- Egypt Escorted Tours
- Egypt: The Majestic Nile
Ancient shrines adorned with hieroglyphics and vast temple complexes built for the gods lie beside the iconic archaeological wonders of the Giza Pyramids in Egypt, a country rich in history, mysticism and centuries-old culture. Explore the famed sights of Cairo before sailing the world's longest river on a scenic 7-night Nile River cruise, visiting the incredible temples of Luxor, the sacred memorial of Hatshepsut and the atmospheric ruins of Aswan on this journey across land, desert and water.
Please note: Your cruise and excursions are not exclusive to Mercury Holidays and will be shared with other travellers.
Depart on your scheduled flight to Cairo. On arrival in the evening, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.
Breakfast & Lunch
The past and present intertwine in Cairo, a sprawling city on the banks of the Nile that is home to both ancient sites and modern, high-rise districts. African in location but Middle Eastern in its cultural leanings, Egypt's traditions, food and history offer a unique experience as you embark on today's full-day city tour. Gain a fascinating insight into the city's sights and past as a professional Egyptology guide leads the way, with your first stop at the mighty Giza Pyramids. Inspiring movies, books and conspiracy theories, these nine iconic pyramids tower over the desert landscape, with the Great Pyramid standing taller than the Statue of Liberty. Explore these amazingly constructed structures, built using techniques beyond their time, then marvel at the massive half-lion, half-human form of the Sphinx, as it guards the temples and tombs of Ancient Egypt. Travel onward to The Grand Egyptian Museum and wander the treasure trove of artefacts under its roof, including Tutankhamen's gleaming golden mask. Return to your hotel after a full day of sightseeing for an evening at leisure.
Breakfast & Dinner
This morning, transfer to the airport for your flight from Cairo to Luxor, your departure point for your thrilling Nile cruise. Check into your sailing vessel before an afternoon of sightseeing in Luxor. Known as the 'world's greatest open-air museum' for the multitude of age-old sites and ruins that lie within the city limits, Luxor rivals Cairo in its archaeological splendour. Your afternoon tour starts with a visit to the vast Karnak Temple complex - over 200 acres housing temples and sanctuaries adorned with intricate hieroglyphics. Continue on to the beautifully preserved Luxor Temple and explore the interior, statues and carvings of this religious site. Return to your ship for a night moored in Luxor.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
This morning, drive to the west bank of Luxor, where the great valleys of Ancient Egypt's royalty are guarded by the massive twin statues of the Colossi of Memnon. Pass these gatekeepers of the valley then continue on to the Temple of Hatshepsut, a magnificent memorial temple built into the cliffs of this sacred valley. After time to explore this wonder, return to your vessel and sail onward to Edfu, a scenic cruise that allows you to take in life on the shores of the Nile. Pass through the Esna lock and sail through the night as you make your way to Edfu.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Dock in Edfu in the early hours of the morning, in time for breakfast and a visit to the impressive Temple of Horus. Enter through the massive gateways of the temple, guarded by huge granite statues of Horus, and explore the halls and chambers of this colossal ode to the gods. Return to your ship for a day and night of cruising as you journey towards Aswan, passing the picturesque agricultural town of Kom Ombo along the way.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Arrive in Aswan this morning and disembark for a chance to tour this colourful riverside city, nestled between water and desert. Start with a visit to the gigantic Aswan High Dam; the construction of this source of hydro-electricity required the movement of a number of nearby monuments to protect them from flooding. Continue on to the Unfinished Obelisk, a massive slab of granite that was carved but never erected, though it retains its status as the world's largest ancient obelisk. Travel to the river island of Agilkia and take in the splendid Temples of Philae, built by the cult of Isis in honour of the Egyptian goddess of health and marriage. Make your way back to your vessel, remaining for the night in the tranquil waters off Aswan.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Enjoy a morning at leisure to relax or explore at your own pace, perhaps taking in the rock-cut Tombs of the Nobles, the views from the hilltop Aga Khan Mausoleum or the fragrant spices, woven baskets and colourful robes of the city's souk. Alternatively, opt to visit Abu Simbel (at a fee), a series of temples intricately cut into a rocky cliff overlooking the Nile. After lunch, enjoy a unique sailing experience as you breathe in fresh river breezes during a ride on a felucca, a traditional wooden sailing boat which carries you to the botanical gardens of Kitchener's Island. Wander among palm fronds and exotic, brightly coloured blooms in this tranquil setting, returning to your ship for an overnight stay in Aswan.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After breakfast, a free morning allows for your last shopping excursions or explorations in Aswan. After lunch, weigh anchor and sail north to Kom Ombo where you'll disembark for a trip to the impressive Temple of Kom Ombo. The temple is unique as it is dedicated to both Sorek, god of crocodiles, and Horus, god of the sky, with separate gateways and chapels for each god. The amazingly detailed etchings and carvings on the columns and walls of these temples are one of its most incredible features and a walk through the interior takes you into elaborately decorated chambers and passageways. In the early evening, depart for Edfu, arriving late tonight for your overnight stay.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Today offers a leisurely day of cruising as you depart Edfu bound for Luxor. Enjoy a day on board to soak in the sights on the river shores, lounge on the sun deck, take a dip in the swimming pool or relax on the deck with a cocktail. Round off a relaxing day of river cruising with tonight's last dinner on board, marking the end of your awe-inspiring Egyptian journey.
