Egyptian cultural highlights 10-day cruise & safari

Cairo Airport - Cairo

Day 1: Welcome to Cairo

Upon arrival at Cairo International Airport, you'll be transferred to your hotel to relax after your flight. Enjoy a free evening at the hotel or head out to explore the city and gather first impressions before your trip truly begins.

Giza Pyramids - Sphinx - National Egyptian Museum

Day 2: Explore Egyptian treasures

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before setting off to visit the Pyramids of Giza. Gaze up at the three 'sisters' – Cheops, the biggest of the three, Chephren, and much smaller Mykerinos. Their guardian, the impressive Sphinx defends the entrance to the tomb against the looters. At 57 metres in length, it's a formidable sight.

Afterwards, enjoy a typical Egyptian lunch before visiting the renowned Egyptian Museum. Originally founded in 1857 by the French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette Pasha, it was transferred to the current building in 1902. Among the objects housed here are Pharaoh Tutankhamun's treasures. Explore the ancient artefacts and learn about the museum's role in recent history as reflected in special exhibitions.

Finally, transfer to the airport for your flight to Luxor.Ccheck in to your new hotel and relax, ready for another exciting day.

Luxor - Karnak Complex - Luxor Temple

Day 3: Temple discovery day

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and set off on a trip to the Karnak Temple Complex, home to the temple of Amon Ra. Marvel at the combined efforts of many generations of ancient builders who labored under 30 different pharaohs for over 1500 years to develop this site. With three main temples, several smaller enclosed temples and a number of outer temples, there is plenty to explore.

Transfer to the cruise ship and enjoy lunch on board as the ship sets sail for Luxor where you'll visit the famous temple. Once a highly significant religious center in ancient Egypt, the astonishing Avenue of Sphinxes and towering Great Colonnade Hall will take you back in time.

Enjoy dinner back on board and settle in for the first night on the water. You can also opt for sunset quad biking in the desert, including Bedouin tea.

Luxor - Esna - Edfu

Day 4: Valleys of royal tombs

If you are very adventurous, you have the option to start the day with a spectacular early morning hot air balloon flight. Then, after breakfast, you'll depart for the Valley of the Kings. Divided into the East and West Valleys, the east is the more iconic while the west contains just a handful of tombs. There are over 60 tombs and an additional 20 unfinished ones - learn about their history and meaning, touring three of them in more depth.

From there, move on to the Valley of the Queens. While initially less impressive, this sun-blasted gorge of red rock conceals the tombs of nearly 90 royal family members. Visit two of the tombs to understand more about their positions and life in the ancient world.

A visit to the dramatic and extraordinary Hatshepsut temple completes today's excursion. Return to the ship for lunch on board, before sailing to Esna through the Esna lock, then on to Edfu, as the cruise continues overnight.

Edfu - Kom Ombo - Aswan

Day 5: Crocodile & falcon-headed gods

Following breakfast this morning, visit the Edfu temple, dedicated to Horus, the god with the head of a falcon. Pass the magnificent twin statues of black granite that guard the entrance, and stroll through this incredibly well-preserved temple with its impressive architecture and intricate decoration.

Return to the ship and sail onwards to Kom Ombo, enjoying lunch en route.

A temple of the Ptolemaic dynasty, Kom Ombo is dedicated to both Haroeris and Sobek, the crocodile god. Explore its remarkable duplicate design, then return to the ship to continue the cruise to Aswan to  enjoy dinner and another night on the Nile.

Abu Simbel - Aswan

Day 6: A day on the Nile

This morning, you have a choice of optional excursions. You could opt for an early morning trip to Abu Simbel's temples, built by Ramses II; or you could visit Hathour, which is dedicated to his wife Queen Nefertari. 

Alternatively, you could depart on a Nubian village discovery, taking the short motorboat ride (around 35 minutes) to discover life and customs there.

Whether you head off or stay onboard, today is yours to spend as you wish. Take a lazy lunch and watch Nile life passing by, and spend the afternoon enjoying your boat's leisure facilities. Later, for that truly authentic Nile cruise experience, head to the bar for cocktails before dinner.

Philae Temple - Unfinished Obelisk - Aswan High-dam

Day 7: Obelisks & feats of engineering

Enjoy your breakfast on board before departing for the Philae temple. Once a rich center of commerce as well as a site for burial and worship, this extraordinary island location is ready for you to explore. Seek out the imagery that pays testament to the complex lives of the pharaohs.

From there, it's on to the Aswan High Dam. Financed and constructed in the 1960s by the Soviets, it now provides controlled irrigation for crops and is a major source of Egypt's electricity. Viewing this feat of modern engineering provides quite a contrast to the ancient world.

The unfinished obelisk is quite the spectacle for today's final stop. Intended for the Karnak temple, a large crack meant the project was abandoned, but it is no less impressive.

If you like, you can enjoy an optional felucca ride on the Nile. Dine at a local lunch spot, before transferring to Aswan airport for the flight to Cairo.

Cairo - Fayoum Oasis - Tunis Village

Day 8: Local life & dinner under the stars

After breakfast, a private car will transport you to Fayoum, a drive of around 100 km. There's time to check into your villa before a guided walk to the small village of Tunis. Here, explore the landscape and discover local life; there's an opportunity to join a pottery class and create your own work of art to take home as a souvenir. 

Lunch is served at a traditional family restaurant: experience an authentic meal shared with local people; the menu's highlight is grilled fish fresh from the lake.

Afterwards, join a two- to three-hour horse trek through the countryside, a great way to explore the agricultural area around Lake Qarun.

Dinner is a luxury evening meal in a well-equipped camp in the middle of the desert. Sample traditional Bedouin Mandi meals featuring duck or chicken while sitting out under the stars.

Later, return to your accommodation in Fayoum for a good night's rest.

Valley Of The Whales - Wadi El Rayyan Waterfalls - Cairo

Day 9: 4x4 desert safari

Experience a traditional breakfast at a nearby family restaurant, then hop in your 4x4 for a desert safari.

First, head to Wadi El Rayan, named after King El Rayan Ibn El Walid who occupied the area. This is a stunning nature reserve complete with dramatic waterfalls. From there, continue on to Wadi Al-Hitan (Valley of the Whales) to see this extraordinary site: the only place in the world where the skeletons of families of whales can be seen in their original setting.

Journey on to the Magic Lake, which was given its name due to its chameleon-like quality. Watch as the colors change depending on the time of day and season. The lake provides the setting for a special BBQ lunch before setting off for Gabal El-Medawara, the circular mountain. Hike around the rounded rocks for spectacular views and try your hand at sand-skating or sand-boarding.

Finally, return to Cairo for your final evening.

Cairo International Airport

Day 10: Goodbye, Cairo

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and transfer to the airport for your flight home. Bid farewell to Egypt full of amazing memories of your trip to this fascinating country.