Treasures of Egypt
December 7-16, 2023
9 Nights / 10 Days
from $6,989 per person – Limited Availability
A Luxury Nile River Cruise & Tour in the Footsteps of the Pharaohs
The Great Pyramids of Giza and other treasures of Egypt have beckoned travelers for more than two millennia. On this luxury small group journey, we visit venerable tombs and temples to piece together the life and times of one of the world’s greatest ancient civilizations. We visit bustling Cairo, the Great Pyramids, the Sphinx, and the new Grand Egypt Museum, home to the world’s largest collection of antiquities, including artifacts recovered from the great Tutankhamen’s tomb.
We will cruise the fabled Nile in style — like the pharaohs once did — on the luxurious Sanctuary Retreats Sun Boat III, disembarking at iconic sites as well as little-known temples. We will ride like a local on camelback and sail in a felucca on the Nile. We’ll go off the beaten path, flying to Abu Simbel, one of the most awesome monuments of ancient Egypt.
With sand-covered tombs, austere pyramids, and towering Pharaonic temples, Egypt brings out the explorer in all of us.
JOURNEY HIGHLIGHTS:
- 4 Night Luxury Nile River Cruise on a private charter of Sun Boat III
- Be among the first to visit the new Grand Egyptian Museum
- Enjoy access to unique sites and temples along the Nile’s east and west banks
- Explore the magnificent Royal tombs of the Valley of the Kings
- Visit the breathtaking Luxor and Karnak Temples
- Fly to the iconic Abu Simbel to see the imposing twin temples
- Travel with private Egyptologists throughout the journey
- Optional Hot Air Balloon Ride over the Valley of the Kings
Itinerary
DEC 7
Cairo
Upon arrival at Cairo International Airport, you will be met and transferred to the Mena House Hotel.
Marriott Mena House
DEC 8
Cairo
Depart after breakfast for a morning visit to the necropolis of Sakkara to explore the world’s oldest freestanding stone structure. After lunch, we will continue with an afternoon tour to visit the Giza Pyramids, one of the present-day survivors of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Nearby sits the enigmatic Sphinx with the body of a lion and the face of a man. We’ll be enjoying our Welcome Dinner tonight.
Marriott Mena House
DEC 9
Cairo
Depart from the hotel for a morning visit to the museum of civilization. The museum showcases Egyptian civilization from prehistoric times to the present day, using a multidisciplinary approach that highlights the country’s comprehensive heritage. Here we will get access to the Gallery of Royal Mummies. Next, move on to visit the Citadel of Salah El-Din including the Mohamed Ali Mosque.
After lunch, we will have the chance to wander around the captivating Khan El-Khalili Bazaar, reputed to be the largest bazaar in the Middle East.
Marriott Mena House
DEC 10
Cairo to Luxor
After breakfast, fly to Luxor, the site of the ancient city of Thebes, where we’ll check in to the Luxor Hilton and tour the striking Temple of Luxor. View the three large statues of Ramses II along the front of the temple pylons, the Courtyard of Ramses II, and the Colonnade of Amenhotep III, with its 50-foot-high columns. Walk in their shadows, as visitors have done since antiquity, and ponder the astonishing feats of engineering it took to create them. Largely built by the New Kingdom pharaohs Amenhotep III (1390–1352 BC) and Ramses II (1279–1213 BC), this temple is a strikingly graceful monument in the heart of the modern town. Also known as the Southern Sanctuary, its main function was during the annual Opet celebrations, when the statues of Amun, Mut, and Khonsu were brought from Karnak, along the Avenue of Sphinxes, and reunited here during the inundation.
Luxor Hilton Hotel
DEC 11
All Aboard the Sunboat III
Visit the Tombs of the Nobles: On the West Bank sit 400 tombs of Theban aristocrats, some of which you can enter. The tomb walls were white-washed and painted with murals of the nobles’ daily lives, making them quite different from royal tombs, where relief work focused on judgment and resurrection.
Check in to this five-star deluxe Nile cruise Sun Boat III where we will be welcomed by the reception staff. Right away, we 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.
Sanctuary Sun Boat III
DEC 12
Luxor – Esna
After breakfast on board, we begin our day with a visit to the Temple of Karnak, where generations of pharaohs wished to record their names. After Lunch, our Egyptologist guides us around the Greco-Roman Temple of Khnum at Esna. The beautifully preserved Great Hypostyle 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.
Sanctuary Sun Boat III
DEC 13
Edfu to Kom Ombo
Following breakfast, explore the Temple of Horus, the falcon-headed god of the Sky. Lunch is served as we cruise to Kom Ombo and, after, visit the Temple of Kom Ombo, dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek, considered by some ancient Egyptians to be the creator of the world. Later, afternoon tea is served in the lounge and we have the chance to take part in an Egyptian cooking lesson as we 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 galabeya.
