Enchanting Egypt Nile Cruise

Upon arrival at Cairo Airport, you will be transferred to your hotel.

Cairo is a vibrant, exhilarating, exotic, fascinating and welcoming city. Home to the best Pharaonic, Coptic and Islamic sights in Egypt, this city is where you never know what incredible, half-forgotten monument you might stumble across while wandering around.

The rest of the day is at leisure to relax before we begin the tour tommorow.

Today we head out to visit probably the most famous sights in Egypt, the famous pyramids at Sakkara and the Sphinx.

Your first stop will be Sakkara, the ancient necropolis of Memphis, where you'll discover the Step Pyramid of King Zoser, the world's oldest freestanding stone structure. This unique pyramid, built with six steps, represents the pharaoh's journey to heaven.

We'll enjoy lunch together with breathtaking views of the Giza Plateau. Afterward, visit the iconic Great Pyramids of Giza, the last surviving wonder of the ancient world. Learn about the incredible scale and construction of these monuments, built over 4,500 years ago, and visit the mysterious Sphinx, an enigmatic figure with the body of a lion and the face of a pharaoh.

After your tour, you'll return to your hotel to freshen up before enjoying a welcome dinner at the hotel.

A day to delve into Cairo's history, as we first enjoy a tour of Coptic Cairo. The city has been a hub for many different civilizations over the years and our guide will reveal some of the Coptic history as we go.

Visit the beautiful and newly refurbished Coptic Museum, first completed in 1908 using property belonging to the Coptic Church in Egypt. It displays a wonderful collection of sculptures dating from Pre-Christian times up until the 5thC AD, as well as bone carvings, frescoes, icons, relics, colorful textiles and more. Proceed to the Hanging Church, named so because it sits "suspended" on top of the Fortress of Babylon that the Romans built when they came to Egypt. Thought to originate in the seventh century, this church in basilica style was once the seat of the Coptic Patriarchate.

Tradition has it that the church of St. Sergius was built over a location in which Mary, Joseph and the infant Jesus rested on their journey in Egypt. Located inside the Roman fortress in Old Cairo, it is believed to have been built by Roman soldiers in the third or fourth centuries and later turned into a Coptic church by the Egyptians. Dedicated to two soldier-saints, Sergius and Bacchus, the church has been rebuilt and restored since medieval times, but it is still considered to be a model of early Coptic churches

We enjoy lunch together before visiting the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization. 

We head to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, a treasure trove of artefacts and finds from the many burial sites and historic locations around the country. Located on the archaeological site of El-Fustat in Old Cairo overlooking the Ain El-Seera Lake. The museum showcases Egyptian civilization from prehistoric times to the present day, highlighting the country’s comprehensive heritage.

As the day winds down, return to the hotel to relax and enjoy dinner at leisure tonight. 

After Breakfast, we check out of our hotel in Cairo and make our way to the airport for our flight to Luxor. 

Once an Ancient Egyptian capital, is known today as the world's "greatest open-air museum." From the tomb of Tutankhamen in the Valley of the Kings and the magnificent sunset views at the majestic temple complexes of Karnak and Luxor to the exciting and fun Nile cruises, Luxor is the perfect choice for culture vultures. Luxor is divided by the Nile into two areas commonly called the East Bank and West Bank which were considered in Ancient Egyptian times as symbolizing respectively Life and Death.

Upon arrival in Luxor, we will be met by our local guide. Built over a period of two millennia by generations of Pharaohs, our first visit is the 62-acre Temple of Karnak, dedicated to the God Amun. There is plenty to explore here as the numerous pylons, obelisks and smaller temples within could take days to completely explore. The great "Hypostyle Hall" alone is an imposing forest of giant pillars rising 23 meters (75 feet) toward the sky. At the height of its glory, Karnak Temple collected annual tribute from over 65 cities and towns in the region!

After visiting Karnak we will head to the hotel to check in and enjoy lunch.

After lunch, we make our way to the Temple of Luxor, once connected to Karnak via the Avenue of Human-headed Sphinxes. This temple has been the site of many celebrations, the most important being the Festival of Opet which grew over the years to last 27 days. Within the grounds of Luxor Temple is also the Mosque of Abu'l Haggag, built in memory of a 13th century local 'saint' who is still venerated by Luxorians to this day.

We check in to our hotel and enjoy dinner together. 

After breakfast, spend the morning exploring the Valley of the Kings, where ancient pharaohs were buried in secret tombs adorned with vibrant paintings. Next, visit the Valley of the Queens, the final resting place of royal wives and children, and marvel at the magnificent Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut. Before leaving the West Bank, make a brief stop at the iconic Colossi of Memnon.

Next, enjoy a brief stop at the famed Colossi of Memnon and behold the two immense statues of Amenhotep III which, in Pharaonic times, guarded the entrance to his once great temple. During the Roman period, the site became a resort spot where many prominent travelers left their own graffiti carved into the sandstone.

