RCGS: Egypt Nile Cruise with Charlene Bearhead

9 Days
From CAD 3230
Best Rate
Guarantee
Trip Type
Small Group
Activity Level
Unknown

Rating

Experience Overview

Follow in the footsteps of the ancient pharaohs and ride the sands of time back thousands of years on this classic Egypt Nile cruise led by an expert local guide and hosted by Indigenous education advocate and author, Vice President – Learning and Reconciliation at Canadian Geographic ,and a fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, Charlene Bearhead. With ancient tombs and mysteries around every bend, unrivalled legacy and mind-blowing history await!  This trip allows you to visit all the major sites and attractions along the Nile in comfort. Boarding our cruise boat at Luxor we travel upstream, watching local life pass, while also visiting the spectacular Edfu and Kom Ombo temples along the way. The lush banks and beautiful sunsets over the Nile, together with the excellent on-board facilities, make this an unforgettable way to travel. Your Guide to RCGS Quests
Profile
— Accommodation: 6 Superior nights (2 hotel, 4 Nile cruise boat), 2 Classic nights (hotel) — Travel by minibus, cruise boat and one internal flight — Group normally 6 to 20, plus local leader. Minimum age: 16
At a Glance
— Accommodation: 6 Superior nights (2 hotel, 4 Nile cruise boat), 2 Classic nights (hotel) — Travel by minibus, cruise boat and one internal flight — Group normally 6 to 20, plus local leader. Minimum age: 16
Trip For You
This trip is graded Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us. It is suitable for all clients with average health and fitness. No experience of any activity involved is necessary. Most days involve early starts (especially Day 3 when we catch an early flight to Luxor) but this allows us to get the most from our time in Egypt and avoid the worst of the heat. Egypt can get hot, which can cause discomfort while travelling. The hottest months tend to be June to September when temperatures can hit 40C (104F) in the south of the country. Care should be taken to keep hydrated. The hotels and cruise boat we use on this trip are of a high standard, providing excellent levels of comfort. Please note, Ramadan is expected to run from approximately 28 February-29 March 2025. Ramadan, one of the most important events in the Muslim calendar, is a special time to visit Egypt. Each evening, the streets empty as people head home to break the fast, before refilling with an air of festivity upon their return. Our leaders and drivers choose to work at this time, so we continue to run trips. Please be aware, however, that their energy levels may be slightly lower than normal. Tourist sites are still open, but may close earlier than usual. Restaurants may close during the day, but this is accounted for in meal arrangements for your group. Shops are typically open, though their hours may vary and they will definitely be closed during the breaking of the fast. Your leader will know how timings need to be adapted to allow all the trip inclusions to run during Ramadan. To fully enjoy your holiday experience at this unique time of year, we suggest patience and flexibility.
Group Description
There will be a local leader (Egyptologist) and drivers and local guides where needed.
Eating Drinking
All breakfasts, four lunches and four dinners included. In the itinerary, we state which meals are included on which day. For meals not included, we suggest you allow approximately US$15 for lunch and (US$20) for dinner (this differs according to the type of restaurant you are looking for). Food in Egypt involves such things as kebabs, chicken, stews, pitta-bread, falafel, beans, vegetables, pickles and salads. Dishes tend to be simple and wholesome and vegetarians can be catered for, though the options may be somewhat limited. Drinks and water at hotels & on the cruise boat are not included.
Transportation
Road transport is by private air-conditioned mini/midi-bus and Egypt's roads are generally good. Travelling is generally restricted to a few hours a day and the mode of transport is varied. As detailed above, during our trip we use a cruise ship and felucca.
Joining Instructions
Key information Start hotel: Cairo Pyramids Hotel, Cairo - Alexandria Desert Rd, Kafr Nassar, Pyramids, Giza Governorate 3515011 Phone: +20 2 33772555 Recommended arrival time: Hotel check-in is from 2pm Airport: Cairo (CAI) Getting to the start hotel The start hotel is approximately a one-hour drive from the airport. Your options for this journey are: Take an Exodus transfer Exodus provides one group arrival transfer from the airport, which is timed to coincide with the arrival of a chosen flight from London, UK. You may join this transfer at no extra cost, provided you can be at the airport before the transfer leaves. Speak to your sales representative for the group arrival transfer times. (For the group transfer you need to know that you will be waiting for other travellers arrival and luggage, otherwise you can prebook a private transfer). Make your own way It’s possible to reach the start hotel by public transport, but the journey is complicated. We therefore recommend joining the group transfer where possible or arranging a private transfer with us at additional cost. If not, a cab from the airport to the start hotel costs 100 Egyptian pounds (US$5) and should take an hour. If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative. Catching your return flight There’s a group departure transfer to Aswan International Airport (ASW) for customers who Exodus booked onto a chosen flight to London, UK. Please speak to your sales consultant if you wish to join. If the group departure transfer does not suit your flight time, speak to your sales consultant to arrange an alternative transfer.
