Desert, Land of Pharaohs & Nile Cruise

Breakfast at the riad. Enjoy a full-day tour of Fez, considered the centre of Islam in Morocco. It is the intellectual and religious capital of the country. Begin with a panoramic view from one of the hills surrounding the city, then visit the bronze doors of the Royal Palace and walk into the medina to visit Medersas, the centre of Koranic studies. Explore the workshops in the artisan neighbourhoods. Walk along the broad Boulevard of Mohamed V and stroll through the endless streets of the world's largest medina. After the visit, return to the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay in Fez.

Breakfast at the hotel. Depart through the gentle mountains of the Middle Atlas, until you reach the city of Midelt, known for its apple cultivation. Continue along a beautiful route and view Berber life first hand. Arrive in Erfoud, at the edge of the great Sahara desert. Tonight, you have the opportunity to spend the night in a Berber Jaima Camp of your choice in the dunes of the Sahara.* Dinner and overnight stay in Erfoud.

Estimated transfer time and distance 8h, 422Km.

* Optional Night in the Sahara Dunes. Take a 4x4 all-terrain vehicle to reach the high dunes of Merzouga. Admire the magical sunset and spend the night in a typical Berber Jaima Camp, with a traditional dinner included. 

Please note: If you would like to book this experience you must reserve it in advance, up to 30 days before departure, as places are limited. You will not be able to sleep in the hotel if you choose this optional night at the camp.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, visit the captivating Gorges of Todgha, and the Dades Valley, to experience the natural wonders of this unique landscape. Pass by ancient fortresses and lush oases before arriving at the small Berber town of Kalaat M'Gouna, famous for its roses and perfumes. Continue to Ouarzazate, a desert city, and enjoy dinner and an overnight stay at the hotel.

Estimated transfer time and distance 6h, 340Km.

Breakfast at the hotel. Embark on a visit to the Kasbah of Taourirt, the former residence of the Pacha Glaoui called the Lord of the Atlas Region. Continue to the majestic Kasbah of Ait Benhaddou, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. This Kasbah, dotted with crenelated towers, is considered one of the most beautiful in the country and has often been a filming location for movies. In the afternoon, depart across the High Atlas mountains en route to Marrakech. Arrive in Marrakech, and spend the rest of the day exploring at your leisure. Dinner and overnight stay in Marrakech.

Estimated transfer time and distance 5h, 200Km.

Breakfast at the hotel*. At the indicated time, transfer to the airport ** for a flight to Cairo. Touch down in Cairo and transfer to the hotel. Once you've settled in, the remainder of the day is free at your leisure to get to know the sights and sounds of Cairo, in the shadow of the Great Pyramids! Go shopping at the local souk or sample the national cuisine. Overnight stay in Cairo.

* Depending on the flight schedule and the hotel breakfast service, you may not be able to enjoy the included breakfast.

** The transfer to the airport may be shared with other travelers in your tour group. You may be required to wait at the airport before taking your flight, depending on the flight departure times.

For your convenience, you can choose to book a private airport transfer at a time that suits you best, which you can add to your reservation during the next step of the booking process.

Breakfast at the hotel. Get to know the Egyptian capital today with a tour of Cairo's most emblematic sights. Begin at the Giza plateau, home of the three Great Pyramids, built over 4,500 years ago and one of the Seven Wonders of the World! Explore the pyramids and learn about their fascinating history as you walk in the footsteps of the pharaohs. Continue to the Great Sphinx to unearth more secrets of Ancient Egypt. The remainder of the day is free to explore Cairo at your leisure. Overnight stay in Cairo.

Breakfast at the hotel. At the indicated time, transfer to the airport for a flight to Luxor On arrival, transfer to the port to board your Nile Cruise Boat, your home for the next four nights. Get settled in your cabin and enjoy lunch and the views of the river Nile. In the afternoon, visit the Temple of Karnak, a huge complex of decayed temples, columns, and other buildings. On the way back to the ship, stop at the impressive Temple of Luxor, dedicated to Amun-Ra, Mut, and Khonu and built by Amenophis III and Ramses II. Back on the ship, enjoy the remainder of the evening at your leisure. We recommend an optional Karnak Temple Sound and Light Show.* Dinner and overnight on board.

