Africa, North Africa

Passage Through Egypt

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Comprehensive, in-depth Egypt exploration
Our Egypt program has been specially crafted to show you Egypt’s many facets, and to give you special access to some places that are normally difficult to see. You’ll stay in the finest accommodations, sail on a beautiful Nile cruise ship (the Oberoi Philae), and be accompanied by extraordinary Egyptologist guides and a Certified Photo Instructor.

Meet proud, welcoming people in a land whose history has touched us all
Our expedition is crafted to offer a rare and personal look into the ways of life along the Nile and the history of the people who live here. Hardly anyone has not been touched by ancient Egyptian history and the extraordinary things that were created all those thousands of years ago. Modern Egypt is also fascinating, and there is a spirit of optimism that things are improving greatly.

Explore soul-stirring sites of antiquity
From the great Pyramids of Giza and Sphinx, built some 4,500 years ago, to Karnak Temple in Luxor, added to by successive pharaohs over a 2,000-year span, to monumental Abu Simbel, built into a hill by Ramses II, to colorful artwork, you cannot fail to be moved by the things you see. Our journey also includes access to difficult-to-visit sites.

Travel in excellent company
Explore under the sure guidance of top Egyptologist guides and a Certified Photo Instructor. You’ll simply learn more from these experts, who are also gracious people who care that you get the most out of your experience. Your team’s knowledge and passion for Egypt is the key to your once-in-a-lifetime experience. Meet your expert staff.

Among the greatest sites of antiquity in the world
The Pyramids of Giza are the sole survivors among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. (You’ll have a chance to go inside one of them, to see the burial chamber deep within.) You’ll see one highlight after another: Sakkara, the Valley of the Kings, Karnak, Hatshepsut’s Temple, Dendera, Philae Temple at Aswan, Abu Simbel, Edfu, and much, much more.

Explore Cairo
Cairo is one of the great cities of the world. The modern city is over a thousand years old, but people have lived here for millennia. It is rich in places that you'll explore, seeing Islamic sites with extravagant architecture and beautiful decoration, visiting churches and a synagogue of great importance, and a bazaar where seemingly everything is sold.

Voyage aboard Oberoi Philae, a richly-appointed river ship
The 42-guest river ship Oberoi Philae is unquestionably one of the very finest anywhere Her cabins are spacious, each with expansive views. She offers the highest standard of accommodation, along with gracious public areas, a swimming pool, and friendly, attentive service.

Have time? Extend your adventure
Take advantage of your proximity to explore. Our extension explores Petra, the great city built by the Nabateans that flourished between roughly 300 B.C. and 300 AD., along with the contemporary capital, Amman, the impressive Roman site of Jerash, and the Dead Sea.

DAY 1: Cairo

Arrive in Cairo and transfer to the Nile Ritz-Carlton, your home for the next two nights. The hotel has a prime location along the Nile in the heart of this great city, and your room will face the Nile (with the Pyramids visible in the distance, weather permitting).

DAY 2: Cairo

This morning, you will tour the Egyptian Museum, which holds an almost endless collection of some of the greatest masterpieces ever crafted, including the treasures of Tutankhamun, the brightly painted limestone sculptures of Prince Rahotep and Princess Nofret, and the bizarre relief of Akhenaten. You’ll also see mummies of some of Egypt’s pharaohs. Lunch is included at a local restaurant. This afternoon, explore Old Cairo, founded by the Romans long before the modern city arose. It’s known for its Coptic churches, including the 4th century “Hanging Church” and the Church of Abu Serga, which stands on the spot where the Holy Family is said to have rested. Then stroll through winding streets to the 1000-year-old Ben Ezra Synagogue. This evening, we’ll have festive welcome drinks and dinner at our hotel.

DAY 3: Luxor

This morning, we board our private charter flight to Luxor, in Upper Egypt. You’ll then visit Karnak Temple, where for 2,000 years some 30 pharaohs added their own monuments and shrines. Karnak’s scale is vast. The 134 columns of the great hall create a forest of stone 70 feet high, while the towering obelisk of Queen Hatshepsut shadows the rear of the temple. The reliefs and carvings, created by some of Ancient Egypt’s finest artisans, are dramatic. We’ll then embark Oberoi Philae, our home for the next six nights, in time for lunch. This afternoon we explore exquisite Luxor Temple, on the banks of the Nile. The temple is guarded by massive statues of Ramses II, and has magnificent pylons, columns and statues. It has been a place of worship for millennia, as attested to by the mosque that was built atop the site. In the late afternoon, we continue to the Luxor Museum, which contains some of Egypt’s finest statuary, beautifully lit and displayed. We return to our ship for the evening.

