Cruise on Nile river, Cairo and Sharm

 

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The charm of discovering Egypt with the classic cruise on the Nile: a historical journey that will take you closer to the mysteries of a great civilization that can build the great Pyramids, the imposing Luxor, the temples of Karnak and the Valley of the Queens as the inimitable Abu Simbel.
The cruise takes you to a pleasant stay in a luxurious, quiet atmosphere along the Nile, visiting every day a different site, from Luxor to Aswan to arrive in an unforgettable scenario. Do not absolutely miss the visit at Abu Simbel (sometimes included, sometimes no) the Egypt's greatest site .
The tour continues with a visit to the chaotic capital, Cairo, with its mosques, its traffic, bazaars, museums and the inevitable Pyramids. A fascinating city to be discovered, a mix between chaos and magic and we recognized its beauty at the time when we must start again, leaving us a sense of nostalgia and a great desire to go back and spend here few days with more calm.
Of note, in the capital, the Marriot Hotel a hotel with luxurious interiors of historical epoch, built to house the British royal family at the opening of the Suez Canal, one of the most beautiful hotels in the world.
Finally, some relaxation in the beautiful Red Sea, rich of corals and marine life, exotic location closer to Italy, which allows you to discover another fascinating and historic region of Egypt: the Sinai.
In 1994 the resort of Sharm was at the beginning of its expansion, and outside the main center, Naama Bay, the luxury resort were very few. The Coral Bay, one of the most known, was still at the beginning of its construction, nothing to do with the mega resort that ultimately became. Tourism was not yet for masses and location was unknown.
Who imagines the coast of Sharm made of long sandy beaches where you can easily make a pleasant swim in the sea, will certainly be disappointed. The coastline is mostly rocky, sandy bays with large desert, and in many places the barrier reef starts to shore, so it requires access to the sea through piers that allow bathing beyond the barrier, but good enough to wear flippers and masks and to discover an incredible underwater world of fantasy.
From Sharm start interesting excursions to discover the interior with its rocky desert, culminating with Mount Sinai with the possibility to make the climb at night to admire the sunrise with a magnificent view of the mountains surrounding the desert (over 2000 meters and three hours of walk), before returning to the slopes of the mountain to visit the Monastery of Saint Catherine.
Do not miss the trip to the marine park of Ras Mohamed, a protected area where just a few meters from the shore you can admire one of the best coral reefs in the world, where the sea depths over 900 meters for a short distance from the shore, where with a bit of luck you can admire with a simple mask napoleon fishes, mantas and little sharks.

Program

Day 1:
Milan - Luxor
Arrival and boarding on the ship.

Day 2:
Luxor
In the morning visit to the Valley of the Kings and Queens, the largest necropolis in Egypt which consist of 24 kms of temples and tombs.
The Valley of the Kings is the legendary place where between 1520 and 1080 BC were buried over 60 Pharaohs. The best preserved tombs are those of Tutankhamen, Seti I and Ramsar II.
In the valley of the queens there are 180 tombs of queens, princesses and principles of the XVIII dynasty. The colors of the best preserved wall paintings are in tombs of Queens Nefertari and Thit.
Continue to visit the funerary temple of Queen Hatchepsut, built on three levels, and the colossus of Memnon.
In the afternoon visit to the Temple of Luxor, once linked to that of Karnak by a 2 kms long coastal avenue with great statues of sphinxes. Then it switched to the great Temple of Karnak, in addition to the temple there's visit of the mausoleum dedicated to God Amun, the great hall with 134 gigantic columns.
In the evening departure for the navigation of the Nile.

Day 3:
Edfu
In the morning landing at Edfu for the visit of the Ptolemaic temple dedicated to the God Horus. At the end of the visit is resumed navigation to Kom Ombo.

Day 4:
Kom Ombo
In the morning you visit the temple dedicated to the two Gods: Sobek, the Crocodile God, and Haroeris, the Hawk God . Return on board and continue to Aswan, the southernmost city of Egypt.

Day 5:
Aswan.
In the morning visit to the Temple of Philae to the shrine dedicated to the Goddess Isis. All the archaeological area has been cut, dismantled and rebuilt, with the expertise of Italians, on a higher island saving it from water of Lake Nasser which otherwise would have swallowed it after the inauguration of the big dam.
Continue on the Aswan high dam, 3.6 kms long, built in 1971 which extends for 500 kms behind Lake Nasser.
In the afternoon hike in Feluca (or motor boat) through the Nile. In the evening performance of "Lights and Sounds" at the Temple of Philae.

Day 5:
Abu Simbel
In the morning excursion by air to the great temple of Abu Simbel located 280 km south of Aswan. Built by Ramsete II, the Temple dominates the 4 colossal front figures obtained directly from the rock. Not far away is the smaller temple dedicated to his wife Nefertari, also derived from the rock.
In 1964 UNESCO launched an action to save the temples from the waters of Lake Nasser: they were cut in large blocks and recomposed on an area 64 meters higher than previous. In the afternoon flight to Cairo

Day 6:
Cairo
Full day of sightseeing in Cairo with the Citadel, the Egyptian Museum, the Khan el Khalili Bazaar and the main mosques.

Day 7:
Cairo
In the morning visit to the Pyramids of Giza, Chefren and Micerin: Dramatic, spectacular and fascinating, imposing pyramids rise, to the detriment of thousands years they have behind, in the middle of a bare landscape isolated and far from population centers. This is followed by a visit of the most famous monument of Egypt, the Sphinx, with human head and Lion body. Finally visit to the pyramid of Sakkara steps, and then Menphi.
In the afternoon flight to sharm el sheik.

Day 8-14:
sharm el sheik
It was still a location unknown to mass tourism. With the exception of Naama Bay, an endless expanse of virgin and uninhabited coast. Only the chain Coral Bay was beginning to be built, a large resort that overlooks a stretch of coral reef completely intact. We stayed here and spend our week of diving in Allah's aquarium.