Sanctuary Sun Boat III
DEC 14
Aswan
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 we will see the Unfinished Obelisk, located in the northern region of the stone quarries. Next, take a ride on a felucca (a typical Egyptian sailboat) around Elephantine Island, Lord Kitchener’s Botanical Gardens, and the Agha Khan Mausoleum.
Sanctuary Sun Boat III
DEC 15
Aswan-Abu Simbel-Aswan-Cairo
Today, we bid farewell to the Sun Boat III, disembarking to fly to Abu Simbel and discover the commanding twin temples of Ramses II and his wife, Queen Nefertari. The two temples of Ramses II at Abu Simbel are each fronted by colossal statues up to 20 meters (66 feet) high and are famed as the most impressive monuments remaining of Ancient Egypt. 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.
Return on a flight to Cairo for an afternoon at leisure.
Intercontinental Citystars Hotel
DEC 16
Return Home
You will be transferred to Cairo International Airport for your flight home or a Group transfer for an Extension to Jordan.
Accommodations
Mena House Hotel
Experience the wondrous beauty of the Pyramids from Marriott Mena House, Cairo. This 5-star hotel offers travelers a taste of modern luxury. Set at the base of the Pyramids, hotel guests can walk to one of Egypt’s most popular attractions. The Giza resort is also near the Sphinx, Cairo University, and the Egyptian Museum. Inside, relax in upscale hotel rooms with indulgent bedding, marble bathrooms, and private balconies with fantastic views of the pool, gardens, or the Pyramids. Take a dip in our outdoor pool, work out in the 24-hour gym, heal in our spa, and indulge at any of our restaurants.
Hilton Luxor
Facing the West Bank, our resort rests on the edge of the river Nile, less than seven kilometers from central Luxor via shuttle. We have traditional felucca sailing and horseback and camelback tours of the riverbanks, with both Karnak and Luxor temples within four kilometers. Perks include our holistic spa, two infinity pools, Wi-Fi, and restaurants.
Intercontinental Citystars
Explore Cairo’s heritage amidst modern luxuries and stay at the 5-star InterContinental Cairo Citystars hotel in Cairo’s Heliopolis, next to Stars Centre Mall. Relax in grand rooms with beautiful furnishings and views. Indulge at our 11 exquisite restaurants and bars. In addition, The Intercontinental Citystars is located near the Cairo International Airport.
Ship
Sanctuary Retreats Sun Boat III
The elegant Sanctuary Sun Boat III has just 18 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 as well as sightseeing experiences with the country’s most experienced Egyptologists, this is a taste of genuine 5-star luxury on a timeless river.
The Sun Boat III 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.
Best of all, the Sun Boat will be our ship for the week.
Pricing
| Category | Double Occupancy | Single Occupancy | Availability | Book Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Suites - Tower Deck | $9,399.00 / person | $13,848.00 / person | Sold Out | BOOK NOW |
| Presidential Suites - Promenade Deck | $8,599.00 / person | $13,289.00 / person | Sold Out | BOOK NOW |
| Standard Cabin - Promenade Deck | $7,499.00 / person | $11,499.00 / person | Limited | BOOK NOW |
| Standard Cabin - Nile Deck | $6,989.00 / person | $10,649.00 / person | Limited | BOOK NOW |
Royal Suites - Tower Deck - Double Occupancy
Royal Suites - Tower Deck - Single Occupancy
Presidential Suites - Promenade Deck - Double Occupancy
Presidential Suites - Promenade Deck - Single Occupancy
Standard Cabin - Promenade Deck - Double Occupancy
Standard Cabin - Promenade Deck - Single Occupancy
Standard Cabin - Nile Deck - Double Occupancy
Standard Cabin - Nile Deck - Single Occupancy
Included in this Journey
- 5-star accommodations throughout Egypt
- Daily Breakfast
- 3 Lunches
- Welcome Dinner in Cairo
- VIP Airport Transfers with fast track
- All meals aboard the Sanctuary Sun Boat III
- Private airport transfer in a modern air-conditioned vehicle with service of tour coordinator
- All tours as described in the program with a private English-speaking Egyptologist throughout the entire trip
- All admissions for the sightseeing stated in the program
- Portage at airports and hotels
- Fully escorted by Source Journeys
Not Included in this Journey
- Meals not mentioned in the itinerary
- Personal Expenses
- International Flights
- Domestic Flights within Egypt ($289)
- Optional Excursions not mentioned in the program
- Gratuities for guides, drivers, and crew of the Sun Boat III
- Alcoholic beverages on consumption aboard the Sun Boat III
- Entry visa for Egypt (currently $28 subject to change)
- Post Trip Extension to Jordan
- Covid-19 Test Expense (if needed)
- Travel insurance – highly recommended
Passports: Your valid passport should have at least two consecutive blank pages and should be valid for at least six months after your planned departure from the country you are visiting. An entry visa will be required for Egypt. Arrival and Departure Airpot (CAI). Unless doing the Jordan extension. Departure airport is Amman (AMM)
Call Us: 305-672-9779