DAY 4: Luxor

This morning we’ll explore Luxor’s fabled West Bank. After stopping to see the Colossus of Memnon, we travel through the desert to the Valley of the Kings. For four centuries, this area served as the burial ground for Egypt’s greatest pharaohs. Although not all the tombs are always open, there will be many to choose from, including those of Tutankhamon and Seti I (which require special permits, which we will obtain for you). We continue to the Ramesseum, the mortuary temple of Ramses II, whose toppled statue inspired Shelley’s poem Ozymandias. We have lunch at a restaurant on Luxor’s West Bank, then continue our explorations. We've made special arrangements to visit one of the most remarkable tombs of all: that of Nefertari, located in the Valley of the Queens. The tomb paintings are in vivid colors, show Nefertari’s beauty, and depict her journey to the afterlife. After our visit we’ll continue to the temple of Queen Hatshepsut, which lies in a dramatic setting beneath sandstone cliffs, and which contains wonderful interior reliefs that tell the story of the Queen’s expedition to the land of Punt.

DAY 5: Dendera/Sailing the Nile

This morning we drive northward to visit the beautifully preserved temple of Dendera. It was constructed during the time of the Roman emperors, and the reliefs on the temple walls depict the empress Cleopatra. Also of note are the dramatic columns topped with images of the cow-headed goddess of love, Hathor. We return to Luxor and in the afternoon sail south to Esna, transiting the Esna Lock. Life along the banks of the Nile is very much in the traditional manner, and we’re afforded a glimpse into Egyptian life through the centuries.

DAY 6: Esna/Sailing the Nile/Edfu

This morning we visit Temple of Khnum at Esna. The part we can explore is small, in contrast to many of the other sites we visit, since much of the temple complex lies beneath the contemporary town of Esna and has not been excavated. The base of the temple sits well below street level, showing how much silt was deposited by the Nile’s annual floods. We’ll also explore the town of Esna on foot, to get a glimpse of small-town life in Egypt. We continue sailing southward to the town of Edfu, and in the late afternoon visit Edfu Temple to view what’s considered to be the best-preserved monument of the Ancient World: the temple of Horus, the falcon god. Because the roof is intact, the play of light and shadow is much as it must have been during Ptolemaic times. The art and architecture here are extraordinary, and the statue of the god Horus as a falcon is iconic.

DAY 7: Sailing the Nile/Kom Ombo

This morning we sail to Kom Ombo, strikingly set atop a hill overlooking the Nile. Built during the Ptolemaic era, it is unique in being dedicated to two gods—hawk-headed Haroeris and crocodile-headed Sobek. It is richly decorated, and even has a hieroglyphic calendar. We then return to our ship and sail on towards Aswan.

DAY 8: Aswan

Aswan occupies a glorious location on the Nile, backed by hills, with granite rocks protruding from the riverbed and sailboats (called feluccas) plying the water. It is just downstream of the northernmost Nile cataract, which historically made it a frontier town and a center for trading with Nubia. This morning we visit the lovely temple of Philae, located on an island in the river and dedicated to the goddess Isis, and the quarries where the famous pink granite was mined, where there is an unfinished obelisk from ancient times. We’ll also visit the fine Nubian Museum This afternoon, you’ll have high tea at the legendary Old Cataract Hotel, whose view of the Nile cataract is extraordinary, and sail on a felucca (traditional sailboat). This evening, we’ll have a farewell dinner aboard Oberoi Philae.

DAY 9: Abu Simbel/Cairo

This morning we stop at the Aswan High Dam, then take a private charter flight to Abu Simbel, where we visit the two great temples built by Ramses II. When the Nile was dammed at Aswan, the temples were disassembled and moved, block by massive block, to higher ground. Our aircraft waits for us, and we take our private flight to Cairo and transfer to the Mena House Hotel, located at the foot of the Pyramids. The Mena House was originally built in 1869 as a hunting lodge for the Khedive Ismail, and also accommodated guests at the opening of the Suez Canal. We've reserved rooms where you’ll have a view of the Pyramids from your balcony. The rest of the day will be free to explore the pyramids independently, shop, or relax by the pool. Dinner is at the hotel.

