Abu Simbel’s monumental temples by plane and marvel at the sheer scale of these stunning structures.

  • Do like the locals and settle in with a coffee or mint tea amid the chatter and hookah smoke in what's said to be Cairo's oldest coffee shop

  • A four-night river cruise is the ideal way to experience the Nile. Rest and relax on the sun deck and in the pool while local riverside life streams by

  • Experience not only the warmth and charm of Nubian hospitality, but also some delicious traditional cuisine

  • Cairo's Khan al-Khalili Bazaar is an essential Egyptian experience, and you'll have plenty of time to lose yourself in the colours and aromas of this fascinating marketplace.

  • Enjoy a home cooked meal with a local Egyptian family.

  • The stone temples of Thebes remain a defining part of the Luxor skyline, and are particularly impressive at sunset.

Is this trip right for you?

  • There are a lot of early morning starts on this itinerary where we visit sites early to beat the heat, and avoid the crowds. These are often balanced out with free afternoons and evenings.

  • Egypt can get incredibly hot in the summer months of July and August. Regardless of the month, it does heats up quickly during the day and there will be some site visits with little or no shade.

  • Some of the sites you will visit involve walking on rocky and/or steep hillsides, and there is often little or no shade. Comfortable, sturdy walking shoes and a hat are essential.

  • Accommodation aboard the Nile riverboat is full board – breakfast, lunch and dinner are included. Drinks are offered from the bar area for an additional cost. An evening program is also available.

  • Accommodation aboard the overnight train is in two-berth cabins which convert to bunk beds. All bedding is provided on board and western-style toilets are located in each carriage. Keep in mind general train cleanliness may not be to the same standards you are accustomed to.

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Itinerary
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This itinerary is valid for departures from 01 January 2019 to 31 December 2019. View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2018 - 31 December 2018

Arrive at Cairo International Airport and be transferred to your hotel. This is simply an arrival day, so you may arrive in Cairo at any time. Note that hotel rooms are generally only available after midday. The remainder of the day is free to explore the city, but an important welcome meeting will be held at 6pm this evening. Please check the hotel reception for details. Cairo is one of the great cities of antiquity and its history can perhaps be symbolised by two imposing landmarks - the Pyramids of Giza and the Mosque of Mohammed Ali. In free time perhaps get out and explore the busy streets of this city of contrasts, where you can see donkey carts and expensive cars, medieval slums and modern shopping malls.

Please note that the Novotel is a dry hotel. However there are a number of great options to grab a drink and a meal in the surrounding Zamalek area.
Accommodation
  • Novotel El Borg or similar (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Urban Adventures - Downtown Cairo Tour - USD45
  • Urban Adventures -Half Day Pyramids Adventure - USD67
  • Urban Adventures - Islamic Cairo in Depth Tour - USD64
  • Urban Adventures - Alexandria City Discovery - USD133
  • Cairo - Sound & Light Show at the Pyramids (entrance fee only) - EGP200
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
An airport arrival transfer is included. This transfer is only valid if arriving on day 1 or if you have booked pre-trip accommodation through Peregrine. Please provide your flight details at the time of booking, or at a minimum 15 days prior to travel (note - we may not be able confirm request made within 15 days of travel). Once you have provided your details a transfer representative will be booked to meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel.

This morning after breakfast drive out to Giza, home to perhaps the greatest iconic structures ever created by man - the Pyramids and the Sphinx. Instantly familiar yet retaining a mystique and power, getting up close to these incredible pharaonic tombs is captivating. For an additional charge you may be able to go inside the Great Pyramid of Khufu (or Cheops), although occasionally it may be closed to visitors.
The Egyptian Museum is simply one of the world's great museums, home to a stupendous collection of antiquities and the perfect introduction to your tour, exhibiting many of the region's treasures. You will head there after lunch and your expert guide will take you through Egypt's rich and fascinating dynastic history. You will then have some free time to explore on your own; you may wish to visit the Royal Mummy Room (optional and at extra cost).

