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Diva Moments
The pyramids, The Sphinx & private access to the Paws of the Sphinx
Luxurious 4 night Nile Cruise
Dazzling Light show at the Temple of Karnak
Abu Simbel & the twin temples of Ramses II and Queen Nefertari
Luxury and iconic accommodation throughout
The Ancient Sites of Egypt
Plus much, much more…
Take a step back in time on this incredible Journey of a Lifetime, Egypt: Following in the Footsteps of the Pharaohs. You will follow in the footsteps of Pharaohs, explorers, lovers of ancient history and of course Agatha Christie, who was so inspired by what she experienced, she penned ‘Death on the Nile’.
This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience has been created with the expertise of Abercrombie & Kent, and that takes place in so many extraordinary landscapes and environs you’ll feel like you’re starring in a ‘living’ movie..
Egypt has made a triumphant comeback in recent years, re-establishing itself as an alluring, exciting and friendly travel destination. Surround yourself with contemporary comforts, outstanding cuisine and mesmerising sights as you holiday in one of the world’s oldest and most vibrant nations.
A favourite of intrepid travellers from ancient times to the modern era, you will be immersed in this ancient culture through tailored private touring and the storytelling of local guides and Egyptologists (as well as the the astounding living museum you will explore).
Glide along the Nile and experience breathtaking desert landscapes aboard your luxury river cruise, exploring timeless landscapes and breathtaking monuments.
Following this exquisite journey why no join us in Jordan, to experience this incredible destination? A 5 night/6 day journey, Jordan: Then & Now will introduce you to some more of the most iconic sites in this region of the world.
Fully escorted from Cairo by Andrea Powis, Founder of Travelling Divas, this journey provides the opportunity to get lost in this extraordinary country that today combines modern and ancient cultures, offering travellers a unique opportunity to glimpse both sides of life.
Book today or contact us here with any questions you may have!
Tour Price: AUD$15,770 per person twin share. A single supplement of $5,225 applies.
Tour Starts: Cairo
Tour Ends: Cairo
Tour Dates: 13 – 24 March 2023
PRICE INCLUDES:
Fully escorted from Cairo by Andrea Powis, Founder Travelling Divas
An expert Egyptologist and specialist guides throughout the tour
4 nights’ luxury 5-star accommodation in a Nile view room, Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza
1 night’s luxury 5-star accommodation in a luxury garden room, Sofitel Luxor Winter Palace
4 nights’ luxury Nile cruise in a Cabin Bridge Deck, Sanctuary Nile Adventurer
2 nights’ luxury 5-star accommodation in a Palace Prestige Suite, Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Aswan
Private tours and activities as per the itinerary, including private access to the Sphinx Paws
Meals as per the itinerary
Private transport throughout including arrival and departure airport transfers
NOT INCLUDED IN THE TOUR:
MARCH 2023
Day 1 – Monday 13: Welcome to the ancient world, staying in the lap of luxury…
Upon arrival in Cairo you will be met by your A&K guide and transferred by private vehicle to your hotel where you will be assisted with check-in at the beautiful Four Seasons Hotel, with divine views of the Nile from each room.
An easy start to the tour, meeting Andrea this evening in the bar for a welcome drink and tapas in the Upper Deck Lounge at the hotel. This is a chance to get get to know your fellow travellers and discuss the coming tour in detail!
Overnight Accommodation: Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza
Included Meals: Dinner
Day 2 – Tuesday 14: Sakkara, The Pyramids and exclusive access to the ‘Paws’ of the Sphinx…
Today you will enjoy a full day tour to Sakkara and the Pyramids at Giza. Sakkara, was the former necropolis (cemetery) for the ancient Egyptian city of Memphis and the place where the very first pyramids were built as tombs for kings. Instead of the smooth sides featured on other pyramids, the pyramids here feature six steps on the outside, representing the pharaoh’s stepladder to heaven. Discover the famous Step Pyramid of King Zoser, the first pyramid ever built and the world’s oldest freestanding stone structure.
Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.
Then proceed to the famed Pyramids and Sphinx. The Great Pyramids of Giza are the only present-day survivors of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. They were built approximately 4500 years ago, as giant tombs for the mummies of the pharaohs Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure, who were a father, son and grandson. The pyramids are truly monumental in scale, with the largest, Khufu’s, made of over two million blocks. They were not built by slaves but by Egyptian peasants who paid their taxes to the Pharaoh through this labour, and were fed, clothed and housed by the Pharaoh.
