100% customisable travel idea
Pyramids and a Steam Ship The Nile for Amateur Egyptologists
Egypt - Cairo - Nile Valley
100% customisable travel idea
Egypt - Cairo - Nile Valley
100% customisable for you
Upon arrival, your family will receive a personalised welcome from our local representative, assistance with your luggage, and a private transfer to your first hotel, where your bags will be left for the night. In addition to its superb location near the Giza site, this accommodation is well designed and particularly comfortable. The decor blends international style with oriental splendour, first and foremost in the common areas, but also, more discreetly, in the rooms. These are well equipped and bright. You feel perfectly at ease there. The restaurant serves expertly prepared international cuisine. The large outdoor pool is perfect for making a splash and relaxing between dives into pharaonic Egypt - which is never far from view, as you can spot the pyramids from the lounge chairs.
In your itinerary - The Pyramids of Giza with a private guide. While we know how the Sphinx lost its nose (it was the fault of Obelix, of course…), the first person to explain to the others why it is a therianthrope wins! It’s a good thing to know when exploring ancient Egypt. What can be said about the pyramids of the pharaohs Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure that has not already been said? They have withstood all the neglect and curiosity since the third millennium BCE.
At the end of the day, a domestic flight to Aswan and a private transfer take you to your second accommodation. With its tower overlooking the city, is easily recognisable: it houses the panoramic restaurant and offers a magnificent view of the river and the city. The location is privileged - sheltered from the bustle of the city centre and surrounded by lush gardens on Elephantine Island. The spacious rooms are decorated in the style of Nubian houses. The sand- and ochre-coloured walls are enhanced with geometric patterns. In the lounges and on the terraces, you can surrender together to the daydreams inspired by the wonderful panoramic view over the Nile’s banks. Once again, the swimming pool has not been forgotten. It's hard to say whether parents or children spend more time splashing around.
Private transfer to the gangway of the Steam Ship Sudan. This steamer has sailed the Nile for over a century. A true floating monument on which Agatha Christie set the plot of one of her most famous novels. A hundred years after its launch, the ship continues its journey unperturbed through Egypt - and through time. Inside, the boat creates an atmosphere reminiscent of the Orient Express: lacquered wood, copper, thick fabrics and Oriental rugs.
In your itinerary - Lunch and settling in on board, then in the late afternoon, a visit to the Philae temple, dedicated to Isis - the universal mother and magician, wife of Osiris, who reigns over life, death and resurrection. Its bas-reliefs, frescoes and capitals make it one of the most beautiful sanctuaries in Egypt. As the original site was submerged by the waters of the reservoir, the temple was rebuilt stone by stone in 1974 on the island of Agilkia. You have to see it to believe it!
Also planned for the evening: sound and light show at Philae. Every evening, the temple hosts a performance that tells its own story: legends of love, friendship, betrayal and reunion. Naturally, the deities Isis and Osiris are at the heart of the plot. Take a seat and let yourself be amazed. After the show, enjoy dinner and spend your first night on board.
In your itinerary - Setting sail at dawn. The first rays of sunlight break through from the riverbank. On the deck, facing the crimson landscapes, pastries, fruit juices and hot drinks revive you after a night steeped in mythology - falcons, rams and crocodiles - always friendly - are known to visit your dreams at night. Sail towards the site of Kom Ombo. Its originality is as much architectural as it is religious. Unique in Egypt, it is dedicated to not one but two deities. This means two temples stand together in one place: the southern part is dedicated to the falcon god Horus, the northern part to the crocodile god Sobek. Back on board, lunch is ready. In the afternoon, visit the Temple of Edfu, built from the 3rd century BCE onwards and dedicated to Horus, the falcon-headed god; his wife, Hathor, goddess of beauty and love; and their son, Harsomtus. This temple is one of the best preserved in the country. Dinner and night on board.
