THE NILE


WHAT’S NEW


GRAND EGYPTIAN MUSEUM


Expected to open in November, the Grand Egyptian Museum sits just outside Cairo on the Giza Plateau, and next door to the Pyramids. It will house more than 100,000 artefacts including an enormous 3,200-year-old statue of Ramses II that previously stood in


the middle of a roundabout in Cairo. It will also be home to the complete Tutankhamun collection, with many RKGEGU IQKPI QP FKURNC[ HQT VJG ƂTUV


time. When open, the museum hopes to welcome 15,000 visitors a day.


of the Kings houses the tombs of the Ramses dynasty and, most famous of all, the tomb of Tutankhamun. While the treasure has been moved to museums, the detail and colour of the hieroglyphics carved into the walls and the size of the underground sarcophaguses is amazing to behold. You’ll need an evening for it to sink in. Back on board, guests are left feeling like kings and queens too. Three of the four nights we’re served an elegant three-course menu. Evening dress codes are smart casual so you can be comfortable in the heat. The exception is a Galabeya party where you can dance and wear traditional dress while feasting on an Egyptian buffet. Standard rooms on board the 32-cabin Sanctuary Sun Boat IV >Ài ë>VioÕà >n` Vomi ÜiÌh yooÀ-Ìo-Viilin} Üin`oÜà voÀ Ìhi ÃÌÕnnin} ÀiÛiÀ ÛiiÜÃ] LÕÌ hi}h-yÞin} guests can upgrade to Royal or Presidential Suites. As well as the sun deck and restaurant, the vessel


offers outdoor space on the promenade deck, a lounge area and a library. Unlike many other river ships around the world, Sanctuary offers massage services on board. We don’t set sail until mid-morning on the second


A YEAR OF ANNIVERSARIES This year is a year of multiple


celebrations for Egypt. It marks the 100-year anniversary of the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb, a landmark moment in Egypt’s long and exciting history. It’s also 200 years since the Rosetta Stone was deciphered by Jean-François Champollion, which allowed us to understand ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics.


day – there’s simply too much to see. Before we castaway, we visit Karnak Temple. This is a must-see in Luxor for the Statue of Ramses II, jaw-dropping obelisk of Hatshepsut and the temple’s impressive columns in its famous Hypostyle Hall, which you may recognise from the wlm >`>«Ì>Ìion ov Ƃ}>Ìh> hÀiÃÌii½Ã mÕÀ`iÀ mÞÃÌiÀÞ Death on the Nile – shown on board during the sailing.


River retreat


A relaxed sailing to Esna, via the giant Esna Lock, gives you a chance to enjoy the onboard facilities and get a sense for how modern Egypt has evolved from its Pharaonic past. We take in the Temple of Khnum, currently being restored to its colourful past using ancient techniques. Temples come thick and fast on this cruise, but that goes with the territory. Each offers a unique story within the mesmerising hieroglyphics, different characters and Û>ÀioÕÃ >ÃÌÀonomiV>l Ãi}niwV>nVi° "ÕÀ }Þ«Ìolo}iÃÌ >âin brings everything to life with his infectious storytelling, helping us learn the stories through casting guests in


74


ASPIRE SEPTEMBER 2022


aspiretravelclub.co.uk


, /-\ -hutterstock/El Greco 1973, Gabriela Beres


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120