Description of the program

After breakfast, departure for the site of Sakkarah and Memphis, the step pyramid of Djoser, erected in 2700 BC. J.C. After lunch in a typical restaurant, you enter the world of "Absolute Grandeur": the Giza plateau, symbol of Ancient Egypt with its pyramids: Cheops, the largest of the pyramids and the last of the 7 wonders of world, Khephren and its temple of pink granite and Mykerinos bordered by the pyramids of the queens, all guarded by the famous Sphinx of Giza, the largest monolithic sculpture in the world. Dinner in a typical restaurant then transfer to Cairo airport and fly to Luxor. Installation on board your cruise ship and night on board.

Breakfast on board, then start of the visits of the southern part of ancient Thebes, where the temples of Karnak and Luxor are located. The two temples are connected by a dromos, a long alley lined with sphinxes, and are dedicated to Amun. The three-walled temple of Karnak is itself part of the Karnak religious complex, a set that includes the ruins of other temples, buildings, and pylons. Its construction and the modifications that followed spread over more than 2000 years. Return on board for lunch. In the afternoon, visit the Luxor temple, erected in the fourteenth century BC. J.-C. during the reign of Amenhotep III was also modified later by Ramses II, who added six monumental statues and two obelisks. Dinner and overnight on board. In the evening optional sound and light show at the Karnak temple.

Breakfast, then visit the necropolis of Thebes on the west bank of the Nile, followed by the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens, where the tombs of many New Kingdom pharaohs are located, as well as their families and nobles in favor . The visits continue with the Colossi of Memnon, the last vestiges of the temple of Amenhotep III and Deir el Bahari, the funerary temple of Queen Hatshepsout. Dug out of the rock in the mountain of Thebes, this temple with three terraces is both harmonious and modern and although dedicated to the god Amon, there are also chapels of Anubis and Hathor, the protective goddess of women: Nothing surprising, since Hatshepsut, one of the four pharaohs to have governed Egypt, is considered "the first great woman whose name history has kept". After the visits return to the boat for lunch and sail to Esna. The passage of the lock will be done at the end of the day, and will be marked by a disguised evening "Galabia Party" with dinner and night on board.

After breakfast on board, navigation continues to Edfu. Upon arrival, you will enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride to the temple of Edfu, further inland. This temple of the falcon god Horus is both the largest temple of the Ptolemaic dynasty and the second sanctuary in Egypt in size after Karnak. Inside, the intact paintings, inscriptions and reliefs make it the best preserved temple in Egypt. Return to the boat for lunch and go up the river to Kom Ombo. Visit the temple of Kom-Ombo, dedicated to the gods Sobek and Haroeris. Erected on a hill by three Ptolemies, the temple is surrounded by a surrounding wall covered with reliefs. Inside, the space is divided into two parts: that of the North dedicated to Haroéris the god with the head of a hawk and that of the South to Sobek, the god crocodile. Return to the boat and sail to Aswan. Dinner and overnight on board.

Breakfast on board then visit the temple of Isis on the island of Philae. Started by Pharaoh Nectanebo I during the XXXth Dynasty and completed by the Romans, it is the main sanctuary dedicated to Isis. Felucca ride around Elephantine Island and discovery of local shops, then departure for the high dam and the unfinished obelisk. The Aswan region, rich in schist, alabaster and pink granite present only in this part of Egypt, provided the blocks of stone for the pyramids, statues and colossi built by the pharaohs. In the granite quarry you will find the largest obelisk known to date (41.75m), the size of which was abandoned following a crack in the rock. Lunch and dinner on board. In the evening, optional sound and light show at the Philae temple. Night on board.

Free morning in town. Optional excursion by bus or plane to visit the temples of Abu Simbel, built by Ramses II. Return to Aswan for lunch and free time until transfer time to the airport. Assistance with boarding formalities and flight to Cairo. Installation, dinner and night at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel then visit the famous National Museum, one of the richest in the world, in the heart of Cairo. Lunch in town and visit of Islamic Cairo with its thousand minarets, its citadel and the mosque of Mohamed Ali. Return to the hotel for a rest period before joining the souks of Khan el Khalili for dinner in a typical restaurant. After dinner transfer to Cairo airport.

Boarding assistance and night flight.