Cruise on the Nile: The Land of the Pharaohs (port-to-port cruise)

This morning visit the Karnak Temple Complex, once one of the largest and most important religious complexes in ancient Egypt. The immense size of Karnak, as well as its various details, makes it an invaluable historical site and resource for understanding the evolution of ancient Egypt. Enjoy lunch on board. Your ship will begin to cruise to Edfu. You will have dinner and spend the night on board.

In Edfu visit the Temple of Horus. Built between 237 and 57 BC, this temple is one of the best-preserved ancient monuments in Egypt. It was excavated in the mid-19th century after being buried under sand and rubble for hundreds of years. Enjoy lunch on board as you continue to cruise towards Kom Ombo. Pass by Gebel el-Silsila, a major quarry site from the Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt to Greco-Roman times. Join for a presentation on ancient Egypt.

In the evening, visit the Temple of Kom Ombo, dedicated to the gods Sobek (the crocodile god) and Haroeris (Horus the Elder). By the late 1800s, much of the temple had been either destroyed by earthquakes, the waters of the Nile, or builders who took stones for other projects. It was cleaned and restored by Jacques de Morgan in 1893. The temple is unique because its dual design shows duplicated courts, halls, sanctuaries, and rooms for two sets of gods. Enjoy an Egyptian-themed dinner and spend the night on board.

This morning visit the Philae Temple Complex with a photo op at the Aswan Dam. After the dam was finished in 1902, the temple complex was partially submerged. In 1960, UNESCO started a project to save the buildings. In the long run, every building was dismantled into units and then transported to a nearby island for reconstruction. The most ancient temple is dedicated to Isis and dates back to 380 BC. We'll visit the Aswan Dam, one of the largest dams in the world. It tames the Nile River and utilizes its power for a variety of reasons, most notably to provide electricity to the country. Since its construction, the dam has been able to control the annual flooding of the river and has allowed the installation of an irrigation system that helps produce two crops per year. Lunch on board followed by a boat tour on the Nile. Board small local boats and enjoy a ride on the Nile, between the granite islands and natural reserves, passing close to the island of Elephantine. Have dinner and spend the night on board.

Spend a morning on your own in Aswan. Some of the suggestions for sites to see are a visit to the Nubian Museum, a stroll through the small streets in the souk, or taking in the awesome view at the Old Cataract—where Agatha Christie wrote her famous novel, Death on the Nile.

Optional excursion: Abu Simbel.(1) Discovering these amazing rock temples is one of the highlights of any trip to Egypt. Located about 140 miles southwest of Aswan (230 km and three hours driving time), the complex is in the heart of the desert—at the border with Sudan—and is the most impressive imprint left by Ramesses II.

Return to the ship in Aswan and have lunch on board. Spend the afternoon cruising to Esna. Have dinner and spend the night on board.

(1) The Egyptian government can decide to close the roads to the Abu Simbel site at any time. Departure for the Abu Simbel excursion takes place very early in the morning. You must reserve this excursion before you leave for your cruise.

Spend the morning cruising to Luxor. Join for a presentation on modern Egypt. Lunch on board. In the afternoon visit The Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut—one of only a few women to officially serve as pharaoh—and Tomb KV11—one of the most intact tombs in the Valley of the Kings—built for Pharaoh Rameses III. The quality of the colors and the scenes represented on the temple walls make it one of the top tourist destinations in the valley. Spend the night on board.

Join for a visit to the Valley of the Kings and four of its tombs, including the longest and deepest of the royal tombs built for Seti I. It was also the first tomb to feature decorations on every passageway and chamber with highly refined bas-reliefs and colorful paintings. When Giovanni Battista Belzoni first entered the tomb, the paint on the walls was still fresh looking, and some of the artists' paints and brushes were still on the floor. We'll also stop for a photo op at the Colossi of Memnon. Have lunch on board then set out on an excursion to the Luxor Temple, a strikingly graceful monument in the heart of the modern town. Its main function was during the annual Opet celebrations, when the statues of Amun, Mut, and Khonsu were reunited during the flooding of the river. You will have dinner and spend the night on board. Enjoy a show of traditional Egyptian entertainment.

One last buffet breakfast before disembarking at 9 a.m. End of our services.

• Your cruise in the cabin of your choice on board the RV Star of Luxor (or similar ship)
• All meals from dinner on the first day to breakfast on the final day
• All visits and excursions mentioned in the program (except for the optional excursions)
• Assistance of English-speaking Egyptologists for all visits
• The services of a CroisiEurope cruise director on board
• Drinks at all meals (mineral water + 1 soft drink or 1 beer* or 1 glass of wine* + 1 tea or coffee per person at each meal)
• Travel assistance and repatriation insurance
• Tips
• All port fees

• Transfers to/from departure/arrival points
• Egyptian visa
• Cancellation and baggage insurance
• Tips (as a guideline, plan for 40 € per passenger for the guide and 10 € for the boat staff)
• Optional excursions