Day 1: Board Your Cruise and Explore Aswan’s Highlights
Early in the morning, we’ll pick you up from your hotel to begin your tour of Aswan’s most well-known attractions. First, you’ll visit:
Aswan High Dam: People constructed this impressive bridge over the Nile between 1960 and 1970. The Aswan High Dam has profoundly impacted Egypt’s economy and culture.
Next, explore The Unfinished Obelisk: This is the largest known ancient obelisk. Queen Hatshepsut (1508-1458 BC) may have ordered it to accompany the Lateran Obelisk, which originally stood at Karnak before moving to the Lateran Palace in Rome.
Finally, discover the Temple of Philae: This beautiful temple dedicates itself to Isis, the goddess of Love and Beauty. As part of the UNESCO Nubia Campaign, workers deconstructed and transported the temple complex to neighboring Agilkia Island. This effort safeguarded it and other monuments before the Aswan High Dam’s completion in 1970.
Following your tour, we’ll take you to your 5-star Nile Cruise. Here, you can enjoy lunch and relax for the remainder of the day. Meals include Lunch and Dinner (L.D.).
2nd day: Tour Kom Ombo Temple and Sail to Esna
After breakfast, we’ll set sail for Kom Ombo. Upon arrival, you’ll meet your Egyptologist and travel by modern A/C vehicle to visit:
Kom Ombo Temple: Overlooking the Nile, this fascinating historical site uniquely divides into two temples, each with two entrances, two hypostyle halls, and two sanctuaries.
After enjoying lunch, we’ll continue sailing to Edfu. You’ll spend the night on the ship. All meals are included (B.L.D.).
3rd day: A Free Day at Sea
Enjoy breakfast and a relaxing free day on the ship as we travel to Luxor City. We’ll continue sailing toward Luxor throughout the night. All meals are included (B.L.D.).
Day 4: Visit Luxor’s East Bank Attractions
After breakfast, you’ll meet your private Egyptologist tour guide to explore the ancient Egyptian sites along Luxor’s east bank. Your stops include:
Karnak Temple: Egypt’s most spectacular structure and the largest temple complex ever constructed by humans, Karnak Temple marks the culmination of the labors of numerous pharaohs and generations of ancient builders. Spanning 247 acres of land, it consists of three main temples, smaller enclosed temples, and other peripheral temples.
After lunch, return to your Nile cruise to unwind. In the evening, we’ll take you to enjoy:
Luxor Temple by Night: The Luxor Temple served as the central location for the significant Opet festival. Amenhotep III and Rameses II primarily constructed it to reconcile the ruler’s human side with his celestial role.
You’ll then return to your ship to spend the night. All meals are included (B.L.D.).
5th day: Visit Luxor’s West Bank Attractions
Enjoy breakfast as you cruise, then prepare to resume your 7-night Nile cruise itinerary with a visit to Luxor’s West Bank. You’ll explore:
The Valley of the Kings: This site is home to tombs for Ramses II and Tutankhamun, serving as the ultimate resting place of Egypt’s kings from the 18th to the 20th dynasty. The tombs were well-stocked with everything a monarch might require in the afterlife, and most of their interior décor has been beautifully preserved.
Temple of Hatshepsut: This stands as one of the most exquisite and well-preserved of all the Egyptian temples. Builders constructed the temple on three levels, with two large ramps connecting the floors in the center.
Colossi of Memnon: Only two huge stone statues of King Amenhotep III remain from a complete funerary temple. Workers created the statues from blocks of quartzite sandstone, originally found in Cairo and transported 700 kilometers to Luxor.
After lunch, return to the ship. You’ll spend the night in Luxor. All meals are included (B.L.D.).
6th day: Visit Edfu Temple and Return to Aswan
Enjoy breakfast as you sail to Edfu in the morning. Then, meet your tour guide to explore the temple of the ancient Egyptian god Horus:
Edfu Temple: This is the most well-preserved Greco-Roman structure in all of Egypt. Its walls depict a “Play” illustrating Horus’ victory over the malevolent god Seth.
Afterward, return to the ship and continue until you reach Aswan. You’ll spend the night in Aswan. All meals are included (B.L.D.).
Day 7: Visit the Temples of Abu Simbel
Get your breakfast boxes early in the morning. Then, we’ll drive you in a private A/C car southwest of Aswan to the magnificent temples of King Ramses II:
Temples of Abu Simbel: Workers cut these two temples out of a sandstone cliff in 1244 B.C. to commemorate King Ramses the Great’s victory at the Battle of Kadesh. The temple divides into two halves; one honors the monarch, while the other serves as a memorial to his adored wife Queen Nefertari, symbolizing his enduring love.
Following your visit, we will return you to the cruise, where you will have lunch and spend the night. All meals are included (B.L.D.).
Last day: Conclude Your 7-Night Nile Cruise from Aswan
After breakfast, check out and proceed to Aswan, where your Upper Egypt trip will come to a close. Meals: Breakfast (B).
