Description of the program

  Breakfast on board, then start to visit 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 path lined with sphinxes, and are dedicated to Amun. The three-walled temple of Karnak is itself part of the Karnak religious complex, a complex that includes the ruins of other temples, buildings, and pylons. Its construction and subsequent modifications spanned more than 2,000 years. The Luxor Temple, erected in the 14th century BC. AD under the reign of Amenhotep III was also subsequently modified 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 to 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 funeral temple of Queen Hatshepsut. Dug out of the rock in the mountain of Thebes, this temple with three terraces built in -1455 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 Hatchepsout, one of the four Pharaohs to have ruled Egypt, is considered "the first great woman whose name has been preserved in history". After the visits, return to the boat for lunch and navigation to Esna. The passage of the lock will be at the end of the day, and will be marked by a fancy dress evening "Galabia Party" with dinner and overnight on board.

After a breakfast on board the navigation continues to Edfu. On arrival, you will enjoy a carriage excursion to the temple of Edfu, further inland. This temple of the falcon god Horus is both the largest temple of the Ptolemy dynasty and the second largest sanctuary in Egypt after Karnak. Inside, the intact paintings, inscriptions and reliefs make it the best-preserved temple in Egypt. Return to the boat, lunch and up the river to Kom Ombo. Visit of 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: the northern one dedicated to Haroéris the hawk-headed god and the southern one to Sobek, the crocodile god. Return to the boat and navigation to Aswan. Dinner and food on board.

  Breakfast on board then visit of the temple of Isis on the island of Philaé. Begun by Pharaoh Nectanebo I during the XXX dynasty and completed by the Romans, it is the main sanctuary dedicated to Isis. After lunch, felucca ride around Elephantine Island and discovery of local shops, then departure for the high dam and the unfinished obelisk. The region of Aswan, rich in schist, alabaster and pink granite present only in this part of Egypt, provided the stone blocks intended 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. Dinner and overnight on board. In the evening optional sound and light show at the temple of Philaé.    

   Free morning in town. Optional excursion by coach or plane to visit the temples of Abu Simbel, built by Ramses II. Return to Aswan for lunch and free time in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight on board.    

Breakfast and day of navigation towards Luxor via Kom-Ombo, Edfu and Esna. Lunch, dinner and overnight on board.

Breakfast and lunch on board, then transfer to Luxor airport for flight to Cairo on arrival, transfer to your hotel and meeting with your French-speaking Egyptologist guide. Installation then dinner and overnight.

   After breakfast, departure for the site of Sakkarah and Memphis, the step pyramid of Djoser, erected in 2700 BC. JC 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 his temple of pink granite and Menkaure bordered by the pyramids of the queens, all guarded by the famous Sphinx of Giza, the largest monolithic sculpture in the world. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. Optional sound and light at the pyramids.    

Breakfast at the hotel then visit of the famous National Museum, one of the richest in the world, in the heart of Cairo. Lunch in town in a typical restaurant and visit of Islamic Cairo with its thousand minarets, its citadel, the mosque of Mohamed Ali and the souks of Khan el Khalili back to the hotel. Dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, transfer to Cairo airport. Assistance with boarding.