Essential Egypt with Nile Cruise

Day 1 - Cairo

Welcome to Egypt! A buzzing metropolis, home to at least 19 million people, Cairo gives you a great feel for Egyptian street life. It’s busy and among the hustle and bustle it’s an exciting blend of old world and new. Arabs call this city Umm al-Dunya (the mother of the world). There are many beautiful mosques to visit, like the Mohammed Ali Mosque in the Citadel. Or head to the oldest part of Cairo, the Babylon Fortress, to see ancient ruins. For stunning panoramic views of the capital, go up the 187-metre-high Cairo Tower.

Try some street food or get a taste of Egyptian street life by visiting a cafe. Sit in an ahwa and sip traditional mint tea. The shisha pipe can be found in many ahwas and restaurants across Cairo.

Day 2 - Cairo

This morning, meet your guide for an introductory briefing before heading out to see some of the world’s most iconic sights – the Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx. Explore these structures that have stood tall for some 4,500 years and learn about the ancient history of the monuments. The oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the only one to remain largely intact, the pyramids are a sight to behold.

Afterwards, you will visit the Grand Egyptian Museum.  Rising beside the Giza Pyramids, the breathtaking Grand Egyptian Museum is a monumental tribute to ancient Egypt. This ultra-modern masterpiece unveils over 100,000 treasures, including Tutankhamun’s full collection, in dazzling galleries filled with light, glass, and history. It’s the world’s largest museum of a single civilisation.

Following your visit you will return to your hotel where the remainder of the day is at leisure.

Day 3 - Cairo - Aswan 

Today, enjoy a morning of free time to explore Cairo. You have the option to add a tour to the National Musuem of Civilization for the morning. At noon, you will be taken to visit Coptic Cairo and explore historic churches dating back to the late 3rd and early 4th centuries AD, including the Hanging Church, St. Sergius and Bacchus Church, and the Ben Ezra Synagogue.

From here, you’ll enjoy an essential Egyptian experience – a visit to Khan El-Khalili bazaar, a memorable shopping experience in the historic centre of Islamic Cairo. Even if you are not looking to buy, take a walk through the colourful winding alleys of this labyrinth district – you’ll feel like you stepped back in time to an old Arab souk. Selling handicrafts, delicious spices, fabrics and clothes, it’s been a shopping district for thousands of years.

After your shopping experiences, you will be taken to the Giza train station to catch a sleeper train to Aswan. 

Day 4 - Aswan 

Upon arrival in Aswan, head to your hotel to freshen up before visiting the magnificent Philae Temple. The Temple of Isis, dedicated to the goddess of health, marriage, and wisdom, was rescued from the rising Nile waters and relocated to Philae Island. Known for its stunning decorative pylons and exquisite carvings, this temple is one of Upper Egypt's most iconic gems. Access to the temple is via small motorboats.

After exploring the temple, return to check in at your hotel and enjoy a relaxing afternoon. In the evening, gather for an authentic meal at one of the Nubian houses.

Experience modern Nubian culture with a visit to a nearby village. Enjoy a memorable dinner with a local Nubian family, where you can learn about their daily life, savor traditional Nubian dishes, and share stories with your hosts. The warm hospitality is accompanied by a lively Nubian dance performance, where you may even get the chance to join in the fun!

Day 5 - Aswan - Embark on Nile Cruise

Enjoy a free morning at your leisure. You may choose to book the optional Abu Simbel excursion. In the afternoon check in to your Nile cruise at noon, followed by lunch on board. Afterward, relax and enjoy a scenic sail along the Nile.

Please note that as the sailing distance between Aswan and Luxor is approximately 200km, that it is typical for all cruises operated along the Nile to be docked for majority of the time to conduct sightseeing, with the sailing to occur of an evening. The vessel will be docked either in Aswan or Luxor. Depending on the time of year and number of vessels operating at the same time, you will also find that all vessels are docked beside one another, which is beyond our control.

To ensure that our customers have appropriate expectations prior to their journey, it is important not to compare this experience to that of a European River Cruise, which tend to cover a greater distance and on larger vessels. Instead, you will experience a deluxe stay onboard your vessel, offering a great chance to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the banks of the Nile while you sit back and relax. Your cruise schedule will be provided once onboard.

Day 6 - Nile Cruise - Kom Ombo Temple

Today you’ll journey ashore to visit Kom Ombo Temple. Dedicated to the gods Sobek and Haroeris, this unusual double temple was constructed during the Ptolemaic period, which lasted from 108 to 47 BC. 

