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Egypt
Luxury tailor-made holiday and Nile cruise for Linda Locke and friends from 13 to 25 January 2025
Monday 13 January: Arrive in Cairo
All international flights are being arranged on their own behalf by Linda Locke, Karen Locke-Tupper, Anne Pakir and Eliza Quek.
On arrival in Cairo, you will be met at the airport and transferred to Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza for 3 nights in two Superior twin rooms on a bed and breakfast basis.
3 Nights: Four Seasons Hotel Cairo
Set on the banks of the Nile, in the heart of modern and ancient Cairo, the Four Seasons sparkles with contemporary vitality and sophistication - with bright interiors, natural wood finishings and chic comfortable furnishings. Triple glazed windows ensure that the interiors remain cool and quiet. Restaurants include the Lebanese Cafe for all day dining, Chinese, seafood and steak restaurants and a pool bar and grill. Other facilities include a lounge bar, large swimming pool, indoor pool, spa and fitness centre.
Tuesday 14 January: Memphis, Sakkara & Dahshour - Full Day
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Meet your guide in the lobby to start your tour.
Memphis: The legendary city of Memphis was founded in 3100 BC by Menes, the Pharaoh who united Upper and Lower Egypt. It became the capital of the Old Kingdom, a centre for religion with a huge temple to the god Ptah, and the heart of Egypt's busy import-export activity, with traders from around the world giving it a cosmopolitan atmosphere.
Sakkara: The necropolis (cemetery) for the ancient Egyptian city of Memphis and the place where the very first pyramids were built as tombs for kings, not with smooth sides, but with six steps on the outside representing the pharaoh's stepladder to heaven. Here you'll see the famous Step Pyramid of King Zoser, the first pyramid ever built and the world's oldest freestanding stone structure. You will also admire the beautiful tomb art at Sakkara, which gives great insight into the lives of the ancient Egyptians.
Dahshour: Visit a royal cemetery from ancient times at Dahshour where you will see pyramids that were the transition between the step pyramids of Sakkara and the smooth-sided ones at Giza. The unusual 'Bent Pyramid' gets its name from the curious way that its sides curve, while the 'Red Pyramid' is named for the reddish limestone used to make it.
At the end of your tour, you are transferred to your hotel.
Wednesday 15 January: Cairo Egyptian Museum & Pyramids - Full Day
Meet your guide in the lobby of your hotel to start your tour.
Egyptian Museum: You'll tour 7,000 years of history at this museum which houses the largest collection of ancient Egyptian art in the world. Don't miss the treasures of the boy-king Tutankhamun, including his gold mask, the solid gold sarcophagus that held his mummy, and his beautiful throne.
Pyramids and Sphinx: The Great Pyramids of Giza are the only present-day survivors of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, built about 4500 years ago, as giant tombs for the mummies of the pharaohs Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure, who were a father, son and grandson. (Cheops, Chephren and Mycerinus are the Greek forms of their names.) In the ancient Egyptian religion, the sides of the pyramids were likened to sun rays on which the Pharaoh
ascended to heaven. The pyramids are truly monumental in scale, with the largest, Khufu's, made of over two million blocks. The pyramids were not built by slaves but by Egyptian peasants who paid their taxes to the Pharaoh through this labour, and were fed, clothed and housed by him.
Nearby sits the enigmatic Sphinx with the body of a lion and the face of a man wearing a royal head cloth, which workers may have based on King Khafre to guard his enormous funerary monument. About a thousand years after the Sphinx was built it was covered in sand until a young prince had a dream in which the Sphinx told him that if he cleared the sand away, he would become Pharaoh. This story is told on the 'Dream Stela' that was placed between the
Sphinx's paws by King Tuthmose IV.
At the end of your tour, you are transferred to your hotel.
Thursday 16 January: Cairo to Alexandria
You will be transferred by private vehicle from Cairo to Alexandria, a journey time of approximately three hours.
Alexandria Library - Half Day
The Library of Alexandria and Museum is a modern, disk-shaped building inclining towards the sea and built on the believed site of the Great Library of Alexandria, a seat of ancient learning which unfortunately burned to the ground in the fourth century AD. The new research library carries on that legacy of learning by including exhibition spaces, a planetarium and a conference centre.
