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9 Day Egypt Signature Nile Cruise
Highlights: Cairo, Nile
Trip start: Cairo
Trip end: Cairo
Price Range from $900,000pp *
* USD per person based on 2-4 people, double occupancy. Custom designed personal tour. Prices subject to change.

National Geographic Adventure Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth '98.33 Client Satisfaction Rating'

Winner National Geographic 'Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth'
2008 & 2009

Trip Summary
Map of Itinerary
Expand [+]

Follow in the footsteps of the pharaohs, uncover the secrets of the pyramids, visit ancient temples and cruise down the Nile on this custom private tour of Egypt. Explore the timelessness of the Pyramids, the Sphinx, the Egyptian National Museum’s brilliant Tutankhamen exhibit and the bustling bazaars of vibrant Cairo accompanied by your own Egyptologist. Travel to Aswan to discover the ancient temples of Philae, the High Dam and board a deluxe Nile yacht. Cruise down the Nile aboard your floating luxury hotel while you explore the river's edge temples and monuments including; the Valley of Kings & Queens, Karnak temple in Luxor, the ancient marvels in Edfu and Kom Ombo and more! Your private guide distinguishes you from the rest of the passengers as you explore at your own pace these amazing archaeological treasures. Enjoy nightly entertainment, countless photo opportunities and 24/7 Kensington support!
Experience all the wonders of Egypt a step ahead of the rest as you travel with your own private Egyptologist. This 9 day tour is a must for those who want to journey at their own pace. Receive far more than your money’s worth of attention, action, antiquities and memories of Egypt that you’ll remember forever. Book Now!


NOTE: Travel in Egypt often involves early-morning starts, designed to avoid crowds and the hottest midday hours. It can be hot, especially in June, July and August, but there is virtually no humidity and evening temperatures cool off dramatically. Egypt is a moderate secular state, well used to hosting hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. While you will want to avoid revealing clothing, loose shorts and short-sleeved shirts are fine for both genders on board your Nile cruise and while sightseeing.

Day Activities Hotel
Day 1
Cairo
  • Cairo: Airport Assistance and Visa Service
  • Transfer - Airport - Vehicle/Driver
  • Kensington Cares - 2
Mena House Oberoi Garden
(Alt: Four Seasons Nile Plaza) (B)
Day 2
Cairo
  • Private - Pyramids, Saqqara, Memphis Tour - Vehicle/Guide/Driver
  • Lunch Exclusive - Vehicle & Driver
  • Sunset Desert Trekking (Horse/Camel) - Vehicle/Guide/Driver
Mena House Oberoi Garden
(Alt: Four Seasons Nile Plaza) (B)
Day 3
Nile
  • Transfer - Airport - Vehicle/Driver
  • Air - Cairo - Aswan [Direct (1.5 hr)] - Economy
  • Aswan: Transfer - Airport - Vehicle/Driver
  • Private - Kitchener island, Aga Khan - Sailing
  • Nile: Cruise entertainment
Sonesta Moon Goddess
(Alt: Royal Lotus) (B,L,D)
Day 4
Nile
  • Aswan: Private - 1/2 d High Dam, Philae, Obelisk - Vehicle/Guide/Driver
  • Nile: Private - Kom Ombo Temple - Vehicle/Guide/Driver
  • Cruise entertainment
Sonesta Moon Goddess
(Alt: Royal Lotus) (B,L,D)
Day 5
Nile
  • Private - Edfu Horus Temple - Vehicle/Guide/Driver
  • Cruise entertainment
Sonesta Moon Goddess
(Alt: Royal Lotus) (B,L,D)
Day 6
Nile
  • Luxor: Private - 1/2 d West Bank (Valley of Queens & Valley of Kings) - Vehicle/Guide/Driver
  • Private - King Tut's Tomb - Vehicle/Guide/Driver
  • Nile: Cruise entertainment
Sonesta Moon Goddess
(Alt: Royal Lotus) (B,L,D)
Day 7
Cairo
  • Luxor: Private - 1/2 d East Bank - Vehicle/Guide/Driver
  • Transfer - Airport - Vehicle/Driver
  • Air - Luxor - Cairo [Direct (1 hr)] - Economy
  • Cairo: Transfer - Airport - Vehicle/Driver
  • Dinner (not included)
Sofitel El Gezirah
(Alt: Marriott) (B)
Day 8
Cairo
  • Private - Museum, Citadel & Bazaar Tour - Vehicle/Guide/Driver
  • Lunch Exclusive - Vehicle & Driver
  • Dinner (not included)
Sofitel El Gezirah
(Alt: Marriott) (B)
Day 9
Cairo
  • Transfer - Airport - Vehicle/Driver
Depart (B)
B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner, 1/2d = Half Day, Al = All Inclusive