DAY 10: Saqqara, Pyramids, & the Sphinx

This morning, we visit Saqqara to see the Step Pyramid of the pharaoh Zoser, a revolutionary design that initiated the art of pyramid-building. We will also see some of Egypt’s most charming wall paintings and reliefs, showing scenes of harvesting, fishing, music making and dancing. After lunch, we explore the Pyramids and Sphinx. Among the seven wonders of the ancient world, only the Pyramids of Giza have survived. The magnificent Pyramid of Cheops was built from over two million blocks of stone and took tens of thousands of workers twenty years to build. Nearby is the great Sphinx, carved out of a single massive piece of stone, showing the Pharaoh Chefren’s head on the body of a lion. You’ll have the chance to go inside the Great Pyramid, following the narrow passageway of the Grand Gallery to the burial chamber of Cheops. We’ll see the Solar Boat, built about 2500 BC and rediscovered in 1954, and you'll have the chance to ride a camel if you wish. Tonight we return to the Pyramids for the renowned Sound & Light show. As lights and shadows play on these great monuments, the narrative recounts their history. Dinner this evening will be on your own. The Mena House has several excellent restaurants to choose from, or you may go out if you wish.

DAY 11: Cairo

Cairo is a treasure trove of great Islamic architecture and art, and this morning you’ll explore some of its greatest monuments, including the Ottoman-era Muhammad Ali Mosque, completed in 1848. It occupies a commanding position overlooking Cairo from atop the Citadel, and its five domes can be seen throughout the city. Continue to the elegant Ibn Tulun Mosque, which dates originally from 879 and which has preserved much of its original design. Then visit one of Cairo’s jewels: the Gayer-Anderson Museum, a house built in the 16th and 17th centuries that between 1935 and 1942 was the home of a British military officer who collected furniture, carpets and other objects. We have lunch at a local restaurant, them explore the Khan el Khalili bazaar, a maze of streets with thousands of shops selling everything from filigreed silverwork to camel saddles! This evening we gather for a farewell reception, followed by dinner at the Mena House.

DAY 12: Depart

Transfer to the airport for flights home.

Please Note:

All day-by-day breakdowns are a sampling of the places we intend to visit, conditions permitting.

18 November, 2023 to 29 November, 2023 Book now

Category 2

$16,590 AUD pp

Cat 02 #C01-C10: These spacious cabins have a mix of queen beds or two single beds, a large window and a shower. Deck E is a perfect place to relax and watch life along the Nile. The 36-foot-long swimming pool, surrounded by lounge chairs, is among the largest of any Nile ship. Some meals are served al fresco in the covered restaurant.

Category 1

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Category 3

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Category 4

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Category 5

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Category 1 Solo

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02 December, 2023 to 13 December, 2023 Book now

Category 2

$16,590 AUD pp

Category 3

$17,740 AUD pp

Cat 03 #D03-D04:These spacious cabins have two single beds (which can be pushed together), a large window and a shower. Deck E is a perfect place to relax and watch life along the Nile. The 36-foot-long swimming pool, surrounded by lounge chairs, is among the largest of any Nile ship. Some meals are served al fresco in the covered restaurant.

Category 4

$19,850 AUD pp

Cat 04 #D01-D02: These very large suites have an adjoining seating area, a queen-size bed, large windows that open, a shower and a bathtub. Deck E is a perfect place to relax and watch life along the Nile. The 36-foot-long swimming pool, surrounded by lounge chairs, is among the largest of any Nile ship. Some meals are served al fresco in the covered restaurant.

Category 1

Sold Out

Please contact Wild Earth for alternative options or to waitlist.

Category 5

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Category 1 Solo

Sold Out

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Oberoi Philae

Vessel Type: Small Ship

Passenger Capacity: 42

Built / refurbished: 1996 / 2015

The Oberoi Philae originally began service in 1996, configured at the time with 50 cabins and maximum capacity of 100 guests. A multiyear renovation completed in 2015 converted her into an extraordinarily beautiful and private ship, with just 22 cabins and accommodations for 42 guests, modern amenities, and a relaxed, elegant ambiance.

