Join this adventure of a lifetime, cruise the great rivers of Europe from Amsterdam to Budapest before flying to Cairo, where you continue your adventure exploring the rich Egyptian culture including the Pyramids of Giza, Abu Simbel and a four day cruise on the Nile River.
Day 1. Arrive Amsterdam, Embark Cruise
On arrival in Amsterdam be met at the airport by an APT representative and transferred to your river ship. Settle into your suite, your home for the next 15 days, and tonight get to know your fellow travellers at a Welcome Reception.
Day 2. Amsterdam, Freedom of Choice Touring
Today select from two Freedom of Choice Touring options. Perhaps take a guided canal cruise and admire the city, or visit the Van Gogh Museum. Later, rejoin your ship and cruise the Rhine River. Tonight enjoy the Captain’s Gala Welcome Dinner
Day 3. Cologne, Andernach
Enter Germany this morning, cruise past Düsseldorf and arrive in Cologne. Take a tour through Cologne, including a visit to the city’s famous cathedral, then return to your ship. After lunch, relax on board and continue cruising along the Rhine via Bonn to Andernach. After dinner, perhaps go for an evening stroll at your leisure.
Day 4. Andernach - Rüdesheim
Today cruise through the Rhine Gorge on what is known as the Rhine’s most beautiful stretch. Cruise past the pretty villages of Boppard and St Goarshausen, among others, as well as Lorelei Rock, rising almost 130 metres above the water. Later, arrive in Rüdesheim, a Rhine Valley wine town. Here, the Winzerexpress mini-train will take you to Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum. After your tour of the museum, re-board your ship.
Day 5. Miltenberg - Freudenberg, Wertheim, Freedom of Choice Touring
Still in Germany, arrive in Miltenberg and disembark for a tour of this lovely Franconian town, revealing narrow cobblestone streets and half-timbered houses. Take a moment to go shopping before re-boarding your ship and cruising to Freudenberg. From here, travel by coach to Wertheim, located where the Main and Tauber rivers meet. Perhaps embark on a guided bicycle tour of this lovely medieval town, or take in a glass-blowing demonstration. Then re-board your ship and relax as you cruise through the valleys of the Main River.
Day 6. Würzburg, Rothenburg
Surrounded by green hills covered with vineyards, Würzburg is the capital of Lower Franconia. During a tour here, see the impressive Resi-dential Palace and churches ranging in styles from Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque to Modern. Later, enjoy time at leisure or take an excursion to medieval Rothenburg, a beautiful town on the Romantic Road. After your tour, have a look through city’s famous Christmas Museum.
Day 7. Bamberg
After breakfast, disembark and travel to World Heritage-listed Bamberg, one of the few German cities that wasn’t destroyed by bombs during World War II. Here, tour the city’s streets with charming houses and 18th century mansions. Then, during time at leisure, you have the chance to visit a traditional Bamberg Beer Haus and enjoy a local brew compliments of APT. Later, return to your ship and cruise into the Main-Danube Canal. It links the North and Black seas, enabling ships to cross the entire continent. During dinner, your ship continues cruising towards Nuremberg.
Day 8. Nuremberg, Freedom of Choice Touring
Nuremberg played a pivotal role for the Nazi Party and was thus systematically bombed by the British and US air forces during World War II. It went on to act as the symbolic host of the Nuremberg Trials. Today, select from two touring options. On arrival here, perhaps take a World War II tour and visit a range of significant sites from the war. Or take a medieval tour, including the Imperial Palace. At lunch, re-board your ship and continue along the Main-Danube Canal.
Day 9. Regensburg
Arrive in Regensburg today, here you’ll enjoy the opportunity to see one of the oldest bridges crossing the Danube and take a tour of the city’s architectural highlights including the Old Town Hall, the World Heritage-listed city centre and the Porta Pretoria - gates to an ancient Roman fort built in 179 AD. Tonight, enjoy an entertaining musical performance on board after dinner.
Day 10. Passau, Freedom of Choice Touring, Linz
This morning arrive in Passau, where the rivers Inn and Ilz join the Danube. Here, you’ll disembark and select from three touring options. Perhaps travel by coach to Salzburg and take a tour of the city’s famous ‘Sound of Music’ sights. Then travel by coach to Linz and rejoin your ship. Or you may like to take a day tour to the World Heritage-listed city of Ceský Krumlov in the Czech Republic. Alternatively, take a tour of Passau, including a visit to St Stephen’s Cathedral, before enjoying a cruise into Austria and to Linz.
