Ultimate Nile Experience - Essential

Upon arrival in Cairo you will be transferred to your hotel for a comfortable overnight stay, preparing for the adventure ahead.

ACCOMMODATION: 4* Baron Hotel Heliopolis or 5* Hilton Pyramids Golf, Cairo or similar

Today, after breakfast, you will begin your adventure with a visit to the Grand Egyptian Museum – a landmark project that took Egypt over ten years to complete. It houses the largest collection of Pharaonic treasures in the world, including the magnificent artefacts of Tutankhamun.

Later, you will head to the Giza Plateau to enjoy lunch with spectacular views of the iconic Pyramids.

Afterwards, explore the Pyramids themselves and admire the enigmatic Sphinx before returning to your hotel for the evening.

ACCOMMODATION: 4* Baron Hotel Heliopolis or 5* Hilton Pyramids Golf, Cairo or similar
MEALS INCLUDED: Breakfast

Enjoy breakfast and a leisurely free morning. Before lunch, you will head out to explore Old Cairo. 

After dining at an authentic local restaurant, your tour continues with visits to both Coptic and Islamic Cairo, where centuries of history and faith intertwine. In the evening, you will transfer to the railway station to board the overnight Egyptian sleeper train to Aswan.

Dinner will be served in your cabin, airline-style, as you travel south along the Nile Valley.

ACCOMMODATION: Overnight train from Cairo to Aswan
MEALS INCLUDED: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Upon arrival in Aswan, board your Nile cruise boat and settle in. You may choose to begin your sightseeing with an optional excursion to the High Dam, followed by a visit to the Unfinished Obelisk, an extraordinary monument frozen in time that reveals the ancient stone-carving techniques of the pharaohs. You can also opt to visit the Temple of Philae, dedicated to the goddess Isis and beautifully relocated to its island setting after the construction of the dam. Surrounded by the Nile’s shimmering waters, this temple is one of Egypt’s most atmospheric sites.

Later in the afternoon, after lunch, you may wish to unwind with an optional traditional felucca sailing trip, gliding gently along the Nile and passing the picturesque islands of Aswan, where palm trees, ancient rocks, and elegant domed mausoleums rise from the riverbanks. Stay overnight onboard your cruise boat.

Optional Excursions (not included in the tour price):
High Dam, Unfinished Obelisk and Temple of Philae - £74 pp
Felucca and Nubian Village - £50 pp

ACCOMMODATION: MS Coral II or similar
MEALS INCLUDED: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

After breakfast, you may choose to take an optional excursion to Abu Simbel, a journey of around four hours each way. The trip is well worth it, as Abu Simbel is considered the greatest temple complex in Egypt and a true masterpiece of ancient civilisation. 

Upon returning from Abu Simbel (for those who choose to visit), your cruise will begin sailing towards Kom Ombo. Here, you may opt to visit the unique optional excursion to the double temple dedicated to Sobek and Horus. Afterwards, continue sailing to Edfu, where you will stay overnight on board.

Optional Excursions (not included in the tour price):
Abu Simbel - £128 pp
Kom Ombo Temple - £30 pp

ACCOMMODATION: MS Coral II or similar
MEALS INCLUDED: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Early in the morning, you have the option to visit the Temple of Edfu, the best preserved temple in all of Egypt and a magnificent example of Ptolemaic architecture. After the excursion (for those who choose to join), return to the boat for breakfast as you begin sailing towards Esna.

Here you will experience the fascinating process of crossing the Esna Lock, where the boat is carefully lowered from the higher water level of the Upper Nile to the lower level below.

This is an impressive sight, as the lock gradually fills and releases water, allowing your vessel to pass through. Continue sailing towards Luxor, enjoying a full day of leisurely cruising along the Nile, watching timeless riverside villages, palm groves, and farmlands unfold before you.

Optional Excursion (not included in the tour price):
Temple of Edfu - £40 pp

ACCOMMODATION: MS Coral II or similar
MEALS INCLUDED: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

This morning, you may choose to join an optional excursion to explore the West Bank of Luxor, beginning with the Valley of the Kings, the ancient royal necropolis where Egypt’s pharaohs were laid to rest.

Continue to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, an architectural masterpiece built into the cliffs of Deir elBahari, and finish with a stop at the Colossi of Memnon, the towering statues that have guarded Thebes for millennia. Afterwards, return to the boat for lunch.

In the afternoon, you have the option to visit the magnificent Karnak Temple complex, the largest religious site of the ancient world, followed by the elegant Luxor Temple. Later, return to the boat for your overnight stay.

Optional Excursions (not included in the tour price):
Luxor West Bank - £79 pp
Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple - £79 pp

ACCOMMODATION: MS Coral II or similar
MEALS INCLUDED: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

After breakfast, the boat will sail north towards Qena, where you have the option to visit the beautifully preserved Temple of Dendera, dedicated to the goddess Hathor.

This remarkable site is renowned for its vivid astronomical ceiling, impressive columns, and sacred sanctuary. In the evening, continue sailing to Naga Hammadi, where you will spend the night.

