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Cruise on the Nile: The Land of the Pharaohs (port-to-port cruise)
Preferred
Overview
Highlights (Bullets)
CRUISE HIGHLIGHTS
- Visit the most beautiful sites in Upper Egypt: The Karnak Temple Complex, Luxor, Edfu, the Philae Temple Complex, and Kom Ombo
- Local boat tour around the island of Elephantine
- English teatime in a unique setting—taking you back to the golden age of the Nile
- THE MUSTS:
- The Valley of the Kings and four of its tombs, including Seti I
- The magnificent Philae Temple Complex
- Sound and Light Show at the Karnak Temple(3)
Short Description
The cradle of all civilizations—ancient Egypt—has fascinated humankind forever. Since the dawn of time, explorers, diplomats, writers, and painters have used the fertile banks of the Nile as inspiration for their work. Even today, we still seek the answers to the mysteries found within the pharaohs’ tombs. Over two thousand years of history are waiting for you on a cruise that promises exciting, spectacular, and unforgettable discoveries. Majestic temples, tombs, pyramids, and lively villages dot the Nile Valley landscapes from Luxor to Aswan. Wind down from your everyday grind and step way back in time on a cruise through Upper Egypt.
Itinerary
Day 1 LUXOR
Boarding, dinner at the restaurant or a light meal in your cabin if you arrive late.
Day 1 LUXOR
Boarding, dinner at the restaurant.
Day 2 LUXOR - EDFU
Excursion included: The Karnak Temple Complex. Built over a span of 1,000 years, Karnak was one of the largest and most important religious complexes in ancient Egypt. The immense size of Karnak and its various details make it an invaluable historical site and resource for understanding the evolution of ancient Egypt. Our ship will begin to cruise to Edfu. We’ll have dinner and spend the night on board.
Day 2 LUXOR - EDFU
Excursion included: The Karnak Temple Complex.We’ll spend the afternoon cruising.
Day 3 EDFU - KOM OMBO
Excursion included: The Temple of Horus. Built between 237 and 57 BC, this temple is one of the best-preserved ancient monuments in Egypt. It was excavated in the mid-19th century after being buried under sand and rubble for hundreds of years.We’ll enjoy lunch on board as we continue to cruise towards Kom Ombo. We'll pass by Gebel el-Silsila, a major quarry site from the Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt to Greco-Roman times.Join us for a presentation on ancient Egypt.In the evening, we'll visit the Temple of Kom Ombo, dedicated to the gods Sobek (the crocodile god) and Haroeris (Horus the Elder). By the late 1800s, much of the temple had been either destroyed by earthquakes, the waters of the Nile, or builders who took stones for other projects. It was cleaned and restored by Jacques de Morgan in 1893. The temple is unique because its dual design shows duplicated courts, halls, sanctuaries, and rooms for two sets of gods.We’ll enjoy an Egyptian-themed dinner and spend the night on board.
Day 3 EDFU - KOM OMBO
Excursion included: The Temple of Horus.We’ll spend the afternoon cruising to Kom Ombo.Join us for a presentation on ancient Egypt.Excursion included: The Temple of Kom Ombo.
Day 4 ASWAN
Excursion included: The Philae Temple Complex and photo op at the Aswan Dam. After the dam was finished in 1902, the temple complex was partially submerged. In 1960, UNESCO started a project to save the buildings. In the long run, every building was dismantled into units and then transported to a nearby island for reconstruction. The most ancient temple is dedicated to Isis and dates back to 380 BC. We'll visit the Aswan Dam, one of the largest dams in the world. It tames the Nile River and utilizes its power for a variety of reasons, most notably to provide electricity to the country. Since its construction, the dam has been able to control the annual flooding of the river and has allowed the installation of an irrigation system that helps produce two crops per year.We’ll have lunch on board.Excursion included: Boat tour on the Nile and teatime in a fabulous setting. We’ll board small local boats and enjoy a ride on the Nile, between the granite islands and natural reserves, passing close to the island of Elephantine. On Île Mango, step back in time and savor an authentic English teatime in a splendid setting. We’ll have dinner and spend the night on board.
