Luxury 7-Night Nile Cruise from Luxor to Aswan and Back

Upon arrival at Luxor International Airport, Luxor railway station, bus station, or your hotel, a representative of Truly Egypt Tours will meet and assist you. You will then be transferred in a private, air-conditioned vehicle to your luxury Nile cruise. Our representative will assist you with embarkation and check-in. After settling into your cabin, you will receive a detailed briefing about the cruise program, sightseeing schedule, meeting points, and pick-up times. Enjoy lunch on board before beginning your first sightseeing tour on Luxor’s East Bank. Karnak Temple Complex Visit the magnificent Karnak Temple Complex, one of the largest religious sites ever built. The complex includes monumental gateways, vast courtyards, massive columns, obelisks, and sacred temples dedicated mainly to the god Amun-Ra. Luxor Temple Continue to Luxor Temple, located on the eastern bank of the Nile. Built by several ancient Egyptian rulers, including Amenhotep III, Tutankhamun, and Ramses II, the temple was connected to Karnak Temple by the ancient Avenue of Sphinxes. Return to the cruise for dinner and overnight accommodation. Meals: Lunch and dinner Overnight: Nile cruise in Luxor

Enjoy breakfast on board. Optional Hot-Air Balloon Ride For an unforgettable experience, you may choose an optional early-morning hot-air balloon ride over Luxor. From the sky, you can enjoy panoramic views of the Nile, agricultural fields, temples, and the West Bank monuments. After breakfast, cross to Luxor’s West Bank to explore the ancient burial grounds of the pharaohs. Valley of the Kings Visit the Valley of the Kings, the royal necropolis where many New Kingdom pharaohs were buried. The valley contains more than 60 tombs and is famous for its richly decorated underground chambers. Your ticket normally includes entrance to a selected number of tombs; additional famous tombs may require separate tickets. Temple of Queen Hatshepsut Continue to the impressive Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari. Built into the cliffs, this three-level temple is known for its elegant terraces, colonnades, reliefs, and dramatic setting. Colossi of Memnon Stop at the Colossi of Memnon, two enormous stone statues representing Pharaoh Amenhotep III. They once stood at the entrance to his mortuary temple. Return to the cruise for lunch. In the afternoon, begin sailing south toward Edfu. Relax on the sun deck, enjoy the Nile scenery, and watch local villages, farmland, and desert landscapes pass by. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner Overnight: Nile cruise in Edfu

Enjoy breakfast while the cruise continues its journey south. Edfu Temple Depending on the cruise schedule, visit the remarkably preserved Temple of Horus at Edfu. The temple was dedicated to Horus, the falcon-headed god of kingship and protection. It features imposing pylons, beautifully carved reliefs, large courtyards, and a well-preserved sanctuary. The temple may be reached by a short transfer from the cruise ship, often by horse-drawn carriage or vehicle, depending on local arrangements. Return to the cruise for lunch and continue sailing toward Kom Ombo. Kom Ombo Temple Visit the unusual Kom Ombo Temple, built on a hill overlooking the Nile. The temple is unique because it was dedicated to two gods: Sobek, the crocodile-headed god associated with fertility and the Nile Horus the Elder, the falcon-headed god The temple includes symmetrical halls, carved columns, reliefs, and an ancient nilometer. You may also see displays related to ancient Egyptian medicine and mummified crocodiles. After the visit, return to the cruise and continue sailing toward Aswan. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner Overnight: Nile cruise in Aswan

After breakfast, begin your sightseeing tour of Aswan, one of Egypt’s most scenic cities. Aswan High Dam Visit the Aswan High Dam, an important modern engineering project built to control the annual flooding of the Nile and provide water and electricity to Egypt. The dam also created Lake Nasser, one of the largest artificial lakes in the world. Philae Temple Continue by motorboat to Philae Temple, located on Agilkia Island. The temple complex was dedicated primarily to Isis, the goddess of motherhood, magic, and healing. It also contains monuments connected with Hathor and other ancient Egyptian deities. The temple was carefully relocated from Philae Island to Agilkia Island during an international UNESCO project to protect it from the rising waters of Lake Nasser. Return to the cruise for lunch. Felucca Sailing Around Elephantine Island In the afternoon, enjoy a traditional felucca ride on the Nile around Elephantine Island. Admire the beautiful river scenery, nearby islands, the Agha Khan Mausoleum, and the colorful landscapes of Aswan. Aswan Botanical Garden Depending on the sailing route and local arrangements, visit or view the Aswan Botanical Garden, located on Kitchener’s Island. The garden contains a wide variety of tropical and subtropical plants brought from different parts of the world. At the end of the tour, return to the cruise for dinner and overnight accommodation. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner Overnight: Nile cruise in Aswan

Enjoy breakfast on board. Optional Abu Simbel Tour You may take an optional excursion to the world-famous Abu Simbel Temples, located approximately 280 kilometers southwest of Aswan. The journey is usually conducted by road or domestic flight, depending on the selected arrangement. The temples were built by Pharaoh Ramses II during the 13th century BC and are among the most spectacular monuments in Egypt. Great Temple of Ramses II The Great Temple is famous for its four colossal statues of Ramses II carved into the mountainside. Inside, visitors can see monumental halls, colorful reliefs, and scenes depicting the pharaoh’s military victories and religious ceremonies. Temple of Queen Nefertari The smaller temple was dedicated to Queen Nefertari, the wife of Ramses II, and the goddess Hathor. Its façade includes statues of both Ramses II and Queen Nefertari. The temples were moved to higher ground during the 1960s in one of the world’s most important archaeological rescue projects. Return to Aswan and spend the rest of the day at leisure on board. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner Overnight: Nile cruise in Aswan ****. Important Cruise Schedule Note The exact sailing schedule may vary depending on the cruise operator, navigation conditions, . On some departures, the cruise may sailing from Aswan to Kom Ombo on the afternoon of Day 5. In other cases, the cruise may remain in Aswan overnight and depart for Kom Ombo on the morning of Day 6.

Enjoy a relaxed morning on board. This is an ideal opportunity to enjoy the cruise facilities, swim in the pool, relax on the sun deck, and take photographs of the Nile Valley. The cruise begins sailing north toward Kom Ombo. Kom Ombo Stop After lunch, make a brief stop at Kom Ombo, depending on the cruise schedule. You may have free time to revisit the temple area, explore the surroundings, or enjoy views of the Nile. Continue sailing toward Edfu. During the journey, observe traditional villages, palm groves, farmland, and desert landscapes along the riverbanks. Enjoy dinner on board and spend the night in Edfu. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner Overnight: Nile cruise in Edfu

Enjoy breakfast on board and spend the morning at leisure. You may relax on the sun deck, use the swimming pool, enjoy onboard entertainment, or simply admire the scenery along the Nile. The cruise will sail north from Edfu toward Luxor, passing through Esna. Esna Lock The cruise may pass through the Esna Lock, a major part of the Nile navigation system. The timing of passage depends on river traffic and the cruise schedule. Continue sailing toward Luxor. Upon arrival, enjoy your final evening on the cruise, with dinner and overnight accommodation on board. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner Overnight: Nile cruise in Luxor

Enjoy your final breakfast on board before checking out and disembarking from the cruise. A representative of Truly Egypt Tours will transfer you by private, air-conditioned vehicle to Luxor International Airport, railway station, bus station, or your hotel in Luxor, according to your departure arrangements. We hope you enjoyed your luxury Nile cruise and the unforgettable monuments, landscapes, and cultural experiences of ancient Egypt. Meals: Breakfast