Deluxe Short Dahabeeyah, Egypt
Experience Overview
The wonderful classic tour of Deluxe Short Dahabeyia offers an unbeatable combination of the must-see sites of the country and a memorable three-night Nile cruise. We take gentle walks through stunning landscapes, marvel at ancient temples, explore little-visited archeological sites, and sample classic Egyptian cuisine as we tour.
Sample Itinerary
DAY 1
Arrive Cairo
Arrive at Cairo International Airport where you’ll be met by our Airport representativ. Enjoy a private, air-conditioned transfer to your conveniently located Hotel, an incredible residence where you get to rest your head in the glorious atmosphere of the only ancient wonder of the world still standing; The Great Pyramids of Cheops. Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 2
In Cairo
The adrenaline starts right after breakfast, because we head out for a full day exploring the region around what is probably the most famous landmark in the world, the Pyramids of Giza. Forget what you’ve read, forget the pictures you’ve seen, because nothing will prepare you for the awe-inspiring emotions you’ll experience when you first set eyes on the only ancient wonder of the world that still exists today—The Great Pyramid. These marvels of ancient architectural skill are guarded over by the steely gaze of The Sphinx, and we have plenty of time to get up close and personal with these behemoth structures.
We pause for a well-earned lunch break at the Abu Shakra Restaurant, necessary fortification for this afternoon’s exploits where the head-spinning ancient wonders continue to delight your senses. Re-energized, we head to what is probably to most fascinating collection of ancient artifacts on the planet—The Egyptian Museum. With an almost overwhelming number of exhibits on offer.
DAY 3
Fly Cairo / Aswan
It’s an early start today and we take a flight from Cairo to Aswan. On arrival we transfer to our home for the next three nights, our delightful dahabeyia cruise boat—The Orient. Our floating accommodation boasts comfortable cabins and a shady sun deck from which you can relax and view the amazing river scenary and unique countryside as we glide by.
Settle in and enjoy the ride as we head to a small island along the Nile where we take an exploratory stroll in the countryside. Lunch is taken either on the island or aboard our boat before we set sail for Kom Ombo. Here we visit the fascinating double temple, an unusual structure that’s dedicated to not one, but two gods: the falcon god, Haroeis, and the crocodile god, Sobek. This dual building is perfectly symmetrical, with matching rooms, courts, halls, and sanctuaries for each god.
We continue towards Gebel el-Silsila, the narrowest point along the whole River Nile where the cliffs tower above us on both sides. Large cruise boats are forbidden to stop here, but we—on our delightful boat—are not so constrained. Such a privilege is well worth it as we disembark to a location of calm and mystique. This evening really is one that memories are made of: your private chef prepares a typical Egyptian meal, which we enjoy in an idyllic location on the banks of the Nile. As we eat the night sky gently appears, and we dine under a canopy of a million stars…
DAY 4
After breakfast we ready ourselves for an exciting day of exploration in a location seldom visited by most tourists. Gebel el-Silsila is home to no less than 33 rock cut chapels, as well as several unfinished sphinxes. We visit those of Seti I, Ramses II, Merenptah, and that of Horemheb, with its multi-pillared entrance and statues. We also explore the sandstone quarries, the very place where much of the rock was cut for the enormous stones used to construct such wonders as the Karnak Temple and those at Kom Ombo.
We then head to Edfu, where our next sensory fix is more than satisfied by a visit to the impressive Ptolemaic Temple of Horus. This mighty structure was completed somewhere between 230 to 57 BC. It’s one of the largest temples in all of Egypt and, most importantly, is incredibly preserved. This is thanks to the wonders of the desert sand, which filled and covered the structure following the banning of the pagan cult that worshipped there. Today it’s possible to visit once again, thanks to excavation works that began back in the mid 19th century.
For the evening we sail to a small island, our home for the night. Moored up we eat on board or around a crackling campfire. Tonight we again sleep in our comfortable cabins, gently rocked into slumber by the gentle waters of the Nile.
DAY 5
This morning we head to one of the oldest and most significant archeological sites on the Nile—El Kab—the present name for the ancient town of Nekheb. We explore the remains of the two massive temples, the first dedicated to the goddess Nekhbet and the second to Sobek and Thoth. The city was surrounded by a mud brick wall that, at its widest point, was an incredible 12 meters thick (40 feet). We also visit some of the stone cut tombs, and gaze in awe at the place that shows signs of human habitation from as long ago as 7000 BC!
We return to our dahabeyia and set sail for Esna—a section of the Nile that offers some of the most spectacular views along the whole river journey. The day ends with a traditional Egyptian dinner before we spend our third and final night aboard.
DAY 6
Aswan / Luxor
Today we wave goodbye to our floating home and once again take to four wheels for the drive to the ancient city of Luxor. We take lunch at the comfortable El Sofra Restaurant, where you can choose from the cool interior or soak up the ambiance on the terrace, enjoying a moment of calm before the exploration ahead. Because this afternoon we visit the East Bank and the wonders of Karnak and Luxor Temples. These awe-inspiring constructions are linked by the famous Avenue of Sphinxes. At 3km long you’ll have to keep your eyes peeled for the cartouche of Cleopatra, bestowed when she visited the temples with Marc Antony—or, more easily, ask your tour guide to point it out for you.
After what is a truly breathtaking afternoon you’ll be glad to relax in your hotel for the night.
DAY 7
Fly Luxor / Cairo
After a hearty breakfast we visit the ethereal West Bank and the incredible Temple of Hatshepsut, stopping at the Colossi of Memnon along the way. These two enormous, 3,400-year-old statues will prime you for the truly outstanding sights that lie ahead, the first of which is the temple of one of the first female Pharaohs—Hatshepsut. This striking architectural masterpiece with its dramatic sheer cliff backdrop is a fitting tribute for the ‘queen who ruled as a king’.
Take a deep breath, because our next stop is, for many, one of the highlights of the tour—The Valley of the Kings. Many superlatives have been used to describe these archaic tombs, but nothing can prepare you for experiencing it for yourself. Discover more about the journey of the rich and powerful as they passed from this life to the next, and, of course, you get the chance to visit the tomb of perhaps the most famous king of all, Tutankhamun.
We take a well-earned lunch break at our hotel before heading to the airport for the short flight to Cairo. The adventure continues with a tour of what is one of the most amazing of all the Islamic thoroughfares in the city, El-Moez Street. This provides the ultimate experience to discover one of the oldest civilizations on the planet. Tread ancient pathways, marvel at the myriad of mosques, and perfect your bartering techniques within the every-changing alleyways of Kahn el Khalili souk.
Once you’ve shopped ‘till you drop, we shrug off the chaos of outside for the air conditioned nirvana that is the El Fattatri Restaurant, the perfect destination for our final evening meal, and always a lively affair as we share memories and experiences with our friends we’ve made on this epic tour.
DAY 8
Depart Cairo
Enjoy a final breakfast before boarding your transfer to Cairo International Airport. Here you can relax in the airport lounge before catching your international flight home.
CREATE AN EXPERIENCE
Let's Make Memories Together
The voyage does not finish once you have left. We’ll transport you to a world of wonders and create amazing memories that will last long after you’ve returned home.
Away from the regular tourist traps, you’ll have a one-of-a-kind, authentic experience. A sensation created in an energizing setting that will be yours and yours alone. We will make this happen because old travels are great ones. The world’s wonders are within your grasp.