At the end of your tour, you are transferred to Four Seasons Hotel Alexandria at San Stefano where you will spend one night in two Superior twin rooms on bed and breakfast basis.
Four Seasons Hotel Alexandria at San Stefano
Four Seasons at San Stefano is located in the Grand Plaza tower overlooking the Mediterranean, providing a great base to explore ancient Alexandria. Styled in neoclassical French decor throughout, each bedroom features elegant interiors with a bath and separate walk-in shower. With its rugged coastal landscape and endless ocean views, the infinity pool with neighbouring bar is a great place to enjoy a leisurely lunch. Just minutes from the coast, a prime stretch of sandy beach is accessed via an underground walkway, exclusively for hotel clients. Share a traditional shisha or grab a cocktail in the alfresco lounge, whist watching the sun go down over the sea. The hotel has six restaurants serving everything from Lebanese to Oriental. Kick back and unwind in the award-winning spa, offering a wide-range of treatments including their signature Egyptian 80-minute body treatment, '1001 nights'.
Friday 17 January: Alexandria - Half Day
Meet your guide in the lobby of your hotel to start your tour.
The city of Alexandria is known as 'The Pearl of the Mediterranean' and has been a destination for travellers since its foundation by Alexander the Great in 331 BC. After declining into a sleepy fishing village, Alexandria was revived in the 19th century by Muhammad Ali as an important port, where immigrants from Europe and the Levant came to settle, bringing a cosmopolitan flair and a heyday captured in Lawrence Durrell's Alexandria Quartet. The immigrants left after the 1952 revolution, but Alexandria's Mediterranean spirit remains.
View pieces from all the eras of Egypt's history at The Alexandria National Museum, which comprises more than 1,800 archaeological pieces that narrate the Pharaonic, Greek, Roman, Coptic, Islamic and modern history of Egypt.
Next, visit Aboul Abbas Mosque, named after a Muslim scholar, originally from Murcia in Spain, which was then part of the Islamic Empire. The mosque is one of Alexandria's largest and most famous religious monuments. The mosque was first built over the tomb of an Andalusian Muslim saint in 1775 and rebuilt in 1943, with a towering minaret reaching 73 meters (240 feet) and four domes.
Finally, continue to Qait Bay Fort. Set on the site of the famous Pharos Lighthouse of Alexandria and using some of its stone ruins, the fort was built by Sultan Al Ashraf Qaitbay in 1480 to guard Alexandria's Eastern harbour. One of the most important defensive strongholds on the Mediterranean coast in its day, this majestic sand-coloured complex includes a castle and a mosque.
At the end of your tour, you will be transferred by private vehicle from Alexandria to Cairo, a journey time of approximately three hours.
Once back in Cairo, you will spend the night at Marriott Mena House in two Deluxe Partial Pyramid View twin rooms on bed and breakfast basis.
Mena House Cairo
The Mena House Hotel is one of the most unique hotels in Cairo, located just moments away from the wonders of the ancient world offering unmatched views of the Pyramids with its own rich and colourful history. Surrounded by 40 acres of verdant green gardens, the royal history of the hotel is reflected in the lavish interiors that are embellished with exquisite antiques, handcrafted furniture, original works of art and magnificent antiques. Recreation options at the hotel include a swimming pool and a spa, fitness centre, and seven restaurants and lounges.
Saturday 18 January: Cairo to Luxor
You will be met at the hotel and transferred to Cairo airport (approx 30 minutes) in time to catch the EgyptAir flight to Luxor (approx 1 hour).
You will be met on arrival and transferred (approx 30 minutes) by private vehicle to Hilton Luxor Hotel, where you will spend two nights in two Deluxe twin rooms on bed and breakfast basis.
Hilton Luxor
Hilton Luxor Resort is a wonderful escape to the banks of the Nile and is just 20 minutes from Luxor International Airport and 10 minutes from Luxor town centre. This stylish Luxor spa resort is the ideal base from which to explore the region's historic attractions such as the Temple of Karnak, which is just moments away from the hotel. Expect outstanding service from the attentive, multilingual staff and feel at home in the spacious and bright guest rooms
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Enjoy a choice of 4 restaurants and bars or indulge in fragrant Arabian-style teas and Turkish coffees with waterfront views in the Diwan Shisha Café. Other facilities include two infinity pools, a fitness centre, and a spa.