Cabins & Suites:

Our cabins and suites are elegantly adorned with Egyptian modern art, paneled with rich wooden flooring and decorated in a subtle natural color palette. Soft lighting lends the suite a delicate charm, with large French windows can be opened. Cabins include a spacious bedroom-cum-living area and a separate bathroom. They are furnished with a queen or twin-size beds. Suites include a spacious queen size bedroom and a separate, luxuriously comfortable living room. Guests can lie back upon their beds or nestle into a deep armchair or sofa, to enjoy magnificent Nile views. Category 5 suites feature a private terrace with heated whirlpool.

The luxurious, spacious bathrooms are fitted with a large, overhead shower and a separate hand shower, and with walls lined with sparkling mirrors and fine Egyptian style mosaic tiles. Suites also feature a standalone bathtub.

Guests can relax at the end of a fulfilling day of sightseeing with a cup of tea, fresh coffee or drink from their personal bar. High speed internet or a movie from our in-house collection can be enjoyed on the television, before guests move to the bar or restaurant for refreshments.

Public Areas:

There is a great deal of attractive and comfortable public space. Deck E is a perfect place to relax and watch life along the Nile. The 36-foot-long swimming pool, surrounded by lounge chairs, is among the largest of any Nile ship. Some meals are served al fresco in the covered restaurant. D Deck has a fully equipped spa with treatment rooms, and there is a selection of spa treatments and massages available (a professional masseuse is on board). There is a fitness room with cardio and weight machines. C Deck has lounge and library, ideal for reading about Egyptian history. On B Deck you’ll find the main lounge, which is the venue for talks and presentations. And A Deck has the elegant restaurant.

Meals:

Served in single seatings, meals focus on fine Egyptian, Middle Eastern, and Continental cuisine. Refreshments are always available. Lunch is often served on the E Deck, weather permitting.

Special Features:

Her spaciousness and ideal size set Oberoi Philae apart from virtually all other ships on the Nile. She has the feel of a luxurious private yacht. There is complimentary wireless internet access throughout the ship.

Wellness aboard:

Making daily discoveries and exploring the wild world is naturally uplifting. Add to that a variety of wellness treatments available aboard, as well as outings led by your wellness specialist, and you’ll find your expedition relaxing as well as revitalizing. Massages, body treatments, natural facial treatments, and hand and foot treatments are all available in the LEXspa. You will have the opportunity to sign up for a treatment once on board.

Jordan - Post-Voyage Extension From (4640.00 AUD)

Jordan is breathtaking, with the fertile Jordan Valley, the Moabite Mountains, the shores of the Dead Sea, and of course the compelling site of Petra—a place that simply must be seen. In the span of just five days, we’ll explore all of them. Beginning in Amman, Jordan’s modern capital, we’ll step into the past at the Roman ruins of Jerash, where one hundred years of excavation have unearthed only 1% of the city. We continue to Petra, the Nabatean city whose iconic rose-hued facades are carved directly into sandstone cliffs. In Madaba we see the remarkable 6th-century mosaic map. And we’ll visit the Dead Sea as well, with a chance to float in its waters and enjoy the amenities of our hotel. We’ll be accompanied by a top guide, and will stay in superb accommodations throughout.

Inclusions

• Voyage on board in selected cabin category
• All meals while on board
• Non alcoholic beverages
• Experienced expedition team and leader
• All excursions
• Zodiac and kayak exploration
• Snorkeling, including wetsuits, masks, fins & snorkel where relevant
• Lectures and presentations on board
Trip specific inclusions;
Gratuities included on Oberoi Philae

Exclusions

• International and domestic flights unless otherwise stated
• Travel insurance
• Passport and visa costs if applicable
• Alcoholic beverages on board unless otherwise stated
• Gratuities unless otherwise stated
• Wifi on board
• Any items of a personal nature including laundry
Trip specific exclusions;
Flights as per the itinerary

Small Ship Cruise

Oberoi Philae

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12 Days from

$15,430 AUD pp

Highlights

• Explore in depth the great sites of Egypt, from the Pyramids and Sphinx to the Valley of the Kings and Abu Simbel. See the monuments and art that have made Ancient Egypt a subject of fascination for millennia, and learn about contemporary life.

• Sail aboard the privately chartered 42-guest Oberoi Philae, one of the finest ships on the Nile, and stay in remarkable hotels in Cairo.

• Fly within Egypt aboard chartered aircraft, to help you make the most of your time and insure your comfort.

• Choose an optional extension to Jordan, to add Petra and some of Jordan’s exceptional other sites to your experience.

Enquire Now

or call us on

NZ Freephone
0800 945 3327

AUS Freephone
1800 107 715

to help you make your reservation