Breakfast
This morning, transfer to the airport in Luxor for your return flight to the UK, or continue on to your chosen extension.
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All the representatives, drivers, and guides were very friendly. Our guide in Aswan, Kom Ombo, and Edfu, Ahmed Elkadi, was excellent. The staff on the boat were delightful - so friendly and helpful, and the food on board was excellent.
Annette Traverse-Healy
27 AprilWe have had a wonderful holiday and would highly recommend this tour with a beach add-on. Our outstanding guide, Osama, with his exceptional knowledge and excellent communication skills, brought the whole experience to life.
Stephen Marshall
17 MarchThe order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions or for operational purposes. The schedules of the domestic airlines in country are subject to frequent changes. For this reason, we have indicated approximate times only. Your local guide will inform you of any schedule changes as they are informed of them. The driving times listed are point to point and do not include the duration of excursions or stops en route. Some road construction and/or weather conditions may lengthen the driving times. Our intention is to adhere to the day-to-day itinerary as printed; however, order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions.
If booking more than 12 weeks before departure a deposit of £295.00pp will need to be paid at the time of booking with the full amount payable at 12 weeks prior to departure. The deposit applies to adults and children. If you are within 12 weeks of travel then the full balance of the holiday will be payable.
Your passport should be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the date of entry into Egypt.
A visa is required for entry into Egypt. British passport holders need a visa for visits of up to 30 days. You can apply for an e-visa from the official Visa2Egypt portal. Tourist visas granted using the e-visa system are valid for a maximum of 3 months. You can also get a visa on arrival by payment in Sterling, US Dollars or Euros; the visa fee is US$25 at approved bank kiosks within airport arrival halls, before reaching immigration counters, but this process may take one to two hours, so we strongly suggest getting the visa prior to travel. Alternatively, we work closely with The Travel Visa Company who will be able to arrange your visa on your behalf. Please call them on 01270 250 590 and quote 'Mercury Holidays'. Visa requirements are subject to change and obtaining a visa is the responsibility of the traveller and not Mercury Holidays. We recommend you check with your destination's tourist board or embassy prior to departure for the most up to date guidelines regarding visas and passport validity.
Please note your final documentation will be sent to you approximately 21 days before departure. Check in baggage is included with your flight. Weight restrictions will be finalised on your final documentation. Should you wish to take additional luggage you will need to pay extra at check-in. Check-in should be at least 3 hours before departure. If you wish to arrange Airport car parking or accommodation at preferential rates, we recommend you book this in advance with Holiday Extras on 0333 188 0407, quoting HX313.
IMPORTANT: A printed E-ticket is no longer required at check-in, all you need to do is present your passport to the staff at the desk and your boarding pass will be given to you. Please note that you should carry your invoice with flight details on it as you will need to show this at the airport.
We strongly recommend that you and all members of your party are suitably insured as soon as you book your holiday. It is a condition of booking that you must have suitable travel insurance. It is important that you purchase travel insurance that suitably covers your participation in whatever activities you may undertake at the time that you make your booking. To assist you with this, we have arranged travel insurance in partnership with Holiday Extras, including up to a 20% discount, which is given to all Mercury Holidays customers. To arrange your insurance with Holiday Extras, please visit https://www.mercuryholidays.co.uk/info/insurance for more details. Please ensure you provide us with the name of your insurer, policy number and their 24 hour emergency contact number as soon as possible. Mercury Holidays will not be liable for any costs incurred by you due to your failure to take out suitable travel insurance from the date of booking.
It is your responsibility to check any health and vaccination requirements applicable to your booked arrangements. We can only provide general information about this. Health and hygiene facilities and disease risks vary from country to country. You should take health advice about your own needs as early as possible and in good time before your departure. Sources of information include; www.fco.gov.uk, http://travelhealthpro.org.uk/, www.hpa.org.uk, your General Practitioner or a specialist clinic.
