Day 1
- Friday 5th December 2025
We fly London Heathrow to Cairo and on arrival check in to the Meridien Hotel at Cairo Airport for one night on room and breakfast basis.
Day 2
- Saturday 6th December - Museum of Egyptian Civilization
Our day begins with a visit to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization. We visit the main gallery and the textile hall with plenty of time to view the ‘Royal Mummies’ in the purpose-built gallery of this new Museum. We have lunch at Al Azhar Park and then head back to the airport for our afternoon flight to Aswan. On arrival in Aswan, we will transfer to the Movenpick Hotel on Elephantine Island for two nights on a bed and breakfast basis. (BL)
Day 3
- Sunday 7th December - Tombs and Ancient Elephantine
A leisurely start as we begin by taking a launch across the Nile to Qubbet el Hawa, to visit the tombs of the Old and Middle Kingdom Governors of Elephantine, including the lovely tomb of Sarenput II. After free time at the hotel for a lunch break, we make the short journey to the southern end of Elephantine Island for a guided tour of the vast ruins of ancient Yebu. We see the temples of Khnum and Satet, the shrine of Heqaib, and many other monuments covering the whole span of Ancient Egyptian history, from earliest times through to the Roman Empire. Later, Chris will give an illustrated lecture. (B)
Day 4
- Monday 8th December - The Island of Isis and Omar El Khayam
This morning’s boat ride will take us to Sehel Island, where we find rocks covered with the inscriptions of ancient travellers, heading south into Nubia. We follow the well-worn paths to view the famous ‘Famine Stela’. After our tour we checkout of our hotel and visit the Open-Air Museum where we can see the Unfinished Obelisk. Then to the port where we will board our cruiser the MS Omar El Khayam for the next four nights on full board basis. This Five-Star Deluxe cruiser is dedicated to Lake Nasser Cruises and all cabins are fully air-conditioned and have large picture windows and balcony. We have lunch on board and then this afternoon we visit Philae Temple dating from the Ptolemaic Period where we explore the elegant colonnade and sanctuary, the Kiosk of Trajan, Hadrian’s Gate, the Temple of Hathor, and much more. Saved from the rising waters of the new High Dam in the 1970’s the temples are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Later Chris will present another lecture. (BLD)
Day 5
- Tuesday 9th December - Kalabsha and sailing
This morning, we visit the temple of Kalabsha, one of the largest temples in the area. Built in the time of the Roman Emperor Augustus and dedicated to the Nubian god Mandulis. The temple was relocated here in the 1960s along with the other monuments just a short walk away, Beit el Wali and the kiosk of Qertassi. We will explore both to view some remarkable reliefs. In the afternoon we will take in the scenery of Lake Nubia from the cruiser on our journey to Wadi es Seboua. (BLD)
Day 6
- Wednesday 10th December - Desert Temples
Today we will visit the rock-cut temple of Wadi es Seboua, known as the Valley of the Lions due to the avenue of sphinxes leading to the temple of Ramesses II. We also enter the Temple of Dakka and the Temple of Maharraqa all moved to this new site in the 1960’s. We sail on and later visit the temples of New Amada. The Temple of Amada dates to the Eighteenth Dynasty and has some fine reliefs. We also visit the Temple of Derr and the delightful small tomb of a high official from the reign of Ramesses VI named as Pennut. Set in the desert landscape these remote temples on the lake shore are stunning to see. Later Chris gives another lecture. (BLD))
Day 7
- Thursday 11th December - To Abu Simbel
Sailing today we will see the ancient fortress of Qasr Ibrim from the cruiser. Qasr Ibrim is a small island, threatened by the waters of Lake Nubia. Once the site of a garrison town, no landings are now allowed on the island. This afternoon we will reach the famous rock-cut temples of Abu Simbel. Rescued in the 1960’s the two rock-cut temples of Ramesses II are one of the most famous sites in Egypt. After lunch we have a guided tour and then this evening we visit again for the sound and light show. (BLD)
Day 8
- Friday 12th December - To Cairo
We say goodbye to our cruiser and board our coach for the journey through the desert back to Aswan. We travel with a lunch box today as we fly from Aswan to Cairo in the afternoon. On arrival in Cairo we transfer to the Crowne Plaza Hotel, West Giza for five nights on room and breakfast basis. (BL)
Day 9
- Saturday 13th December - Medieval Cairo
Today we explore Medieval Cairo. We will see the gates of Bab el-Futuh and Bab Zuweila and visit impressive mosques and monuments. After a relaxing lunch at Al-Azhar Park, we visit Coptic Cairo with visits to the ‘Hanging Church’ over the gate of Babylon Fortress, the Church of St Sergius, and the Coptic Museum. This evening Chris will give a lecture on what to look out for at the Grand Egyptian Museum. (BL)
Day 10
- Sunday 14th December - GEM
A full day at the Grand Egyptian Museum allowing plenty of time to wander at your own pace. Lunch will be own arrangements in one of the Museum food outlets. (B)
Day 11
- Monday 15th December - Saqqara
Another full day as we have an in-depth tour of Saqqara. We visit the Step Pyramid and the Unas Pyramid with time to enter both. We enter Old Kingdom mastabas including Kagemni, Mereruka and Mehu. We include the Serapeum, the vast galleries of the tombs of the Apis Bulls where we find their huge sarcophagi. We have a relaxing lunch planned at the Sakkara Palm Club. (BL)
Day 12
- Tuesday 16th December - Giza Pyramids
Our final day and we head to the Giza Plateau to view the Great Pyramid of Khufu and those of his successors, Khafre, and Menkaure and explore the nearby Mastaba tombs. Those who wish will be able to purchase tickets for entry to any pyramid open on the day of the visit. For the finest view of the site, we head to a local restaurant where we can view the pyramids across the desert sands while eating lunch. A perfect end to our journey. (BL)
Day 13
- Wednesday 17th December- Homeward bound
We take our private transfer to Cairo Airport for our direct flight to London. (B)
Chris Naunton is an Egyptologist and author of several books including Searching for the Lost Tombs of Egypt (2018), Egyptologists’ Notebooks (2020), and two books for children, Tutankhamun Tells All! (2021) and Cleopatra Tells All! (2022). He regularly appears in television documentaries, most recently as co-presenter of Mysteries of the Pyramids with Dara O’Briain (Channel 5, 2024). He was Director (CEO) of the Egypt Exploration Society from 2012 to 2016 and President of the International Association of Egyptologists from 2015 to 2019, and is now Director of the Robert Anderson Trust.
B = Breakfast BL = Breakfast and Lunch BD = Breakfast and Dinner BLD = Breakfast Lunch and Dinner
