Cairo – Lake Nasser Cruise – Luxor 10 days / 9 nights

Meet and greet at Cairo International Airport upon arrival.

Transfer to your hotel and check in.

Free dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel, followed by a full day of sightseeing.

Giza Plateau

Visit the legendary Giza Plateau, the most iconic site of Ancient Egyptian civilization. The plateau is home to the three world-famous pyramids of Khufu (Cheops), Khafre (Chephren), and Menkaure (Mykerinos), as well as the enigmatic Great Sphinx, carved from limestone with the body of a lion and the head of a human, standing as the eternal guardian of the royal necropolis.

You will also visit the Valley Temple of King Khafre, an impressive structure built entirely of granite and closely linked to the pyramid complex.

Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM)

Continue to the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), the largest museum in the world dedicated to a single civilization. The museum houses more than 100,000 artifacts spanning over 7,000 years of Egyptian history, including, for the first time, the complete treasure collection of Tutankhamun’s tomb.

Visitors can admire monumental statues, royal artifacts, and everyday objects that provide remarkable insight into life in Ancient Egypt. The museum's striking contemporary architecture has been designed to complement the nearby pyramids, combining cutting-edge exhibition technology with vast gallery spaces, making the GEM an essential destination for history enthusiasts.

Khan El-Khalili Bazaar

Later, enjoy a stroll through Medieval Islamic Cairo and discover the famous Khan El-Khalili Bazaar. This vibrant maze of narrow alleyways has been bustling with merchants since the 14th century. Filled with colorful shops, traditional crafts, aromatic spices, lively cafes, and local treasures, the market offers a unique sensory experience of sights, sounds, scents, and colors.

Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel, followed by a transfer to Cairo Airport for your journey to Aswan (by flight or train, according to your preference*).

Upon arrival in Aswan, you will be welcomed and transferred to the Lake Nasser cruise embarkation point.

Check-in on board, enjoy a welcome cocktail, and have lunch on board.

Philae Temple

In the early afternoon, visit the magnificent Temple of Philae, dedicated to the goddess Isis, wife of Osiris and mother of Horus. One of the most beautiful temples in Egypt, Philae was threatened by rising waters following the construction of the High Dam. To preserve this extraordinary monument, it was carefully dismantled and relocated block by block to its current location during an international UNESCO rescue campaign.

Later, enjoy a walk through the famous Aswan Souk, renowned for its vibrant atmosphere, colorful stalls, aromatic spices, and distinctive African influences.

Dinner and overnight on board.

Breakfast on board, followed by a motorboat excursion to the archaeological site of Kalabsha.

Located south of the Aswan High Dam on the shores of Lake Nasser, Kalabsha was once an important religious center of the Blemmyes, a Nubian tribe that worshipped the god Mandulis. The temple is one of the largest and most impressive Nubian monuments relocated during the UNESCO rescue campaign.

Nearby, visit Beit El-Wali, a rock-cut temple commissioned during the reign of Pharaoh Ramses II. Its walls are decorated with scenes celebrating the king’s military victories and religious ceremonies.

Continue to the Kiosk of Kertassi, an elegant monument often considered a smaller version of Trajan’s Kiosk at Philae, featuring graceful columns and a picturesque setting.

Return to the cruise ship for lunch on board, then begin sailing toward Wadi El-Seboua.

Enjoy a relaxing afternoon on the sun deck by the swimming pool while admiring the spectacular scenery of Lake Nasser and its vast desert landscapes.

In the late afternoon, tea time will be on the upper deck as you continue cruising.

Dinner and overnight on board.

Breakfast on board, followed by a visit to the archaeological site of Wadi El-Seboua, which means "Valley of the Lions."

This impressive complex consists of temples and chapels and takes its name from the avenue of lion-headed sphinxes that once led to the entrance of the main temple, built during the reign of Pharaoh Ramses II.

Wadi El-Seboua Temple

Explore the magnificent temple dedicated to the gods of Ancient Egypt, one of the most important Nubian monuments relocated during the creation of Lake Nasser.

Temple of Dakka

Continue to the Temple of Dakka, dedicated to Thoth, the god of wisdom, knowledge, and writing. The temple is renowned for its elegant architecture and well-preserved inscriptions.

Temple of Maharraqa

Visit the Temple of Maharraqa, a small Roman-era temple famous for containing the only known spiral staircase in all of Ancient Egyptian architecture.

Return to the cruise ship for lunch on board, then begin sailing toward Amada.

Enjoy a relaxing afternoon on board while admiring the tranquil scenery of Lake Nasser.

