Nile Cruise: Wonders of Egypt

Saturday 26th April 

Fly to Cairo and transfer to our hotel.    

Overnight in Cairo. Dinner included.

Sunday 27th April 

Waking for our first morning in the land of the Pharaohs, we embark on a visit to one of the most iconic sites in Egypt – the Pyramids of Giza and the mighty Sphinx.  The sheer enormity of these majestic tombs and mythical beasts, being able to get up close to them, is captivating.  If there is time (and should you wish) you may be able to enter inside one of the pyramids. 

Lunch from a local restaurant then leads us on to an afternoon of wonder at one of the world’s greatest museums. The Grand Egyptian Museum houses antiquities from the various Pharaonic dynasties and from across Egypt.  Your guided tour here will introduce you to the locations you are soon to be exploring and the treasures that they once housed. 

You will have chance, after your visit, to freshen up at the hotel before heading to the train station for the overnight train to Luxor. Your accommodation for the night will be in two-berth cabins and dinner and breakfast will be served on board. All bedding is provided. 

Overnight train. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Monday 28th April 

Arriving in Luxor this morning we will head straight to one of the most amazing temple complexes, Karnak. Originally a small temple dedicated to the god, Amun, Karnak Temple is now the largest religious structure ever built due to around 30 different pharaohs continuing to add to it over a period of around 2000 years!  Your guide will take you to the finest sections of the temple complex and explain to you all about its rich history.  

After visiting this impressive site, you will head to the river and embark on your home for the next seven nights, the MS Tower Prestige.  This afternoon, take some time to relax and enjoy the warm sunshine on deck, perhaps catching up on a little reading in the library, or maybe taking a dip in the pool. 

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Overnight Luxor on board the MS Tower Prestige.

Tuesday 29th April 

Following a tasty breakfast on board our cruise boat, we disembark to the West Bank of the Nile for a guided visit to The Valley of The Kings.  Following in the footsteps of Howard Carter we will visit three of the royal tombs, learning about the funerary rites of the ancient Egyptians and the significance of some of the paintings and hieroglyphics.   

After spending some time marvelling at the sheer enormity of the Colossi of Memnon, two 17 metre high statues used to flank the funerary temple of King Amenhotep the 3rd (grandfather of Tutankhamen!) we visit the temple of the most famous Queen of Egypt – Queen Hatshepsut.  

We’ll return to our boat, having visited some of the most famous sites in Egypt, ready to set sail to Edfu.  En route, we will have to manoeuvre through the engineering magic of Esna Lock. With an 8-metre height difference, Esna Lock was constructed to control the flow of Nile water and to preserve it for agriculture whilst also improving navigation of the river. Once through the lock, we continue our sailing to Edfu where we will dock for the night. 

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Overnight in Edfu on board the MS Tower Prestige.

Wednesday 30th April

Waking in Edfu this morning we will have a leisurely start to the day on board our boat.  Take a dip in the pool, savour a coffee in the sunshine, or maybe relax with a book on deck. 

This afternoon we have a visit to Kom Ombo Temple. This unique double temple is dedicated to Sobek, the crocodile god, and Horus, the falcon-headed god. Our guide will take us around each temple so we can learn about the myth behind these two gods and the stories surrounding them. Be sure not to miss the mummified crocodiles in the Crocodile Museum attached to the temple. 

Back on board we continue to cruise south to our next destination, Aswan. 

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Overnight in Aswan on board the MS Tower prestige.

Thursday 1st May

Life on the river slows everything down, so a relaxing start to the day is in order with time at leisure before lunch. In the afternoon, we’ll be sailing on the River Nile again, this time on board a felucca – a traditional wooden boat that is used in Egypt. While on board, we will sail to Kitchener’s Island – a little green paradise in the middle of the River Nile. This is where the Aswan Botanical Garden is located and serves as a haven when the Egyptian sun is at its hottest. 

Although dinner is included on board, this evening there is the option to visit a Nubian family for dinner (paid locally). Should you wish to do this, please speak with your tour manager and local guide. 

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Overnight in Aswan on board the MS Tower Prestige.

Friday 2nd May

After breakfast, you might wish to relax in the sunshine on board or maybe take a stroll along the corniche in Aswan, finding a local cafe for a mid-morning coffee and taking in the atmosphere of this beautiful riverside city. 

This afternoon we will enjoy the scents of a perfume and essential oils workshop.  Learning which oils are used for perfumes, which are used for aromatherapy, our senses will come alive with these heady aromas that Egypt is famed for. A visit to Philae Temple concludes our day with the spectacular sound and light performance, showcasing this beautiful temple at its finest. 

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Overnight in Aswan on board the MS Tower Prestige.

Saturday 3rd May

After a busy start to our Nile cruise holiday, the time to relax has now arrived as we start our return to Luxor.  Leaving the city of Aswan behind, we’ll cruise back along the Nile. Sit back and enjoy the scenery from the comfort of an on-deck lounger, as we travel via Kom Ombo back to Edfu for our overnight mooring. 

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Overnight in Edfu on board the MS Tower Prestige. 

Sunday 4th May

Our final day on the river brings us back into Luxor via a last chance to experience the engineering wonder that is Esna Lock. Arriving in the afternoon we’ll have time to explore the shops for some last-minute souvenirs, or perhaps a visit to Luxor Temple (arranged locally) before enjoying a final celebratory night on board our cruise boat. 

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Overnight in Luxor on board the MS Tower Prestige. 

Monda 5th May

After breakfast we’ll disembark our floating home and head to the airport for our return flights, taking with us fantastic memories of some true ancient wonders of the world. 

Breakfast included.

UK passport holders need a visa to enter Egypt.  We recommend you get your visa in advance online via: https://visa2egypt.gov.eg/

E-visas must be applied for a minimum of 7 days in advance, cost $25 and are valid for 3 months.

Holders of passports from outside the UK should check the relevant embassy for requirements.