Wonders of Egypt - Small Group, Winter

Tour overview

Embrace the very best of Egypt on this 9-day tour. In Luxor, walk through an avenue of ram-like sphinxes at Karnak, a complex of ancient temples, churches and pylons, and enjoy the Luxor museum, where you can see two royal mummies. Travel by luxury coach to the Valley of the Kings, where the infamous pharaoh Tutankhamun is buried. Along the Nile, board a felucca – a wooden boat with billowing sails – with a local sailor, who will teach you about traditional sailing practices. In Cairo, meet an Egyptologist at the Egyptian Museum to see treasures recovered from pharaohs’ tombs, and ascend to the Citadel for sweeping views of the city below. And behold the incredible Pyramids of Giza from inside, as an Egyptologist takes you past the Sphinx to the center of a pyramid so that you can see its cavernous wonders.

We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door.
Hotel and restaurant tips are included – you’ll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.
From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination.
4 night Nile cruise aboard your mid-size cruise ship featuring air-conditioned cabins with private facilities, on either MS Medea, MS Miriam, MS Giselle, MS La Boheme or similar. Please note that gratuities are not included for the Travel Director, Nile Cruise staff, Drivers and Airport Escorts.
Included economy class flights between Cairo/Luxor and Aswan/Cairo with transfers between airports and hotels.
Complimentary transfers from/to Cairo Airport are available on arrival and departure days, or with additional accommodation booked through Insight Vacations.

Brief Itinerary

Day	Highlights	Overnight
Day 1	Welcome to Egypt	Cairo
Day 2	Fly to Luxor	On the ship
Day 3	Luxor	On board your ship
Day 4	Sail to Kom Ombo	On board your ship
Day 5	Aswan	On board your ship
Day 6	Aswan – Flight to Cairo	Cairo
Day 7	Cairo	Cairo
Day 8	Cairo	Cairo
Day 9	Depart Cairo

Authentic Dining

Luxor: Get to know your fellow travelers over a delightful drink followed by dinner.
Kom Ombo: Learn about traditional Egyptian attire and immerse yourself in local culture at an Egyptian dinner and galabeya party.
Aswan: Follow in the footsteps of Sir Winston Churchill and Agatha Christie as you enjoy high tea at Aswan’s famous Old Cataract Hotel, as the sun begins to set.

Insight Experiences

Luxor: Enjoy listening to stories of village life from local residents, when you visit a family home for a tasting of authentic Egyptian sun bread.

Make Travel Matter

Cairo: Be mesmerised by the intricate art of Egyptian carpet weaving as you meet the skilled artisans of a local weaving school. This ancient and traditional Egypt art is one of the oldest in the country, and only few schools have been safeguarding the traditional weaving methods on wooden looms, using silk and cotton, and natural dyes. More than carpets, they come to life as unique works of art. This experience advances UN Global Goal 11: Resilient Cities and Communities.

Top Rated Highlights

Cairo: Take a short scenic flight to Luxor where you will begin your Nile Cruise.
Karnak: Stand amid a vast forest of columns in the largest temple complex known to man, as your Egyptologist explains the significance behind it. Walk the avenue of ram-headed sphinxes, see the of Rameses II and the Hypostyle Hall.
Luxor: Visit the Luxor Museum and discover ancient artefacts.
Colossi of Memnon: See the massive stone statues of the Colossi of Memnon.
Valley of the Kings: Embark on an experience with an Egyptologist to visit the mortuary Temple Hatshepsut.
Valley of the Kings: Explore the Valley of the Kings, home to the magnificent tombs of Egypt’s Pharaohs, with an Egyptologist.
Luxor: Visit L

Day 1 : Welcome to Egypt

Welcome to the timeless land of the pharaohs. On arrival at Cairo International Airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

Day 2 : Fly to Luxor

In the morning, fly to Luxor and visit the huge temple complex of Karnak. Walk through the avenue of ram-headed sphinxes to stand among the columns of the Hypostyle Hall. Later, transfer to your cruise ship, your home for the next four nights. After lunch on board, take a walk through the Luxor Museum, witness ancient artefacts and see two royal mummies. This evening, get to know your Travel Director, a professionally trained Egyptologist, as well as fellow guests over a welcome drink followed by dinner. The rest of the evening is yours at leisure, enjoy dinner on the ship before relaxing in its lounge or in the comfort of your room.

Day 3 : Luxor (B/D)

This morning travel by coach to the west bank of the Nile. See the Colossi of Memnon and visit both the Temple of Hatshepsut and the Valley of the Kings, where many pharaohs were buried, including Hatshepsut, Amenhotep I and Tutankhamun. Experience the renowned local hospitality of Egyptians during a visit to the village of Geziret Bahirat. Connect with the community and share bread with the Bahirat family, whilst they regale guests with their fascinating stories of daily life. Visit Luxor Temple which was unearthed by Mariette in the 1860s, before returning to your cruise ship and sail via the Esna Lock to Edfu, for your overnight stay.

Day 4 : Sail to Kom Ombo

In the early morning sail to Kom Ombo to visit the only double temple of Egypt dedicated to two gods: the crocodile-headed Sobek and falcon-headed Horus the Elder. In the evening, enjoy a fun-filled Egyptian dinner and galabeya party on board your ship.

Day 5 : Aswan (B)

In the morning, visit the Aswan High Dam and granite quarries, to see the enormous unfinished obelisk. Travel by motorboat to the Temple of Isis. Rising from the waters of the Nile on the Island of Philae, it was the last temple built in the classical Egyptian style. Later, on a traditional Nile Felucca, meet a sailor and about traditional sailing practices. As the sun starts to fade, enjoy high tea at the historic Old Cataract Hotel. The likes of Winston Churchill and Agatha Christie stayed at this pretty venue, and Christie supposedly wrote “Death on the Nile” from the hotel itself.

Day 6 : Aswan - Flight to Cairo (B)

In the morning, disembark your cruise ship and enjoy time at leisure in Aswan. Why not join an Optional Experience and travel by air to the magnificent Temples of Ramesses II at Abu Simbel? These temples overlook Lake Nasser and are made up of the Great Temple of Ramesses II and the Temple of Hathor. Otherwise, spend the morning as you wish. Perhaps soak up the African atmosphere in the Nubian bazaar or visit one of the many points of interest nearby, such as the Botanical Gardens, Elephantine Island and the Aga Khan Mausoleum. Later, transfer to the airport for your return flight to Cairo for the night.

Day 7 : Cairo (B)

Begin your city sightseeing with your Egyptologist at the world-famous Egyptian Museum*. Starring among its attractions is the amazing treasure recovered from Tutankhamun's tomb. Explore Cairo with Insight Choice. Choose to explore Cairo Citadel and see the Great Alabaster Mosque. Alternatively, join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience on Qursaya Island, home to the first large scale initiative to clean the Nile. ?Later, you will have free time to enjoy as you wish. In the evening, take your seats at the magical Sound and Light Show at the Great Pyramids which literally illuminates the history of Giza - an unforgettable introduction to the world of ancient Egypt.

Day 8 : Cairo (B)

Gain a deeper understanding of the last remaining Wonder of the Ancient World, during a visit to Giza with your Egyptologist. Meet the enigmatic Sphinx, crouching at the foot of the Chephrenís Causeway and venture inside one of the magnificent Pyramids. Nearby lies Memphis, capital of the Old Kingdom, where you can see the colossal statue of Ramesses II and the great Alabaster Sphinx. Continue to Sakkara to view the Step Pyramid of Zoser, which dates back 2686 B.C., making it the oldest pyramid in the world. Enjoy free time in the afternoon.