Travel Itinerary
Cairo, Nile River Cruise, Luxor and Aswan
8 nights
Day 1: Arrival in Cairo
Upon arrival at Cairo Airport, reception and assistance by our team. Transfer to the hotel by private air-conditioned bus, accommodation and rest.
Day 2: Giza Pyramids, Saqqara and Memphis
Breakfast, departure to visit the Giza Plateau, where the pyramids of Cheops, Khafre and Menkaure are located. They were built during the 4th Pharaonic Dynasty more than 4,600 years ago in the Egyptian Sahara. We will have the opportunity to see the Valley Temple up close, as well as the Great Sphinx, carved from a single block around 2500 B.C., symbolizing the enigma, mystery and grandeur of the ancient Egyptian civilization.
Lunch stop.
We will continue to Saqqara (30 km south of Cairo), the largest archaeological site in northern Egypt and part of the necropolis of ancient Memphis. In Saqqara, we will visit the Step Pyramid, also known as the pyramid of six mastabas or the stepped pyramid, three names for the same monument, designed by the architect Imhotep in honor of Pharaoh Djoser around 2630 B.C.
We will visit a mastaba, a tomb dedicated to a vizier, priest or noble person. A mastaba is characterized by scenes of daily life depicted on its walls, such as harvesting, hunting and rituals practiced by the ancient Egyptians.
Not far from Saqqara is Memphis, the first capital of unified Egypt, founded around 3150 B.C. by Pharaoh Narmer or Menes. In the acropolis of Memphis, the creator god Ptah, lord of craftsmen and engineers, was worshipped.
Today, there is an open-air museum where you can see a colossal statue of King Ramses II (1279–1213 B.C.) made of white limestone, as well as a large sphinx carved from alabaster, the second largest discovered in Egypt.
Return to the hotel – dinner – overnight in Cairo.
Day 3: The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) – Khan El Khalili Market
Breakfast, departure to visit the recently inaugurated Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo, on the first day of November 2025.
The GEM is the largest museum in the world dedicated to a single civilization, the Egyptian civilization. We will explore its fascinating galleries displaying 100,000 items and artifacts from Ancient Egypt, as well as its intelligent and modern architecture where light and air interact. The visit also includes the Tutankhamun or Tutankhamun collection, who lived around 1330 B.C., where his treasures are brought together for the first time in history. It was discovered in 1922 by the English archaeologist Howard Carter in the Valley of the Kings in the city of Luxor, south of Cairo.
Lunch stop.
In the afternoon, we will visit Khan El Khalili Market, or the souq as the local community likes to call it. It is the oldest functioning market in Egypt, operating since 1382 until today. It is famous for the Mirror Café, or Café El Fishawy, which was frequented by the Egyptian author Naguib Mahfouz, winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature. Free time at the market to buy Egyptian souvenirs, enjoy mint tea while sitting in its historic cafés, or take a walk through its narrow and beautifully decorated streets.
Return to the hotel – dinner – overnight in Cairo.
Day 4: Flight Cairo / Luxor – Karnak Temple – Luxor Temple – Cruise
Breakfast. Take the domestic flight from Cairo to the city of Luxor (one hour flight).
Upon arrival in Luxor, we will visit Karnak Temple, the largest Pharaonic temple in Egypt, with 3,500 years of history. It is a religious complex dedicated to Amun-Ra, king of the gods. Several pharaohs contributed to its construction through additions, modifications and expansions, including Mentuhotep II, Thutmose III, Hatshepsut, Seti I and Ramses II. The construction lasted for 2,000 years, with around 80,000 priests serving the temple.
Transfer to the cruise – check-in on board – lunch on board and rest.
In the afternoon, visit Luxor Temple, built in 1390 B.C. and dedicated to the Theban Triad: Amun, Mut and Khonsu, where the annual Opet Festival was celebrated. During the visit, we will see the 3-kilometer Avenue of Sphinxes connecting Luxor to Karnak, as well as the famous pink granite obelisk erected by King Ramses II.
Return to the boat, dinner and overnight on board.
Day 5: Valley of the Kings – Temple of Hatshepsut – Colossi of Memnon (Luxor)
OPTIONAL hot-air balloon ride in Luxor to enjoy breathtaking views of the Nile River and its banks from the air, with the contrast between the desert and the temples along the river. Breakfast and departure to visit INCLUDED: the Valley of the Kings, including entrance to three tombs. Afterwards, we will visit the mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut, built into a mountainous landscape, and the Colossi of Memnon.
Return to the boat and sail onward, lunch and rest.
We leave the city of Luxor and sail along the Nile River to the city of Esna, where we pass through the Esna Lock. This is a good opportunity to learn how the lock operates and experience the scene of local aquatic vendors in their small boats trying to sell souvenirs to tourists on board. Continue sailing to Edfu, dinner and overnight on board in Edfu.
Day 6: Temples of Edfu and Kom Ombo
Breakfast. We will visit the Temple of Edfu in the city of Edfu, located halfway between Luxor and Aswan. It was dedicated to the god Horus, represented in the form of a falcon. The temple depicts the myth of Horus and Seth.
Return to the boat and sail to Kom Ombo, lunch on board. At the scheduled time, depart to visit the Temple of Kom Ombo, dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek and the god Haroeris, meaning Horus the Elder. Return to the boat and sail to the city of Aswan. In the evening, after dinner, enjoy the costume party on board. Overnight on board in Aswan.
Day 7: Abu Simbel Temples – Felucca Ride
Breakfast (packed lunch box for the journey). Early morning departure to visit the temples of Abu Simbel OPTIONAL, departing from Aswan by bus for a 3-hour journey to the Egyptian city of Abu Simbel on the border with Sudan. There are two temples built by Pharaoh Ramses II around 1250 B.C. The smaller temple was dedicated to Queen Nefertari, the beloved wife of the Great Ramses. The larger temple depicts the famous Battle of Kadesh and was carved directly into the rock, portraying Ramses himself in all scenes as a living god.
Return by bus to Aswan. We will be back on the boat around 13:30, followed by lunch on board and rest.
In the afternoon, INCLUDED felucca ride, a traditional sailing boat. Afterwards, we will visit the Nubian Village (optional), home to the famous “Nubians of the Nile”, the native people of the region. They have brightly colored houses and speak the Nubian language. It is common to get henna tattoos and swim in the sacred Nile River. Return to the cruise, dinner on board. Overnight in Aswan.
Day 8: Philae Temple – Flight to Cairo
Breakfast on board. Check-out, departure with luggage, and visit the Temple of the Goddess Isis on Philae Island, one of the most beautiful sites of ancient Egyptian civilization, representing love, feminine power and the identity of women.
Lunch. Afterwards, transfer to Aswan Airport to take the Aswan / Cairo flight (one hour and twenty minutes). Arrival in Cairo, transfer to the hotel. Dinner, overnight in Cairo.
Day 9: Final Departure – Cairo International Airport
After breakfast, transfer to the airport and departure procedures for your international flight.
Important
Please note that, sometimes and due to force majeure, the excursions may be rearranged or their sequence changed without affecting the itinerary.
Included in the package:
Not included:
