Luxury Cairo to Cape Town Epic Journey

DAY 1: Friday
Arrive in Cairo, Private Transfer to Hotel

On arrival in Cairo you will be met and assisted through airport arrival formalities prior to your private transfer to your hotel .

Overnight in Cairo in your pyramids view room.

DAY 2: Saturday
Private Visit Egyptian Museum of Antiquities, Citadel of Saladin and Coptic Cairo

Start your Cairo Holiday with your private guide taking you on a day tour of Cairo.

This morning you will visit the Egyptian Museum of antiquities. With over 120,000 items in the museum you have plenty to entertain you including some beautiful papyrus from the ancient world.

However your main focus will be the artefacts from the final two dynasties of Egypt from the tombs of the Pharaohs and the Valley of the Kings, including the magnificent treasure of King Tutankhamun.

After a stop for lunch (not included) you will visit the medieval fortification of the Citadel of Saladin with it’s Mohamed Ali Alabaster Mosque and Coptic Cairo.

In Coptic Cairo you will see the Hanging church built on the tower-gate of a Babylon fortress with its nave suspended over the passage. The synagogue of Ben Ezra is the next stop. Folklore rumours that it is located on the site where baby Moses was found and so is a special place.

Finally St Sergius church is  the oldest church in Coptic Cairo with 4th Century Pillars, though the main church was built in the 11th Century. It was built on the spot where Joseph, Mary and the infant Jesus are said to have taken shelter after fleeing to Egypt to escape persecution from King Herod of Judea.

This tour is 6-8 hrs and you will return to overnight in Cairo in your pyramids view room.

DAY 3: Sunday
Private visit of Memphis & Sakkara, Giza Pyramids and the Sphinx

Memphis “the ancient capital of Egypt” and its burial grounds of Necropolis of Sakkara. Here there are numerous pyramids including the “Step Pyramid”, as well as the huge statues of Ramses 11.

After lunch (not included and payable locally) our private tour will continue to take you to the Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Valley Temple of Chephren.The Great pyramid of Giza is the oldest of the seven wonders of the world, and the only one to remain largely intact and will without doubt astound you with it’s size and engineering ingenuity, whilst the Pyramid of Chephren with its estimated 4.8 million tons of stone is bound to inspire .

The dramatic Great Sphinx of Giza with it’s lion body and human head if literally translated into English is   “The terrifying one. The Father of Dread” with the face believed to represent Pharaoh Khafre , dating back to @ 2,500 years before Christ. This tour includes a short camel ride though this can be skipped if preferred.

Overnight in Cairo in your pyramids view hotel

DAY 4: Monday
Fly to Luxor and private transfer to Sonesta Cruise Ship, Private Guided visit of Luxor & Karnak

Private transfer for your flight to Luxor (@ 1 hr flight)  and take a private transfer to the Sonesta Cruise Ship for one of the most romantic weeks in your life. This will indeed be a luxury week break.

This afternoon visit East bank of the Thebes to explore with your private guide the famous Luxor and Karnak Temples.

Luxor in 2000 BC was considered one of the most influential cities in the world and certainly the beating heart of ancient Egypt. The temples and structures that have stood for thousands of years have been preserved beautifully.

Every pharaoh of note built, destroyed, enlarged, embellished or restored part of the Karnak complex to show devotion to Amun. In so doing over the years Karnak became one of the largest and most magnificent Temple complexes in the ancient world, and remains at the core of one of the best outdoor museums in the world!

This night there is a belly dancer and folkloric show to entertain you on board.

DAY 5: Tuesday
Private Guided visit to the West Bank - Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, the Colossi of Memnon.

Today you will visit the West Bank where a private guide will take you to the Valley of the Kings in Upper Egypt which contains many of the tombs of pharaohs from the New Kingdom, including Ramsess the Great.

Nearby is the mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut which you will visit. This ancient funeral shrine in Upper Egypt is considered one of the incomparable monuments of Egypt and is a “Must See”

After the Valley of Kings tour continue to see the famous ‘Colossi of Memnon’. These massive quartzite statues which once flanked the entrance to Amenhotep III’s mortuary temple now stand virtually alone in a field. Continue to Esna and an afternoon at leisure followed by the Captains’s welcome cocktail. Tonight there will be music on board.

DAY 6: Wednesday
Sail to Edfu, Private Guided Tour of Temple of Horus, Private Tour Kom Ombo, Galabeya Party

Your deluxe Nile Cruise will continue so you can visit with your private guide Edfu, the site of the extraordinary Temple of Horus, one of the best preserved shrines in Egypt built between 237 and 57 BC. The inscriptions on its walls have provided important information on language, myth and religion in Ancient Egypt.

Lunch and relax aboard the cruise whilst sailing to Kom Ombo. This afternoon with your private guide you will visit the temple shared by two Gods; the Crocodile God Sobek and the Falcon God Haerosis. This temple is very unusual due to its perfect symmetry along the main axis.

This evening join in a traditional Egyptian Galabeya party onboard.

DAY 7: Thursday
Sail to Aswan, Private Guided Tour of Aswan High Dam, Unfinished Obelisk & Philae Temple, Private Felucca Sail on the Nile

Sail to Aswan to visit the impressive Aswan High Dam as a private tour. Finished in 1970 this dam significantly impacted farming for the better with a more controlled and steady water supply for both the farmland and all important cotton crops.