Nearby sits the enigmatic Sphinx with the body of a lion and the face of a man wearing a royal head cloth, which workers may have based on King Khafre to guard his enormous funerary monument. About a thousand years after the Sphinx was built it was covered in sand until a young prince had a dream in which the Sphinx told him that if he cleared the sand away, he would become Pharaoh. This story is told on the ‘Dream Stela’ that was placed between the Sphinx’s paws by King Tuthmose IV.
During your visit of the Sphinx you will have special exclusive access to enter Sphinx Valley and get up close with the paws of the Sphinx, something that is normally closed to the public.
Following your tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel in Cairo.
This evening, get frocked up and enjoy a Welcome Dinner at the hotel to celebrate the start of your extraordinary journey through Egypt.
Overnight Accommodation: Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 – Wednesday 15: The Egyptian Museum, home to treasures of the boy-king Tutankhamun…
This morning tour 7,000 years of history at the Egyptian Museum, which houses the largest collection of
ancient Egyptian art in the world. Key features of the museum include the treasures of the boy-king
Tutankhamun, including his gold mask, the solid gold sarcophagus that held his mummy and his beautiful
throne.
Lunch today will be included at a local restaurant.
At the end of your tour, you are transferred back to your hotel with the remainder of the afternoon at leisure. This is the time to indulge in pool time or book into the beautiful spa to really put you into a holiday frame of mind.
Dinner at leisure this evening.
Overnight Accommodation: Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 4 – Thursday 16: To Luxor we go and the Karnak Temple…
Today after breakfast time to checkout and head to Luxor.
We will be transferred by private vehicle to Cairo Airport in time for oour onward flight o Luxor.
On arrival in Luxor, you will be met by A&K and transferred by private vehicle to your hotel with some time at
leisure.
This evening, you will be transferred to the Karnak Temple for the ‘son et lumiere’ show. The 90-minute show
recounts the history of Thebes and the lives of the Pharaohs. Following the grand finale at the Sacred Lake
you will be transferred back to your hotel.
Overnight Accommodation: Sofitel Luxor Winter Palace
Included Meals: Breakfast
Day 5 – Friday 17: Cruising the Nile…
Early this morning, for those who would love to get a spectacular bird’s eye view of Luxor’s ancient monuments and modern villages from the vantage point of a hot air balloon, then this is your opportunity to join this optional experience*. This is a unique way to see the city’s main sites and natural beauty as you will never see it from the ground.
Return to the hotel for breakfast before transferring to the A&K dock and check-in to your five-star deluxe Nile cruise boat where you are welcomed by the reception staff.
Straight away, you have the opportunity to visit the strikingly graceful Temple of Luxor. After lunch on board, visit the West Bank of Luxor to explore the Valley of the Kings. You also have the chance to visit at least one tomb in the Valley of the Queens and visit the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut. On the way back to the river Nile, pass by the famed Colossi of Memnon, known in Ancient Greek times for their haunting voices at dawn.
This evening you are greeted by your Boat Manager for a cocktail reception, who reviews the cruise program for the upcoming days. Enjoy Egyptian wine and beer with a selection of freshly-prepared canapés, followed by a gourmet dinner. A folkloric show and a Whirling Dervish show follow.
Overnight Accommodation: Sanctuary Nile Adventurer
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 – Saturday 18: Cruising the Nile…
After breakfast on board, begin your day with a visit to the Temple of Karnak.
Lunch is served in the lounge whilst you sail to Esna After Lunch, your Egyptologist guides you round the Greco-Roman Temple of Khnum at Esna. The beautifully-preserved Great Hypostle Hall was built during the reign of the Roman Emperor Claudius; it was excavated from the silt that had accumulated through centuries of annual Nile floods and is about nine meters lower than present-day street level.
Afternoon tea is served as you cruise to Edfu and, later, you will enjoy a gourmet dinner.
Overnight Accommodation: Sanctuary Nile Adventurer
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 – Sunday 19: Cruising the Nile…
Following breakfast, explore the Temple of Edfu.
Lunch is served as you cruise to Kom Ombo and, after, visit the Temple of Kom Ombo, dedicated to the crocodile-god Sobek. The temple stands at a bend in the Nile where in ancient times sacred crocodiles basked in the sun on the riverbank.
Later, afternoon tea is served in the lounge and you have the chance to take part in an Egyptian cooking lesson as you sail to Aswan.
Tonight’s dinner on board is an Egyptian Night costume party for all guests, with a chance to dress up in traditional Egyptian galabeyya. Dinner is a lavish buffet of Egyptian specialities.
Overnight Accommodation: Sanctuary Nile Adventurer
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8 – Monday 20: Cruising the Nile…
A breakfast buffet is served on board and the morning is yours to enjoy at leisure.
