Tutankhamun-inspired adventures in Egypt with Jules Verne

Inspired by the ‘Tutankhamun – Treasures of The Golden Pharaoh’ exhibition?

Plan your own Egypt adventure with destination specialist Jules Verne

Running at London’s Saatchi Gallery from 2 November 2019 until 3 May 2020, Tutankhamun – Treasures of The Golden Pharaoh promises more than 150 original objects from the tomb of the boy king, 60 of which are travelling out of Egypt for the first and final time before returning for permanent display within Cairo’s Grand Egyptian Museum, currently under construction. Likely to be one of the cultural events of the year, the exhibition is guaranteed to spark a renewed interest amongst UK travellers wishing to see more of Egypt’s ancient sites for themselves.

Specialist tour operator Jules Verne (www.vjv.com) has over 30 years’ experience of creating unforgettable travel experiences in Egypt. Choose from an array of options that range from classic Nile cruises and escorted tours aimed at the first-time visitor to carefully crafted itineraries designed for those seeking to get further beneath the skin of this eternally fascinating destination.

Jules Verne’s Egyptian escapes for 2020 include:

NEW: The Original Nile by Royal Steamer

Jules Verne has adapted one of its classic cruises to create a new exclusive sailing on one of its most sought-after vessels. Experience the full Nile route (from Cairo and the Pyramids to Thebes and Aswan) on board the deluxe paddle steamer, SS Misr. Originally built by the Royal Navy in 1918, converted for King Farouk (and used for his birthday party in 1939), the vessel was restored years later by Jules Verne and its Egyptian partners. This 13-night itinerary encompasses visits to well-known landmarks including Philae Temple, Kom Ombo, the Temple of Hatshepsut and the Valley of the Kings, as well as to largely unvisited ancient sites such as Maydom Pyramid, the tombs of Beni Hassan, the catacombs of Tuna el-Gebel and, at Amarna, the Northern Tombs and the Great Temple of Akhenaten. Jules Verne clients will also enjoy a private cocktail reception at the Victorian Lounge in the Old Winter Palace, tea at the historic Old Cataract Hotel and a visit to the illuminated Luxor Temple.

The price is from £4,995 pp (two sharing), including flights (Heathrow), transfers, 13-night full-board cruise (with drinks, on board the vessel), excursions, and the services of an Egyptian tour manager, Egyptologist and local representatives. Departs 13 September 2020.

NEW: Secret Nile

Certain to appeal to travellers who have already ticked off some of Egypt’s better-known attractions on a previous visit, this 14-night classic long cruise sails into the desert, from Cairo to Aswan, via the ancient capitals of Amarna and Thebes. Follow in the footsteps of Napoleon’s savants, Champollion (who uncovered the secrets of the hieroglyphs) and the 19th-century British travellers (all of whom travelled south on the Nile to Thebes, enjoying a few days of sailing after hectic Cairo) in between visits to ancient sites. For the returning visitor, this itinerary will ‘fill in’ the gap between the Pyramids and Thebes before revealing ‘secret’ sites from Luxor to Aswan, whilst also offering the rare opportunity to observe an old way of life far away from the tourist hordes.

The price is from £3,090 pp with No Single Supplement (subject to availability), including flights (Heathrow), transfers, 14-night full-board cruise, excursions and the services of an Egyptian tour manager, Egyptologist and local representatives.  Departs 22 March, 17 April, 13 May, 8 June, 13 September, 9 October & 4 November 2020.

NEW: From Cairo to The Cape

One of Jules Verne’s new Limited Edition ‘Great Journeys’, this extraordinary 34-day expedition travels the length of the Nile (from Cairo to Aswan) on board the privately chartered deluxe paddle steamer, SS Misr (see ‘The Original Nile Steamer’, above), before continuing on to Dar es Salaam to join the luxurious Rovos Rail (The Pride of Africa) on an unforgettable train journey to Cape Town. The Egyptian section of this tour includes fascinating on-board lectures given by an Egyptologist as well as visits to the new Grand Museum in Cairo and lesser-known ancient Egyptian sites such as the New Kingdom Temple of Seti I at Abydos (holy city of Osiris, God of the Dead), the tomb of Petosiris at Tuna el-Gebel and Kalabsha Temple on Lake Nasser – one of just 18 temples and monuments moved for preservation, Kalabsha is the most complete free-standing temple in Nubia.