Weather Information
Rain is very rare in all parts of Egypt and most days are sunny and clear. Summer temperatures often near 40C (104F) but this is particularly true for the period between June and September. The winter months can be surprisingly cold, especially on the Nile or at night. The average daytime maximum in Cairo in January is 20C (68F), night time minimum is 8C (46F). In the summer, these temperatures are 35C (95F) and 22C (72F) respectively. Daytime temperatures are slightly higher on average in Aswan. For accurate info you can visit one of the weather websites to get full forecast during your trip.
Spending Money
Optional Excursions Prices are per person and in US dollars as this is the most stable currency used in Egypt but excursions can be paid in any hard currency (including British pounds and euros). Payment cannot be made in Egyptian pounds. When booking and paying for these tours locally a three percent charge will be added for all card payments. The flight to Abu Simbel is to be requested with Exodus at the time of booking your tour. We will then check availability.  Unless indicated otherwise, the below prices are based on a minimum of four people taking part and are subject to change. Unless indicated otherwise, the below prices are based on a minimum of four people taking part and are subject to change. Cairo (only possible pre-tour or if arriving early on Day 1): the following rates for (minimum six travellers) available for pre and post tour in Cairo. — Sound and light show, Giza: US$ 48 "Does not run every day." — Citadel and Mohamed Ali Mosque: US$40 — Coptic Cairo including Coptic Museum: US$38 — Visit Sakkara and Memphis: US$66 — Entrance fee to go inside Great Pyramids during the Pyramids area visit: US$30 Aswan: the following rates for (minimum six travellers) — Tour of Philae, High Dam & Obelisk: US$54 — St Simone Monastery: US$36 — Animalia Nubian House: US$25 *please see Responsible Travel section — Sound and Light show at Philae: US$52 — Abu Simbel flight excursion: from GBP £396, USD$435. This must be requested with Exodus at time of booking your tour. If you do not request the flight at this time we cannot guarantee seats will be available if trying to book locally. Flight timings vary but the flight duration is approximately 45 minutes.  The length of time in the temples depends on the Egyptair flight schedule and is not controlled by Exodus. It should however be longer than an hour. — Abu Simbel road excursion: from US$150 (book locally). Depart Aswan at approximately 4.30am for the 3hr 30min transfer to Abu Simbel. The temple visit itself takes around two hours. Depart approximately 10am and arrive back in Aswan at around 1.30pm. Luxor: the following rates for (minimum six travellers) — A.C.E Luxor Animal Hospital (time permitting) FREE — Sound and light show, Karnak Temple: US$52 — Queen Hatshepsut’s temple: US$18 Paying for optional excursions by credit card is recommended.
Tipping
Baksheesh is part of Egyptian life, and small tips are expected by most people working in the tourism industry (drivers, hotel staff, railway porters, restaurant staff etc). To simplify this process for our clients, Exodus has agreed with our team of tour leaders to recommend a ‘tipping kitty’ for all trips to Egypt. Your tour leader will explain this at the start of the holiday, and will collect the suggested sum from those who wish to participate. Your tour leader will then take care of all the tipping on behalf of the group. While your participation is highly recommended, it is not compulsory. Your leader can provide details of the distribution of the money as required. For groups of 12 or more clients, the contribution is suggested as US$45 per person. For groups of fewer than 12 clients, the contribution is suggested as US$50 per person.  The leader will usually collect Egyptian pounds for the kitty. If you feel that your leader has performed well over the course of your trip, you may want to show your appreciation of their services. The sum you choose to give is entirely personal, but as a guide, about US$4 per person per day would be reasonable. The ‘tipping kitty’ explained above is entirely separate from any contribution to the tour leader. Tipping is in USD / Sterling or Egyptian Currency according to the daily rate of exchange.