In the late afternoon, tea time will be on deck.

Upon arrival, visit:

Temple of Amada

The oldest surviving temple in Nubia, built during the 18th Dynasty by Thutmose III, Amenhotep II, and Thutmose IV. The temple is especially admired for its remarkably preserved and vividly colored reliefs.

Temple of Derr

Built by Ramses II, this rock-cut temple was dedicated to the god Amun and reflects the grandeur of the king's Nubian building projects.

Tomb of Pennut

Visit the Tomb of Pennut, the burial place of the chief administrator of Nubia during the reign of Ramses VI. The tomb contains valuable inscriptions and scenes illustrating life and administration in ancient Nubia.

Dinner and overnight on board.

Breakfast on board.

During the morning cruise, you will have the opportunity to admire the site of Qasr Ibrim from the sun deck. Qasr Ibrim is the only archaeological site on Lake Nasser that was not relocated during the creation of the lake. Perched on a rocky cliff overlooking the water, it preserves the remains of an ancient fortress, churches, temples, and other historical structures that reflect thousands of years of Nubian history.

Lunch on board while continuing the cruise toward Abu Simbel.

The approach to Abu Simbel is both spectacular and majestic, offering unforgettable views across the vast waters of Lake Nasser.

Abu Simbel Temples

Upon arrival, visit the magnificent Abu Simbel Temples, one of the greatest masterpieces of Ancient Egypt.

The complex consists of two rock-cut temples commissioned by Pharaoh Ramses II:

• The Great Temple of Ramses II, famous for its colossal statues guarding the entrance and its impressive interior halls decorated with scenes of military victories and religious ceremonies.
• The Small Temple, dedicated to Queen Nefertari, the beloved wife of Ramses II, and to the goddess Hathor. It is one of the few temples in Ancient Egypt dedicated to a royal queen.

Like Philae, the temples were carefully dismantled and relocated during the 1960s UNESCO rescue campaign to protect them from the rising waters of Lake Nasser.

Dinner and overnight on board.

Breakfast on board.

check out and transfer by bus back to Aswan.

Upon arrival, check in at your hotel and enjoy a free afternoon at leisure in Aswan. You may relax at the hotel, stroll along the Nile Corniche, or explore the city's vibrant atmosphere at your own pace.

Dinner is not included.

Overnight stay at the hotel in Aswan.

Breakfast at the hotel, followed by an early departure towards Luxor. Along the way, you will visit two of Upper Egypt’s most remarkable historical sites:

Kom Ombo (approximately 45 km north of Aswan):
The only temple in Egypt dedicated to two different deities, Horus (the Falcon God) and Sobek (the Crocodile God). The temple is famous for its remarkable reliefs, including scenes depicting the ancient Egyptian calendar and some of the earliest known surgical instruments.

Edfu (approximately 75 km north of Kom Ombo):
One of the best-preserved ancient temples in Egypt, dating back to the Greco-Roman period. Buried under sand and surrounding dwellings for centuries, it remained exceptionally well preserved until its discovery in 1855 by the French archaeologist Auguste Mariette. The temple is dedicated to Horus, the Falcon God, and is renowned for its impressive architecture and richly decorated walls.

Arrival in Luxor in the late afternoon and check-in at your hotel.

Free evening at leisure.

Overnight at the hotel in Luxor.

Breakfast at the hotel, then departure to explore the Theban Necropolis on Luxor’s West Bank, set against a spectacular desert landscape.

Visit the Valley of the Kings, home to the tombs of Egypt’s greatest pharaohs and one of the most important archaeological sites in the world.

Visit the Temple of Hatshepsut, the magnificent mortuary temple of the queen who became pharaoh and ruled Egypt during the 18th Dynasty.

Visit the Colossi of Memnon, two massive statues standing 17 meters high, which once guarded the mortuary temple of King Amenhotep III, father of the famous Pharaoh Akhenaten.

Afternoon: Karnak Temple

In the middle of the afternoon, depart for a visit to the magnificent Karnak Temple Complex, the largest ancient religious site in Egypt. Built over a period of nearly sixteen centuries and covering approximately sixty hectares, Karnak is often considered the greatest archive of pharaonic history.

Dedicated primarily to the god Amun, this extraordinary complex is unique in the world, featuring colossal pylons, gigantic columns, monumental statues, and towering obelisks that showcase the grandeur and power of ancient Egypt.

Return to the hotel.

Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer to Luxor Airport for your domestic flight to Cairo (or train transfer upon request*), according to the schedule of your international departure flight.

End of services.