Egypt in Style including Dahabiyya Nile cruise

Planet

Avoiding carbon impact:
This trip focuses on travel by boat. A week is spent on a 'dahabiyyah', cruising down the Nile. Outings are also available on 'felucca' – traditional sailing boats which are extremely environmentally friendly as have no motor.

Vegetarian / Vegan food:
All allergies and dietary requirements are catered for by the on-board chefs. The cuisine reflects the cultural heritage of the region, with many local specialities on offer.

Culture:
The focus of this trip is on historical discovery and immersion in the stories of ancient times, providing a window into one of the world’s oldest cultures. Visits to the monuments, sites and ruins helps to fund their preservation. This itinerary also includes some lesser-visited sites, which also benefit from the entrance fees (which are included as part of the cost of the trip).

Food sourcing:
On the river cruise, many ingredients are sourced fresh daily from local farmers and fishermen along the banks of the river.

People

Expert local guides:
A local expert Egyptologist accompanies the excursions to the ancient sites. They not only provide the fascinating context and deeper explanations and stories to each of the sites, but reinforce the protocols for respectful visitor behaviour at the monuments.

Lesser-visited regions:
While the key destinations of Cairo, Aswan, Luxor, Kom Ombo and Edfu are visited in this itinerary, travellers also stop at the lesser-known sites - Gebel el Silsila (a sacred quarry between tall cliffs which provided the sandstone for the monuments) and El Kab (featuring a temples, a birth house and rock-cut tombs of ancient Egyptian officials containing vivid wall paintings) are two of these – fantastically interesting and well-preserved sites that few tourists stop at.

Supporting local economies:
- The crew of the river cruise are entirely local.
- Local markets are part of the itinerary, including the bazaars of Khan el-Khabili and Luxor, and the souq of Aswan. Purchases made here contribute to the livelihoods of local stallholders, artisans and market traders.