Merit Dahabiya

Day 1: Arrive Aswan / Aswan Excursions

Upon your arrival at Aswan airport / Train station, you will be met and assisted by your Nile Holiday tour manager. Then you will be accompanied by your Egyptologist guide to enjoy Aswan sightseeing. Start to visit Aswan high dam, a rock-fill dam built across the Nile in Aswan between 1960- 1970. It creates Lake Nasser, one of the largest man-made lakes in the world.

Proceed with a motorboat ride to Philae Temple Island, comprises a large number of small Temples dates back to Pharaonic, Greek and Roman times. But the largest and the best preserved on the Island is the temple of the Goddess Isis. Afterwards you will enjoy walking in Aswan Bazaar, Later on, transfer to embark the Nile Dahabiya boat, enjoying your Lunch on Board & free time onboard, overnight in Aswan.

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Day 2: Aswan, Kom ombo temple

An option is available this morning to visit Abu Simbel temples built by Ramses II at the amazing UNESCO world heritage site of Abu Simbel. If you don’t visit Abu Simbel, then this morning is free

Today afternoon, your Nile Dahabiya will slowly start sailing towards Kom-ombo temple, enjoying your Lunch on Board. Today you will visit Kom ombo temple, the unusual double temple in Upper Egypt dedicated to two gods, Sobek and Haroeris. The temple has double entrances, procession routes and sanctuaries. Continue sailing to the ancient sandstone quarries at Gebel el-Silsila. Overnight onboard

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Edfu temple, Karnak and Luxor temples

Today, enjoy your breakfast at leisure while sailing to Luxor via Esna, Cross Esna Lock and sail onward towards Luxor

Upon your arrival you will be picked up to visit Karnak temple. Enjoy walking along the avenue of sphinxes to enter the largest religious site in Egypt, built for Amon-re the official deity of Luxor. Discover the complex as your guide explains the great history of Karnak temple, Pylons, Courts, Hall of Columns, obelisks, Sanctuary etc

Continue to visit Luxor temple, located in the center. The Temple once was joined to Karnak temple by 3 km Long Avenue of Sphinx, a portion of which marks the entrance to Luxor temple. After finished, transfer to your Nile Cruise to relax or enjoy an optional Sound & Light Show held at the Karnak Temple where ancient and poetic voices tell about the birth of Karnak temple and the heroic achievements of pharaohs and god Amun. A spectacular and unforgettable evening!

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Luxor West Bank / Final Departure

Disembarkation after breakfast, start to visit the Valley of the Kings, the burial place of the kings of Thebes “Luxor” for almost 500 years during the New Kingdom from 1550 BC till 1080 BC. You will visit 3 tombs of the most famous pharaohs. Whilst here, you can also visit the tomb of the young Pharaoh Tutankhamun (Extra ticket on spot).

Drive to visit the temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir el Bahari, the temple is one of the most striking monuments in Egypt. The unique temple has 3 terraces following each other and built at the bottom of al Qurna mountain cliff on the west bank of Luxor.

Returning to Luxor there will be time for a brief photo stop at the two Colossi of Memnon, the only remains of the funerary temple of King Amenhotep III (1386 to 1349 BC).

After finished, you will be transferred to your Luxor (Hotel, airport or Train station).

Optional: A spectacular hot air balloon flight over the west bank of the Nile is also available today (expect another early start to catch sunrise as the balloon rises).

Meals: Breakfast

Note: Itinerary may change in sequence but not in visits, due to navigation circumstances, Program will always be respected.

Day 1: Arrive Luxor, Luxor East Bank sightseeing

Upon your arrival at Luxor airport / train station, your Nile Holiday tour manager will meet and assist you, and then transfer to embark your Nile Dahabiya Cruise. The crew will welcome you on board and have your bags taken to your cabins.

After Lunch on board, you will be accompanied by your Egyptologist tour guide to visit Luxor East bank sights. Start at Karnak temple, the largest religious temple ever built in Egypt. Enjoy walking along the avenue of Sphinxes as your tour guide explains how the massive facade was constructed. Proceed walking through the Great Pylons, the great hypostyle hall with 134 columns, the obelisks, and the sacred lake. And then enjoy free time to explore at leisure

Head out to Luxor temple, which was once joined to the Temple of Karnak by a three-kilometer long Avenue of Sphinx. You will enter the temple through the great pylon where two enormous statues of Ramses II still stand, along with a pink granite obelisk (its mate stands in the Place de la Concorde in Paris, France). After a fantastic guided tour to Luxor temple enjoy free time at leisure

After finished, you will be transferred to back to your Nile Dahabiya Cruise. Overnight on board in Luxor

Optional: In the evening, Sound and Light show at Karnak temple

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Day 2: Luxor West Bank sightseeing, Sailing to Esna

Breakfast on Board and then pick up to enjoy your tour to the West bank of the Nile in Luxor. Start with a brief photo stop at the colossi of Memnon, which marks the ruins of a funerary temple of Amenhotep III.

