Cairo & Nile Cruise Tour: 10-Day Egypt Adventure

After breakfast, meet your guide for a full day in Giza. Begin at the Pyramids of Giza, where you can walk around the bases of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure and hear how these royal monuments were planned and built. Continue to The Sphinx, carved from the bedrock beside the pyramid complex. Your guide explains the statue’s features and the role of the surrounding temples.

After lunch at a local restaurant, continue into central Cairo to visit the Cairo Museum. Its galleries contain statues, coffins, jewellery and everyday objects from several periods of ancient Egyptian history, including treasures associated with Tutankhamun. The day involves walking on uneven ground at Giza and standing indoors during the museum visit, so comfortable shoes and water are useful. Return to the hotel for the evening.

Leave Cairo after breakfast for the airport and take the domestic flight to Luxor. On arrival, our team transfers you to the cruise boat for check-in. The crew explains the ship’s facilities, meal arrangements and daily schedule, giving you time to unpack before the afternoon programme begins.

Once the boat is ready, enjoy your first sailing trip on the Nile. Watch the riverbanks change as farmland, palms and small villages pass slowly by. The pace is calm, with time to sit on deck, take photographs and adjust to the rhythm of the cruise. Depending on the sailing schedule, sightseeing may begin later today or on the following morning. Your guide will confirm the exact order on board, while our team handles the transfer and embarkation arrangements.

Begin sightseeing on Luxor’s West Bank after breakfast, usually travelling by road from the boat to the archaeological sites. The first major visit is the Valley of the Kings, where rulers of the New Kingdom were buried in rock-cut tombs. Your guide explains the paintings, burial beliefs and changing tomb designs. Entry arrangements can vary, and the included tombs are confirmed locally; expect steps, sloping passages and warm conditions inside some chambers.

Continue to the Queen Hatshepsut temple, a terraced monument set against the cliffs. The broad approach and rising levels make the layout easy to understand from outside, while your guide describes Hatshepsut’s reign and the reliefs that remain. Before returning to the boat, stop at the Colossi of Memnon, two huge seated statues beside the road. Allow time for photographs, then return for lunch and the afternoon sailing schedule.

Today’s visits remain on the East Bank of Luxor. Start at Karnak Temple, a vast religious complex developed by successive pharaohs over many centuries. Walk through the great processional areas, see the massive columns in the Hypostyle Hall and examine the surviving reliefs and obelisks. The site is extensive, so your guide sets a steady pace with stops for explanation and photographs.

Later, visit Luxor Temple, whose avenue and courtyards sit close to the modern city. The temple’s columns, statues and later additions show how the site continued to be used long after its original construction. Sightseeing usually takes place in the cooler part of the day where possible, but sun protection and water are still important. Return to the cruise boat for meals, relaxation and the next stage of the southbound itinerary.

After breakfast, leave the boat for a guided visit to Edfu Temple. The short transfer from the river takes you to one of Egypt’s best-preserved ancient temples, dedicated to Horus. Its pylons, courtyards and covered halls retain clear inscriptions and reliefs, making the layout easy to follow. Your guide points out scenes connected with the temple’s rituals and the story of Horus.

Return to the boat after the visit, with time to rest before the cruise continues south. The remaining hours are part of the experience: read on deck, watch the river traffic and see agricultural land give way to stretches of desert beyond the Nile’s green edge. Lunch and other meals are served according to the boat’s daily schedule. The exact stop and sailing time depend on river traffic and the cruise timetable, which the crew confirms on board.

Today the cruise reaches Kom Ombo, where you visit Kom Ombo Temple with your guide. The monument is unusual because its design is divided between two deities, Sobek and Horus the Elder. Walk through the courtyards and halls to see the paired entrances, carved columns and reliefs that explain the temple’s religious use. A small collection of carved crocodile remains helps introduce Sobek’s connection with the Nile.

The visit is generally made from the riverbank, so access is straightforward, although the ground can be uneven and exposed to the sun. After returning to the boat, continue towards Aswan while the landscape becomes more rugged. Use the afternoon to enjoy the ship’s facilities or sit outside as the river narrows between desert hills. Your guide will brief you on the following day’s Aswan visits and any early start required for optional arrangements.

Arrive in Aswan and begin with the High Dam, a major modern structure that changed the management of the Nile and created Lake Nasser. From the viewing area, your guide explains its engineering purpose and the relocation of several ancient monuments before the lake was formed. The stop is relatively short, leaving time for the main temple visit.

Continue by motorboat across the water to Phiala temple, commonly known as Philae Temple, on Agilkia Island. The sanctuary was moved stone by stone from its original island and is dedicated mainly to Isis. Walk through the first pylon, courtyards and columned halls while your guide describes the reliefs and the rescue project. Boat access depends on local conditions and the day’s schedule. Return to the cruise boat for lunch or leisure, with the remainder of the day free to enjoy Aswan at an unhurried pace.

Set out early for Abu Simbel, travelling by road from Aswan with our arranged transfer. The journey takes several hours each way, but the destination rewards the early start: two temples were carved into the rock for Ramesses II and Queen Nefertari. Your guide leads you through the entrances and explains the colossal figures, inner chambers and the temple’s connection with the annual solar alignment.

There is time to study the reliefs and take photographs before the return journey to Aswan. The site is open and can be hot, so bring water, sun protection and practical walking shoes. Road travel can feel long, and the day is best suited to travellers comfortable with an early departure and extended time in a vehicle. Return to the cruise boat later in the day for your final night on board and a last view of the Nile.

After breakfast, complete checkout and disembark from the cruise boat in Aswan. Our team assists with your luggage and arranges the onward transfer according to your departure plan. Keep travel documents, valuables and any medication in your hand luggage while bags are moved between the boat and vehicle.

Your final transfer takes you to Aswan airport or another agreed departure point. Allow extra time for airport procedures and road traffic, especially if you are connecting to an international flight. If your onward travel is later in the day, our team can confirm the practical arrangements available for your luggage and transfer. The tour ends after drop-off, with your Cairo and Nile itinerary completed.