Cruise the Nile, enjoying the lush green banks of the Nile and picturesque sunsets as you make your way through two of the richest enclaves of ancient Egyptian heritage in Egypt, Luxor and Aswan.
And add more to your adventure and get a taste of Cairo’s palpitating city, rich culture and the beautiful Mediterranean metropolis of Alexandria.
Our meet and assist teams will be waiting to guide the group. From there, they’ll be transferred to their hotel, where they will enjoy an overnight stay.
We’ll start with breakfast at the hotel and load up for a full day of Cairo’s glorious must-see landmarks.
First stop, the Pyramids of Giza, the tallest of which rise a whopping 480.6 feet from their base on the Giza Plateau. Named after the kings they were built for, Khufu, Khafra, and Menkaure, they took 20 years to be built with a workforce of 100,000 skilled laborers.
We’ll enjoy a pit-stop at an iconic local restaurant, for some oriental BBQ and mezzes.
Next is Sakkara, another notable necropolis for its archaeological significance. 16 kings had their pyramids built on this expanse of desert. Here you’ll see the Step Tomb and enjoy the pristine sandy landscape.
We will then escort the group to the airport, where we’ll fly to Luxor. Upon arrival, guests will board the Nile cruise to unpack and get comfortable before their first night.
Over the course of approximately 3 hours, we’ll venture to Karnak Temple, nestled amongst a complex of archaeological and religious sites, which was named after the nearby village of El-Karnak. Known as Ipet-isu, “the most select of places,” it is the largest standing religious structure, and was built over 2000 years. When the Theban kings came into prominence at the beginning of the Middle Kingdom, the temple began construction as a dedication to the triad of Amon, Mut, and Khonsu.
Lunch that day will be aboard the cruise.
Later in the evening, the group will get the chance to sit back and enjoy the Nile for some evening leisure time and dine aboard the cruise ship before an overnight stay in Luxor.
Rise and shine for breakfast overlooking Nile views.
On this day, we will visit Hatshepsut Temple. This mortuary temple was built beneath a cliffside and has remarkably been left unscathed since its inception in 1479-1458 BCE. The temple was built for Queen Hatshepsut, the second historically recognized female ruler of Egypt. Her temple is a profound example of architectural symmetry and is one of the most impressive of the ancient Egyptian civilization.
Next is Habu City Temple, another Mortuary Temple of Ramses III and best known for its inscriptions depicting the victory against the Sea Peoples during his reign.
Next is the Colossi on Memnon, twin massive stone statues of King Amenhotep III and one of the most staggering structures.
The group will then make a return to the cruise ship to make way to Edfu, where we’ll dock for an overnight stay.
During approximately 3 hours, we will explore the best-preserved cult temple in Egypt. The Temple of Horus, built for the avenging son of Isis and Osiris, is one of the most atmospheric ancient structures for its maintained colors.
The group will then be escorted back to the cruise ship to start navigation to Aswan, where we’ll dock overnight.
(Approx. 4-hour duration)
Philae Temple, dedicated to the goddess Isis, is the first stop on the Aswan itinerary. Located on the island of Agilka, this temple was not always there. After the high dam was built in the 1960s, the original temple site was at risk of destruction by water levels, so it was moved there.
Over the course of 1.5 hours, we will sail to the Agha Khan Museum and the lush Botanical Garden. The group will then be escorted back to the cruise ship for another overnight stay in Aswan.
Guests will have the choice to enjoy a relaxing and rejuvenating morning off or explore the depths of history with an optional excursion.
This morning, guests will be visiting Luxor Temple, largely built by the New Kingdom pharaohs Amenhotep III and Ramses II. Its graceful structure is strikingly located in the heart of the modern town.
The group will have the evening to themselves to unwind and enjoy the evening on their own with an overnight stay in Luxor.
A hearty breakfast aboard before disembarkation and transfer to Luxor airport for an early morning flight to Cairo.
A full day of visits, starting with the Great Egyptian Museum. In the heart of downtown Cairo, the museum is one of the world’s greatest collections of artifacts, with items dating back 5,000 years.
A lunch break will be given before the continuation of the day.
Next, we’ll head to the Cairo Citadel of Saladin, a medieval Islamic era fortification in Cairo built by Saladin and further developed by subsequent Egyptian rulers. Original construction began in 1176, and it is believed, based on the remaining structure, that some of it may never have been completed.
This morning we’ll have breakfast at the hotel, after which guests can enjoy the rest of the day for themselves, with relaxation, rejuvenation, and winding down. In the event that someone would like to carry on their voyage through history, there will be a special optional excursion available.
On your last morning, we’ll enjoy breakfast before checking out of the hotel and transferring to Cairo International Airport for the final flight back home.
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