This tour is accessible to most people with a good level of fitness and normal mobility but not to people with walking difficulties. To travel on any of our tours requires unaided mobility and the ability. All our tours feature a “Tour Pace” to help find the right holiday for you. The tour pace for this tour is intermediate. A good level of fitness is required as you may be on your feet for approximately four hours in a day, though this will be interspersed with regular breaks and will vary from day to day. You will be walking around the sights, and may be getting on and off coaches, trains and boats and climbing steps which may be steep and irregular. You will stay in variety of hotels throughout the tour. Our guides will always endeavour to provide the highest level of service and assistance; however, they cannot be expected to cater for customers who are unfit to complete the itinerary.
The local currency in Egypt is the Egyptian Pound (EGP). While most hotels, larger restaurants, and tourist sites accept card payments, cash is still widely used, particularly in markets, small shops, and for tipping. Although Egypt has its own currecy you can also use GBP, USD and EURO.
You’ll find ATMs readily available in cities and tourist areas, but please note that some may have withdrawal limits and international transaction fees — it’s a good idea to check with your bank before you travel. When exchanging money, always use banks, hotel exchange desks, or official currency exchange offices to ensure the best rates.
Visa and Mastercard are generally accepted across major establishments, though we recommend notifying your bank before you travel to prevent any temporary card blocks while abroad.
As normal practice you may be asked for your credit card details on check-in at the hotel in order to cover any extras incurred during your stay. If you do not have a credit card, you may be asked for a cash deposit. MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted in hotels but a 3% charge may be added.
You will need to take some extra money with you to cover any personal purchases, such as souvenirs, laundry and extra drinks and snacks. Approximately £300-£400 per person will be sufficient for the duration of the tour.
Tipping
Tipping is at your discretion to tip both your driver, guide and crew members. We would recommend to tip approximately £5 per person per day. Tips are accepted in the local currency or Euros, Sterling or Dollars.
As the cruise portion of this tour is on a shared vessel, we have no minimum number of passengers to run the tour. If we are not able to operate your departure date, then you may be asked to change to a different date and a full refund will be made available to you should this alternative not be suitable.
If you book a group of 6 or more passengers, you will have an escort with you throughout the tour. If you are a group of less than 6, you will have multiple local guides/drivers throughout the tour. Your transfers will be with an English-speaking driver. During your excursion/s in Cairo, this will be with an English-speaking guide. Your cruise and excursions are not exclusive to Mercury Holidays and will be shared with other travellers with an English-Speaking Driver.
Your accommodation is selected for convenience, location, comfort or character, and can range from business hotels to leisure hotels. Hotel accommodation is generally rated as local three to four-star standard, but please note there is no international classification system for hotels, and differences in facilities and quality do exist compared to what you might expect in the UK. All group tours hotels have private bathroom facilities and air-conditioning, where needed. Rest assured that all accommodation used by Mercury Holidays is regularly inspected by our staff and partners to ensure that standards meet your needs.
During your stay in Cairo your breakfast will be at the hotel, with lunch in a local restaurant. During your cruise all meals will be served on board the boat. As there is a specialist chef on board, all dietary requirements should be made known to our reservations staff at the time of booking.
Ramadan is the most important month in the Muslim Calendar, and it is a time for people to be with their loved ones, self-reflect and renew their faith. During this time Muslims fast from dawn until dusk and abstain from eating, drinking, smoking and chewing gum. If you are a tourist visiting Egypt, you will not be expected to fast. While eating, drinking and smoking is strictly prohibited in public places, hotels/cruises will offer meals and non-alcoholic/alcoholic drinks at many of their restaurants and bars. Your guide during your tour will be on hand to give you any additional information that you require.
A head scarf for women is recommended for entry into any Islamic religious site as well as for everyone to cover shoulders and knees.
On your arrival in Cairo you will be met by a representative from our local agent, Travco Egypt, holding a sign displaying: “Mercury Holidays”. The Mercury Holidays/Touring International representative will show you to your transfer vehicle. Your guide will be able to answer any queries.
If you need to contact Touring International during your stay the details are:
Travco Egypt: Travco Centre, 26th July Corridor, El Sheikh Zayed City, 6th October 12588, Giza. Egypt. Contact number: 00201221107303 E-mail: alaa.berzi@travco.com
Emergency contact information: Please find below the emergency contact details for Travco Egypt 24 hour telephone 00201221107303 24 hour E-mail alaa.berzi@travco.com