The price is from £17,495 pp, including flights (Heathrow), 32 nights’ accommodation (13 nights on the SS Misr, 11 nights on Rovos Rail (three each in Tanzania, Zambia and South Africa, plus one each in Zimbabwe and Botswana), one night on the flight from Cairo to Dar es Salaam, and seven nights’ luxury hotel accommodation (two each in Dar es Salaam, Madikwe and Cape Town, plus one night at Victoria Falls), VIP return transfers¹ in the UK, most meals, excursions, park fees, and the services of an Egyptologist on the cruise and an Historian on the train, plus expert local guides and naturalists. Overnight flight (Cape Town/London). (¹ Jules Verne will provide a VIP Chauffeur-Driven Transfer for passengers who live within a 70-mile radius of the point of departure. For those passengers who live outside the 70-mile radius, Jules Verne will provide the most competitive quote for the additional mileage). Departs 13 September 2020.

Pyramids & the Nile

Combining the Pyramids and a Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan, this eight-night trip is the ideal choice for first-time visitors to Egypt. Enjoy two nights at the five-star Steigenberger Cairo Pyramids in a pyramid-view room before transferring to the four-star Mövenpick MS Hamees for a four-night cruise, ticking off the temples of Karnak, Luxor, Hatshepsut, Philae and Kom Ombo, the Colossi of Memnon and the Valley of the Kings, where the tomb of Tutankhamun can be visited for an extra charge (subject to viewing restrictions). This delightful introduction to ancient Egypt’s myriad charms ends back in Cairo, with a two-night stay at either the five-star Kempinski Nile Hotel (until April 2020) or the central five-star The Nile Ritz-Carlton.

The price is from £1,895 pp (two sharing), including flights (Heathrow), transfers, four nights’ hotel accommodation in Cairo, four-night cruise, breakfast daily, two lunches in Cairo, full board on cruise, excursions, and the services of guides and local representatives. Departs 4 January, 15 February, 14 March, 11 April, 26 September*, 10* & 24* October, 7* & 21* November and 5* December. *No Single Supplement on dates marked with an asterisk (subject to availability).

The 600-Mile Nile

Equally enticing as an itinerary for first-time and returning visitors alike, this 12-night ‘full Nile cruise’ (from Aswan and Nubia to Thebes, Amarna, Cairo and the Pyramids) encompasses Egypt’s main pharaonic sites. Sailing on the luxurious five-star Mövenpick MS Darakum, highlights also include a bird-watching cruise and presentation, a visit to the botanical gardens of Kitchener Island, informative talks (on hieroglyphics, the Pyramids, Akhenaten and Nefertiti, agriculture irrigation and village life, and modern Egypt), an on-board screening of a film about the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb, and a sunset drink at the Old Cataract Hotel, where Agatha Christie wrote Death on the Nile.

The price is from £2,795 pp with No Single Supplement (subject to availability), including flights (Heathrow), transfers, 12-night full-board cruise, excursions, and the services of an Egyptian tour manager and Egyptologist, plus local representatives. Departs 13 February, 10 March, 5 April, 1 & 27 May, 1 & 27 September and 23 October 2020. 

Details of Jules Verne’s full programme of Egypt tours can be viewed here.

For more information or to book, call Jules Verne on 020 3553 3722 or visit www.vjv.com.

Press: For more information on Jules Verne, contact Karen Carpenter at Travel PR on 020 8891 4440 or email k.carpenter@travelpr.co.uk. At Jules Verne, contact Prini Holmes-Reilly on 020 7633 6783 or email prini.holmes-reilly@vjv.co.uk.