7-Day Nile Cruise and Cairo Tour from Sahel Hashesh

Your first full day begins with a guided visit to Karnak temple, the largest temple complex in Luxor. Walk through the avenue of sphinxes, the monumental pylons and the Great Hypostyle Hall, where tall columns carry traces of ancient inscriptions and colour. Your guide explains how the complex grew over many centuries and why it was central to the worship of Amun-Ra.

Later, visit Luxor Temple near the river. Its entrance is marked by a massive pylon, while the inner courts and colonnades show a different scale and layout from Karnak. Depending on the sailing schedule, you may have time to return to the boat for lunch before the vessel leaves Luxor. The evening is spent on board, with the Nile scenery and passing riverbank villages providing a quiet change of pace.

Cross the Nile by road to Luxor’s West Bank, where the morning is devoted to royal tombs cut into the desert hills. At the Valley of the Kings, you enter the tombs included in the day’s visit and walk through sloping passages decorated with scenes from the afterlife. Conditions inside can be warm, uneven and narrow, so comfortable shoes and water are useful.

Continue to Hatshepsut temple, whose terraces rise against the cliffs at Deir el-Bahari. The approach gives you a clear view of the temple’s broad levels, while the reliefs and remaining columns show how Queen Hatshepsut presented her rule. Return to the cruise boat for lunch and begin sailing south. The afternoon is spent on deck or in the lounge as the boat moves towards the next river stop.

The boat reaches Edfu, where a short transfer takes you to the remarkably well-preserved Temple of Horus. Enter through the towering pylon and follow the guide through the courtyards, columned halls and sanctuary area. The reliefs show rituals, processions and the story of Horus, giving the visit a clear connection to ancient Egyptian religious life.

Return to the boat and continue south towards Kom Ombo. After arrival, walk to the riverside temple dedicated to Sobek and Horus the Elder. Its unusual double design reflects the worship of two deities, with paired courts, halls and sanctuaries. You can also see carved medical instruments and other practical imagery among the reliefs. The boat sails onward after the visit, and the evening brings time to rest while the Nile cruise continues towards Aswan.

Arrive in Aswan and travel by boat across the water to Philae Temple, which stands on an island reached only by a short local ride. The complex was moved to higher ground during the construction of the High Dam, and its courtyards, columns and reliefs remain dedicated mainly to Isis. Your guide points out the temple’s ceremonial gateways and explains how the island setting shaped the visit.

Back in Aswan, you have time to view the Nile from the riverfront and see the city’s granite landscape before returning to the cruise boat. The pace is gentler here, with fewer long road transfers and space to enjoy the deck. Your final night on board includes dinner and preparation for disembarkation. Keep essential items accessible, since luggage arrangements and the next morning’s transfer are normally explained by the cruise staff in advance.

After breakfast, leave the cruise boat and transfer from Aswan for your onward journey to Cairo. The connection may involve domestic air travel, with the precise schedule confirmed for your booking. On arrival, our team meets you and continues to the Giza Plateau, where the Giza Pyramids and Sphinx form the main focus of the afternoon.

Walk around the pyramid viewpoints to see the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the Pyramid of Khafre and the smaller Pyramid of Menkaure. Your guide explains how the plateau was planned as a royal funerary complex and points out the surviving features of the Sphinx. This is the Cairo portion of the trip and introduces you to Egypt's premier highlights after several days along the Nile. Allow time for traffic between the airport, Giza and your accommodation, then spend the evening at leisure.

Your final morning is arranged around your departure schedule. After breakfast, check out and allow time for luggage collection and the transfer to Cairo International Airport. Our team confirms the road arrangements with you in advance, taking account of traffic and the time required for airport check-in.

If your flight is later in the day, there may be limited free time near your accommodation, subject to checkout arrangements and the confirmed transfer plan. Keep your passport, travel documents and essential medication in your hand luggage, and leave room for the airport security process. The tour ends with your drop-off at the airport, after a route through numerous archaeological treasures between Luxor and Aswan and Cairo’s major sights.