Follow Joanna Lumley down the Nile

Fans of foreign travel and the divine Ms Joanna Lumley are in for a treat tonight with the launch of a new four-part TV series.

Joanna Lumley's Nile charts the actress' epic journey along the entire length of the River Nile, following the world-famous waterway from mouth to source on an unforgettable trip that takes her from Egypt to Sudan and onwards to Ethiopia, before finally reaching Rwanda.

Episode One at 21:00 tonight on ITV1 sees Joanna exploring some of Egypt's most iconic sites. Starting in Alexandria, once home to Cleopatra, the intrepid presenter then heads south to Cairo, visits Giza's Great Pyramids and travels onwards along the banks of the Nile to Luxor and Aswan.

For those who want to follow Ms Lumley, tour operator Voyages Jules Verne offers an extensive range of Egyptian options, including:

A Few Days at the Pyramids: Enjoy a four-night stay at the five-star Mövenpick Cairo Pyramids hotel that includes a day's city sightseeing, visits to the Egyptian Museum, the Pyramids and Great Sphinx, amongst others, and a private evening sailing on the Nile by felucca.

Pyramids & the Nile: Combine a short stay in Cairo with a four-night Nile cruise on this week-long itinerary where sightseeing highlights such as the temple of Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu and Aswan await.

Royal Egypt: Live like an Egyptian king or queen on this spectacular 14-night itinerary that encompasses Alexandria, Cairo and Luxor (including a private evening reception at Luxor Temple) as well as a seven-night cruise on the SS Misr, an historic vessel described as the 'most luxurious steamship on the Nile'.

The Alternative Nile: Of particular interest to the returning traveller and new for 2010, this seven-night tour journeys to lesser-visited sites along the Nile. Thanks to recent changes in Egyptian regulations, it's now possible to access ancient treasures - such as Esna Temple, Gebel el-Silsila, the temple of Horemhep, the Valley & Tombs of the Nobles, and the temples at Adydos and Denderah - in the company of an Egyptologist. Accommodation is on the luxurious SS Misr steamship (see above).

Travelbite.co.uk staff

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