Trip Options
Request a quote or call Kensington to speak to our Egypt Destination Expert to learn more about various extensions and all the different ways of customizing your tour. Some examples are a day trip to Abu Simbel or finishing your vacation relaxing on the luxurious beaches of Sharm el Sheikh. All of our tours are available at 3, 4 and 5 star levels according to your preference, call now! All of our itineraries may be customized as you wish, add extra days, change a hotel, see different sights. Contact one of our expert consultants for your free, no-obligation vacation plan.

Itinerary

Day 1 Cairo

Cairo is the capital of Egypt and the hub of the country. Millennia of history have made it one of the most fascinating places in the world. The Egyptian Museum whose 107 halls feature huge statues on the ground floor, and small statues, jewels, Tutankhamon treasures and the mummies on upper floors. Other downtown sights include the Saladin Citadel and Mohamed Ali Mosque, and Khan Khalili bazaar. Nearby Giza is famous for the Pyramids of Egypt, among the largest constructions ever built.

You will be met in the tunnel by an airport representative who will in turn facilitate the visa process ($15 per person - included in tour cost), escort you through customs and immigration, off to baggage claim and finally to passenger pick up. It is here that you will connect with our representative associate who will arrange airport transfer to your hotel.

Transfer to/from Cairo Airport in private vehicle with English speaking driver.

Kensington Tours donates a portion of proceeds to our charitable initiative www.kensingtoncares.com which supports education-based initiatives in disadvantaged communities.

The Mena House Oberoi stands tall, yet guarded by the mighty heights of the Great Pyramids of Cairo. Fascinating guests since 1869, the 523 room hotel has continuously held the attention of royalty, political thinkers, and celebrities over time. A range of continental dining and Egyptian specialty restaurants and bars satisfy even the most critical of appetites. The Mena House grants guests the opportunity to relax or stay active by checking out its golf courses, horse and camel stables, and extensive fitness options. Wander a few steps outside the hotel and you may run smack into a pyramid. Forty acres of jasmine-scented gardens will leave their scent on those who depart the hotel. It’s hard to leave this embellished haven of lush furnishings, oriental prints, and hand-woven fabrics.

Overnight at Mena House Oberoi Garden.


The Mighty Sphinx
The Mighty Sphinx
Kensington Cares
Kensington Cares
Mena House Oberoi Garden
Mena House Oberoi Garden
Day 2 Cairo

Enjoy this tour which explores the relics of ages past, and includes visits to ancient Memphis, Saqqara and the Great Pyramids of Giza. Already millennia old by the birth of Christ, the elaborate statues and astonishing scale of these sites will amaze all who visit. This tour also features the famous Sphinx, whose constructor's still remains unknown, but its sheer beauty and allure has mystified the likes of Alexander the Great and Napoleon Bonaparte. This tour includes a private vehicle, a driver, and a highly trained Egyptologist, and entry to either Chephren (Khafre) or Menkaure (Mycerinus) pyramids, as well as the Solar boat. Entrance to the Pyramids come with an additional cost, and be aware that a limited number of people are allowed inside daily, so arrive early so you will not be disappointed.

Enjoy the city's finest cuisine with a private table at the very best restaurants.

Clients are picked up before sunset from hotel and transferred to the desert where they will meet their guide. The guide will lead you out into the desert on your choice of camel or horse, where you enjoy the sunset with a panoramic view of the Pyramids of Giza. This evening includes stopping for dinner at a desert camp before returning to your hotel.

Overnight at Mena House Oberoi Garden.


Ancient Egyptian Sphinx of Giza
Ancient Egyptian Sphinx of Giza
Camel ride
Camel ride
Day 3 Nile

Glide up the Nile at night and explore ancient temples during the day. Edfu (Idfu) is located on the west bank of the River Nile between Esna and Aswan. Of all the temple remains in Egypt, the Temple of Horus at Edfu is the most completely preserved. Kom Ombo was originally an Egyptian city called Nubt, meaning City of Gold. The town's location on the Nile 50 km north of Aswan (Syene) gave it some control over trade routes from Nubia to the Nile Valley, but its main rise to prominence came with the erection of the temple in the 2nd century BC.

Transfer to/from Cairo Airport in private vehicle with English speaking driver.

