Cruise the Nile

Day 1 : Arrive Cairo

On arrival, check in and enjoy dinner and overnight on board.

Day 2 : Cairo

Today you will visit incredible sites, including the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the most famous pyramid in Egypt and one of the “Seven Wonders of the World”. Make stop at Khafre’s Pyramid, recognisable by the layers of casing stones at its summit and this, along with the fact that it stands on a higher part of the plateau, gives the impression that it is taller than the Great Pyramid. Followed by a visit the smallest of the three main pyramids on the Giza Plateau, Mycenae pyramid, built by Khafre’s son Menkaure.

Later, you will visit the Sphinx. The Great Sphinx has to be one of the most easily recognised structures in the world. Sculpted from soft sandstone, it is likely it would have disappeared had it not been buried in the sand for so much of its life. It faces the rising sun, and was revered so much a temple was built in front of it.

After lunch visit the Egyptian Museum, then enjoy your first evening on board.

Day 3 : Cairo

Spend another day learning about ancient history as you visit incredible monuments and ruins.

Visit Memphis functioned as the ancient capital of Lower Egypt and of the Old Kingdom of Egypt from its foundation until around 2200 BC. Sakkara is a vast, ancient burial ground in Egypt with the world’s oldest standing step pyramid.

In the afternoon visit Coptic Cairo including the Hanging Church, Coptic Museum and the Jewish Synagogue. The Hanging Church is considered the oldest church in the area of Old Cairo. It is known as Al-Muallaka (the hanging) because it was built on the ruins of two old towers that remained from an old fortress, the Fortress of Babylon. It was dedicated to The Virgin Mary and St. Dimiana. The Coptic Museum is a beautiful museum found in the middle of Old Cairo on the ancient site of Babylon and contains the largest collection of Egyptian Christian artifacts in the world.

Day 4 : Cairo > Beni Suef

Farewell Cairo this morning and set sail upstream along the Nile. Enjoy a full day relaxing on board today, watching the Egyptian farmland and sugar cane plantations as you pass gently by. Today will be a full day of sailing to Beni Suef. This evening enjoy dinner and a wine tasting on board.

Day 5 : Minya

Today you will sail to Minya. Located south of Cairo on the western shores of the Nile River, Minya was once an important center of trade and known for its advanced agriculture.

Day 6 : Minya

Today you will visit Tuna el Gebel known as the largest Greco-Roman necropolis in Egypt, make a stop at Ashmunein, once a major city. After lunch visit the Beni Hassan tombs including the tombs of Baqet, Khety, Amenemhet and Khnumhotep II.

Day 7 : Minya > Tel El Amarna > Asyut

Sail early morning to Tel El Amarna, the home of the ‘Amarnian experience’. Arrive in Amarna in time to visit the Amarna Visitor Centre for a presentation on Akhenaten and Nefertiti. Later visit the northern tombs which include the Tomb of Ahmose, Tomb of Meryre, Tomb of Pentu, Tomb of Panehesy, and the Royal Tomb of Akhenaten.

You’ll have the chance to see the Great Palace of King Akhenaten and the small and great temples of Aten. Return to the boat and sail to Asyut, stopping en route in front of Prince Tawdrous Monastery to view the monastery from the boat. Tonight enjoy a traditional Galabeya Party onboard.

Day 8 : Asyut > Sohag

Enjoy a leisurely sailing to Sohag, with all meals on board. Enjoy a Black and White Party night.

Day 9 : El Balyana > Abydos > Naga Hammadi

Set sail early this morning to El Balyana as you continue your sail upstream towards Qena. Visit Abydos temple, the holy city of Osiris, God of the Dead and the new kingdom temple of Seti I. The area around Abydos temple was believed to be the place where Osiris was buried. Thus, Abydos was an important cult centre for Osiris. A number of temples dedicated to Osiris, all of which were located in one area, were built prior to the reign of Seti.

Day 10 : Qena > Luxor

Sail to Qena and visit Dendera, one of the best preserved temples in Egypt. The main temple at Dendera is possibly the most grand and elaborate of its time. It is also one of the most important temple sites in the country with a variety of features and in wonderful condition despite the destruction of the temples of Hathor’s consort and child which stood close by. Sailing to Luxor, enjoy cooking lessons on board.

Day 11 : Luxor

Visit the West Bank area today starting with a visit to the Valley of the Kings. The Egyptians belief that “To speak the name of the dead is to make him live again” is certainly carried out in the building of the tombs. The king’s names and titles are inscribed in his tomb along with images and statues.

Explore the temple of Hatshepsut – the mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut is one of the most dramatically situated in the world. The queen’s architect, Senenmut, set it at the head of a valley overshadowed by the Peak of the Thebes. A tree lined avenue of sphinxes led up to the temple, and ramps lead from terrace to terrace.

Day 12 : Luxor > Edfu

Visit Temple of Karnak – no site in Egypt is more impressive. It is the largest temple complex ever built by man, and represents the combined achievement of many generations of craftsmen. Also visit the Temple of Luxor, which was the centre of the important festival of Opet. Built by Amenhotep III and Ramses II, the temple’s main purpose was as a suitable setting for the rituals of the festival. Sail to Esna and pass the lock, then overnight in Edfu.

Day 13 : Edfu > Kom Ombo > Aswan

Visit Edfu and the Temple of Horus is considered to be the best preserved cult temple in Egypt. The town was the capital of the second Nome (Horus) of Upper Egypt.

Discover more about Kom Ombo, a unique and unusual temple dedicated to two gods – Horus and Sobek. There is a Nilometre close to the edge of the river and an anteroom containing mummified crocodiles to be seen here.
Sail on to Aswan to overnight.

Day 14 : Aswan

See the High Dam, Philae Temple and Nubian Museum. Philae Temple was dismantled and reassembled (on Agilika Island about 550 metres from its original home on Philae Island) in the wake of the High Dam. The temple, dedicated to the goddess Isis, is in a beautiful setting which has been landscaped to match its original site. Enjoy your last night on board with a Nubian Show.

Day 15 : Aswan

After breakfast, transfer to the airport where arrangements end.