THE FIVE NIGHT CRUISE
DAY 1 On your arrival in Esna, Captain Hassan and his crew will welcome you on board the Princess Donia and while you enjoy a welcome drink your luggage will be taken directly to your cabin. Captain Hassan will then explain the rest of the day's itinerary and afterwards you can enjoy a sumptious meal either on the upper deck or in the salon.
DAY 2 Awake and breakfast at your leisure while the Princess Donia sets sail towards Edfu stopping at El Kab temple. A visit to this temple is not possible on the larger cruise ships. You will return on board to continue the journey to Edfu where we will arrange a kalaash (horse and carriage) for passengers wishing to make the journey to Edfu Temple, one of the largest and most intact of Egypt's monuments. Two beautiful granite statues of the Falcon God Horus flank the entrance. After your visit to the temple, either ride or walk through the bazaar, this is an extensive bazaar where you can barter for souvenirs, spices and perfumes. We will set sail to the island El Fouza for an overnight stop where we will disembark for a barbeque.
DAY 3 We sail to Gebel el Silsila, another of the less frequented destinations. You will be amazed as we tie up alongside the Speos of Hormheb. If possible dinner will be served in the grounds of the illuminated temple or on the upper deck of the Princess Donia whilst soaking up the tranquil atmosphere with music to match the mood.
DAY 4 We sail on to Kom Ombo and visit the Greco Roman Temple at Kom Ombo. The temple building is totally symmetrical with two entrances, two halls and two sanctuaries dedicated to the Falcon God Haroeris (Horus the Elder) and the Crocodile God Sobek. Lunch will be served as we head for a small island where we will moor for the evening and enjoy dinner at this atmospheric location.
DAY 5 Enjoy the privilege of luxury as we sail to Aswan, the gateway to Nubia and the Sudan. The highlights for today will be a visit to the Temple of Philea and the Aswan Dam. The Aswan Dam was constructed in the 1960's. This masterpiece of engineering has brought stability to the agricultural year, keeping at bay the annual flooding of the Nile and creating Lake Nassar, the vast inland sea that now occupies a large part of ancient Nubia. The rest of the day will be at your leisure. Be sure to be back in time for our Egyptian evening of fun, with Egyptian cuisine and live Arabic Music. Dress in your bespoke Gallabeyah, our gift to you.
DAY 6 After breakfast we bid farewell to Captain Hassan and his crew. Your luggage will be collected and ready for you to travel to your next destination.
SEVEN DAY CRUISE OPTION
DAY 6 Today we start our return journey. After the frivolity of last evening it will be a welcome opportunity to relax, sunbathe, read or just enjoy the nostalgia and the slow pace of life on this beautifully hand crafted ship. Take care to appreciate the landscape and meditate on the wonders of the Nile.
DAY 7 After breakfast our air conditioned coach will be waiting to escort you to the West Bank of the Nile. Your tour guide will take you on a trail of discovery of perhaps the greatest of all civilisations including the famous Valley of the Kings, Deir el Medina (Workman's Village) and the magnificent QueenHapshepsutsTemple. You will enjoy a picnic lunch and our tour ends at the Colossus of Memnom before returning back to the ship to relax and prepare for our Gala Dinner which will be served on the upper deck at 8.30. This will be an evening to remember with the ambience and service of days gone by when the gentry dressed for dinner and good manners prevailed!
FINAL Day After breakfast, we bid farewell to Captain Hassan and the crew. Your luggage will be collected and stored on the coach before setting off for the city of Luxor. Arrangements have been made at a 4 star hotel for those who want to relax around the pool. Escorted tours will be available to LuxorTemple, KarnakTemple and the LuxorMuseum. Lunch will be provided at the hotel, your luggage will be stored and will be ready for you to travel to your next destination. Have a safe journey and please come back and see us soon!