After the High Dam you will visit the Unfinished Obelisk, which as it is incomplete shows how the rocks were cut, and so is of great interest.

Afterwards you will visit Philae Temple which was venerated from the Pharaonic era up to the Greek, Roman, and Byzantine periods with each ruler adding their own stamp onto the stones here. With the advent of the dam threatening to flood it UNESCO moved it from Philae Island to it’s current location on Agilika Island.

This afternoon you have the wonderful delight of a sail on your private Felucca around Kitchener’s Island followed by afternoon tea on board.

This evening you will be entertained by a folklore show including belly dancing on board in the evening.

DAY 8: Friday
Private transfer to airport for flight to Cairo after your luxury Nile Cruise

Breakfast aboard the Cruise prior to disembarkation and private transfer to Aswan airport for flight to Cairo.

DAY 9: Saturday
At Leisure and Private Transfer for Flight to Cape Town

Breakfast and morning at leisure to enjoy your hotel and swim with the view of the pyramids in the background. Private transfer for your overnight flight to Cape Town.

DAY 10: Sunday
Arrive Cape Town and Private Transfer to Cape Grace

Welcome to Cape Town!  You will receive a VIP Meet & Greet and Private Transfer to Cape Grace Hotel situated on a private quay on the V&A Waterfront commanding dynamic views over the harbour, yacht marina and iconic Table Mountain.

Spend 4 nights in 1 Table Mountain Luxury Room including breakfast.

Scenically beautiful, Cape Town is a compelling mix of trendy modern and old-world elegance.  Glamorous hotels, world-class dining and stunning vistas merge seamlessly with dynamic suburbs and vibrant nightlife.  Malay and African heritage is evident in the cuisine, traditions and entertainment while the architecture reveals a strong Dutch, German and English flavour and style. Contemporary art is proudly displayed in a variety of galleries and wine bars and brandy tasting lounges will appeal to the fashionable set.

Afternoon at Leisure – Perhaps take High Tea at the iconic Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel, a long time favourite of the rich and famous. It is the perfect introduction to the indulgent epicurean delights that this city has to offer.

DAY 11: Monday
Private Cape Peninsula Tour

You will be collected at your hotel for this special Private Full Day Cape Peninsular tour.

Beginning at Kalk Bay, best known for its working fishing harbour and bohemian feel. Browse the arts and crafts on offer, perhaps do a bit of shopping in the quirky fashion boutiques and enjoy the antiques and collectables along the main strip.

Next, head over to Simon’s Town for those keen to find out more about the rich history surrounding this naval town, museums and monuments providing plenty of insight. Bringing this naval town to life is an insight into the shark diving industry and stories of Just Nuisance – Great Dane, WWII mascot and only dog ever enlisted in the Royal Navy.

Before heading into the Cape Peninsula itself in search of your own rogue penguins – a splinter colony away from the crowded boardwalks over the main breeding site – on a beach known only to locals. Your tour continues with a gentle hike in the Cape Peninsula Reserve, exploring secluded beaches, and this region’s unique wildlife. The return journey weaves back to Cape Town via Noordhoek Farm Village a food artisan hub of the Peninsula and – time permitting – stopping for a sundowner at a local brewery, vineyard, beach or scenic look-out, whatever takes your fancy.

DAY 12: Tuesday
At Leisure in Cape Town

At leisure to explore the many sights of Cape Town.  There are so many things to do and see including:

• Ascend Table Mountain by Cable Car
• Watch Great White Shark Breaching in False Bay
• Dine at The Test Kitchen
• Take a Boat Trip to Seal Island
• Hire a Classic Car and cruise the coastal roads of the Cape
• Tour Robben Island
• Embark on a Township Tour to see a Community Project in Action
• Go Whale Watching or Shark Cage Diving
• Hike up Lion’s Head
• Visit the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront for diverse cuisine, five museums, Two Oceans Aquarium and shopping for the discerning traveller

DAY 13: Wednesday
Private Cape Winelands Tour

This privately guided tour explores one of the most scenically beautiful areas in South Africa, visiting fascinating towns and taking a look into off-the-beaten-track farms which revel in their old-world roots and influences. Today is about so much more than just sipping the wines. Depending on time and season, stroll through the vines, learning about farming methods and techniques. Take an intimate wine-tasting and cellar tour and possibly meet the driving force behind the estate. If lucky, our behind-the-scenes experience could include grape picking or barrel tastings.

Spend time in Stellenbosch, browsing through its wealth of appealing stores and museums and sip local coffee blends in tempting cafes. Let the pairing of wine and olives awaken your senses before you meander through lush gardens bursting with life. Admire a collection of contemporary art, see the highest-growing vines and, from an elevated point, take in the stunning vistas over an old-world estate.

This afternoon, discover Franschhoek. Established by the French Huguenots in 1688, this town retains its historic charm but has fused it with a contemporary vibe. It boasts gourmet restaurants, appealing boutiques and art galleries.

DAY 14: Thursday
At Leisure and Private Transfer to Airport

A full day at leisure before your private transfer to Cape Town International Airport for your overnight flight back to the UK.

Alternatively how about extending your trip to include a Safari in the Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve adjacent to the Kruger National Park and in the heart of Big 5 game country?  Talk to us about extending your holiday for a superb 3 nights of exhilarating experiences in the bush.