*Optional Karnak Temple Sound and Light Show: Visit the largest open-air museum in Egypt, the Karnak Temple in Luxor. Discover the secrets behind the temple's ancient name, Thebes, and explore its significant monuments.  As you wander through the ruins of this once great complex, you will be guided by the voices of the pharaohs who built this site to honor their god Amon. Watch as the temples and statues come to life with the clever use of special effects , relive the times of the ancient pharaohs with their customs and rituals as they recount the dramatic history of ancient Thebes.

Full-board on board. Begin the day with a visit to the legendary Valley of the Kings, the burial site of the pharaohs between the 18th and 20th ancient Egyptian dynasties, and the famous site of the tomb of Tutankhamun. After exploring the valley, head to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, set on large terraces beneath the cliffs at Deir el-Bahari. Continue to the Colossi of Memnon, two imposing stone statues of the Pharaoh Amenhotep III, before returning to the ship as it navigates towards Edfu. Overnight on board.

Please note: The excursion to the Valley of the Kings includes visits to three tombs. Entrance to the tomb of Tutankhamun is not included but, if you are interested in visiting, you can buy a ticket to see this tomb at the site during your visit.

Full-board on board. Disembark the ship in Edfu and take a buggy ride to the magnificent Temple of Horus, the famous, falcon-headed Egyptian god. Explore the atmospheric temple ruins as you trace the footsteps of the pharaohs. Return to the ship and continue sailing south to Kom Ombo. Upon arrival explore the twin Temples of Haroeris and Sobek and see the amazing Nilometer, used to measure the rising and falling levels of the Nile, an important life source in Egypt. Return to the ship and relax onboard as you continue towards Aswan. Overnight on board.

Full-board on board. This morning, we recommend an optional visit to the amazing temples of Abu Simbel.* Today, enjoy a tour of Aswan to uncover the sights of this fascinating city. Explore the famous granite quarry, where the building blocks of many of ancient Egypt's monuments were produced, and visit both the old and new Aswan Dams, monumental engineering works built in the 19th and 20th centuries respectively to control the flooding on the banks of the Nile. End the day with a peaceful ride in a felucca, a typical fishing boat, on the river Nile. Overnight on board.

* Optional Excursion to Abu Simbel: Visit these amazing temples, carved on the western cliff of the desert by Ramses II in the Xl century BC. See the iconic 20-meter high statues, dedicated to the god Amon Ra, and the Temple of Nefertari, dedicated to the goddess Hathor.

* Optional Island of Philae Excursion: Discover the historic island of Philae, in the reservoir of the Old Aswan Dam. It is home to the ancient ruins of the Temple of Isis and offers a fascinating insight into life and beliefs in Ancient Egypt. 

Please note: If you take the optional excursion to Abu Simbel, you will depart from the hotel at approximately 3-3:30 a.m. to make the most of the coolest part of the day and avoid sightseeing in high temperatures.

Important: The order of the optional excursions may vary depending on your departure day. Optional excursions can only be reserved at the time of booking or up to four days after booking.

Breakfast on board. At the indicated time, disembark the ship and transfer to the airport for a short flight to Cairo*. Arrive in the capital and transfer to the hotel. Enjoy the remainder of the day at your leisure to get to know Cairo. While away the day visiting the amazing Egyptian Museum, where it's worth spending some time to really get the most out of its unbeatable exhibitions or go shopping in the busy city souks to bag a bargain. We recommend an optional excursion to the Saladin Citadel.** Overnight stay in Cairo.

* The order of the excursions and visits may vary, depending on the schedule of the internal flights, traffic and other logistical reasons. The planned visits will be carried out in any case.

** Optional Excursion to Saladin Citadel: Visit the Alabaster Mosque and medieval fortification of Saladin Citadel, perched atop a hill in central Cairo and dating back to the 12th-century. Learn about the importance of the site to Egypt's Islamic heritage before walking through the Coptic Neighborhood, home to various churches. 

Important: The order of the optional excursions may vary depending on your departure day. Optional excursions can only be reserved at the time of booking or up to four days after booking.