Splendors of Egypt , a Women-Only Tour (12 Days)

Tour overview

Cruise the Nile, gain insights into the art of belly dancing, and explore the splendors of Egypt on this 12-day women-only tour. Enjoy a sundowner at the Old Cataract Hotel, where Sir Winston Churchill and Agatha Christie once dined. Continue down the Nile to Luxor to see the Valley of the Queens and the Valley of the Kings, where pharaohs – including the famous Tutankhamun – are buried. In Cairo, see the oldest pyramid in the world, the Step Pyramid of King Zoser, before traveling to see one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: The Pyramids of Giza. Here, stand face-to-face with the towering sphinx and later, see a sound and light show dance across the stones. Enhance your experience discovering culture by meeting local women and learning about the history of papyrus.

Additional Included Highlights

Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert’s fascinating commentary.
Hotel and restaurant tips are included – you’ll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.
We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door.
From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination.
Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).
If your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates, then transfers are available at scheduled times. If your flights are outside these times, or you have booked additional nights accommodation with Insight Vacations, you may purchase transfers or make your own way from/to the airport.

Authentic Dining

Kom Ombo: Learn about traditional Egyptian attire and immerse yourself in local culture at an Egyptian dinner and galabeya party.
Luxor: Get to know your fellow travelers over a delightful drink followed by dinner.

Make Travel Matter

Aswan: In Aswan, meet the women of a local women-owned co-operative whose mission is to support vulnerable women from the local villages to learn new skills and become financially independent. The organization provides a hub of support and comfort for over 300 women who may live in poverty or suffer from loneliness and want to become financially independent. Thanks to their newly learnt skills, the women are now able to provide the main source of income for their family. The co-op also strives to reduce waste with a secondary mission to ensure a garbage-free world by using waste and natural material like bamboo or palm trees to create fine handicrafts. This MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience advances United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5: Gender Equality.

Top Rated Highlights

Dendera: At the Temple of Hathor, see a rare depiction of Cleopatra and Caesarian.
Aswan: Visit Aswan’s High Dam and Granite Quarries to ponder why the Unfinished Obelisk has been left in mid-creation for thousands of years.
Philae Island: Travel by motorboat to Philae Island and witness the majestic Temple of Isis rising from the waters.
Kom Ombo: Visit the unique temple as it is the only double temple in Egypt.
Luxor: Visit Luxor Temple, constructed approximately 1400 BC. Look to the top of the remaining Pylon of Ramses II and step into the ancient monument.
Memphis: Visit this famous capital of the ancient world to see the statue of Ramses II and the Great Alabaster Sphinx.
Saqqara Necropolis: View the oldest pyramid in the world, the Step Pyramid of Zoser I, existing for

Brief Itinerary

Day	Highlights	Overnight
Day 1	Welcome to Cairo	Cairo
Day 2	Fly to Luxor	Luxor
Day 3	Luxor- Esna	Esna
Day 4	Edfu – Kom Ombo – Aswan	Aswan
Day 5	Aswan	Aswan
Day 6	Aswan	Aswan
Day 7	Aswan	Kom Ombo
Day 8	Luxor	Luxor
Day 9	Luxor – Return to Cairo	Cairo
Day 10	Cairo	Cairo
Day 11	Cairo – Giza	Cairo
Day 12	Depart Cairo

Day 1 : Welcome to Cairo

Welcome to the timeless land of the pharaohs. On arrival at Cairo Airport, you’ll be transferred to your hotel and have time to relax and sample the hotel’s amenities after your journey.

Day 2 : Fly to Luxor

In the morning, fly to Luxor and visit the huge temple complex of Karnak. Walk through the avenue of ram-headed sphinxes to stand among the columns of the Hypostyle Hall. Later, transfer to your cruise ship, your home for the next seven nights. After lunch on board, take a walk through the Luxor Museum, witness ancient artefacts. In the evening, get to know your Travel Director, a professionally trained Egyptologist, as well as fellow guests over a drink followed by dinner. The rest of the evening is at leisure.