Head out to the Valley of the Kings, the sight where the rock cut tombs were excavated for the pharaohs and powerful nobles of the New Kingdom of ancient Egypt (1550 – 1080 BC). The majority of the royal tombs was decorated with religious texts, images and provided with equipment that would enable a comfortable existence in the afterlife. You will visit 3 tombs of the most famous pharaohs Like Ramses III, IV tombs, Tomb of Merenptah, Tomb of Thutmose III, or Queen Tawosret. Whilst here, you will have the time to visit inside the tomb of the boy king Tutankhamun “Extra ticket on spot”.

Continue to the mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, one of the incomparable monuments of ancient Egypt. There are three layered terraces, are connected by long ramps which were once surrounded by gardens with foreign plants including frankincense and myrrh trees. After a fantastic tour, you will enjoy free time to explore at leisure.

Later on, return to your Nile Dahabiya cruise boat before Lunch and begin our voyage along the Nile, travelling upstream from Luxor to Aswan. Tea time on board and overnight at Esna.

Optional: a spectacular sunrise hot air balloon trip over the west bank of the Nile is available this morning (expect an early start to catch sunrise as the balloon rises).

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Esna, Edfu Temple

Enjoy breakfast at leisure on board while sailing towards Edfu passing through the Esna Locks. It is common to have to queue to proceed through the lock, however this is a great opportunity to check out the process from deck with a cool drink in hand and listen to the shouts of the many captains as they navigate their way through the various small boats of merchants selling their wares. Settle back into the comforts of your Nile cruise ship and make the most of the incredible views across one of the world’s greatest rivers

Set sail towards Edfu, you will enjoy horse and carriage ride to visit Edfu Temple, one of the best preserved temples in Egypt. The temple was built in the Ptolemaic Kingdom between 237 and 57 BC. The inscriptions on its walls provide important information on language, myth and religion during the Hellenistic period in Egypt.

We will then set sail for a small Island “Al Ramady” where the Dahabiya will moor for the night. Enjoy your dinner on the sundeck, overnight on board.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Sail to el Sheikh Fadl Island then on to Aswan

Today, enjoy breakfast on board while sailing the River Nile to Aswan. There is no sightseeing excursions scheduled for this day, it is going to be a wonderfully relaxing day and lots of relaxation time on the river while the Nile Dahabiya is sailing silently towards el Sheikh Fadl Island, where the Dahabiya will moor for the night. Enjoy your dinner on the sundeck, overnight on board.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Aswan Sightseeing, Departure Transfer

Disembarkation after breakfast on board, today you will visit the unfinished obelisk, the largest known ancient Egyptian obelisk offers unusual insights into ancient Egyptian stone working techniques. Proceed to visit Aswan high dam, a rock-fill dam built across the Nile in Aswan between 1960- 1970. It creates Lake Nasser, one of the largest man-made lakes in the world.

Continue with a motorboat ride to Philae Temple Island, comprises a large number of small Temples dates back to Pharaonic, Greek and Roman times. But the largest and the best preserved on the Island is the temple of the Goddess Isis.

Later on, you will be transferred to Aswan (Hotel, airport or train station) for final departure.

Meals: Breakfast

Note:

– Itinerary may change in sequence but not in visits, due to navigation circumstances, Program will always be respected.

Day 1: Arrive Luxor, Luxor East Bank sightseeing

Upon your arrival at Luxor airport / train station, your Nile Holiday tour manager will meet and assist you, and then transfer to embark your Nile Dahabiya Cruise. The crew will welcome you on board and have your bags taken to your cabins.

After Lunch on board, you will be accompanied by your Egyptologist tour guide to visit Luxor East bank sights. Start at Karnak temple, the largest religious temple ever built in Egypt. Enjoy walking along the avenue of Sphinxes as your tour guide explains how the massive facade was constructed. Proceed walking through the Great Pylons, the great hypostyle hall with 134 columns, the obelisks, and the sacred lake. And then enjoy free time to explore at leisure

Head out to Luxor temple, which was once joined to the Temple of Karnak by a three-kilometer long Avenue of Sphinx. You will enter the temple through the great pylon where two enormous statues of Ramses II still stand, along with a pink granite obelisk (its mate stands in the Place de la Concorde in Paris, France). After a fantastic guided tour to Luxor temple enjoy free time at leisure

After finished, you will be transferred to back to your Nile Dahabiya Cruise. Overnight on board in Luxor

Optional: In the evening, Sound and Light show at Karnak temple

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Day 2: Luxor West Bank sightseeing, Sailing to Esna

Breakfast on Board and then pick up to enjoy your tour to the West bank of the Nile in Luxor. Start with a brief photo stop at the colossi of Memnon, which marks the ruins of a funerary temple of Amenhotep III.