Day 11. Melk, Freedom of Choice Touring, Dürnstein - Weissenkirchen
Cruise through the Strudengau region to the pretty Wachau Valley this morning and take a guided tour of Melk Abbey. When it’s time to depart Melk, choose from our two touring options. Perhaps borrow one of the bicycles stored on board and take a guided ride on a path along the banks of the Danube from Melk to Dürnstein. Alternatively, rejoin your ship and continue to Dürnstein for a tour through the medieval cobblestone streets. With both groups back on board, you’ll then cruise back to the town of Weissenkirchen.
Day 12. Vienna, Freedom of Choice Touring
This morning, select from our exciting Freedom of Choice Touring options. You may like to take a city tour and visit a traditional coffee house to sample delicious Austrian coffee and cake. Your second option is to travel by coach to Schönbrunn Palace. Both groups then return to your ship for lunch on board before enjoying an afternoon at leisure. After dinner tonight, perhaps join us for an optional Mozart and Strauss concert (own expense).
Day 13. Vienna - Bratislava, Freedom of Choice Touring
This morning depart the Austrian capital and cruise across the border into Slovakia. Upon arrival in Bratislava, disembark your ship and join your selected Freedom of Choice Touring activity. You might like to embark on a guided medieval tour of the city; perhaps take a communist tour including Bratislava Castle. Following your selected tour, enjoy time at leisure to further explore.
Day 14. Budapest
This morning disembark for a city tour. In the afternoon, exclusive to APT, visit the Hungarian State Opera House. Absorb the grandeur of the building from outside, then venture inside for an exclusive tour, and a private opera recital of two or three ariettas. This evening enjoy a Farewell Dinner on board, before your ship sets off on a twilight cruise, allowing you to take in the glittering lights of Budapest.
Day 15. Disembark Ship
After breakfast this morning, you’ll disembark your ship and be transferred to your hotel, where the rest of the day is at your leisure.
Day 16. Budapest, Day at Leisure
Today is at your leisure to further explore Budapest, or go for a swim in Budapest’s famous Baths.
Day 17. Fly from Budapest to Cairo
This morning be transferred to the airport for your included flight to Cairo. On arrival be met and transferred to your hotel.
Day 18. Cairo
Today’s touring in Cairo takes in the Old City of Cairo, the Citadel of Saladin, Khan el-Khalili Bazaar and the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, which contains the treasures of King Tutankhamun. Included in your museum visit is entry to the famed Mummy Rooms.
Day 19. Cairo, Abu Simbel, Aswan, Embark Ship
Early today, transfer to the airport for your included flight to Abu Simbel. See the temples of Ramesses II and his beloved Nefertari. Then board your included flight to Aswan and join your Nile cruise. After lunch, sail the Nile on a felucca and see the Mausoleum of the Aga Khan. Tonight enjoy a Nubian Show.
Day 20. Aswan, Kom Ombo
Head out to the Aswan High Dam. See the Russian friendship monument before continuing to the Unfinished Obelisk. Next, take a small boat to the mystic Philae Temple and the Temple of Kom Ombo. Tonight enjoy the Captain’s Welcome Cocktail Party on board.
Day 21. Edfu
In Edfu, visit the Temple of Horus, before cruising north taking in views of the Nile Valley. Tonight, enjoy a Galabeya Party.
Day 22. Luxor, Karnak Temple
This morning perhaps experience hot air ballooning to take in the splendour of the East Bank from above (weather permitting, own expense). Later, visit the impressive Karnak Temple complex - the largest ancient religious site in the world. Then continue to the banks of the Nile and the Luxor temples. This complex has been home to three different religions over the centuries.
Day 23. Disembark Ship, Luxor, Valley of the Kings, Dine Around Dinner
This morning travel to the Valley of the Kings. Tonight choose where to dine. Later, take a horse-drawn carriage ride to Karnak for the Sound and Light Show.
Day 24 Luxor, Cairo
Today, board your included flight to Cairo and check-in to the Mena House Oberoi. This afternoon is at leisure.
Day 25. Great Pyramid of Giza, Memphis, Sakkara
Today, visit the Great Pyramid and the Great Sphinx of Giza. Continue to Memphis, and see the statue of Ramesses II. Later, drive to Sakkara before returning to Cairo
Day 26. Cairo
After breakfast transfer to Cairo airport where your tour concludes.
