Cairo, Luxor & Nile Cruise

Rise early this morning, with breakfast served at your hotel, for a fascinating full-day guided tour of Giza’s ancient landmarks. Your first stop today, an emblem of Egyptian history, will be the world-renowned pyramids. Standing at almost 150 metres tall, these monumental structures were once the crowning glories of the pharaohs and remain home to ancient artefacts, which offer a glimpse into Egypt’s golden age. You’ll then move eastward to the Great Sphinx of Giza, which was modelled on one of Egyptian mythology’s most recognisable creatures. This limestone statue was originally built to guard the neighbouring pyramid complexes and remains a truly magnificent sight after over 4,500 years.

After breakfast this morning, set out into the Egyptian capital for a guided tour of the Egyptian Museum, Africa’s largest museum and the first national museum in the Middle East. Founded in 1902, this grand building showcases an expansive collection of priceless relics and the world’s largest collection of pharaonic artefacts.

Inside, you’ll discover four unique periods in the country’s history, stopping first at the museum’s Old Kingdom exhibit. Immerse yourself in the ‘Age of Pyramids’, before continuing to the Middle Kingdom, which saw Egypt reunited after decades of political conflict. A section dedicated to the New Kingdom follows, charting the peak of ancient Egypt’s power, before concluding with a glimpse into the age of Caesars and the nation’s Graeco-Roman period. Upstairs, you’ll have the chance to learn about the lives – and deaths – of the country’s most important pharaohs with a magnificent collection of mummies, carvings, and sarcophagi. If time permits, why not also pay the museum’s sphinx-strewn gardens a visit?

The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) is currently under construction in Giza and is due to open within the next year. Once the GEM is open to for public admission, you’ll spend time exploring this magnificent new museum instead of the one in Cairo.

Later you’ll return to the hotel, and you can enjoy a free evening in Cairo.

Set off this morning for a short internal flight to historic Luxor, a hub of cultural sites and age-old temples. Upon arrival, join an included excursion to Karnak temple, housed in the ruined city of Thebes, and witness the towering pillars of its Great Hypostyle Hall. This grand open-air building, dedicated to the god Amun, is part of Thebes’ wider temple complex and is one of only two buildings open for public access. Your tour will then continue to the neighbouring Luxor Temple, a sprawl of religious sites and ornate facades, which hosted the coronation of numerous pharaohs across the centuries. As you trace a path through these time-weathered sandstone halls, keep an eye out for the intricate carvings and hieroglyphs that adorn their walls.

After a busy day’s exploration, board the Sonesta Nile Goddess, a luxury river cruiser, and your base for the next seven days. Complete with an expansive sundeck, outdoor swimming pool and a bar, perfect for an evening cocktail, your cruise ship promises total comfort as you take in the panoramic views of the Nile’s pristine riverside vistas. Heading below deck, you’ll find a colourful bazaar, and a restaurant where you’ll stop this evening for a special welcome dinner.  

Please note: For 2026 departures, you’ll travel on the Orient Sun Times instead of the Sonesta Nile Goddess. All ports of call will remain the same and the overall quality of your ship’s amenities will be of a similar standard or higher.

As the sun sets over Luxor, you'll have the chance to head back into Karnak for a fascinating glimpse into Egypt's ancient history as the temple's pillared walls become the backdrop of a spectacular optional Sound and Light show. 

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.  

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 Sonesta Nile Goddess before dropping anchor in verdant Aswan.

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.

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 Ramses 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.

Later on, enjoy a final evening in Aswan ahead of the return leg of your river cruise.

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.

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.

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