Day 4 ASWAN
Excursions included:- The Philae Temple Complex and photo op at the Aswan Dam- Local boat tour on the Nile, passing close to the island of Elephantine, and teatime in a magnificent setting.
Day 5 ASWAN - ESNA
Enjoy a morning on your own in Aswan. Some of our suggestions for sites to see are a visit to the Nubian Museum, a stroll through the small streets in the souk, or taking in the awesome view at the Old Cataract—where Agatha Christie wrote her famous novel, Death on the Nile.Optional excursion: Abu Simbel.(1) Discovering these amazing rock temples is one of the highlights of any trip to Egypt. Located about 140 miles southwest of Aswan (230 km and three hours driving time), the complex is in the heart of the desert—at the border with Sudan—and is the most impressive imprint left by Ramesses II.We'll return to the ship in Aswan. We’ll have lunch on board.We’ll spend the afternoon cruising to Esna.We’ll have dinner and spend the night on board.
Day 5 ASWAN - ESNA
Time on your own in Aswan.Optional excursion: The amazing rock temples of Abu Simbel.(1)The ship will cruise to Esna.
Day 6 ESNA - LUXOR
We’ll spend the morning cruising to Luxor. Join us for a presentation on modern Egypt.Excursion included: The Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut—one of only a few women to officially serve as pharaoh—and Tomb KV11—one of the most intact tombs in the Valley of the Kings—built for Pharaoh Rameses III. The quality of the colors and the scenes represented on the temple walls make it one of the top tourist destinations in the valley.Optional excursion: Sound and Light Show at the Karnak Temple Complex (you must register for this excursion at your travel agency before your departure).(3) We’ll spend the night on board.
Day 6 ESNA - LUXOR
We’ll spend the morning cruising. Join us for a presentation on modern Egypt.Excursion included: The Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut and Tomb KV11Optional excursion: Sound and Light Show at the Karnak Temple Complex(3)
Day 7 LUXOR
Optional excursion: Hot-air balloon ride over the Nile River Valley.(2) Watch the sun rise over one of the most impressive archaeological sites in the world.Included excursion: The Valley of the Kings. Join us for a visit to the Valley of the Kings and four of its tombs, including the longest and deepest of the royal tombs built for Seti I. It was also the first tomb to feature decorations on every passageway and chamber with highly refined bas-reliefs and colorful paintings. When Giovanni Battista Belzoni first entered the tomb, the paint on the walls was still fresh looking, and some of the artists' paints and brushes were still on the floor. We'll also stop for a photo op at the Colossi of Memnon.We’ll have lunch on board.Excursion included: The Luxor Temple, a strikingly graceful monument in the heart of the modern town. Its main function was during the annual Opet celebrations, when the statues of Amun, Mut, and Khonsu were reunited during the flooding of the river. We’ll have dinner and spend the night on board. Enjoy a show of traditional Egyptian entertainment.
Day 7 LUXOR
Optional excursion: Hot-air balloon ride over the Nile River Valley.(2)Excursion included:- The Valley of the Kings and four of its tombs, including Seti I- The Luxor TempleEnjoy a show of traditional Egyptian entertainment.
Day 8 LUXOR
Enjoy breakfast on board (or a takeaway bag in case of an early morning departure).
Day 8 LUXOR
Disembarking.
Availability
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128 CroisiEurope Travel Reviews & Ratings
Cruise on the Nile: The Land of the Pharaohs (port-to-port cruise)
Company Reviews
Great tours and food! Exceptional customer service
I am non-EU national, and very much enjoyed the international clientele .
My flight arrived later than the prescribed boarding time, the crew had my cabin ready, and held dinner. Both land side New York office and the onboard crew were very welcoming, and most attention to detail. Special recognition to Charina, my reservation agent, and Daniel the ship's purser.
