Description of the program

 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 in a typical restaurant then transfer to Cairo airport and flight to Luxor. Installation aboard your cruise ship, dinner and overnight on board.

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. In the evening optional sound and light show at the Karnak temple. Lunch, dinner and overnight on board.

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. Carved into the rock in the mountain of Thebes, this temple with three terraces is at the same time 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 for 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 overnight 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. 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. Lunch and dinner on board. In the evening optional sound and light show at the temple of Philaé. Overnight on board.

 Breakfast on board then transfer by car to Abu Simbel, installation in your cruise ship on Lake Nasser and lunch on board. Visit of the temples of Abu Simbel. The temple of Ramses II, which honored the deities Re-Horakhty, Amon and Path and the deified pharaoh, as well as that of Hathor was to be engulfed by the waters of the Nile when the high dam on the Nile was put into service. At the initiative of Unesco, they will be dismantled from 1965, and rebuilt identically at the top of the spur of the Lybic chain which overhangs the river at this point. The entrance is flanked by four colossal statues of Ramses II 20 meters taller than the Colossi of Memnon - directly carved in stone and facing the east. In the evening, dinner with a "sound and light" show then overnight on board.

Breakfast on board and navigation to the ancient fortified town of Qasr Ibrim Perched on its cliff 80 m above the Nile, it is the only site to have survived its floods. After the construction of the Aswan High Dam, Lake Nasser turned it into a small island that is not accessible. After lunch, sail to Amada. On site, visit of the temple. Built 3,000 years ago, this temple belongs to the best period of Egyptian art. Its seven rooms are decorated with inscriptions, fine sculptures and marvelous paintings that have remained intact. Continuation of visits to the temple of Deir and the tomb of Peinout. Dinner and overnight on board. In the evening optional sound and light show at the temple of Philaé.

After breakfast visit of the temple of Amun Ra of Ouadi-es-Seboua. The name of the temple means the 'Valley of the lionesses', the lionesses being the sphinxes which decorate the 2 courtyards of the temple. The temple has been moved to its current position, in the New Seboua site. Return to the boat for lunch and sail to Aswan.

Breakfast, then visit to the temples of Kalabsha. In Greek times, this temple was located near the city of Talmis at the level of the Tropic of Cancer about fifty km south of Aswan. On either side of the river, rocks formed a parade that the locals called the Kalabsha Gate. As evidenced by its facade without decoration, it was never finished. Despite being unfinished, it is considered the most complete and largest temple still standing in Lower Nubia. Return to the boat for lunch and end of the cruise in Aswan. Transfer to the airport and flight to Cairo. Installation at your hotel then dinner and overnight.

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 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 Khan el Khalili souks for a dinner in a typical restaurant. After dinner transfer to Cairo airport.

Assistance with boarding.