Afterwards you will return to your hotel, where there is plenty of time to freshen up before you are transferred to the railway station for the overnight sleeper train to Luxor.

Accommodation aboard the overnight train is in two-berth cabins which convert to bunk beds. All bedding is provided on board and western-style toilets are located in each carriage. Your bags will be stored in your cabin, where airline-style dinner and breakfast will be served. However it may be worth bringing some additional snacks, especially if you are vegetarian or have dietary requirements. Your tour leader can help you to arrange this. Despite being a tourist class train facilities are basic. Please also keep in mind general train cleanliness may not be to the same standards you are accustomed to.it may be worth bringing some additional snacks, especially if you are vegetarian or have dietary requirements. Your tour leader can help you to arrange this. Despite being a tourist class train facilities are basic.
Accommodation
  • Sleeper Train (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Cairo - The Egyptian Museum
  • Cairo - The Egyptian Museum headset
  • Cairo - Pyramids and Sphinx
Optional Activities
  • Cairo - The 2nd Pyramid of Khafre - EGP60
  • Cairo - The Great Pyramid of Cheops - EGP300
  • Cairo - The Egyptian Museum Mummy Room - EGP150
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner

After an early breakfast on board, the train rolls into Luxor. It's a vibrant place with an excellent bazaar, situated close to some of ancient Egypt's most important and extraordinary sights. Travel to Karnak, one of the world's most celebrated temple complexes, built over a period of some 200 years, and some of it dating back to 2,055 BC. Your guided tour of the temple reveals its finest sections.
Later you will be transferred to your Nile cruise boat, which will be your home for the next four nights. You can relax by the pool on the boat or explore the town. For the rest of the afternoon and evening you will be free to relax, shop in the bazaar (open until quite late) or perhaps experience the atmosphere of a local tea house.

Notes: Audits were carried out on balloon operators within Egypt to confirm the safety of their operations, unfortunately we were not able to ascertain the safety standards of these balloon operators therefore, we are not able to recommend or assist in the booking of any balloon excursions.
Accommodation
  • Riverboat (Feature Stay) (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Luxor - Karnak Temple
Optional Activities
  • Luxor - Sound and Light Show at Karnak (entrance only) - EGP200
  • Luxor - Luxor Museum (entrance only) - EGP120
  • Luxor - Luxor Temple - EGP100
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

Rise early this morning and head into the Valley of the Kings. Buried under the arid hills here are over 60 tombs of pharaohs, many richly decorated with reliefs and paintings. Explore this sprawling and spectacular place where discoveries are still being made. Tutankhamun's final resting place is also located here, and you'll have free time to visit it. Your guide will explain the funerary rites of the ancient Egyptians and significance of the many paintings and hieroglyphics. You will visit three royal tombs and then continue to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, set in a spectacular natural amphitheatre. Your final stop is the Colossi of Memnon – giant statues that were once part of an impressive colonnade. Enjoy lunch upon your return to the boat. There is time to relax on deck or in your cabin before you set sail for Edfu. Generally the journey from Luxor to Edfu is from 1 pm to 11 pm. Departure time may vary, depending on river traffic – please refer to the note regarding cruise schedules in the 'Other Information' section. You will pass through Esna Lock, which can sometimes be a slow process depending on the number of vessels waiting to get through, and continue your journey upstream.

Accommodation
  • Riverboat (Feature stay) (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Luxor - Hatshepsut Temple
  • Luxor - Valley of the Kings (3 tombs)
  • Luxor - Tut Ank Amon Tomb entrance
Optional Activities
  • Luxor - Valley of the Queens - EGP80
  • Luxor - Medinat Habu Temple - EGP60
  • Luxor - Deir el Madina - EGP80
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

Morning finds you moored near Edfu, a beautifully preserved temple dedicated to Horus. Please see the special information below regarding visiting the temple.

Continue travelling upriver, relaxing on the sundeck and taking in the surrounding sights – desert hills forming a backdrop to lush riverbanks, fishermen casting their nets and farmers working their land.

