Cairo and the Nile Holidays

Introduction

There are innumerable possibilities when visiting Egypt.  From side trips to visit the ancient ruins at Petra to wonderful beach and diving holidays by the Red Sea, all of which can be added to your basic Nile Cruise.

The following illustration of a Cairo and the Nile holiday experience is just an example of any number of Egyptian Holiday experiences that we can arrange for you.

It is not intended to provide the details for a specific booking, since our aim is to create a holiday tailored to your particular wishes.

Overview

Egypt, Land of the Pharaohs and one of the few lasting centres of the Ancient World.  Its capital is Cairo, a bustling, busy and fascinating city.

We would recommend a personal tour guide in Cairo, that way you can see what you want when you want and learn great insights into the land and its culture.

During your stay here there are a number of must visits. One of the lasting seven wonders, The Three Pyramids, Cheops, Chephren, and Mykerionos, the Sphinx Monument; guarding the royal burial chambers and temple of Cheops, Sakkara., built for the 3rd Dynasty Pharaoh Djoser by the architect Imhotep, Memphis, the capital of the Pharaohs during the old kingdom, built by King Menes and is located 24 kilometers southwest of Cairo.

A visit to The Egyptian Museum, housing the largest collection of ancient monuments in the world, including the golden treasures of Tutankhamen is a must along with a visit to Coptic Cairo: includes the hanging church which was built in the 4th century over the southern gate of the fortress Babylon & dedicated to the Virgin Mary & some other old churches .

The Citadel of Salah El Din, which is one of the world's greatest monuments to medieval warfare, as well as a highly visible landmark on Cairo's eastern skyline & the complex includes the Alabaster Mosque of Mohamed Ali . Finally a walk at Khan El Khalili Bazaar is a great way to finish your stay here.

Transfer from Cairo to Luxor by air and once checked in to your Nile Cruiser, we would recommend the Sonesta MOON GODDESS but the choices are endless and there are cruises to suit all budgets, cross to the west bank to visit the famous Valley of the Kings and Queens, Queen Hatshepsut temple & the Colossi of Memnon & Luxor temple.  A visit to Karnak Temple (made famous in ‘Death on the Nile') would complete your stay in Luxor before beginning your cruise.

During your serene cruise down the Nile you will have the opportunity to visit the Temple of Horus in Edfu and the Temple shared by the two Gods Sobek and Harories in Kom Ombo, before arriving in Aswan.  While here visit the high dam, the granite quarries, unfinished oblesik & the Philae Temple or sail on the Nile by felucca around Kitchener's island & Agha Khan Mausoleum.

While still in Aswan take a journey to see another of the outstanding sights of the Nile Delta, Abu Simbel.  This Temple dedicated to Ramses II was lifted from the banks of the Nile to its present position when the High Dam was built to stop flooding. From here you could chill out in Aswan, Luxor or transfer to one of the many luxury beach resorts which offer varied opportunities for relaxing and water sports.

Destination Information

Weather

August is the low season for holidays in Egypt when the temperatures soar to incredible heights.  The best times to visit are September / October and May / June but holidays will be more expensive at these times. 

Passports and Visas

British passport holders travelling to Egypt normally require a visa. However, the Egyptian authorities state that "British nationals travelling to Sharm El Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba and Taba resorts only, for up to 14 days, do not require a visa, they shall receive a free entry permission stamp upon arrival. If you intend to travel out of the mentioned areas or overstay, you must obtain a visa." Visas can be obtained from an Egyptian Consulate outside Egypt or on arrival by payment in Sterling or USD, for stays of up to a month. Your passport should be valid for at least six months.

Health

For up-to-date health advice for Antarctica, please consult your GP.

Insurance

We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel insurance before travelling.  You should check any exclusion’s from the policy, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake whilst on holiday. Medway Travel can provide you with a quote for this – please contact a member of the Leisure team for further details.

Testimonials

"Hi Mel. I'm pleased to say that we had a wonderful holiday and full marks go to the organisation.  Our tour guides in Cairo and Luxor were both very good, and all transfers, transport and arrangements generally ran like clockwork.  I shall happily recommend Medway (and GAT) to anyone thinking of a similar visit to Egypt. Thank you for all your efforts.  Regards Robin"

“Dear Mel. Having got back last night from our trip to the Nile- a cruise plus a stay in Luxor- I wanted to let you know how much we enjoyed the whole experience. We are experienced travellers having lived in many countries and travelled widely, and our standards are high, and I can honestly say that the whole Nile experience, thanks to your company, Discover Egypt and Viking was absolutely top class. The cruise ship, the guides, the general comfort and attention were outstanding- the food too was good, which is not always the case in Egypt, and all in all we were very well looked after and cared for by some very helpful people. The attention to detail and organisation on board and on shore were really very impressive and contributed to a stress free holiday- what more could one ask for! Thanks for your part in organising the trip, please pass this message on to Discover Egypt. Yours sincerely, Patrick Helmer”

“Hi Mel, Thank you for your email. We returned from Cairo on Thursday evening and I am back at work today. Can I congratulate your Company on providing a wonderful holiday for my wife and I. All arrangements were perfect and we were met and escorted from the point of arrival at Luxor. The cruise on the Nile was excellent and the accommodation, food and general arrangements were very good. The Guide, Gelal was very knowledgable and really gave us very good information on all the amazing sights of Egypt. Our Guide only had the two of us to look after, and although this may not be the norm, we fully appreciated this service. I have other friends who have expressed a desire to go on the same trip and I shall definitely recommend your Company to them. My thanks to you for arranging this holiday and I will have no reservations whatsoever to recommend your Company to others. Kind Regards Jay.”    

 

"The Moon Goddess was spacious, well furnished and had a crew of the highest calibre; THE way to cruise the Nile"    -    MDF from Bristol  

"Our personal tour guide was friendly, knowledgeable and looked after us all perfectly, all through our time in Cairo - Highly recommended"     -    SD  from Aberdeen