Elite Traveler Winter 2024/25

Right, from top Great Sphinx of Giza; Sanctuary Zein Nile Chateau ’s sun deck; Ramses II statue

creepy and fascinating as you might imagine. We also sunbathe atop the boat around the rooftop pool. There’s something very 1960s retro glam about the mood on board, and our fellow cruisers are an international coterie of jet-setters. DAYSIX In Aswan, we leave the boat to hike through the imposing granite quarries at the site of the Un fi nished Obelisk. Later, we take a small boat to Philae Temple on the island of Agilkia. After lunch back on board our oversized yacht, we disembark again to board yet another boat: a traditional felucca, a vision with two sails. We sail the Nile as the sun sets. In the evening, we attend an Egyptian fete on board, with everyone donning colorful, artfully embroidered local garb. We drink Egyptian wine and beer, dance, sing, and feast on Egyptian fare. DAYSEVEN The Nile cruise portion of our trip ends in Aswan, butwe fl y from the city’s small airport to Abu Simbel for the day. Two temples draw travelers here, one of which you might recognize from the movies, such as the 1978 fi lm Death on the Nile . I’m awed by the The Great Temple at Abu Simbel, dedicated to the gods Amun, Ra-Horakhty, and Ptah, fl anked by four gargantuan statues of Ramses II. Toward day’s end, we shuttle back to Cairo. This time, we check into the city’s other swanky Four Seasons property, Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza, a contemporary showpiece with cosmopolitan panache and scores of international travelers. DAYEIGHT The fi nal day. We’d be lost without Ramadan today — and we’re beginning to miss him even before we part. How can we stand to spend one day without his riveting stories? He takes us to Saqqara, home to Egypt’s oldest pyramid, the anchor of a tremendous archeological site. Once again, he orchestrates a tour nobody else could contemplate. Creatively and thoughtfully, he makes sure we see things others might miss — such as a tiny hole on the north side of the Step Pyramid. When we peer through it, a remarkable statue (said to represent the pharoah’s soul) is framed by an eerie silver light. Our fi nal act is to lose ourselves in the dynamism of Old Cairo. With Ramadan at our side, we’re swept up among the crowds of local shoppers in the labyrinthine market. Their contagious e ff ervescence fuels us. Diving into the vibe, we yield to the sensory overload — it’s a tonic for living well. We take that vivacity home as the best possible souvenir. From $11,595 per person for 10 days. Contact Victoria Manuel, director, vmanuel@ abercrombiekent.com, +1 800 554 7094, abercrombiekent.com