Sound & Light Karnak Temple
In the evening, attend the fabulous Sound & Light Show at Karnak Temple, a fascinating walking tour through history of the world's largest-ever temple complex, guided by the voices of ancient pharaohs. The ominous shadows playing off the enormous columns in the grand hypostyle hall is an unforgettable experience.
Sunday 19 January: Dendera and Abydos - Full Day
Meet your guide in the lobby of your hotel to start your tour.
Dendera: See the Ptolemaic temple of the goddess Hathor, who enjoyed great devotion as the deity of maternal and family love, beauty and music, and whom the Greeks associated with Aphrodite. This wonderfully preserved temple complex is almost intact, allowing us a special glimpse of its former glory. Hathor is portrayed throughout with a cow head or cow ears.
Abydos: The ancient city of Abydos was a center for the cult of Osiris, lord of the netherworld, and also a burial place for pre-dynastic kings and pharaohs. Today all that remains of Abydos is the limestone Temple of Seti I, built for a 19th dynasty pharaoh. The temple has some of the best bas-reliefs in Egypt and is the site of the famed 'Kings' List,' a list of 76 Egyptians rulers which helped Egyptologists figure out the order of Egyptian dynasties.
At the end of your tour, you are transferred back to your hotel.
Monday 20 January: Nile Cruise Luxor to Aswan - 5 Days/4 Nights
You will be met at your hotel and transferred (approx 20 minutes) by private vehicle to the port in order to board luxury Sanctuary Sun Boat IV, staying in two Standard Cabin Bridge Deck twin rooms on a full board basis.
Sanctuary Sun Boat IV
Sanctuary Sun Boat IV ensures a distinct sense of being in storied Egypt. Its contemporary-yet-classic design displays the highest levels of luxury and chic. Elegance is elevated with rich teak flooring, Egyptian marble and handpainted decorative details to fashion an exceptional ambiance. Neutral-toned textiles complement the soft fabrics draped artfully over beds - it's these distinct touches which create an environment a world away from traditional
river-cruise cabins. It feels like you're in an intimate floating palace where the softly-lit lounges are as suited to socialising as quiet romance. Interesting textures and natural materials ensure a distinguished aesthetic, while ceramic ornaments and delicately etched metalwork set an elegant tone. Head to the upper sun deck where you're promised iconic tableaus in high-definition, cool cocktails and cool shade, and radiant sunshine as you take a dip in the river-view pool. .
Board your 5-star deluxe Nile cruise boat, moored in a private dock in Luxor, where you will enjoy a welcome Zaffa, with drums and flutes.
Lunch will be served on board.
This afternoon you will have the chance to take a ride on a felucca (a typical Egyptian sail boat) around Elephantine Island, Lord Kitchener’s Botanical Gardens, and the Agha Khan Mausoleum (weather permitting, life jackets will be provided).
After lunch, visit the East Bank and explore Luxor Temple and the Temple of Karnak.
Afternoon tea will be served in the lounge.
Tonight, you will be greeted by your Boat Manager as you enjoy a selection of canapés with some complimentary Egyptian wine and local beer. A gourmet dinner will be served on board.
Tuesday 21 January
After a delicious breakfast buffet on board, your tour of the West Bank will begin with a visit to Valley of the Kings. You will also have the chance to visit at least one tomb in the Valley of the Queens and the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut. On the way back to the river Nile, you will pass by the famed Colossi of Memnon.
Enjoy lunch on board the boat while the boat sails to Esna. Afternoon tea will be served on board.
Tonight, a delicious dinner is served followed by a movie night on board.
Wednesday 22 January
Enjoy breakfast on board while the boat sails to Edfu. After breakfast, visit the Temple of Edfu, and then return to the boat to sail to Kom Ombo.
Lunch will be served on board while cruising to Kom Ombo. You will also have the chance to take part in an Egyptian cooking lesson.