Head out to the Valley of the Kings, the sight where the rock cut tombs were excavated for the pharaohs and powerful nobles of the New Kingdom of ancient Egypt (1550 – 1080 BC). The majority of the royal tombs was decorated with religious texts, images and provided with equipment that would enable a comfortable existence in the afterlife. You will visit 3 tombs of the most famous pharaohs Like Ramses III, IV tombs, Tomb of Merenptah, Tomb of Thutmose III, or Queen Tawosret. Whilst here, you will have the time to visit inside the tomb of the boy king Tutankhamun “Extra ticket on spot”.

Continue to the mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, one of the incomparable monuments of ancient Egypt. There are three layered terraces, are connected by long ramps which were once surrounded by gardens with foreign plants including frankincense and myrrh trees. After a fantastic tour, you will enjoy free time to explore at leisure.

Later on, return to your Nile Dahabiya cruise boat before Lunch and begin our voyage along the Nile, travelling upstream from Luxor to Aswan. Tea time on board and overnight at Esna.

Optional: a spectacular sunrise hot air balloon trip over the west bank of the Nile is available this morning (expect an early start to catch sunrise as the balloon rises).

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Esna, Edfu Temple

Enjoy breakfast at leisure on board while sailing towards Edfu passing through the Esna Locks. It is common to have to queue to proceed through the lock, however this is a great opportunity to check out the process from deck with a cool drink in hand and listen to the shouts of the many captains as they navigate their way through the various small boats of merchants selling their wares. Settle back into the comforts of your Nile cruise ship and make the most of the incredible views across one of the world’s greatest rivers

Set sail towards Edfu, you will enjoy horse and carriage ride to visit Edfu Temple, one of the best preserved temples in Egypt. The temple was built in the Ptolemaic Kingdom between 237 and 57 BC. The inscriptions on its walls provide important information on language, myth and religion during the Hellenistic period in Egypt.

We will then set sail for a small Island “Al Ramady” where the Dahabiya will moor for the night. Enjoy your dinner on the sundeck, overnight on board.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Sail to el Sheikh Fadl Island then on to Aswan

Today, enjoy breakfast on board while sailing the River Nile to Aswan. There is no sightseeing excursions scheduled for this day, it is going to be a wonderfully relaxing day and lots of relaxation time on the river while the Nile Dahabiya is sailing silently towards el Sheikh Fadl Island, where the Dahabiya will moor for the night. Enjoy your dinner on the sundeck, overnight on board.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Aswan Sightseeing, Departure Transfer

Disembarkation after breakfast on board, today you will visit the unfinished obelisk, the largest known ancient Egyptian obelisk offers unusual insights into ancient Egyptian stone working techniques. Proceed to visit Aswan high dam, a rock-fill dam built across the Nile in Aswan between 1960- 1970. It creates Lake Nasser, one of the largest man-made lakes in the world.

Continue with a motorboat ride to Philae Temple Island, comprises a large number of small Temples dates back to Pharaonic, Greek and Roman times. But the largest and the best preserved on the Island is the temple of the Goddess Isis.

Later on, you will be transferred to Aswan (Hotel, airport or train station) for final departure.

Meals: Breakfast

Note:

– Itinerary may change in sequence but not in visits, due to navigation circumstances, Program will always be respected.

Day 1: Arrive Luxor, Luxor East Bank sightseeing

Upon your arrival at Luxor airport / train station, your Nile Holiday tour manager will meet and assist you, and then transfer to embark your Nile Dahabiya Cruise. The crew will welcome you on board and have your bags taken to your cabins.

After Lunch on board, you will be accompanied by your Egyptologist tour guide to visit Luxor East bank sights. Start at Karnak temple, the largest religious temple ever built in Egypt. Enjoy walking along the avenue of Sphinxes as your tour guide explains how the massive facade was constructed. Proceed walking through the Great Pylons, the great hypostyle hall with 134 columns, the obelisks, and the sacred lake. And then enjoy free time to explore at leisure

Head out to Luxor temple, which was once joined to the Temple of Karnak by a three-kilometer long Avenue of Sphinx. You will enter the temple through the great pylon where two enormous statues of Ramses II still stand, along with a pink granite obelisk (its mate stands in the Place de la Concorde in Paris, France). After a fantastic guided tour to Luxor temple enjoy free time at leisure

After finished, you will be transferred to back to your Nile Dahabiya Cruise. Overnight on board in Luxor

Optional: In the evening, Sound and Light show at Karnak temple

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Day 2: Luxor West Bank sightseeing, Sailing to Esna

Breakfast on Board and then pick up to enjoy your tour to the West bank of the Nile in Luxor. Start with a brief photo stop at the colossi of Memnon, which marks the ruins of a funerary temple of Amenhotep III.

