Day 1 – Welcome to Luxor: Karnak & Luxor Temples

Your 5-day Nile Cruise from Luxor to Aswan begins with embarkation aboard MS Nile Dolphin before lunch. After receiving a warm traditional welcome, settle into your cabin and prepare for your first exploration of Luxor.

In the afternoon, visit the extraordinary Karnak Temple Complex, a vast religious site covering more than 100 hectares. Walk along the grand Avenue of Ram-Headed Sphinxes toward the imposing First Pylon before entering the legendary Great Hypostyle Hall, home to 134 towering columns richly decorated with hieroglyphs.

Continue through the complex to discover sacred lakes, impressive obelisks, and the Precinct of Amun-Re, revealing layers of history accumulated over more than 1,500 years.

Next, visit Luxor Temple, an important center of divine rejuvenation in ancient Egypt. Admire the colossal statues of Ramses II, the remains of the Abu Haggag Mosque incorporated into the temple structure, and the continuation of the Sphinx Avenue that once connected Luxor Temple with Karnak.

Return to the boat for tea time and relax on the sun deck while the Nile flows peacefully beside you. Enjoy dinner and spend the night onboard in Luxor.

Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner

Day 2 – Luxor West Bank, Royal Tombs & Sailing to Esna

After breakfast, explore the legendary West Bank of Luxor, beginning with the Valley of the Kings.

Enter the hidden world of the pharaohs as you visit three royal tombs carved deep into the Theban cliffs. Their walls are decorated with vibrant scenes representing the ancient Egyptian concept of the afterlife. Optional entry to the tombs of Tutankhamun or Seti I is available at an additional cost.

Continue to the spectacular Temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari. Built into the limestone cliffs, this multi-terraced architectural masterpiece features elegant colonnades, detailed reliefs, and panoramic views across the Theban Necropolis.

Your West Bank exploration concludes at the Colossi of Memnon, the imposing statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III that once guarded a grand mortuary temple. Here, you can hear the local legends surrounding the famous “singing statues.”

Return to the cruise for lunch and begin sailing south toward Esna, passing green riverbanks and charming villages along the way. Experience the passage through the Esna Lock before continuing toward Edfu.

Dinner and overnight onboard as the ship sails toward Edfu.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Optional Hot Air Balloon Ride
For an unforgettable start to the day, guests may choose an optional early morning Hot Air Balloon ride over Luxor. As the sun rises above the Nile, float gently over the Valley of the Kings, ancient temples, and surrounding farmlands. The panoramic views of ancient Thebes bathed in golden light create a peaceful and memorable experience.

Day 3 – Edfu Temple & Kom Ombo Temple

Begin the morning in Edfu with a traditional horse-drawn carriage ride to the Temple of Horus, offering a charming glimpse of 19th-century-style travel.

Explore the Temple of Horus at Edfu, regarded as the most completely preserved temple of the ancient world. Built during the Ptolemaic period, it honors Horus, the falcon-headed god associated with kingship and protection.

Walk through its grand pylon and vast courtyards, admire intricate reliefs depicting the battle between Horus and Seth, and enter the Holy of Holies where ancient rituals were once performed.

Return to the boat and enjoy lunch as you sail toward Kom Ombo.

In the afternoon, visit the remarkable Temple of Kom Ombo, a rare dual-deity temple with a perfectly symmetrical design. One half honors Sobek, the crocodile god and protector of the Nile, while the other is dedicated to Horus the Elder, god of kingship and the sky.

Explore its detailed stone carvings, including ancient medical instruments and a calendar, as well as the remarkable scenes connected with healing.

Continue to the Crocodile Mummification Museum before returning to the cruise.

Enjoy dinner and spend the night onboard as MS Nile Dolphin continues sailing toward Aswan.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4 – Aswan: High Dam, Philae Temple & Unfinished Obelisk

After breakfast, begin your exploration of Aswan, where ancient heritage meets modern engineering.

Visit the High Dam, a modern engineering masterpiece that transformed the control of the Nile, providing electricity and irrigation to millions. Enjoy panoramic views over Lake Nasser before continuing your tour.

Take a boat to Philae Temple, the magical island complex dedicated to Isis, goddess of love and magic. Located on Agilkia Island, the temple was carefully relocated stone by stone during the UNESCO rescue project. Admire its elegant columns, sacred sanctuaries, and beautiful setting beside the Nile.

Continue to the ancient granite quarries to see the Unfinished Obelisk, the largest obelisk ever attempted, still lying in situ. The site provides a unique insight into the stone-working techniques used by ancient Egyptian craftsmen.

Return to the cruise for lunch onboard. Spend the afternoon at leisure or choose an optional felucca sailing experience along the Nile.

Enjoy dinner and spend your final night onboard in Aswan.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Optional Nubian Village Visit
Enhance your Aswan experience with an optional visit to a traditional Nubian Village. Travel by boat along the Nile to explore colorful mud-brick homes, meet friendly local residents, and discover Nubian customs, music, and traditional ways of life. This cultural experience offers a warm introduction to the heritage of southern Egypt.

Day 5 – Farewell Aswan & Optional Abu Simbel

Enjoy breakfast onboard before disembarkation in Aswan.

For guests wishing to continue their exploration, an optional early morning Abu Simbel excursion from Aswan offers the opportunity to visit one of Egypt’s most awe-inspiring archaeological sites.

Travel by car or flight at an additional cost to discover the monumental temples of Ramses II and Queen Nefertari, carved directly into the rock and facing the rising sun over Lake Nasser.

The temples were relocated as part of a remarkable UNESCO rescue effort and remain a timeless testament to ancient Egyptian engineering, devotion, and grandeur.

Meals Included: Breakfast