Recommended reading list for this tour ‘The Nile’ ‘The Rise and Fall of Ancient Egypt’ and ‘A World Beneath the Sands‘, will provide interesting background reading.
Day 1
- Monday 27th March 2023
Fly London to Aswan via Cairo with EgyptAir. On arrival in Aswan we transfer to our luxury cruiser the SS Misr, for twelve nights on full board basis. This elegant, 5-star steam vessel, fully restored and air-conditioned, still retains its original charm and character and will be our home for the duration of the cruise.
Day 2
- Tuesday 28th March – Island of Isis
Today we visit the Temple of Philae built by Ptolemaic and Roman rulers to honour the cult of Isis and saved by UNESCO in the late 1970s when it became clear it would be lost for ever with the building of the new High Dam. We also visit the Open-Air Museum of the Unfinished Obelisk. We return to Misr for a relaxing lunch and later we visit the Nubia Museum displaying some wonderful pieces from nearby locations. Before dinner we will all be welcomed to a cocktail party in the lounge.
Day 3
- Wednesday 29th March – Optional Abu Simbel
This morning, there is the chance to take an optional excursion, by road, to the great Sun Temple of Abu Simbel. (PLEASE CONTACT THE OFFICE FOR DETAILS) This excursion involves a very early start and involves a four hour journey each way. You will have a guided tour of the two spectacular temples built by Ramesses II, saved by UNESCO in the 1960s, and now sited on the west bank of Lake Nasser. A leisurely morning if you decide not to visit Abu Simbel. This afternoon we sail for Kom Ombo famous for the Ptolemaic Temple of Haroeris and Sobek and situated high on the bank at a strategic bend in the river.
Day 4
- Thursday 30th March – El Kab and Esna
We sail for El Kab where we enter the 18th Dynasty tombs of Ahmose and Pahery. We continue to the small Tuthmosis IV and Amenhotep III temple built for Hathor and Nekhebet. We arrive at Esna and we take the short walk from the quay to the Ptolemaic-Roman Temple dedicated to the ram-headed creator god Khnum. We have a relaxing afternoon sailing and this evening we arrive in Luxor.
Day 5
- Friday 31st March – Luxor and the Valley of the Kings
We visit the Valley of the Kings where we have entrance tickets to three of the tombs of your choice that are open on the day. On to the impressive Mortuary Temple of Ramesses III at Medinet Habu. Here we see the remains of some highly coloured scenes and beautiful reliefs. Time to view the Colossi of Memnon before we return to the boat for lunch. This afternoon we plan visits to the temple of Amun at Karnak followed by Luxor Temple.
Day 6
- Saturday 1st April – Dendera Temple
We enjoy a peaceful morning sailing towards Qena and after lunch we travel by road to the Ptolemaic Temple of Dendera dedicated to the goddess Hathor. The columns and ceilings of this lovely temple are beautifully restored and cleaned. We return to the Misr late afternoon and overnight at Nag Hamadi.
Day 7
- Sunday 2nd April – Mystical Abydos
Another splendid morning sailing as we head to Sohag. We pass through the swing bridge at Nag Hamadi before we arrive at the barrage where we continue through the great lock. This afternoon we disembark and take our coach to Abydos. Here we visit the magnificent temple of Seti I with the finest reliefs in Egypt carved into the walls of its shrines, including the famous ‘King List’. Time to view the intriguing Osireion before we return to our cruiser and continue sailing and moor for the night.
Day 8
- Monday 3rd April – Sailing
Today is a wonderfully relaxing day on the river as we sail to Tel El Amarna. Time to sit back and enjoy the scenes of daily life acted out on the banks of the river. The pace of life unchanged for centuries, we sail past villages and farmland all the while watching the birdlife on sand banks and islands. A day for binoculars, cameras and books.
Day 9
- Tuesday 4th April – Akhenaten's city of Amarna
An absolute highlight of any trip through Middle Egypt is the chance to explore Amarna, the amazing capital city of Pharaoh Akhenaten and Queen Nefertiti. We will visit the Royal Tomb for Akhenaten himself, the central city, palaces, tombs and the Great Temple of Aten. We spend the day at this incredible site and have a light lunch, provided by our own chefs from the Misr at the Amarna rest house. Later this afternoon we sail to Minya for overnight.
Day 10
- Wednesday 5th April – Beni Hassan
This morning we head to the superbly decorated Middle Kingdom tombs of the local governors of Beni Hassan. Here we see the famous vivid murals depicting daily life, hunts and wrestling scenes. The view from the tombs is memorable for showing the contrast between the fertile banks of the Nile and the desert that falls so close to the river. Returning to the boat for lunch we cruise towards the city of Beni Suef where we will overnight.
Day 11
- Thursday 6th April – Meidum Pyramid
We begin our day exploring spectacular Meidum Pyramid rising above a hill of debris and the mud-brick mastabas nearby. There will be time to enter the pyramid for those who wish. Over lunch we sail on towards Cairo for our overnight mooring and final destination.
Day 12
- Friday 7th April – Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum
After breakfast we head to the Grand Egyptian Museum. Later we visit the Giza Plateau and the Great Pyramid of Khufu along with Khafre and Menkaure as well as time to admire the mighty Sphinx. This evening we have a farewell dinner and a chance to say goodbye to all the staff and new found friends on the SS Misr.
Day 13
- Saturday 8th April 2023 – Homeward Bound
After breakfast we transfer to the airport for our EgyptAir flight to London arriving early afternoon.
Cabin upgrades are available: Royal (Panorama) Suites, Large Front Suites, Standard Suites and Upper Deck
SORRY. ALL SINGLE CABINS NOW SOLD
Expert: Professor Toby Wilkinson is an internationally acclaimed Egyptologist and the prize-winning author of twelve books which have been translated into twelve languages.
After graduating from the University of Cambridge with a First-Class honours degree and a doctorate in Egyptology, he pursued post-graduate research at the universities of Cambridge and Durham.
He has excavated at the Egyptian sites of Memphis and Buto, and has lectured widely on Egyptology throughout the UK and abroad, as well as contributing to television and radio documentaries. Toby is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, and a Bye-Fellow of Clare College, Cambridge.
He has been hailed by the New York Times as ‘a consummate historian’ and by the Daily Telegraph as ‘the foremost Egyptologist of his time’.
B = Breakfast BL = Breakfast and Lunch BD = Breakfast and Dinner BLD = Breakfast Lunch and Dinner