The vessel's decor is very discreet, comfortable, and relaxing -- no neon, casino, etc. The elegance one would expect from a French company.
The land tours were very comprehensive, in comfortable coaches, with sufficient rest stops. Lunches ashore were included, as appropriate. As advertised, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages were included. In-town shopping was available, but not forced.
In all, a delightful experience. I look forward to another voyage with CroisiEurope. The company offers so many unique intineraries, it may be difficult to select.
A memorable four nights on the Seine - Le Havre to Paris
The Seine scenery was gorgeous and the boat was extremely comfortable—we loved that we could stay in our cabin, relax on various decks, or attend onboard activities, including a lively dance performance by a Normandy folk troupe. Even though we were the only English speakers on the cruise, the bilingual staff were always on hand to help us, and the other passengers (mostly French with a few Belgians/Swiss) were friendly and tolerant of our basic French. After our final night sleeping aboard the boat on Quai de Grenelle in Paris, we were rather sad to depart the beautiful Renoir.
The food, tours and service on the Miguel Torga exceeded our expectations, and we felt very safe with the Covid precautions being taken on board.
We had such a wonderful time on our cruise and absolutely intend to travel with CroisiEurope again. I was especially pleased with the attention to detail regarding food preferences and requests. I have a shellfish allergy, and our kids didn’t always like what was on the menu. The chef and staff always made every effort to accommodate and please us.
Our guide Deborah on the excursions was so informative and made great suggestions for sightseeing and shopping. I liked the way the excursions were managed by touring in the morning with lunch and sailing in the afternoon. We were the only Americans on board with mostly French speakers, but everyone was friendly, and we had no communication issues with the crew. Entertainment was simple but fun with games or local talent coming aboard for flamenco or folk singing and dancing. There were only 62 passengers and no young children. Our kids were 12 & 17, and they were happy with the pool on board, which was small, but ideal for cooling off after a morning in port. They surprised our 17-year-old with a special dessert on her birthday.
We’ve been on several other riverboat cruises (Viking, Peter Dielmann, Vodohod), and they did not match the value and service provided by CroisiEurope.
This barge hotel cruise on and along the Marne river was absolutely fantastic!
The crew were very attentive and hospitable. One of the biggest, if not THE biggest, highlight of the trip was the food. Breakfast was a typical French style buffet with all the trimmings. Lunch and dinner were menus, in the French style, prepared by our Chef and paired with a variety of wines and cheeses from around France. Each meal was unique and full of variety culminating at the end of the week with our Gala Dinner.
One of the excursion highlights, and a major reason why we chose this particular cruise, was the falconry demonstration at Chateau Thierry. It was very well done and quite a moving presentation, which included an American Bald Eagle and, even more surprisingly, Storks.
If you are looking for a more intimate way to cruise, Passenger to Crew ratio was 17 - 6, consider barge hotel cruises. We are most definitely looking forward to our next barge hotel cruise experience.
It’s affordable, the atmosphere on board is unique, the routes can be very interesting.
As seasoned cruisers, knowing well all aspects of cruising on seas and rivers, we had no experience about traveling on a barge in a canal. It was also time to overcome this lack.
A number of companies offer this kind of cruising on barge with 8 to 16 passengers, however very often at exorbitant prices. Luckily, we discovered that the company CroisiEurope offers one week cruise on various canals in Europe, at very decent price, especially considering that all is inclusive (full board, all alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and all excursions) on modern barges with a maximum of 22 passengers.
We opted for the barge Ms Deborah, which cruises on the canal de la Loire, with the Briare to Nevers’ route. We were looking forward to this itinerary because the proposed excursions particularly suited us. Unfortunately, only a few days before departure, we were informed that due of a lack of water in the Loire canal the Ms Deborah was switched over to the Haute Seine and Yonne for a new itinerary from Paris to Sens. Despites the fact that this new itinerary didn’t really meet our desires, especially the excursions, we decided to accept the change.
