Arrival at Cairo International Airport. Meet and assist by our representative of “Egypt Best Vacations“. Transfer to your cruise to begin your 13 days Nile cruise itinerary. Free evening in Cairo.

Your actual 13 days Nile cruise just begins when our tour guide picks you up for the tour of the Great Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx and Saqqara.

Today, you will explore the Giza Plateau. Today’s tour includes the Great Pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure with the great Sphinx. The only ancient wonder which still exists (Khufu’s pyramid) awaits you. Are you ready to explore it from the inside? (Optional)

Today you will learn about the history of the pyramids, how they were built, and why they were built. Then on to the first pyramid in history, the Step Pyramid of King Djoser at Saqqara. Saqqara is one of the most important and richest necropolises in Egypt. It was the cemetery of Memphis, the 1^st capital city of United Egypt in 3200 BCE.

Back to your Nile cruise for a free evening in Cairo.

Explore the fabulous contents of the historical Egyptian Museum at Tahrir Square in Cairo. Thousands of artifacts from all periods of Egyptian history are displayed on the two floors of the museum.
From the museum to the Citadel of the Sunni Muslim leader Saladin, which was built in 1172 to defend Cairo against the Crusaders. The White Mosque of Mohammed Ali Pasha is a prominent feature of the Citadel.
You will finish your tour today at the historical bazaar of Khan El-Khalili, the largest bazaar in the Middle East.

Back to your Nile cruise ship. Overnight in Cairo.

Your fourth day of your 13 days Nile cruise journey is a relaxing day on board. So, set sail to Bani Suef to overnight there. Embrace the scenery. Capture memorable photos of the riverbanks, villages, and ancient ruins along the way. Enjoy onboard amenities.

Set sail to El-Minya to overnight there. Embrace the scenery. Capture memorable photos of the riverbanks, villages, and ancient ruins along the way. Enjoy onboard amenities.

Today, your 13 days Nile cruise tour takes your to visit the lovely tombs from the Middle Kingdom period at Bani Hassan. The tombs are located in two distinct areas: the upper and lower cemeteries. The tombs of the upper cemetery are a testament to the ancient Egyptians’ architectural skills. They were cut into the rock with great accuracy using simple tools like chisels with bronze blades, which were struck with wooden mallets. The tombs are the final resting places of the senior officials of this region, the 16th Upper Egyptian province, which was known as the Oryx nome. They date to the 11th and 12th Dynasties of the Middle Kingdom (c. 2055–1795 BC). The repetition of names like Baqet, Khety, and Khnumhotep through a number of generations suggests that many of the owners of these tombs were related.

Then proceed to visit the cult center of the god Thoth at Ashmunein. A provincial capital since the Old Kingdom of Egypt, Hermopolis developed into a major city of Roman Egypt, and an early Christian center from the third century. It was abandoned after the Muslim conquest but was restored as both a Latin Catholic (meanwhile suppressed) and a Coptic Orthodox titular see.

End your tour at Tuna El-Gabal.  It is the necropolis of Hermopolis Magna, ancient capital of the 15th nome and cult centre of Thot, god of writing and sciences. Back to your Nile cruise. Overnight in El-Minya.

Set sail to Tell El-Amarna to visit the City of king Akhenaton where Tutankhamun was born. On a virgin site on the east bank of the Nile River, Akhenaten (Amenhotep IV) built the city about 1348 BCE as the new capital of his kingdom when he abandoned the worship of Amon and devoted himself to worship of the Aton. About four years after Akhenaten’s death (c. 1332), the court returned to Thebes, and the city was abandoned.

Then set sail to Assiut. Overnight in Assiut.

Set sail to Sohag to overnight there. Embrace the scenery. Capture memorable photos of the riverbanks, villages, and ancient ruins along the way. Enjoy onboard amenities.

Set sail to Baliana to visit the wonderful Temple of pharaoh Seti I at Abydos. The Temple of Seti I at Abydos is amongst the most famous, cited by many as the most impressive religious structure still standing in Egypt. Unlike other Egyptian temples, it is L-shaped rather than rectangular and incorporates seven great doorways and seven sanctuaries. The temple was dedicated to the major gods Osiris, Isis, Horus, Amun-Ra, Ra-Horakhty, and Ptah as well as the deified Seti I himself.

Then set sail to Qena. Overnight in Qena.

Your 10th day of your 13 days Nile cruise journey is dedicated to Dendera. Visit the beautiful Temple of the goddess Hathor at Dendera. The temple of Dendera dates back to the Ptolemaic Period, although evidence points to older structures once existing on the site, dating as far back as king Pepy I, from the Old Kingdom. Among the temple’s most notable features are astronomical engravings on its ceiling.

Set sail to Luxor. Overnight in Luxor.

Today, you will visit the West Bank of Luxor. Discover the magnificent tombs of the pharaohs in the Valley of the Kings, where the kings of the New Kingdom were buried. The tombs in the Valley of the Kings are hewn out of the bedrock and decorated with scenes of the journey of the Sun-god Re through the underworld.

Then proceed to the unique Temple of the female pharaoh Hatshepsut. Hatshepsut served as solo pharaoh for 20 years. End your tour at the impressive Colossi of Memnon. Return back to your Nile cruise for a free evening in Luxor.

Optional tour: Sunrise Hot Air Balloon over Luxor

Visit the East bank of Luxor which includes the largest temple in the world, the Temple of Karnak. The Temple/Complex of Karnak was the great god’s chief sanctuary and much larger than any other monument in Egypt. This huge and splendid complex which actually contains many separate temples covers 1700 years of expansion and an area of 300 acres.

Then proceed to the majestic Temple of Luxor. The Temple of Luxor was built by the 18^th Dynasty pharaoh Amenhotep III (1387-1349 BCE), the grandson of the military genius Tuthmosis III, and expanded by the 19^th Dynasty pharaoh Ramses II (1279-1213 BCE). Numerous other sovereigns, including Tutankhamun, Horemhab, and Alexander the Great enriched the construction with reliefs, inscriptions, and minor buildings.

Head back to your cruise for the final night of your 13 days Nile cruise journey.

Wrap your 13 days Nile cruise itinerary by disembarkation. Transfer to Luxor Airport. It is sad to leave, so ask our guides about your next adventure in Egypt.