The Grain and Grape

Our trip to Egypt was a big bucket-list adventure for us, and we’re happy to share our Travel Tips and Itinerary for anyone planning a similar Nile Cruise Adventure.

We gave Memphis Tours our dates, and they built a perfect itinerary for us. We opted both to include our flights in the package, and for the ‘superior’ level of hotel rooms and riverboat cabin. This put us in a very fancy Sheraton in Cairo, and we loved our Riverboat, The Esmerelda, including our very spacious cabin. We also loved the historic Le Riad Hotel in Old Cairo, where we spent our last night.

Top Travel Tips

Dress conservatively, no sleeveless, no half-shirts. We traveled at the end of November, and it was 50’s F in the early mornings and high 70’s F most of the day, and with direct sun, this was hot. Bring a light jacket, a hat for the sun, and sunglasses. Also bring some light scarves, or you can also buy these at any of the markets once you arrive. It was very windy when we were there, with lots of sand blowing around.

Don’t drink the water, use bottled water, including for brushing your teeth. For excessive caution, don’t eat raw vegetables, fruits, or salads – anything that may have been washed in water. You will find plenty of cooked foods, including foods for vegetarians. The different rice dishes, and the soft, round pitas are especially delicious. The Esmerelda‘s Chef made us a pizza with the best dough ever one day, and a turkey on Thanksgiving day.

Stay flexible, bring snacks and US dollars with you. Some of the tours start very early in the morning, and domestic flight delays may get you to your destination too late for dinner. The US dollar is highly appreciated for tips, and tourism runs on tips, from baggage carriers to tour guides.

Our Itinerary

Day 1

We arrived at Cairo International Airport (CIA), where we were greeted by our Tour Manager, who handled all of our Visa paperwork for entry. A driver took us to the Sheraton in Cairo, where our room had fabulous views of the Nile River. We opted for dinner on a riverboat, which included a show of a whirling dervish and a belly dancer.

Day 2

Our day of sightseeing in Cairo started with the Great Pyramids of Giza, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Riding camels to another view of the pyramids was a highlight in a day full of highlights. This was followed by a visit to the Egyptian Museum, seeing many amazing treasures. Our guide brought us to two shops: one to learn how Papyrus is made, and the other for buying personalized Cartouches. Lunch and wandering through the market streets of Old Cairo wrapped up our day of touring.

Day 3

Day 3 started with an early wake-up for our flight to Luxor, as our tour manager and a driver picked us up and drove us to CIA. After smooth flights to Luxor, we were driven to our riverboat and given a welcoming juice drink.

Later that afternoon, our tour guide took us on tours of both Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple. We especially enjoyed Karnak, with lots of opportunities for photos without too many tourists in the shots.

Take a quick tour of our Nile Riverboat here:

Day 4

Another early wake-up, this time for a Hot Air Balloon ride over the desert. This was an amazing experience, and worth the missed sleep. Each balloon’s basket held 32 people plus a driver, and there were at least 20 balloons going up that day. Even with these numbers, everything was very well organized.

After the balloon ride, we visited the Valley of the Kings, which was a top favorite for the setting alone. Hearing about the archeologists finding the tombs, and being able to go into a few tombs, lined with hieroglyphs, was very cool. We also visited the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, in another beautiful desert setting.

Later that afternoon, the Esmerelda started cruising up the Nile, south to Edfu. High Tea was served on the sundeck, as we watched the views slowly go by.

Day 5

We started our day in Edfu, and were brought through the town to the Temple by horse and carriage ride. The Esmerelda then sailed us farther south to Kom Ombo, which sits right near the bank of the Nile.

Market stalls are set up outside each temple, good spots to pick up souvenirs for great prices.

We had another relaxing afternoon spent cruising on the Nile, headed to Aswan. We loved every minute on the riverboat cruise, from meals to relaxing on the sundeck. Finding the unique “towel art” in our cabin each day was also a treat!

Day 6

The Esmerelda passed through locks during the night, and arrived at Aswan, our southernmost point on the cruise. A driver brought us and our tour guide to the High Dam and Lake Nasser. A motorboat then shuttled us out to the Temple of Philae, set on an island in the lake. All the temples are interesting to see, but the setting of Philae beside the water makes it truly stunning.

Day 7

On our last day touring, we had two drivers and a van for our 3+ hour ride to Abu Simbel. Driving across the desert, with very little traffic, we really felt like we were in the middle of nowhere. An oasis of a rest stop is setup for a half-way break for everyone, and it is a lovely spot. Seeing the two ancient temples at Abu Simbel are worth the long ride. These UNESCO World Heritage Sites are in a beautiful setting on the edge of Lake Nasser.

In the evening, we took another domestic flight from Aswan back to Cairo, to be met once again by our tour manager and a familiar driver. They drove us through the narrow streets of Old Cairo to Le Riad Hotel, our stay for our last night in Egypt. Le Riad is a special treat, a boutique hotel set in an old Ottoman home. Its charmingly decorated suites are larger than our apartment in Germany, and the view of Old Cairo from the rooftop restaurant is very interesting.

Day 8

On our last morning, we had free time in Old Cairo, and it was so much fun to wander around the markets. The vendors are friendly, and we heard both “welcome to Egypt!” and “buenos dias!” with an occasional “bonjour!” thrown in.

With final good-byes to our driver and tour manager, we flew home out of CIA. We would not have changed a thing on our itinerary, and we are so happy and grateful to have had this trip to Egypt.

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A trip to Egypt is a trip of a lifetime, with adventure around every corner. The centuries of history, welcoming people, and flavorful foods are something to experience. In addition, the many modes of transportation are a good part of the fun. We rode in cars, vans, planes, motor boats, golf carts, and a riverboat. We also went on a camel ride, a hot air balloon ride, and a horse and carriage ride. What a fascinating country to visit!

Cheers!

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