I have recently returned from the fascinating, enchanting and truly mind-blowing destination of Egypt and what an incredible experience it was!
I was very lucky to be invited on a special trip celebrating the 50th anniversary of Uniworld and Luxury Gold.
Along with around 140 travel industry professionals and media, we spent seven nights cruising the Nile across two beautiful ships, experiencing some of Egypt’s famous sights along the way.
We also enjoyed time at the luxurious Four Seasons Cairo, overlooking the Nile. It was a wonderful introduction to Cairo a vibrant, fascinating and wonderfully chaotic city!
The Pyramids & beyond
Visiting the Pyramids of Giza was, of course, a bucket-list experience and absolutely brilliant. Seamlessly arranged by Uniworld and felt very safe.
One of the highlights was actually going inside one of the pyramids. It was incredibly hot, but being able to say I had experienced it was pretty special.
From Cairo, we cruised along the Nile onboard Uniworld’s beautiful SS Sphinx. The ship offers an authentically immersive experience, with elegant, bespoke décor and a wonderful sense of place.
Cruising the Nile really is such a special way to experience Egypt and absorb the incredible history and scenery along the river.
And we certainly didn’t go hungry! The food onboard was delicious, with buffet breakfasts and lunches followed by a four course à la carte dinner each evening. The service and attention to detail throughout the cruise were exceptional.
History brought to life
One of the real highlights was travelling with the wonderful Uniworld Egyptologists assigned to each coach throughout the itinerary.
Their knowledge and passion brought the incredible sites to life and gave us a much deeper understanding of the history and stories behind what we were seeing.
The SS Sphinx
Alongside the Grand Egyptian Museum, we visited some truly extraordinary places, including the Temple of Karnak, Temple of Hathor, Valley of the Kings and the awe-inspiring Abu Simbel.
There were so many highlights that it is impossible to include them all!
Our days often started very early to avoid the heat, but it was completely worthwhile. Exploring the temples before the crowds arrived, in the beautiful early morning light, was a magical experience.
A ‘pinch me’ moment
One of my favourite experiences was an afternoon felucca ride, followed by high tea at the famous Old Cataract Hotel in Aswan.
Sitting overlooking the Nile as the sun began to set was a real ‘pinch me’ moment one of those travel experiences that stays with you long after you return home.
I have to say, I was really looking forward to this trip, but Egypt exceeded even my expectations. I loved watching everyday Egyptian life unfold as we cruised along the Nile.
The Royal Suite aboard the SS Sphinx
Even travelling by coach between the sites and seeing snippets of daily life along the way became a highlight.
Egypt is one of those destinations that is difficult to fully describe until you have experienced it for yourself.
The history is extraordinary, the scenery is captivating and cruising the Nile provides such a wonderful way to experience it all, especially to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Uniworld and Luxury Gold.
My biggest problem now is trying to narrow down my hundreds of photos to just the highlights!
For full details on Uniworld’s 12-day ‘Splendors of Egypt & The Nile’ tour, click here
Access Uniworld’s Egypt mini brochure here.
