Wonders of Egypt - Small Group, Summer - From £2,996

Welcome to the timeless land of the pharaohs. On arrival at Cairo Airport, you’ll be transferred to your hotel where you’ll have time to unwind and explore its elegant amenities. Later, get acquainted with your Travel Director and fellow travellers over a drink, toasting the start of your Egyptian adventure.

In the morning, meet your Travel Director and 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. Enjoy dinner on the ship before relaxing in its lounge or in the comfort of your room.

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, as they regale you 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.

In the early morning, sail to Kom Ombo to visit Egypt's only double temple, dedicated to two gods. Discover the Temple and learn about its ‘double’ and perfectly symmetrical design, created for the duo of gods – Sobek, the crocodile god, and Horus the Elder, the falcon god. Indulge your culinary side during an Egyptian cooking demonstration or tea with the Captain for your Insight Choice experience. This evening, enjoy a fun-filled traditional Egyptian-themed dinner and galabeya party on board your ship.

Visit the Aswan High Dam and granite quarries to see the enormous unfinished obelisk. Travel by motorboat to the Temple of Isis, which rises from the waters of the Nile on Philae island. It was the last temple built in the classical Egyptian style. Later, on a traditional Nile Felucca, meet a sailor and learn about traditional sailing practices. As the sun begins to fade, enjoy high tea at the historic Old Cataract Hotel. The likes of Sir Winston Churchill and Agatha Christie stayed at this pretty venue, and Christie supposedly wrote “Death on the Nile” from the hotel itself. Return to Philae Island, this evening, for the atmospheric Sound and Light Show, where the temple’s illuminated facade brings ancient myths to life in a vivid display across the Nile.

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? Overlooking Lake Nasser, these temple consists of the Great Temple of Ramesses II and the Temple of Hathor. Alternatively, 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.

Explore Cairo’s Citadel of Saladin with your Egyptologist, a fortress built to shield the city from Crusader forces. Within its vast stone walls stands the Great Alabaster Mosque, where cascading domes, slender minarets and stained-glass windows reflect Ottoman influence and Muhammad Ali Pasha’s ambition. Later, visit the Grand Egyptian Museum, home to over 100,000 ancient treasures, including rare textiles, ornate coffins and the personal belongings of Tutankhamun — each piece revealing intimate details of royal life and burial rituals.

Gain a deeper understanding of the last remaining Wonder of the Ancient World during a visit to Giza with your Egyptologist. Stand in awe before the Pyramids and meet the enigmatic Sphinx, poised at the foot of Chephren’s Causeway. Venture inside one of the ancient tombs, where pharaohs once prepared for the afterlife. Continue onward to Memphis, the capital of the Old Kingdom, to see the colossal statue of Ramesses II and the impressive Alabaster Sphinx. At Sakkara, marvel at the Step Pyramid of Zoser, Egypt’s oldest, dating back to around 2700 B.C. Visit a local weaving school for a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, meeting artisans who are preserving traditional crafts. This evening, raise a glass and savour canapes with your Travel Director and fellow guests as your trip through the wonders of Egypt comes to a close.

Your wonderful journey ends with transfers to Cairo International airport.