This afternoon we will arrive at Kom Ombo temple (about 45km north of Aswan city) which sits picturesquely ruined on the river's edge and provides an interesting insight into the Greco-Roman period. 
The temple was built approx. 181BC and is dedicated to 2 Gods; Horus the protection god and Sobek fertility god linked to the Nile Water . The temple consists of 2 identical northern sections the North and South each dedicated to either god.
In the Sobek section recent discoveries have been made of mummified Crocodiles, which are now displayed in the Crocodile museum attached to the temple - don't miss it!

Board your boat again at around 6pm and continue to Aswan, arriving at around 9.30 pm.

Accommodation
  • Riverboat (Feature Stay) (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Special Information

The only mode of transport available to visit the Edfu temple is by locally managed horse and carriages. As a responsible travel focused business, animal welfare is extremely important to us and we want to ensure that we are not promoting any activities where the working animals are not properly cared for. Unfortunately, some operators of the Horse and Carriages have been found to be in breach of our animal welfare guidelines and it is, for this reason, we will no longer including the visit the Edfu Temple.

In addition to the animal welfare concerns, we have had a substantial amount of feedback suggesting that the experience itself is quite uncomfortable due to the pushy nature of the vendors and local suppliers outside the site. While we recommend that you do not use the horse and carriage to visit the Temple, the decision is ultimately up to you. Edfu is an included port stop on the Nile River cruise schedule.

Explore Aswan today, Egypt's southernmost city. Its easygoing charm is due in no small part to its large Nubian population. Depending on your arrival time, you may visit the beautiful Temple of Isis (the Goddess of health, marriage and wisdom) that was rescued from the rising waters of the Nile and relocated on Philae Island (alternatively you will visit it tomorrow). It's a marvel of decorative pylons featuring some of Egypt's finest carvings – definitely one of the real gems of Upper Egypt. Access to the temple is by small motorboats. The rest of your day will be free to wander, and Aswan is a great place for it. The Nubian Bazaar is a must, while the excellent Nubian Museum is recommended by many. The waterfront promenade, or Aswan's 'corniche', runs alongside one of Nile's most appealing stretches and is the perfect place to stop for a mint tea. Watch the waterfront come alive at dusk, as families are out strolling, socialising and relaxing along the corniche.
Accommodation
  • Riverboat (Feature Stay) (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Kom Ombo - Kom Ombo Temple
  • Aswan - Philae Temple
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

We depart early this morning to visit the iconic Abu Simbel by plane. With the four gargantuan statues of Ramses guarding the Great Temple, this is one of Egypt's most memorable sights. The rest of the day is free for you to make your own discoveries. A popular afternoon option in Aswan is a sailboat ride around the islands in a traditional felucca, stopping off at the botanical gardens on Kitchener's Island. Alternatively travel to the Monastery of St Simeon, an abandoned 7th-century fortress monastery located in the desert on the Nile's west bank. Your tour leader will be on hand to help you arrange any excursions. Alternatively, you may prefer to simply relax by the hotel pool or do some shopping in the local bazaar. In the evening you will visit a Nubian village and enjoy the warm hospitality (and cuisine) of these locals. You will also be treated to some Nubian dancing, and may even have the chance to try some moves yourself. 

Accommodation
  • Hotel Basma or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Abu Simbel - Abu Simbel temples
  • Abu Simbel - Flights to and from Abu Simbel
Optional Activities
  • Aswan - Unfinished Obelisk (entrance only) - EGP60
  • Aswan - Nubian Museum (entrance fee only) - EGP100
  • Aswan - Sound & Light Show at Philae Temple - EGP200
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner
Special Information
Abu Simbel Flights 
Your included flight to Abu Simbel will be on the 0655 flight from Aswan.  You will have two hours on site which includes transport to and from the temple.  Expected arrival back to Aswan is 1130. Due to flight scheduling and availability these times may change.