Day 3 : Luxor- Esna (B/D)

A day of legend and history awaits you today as you begin with a morning visit to the Temple of Hathor in Dendera. One of the best-preserved temples in Egypt, it contains a rare depiction of Cleopatra and her son Caesarian, whose father was Julius Caesar. At lunchtime return to your ship and enjoy a scenic journey via the Esna Lock to Edfu.

Day 4 : Edfu - Kom Ombo - Aswan (B/L/D)

Start the day with breakfast as you cruise along the Nile to Kom Ombo before continuing to the city of Aswan. Famous for its archaeological sites, such as the Philae Temple Complex and the Temple of Isis, Aswan is a vibrant destination that portray an agreeable mix of ancient and contemporary Egypt. In the evening, enjoy a fun-filled Egyptian dinner and galabeya party.

Day 5 : Aswan (B)

Today’s sightseeing includes a visit to Aswan's High Dam and granite quarries, to see the enormous unfinished obelisk. Travel by motorboat to the Temple of Isis, rising from the waters of the Nile on the Island of Philae. The rest of the day is free to relax and enjoy the facilities on your cruise ship. Ask your Travel Director for recommendations on things to do onboard or perhaps ask for more insights into Egypt’s fascinating history?

Day 6 : Aswan (B/L/D)

Throughout your journey you’ll have seen many feluccas sailing along the Nile. Now it’s your time to explore one for yourself. On this traditional vessel, you’ll meet a local sailor who will teach you about the ancient art of sailing. Meet the ladies behind the local women’s co-op on your MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience and see scrap materials come to life as they are being turned into fine handicrafts. The organization provides an important source of income for the vulnerable women of the co-op. As the sun starts to fade, enjoy high tea at the historic Old Cataract Hotel, just like Winston Churchill and Agatha Christie once did before you. The hotel is rumoured to be where Christie wrote her bestselling novel, “Death on the Nile."

Day 7 : Aswan (B/L/D)

With the morning free, perhaps join an Optional Experience to Abu Simbel? These temples overlook Lake Nasser and are made up of the Great Temple of Ramesses II and the Temple of Hathor. Later, sail to Kom Ombo to visit the only double temple of Egypt, dedicated to two gods: the crocodile-headed Sobek and the falcon-headed Horus the Elder

Day 8 : Luxor (B)

Cruise along the majestic waters of the Nile. Immerse yourself in the premium service on board and have your cameras at-the-ready for the sights as you leisurely make your way to Luxor. Indulge your culinary side during an Egyptian Cooking Class making traditional moussaka. In the evening, Conclude the day visiting Luxor Temple, where you dock for the night.

Day 9 : Luxor - Return to Cairo (B)

This morning, disembark from your cruise and travel to the west bank of the Nile. Delve into history seeing both the Temple of Hatshepsut and the Valley of the Kings where many pharaohs were buried, including Hatshepsut, Amenhotep I and Tutankhamun. Enhance your discovery visiting the Valley of the Queens. This site houses over 75 tombs belonging to queens of the 19th and 20th dynasties and to other members of the royal families, including the tomb of Nefertari and the Ramesside princes. Later, transfer to the airport for your return flight to Cairo.

Day 10 : Cairo (B)

This morning, ascend to the Citadel for breath-taking views over the city. While here visit the Alabaster Mosque, otherwise known as the Great Mosque of Muhammad Ali Pasha, regarded as the founder of modern Egypt. Continue to Tahrir Square, the focal point of the 2011 Egyptian Revolution, and the Egyptian Museum. Among the many exhibits found here are the fabulous artefacts recovered from the tomb of King Tutankhamun.

Day 11 : Cairo - Giza (B)

Travel to Memphis, the famous capital of the ancient world. See the colossal statue of Ramses II and the Great Alabaster Sphinx. Continue to Sakkara to see the Step Pyramid of King Zoser, the oldest pyramid in the world, dating back to 2700 B.C. In the afternoon, arrive at Giza to explore the magnificent pyramids. Here you’ll come face-to-face with the enigmatic Sphinx. During your visit, venture inside one of these ancient wonders to see the chambers where the pharaohs were sent to meet their gods in the afterlife.