Following afternoon tea in the lounge, visit the temple of Kom Ombo - dedicated to the crocodile-god Sobek. The temple stands at a bend in the Nile where, in ancient times, sacred crocodiles basked in the sun on the riverbank.
Return to your Nile Cruise boat ready for the sailing to Aswan. Tonight's entertainment will be an 'Egyptian Night' costume party for all guests, with a chance to dress up in traditional Egyptian 'galabeyyas'. Dinner will be a lavish buffet of Egyptian specialties.
Thursday 23 January
Enjoy breakfast on board while the boat sails to Aswan.
Embark on a short motorboat ride to the majestic Philae Temple on the Island of Agilika. Next, proceed to the Granite Quarries, which supplied the ancient Egyptians with most of the hard stone used in pyramids and temples, and still hold a huge unfinished obelisk.
Following lunch on board, you will have a chance take a ride on a felucca (a typical Egyptian sail boat) around Elephantine Island, Lord Kitchener's Botanical Gardens, and the Agha Khan Mausoleum (weather permitting, life jackets will be provided).
Afternoon tea will be served in the lounge while you enjoy the sounds of an Oud trio.
Tonight's farewell dinner will be a gala dinner, with white-gloved waiters serving gourmet cuisine. Enjoy a Dervish
show and belly dancer performance after dinner.
Friday 24 January
A buffet breakfast will be served on board, before check out at 08.00
This is the moment the group separates. Eliza will be transferred to Aswan airport (approx 45 minutes) to fly by scheduled flight to Cairo (approx. 80 minutes), where she will be met and transferred to another terminal to catch her international flight home.
Everyone else will be transferred (approx 10 minutes) by private vehicle to the Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Aswan where you will stay for one night in two Palace Rooms (one twin, one single) on a bed and breakfast basis. Enjoy the morning relaxing at the hotel.
Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Aswan
After an extensive renovation, redesigned by French interior designer Sybille de Margerie, Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Aswan exudes its iconic heritage enriched with a contemporary design. Dive into the magnificent pool overlooking the Nile which links the two wings of the hotel. Indulge at the luxurious spa with a wide range of rejuvenating treatments. Embark on a voyage back to another century at the 1902 restaurant or relax at the terrace bar perched above the peaceful waters of the Nile.
Aswan Nubian Museum - Half Day
Meet your guide in the lobby of your hotel to start your tour.
Called 'The Land of Gold' by the ancient Egyptians, Nubia extended from Aswan in the north to Sudan in the south and had its own distinct culture and language. Much of Nubia was covered with water when the Aswan High Dam was built, but efforts were made to save and preserve Nubian culture. This vast collection of Nubian artefacts is housed in a beautiful sandstone building.
At the end of your tour, you are transferred to your hotel.
Saturday 25 January: Abu Simbel Excursion
You will be met at your hotel and transferred (approx 20 minutes) by private vehicle to the airport for your 40 minute flight to Abu Simbel.
The two temples of Ramses II at Abu Simbel are each fronted by colossal statues up to 20 meters (66 feet) high, and are famed as the most impressive monuments remaining of Ancient Egypt. Recently, the temples were threatened by the waters of Lake Nasser, and with the help of a UNESCO campaign they were cut into blocks, raised piece by piece and reassembled in a new position higher up the hillside.
After your visit, you will be taken to catch your return flight to Aswan. On arrival you will be met by our representative and assisted to your
onward 80 minute flight to Cairo, where you will be met and transferred to another terminal to catch your international flight home.
Price, Inclusions and Exclusions
Total price: £33,226
£7,384 for Eliza, and £8,614 for everyone else.
A deposit of £4,983 is required to confirm the booking.
Inclusions
All ATOL protected flights as specified in the itinerary, all ticket taxes and air passenger duty tax, accommodation on the board
basis stated, all transfers and excursions as stated, all guides and all other services specified on the above itinerary.
Exclusions
Alcoholic beverages (apart from those specified), immunisation and visas fees, local airport departure taxes, consumables and sundries such as drinks,
laundry, telephone charges and tips. Additional charges for transfers on initial arrival in Cairo may apply if multiple transfers are required.
All bookings are subject to availability at time of receiving your deposit.