Optional Excursion (not included in the tour price):
Temple of Dendera - £79 pp

ACCOMMODATION: MS Coral II or similar
MEALS INCLUDED: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Sail onward to El Balyana, where you have the option to visit the Temple of Abydos, one of Egypt’s most important cult centres, dedicated to Osiris, God of the afterlife.

After the excursion (for those who choose to join), return to the boat and continue the journey north toward Sohag. Spend the evening on board with entertainment and overnight in Sohag.

Optional Excursion (not included in the tour price):
Temple of Abydos - £119 pp

ACCOMMODATION: MS Coral II or similar
MEALS INCLUDED: Breakfast

Cruise from Sohag toward Tel El Amarna, passing through the Asyut Lock. Along the way, a guided explanation as you view Prince Tawdrous Monastery from the boat, an important Coptic Christian landmark on the Nile.

Arrive at Tel El Amarna and overnight on board.

ACCOMMODATION: MS Coral II or similar
MEALS INCLUDED: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Today, you may choose to join an optional excursion to explore the ancient city of Tel El Amarna, the short-lived capital of Pharaoh Akhenaten and Queen Nefertiti. Here you’ll see the Northern Tombs, the Royal Tomb of Akhenaten, the Northern Palace, and the Small Temples of Aten, all reflecting Egypt’s brief experiment with monotheism.

Continue to Ashmunein, once a centre dedicated to Thoth, and then on to Tuna El Gabal, famous for its catacombs, animal necropolis, and painted tombs that blend Egyptian and Greco Roman traditions. Afterwards, relax on board as you sail to Minya for an overnight stay.

Optional Excursion (not included in the tour price):
Tel El Amarna - £114 pp

ACCOMMODATION: MS Coral II or similar
MEALS INCLUDED: Breakfast

You may choose to join an optional excursion to the cliffs of Beni Hassan, where rock-cut tombs reveal colourful scenes of daily life, wrestling, agriculture, and foreign delegations from over 4,000 years ago. Among the most impressive are the tombs of Baqet III, Khety, Amenemhat, and Khnumhotep II. After the visit (for those who join), the boat will continue sailing towards Beni Suef, where you can enjoy the changing Nile landscape. Overnight in Beni Suef.

Optional Excursion (not included in the tour price):
Beni Hassan - £89 pp

ACCOMMODATION: MS Coral II or similar
MEALS INCLUDED: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Sail into Cairo and step ashore for a tour through the vibrant old city. Stroll along Al-Muizz Street and lose yourself in the colourful alleys of Khan El Khalili Bazaar, where spices, handicrafts, and souvenirs fill every corner. Return to your boat for overnight in Cairo.

ACCOMMODATION: MS Coral II or similar
MEALS INCLUDED: Breakfast

After breakfast, disembark from your boat and transfer to Cairo International Airport for your flight home, carrying unforgettable memories of sailing the full length of the Nile from Luxor to Cairo.

MEALS INCLUDED: Breakfast

For all guided excursions on this trip, the maximum group size will be 35 people to ensure a comfortable and personalized experience. Please note that while on the Nile cruise, the number of guests on board will naturally be higher, but excursions and activities off the boat will adhere to this maximum limit.

Optional excursions cannot be booked online at the time of reservation. However, they can be easily added after booking by contacting our Operations team, who will be happy to assist with adding your chosen experiences to your itinerary.

British passport holders require a visa for travel to Egypt. You can apply online for an e-visa, which is valid for up to 3 months, or you can obtain a visa on arrival at the airport before immigration. A visa on arrival costs $25 USD and exact change is required. Alternatively, our representative can provide a full visa service and assistance for $30 USD per person (only available at Cairo International Airport). Please note that your passport should also be valid for at least 6 months from arrival into Egypt. Please check the FCDO website for more information.

Please note that there are no mandatory vaccinations required to enter Egypt. However, we recommend consulting your GP or a travel health clinic before you travel to ensure your routine vaccinations are up to date and to receive any personalised health advice.

Sources of information include: www.fco.gov.uk,www.travelhealthpro.org.uk, www.hpa.org.uk, your General Practitioner or a specialist clinic.

While tipping isn’t mandatory, it’s a thoughtful way to show appreciation, especially considering the modest wages many workers receive. A small gesture can go a long way, so setting aside a little extra for porters, guides, and drivers is always appreciated. Leaving some spare change at restaurants is also a kind way to recognise good service.

For Nile Cruises, tips are set at $5 USD per person, per day, and will be collected at check-out.

Throughout the itinerary, there will be some stops at local shops. If you’d prefer not to participate, please let your guide know. While these shops may be slightly more expensive, they offer the reassurance of guaranteed returns, even after you’ve returned home.

This tour is suitable for most people with a good level of fitness and normal mobility. It includes activities such as climbing steep stairs, walking on uneven ground during excursions, and getting on and off coaches, vehicles, and boats.

The official currency in Egypt is the Egyptian Pound (EGP), but USD is widely accepted. We recommend exchanging some currency before leaving the UK for convenience. However, cash machines are readily available in all major cities, allowing you to withdraw money in the local currency if needed.