Highlights

  • — Ancient temples and tombs — Cruise boat and luxury hotels — The Great Pyramids — Treasures of King Tut — Valley of the Kings

Trip Details

Product CodeProduct Code: 4059

Tour TypeTour Type: Small Group

AccommodationAccommodation: Moderate

TransportTransport: felucca.

Guide LanguageGuide Language: English

Supplier CodeSupplier Code: AENR

StartStarts: Cairo, Egypt

FinishFinishes: Cairo, Egypt

DurationDuration: 9 days

DeparturesDepartures: Not Guaranteed

Physical RatingPhysical rating: Unknown

Includes

  • — All breakfasts, four lunches and four dinners — All accommodation (see accommodation section) — All transport and listed activities

Accommodation

Cruise boat and hotels
We stay in four-star hotels (local rating) and spend four nights navigating the Nile on a cruise boat. Below are the places we typically stay during our time in Egypt. Cairo: Steigenberger Pyramids Hotel (nights 1-2) With views over the Pyramids of Giza from the outdoor swimming pool, this elegant property is the ideal place to begin your Egyptian adventure. The pool also has a swim-up bar. Rooms are spacious, a perfect spot to rest after your day’s adventure. Why not ask your sales representative about upgrading to a Pyramids view room? Nile: M/S Nile Style cruise boat (nights 3-6) Climb aboard this stylish cruise boat for an unforgettable journey on the longest river in the world. It has 77 air-conditioned cabins, each with a view over the waters while sailing, allowing you to relax in peace and watch the world drift past. Much of your free time may well be spent on the spacious sundeck, which has a dipping pool and plenty of cushy loungers (shaded and unshaded). Elsewhere, there’s a gym, sophisticated lounge bar and elegant restaurant. Aswan: Basma Hotel (nights 7-8) On the highest hill in Aswan, directly opposite the Nubian Museum, the Basma occupies a privileged spot. Rooms come in a mixture of styles, many with views over the city or the Nile, and you can spend your free time cooling off in the expansive pool. The property is also home to The Lotus restaurant, which serves an eclectic mix of international and local cuisines, plus the Vienna Cafe, where you can enjoy light bites, hot drinks and a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Worth knowing In common with all Nile cruises, the M/S Nile Style moors next to other boats at night, meaning you may only have a view of the river from your cabin while sailing.The accommodation shown has been booked and agreed in advance, however we may need to make changes to a property of similar or higher standard after you have booked. We will endeavour to inform you of any changes in advance which could, on rare occasions, be at late notice.

Price

Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD 3230 (CAD 359 /day)

Itinerary

1
Day 1: Start Cairo

Welcome to Cairo, the capital of Egypt, where the ancient and modern worlds connect seamlessly. There’s plenty packed into this holiday, but today is all about settling in. Accommodation: Steigenberger Pyramids Hotel or similar

2
Day 2: Visit the Pyramids at Giza, the Egyptian Museum, El Azhar Mosque and Cairo's lively bazaar

We begin our day with a welcome briefing with your leader (usually at 7:00 or 7:30 am) and a chance to meet the other members of your group. Please have your breakfast before the briefing and be sure that you bring your insurance details as the leader needs to gather this information. First on our sightseeing is a visit to Giza, home to the Great Pyramids of Cheops, Chephren and Mycerinus and the mysterious Great Sphinx. Only the throng of sightseers milling around their huge foundations keep you in the 21st century. We next pay a visit to the incredible Egyptian Museum of Antiquities, which contains relics dating back to 4,000 BCE, including the fantastic riches of Tutankhamun's tomb. Here is a unique opportunity to survey the many fabulous treasures of Egypt in one place and to set the scene for the rest of the adventure. For the remainder of our tour we experience modern Cairo with visits to Al Azhar mosque (the oldest mosque and university in Cairo and still very much in use) (could be closed without prior notice according to authorities) and the small alleyways and streets that make up the bazaar. Please note that we will need to cover up at the mosque (long sleeves and trousers, long skirt for women) and women will also need to cover their hair with a scarf. Accommodation: Steigenberger Pyramids Hotel or similar

3
Day 3: Fly to Luxor; visit Karnak and Luxor temples. Board cruise boat; free afternoon to explore

We typically transfer to Cairo airport before sunrise for our flight to Luxor (flight times can vary but we need to be at the airport three hours before the flight so expect a wake up around 2am). A breakfast box will be provided. On arrival, we visit Luxor Temple and the huge Karnak Temple complex on the east bank of the Nile. Built more than 1,500 years, Karnak is a mixture of pylons, courtyards, halls and sanctuaries. The Hypostyle Hall has 134 columns, some of which are more than 75ft (23m) high. We arrive at our cruise boat in time for lunch on board before free time in the afternoon to relax or explore Luxor. Accommodation:  M/S Nile Style or similar