Afterwards, we transfer to the port in Luxor where we board our Dahabeya, our elegant authentic boat. 

We enjoy our first lunch on board, while sailing toward Esna and Edfu. Relax with afternoon tea and enjoy dinner onboard.

After breakfast, you’ll cruise to El-Kab to visit the tombs of the governors of the ancient city and explore the ruins of the temple where Hathor and Horus used to meet.

Enjoy lunch on board as you sail to Edfu.

In Edfu, you’ll visit the Temple of Horus, dedicated to the falcon god. This is the most completely preserved Egyptian temple, and one of the last grand attempts at monument building in ancient Egypt. The temple dominates the west-bank town, though the more modest structures of modern Edfu crowd around its enclosure wall.

Modern Edfu, a friendly town, is also known as a center for sugar production and pottery.

End your day with a barbecue on the serene beach of Fawaza Island, where you’ll enjoy the tranquil surroundings before spending the night on board.

Start your day with breakfast as you cruise to Bassaw, a charming old fishing village along the Nile.

Stop in Bassaw, a quiet village untouched by tourism, offering a rare opportunity for authentic interactions free from commercial distractions. Here, you may even try fishing the traditional way, as it was done by the ancient Egyptians.

Enjoy lunch on board while sailing to Djebel Silsila on the west bank of the Nile. Explore the Speos of Horemheb, a rock-hewn chapel dedicated to Pharaoh Horemheb (1323–1295 BC) and seven deities, including the local crocodile god Sobek.

Visit the temple from the Horemheb era and the ancient quarry where stones for Egyptian temples were extracted.

After your visit, sail to El Beshir Island, where you’ll enjoy dinner and spend the night on board.

After breakfast, cruise to Kom Ombo to visit the temple dedicated to both Sobek, the crocodile god, and Haroeris, the hawk god. The Kom Ombo temple stands on a promontory at a bend in the Nile, where sacred crocodiles once basked on the riverbank. This unique dual temple, built during the Ptolemaic period, honors both Sobek and Haroeris.

Enjoy lunch on board while you sail to Herdiab Village.

Upon arrival, visit Herdiab Village, one of the oldest villages on the Nile, where traditional farming methods have been preserved for centuries.

End your day with dinner on Herdiab Island and spend the night on board, reflecting on the day's experiences.

A relaxing morning awaits as we enjoy breakfast on Herdiab beach, where you can swim if you like before sailinlg to Aswan over lunch.

We will visit the enchanting Philae Temple, a centre for the cult of the Egyptian goddess Isis. Between 1972-1980, the temple was actually moved by UNESCO to save it from the Nile waters. The romantic and majestic aura surrounding the temple complex on the island of Philae has been luring pilgrims for thousands of years. The ruins are one of Egypt’s most legendary tourist attractions.

Afterward, visit the Unfinished Obelisk, an enormous granite monolith in Aswan's quarry. Intended to be the largest ever built, it was abandoned due to cracks, offering a unique glimpse into ancient Egyptian quarrying techniques. The visible chisel marks and trenches showcase the incredible skill and labor involved in crafting such monumental structures.

Spend another night aboard the Sanctuary Zein Nile Château, enjoying the serene surroundings and onboard hospitality.

This morning, it is sadly time to disembark our Zein Nile Chateau after breakfast as we make our way to the amazing temples at Abu Simel.

We transfer to Aswan Airport for a short flight to Abu Simbel to visit the huge 13th-century BC monument to Ramses II.

The two temples of Ramses II are each fronted by colossal statues up to 20 meters (66 feet) high, and are famed as the most impressive monuments remaining of Ancient Egypt. Recently, the temples were threatened by the waters of Lake Nasser, and with the help of a UNESCO campaign they were cut into blocks, raised piece by piece and reassembled in a new position higher up the hillside.

After the visit, we will fly back to Cairo and enjoy dinner.

Your day begins with a guided tour of Islamic Cairo, where you'll visit the impressive Sultan Hassan Mosque, an outstanding example of Mamluk architecture with its towering walls and elegant design. Nearby, explore the Refaie Mosque, home to Egypt's royal crypts and rich in history.

Continue to the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), a modern facility showcasing one of the world’s most comprehensive collections of Egyptian artifacts. Highlights include the iconic statue of King Ramses II and exhibits spanning Egypt’s history, from prehistoric times to the Graeco-Roman period. You’ll also have the opportunity to visit the museum’s commercial area.

After lunch, we return to the hotel, where the day concludes with a farewell dinner, marking the end of a memorable experience in Egypt.

It is time to bid a fond farewell to Egypt. This morning, check out of your hotel and you will be transferred to Cairo Airport for your onward flight home.