Board the Sanctuary Sun Boat III in Aswan and sail to Luxor on this 4 day Nile River cruise. Visit ancient temples, the Valley of the Kings, and the Granite Quarries on this historic cruise through time. Enjoy the opportunity to attend lectures by an Egyptologist and attend an onboard Egyptian cooking lesson. This short cruise is a great introduction to the history and sites of ancient Egypt.
Highlights
Motorboat to the romantic & majestic Philae Temple on the Island of Agilka
Attend lectures and presentations by your onboard Egyptologist guide
Visit the Valley of the Kings, where tombs were carved into desert rocks
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Board the 5-star deluxe Nile cruise boat, the Sanctuary Sun Boat III, moored in a private dock in Aswan. On board, be welcomed by the reception staff, who offer chilled fruit juice and assist with the noon time check-in.
After lunch on board, take a short motorboat ride to visit the romantic and majestic Philae Temple on the Island of Agilka. Next proceed to the Granite Quarries, which supplied the ancient Egyptians with most of the hard stone used in pyramids and temples, and still hold a huge unfinished obelisk.
During the evening cocktail reception, be greeted by the Boat Manager, who introduces the boat staff and reviews on-board facilities and the cruise program for the next few days. Complimentary Egyptian wine and local beer are served prior to a gourmet dinner.
Sail to the Temple of Kom Ombo, dedicated to the crocodile-god Sobek. The temple stands at a bend in the Nile where in ancient times sacred crocodiles basked in the sun on the riverbank.
En route to Edfu, attend a lecture held by an Egyptologist guide. Explore the largest and most completely preserved Pharaonic – albeit Greek-built – temple in Egypt, the extraordinary Temple of Horus at Edfu. Returning to the ship, savor afternoon tea while cruising to Esna. Enjoy an Egyptian cooking lesson or simply relax on board.
Dinner on board is an “Egyptian Night” costume party for all guests, with a chance to dress up in traditional Egyptian “galabeyas”. Dinner is a lavish buffet of Egyptian specialties, followed by oriental music and dancing for everyone.
Sail to Luxor and be guided by the Egyptologist around the strikingly graceful Temple of Luxor dedicated to the god Amun. Proceed to the Temple of Karnak, built over more than a thousand years by generations of Pharaohs. The great “Hypostyle Hall” is an incredible forest of giant pillars, covering an area larger than the whole of Notre Dame Cathedral.
Next visit the Valley of the Kings, a vast City of the Dead where magnificent tombs were carved into the desert rocks, decorated richly, and filled with treasures for the afterlife by generations of Pharaohs. Have the opportunity to visit at least one tomb in the Valley of the Queens.
Proceed to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut. Rising out of the desert plain in a series of terraces, the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut (Ancient Egypt’s only female Pharaoh) merges with the sheer limestone cliffs that surround it, as if nature herself had built this extraordinary monument. On the way back to the river Nile, pass by the famed Colossi of Memnon, known in Ancient Greek times for their haunting voices at dawn.
Enjoy a farewell gala dinner (jacket required), with white-gloved waiters serving gourmet cuisine followed by a belly dancer, accompanied by a whirling dervish show.
Day 4: Disembark in Luxor
1 Breakfast
Enjoy a final breakfast buffet on board before disembarking in Luxor.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
$1,632
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Nile Deck Cabin
55.8 ft². Twin or King beds. A/C, window, private bath with shower & hairdryer, satellite TV & in-house movies, and mini-bar.
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Promenade Deck Cabin
55.8 ft². Twin or King beds. A/C, window, private bath with shower & hairdryer, satellite TV & in-house movies, and mini-bar.
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Presidential Suite
95.1 ft². Queen bed. A/C, window, private bath with bathtub & hairdryer, satellite TV & in-house movies, and mini-bar.
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Royal Suite
118.1 ft² Twin or King beds. A/C, window, private bath with bathtub & hairdryer, satellite TV & in-house movies, and mini-bar.
Notes
All Prices are per person, twin share and include taxes and surcharges. Single supplement pricing available upon request.
Initial deposit is 20%, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 100 days prior to departure by bank transfer, check or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!
Meyer Smolen
TrustScore 4.8 | 174 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 174 reviews on
1 day ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
2 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.