4
Day 6: Continue Nile cruise; optional visit to Abu Simbel

Today there's the option of a visit to Abu Simbel 186mi (300km) to the south through the Nubian Desert. The optional bus tour starts at 3.30am/4am in the morning when we get picked up from the boat. A breakfast box is provided. We arrive at the destination around 8am, where we are given approximately two hours in the area to visit the temples. Built by Ramses II, the two temples are certainly some of the most spectacular in Egypt. Originally on the banks of the Nile, the temples were raised to a new site above the lake in the late 1960s, as the waters from the new Lake Nasser rose behind the Aswan High Dam. The four great seated statues of Ramses II stare east towards the rising sun. We will be back in Aswan around 1.30 pm before lunch. For those flying to Abu Simbel, please note that timing will be different. Accommodation:  M/S Nile Style or similar

5
Day 7: Disembark cruise; tour of bazaar or optional excursion to Philae Temple, Aswan High Dam and Cleopatra's Unfinished Obelisk

After breakfast on board, we disembark and have a full day in Aswan. This is a laid-back town that reflects the character of its largely Nubian inhabitants, known for being friendly and hospitable. By virtue of its position on the old caravan route, it has always been a trading centre and we thoroughly recommend visiting the packed bazaar today, where merchants display spices, carpets, leather goods and countless other wares. There is also the option to visit the Nubian Museum, situated opposite our usual hotel in Aswan (please ask your tour director if you are interested and when it can be arranged). Opened in April 1998, the museum chronologically charts the history and culture of the Nubian people. Alternatively, we can arrange an optional visit to Philae Temple. In the 1970s it was relocated by Unesco to Aglika Island after it became evident that the original site of Philae would submerge on completion of the Aswan High Dam. It represents a magnificent and enduring testament to both ancient and modern engineering. During this excursion we will also visit Aswan High Dam and Cleopatra's Unfinished Obelisk. Accommodation: Basma Hotel or similar

6
Day 8: Optional visit to Nubian museum; afternoon felucca ride

Today’s our last day in Aswan. Our morning is free to relax or book an optional excursion to St Simone Monastery or a nearby Nubian museum. In the afternoon we explore the Nile by felucca, the traditional Egyptian sailing boat. Using the felucca, we can truly savour the tranquillity of the Nile and the beauty of the surrounding landscape, where the vast desert almost reaches the water's edge. (The timings of the felucca sailing might be changed according to weather conditions). We end the day with our final dinner together, at one of this historic city’s restaurants. Accommodation: Basma Hotel or similar

7
Day 9: End Aswan

You’ve marvelled at the Great Pyramids, gazed at King Tut’s treasures and journeyed down the Nile. Now, however, it’s time to start your return journey home. Of course, if you’re not quite ready for the adventure to end, talk to your sales representative about extending your stay at the hotel – Egypt has a lifetime of wonders to discover.

Tour Operator

Exodus Travel

It’s all about adventure That is what Exodus was founded upon 50 years ago, and what the company is still all about. Discovering countries, cultures, environments, cities, mountain ranges, deserts, coasts and jungles; exploring this amazing planet we all live on. At Exodus, we know what makes you tick when it comes to holidays. It’s a desire shared by so many others. A yearning to visit new places and come home with a real sense of what they’re all about. This means delving into local traditions, cultures, cuisine, lifestyles – anything that contributes to its unique identity. At the same time, we always remember that we are only guests. So we travel courteously and respectfully, in smaller groups to minimise our impact, to ensure that every Exodus holiday is a beneficial experience for everyone involved. This is a philosophy we take with us around the world, helping you reach some incredible destinations on 500 itineraries across over 90 separate countries. We also strive to provide as much flexibility and choice as we possibly can, making it simple for you to experience a very different holiday. Exodus started life on 4 February 1974 when two friends got together to provide an overland truck to travel to the Minaret of Jam, deep in the heart of the Hindu Kush, the most inaccessible of the world’s great monuments. See our history page for more details about how we began and how we have grown over the past 50 years. Never travelled with Exodus before? Visit our New to Exodus page for some useful, first-timer information.

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