Take your Egypt Air flight from Cairo to Aswan, flights as requests only and subject to change.

Airport transfer with private vehicle, and driver in Aswan.

Enjoy a Nile adventure as you sail aboard a traditional, non-motorized felucca around Kitchener's Island, the Aga Khan Mausoleum and botanical gardens.

Enjoy an evening of entertainment including local music.

Cleopatra was the last pharaoh of Egypt, and the final Queen of the Nile. The Sonesta Moon Goddess, however, reigns on as a 5-star cruise ship that continues its triumph over this complex river. As the provider of sustenance to so many Egyptians and animals, this mighty river also plays host to the 50 cabins and suites built into the Sonesta Moon Goddess. Cabins are marked by all modern necessities, as well as neat extras like a mini bar and bathtub. Dining is appealing to those who dabble in a mélange of cuisines, with a variety of gourmet continental and Egyptian pleasures to sample. Following an afternoon excursion, take a dip in the pool and start off your evening with a refreshing swim.

Overnight at Sonesta Moon Goddess.


Nile
Nile
Feluccas on the Nile
Feluccas on the Nile
The Sonesta Moon Goddess
The Sonesta Moon Goddess
Day 4 Nile

This 1/2 day tour begins with a visit to the impressive Aswan High Dam. The water which was collected behind created Lake Nasser, the world's largest artificial lake. View the Temple of Philae, dedicated to the Goddess Iris, on the island of Agilika, stopping at the “unfinished obelisk,” a practical demonstration of the methods used by ancient craftsmen to create impressive monuments.

Visit a unique Greco-Roman temple dedicated to two gods: Sobek, the crocodile god, and Haroeris, the sun god. The Temple in Kom Ombo (also known simply as Kom Ombo Temple) dates from about 180 BC, during a period known as the Ptolemaic era, and had some additions built on to it during Roman times. It stands right on the bank of the Nile between Edfu and Aswan. The temple is unusual in that it is a double temple, with one side dedicated to the god Haroesis and the other side to Sobek. The design is almost perfectly symmetrical, with two side-by-side sanctuaries and two parallel passageways leading through the outer parts of the temple. The right side is dedicated to Sobek-Re (the crocodile god combined with the sun god Re), along with his wife (a form of Hathor) and their son Khonsu-Hor. Sobek is associated with Seth, the enemy of Horus. In the myth of Horus and Osiris, Seth and his followers changed themselves into crocodiles to escape. The ancient Egyptians believed that by honouring the fearsome crocodile as a god, they would be safe from attacks. The left side is dedicated to Haroeris, the "Good Doctor" (a form of the falcon-headed god Horus the Elder) along with his consort Ta-Sent-Nefer, the "Good Sister" (another form of Hathor).

Enjoy an evening of entertainment including local music.

Overnight at Sonesta Moon Goddess.


Temple of Philae on the island of Agilika
Temple of Philae on the island of Agilika
Kom Ombo Temple
Kom Ombo Temple
Day 5 Nile

Visit the Nile-side Temple of Horus, the falcon god, built in 230 BC by Ptolemy III. The Temple of Horus in Edfu (also known as the Temple of Edfu) is considered the best-preserved cult temple in Egypt. This is partly because it was built later than most: in the Ptolemaic era from 237 to 57 BC. Despite its later date, it reflects traditional pharaonic architecture and so provides an excellent idea of how all the temples once looked. Edfu is also very large: the second largest in Egypt after Karnak Temple.

Enjoy an evening of entertainment including local music.

Overnight at Sonesta Moon Goddess.


Temple of Horus
Temple of Horus
Day 6 Nile

This morning you will meet up with your guide and explore some of the most incredible sites of the country. You will visit the Valley of the Kings where you will have the chance to explore three tombs. For a period of nearly 500 years from the 16th to 11th century BC, tombs were constructed for the kings and powerful nobles of the New Kingdom (the Eighteenth to the Twentieth Dynasties of Ancient Egypt). The valley stands on the west bank of the Nile, opposite modern Luxor. Then it's off to the nearby Valley of the Queens and also the recently renovated mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut. Hatshepsut was the second pharaoh of the eighteenth dynasty of Ancient Egypt. She is generally regarded by Egyptologists as one of the most successful pharaohs, reigning longer than any other woman of an indigenous Egyptian dynasty. The tour includes a visit to the huge Colossi of Memnon which are all that remain of the mortuary temple of Amenhotep III.

Done in conjunction with the West Bank private tour. Enter the famous tomb of King Tutankhamen.

