NILE CRUISE WITH KATE ADIE
Our eight-day cruise aboard the Nile Lily begins at Luxor, where we will visit the Karnak Temple complex and the legendary Valley of the Kings, before setting sail to explore the treasures of the Nile.
Esna, located some thirty miles south of Luxor, is home to the miraculously preserved Temple of Khnum, the ram-headed god revered by the Egyptians as the guardian of the source of the Nile. At Edfu, the most complete of all Egypt’s temples, we will admire the vivid reliefs recounting the dramatic struggle for power between Horus and Set.
The Ptolemaic ruins of Kom Ombo, standing sentinel on a bend in the Nile, provide the most striking of settings for the temple of Sobek and Haroeris, dedicated to the crocodile god and his falcon-headed counterpart. After visiting Agilika Island, the idyllic stage for a remarkable series of monuments saved from the flooded island of Philae, we will inspect Aswan High Dam and tour the famous granite quarries.
As an optional extra, participants might choose to take an early-morning flight to Abu Simbel, where the Great Temple of Ramses II on the shores of Lake Nasser is rightly acclaimed as one of the world’s most splendid architectural ensembles.
Our host for this eight-day cruise is Kate Adie, OBE. Visits will be guided by a local Egyptologist, while on board Kate will give talks about her fascinating experiences as a close-to-the-action journalist.
Kate Adie became a household name through her work as Chief Correspondent for BBC News, and the long-running radio programme, From Our Own Correspondent. Kate has reported on conflicts from the invasion of Iraq to four years of war in the Balkans and both Gulf Wars, as well as the Herald of Free Enterprise disaster. In 1980, she reported live when the SAS stormed the Iranian Embassy, has twice been named Reporter of the Year by the Royal Television Society and has also served as a trustee of the Imperial War Museum and a judge for the Whitbread, Orange and Costa literary prizes. She was awarded the OBE in 1993.
NILE LILY
Launched in 2010, the Nile Lily is a faithful replica of a 19th century dahabiya, a common sight on the Nile in the days of the aristocracy, when the sophisticated traveller would meander from temple to temple in a chartered yacht.
Fitted out in cherry wood and marble, the Nile Lily is furnished with period pieces, wicker chairs and sofas. The dahabiya’s partly shaded fore-deck is the ideal spot to enjoy the Nile vistas, relax in the jacuzzi or watch the breathtaking Nile sunsets.
The Nile Lily will cruise at a leisurely pace, mooring on the banks of the Nile beside a village or in the open countryside. We will enjoy meals – both international and Egyptian cuisine – in the stylish and intimate dining area of the elegant salon or on the fore-deck.
Enhanced with modern comforts and conveniences such as air-conditioning and en-suite bathrooms, the Nile Lily boasts
10 beautifully appointed, fully equipped outside-facing cabins. A crew of 15 ensures that all guests benefit from the very highest levels of service.
Our dahabiya will allow you to experience the Nile’s romance in an intimate, privileged setting. Relying on the soft river currents, the Nile Lily will take you back in time to a gentler, more gracious era.
Itinerary
Day 1Depart Heathrow 1500 on Egypt Air, arriving Luxor 2130. Transfer to Nile Lily for six nights.
Day 2Valley of the Kings (tombs of Horemheb, Seti I and Ramses III), Temple of Hatshepsut (mortuary temple of 15th century Egyptian queen), sandstone Colossi of Memnon (West Bank). Afternoon: vast temple complex of Karnak and Temple of Luxor (Avenue of Sphinxes).
Day 3Cruise along Nile to Temple of Khnum (great hypostyle hall) at Esna.
Day 4Cruise along Nile to Temple of Horus (most complete of all Egyptian temples) at Edfu.
Day 5Cruise to Kom Ombo for visit to temple of Sobek and Haroeris.
Day 6Morning cruise to Aswan then by motor boat to Agilika Island (superb Ptolemaic monuments including Temple of Isis), followed by visits to Aswan High Dam (one of engineering wonders of the world) and ancient granite quarries.
Day 7Optional excursion by air to Abu Simbel: Great Temple of Ramses II on shores of Lake Nasser. Afternoon: disembark Nile Lily for flight to Cairo with overnight at five-star Sonesta Hotel.
Day 8Depart Cairo 0940, arriving Heathrow 1300.
Cost includes: return airfare, accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded cabin/room, full board, wine with dinner during the cruise, shore excursions & admissions, crew gratuities.
Not included: Abu Simbel excursion £225, visa, travel insurance, single supplement £1090 (double cabin/room for single use).