Head out to the Valley of the Kings, the sight where the rock cut tombs were excavated for the pharaohs and powerful nobles of the New Kingdom of ancient Egypt (1550 – 1080 BC). The majority of the royal tombs was decorated with religious texts, images and provided with equipment that would enable a comfortable existence in the afterlife. You will visit 3 tombs of the most famous pharaohs Like Ramses III, IV tombs, Tomb of Merenptah, Tomb of Thutmose III, or Queen Tawosret. Whilst here, you will have the time to visit inside the tomb of the boy king Tutankhamun “Extra ticket on spot”.

Continue to the mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, one of the incomparable monuments of ancient Egypt. There are three layered terraces, are connected by long ramps which were once surrounded by gardens with foreign plants including frankincense and myrrh trees. After a fantastic tour, you will enjoy free time to explore at leisure.

Later on, return to your Nile Dahabiya cruise boat before Lunch and begin our voyage along the Nile, travelling upstream from Luxor to Aswan. Tea time on board and overnight at Esna.

Optional: a spectacular sunrise hot air balloon trip over the west bank of the Nile is available this morning (expect an early start to catch sunrise as the balloon rises).

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Esna, Edfu Temple

Enjoy breakfast at leisure on board while sailing towards Edfu passing through the Esna Locks. It is common to have to queue to proceed through the lock, however this is a great opportunity to check out the process from deck with a cool drink in hand and listen to the shouts of the many captains as they navigate their way through the various small boats of merchants selling their wares. Settle back into the comforts of your Nile cruise ship and make the most of the incredible views across one of the world’s greatest rivers

Set sail towards Edfu, you will enjoy horse and carriage ride to visit Edfu Temple, one of the best preserved temples in Egypt. The temple was built in the Ptolemaic Kingdom between 237 and 57 BC. The inscriptions on its walls provide important information on language, myth and religion during the Hellenistic period in Egypt.

We will then set sail for a small Island “Al Ramady” where the Dahabiya will moor for the night. Enjoy your dinner on the sundeck, overnight on board.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Sail to el Sheikh Fadl Island then on to Aswan

Today, enjoy breakfast on board while sailing the River Nile to Aswan. There is no sightseeing excursions scheduled for this day, it is going to be a wonderfully relaxing day and lots of relaxation time on the river while the Nile Dahabiya is sailing silently towards el Sheikh Fadl Island, where the Dahabiya will moor for the night. Enjoy your dinner on the sundeck, overnight on board.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Aswan Sightseeing

Breakfast on board, today you will explore Aswan sightseeing, start at the unfinished obelisk, the largest known ancient Egyptian obelisk offers unusual insights into ancient Egyptian stone working techniques. Proceed to visit Aswan high dam, a rock-fill dam built across the Nile in Aswan between 1960- 1970. It creates Lake Nasser, one of the largest man-made lakes in the world.

Continue with a motorboat ride to Philae Temple Island, comprises a large number of small Temples dates back to Pharaonic, Greek and Roman times. But the largest and the best preserved on the Island is the temple of the Goddess Isis.

Afterwards you will enjoy a walking tour in Aswan Market (Souk). Later on, return to the Nile Dahabiya boat, enjoying an amazing evening in Aswan. Overnight aboard your cruise in Aswan

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Optional: Abu Simbel tour, Sail to el Ramady Island.

Today at the early morning optional Abu Simbel trip by Car or flight is available. Lunch on board your Nile Dahabiya Cruise or you can just spend a relaxed morning on the sun deck. Lunch on board while following the procession route of the pharaohs as you cruise downstream to Luxor, where magnificent temples and ancient villages line the banks against a dramatic desert backdrop.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7: Sailing to Luxor

Free day relaxing onboard and continue sailing towards Luxor passing through the Esna Locks. It is not uncommon to have to queue to proceed through the locks, a great opportunity to check out the process from the Nile Dahabiya deck with a cool drink in hand, and listen to the shouts of the many captains as they navigate their way through the various small boats of merchants selling their wares to a captive audience – life on the Nile. Chill out and make the most of the incredible views across one of the world’s greatest rivers and your last night onboard. Overnight in Luxor

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8: Departure Transfer

Disembarkation after enjoying your breakfast, then you will be transferred to Luxor (Hotel, airport / train station) for final departure.

Meals: Breakfast

Note:

– Itinerary may change in sequence but not in visits, due to navigation circumstances, Program will always be respected.

– Optional tours to Abu Simbel temple are available by Vehicle or Plane and can be placed in Day 5 or day 6 – before departure transfer in the afternoon (Recommended to be after 14:00).