Set dramatically on the banks of the Nile, 47km north of Aswan and 168km south of Luxor, the soaring, chunky columns of the Great Temple of Kom Ombo are a magnificent sight as you arrive from the river. In the Sobek section recent discoveries have been made of mummified Crocodiles, which are now displayed   in the Crocodile Museum attached to the temple - don't miss it! 

The temple is well preserved, especially detail on the murals and columns. One unique engraving is thought to be among the first representations of medical and surgical instruments. 

Today, Kom Ombo may be a sleepy agricultural backwater surrounded by sugar cane fields, but its prime position along the Nile once made it one of Upper Egypt’s most important centres. Wander through the temple’s colonnades, gazing up at scenes of kingly propaganda, and you’ll catch a feel of this glorious history for yourself.

Returning to the cruise boat, you’ll continue travelling upriver, with free time relaxing on the sundeck and taking in the surrounding sights – from fishermen casting nets and farmers working their land to the desert hills that frame the lush riverbanks.

Day 7 - Edfu - Luxor 

Today you will moor near Edfu, home to ancient settlements and temples, as well as a bustling town centre and a bazaar.

Return to the boat for your final evening on one of the world’s greatest rivers. Tonight we overnight in Luxor.

Day 8 - Luxor 

Today you'll discover some of the many wonders of ancient Thebes. Your first stop is the Colossi of Memnon, two 17-metre-high statues on Luxor's west bank. Carved from granite blocks, they represent the Pharaoh Amenhotep III and were once part of an impressive colonnade.

We'll continue onto the spectacular royal burial site of the Valley of the Kings. Buried under the arid hills here are the tombs of more than 60 pharaohs, many richly decorated with reliefs and paintings. Explore this sprawling and spectacular place with your guide, where the pharaohs of the New Kingdom (16th to 11th century BCE) were secretly interred for all eternity, and where archaeological discoveries are still being made. Your guide will explain the history of and legends surrounding these remarkable people, their funerary rites, and the significance of the many paintings and hieroglyphics, still well-preserved in the deepest tombs.

You will visit three of the most interesting royal tombs and then continue to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, a stunning colonnaded building set against high cliffs that create a spectacular natural amphitheatre. One of Egypt’s greatest queens, she built this temple to prove her importance – the scale and elegance of her temple certainly proves a point!

Experience the warmth of a local family's hospitality as you enjoy a homemade traditional lunch, with an array of authentic flavours and dishes. 

Day 9 - Luxor 

Today you'll explore the magnificent Karnak Temple, which is perhaps the most impressive of all the ancient pharaohs' monumental works. One of the world's most celebrated temple complexes, Karnak was built over some 200 years and was once known as the 'Chosen of Places'. Your guided tour of this vast temple of impressive pylons, obelisks and chapels will reveal its finest sections, such as the Avenue of Sphinxes and the Great Temple of Amun.

The rest of the day is yours. Take part in the optional tour to visit the Luxor Temple, or relax, shop in the excellent bazaar, or perhaps experience the atmosphere of a local teahouse.

Day 10 - Luxor - Cairo - Alexandria 

Catch an early morning flight from Luxor to Cairo, where you'll be greeted and transferred straight to the historic city of Alexandria. Once in Alexandria, enjoy an afternoon in this historic down. 

You will be taken to visit to the historic Fort of Qaitbey, built in 1480 AD by the Mamluk ruler to defend the coastline against Ottoman invasion. With an afternoon to yourself, stroll along the Cornice to enjoy the fresh Mediterranean Air. 

Day 11 - Alexandria - Cairo 

Today, after breakfast, prepare to delve into the catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa. Heading underground, you’ll get to view the largest known Roman burial site in Egypt, complete with burial chambers, labyrinth alleyways and entertaining rooms for families coming to visit the dead.

The crypts are 20 metres below street level and date back to the Greco Roman period. What likely started as a small family tomb grew into a large number of graves that could accommodate more than 300 bodies. The tombs are organised around a central spiral staircase that leads down through several levels.

Stop by the strikingly modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina, inspired by the original great library of Alexandria and   built to hold over 8 million books. 

We then drive back to Cairo. On arrival, you will check into your hotel for an evening at your leisure.

Day 12 - Cairo 

Unfortunately, today marks the end of your incredible tour through Egypt. At the appropriate time you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home.