Enjoy an evening of entertainment including local music.

Overnight at Sonesta Moon Goddess.


Hatshepsut Temple
Hatshepsut Temple
King Tut's Tomb
King Tut's Tomb
Day 7 Cairo

Enjoy a private tour with a qualified Egyptologist guide exploring the East Bank of Luxor. Visit the most impressive temples of Karnak and Luxor, while learning about ancient Egyptian history from your own personal guide. Start your day with a visit to the Temples of Karnak. Walk along the Avenue of Sphinx to enter the complex as your guide explains how the massive facade was constructed. Continue to Luxor Temple which was once joined to the Temples of Karnak by a two-kilometre long Avenue of Sphinx, a portion of which marks the entrance to the temple. Your private guide will offer interpretation and guide you through the most important parts of the temples.

Airport transfer with a private vehicle and English-speaking driver in Luxor.

Take your early morning flight from Luxor to Cairo. The flight duration is approximately 1 hour.

Transfer to/from Cairo Airport in private vehicle with English speaking driver.

The Sofitel El Gezirah, recently refurbished to perfection and now sporting the gleam of clean cut elegance, sits conveniently in the core of Cairo. With 433 rooms, this tall, cylindrical hotel is perched on the tip of Gezirah Island on the Nile. Step onto your balcony and try to absorb the river as it drifts past your bedroom. Later, stop by the trendy international hotspot, Buddha Bar, for the most eclectic of ambient music and culinary enterprises. The floating cocktail bar, a barge on the Nile, is ideal for drinks. A gaming room, spa, and the latest amenities will surely keep the restless visitor busy. One may take a quick stroll to the Opera or a half hour bus ride to the Pyramids. Otherwise, wander around the city, get lost a little, and discover your way back to this fantastic haven.

Overnight at Sofitel El Gezirah.


Karnak Temple
Karnak Temple
Luxor Temple II
Luxor Temple II
Sofitel Gezirah
Sofitel Gezirah
Day 8 Cairo

This full day tour includes a private tour with your trained Egyptologist guide through the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities and its Mummy Room, which houses priceless archaeological finds including the treasures of Tutankhamun and the Greco/Roman period. In the afternoon visit Saladin Citadel, a spectacular medieval fortress built by the renowned leader himself and dating back from the 12th century. Here you will explore the mosque and tomb of the Ottoman ruler Mohamed Ali, whom laid the foundation for the modern nation of Egypt. Later, on a walking tour, you will get to stroll through the fabled Khan Khalili bazaar, absorbing the sights, scents, exotic treats and energy of this ancient yet vibrant meeting place.

Enjoy the city's finest cuisine with a private table at the very best restaurants.

Overnight at Sofitel El Gezirah.


Interior of Saladin citadel
Interior of Saladin citadel
Day 9 Cairo

Transfer to/from Cairo Airport in private vehicle with English speaking driver.

Depart from Cairo international airport - end of itinerary.

Overnight at Depart.



Trip Includes
Guaranteed departure – Accommodation, Activities, Transfers, Meals, Fees where indicated as per the itinerary - Local and international traveler assistance during your tour - Specialised and personalised services

Trip Excludes
Tips - Laundry - Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages unless explicitly noted - Optional activities/extras – Visas (unless noted) - Vacation insurance

Trip Terms & Conditions

  • Your deposit is due immediately on booking (30% of program price, minimum $250). The balance is due 90 days prior to departure. We accept payment via credit card, certified check, wire transfer or money order.
  • Tour quotes do not include airfare to/from the trip start point unless noted on the itinerary
  • Cost increases in currency exchange, government fees, taxes, surcharges or hotel/lodge tariff increases between quote date and start date are payable by the client.
  • Availability cannot be guaranteed until booked. We will exercise best efforts to book hotels per the itinerary, however, in busy seasons and with client bookings made within 90 days of tour date we may be forced to offer substitutes.
  • Cancellations of confirmed bookings 90 days or more prior to departure will receive full refund minus a $350 (per person) administrative fee and any non-refundable paid fees (e.g. non-refundable airfare, cruise or hotel deposits). 60-89 days will be subject to loss of deposit. 30-59 days will be subject to loss of 50% of program price. 29 days or less will be subject to 100% of program price.
  • Payment of the program price constitutes your acceptance of the terms and conditions set out at www.kensingtontours.com/terms-and-conditions
  • Living Standards and practices at destination may differ from those in North America with respect to provisions of utilities, services and accommodation.