Cairo, Luxor and Nile Cruise

Tour Itinerary

• Day 1 • Fly to Cairo

  Land in Cairo, the colourful Egyptian capital, and settle into your hotel for the first of three nights in the city. After settling in, rejoin your fellow travellers at the hotel's restaurant for dinner.

• Day 2 • Included half-day tour of Cairo

  Rise early for a full-day guided tour of Giza, beginning with the iconic pyramids—nearly 150 metres tall and once the crowning glories of the pharaohs—before visiting the 4,500-year-old Great Sphinx, built to guard the pyramid complex. Continue to the newly opened Grand Egyptian Museum for a guided tour with your tour manager and an expert Egyptologist, featuring artefacts newly unveiled since its 2025 opening, followed by free time to explore further and lunch at a local restaurant.

• Day 3 • Included tour of Cairo

  After breakfast, discover the sights and sounds of Cairo, beginning in the walled district of Coptic Cairo with visits to the Hanging Church above the ancient Roman fortress, St. Sergius’ Church, and the Ben Ezra Synagogue, showcasing Egypt’s rich religious heritage. Continue to the historic centre to explore the famed Khan el Khalili Bazaar, one of the oldest Mamluk-era markets, and nearby Al Mu’izz Street, renowned for its magnificent Islamic architecture, before returning to the hotel for a free evening.

• Day 4 • Fly to Luxor, optional Sound and Light show and board your cruise

  This morning, fly to historic Luxor and visit Karnak Temple in ancient Thebes, marvelling at the towering columns of the Great Hypostyle Hall dedicated to Amun, before continuing to nearby Luxor Temple, where pharaohs were crowned amid intricate carvings and hieroglyphs. Later, board the luxury MS Blue Shadow IV—your home for the next seven nights—featuring a sundeck, pool, bar, bazaar, and restaurant, where a special welcome dinner awaits as you sail the Nile’s scenic shores. This evening, you may return to Karnak for an optional Sound and Light show set against its illuminated temple walls.

• Day 5 • Included visit to the Valley of the Kings

  Enjoy breakfast against the stunning backdrop of the Nile this morning, as you set sail on the first leg of your week-long river cruise. Crossing to the river’s west bank, moor at the entrance to the famous Valley of Kings, which houses the tomb of Egypt’s child pharaoh, Tutankhamun, and the temple of Hatshepsut, one of the country’s most celebrated queens. While exploring these two fascinating landmarks, look out for the striking Colossi of Memnon, two grand statues which guard the entrance to the Theban Necropolis’ largest temple. Afterwards, return to your ship for lunch before setting sail along the region’s timeless scenery towards Edfu where you’ll moor for the night.

• Day 6 • Included visit to the Temple of Horus

  An escorted tour of Egypt’s best-preserved Pharaonic monuments awaits this morning starting with breakfast aboard your ship. Visit the intricately carved halls of the Temple of Horus, where ancient inscriptions and frescoed walls depict the dramatic battle between Horus and Seth. Reboarding your ship, you’ll then move on to Kom Ombo’s magnificent riverside temple with its impressive sandstone facades, hypostyle columns, and untouched burial grounds. Built in honour of the crocodile god, Sobek, and Haroeris (Horus the Elder), this incredible landmark offers a captivating dive into Ptolemaic culture and promises to be one of the highlights of your trip. Once you’re finished, enjoy lunch and dinner back aboard the Orient Sun Times before dropping anchor in verdant Aswan.

• Day 7 • Included visit to Aswan High Dam

  Your first full day in Aswan will take you to the city’s extraordinary High Dam, which guards the meeting point between the Nile and expansive Lake Nasser. Take breakfast aboard before heading out on today’s excursion. Witness the vast nearby granite quarries from which many of Egypt’s ancient treasures were fashioned before crossing the Nile to Philae’s Temple of Isis. After a morning’s exploration on the island, board a traditional felucca and sail around Kitchener Island with its flourishing botanical gardens. Return to the ship this evening for dinner.

• Day 8 • Day at leisure and optional Abu Simbel excursion

  Explore Aswan at your own pace, ticking off any remaining wish-list sights, or perhaps board a coach for an optional tour of Abu Simbel, a unique temple complex carved entirely out of a neighbouring mountainside. These staggering landmarks, dedicated to Rameses II and the Egyptian sky goddess, Hathor, were excavated in the early 19th Century. As you pass through the ornate halls of this remarkable complex, feast your eyes on the vast array of relics and artefacts held within. Enjoy lunch at a nearby restaurant before heading back to Aswan. Later on, enjoy a final evening on the Nile ahead of the return leg of your river cruise.

• Day 9 • Day of cruising North

  Begin your cruise back north and make the most out of your ship’s facilities. Perhaps spend time in the on-board swimming pool or sip a cocktail against the backdrop of the Nile’s idyllic stretches.

• Day 10 • Day of cruising North

  Continue your cruise this morning, taking in the best of the Nile’s scenic beauty as you glide past, and enjoy the final full day of your Egyptian escape before mooring in overnight in Luxor.

• Day 11 • Return to the UK

  Bring an extraordinary tour of Egypt’s ancient past to a close with a return flight from Luxor (via Cairo).