Essential Egypt 2025

Also near the Cheops Pyramid, you’ll see the solar boat, a funerary boat reassembled in its entirety.

Memphis served as the capital of Upper & Lower Egypt some 5,000 years ago during the 1st Dynasty. Menes, the first pharaoh of this dynasty, built a great white-walled palace & the Temple of Ptah here.

Sakkara One of the most exciting historical & archaeological areas in all of Egypt is Sakkara, situated about 12 miles south-west of Cairo. The site is dominated by the famous step pyramid of King Zoser. It was the first pyramid to be built in ancient Egypt, preceding those at Giza by many centuries, & is the work of the famous pharaonic architect, Imhotep.

Lunch will be included at a local restaurant today.

Accommodations: Cairo Sheraton (Breakfast, Lunch)

Visit Karnak and Luxor Temple. Luxor is a city often been called “world’s greatest open air museum”, With the number and preservation of monuments in the area, it is unparalleled anywhere in the world. Luxor is actually composed of three different areas: the city of Luxor, located on the east side of the Nile, the town of Karnak, located just north of Luxor, and Thebes, which is on the west side of the Nile across from Luxor Visits are made to the Luxor Temple and the Karnak Temple. The Luxor Temple was built largely by Amenhotep III and Ramses II, The temple served as a setting for the rituals of the festival, which was held to reconcile the human aspect of the ruler with his divine office. The Karnak Temple was erected in 1928 BC as a small shrine dedicated to Amun, god of Thebes. The Temple of Karnak comprises of three main temples, smaller enclosed temples, and several outer temples, all constructed over 1300 years. The three main temples of Mut, Monthu and Amun, are enclosed in enormous brick walls, with the temple of Amun at the center. Karnak is now the largest and oldest temple compound on earth. Return to the ship in time for afternoon tea.

Dinner on board, followed by Belly dancing and Egyptian folkloric show.

Please note: the cruise starts on Mondays only

Accommodations: Sonesta St. George, (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Each King’s formal name and title are inscribed in his tomb, which are also adorned with his images and statues. Most of the tombs were cut into the limestone following a similar pattern: three corridors, an antechamber and a sunken sarcophagus chamber. The Valley of the Queens includes between 75 and 80 tombs, belonging to queens of the 18th, 19th and 20th Dynasties. Among these is the famous tomb of Nefertiti, one of the five wives of Ramses II. Hatshepsut Temple was built just north of the Middle Kingdom temple of Mentuhoteb Nebhepetre, amid the bay of cliffs known as Deir El-Bahri. The female pharaoh chose to build her temple in a valley sacred to the Theban Goddess of the West, on a direct axis with Karnak temple of Amun on the East Bank.

Sail to Esna and enjoy the afternoon at leisure.

This evening, enjoy the Captain’s welcome cocktail and disco music after dinner.

Accommodations: Sonesta St. George, (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

At the temple’s entrance stand two large black granite statues of Horus, who is depicted as a falcon. The elaborate carvings on the walls of the temple are beautiful, as if carved just yesterday. Inside the temple is a small sanctuary where the priests of the day offered the best parts of the animals to the gods.

Continue to Kom Ombo to visit the Graeco Roman style Temple of Sobek. Standing serenely on a hilltop, the site offers an incredible view over the Nile. Kom Ombo is located on a bend in the Nile River, about 50 km north of Aswan. Located on the east bank, Kom Ombo is home to an unusual double temple of Sobek built during the Ptolemaic and Roman periods. The temple is dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek and the falcon god Haroeris (Horus the Elder). Despite being badly damaged, the temple is a beautiful sight as you approach from either direction on the river, particularly as sunset nears and the colours change. Continue with a visit to the wonderfully preserved Temple of Horus at Edfu. Travel to and from the temple by horse drawn carriage. The temple is perhaps the best preserved in all of Egypt and ranks second behind Karnak, simply because of its immense size. At the temple’s entrance stand two large black granite statues of Horus, who is depicted as a falcon. The elaborate carvings on the walls of the temple are beautiful, as if carved just yesterday. Inside the temple is a small sanctuary where the priests of the day offered the best parts of the animals to the gods. Lunch, dinner, and overnight on board.

This evening, enjoy an Egyptian Galabya party.

Accommodations: Sonesta St. George, (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

The Temple dedicated to the Goddess Isis, is in a beautiful setting, which has been landscaped to match its original site. Its various shrines and sanctuaries, which include a temple of Hathor, a Birth House & two pylons, celebrate all the deities involved in the Isis & Osiris myth. Aswan, Egypt’s sunniest southern city and ancient frontier town, is located about 81 miles south of Luxor and has a distinctively African atmosphere. Its ancient Egyptian name was Syene. Small enough to walk around and graced with the most beautiful setting on the Nile, the pace of life is slow and relaxing. Days can be spent strolling up and down the broad Corniche, watching the sailboats etch the sky with their tall masts or sitting in floating restaurants listening to Nubian music and eating freshly caught fish. Dinner and overnight on board.

In the evening, enjoy a Nubian show on board the ship.

Accommodations: Sonesta St. George, (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Tonight we will enjoy a Philae Light and Sounds show.  Each evening, the spectacular sound and light show enchants spectators with melodious music, all while bringing the ancient world to life around you. The show includes projections onto the temples that depict how they once looked. The program is presented in a number of languages on headsets that are provided. It is an experience not to be missed.

Accommodation: Movenpick Aswan resort (Breakfast)

Optional day trip to Abu Simbel by bus

Drive for 3 hours to reach Abu Simbel (280 KM south of Aswan). Its temples, which are among the most magnificent monuments in the world, were built by the great pharaoh Ramses II. They are perhaps the grandest and most complete example of ancient Egyptian architecture, More than 3 thousand years have elapsed since they were erected, but the temples have stood the ravages of time & remained nearly intact. The great temple is dedicated to the sun god (Ra), while the second smaller temple is dedicated to the goddess Hathour, This second temple was built for Nefertari, the pharaoh’s wife.

Accommodation: Movenpick Aswan resort (Breakfast)