Classic Egypt: Cairo, Luxor and a Nile river cruise

Upon arrival, settle into your hotel for your three night stay, including breakfast

After breakfast, see the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx then explore the collection of treasures at the Grand Egyptian Museum. (B)

After breakfast, see the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx then explore the collection of treasures at the Grand Egyptian Museum. (B,L)

Learn about Cairo's Christian history with a tour of Coptic Cairo and see more of the city’s sights. (B,L)

This morning, we’ll explore Old Cairo’s Christian history with a visit to the remarkable 3rd century ‘Hanging Church’, built over a gateway to the Roman era Babylon fortress.

After lunch at a local restaurant, we’ll enjoy a guided tour of the Citadel of Cairo – also known as Citadel of Saladin - to delve into the Islamic history of the Egyptian capital.

Our tour includes the Mosque of Muhammad Ali – known as the "Alabaster Mosque", thanks to its marble panelling on its interior and exterior walls. 

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight from Cairo to Luxor. (B,L,D)

Upon arrival, we'll learn more about Luxor’s fascinating history through photos and videos on a visit to the Luxor Library and Heritage Centre (flight time permitting).

Soon it'll be time to transfer to our ship. The elegant Steigenberger Regency will be our home for the next seven nights. After a warm welcome from the crew, we'll enjoy our first lunch on board before time to settle into your cabin and explore the ship.

This evening, when the temperature’s a bit cooler, we'll enjoy an evening visit to Luxor Temple. The Temple of Luxor will be one of the smaller ones you’ll be visiting this trip, but it is equally remarkable. The temple is famous for its statues, unique artwork and wall carvings. It is also the access point for the two-mile-long Avenue of the Sphinxes, which connects the Temple of Luxor to Karnak Temple.

We'll return to the ship for dinner and our first night on board.

See the temple of Hathor, one of the best-preserved in all of Egypt, before a relaxing afternoon cruising along the Nile. (B,L,D)

The temple of Hathor is one of the most complete and best-preserved in all of Egypt. 

After your morning visit, savour a leisurely lunch back on board as your ship sails to Edfu via Esna. You could relax on a lounger, cool off with a dip in the pool or find a quiet corner with a book from the library. Perhaps, you’ll simply relax and enjoy the Nile views from your cabin before indulging in afternoon tea on the top deck – it’s completely up to you.

Relax with a morning sailing. Later, we’ll arrive at the small agricultural town of Kom Ombo with its unconventional temple. (B,L,D)

Wake up slowly to the peaceful sound of lapping water outside as the scenic riverbanks glide by. There’s plenty of time to linger over that second cup of coffee in the restaurant this morning as we spend the entire morning at leisure as we sail along the Nile.

We’ll enjoy a delicious lunch on board before arriving in Kom Ombo later in the afternoon.

The small town of Kom Ombo is located on the East side of the Nile. You’ll visit the magnificent temple here, unusual in that it’s dedicated to two gods, Horus (the falcon-headed god) and Sobek (the local crocodile god). 

After your visit, sail to the city of Aswan where your ship will moor overnight.

This morning, we’ll visit one of modern Egypt’s greatest achievements – the Aswan High Dam. Measuring more than 2 miles long at its crest, it was completed in 1970 after 11 years of construction. (B,L,D)

Following lunch back on board, we’ll visit the Nubian Museum offering an insight into Nubian life before hopping on a traditional Egyptian wooden sailing boat for a tranquil felucca cruise, crewed by a friendly local sailor. Soak up more sights along the Nile and enjoy the river breeze.

Enjoy a leisurely day on board or visit the Great Temple of Abu Simbel on an optional excursion. (B,L,D)

Today, you'll have the opportunity to visit Abu Simbel on an optional excursion.

Alternatively, if you’re looking for a little relaxation, as the ship is moored in Aswan, you could spend the day on board taking advantage of the ship’s facilities. A quiet day at leisure is the perfect excuse to pamper yourself with our onboard massage service. Or if you wish to venture ashore independently, you could visit the Old Cataract Hotel where Agatha Christie stayed and famously penned her novel Death on the Nile.

This evening, we’ll head back to the Temple of Philae to enjoy a sound and light show. See the magical temple burst back to life in an exceptional display revealing the ancient secrets and mysteries of the Egyptian gods and goddesses. 

Enjoy a gentle morning sailing along the Nile before reaching Edfu to visit the temple – the second largest in Egypt. (B,L,D)

You can enjoy a gentle start to the morning as we sail to the city of Edfu - ideal after a busy couple of days exploring monuments and temples.

This afternoon, we'll visit one of the best-preserved temples from the Ptolemaic era: the Temple of Edfu. The temple is dedicated to the falcon-headed god Horus, the patron deity of Edfu. This enormous structure provides a unique glimpse into ancient Egypt's religious and cultural practices with towering columns and intricate hieroglyphics.

After time to explore, we'll rejoin the ship for dinner and begin our journey back to Luxor via Esna.

After breakfast this morning, we'll visit the Temple of Karnak. The Hypostyle Hall is the most awe-inspiring part of this vast complex, said to be the largest religious centre of the ancient world. (B,L,D)

Next, we'll head to a local papyrus workshop to find out how this ancient writing material is made and used before returning to the ship.

There's plenty of time to make the most of the ship's facilities as we remain moored in Luxor during our last afternoon and evening onboard.

Disembark your ship for a real highlight today - cross the Nile to the West Bank for a visit to the Valley of the Kings! It is simply remarkable that so much artistic beauty is hidden below the barren earth of this hot, dry, rock-strewn valley. (B)

We will also visit the Colossi of Memnon – two massive stone statues in a seated position depicting Amenhotep III. Then on to the mortuary temple of Hatshepsut, one of the first female rulers of Egypt, with its stunning three-tiered colonnaded terraces reflecting the outline of the cliffs above. Complete your day with a visit to the beautiful Medinet Habu Temple. Less well known than other sites, it is no less impressive with its altar and chapel dedicated to the god Amun and several incredible carvings, inscriptions and paintings depicting religious scenes and myths.

This afternoon, check into a hotel for your two night stay, including breakfast

After breakfast, we'll visit the Luxor Museum located on the corniche, it houses a small but superb collection of high-quality artworks and artefacts found in the local area. They date from the Predynastic period to the Islamic era. Highlights of this impressive collection include the double statue of the crocodile god Sobek and Pharaoh Amenhotep III which was discovered at the bottom of a water-filled shaft in 1967, and the reassembled wall of 283 painted sandstone blocks from a dismantled temple built at Karnak for Amenhotep IV.

After some incredible sightseeing during this trip, you may choose to spend your last afternoon relaxing by the pool or reminiscing about the amazing sights you’ve seen with newfound friends over a drink at your hotel. Dinner is included at your hotel this evening. (B,D)

After breakfast, transfer to the airport. (B)