in your itinerary - Passing through the Esna lock and continuing the journey towards Luxor. Directly on board, you take part in a hieroglyphic writing workshop. It was not until 1822 and the genius of Jean-François Champollion that this pictorial language was finally deciphered. Emerging at the end of the 4th millennium BCE, this figurative script is made up of characters representing a wide range of objects, natural or man-made, such as plants, figures of gods, humans and animals. Children and adults are welcome at the workshop. In the afternoon, head to the Karnak and Luxor temple complexes. The construction of Karnak spanned nearly 2,000 years, from the Middle Kingdom to the Ptolemaic period. Within the Precinct of Amun-Re, the temple of the tutelary god, you will find a processional avenue lined with criosphinxes (ram-headed sphinxes), the hypostyle hall with its forest of columns - among other marvels. Next, you head to Luxor Temple. Also dedicated to Amun, its main builders were Amenhotep III and Ramses II (a name that may be familiar to children). A grand processional colonnade marks the entrance to the sanctuary, followed by the pylon and the six colossal statues of Ramses II. Next comes the entire development of the sacred arrangement. The obelisk on the Place de la Concorde in Paris comes from here. Dinner and night on board.
In your itinerary - Sailing to Qena, north of Luxor - a stretch of the Nile rarely travelled by cruise ships. Make the most of a relaxing morning to admire the riverbanks, write postcards and read before lunch. The afternoon is dedicated to visiting the Temple of Dendera,the spectacular temple of Hathor - goddess of joy and love, protector of women and nurse to the pharaohs. Children will be able to recognise it by its cow’s head, or at least by its horns. Isolated at the edge of farmland and desert, the only remaining vestige of the ancient city is one of the country’s best-preserved grand attractions. It features lavishly decorated chapels - one of which once displayed the famous Dendera Zodiac - columns with cow-headed capitals, dark corridors and stairways, terraces, and a rooftop that offers a splendid panoramic view over the Upper Egypt countryside. Dinner and night on board.
In your itinerary - the Steam Ship Sudan continues its journey at the slow pace of its paddle wheels, making its way towards Egypt’s most beautiful sites. There’s an early morning wake-up to reach Abydos by road. The holy city - and the city of Osiris, ruler of the realm of the dead and god of resurrection - has also been a major pilgrimage site since the time of the Old Kingdom. The temple, dating from the time of Seti I, is a marvel, with its richly coloured bas-reliefs, the fine craftsmanship of which marks the birth of Ramesside art. Return on board for lunch, while the boat resumes its journey towards Luxor. For dinner, you freshen up a bit, but don’t need to go so far as to dress to the nines. The meal introduces children to new flavours and awakens their taste buds. Satisfied, the whole family returns to their Belle Époque-style cabin to be lulled to sleep one last night by the murmur of the river.
Optional extra at sunrise - Hot air balloon flight over the Valley of the Kings.
In your itinerary - The morning is devoted to exploring the unforgettable Theban necropolis: the Valley of the Kings, where the majestically decorated tombs tell the story of the deceased’s journey to the afterlife. This is followed by the Valley of the Nobles, the burial place of officials, high dignitaries and the royal court; and finally, the Valley of the Artisans, created to house sculptors, painters and stonecutters. The journey ends at Luxor Temple, the most elegant of the pharaonic monuments, built under Amenhotep III and expanded by another great builder, Ramses II.
Disembark from the steamer, take a private transfer to the west bank, and settle in for the night in a quiet cul-de-sac surrounded by banana fields. The apartment extends around 150 m² (1,615 sq ft) - that should be enough to accommodate your small family. With two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a fitted kitchen, families and groups will find everything they need here. The Mummification Museum - which children usually enjoy - is just across the river.
Also planned: Luxor in the footsteps of a local. While Egypt is synonymous with archaeology, the country is far from limited to that. On the west bank of Luxor, far from the splendour of the pharaohs, agricultural life is in full swing. Accompanied by a local, you venture into a banana plantation before setting off to visit a crafts workshop. After a break in a local home, with an introduction to bread making, you are welcomed into a Kuttab - a place dedicated to learning Quranic writing.
Optional extra - kayak on the Nile.
At dawn, the hot air balloons taking off - visible from the apartment’s terrace - give another reason to get up. After this show, a private transfer takes you to the airport and your international return flight via Cairo.
This suggested itinerary can be customisable down to the smallest detail, including duration, stops and content. An à la carte menu of experiences is also available to create a journey that reflects who you are.
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