Alexandria, Nile Cruise and White Desert

Breakfast at the hotel. At the indicated time, transfer to the airport for a flight to Luxor. On arrival, transfer to the port to board your Full-Board Nile Cruise Boat*, your home for the next four nights. Get settled in your cabin and enjoy lunch and the views of the river Nile. In the afternoon, visit the Temple of Karnak, a huge complex of decayed temples, columns and other buildings. On the way back to the ship, stop at the impressive Temple of Luxor, dedicated to Amun-Ra, Mut and Khonu and built by Amenophis III and Ramses II. Back on the ship, enjoy the remainder of the evening at your leisure. We recommend an optional Luxor Museum visit.** Dinner and overnight on board.

* The order of the excursions and visits may vary, depending on the schedule of the internal flights, traffic and other logistical reasons. The planned visits will be carried out in any case.

** Luxor Museum visit. Discover more than 1800 archaeological pieces that narrate the history of the emblematic city of Alexandria from the Pharaonic to the Islamic eras, including mummies that can be viewed in a special underground chamber.

Full-board on board. Begin the day with a visit to the legendary Valley of the Kings, the burial site of the pharaohs between the 18th and 20th ancient Egyptian dynasties and the famous site of the tomb of Tutankhamun. After exploring the valley, head to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, set on large terraces beneath the cliffs at Deir el-Bahari. Continue to the Colossi of Memnon, two imposing stone statues of the Pharaoh Amenhotep III, before returning to the ship as it navigates towards Edfu. Dinner and overnight on board. 

Please note: The excursion to the Valley of the Kings includes visits to three tombs. Entrance to the tomb of Tutankhamun is not included but, if you are interested in visiting, you can buy a ticket to see this tomb at the site during your visit.

Full-board on board. Disembark the ship in Edfu and take a carriage ride to the magnificent Temple of Horus, the famous, falcon-headed Egyptian god. Explore the atmospheric temple ruins as you trace the footsteps of the pharaohs. Return to the ship and continue sailing south to Kom Ombo. Upon arrival explore the twin Temples of Haroeris and Sobek and see the amazing Nilometer, used to measure the rising and falling levels of the Nile, an important life source in Egypt. Return to the ship and relax onboard as you continue towards Aswan. Dinner and overnight on board.

Full-board on board. If you're an early riser, you have the chance to enjoy an optional excursion to Abu Simbel*, home to many rock-carved temples. Today, enjoy a tour of Aswan to uncover the sights of this fascinating city. Explore the famous granite quarry, where the building blocks of many of ancient Egypt's monuments were produced and visit both the old and new Aswan Dams, monumental engineering works built in the 19th and 20th centuries respectively to control the flooding on the banks of the Nile. Afterwards, we recommend to take the chance to book an optional visit to the Island of Philae**. A river island in the Nile where the ancient temple of the goddess Isis is located. End the day with a peaceful ride in a felucca, a typical fishing boat, on the river Nile. Return to the ship and enjoy relaxing on board. Dinner and overnight on board.

* Optional Excursion to Abu Simbel: Visit these amazing temples, carved on the western cliff of the desert by Ramses II in the Xl century BC. See the iconic 20-metre high statues, dedicated to the god Amon Ra, and the Temple of Nefertari, dedicated to the goddess Hathor. 

Please note: If you take the optional excursion to Abu Simbel, you will depart from the ship at approximately 3-3:30 a.m. to make the most of the coolest and quietest part of the day. This way, you can fully experience Abu Simbel without the crowds and avoid sightseeing in high temperatures.

** Optional Island of Philae Excursion: Discover the historic island of Philae, in the reservoir of the Old Aswan Dam. It is home to the ancient ruins of the Temple of Isis and offers a fascinating insight into life and beliefs in Ancient Egypt.

Breakfast on board. At the indicated time, disembark the ship and transfer to the airport for a short flight to Cairo. Arrive in the capital and transfer to the hotel. Enjoy the remainder of the day at your leisure to get to know Cairo. While away, enjoy the day going shopping in the busy city souks to bag a bargain. We recommend rounding it off with an evening tour of Cairo with dinner*. Overnight stay in Cairo.

*Optional Cairo by Night: we take a walk around the most beautiful corners of Cairo (Tahrir Square, Zamalek, Cairo Tower and the Opera House) before heading to the restaurant where we will enjoy a delicious dinner. We will finish the evening with a visit to the famous Mirror Café.

Breakfast at the hotel. An early morning departure is scheduled for Bahariya, where you can enjoy the 4 ½ hour drive to take in the splendor of the scenery. Discover this stunning oasis’ black hills and hundreds of mineral and sulfur springs. On arrival to Bawiti, capital of Bahariya, we will begin our 4X4 safari by exploring the Black Desert surrounding the oasis. You will then make your way to Gabal el Marsos (Divided Mountain) by foot before driving towards the White Desert and stopping by Crystal Mountain to relish in the beauty of the creamy-colored landscapes. Return to hotel and check in, dinner and overnight stay in Bawiti.

Breakfast at the hotel. Morning tour exploring the top sights of Bahariya, including El Meftella Mountain, Salt Lake and the hot springs of Bir el Ghaba & el Matar. Your day will carry on visiting the Golden Mummies Museum, a burial catacomb that was built during the Greco-Roman period. Here, you’ll get to gaze in awe at some of the most high-ranking mummified Roman Egyptians, many of which are adorned in gold masks and decorated with religious scenes. Return to Cairo in the evening. Check in and overnight stay.