While river cruise availability in Europe continues to be in high demand, those looking for a unique river cruise experience this year may want to look farther south to Egypt.
Despite the recent Arab Spring that has brought a degree of instability to the country, Egypt’s 5,000-year history is one of the richest and most well-preserved on earth. River cruises are still operating here, safely and on-schedule. In fact, this may be the best time to go to Egypt, with reports of some ships along the Nile sailing at less than half capacity.
For those looking to experience their first trips along the Nile, Avalon Waterways has crafted an excellent nine-day itinerary that manages to fit in some of Egypt’s most impressive sites and national treasures, all conveniently beginning and ending in the capital city of Cairo.
With departure dates running right through 2014 — and with only a handful of “sold out” voyages — booking a last-minute Egyptian river cruise is a definite possibility. Operated aboard the 245-foot long, 148-guest MS Mayfair, this Highlights of Egypt tour combines a four-day river cruise with two days of pre-and-post cruise touring in Cairo.
The full itinerary:
| DAY | PORT | ACTIVITIES |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Cairo | Arrival and hotel check-in. |
| Day 2 | Cairo | Guided sightseeing; visit the Pyramids and Sphinx of Giza; sound and light show at the Pyramids |
| Day 3 | Luxor (Embarkation) | Fly to Luxor; visit Luxor Temple, the Avenue of Sphinxes, monuments of Karnak and Temple of Amun-Ra |
| Day 4 | Edfu | Valley of the Kings; Valley of the Queens; Deir el-Bahri, and the Colossi of Memnon, galabya party onboard. |
| Day 5 | Kom Ombo; Aswan | Visit the Temple of Horus; visit the twin temples at Kom Ombo; onboard lecturer. |
| Day 6 | Aswan | Sail by felucca to Kitchener Island; visit botanical gardens |
| Day 7 | Aswan (Disembarkation); Cairo | Excursion to High Dam; cruise to Agillika; visit Temple of Isis and ancient granite quarries; fly to Cairo. |
| Day 8 | Cairo | Visit Tutankhamun's Tomb in the Egyptian Museum; see Saladin's citadel and visit Alabaster Mosque in Old Cairo; see the Hanging Church and Cairo's oldest synagogue in Coptic Cairo; visit the Khan el-Khalili souk |
| Day 9 | Cairo | Return flights homeward. |
With guided excursion and touring options every step of the way, Avalon’s Highlights of Egypt itinerary is one of the easiest and most comprehensive ways to see Egypt.
For more information on Avalon Waterways, its fleet and itineraries, be sure to visit our complete company profile here on River Cruise Advisor.