Enjoy lunch on board, followed by a short motorboat ride to visit the majestic Philae Temple on the Island of Agilika. Next proceed to the Granite Quarries, which supplied the ancient Egyptians with most of the hard stone used in pyramids and temples. Here you see the Unfinished Obelisk, located in the northern region of the stone quarries.
Next take a ride on a felucca (a typical Egyptian sail boat) around Elephantine Island, Lord Kitchener’s Botanical Gardens and the Agha Khan Mausoleum (weather permitting, life jackets will be provided).
Afternoon tea is served on board and your farewell dinner is a gala dinner, with white-gloved waiters serving gourmet cuisine. A folkloric show and a Whirling Dervish show follow.
Overnight Accommodation: Sanctuary Nile Adventurer
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9 – Tuesday 21: To Abu Simbel, Aswan and the finest of dining…
A buffet breakfast is served on board, before check-out at 8:00.
Disembark your cruise and take a short flight to one of Egypt’s most awe-inspiring sights – the colossal temples of Ramses II and Queen Nefertari at Abu Simbel.
The two temples are each fronted by colossal statues up to 20 meters high, and are famed as the most impressive monuments remaining of Ancient Egypt in modern times. Recently the temples were threatened by the waters of Lake Nasser, and with the help of a UNESCO campaign they were cut into blocks, raised piece by piece, and reassembled in a new position higher up the hillside.
Following your visit return to Abu Simbel Airport for your flight to Aswan and transfer to your hotel, the iconic Sofitel Legend Old Cataract.
This evening, dine at signature 1902 restaurant* within your hotel, with exquisite french cuisine paired with fine wines from the sommelier. Relax beneath the grand Arabian dome by a Qualaun crypt, and savor steamed lemongrass fish or filet mignon.
*Formal attire is required.
Overnight Accommodation: Sofitel Legend Old Cataract
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 10 – Wednesday 22: Into the Souk…
This morning enjoy a half day tour of the Aswan Spica Market. Renowned for its spices and a good place to buy innumerable things, the Aswan Spice Market is a great way to spend a morning. Explore the souk filled with colourful and fragrant spices, piled high in large containers, as well as perfumes, scarves and baskets.
Continue with a sightseeing tour to a Nubian village. With the construction of the Aswan High Dam, 100,000 Nubians were displaced, many settling in Aswan, where you can still learn about their culture. Visit a Nubian village on Elephantine Island by taking a ferry or a sailboat. You will find friendly residents and brightly painted homes, often adorned with drawings proudly declaring the owner’s pilgrimage to Mecca.
This afternoon back at your hotel, enjoy afternoon tea on the terrace and enjoy the stunning panoramas over the Khnum Temple and Elephantine Island.
Overnight Accommodation: Sofitel Legend Old Cataract
Included Meals: Breakfast, Afternoon Tea
Day 11 – Thursday 23: Return to Cairo and a Farewell dinner…
Today you will be met and transferred to Aswan Airport in time for your flight to Cairo. On arrival in Cairo your A&K journey you will be met and you will be transferred to your hotel.
This evening our farewell dinner as we enjoy our last night together in Egypt!
Overnight Accommodation: Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 12 – Friday 24: Time to go (maybe to Jordan?)…
Alas, it is time to leave this magical place. You will be transferred to Cairo Airport for your onward flight. Why not join us in Jordan to make sure you get the most out of your visit? Ask for details.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Cairo:
The Four Seasons Hotel at Nile Plaza:
In the heart of Cairo on the banks of the River Nile, The Four Seasons Hotel opens the door to discovering Egypt’s 5,000-year-old ancient mysteries. Just a short drive away, set out to explore the majestic pyramids, the 1,000-year old market, the 12th-century citadel and the ancient Egyptian museum. Later, experience Cairo’s breathtaking sunset from the Nile, relive the pharaoh’s beauty secrets at the Spa or simply take an art tour to see the collection of contemporary local artwork that fills our halls.
Egypt, The Nile, Sanctuary Nile Adventurer, Lower Sun Deck
Sanctuary Nile Adventurer:
The elegant Sanctuary Nile Adventurer has just 32 cabins, offering a luxurious yet relaxed cruise on the Nile. Decorated in a contemporary style, the ship’s design combines modern Egyptian culture with seven thousand years of heritage. Add gourmet cuisine and sightseeing experiences with the country’s most experienced Egyptologists, this is a taste of genuine 5-star luxury on a timeless river. The Sanctuary Nile Adventurer seamlessly blends contemporary Egyptian culture with authentic character, a blend of East and West. The extensive sun deck areas, with their elegant teak floors, include private cabanas around the pool area, the perfect spot for relaxing while taking in the scenery.