Our group of 6 persons from Switzerland was very warmly greeted by all members of the crew when arriving on the quai de Grenelle in Paris where we see the MS DEBORAH for the first time, our floating home for the week. With its two dominating colours blue and white, it is difficult not to fall in love with this beautiful small ship.
We were invited immediately for the welcome cocktail during which we met officially the crew and the other six individual passengers originating from New Zealand, England and the USA. With less time than it needs to tell, the relation between us was created, so that everyone felt part of a bunch of friends knowing each other for long time.
There is no need to present here the MS Deborah itself, as this is already thoroughly done on the Cruise Critic page.
The crew of 6 persons is composed of a captain, a sailor, a cruise director, a chef, a waitress and a cabin hostess who put all their efforts to satisfy the passengers and offer them the best possible service. The captain as well as the sailor are always trying to make passengers at ease, answer questions or even bring a drink. The lady cruise director is omnipresent, taking care of the passengers better than a mother hen would do. The talented young French chef aims to produce dishes which please everybody. His outstanding sauces and excellent desserts should be particularly praised. However, referring to comments we made during a cruise on the Seine Princess two years ago, we cannot understand that why today it is not possible to offer the choice of a light buffet at lunch instead a three or even four course menu! The always smiling and friendly Hungarian waitress was very caring and attentive, without forgetting the cabin hostess doing a great job in the cabins, the public spaces and even the kitchen. It wouldn’t be fair to name a single person as all members of the crew, without any exception, do all they can to make the cruise unforgettable.
Our one-week cruise on the barge Ms Deborah enables us today to make the following comments:
~ a cruise on a barge cannot be compared to any other kind of cruise
~ despite all the comfort offered on modern barge, one must be very aware that life on board happens at a restraint space, requiring therefore much flexibility and understanding in all aspects from all passengers
~ in our case, being only 12 passengers, we had the opportunity to take our meals on the terrace. We also never had the feeling that the boat was overcrowded. This can be different when the ship is full, especially by bad weather
~ the state of mind between the passengers who are mostly of foreign nationalities, who don’t know each other and don’t speak French, must function well right from the beginning
~ if the interrelation works, it is difficult to find a more relaxing and enjoyable way of travelling
~ the success on a barge is mainly due on the quality of its crew. Ms Deborah’s crew members have quickly created a family spirit on board, showing also that they genuinely like what they do
~ excursions can play a major role in choosing an itinerary. Not speaking French or English can be a handicap
Do we recommend to do a cruise on a barge? Yes, definitively! It’s affordable, the atmosphere on board is unique, the routes can be very interesting. In our case, this second try with CroisiEurope gives them a better note.
We are still waiting for a refund
Details
Flight & Transport Inclusions
All internal transport included (including local flights)
Group Size
Standard Group - 25 + people
Additional Information
THE CROISIEUROPE DIFFERENCE
- All meals included - DRINKS INCLUDED with meals
- Refined local cuisine
- Headsets are included for excursions
- Official welcome from the captain and crew
- Tour leader or cruise director on board
- Onboard activities and/or lectures
- Travel assistance and repatriation insurance
- All port fees included
Rules & Other Requirements
For French, Swiss, and Belgian nationals: Passport that is valid for 6 months after your date of return, with at least three side-by-side pages free of any markings and mandatory Egyptian visa.
Egyptian visa information: You must apply for your Egyptian e-visa before you arrive in the country. You can do this yourself directly through the government website: https://visa2egypt.gov.eg/eVisa/
For other nationalities: Please consult the competent authorities (consulate/embassy) before your trip.
Trip ID#:
croisieurope-8NL_PP
What's excluded
Transfers to/from departure/arrival points - Egyptian visa - cancellation and baggage insurance - optional excursions - tips.
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