On rare occasions the group may be split over several flights OR this included activity may take place on day six.  If this occurs an additional local guide is contracted to ensure that full guiding services are included at the temple for the entire group.
 

After breakfast you will be transferred to Aswan airport for the short flight back to Cairo (approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes) where you will be met and taken to your hotel. Today you will dive into another layer of Egyptian history: medieval Cairo. Head to Khan al-Khalili Bazaar, Cairo's oldest mosque and the Gayer-Anderson Museum. The 'Khan', sprawling around an old area known as Al-Azhar, is a quintessentially Cairo experience – a warren of alleys with stalls serving up a succession of intoxicating scenes. It retains a distinctly medieval feel. You will explore the gold market, 'perfume street' and the spice market, where heady aromas hang in the air like a thick blanket of Damascene cloth (which can be purchased next door in the cloth market). The gorgeous 9th-century Ibn Tulun Mosque is one of the oldest and largest in Egypt, possibly its most beautiful too. Its perfectly proportioned courtyard and distinctive minaret make it a masterpiece of Islamic architecture. Nearby stands the Gayer-Anderson Museum, housed in two fine old villas and vaunting a fascinating collection of Arabic artefacts, furniture and memorabilia. Also dont miss the chance to drink arabic coffee or mint tea from Cairo's oldest cafe, it has a long history and fantastic atmosphere.
This evening you will get to share an authentic Egyptian meal with a local family. Visit a family home, chat with the local family members about life in the Middle East, and learn some of your favourite traditional Egyptian dishes while enjoying a delicious dinner
Accommodation
  • Novotel El Borg or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Cairo - Gayer Anderson
  • Cairo - Home Cooked Meal
  • Cairo - Khan al-Khalili Bazaar
  • Cairo - Ibn Tulun Mosque
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner
Special Information
For the flight from Aswan to Cairo, the baggage allowance is up to 23 kilos for checked in luggage and 7 kilos for carry on bags subject to the airlines discretion.

Your trip will come to an end today after breakfast. Check-out time is usually around 12 noon and you are free to leave at any time. If you have arranged a private airport transfer you will be advised of the pick-up time.
Additional accommodation can be pre-booked if you wish to spend more time exploring Cairo.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Meals

8 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 7 dinners

Transport

Plane, Private aircon bus, Riverboat, Sleeper train

Accommodation

Comfortable hotel (3 nights), Cruise ship (4 nights Feature Stay), Overnight sleeper train (1 night)

Included Activities

  • Cairo - The Egyptian Museum
  • Cairo - The Egyptian Museum headset
  • Cairo - Pyramids and Sphinx
  • Luxor - Karnak Temple
  • Luxor - Hatshepsut Temple
  • Luxor - Valley of the Kings (3 tombs)
  • Luxor - Tut Ank Amon Tomb entrance
  • Kom Ombo - Kom Ombo Temple
  • Aswan - Philae Temple
  • Abu Simbel - Abu Simbel temples
  • Abu Simbel - Flights to and from Abu Simbel
  • Cairo - Gayer Anderson
  • Cairo - Home Cooked Meal
  • Cairo - Khan al-Khalili Bazaar
  • Cairo - Ibn Tulun Mosque

Reviews

Our Nile Valley Highlights trips score an average of 4.91 out of 5 based on 138 reviews in the last year.

Nile Valley Highlights, September 2018

Marlene Chamoun

Review submitted 23 Sep 2018

Nile Valley Highlights, September 2018

Elias Chamoun

Review submitted 23 Sep 2018

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Important notes

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT:
An optional single supplement is available on this trip. Please refer to your booking agent for further information.

Following recent safety incidents we recommend that you check your government's advice for their latest information on travelling in Egypt before your departure and ensure that your travel insurance covers you for all areas of your itinerary. We have links to prominent government travel advisories and regular updates on issues affecting this trip on our Travel Alerts page - http://www.peregrineadventures.com/en-au/travel-alerts

Essential trip information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.
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