Orbital Travel in conjunction with the Egyptian Tourist board, Travline Egypt and Movenpick hotels are arranging a press trip upon the lower section of the river Nile.

Called the 'Long Cruise' this trip is intended to explore the *lower reaches of the Nile, between Luxor in the south and Cairo in the north of the country. This famous cruise has recently been re-introduced after nearly twenty years of non-operation. The cruise programs where halted during the mid Nineties due to low water levels and the lack of docking points, both issues have been addressed and the cruise program was re-instated during 2015.

The complete cruise program sails from Cairo to Aswan, or from Aswan to Cairo, but as many people know this section of the Nile well the trip we undertake is the Luxor to Cairo stretch of the river some 600 miles long.

On this cruise, many temples and tombs not available on the standard (Luxor to Aswan return) cruise are visited for many for the first time. Places such as the temples of Hathor in Deandra (one of the most complete temples on the Nile, the Temple of Siti 1 in Abydos (the temple that revealed the names and dates all the pharaohs), the City of Tel El Amarna built by the heretic Pharaoh Akhenaten, the bent and red pyramids to name but a few.

Traveling via Egypt air to Cairo then transferring via one hour internal flight to Luxor to embark upon the Ms Darakum cruise boat, managed by Movenpick Egypt. The cruise sails north to Cairo stopping at various sites along the way, finishing with tours in Cairo before flying back to Heathrow from Cairo a total duration of nine nights in Egypt.

Full Itinerary below.

Please confirm your interest or otherwise by email to john@orbitaltravel.co.uk

Items covered within this trip:

All flights (Egypt Air / Tourist board) and transfers and accommodation (Travline, Egypt) on full board basis. All tours and entrance fee's.

Not covered: drinks on board, tipping for boat and guide on board, visa USD25, any personal expenses incurred.

9 Night Long Nile Cruise Example Itinerary 

LUXOR – QENA - SOHAG –TEL EL AMARNA –  MINYA - BENI SUEF - CAIRO

DAY 1: LUXOR

Embarkation on cruise in Luxor, dinner and overnight in Luxor. 

DAY 2: LUXOR

Visit to the West Bank to the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon. After lunch visit the East Bank Temples of Luxor and Karnak. Dinner, Belly Dancer show and overnight in Luxor. 

DAY 3: LUXOR - QENA

Early sailing to Qena and visit the Temple of Abydos.  The main monument at Abydos is the Temple of Seti I, built around 1300 BC by Seti and his son Ramses II. It is especially notable for its fine reliefs, considered among the best of the New Kingdom. After lunch visit the impressive Denderah Temple complex which has some of the most vibrant and colourful paintings dating from antiquity. Return to boat. Dinner and Contest Party. Overnight in Qena.

DAY 4: QENA - SOHAG

Sail to Sohag via the Naga Hammadi Bridge and the Abu Homar Lock. Dinner, Treasure Hunt and overnight at Sohag.

DAY 5: SOHAG – El AMARNA

Enjoy the beauty of the Nile whilst sailing from Sohag to El Amarna. Stop in front of Prince Tawdrous Monastery and view from the boat. Dinner and overnight in El Amarna.

DAY 6: TEL EL AMARNA - MINYA

After breakfast visit the tombs at Tel El Amarna, the Great Palace of King Akhenaten and the small and great temples of Aten. Lunch on board. Continue the visit in the afternoon to visit the rock-tombs of Beni Hassan that are carved into the high limestone cliffs of the east bank of the Nile. The painted scenes depict the daily lives of the rulers and their families including scenes of desert hunting, weaving and spinning, fishing, country living, gathering crops and catching birds. Return to the boat. Dinner and Folkloric show on board. Overnight in Minya.

DAY 7: MINYA – BENI SUEF

After breakfast visit Tuna El Gebel and Ashmunein. Visit the Tomb of Petosiris, tomb of Isadora and the sacred catacombs of Thoth. In Ashmunein visit the Open Air museum, the temple of Thoth and the sanctuary of Amun. Return to the boat and sail to Beni Suef. Dinner, Galabya Party night and overnight at Beni Suef.

DAY 8: FAYOUM - CAIRO

After breakfast visit the Maydom Pyramid and the Hawara Pyramid in Fayoum. Maydom is the location of a large pyramid, and several large mud-brick mastabas. Hawara is an archaeological site of Ancient Egypt at the entrance to the depression of the Fayoum oasis where you will visit the Pyramid of Amenemhet III. Sail to Cairo and overnight.

DAY 9: CAIRO

After breakfast visit the Egyptian Museum in Cairo and the Sphinx and Pyramids and lunch is included. Dinner, Takht and overnight in Cairo. 

DAY 10: CAIRO

Check out and transfer to the airport for your flight home.

Please note: the order or content of your itinerary may be amended due to lock closures, low water levels or any other unforeseeable circumstances. Due to the increasing number of boats on the Nile, at some docking points boats are moored side by side obstructing the view from cabins. Occasionally, due to operational difficulties a change of vessel can occur. However, the sightseeing itinerary will remain the same.