Luxury Nile Cruise and highlights Egypt

Cairo

Day 1: Welcome To Egypt!

Arrive in Cairo International Airport, ready to begin your journey through Egypt's ancient riches.

Your tour manager will meet you at the airport to ensure your have a smooth arrival. They will provide you with the appropriate entry visa for Egypt.

Transfer to your hotel and get settled in your 5-star hotel. Your Egyptian adventure begins tomorrow!

Cairo

Day 2: Visit The Pyramids In Giza And Encounter The Mighty Sphinx

Today you will be exploring a UNESCO World Heritage Site - the city of Memphis and Giza Pyramid complex.

Memphis was the ancient capital of Old Egypt during the Old Kingdom and its ruins are now preserved as an open-air museum. Discover the Step Pyramid at Sakkara, designed by the architect Imhotep for his master King Zoser.

After lunch, visit the enchanting pyramids of Cheops, Chefren, and Mykerinus in Giza.

How will you feel when you see the Great Sphinx? This famous monument, with the head of a pharaoh on a lion's body, dates back to the time of Chephren.

Your tour also includes a visit to the Valley Temple of Chephren -  it was buried under the desert sand until the 19th century!

Cairo

Day 3: Discover Captivating Cairo

Now it's time to see Egypt's capital up close! Your private tour will ensure you make the most of your time in the city.

Start with a visit the Egyptian Museum, where you can admire the splendid Tutankhamun collection. You'll be visiting the Valley of the Kings, where the tomb was discovered, later on your Nile Cruise! Of course, there are plenty of other fascinating artifacts too.

Your next stop is Salah El Din Citadel. It was constructed in 1183 AD by the famous military leader to defend Cairo from the armies of Crusaders. Round off the morning with a visit to the Mohamed Ali Alabaster Mosque, one of the key landmarks of Cairo.

After lunch, you'll drive to Islamic Cairo, where you can explore Khan El Khalili, Cairo’s old bazaar.

Then, move on to Coptic Cairo to visit the Hanging Church (one of the oldest churches in Egypt) and the Ben Ezra Synagogue.

Cairo - Luxor

Day 4: Your Nile Cruise Begins!

Your week-long cruise of the Nile begins today. After breakfast, transfer to Cairo Airport for your flight to Luxor, where your luxury cruise awaits!

After lunch, your first excursion is a visit of the magnificent temple complex of Amon-Ra at Karnak, known for its vast hypostyle hall of 137 columns. Also not to be missed is a trip to the imposing temple in Luxor, dating from the 28th dynasty.

Round off your historical immersion for the day by seeing the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, which was built by the architects of the Pharaoh Hatshepsut in approximately the 15th century BC.

Head to your cabin for your first night's sleep on board, and glimpse out the window at your location - you are really sleeping moored on the banks of the Nile!

Luxor

Day 5: Discover The Valley Of The Kings

Start with an excursion to the West Bank to visit the Valley of the Kings - the burial place of the Pharaohs.

It was here that Howard Carter discovered the tomb of Tutankhamen in 1922 (and, legend says, he fell victim to a curse for disturbing it!)

Continue to the Valley of the Queens, where you will see the temple of Medinet Habu and the Colossi of Memnon.

Return to the cruise and sail to Esna. Sit back and relax on board your luxury cruise and watch the world go by. You'll arrive in Esna around noon.

Lunch and dinner are served onboard the cruise and you'll overnight moored near Esna.

Edfu

Day 6: Set Sail For Edfu

Today your cruise takes you further south along the Nile.

You'll be travelling in luxury from Esna to Edfu, and you'll arrive there in the evening.

Kom Ombo

Day 7: Explore Edfu Temple and Sail To Kom Ombo

After breakfast on your Nile Cruise, visit the Ptolemaic Temple dedicated to Horus at Edfu, which remains remarkably well-preserved.

Sail to Maneeha island in Kom Ombo, where you'll be dining tonight.

Spend the night moored beside the island.

Aswan

Day 8: Explore The Double Temple Of Kom Ombo

Visit the temple in Kom Ombo, known for its unique design.

No, you're not seeing double! The temple was was actually dedicated to two sets of gods, and this is reflected in its layout, with duplicated halls, court rooms and sanctuaries.

Overnight moored next to an island in Aswan.

Aswan - Abu Simbel

Day 9: Take A Day Trip To The Famous Abu Simbel Temples

Today it's time for one of Egypt's top tourist attractions, the Abu Simbel Temples.

Transfer to Aswan Airport for your flight to the temples.

Their impressive structures were carved straight out of the mountainside during the reign of Pharaoh Ramesses II, in the 13th century BC. They form a magnificent monument to the Pharaoh and his queen Nefertari.

Fly back to Aswan and transfer to your hotel.

Aswan

Day 10: Discover Modern Architecture At The Aswan Dams

After all the wonderful ancient monuments you've seen so far, now it's time to view some modern constructions!

In Aswan, the Nile reaches the impressive Aswan High Dam (completed in 1971) and the Old Dam (completed in 1902). Today you'll be visiting both dams. At 4000m long, the High Dam an impressive sight!

Follow it by visiting the Philae Temple, dedicated to the goddess Isis. Incredibly, it was rescued from the rising waters of Lake Nasser at the time of the High Dam's construction!

Aswan - Cairo

Day 11: Return To Cairo

It's time to say goodbye to your cruise! Disembark at Aswan where you will visit the Temple of Kalabsha. 

The temple was originally built by Toutmosis II and Amenophis II in Kalabsha, 40 miles south of Aswan, and it was restored during the Roman conquest. It has now been dismantled and re-erected on a hill near the High Dam site.

Next is a chance to see the long-awaited Nubian Museum, which opened in 1997. It displays thousands of antiquities that would have been lost under the waters of Lake Nasser! The museum takes its name from the ancient Egyptian Nbu, meaning gold, in reference to the area's famous gold mines.

Sail by motorboat to a Nubian village on the West Bank, where you will have the opportunity to meet with a Nubian family and learn about their culture and traditions.

Transfer to Aswan Airport to fly back to Cairo, and transfer to your hotel. 

Enjoy the last night of your luxury tour!

Cairo

Day 12: Goodbye, Egypt!

Bid farewell to Egypt and transfer to Cario Airport.

Sit back and treasure the wonderful memories you have made in Egypt!