11 Days Tour, Luxury Oberoi Zahra Nile Cruise & Cairo

Discover Cairo in Comfort
The tour kicks off in the vibrant city of Cairo, where visitors will spend 4 nights at a luxurious 5-star hotel. This allows ample time to relax and soak in the sights of modern Egypt before delving into ancient history. The hotel is the ideal home base, situated near many landmarks yet offering an oasis of calm. Guests can enjoy pampering amenities like a swimming pool and spa treatments between included guided tours around the capital. Highlights include the iconic Giza Pyramids, the colossal Sphinx, ancient Memphis and Sakkara burial grounds. After taking in millennia of culture, guests are refreshed and primed to begin their Nile adventure.

Luxury Cruising Along the River Nile
Visitors then transfer to Cairo International Airport for their internal flight south to Luxor. Here they will meet their home for the next week, the exquisite Oberoi Zahra cruise ship. Spacious suites and butler service provide a relaxing respite after busy days exploring. The cruise sets sail, allowing guests to wake up in new destinations each morning. While gliding lazily past verdant fields and palm trees, it’s easy to feel removed from modern life and transported back to antiquity. Onboard enriching lectures and performances also enhance the cultural experience. As guests witness majestic temples emerge on shore, the beauty and history of Egypt unfold before their eyes in complete luxury and comfort.

Delving into Ancient Wonders in Luxor
The first stop, Luxor, lends its name to Egypt’s richest open air museum. Here pharaohs focused their building projects, leaving colossal temples that still inspire wonder today. Included tours unravel the mysteries of Luxor and Karnak Temples complex, revealing intricate carvings and towering pillars constructed without modern machinery. Nearby is the fascinating Luxor Museum, housing artifacts from every era. Later guests stroll leisurely along the corniche or shop the bazaar, soaking up the present-day life of this history-steeped city. With so much to discover, Luxor is a highlight that leaves guests wanting more.

The Splendors of the West Bank
No visit to Luxor would be complete without crossing to the glorious West Bank. Here golden sands have preserved tombs and monuments from Egypt’s peak antiquity. On curated excursions, travelers gain insight into the magnificent Valley of the Kings from their exclusive guide and float downstream on a traditional falucca. At mortuary temples, soaring columns frame panoramic views of the Nile and surrounds. It’s no surprise this sacred place captivated kings for centuries. Optional horse carriage rides let guests relive pharaonic processions through beautifully carved avenues and colossi. As the sun dips low, those who have delved deep into the past return to their modern luxury cruise ship, minds buzzing with wonders.

Traversing Terracotta Shores to Qena and Edfu
With bellies full from fresh cuisine, travelers awake to begin cruising north again, greeting fellow passengers on the sun deck as monuments drift into sight. Winding shores dotted with terracotta formations escort guests past the quaint towns and fields along the Nile. In Qena, a side trip transports visitors to Dendera Temple with its exquisite zodiac ceiling. Sailing on, towering pillars announce the next stop of Edfu and its beloved Temple of Horus, near-perfectly preserved even after millennia. For history and culture buffs, these lesser visited sites offer intimate insights alongside photo opportunities aplenty.

Aswan’s Splendors and Optional Adventures
Now in Upper Egypt’s southern reaches, the cruise pulls into Aswan where ancient Egypt interacted with distant lands. Touring the Aswan High Dam and Philae Temple relocated from its original islet showcases engineering feats past and present. Opting for an excursion to the towering rock-cut shrine of Abu Simbel adds further allure. With justifiably proud beauty, the ornate facades etched with Ramses II and Nefertari strike awe in any soul. For total immersion into the magic of this setting, staying onboard lets guests unwind before their final foray.

Departing in Luxury and Comfort
All too soon, it is time to disembark the floating palace and head back to civilization. After breakfast and goodbyes, transfers whisk tourists to Aswan Airport, where internal flights whisk guests back to their international departure point. Yet this tour gift travelers with unforgettable impressions of Egypt’s allure that they may reminisce about for years to come. With first class hospitality every step, guests feel renewed ambassadors of their nation. The vision, planning and service make this luxury experience one that exceeds expectations at every level, truly a once in a lifetime way to discover this ancient land that leaves an indelible mark.