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Wonders of the Nile Itinerary
Day 1 - UK - Cairo (Egypt)
Fly from London Heathrow to Cairo and embark your ship Movenpick Darakum.
Day 2 - Cairo
Drive to the Giza plateau to see the gigantic Great Pyramids and the legendary Sphinx up close. Explore the priceless treasures from Tutankhamen's tomb in the Egyptian Museum and perhaps see his gold funerary mask, the centrepiece of the collection.
Day 3 - Cairo
Head south to Saqqara, an ancient necropolis that is home to the Step Pyramid, the oldest stone structure in the world, and see the famous Bent Pyramid in the distance. Learn more about Cairo's Christian history and Coptic heritage with a visit to the 3rd-century Hanging Church followed by a trip to the Coptic Museum and the Ben Ezra synagogue.
Days 4 - 5 - Cruising the River Nile
Enjoy the ship's facilities on two relaxing days sailing the River Nile, and perhaps join a fascinating lecture on modern and ancient Egypt.
Day 6 - Tuna El Gebel - Beni Hassan
Visit the necropolis of Hermopolis at Tuna El Gebel and explore the catacombs that once housed thousands of mummified ibis and baboons, animals that were sacred to the god Thoth. After lunch on board visit the less well-known royal tombs at Beni Hassan to see the wall paintings that depict daily life in ancient Egypt.
Day 7 - Amarna
Pharaoh Akhenaten and his queen Nefertiti abandoned the old gods to worship the sun god Aten. They built a new capital, now known as Amarna, which was abandoned after his death when his son, Tutankhamen, moved the capital back to Thebes. See the ruined city and visit Akhenaten's tomb before continuing to cruise down the Nile, passing one of Egypt's most important Coptic monasteries on the way.
Day 8 - Cruising the River Nile
Enjoy the ship's facilities on a relaxing day sailing the River Nile.
Day 9 - Abydos
Visit one of Egypt's most imposing temples at Abydos, a sacred place to be buried, and see its Gallery of the Kings which lists the names of 76 kings of ancient Egypt.
Day 10 - Dendera
Dendera was an ancient healing centre where pilgrims came for miraculous cures, to bathe in the sacred waters and to commune with the gods in their dreams. The Temple of Hathor is one of the most complete in all of Egypt and is dedicated to Hathor, the Egyptian goddess of love and healing.
Day 11 - Luxor West Bank
Cross the Nile to the West Bank for the main highlight - the Valley of the Kings. The paintings and hieroglyphics are truly breathtaking. Unfortunately the tombs fell victim to grave robbers thousands of years ago. Only three tombs may be visited at a time and these vary. You'll also visit the nearby mortuary temple of Hatshetput, the first female pharaoh, with its three-tiered terraces. Return to the ship for lunch and spend the remainder of the day at leisure.
Day 12 - Karnak and Luxor Temples
This morning, enjoy a visit to the Temple of Karnak. The Hypostyle Hall is the most breathtaking part of this complex and often referred to as the largest religious centre of the ancient world. Its columns are covered in hieroglyphics and one of the interesting features is the first documented peace treaty in history. Another highlight is the great Obelisk of Hatshepsut, carved from red granite. You'll also visit the smaller Temple of Luxor. After lunch, set sail for Edfu.
Day 13 - Kom Ombo
The temple at Kom Ombo is dedicated to two gods, Horus and Sobek. The temple had a lake with sacred crocodiles and several mummies for them have been found nearby. Later, cruise to Aswan.
Day 14 - Aswan
This morning, visit the Aswan High Dam before continuing to the temple of Philae which was rescued from the rising waters of Lake Nasser. After a visit to the Nubian Museum, board a felucca and sail as the sun sets to Kitchener Island.
Day 15 - Aswan - UK
Disembark the ship and transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK, via Cairo.
For navigational reasons the Captain of the ship reserves the right to modify the cruise itinerary.