Sail from Luxor to Aswan on a 5-day Nile River cruise onboard the Sanctuary Sun Boat IV. Explore ancient temples built by Pharaohs, attend an Egyptian cooking lesson, and sail on a felucca as you travel through Egypt. This relaxed itinerary is a great way to see and learn about ancient Egypt!
Highlights
Visit the Temple of Karnak, built over a thousand years by Pharaohs
Attend an Egyptian cooking lesson onboard the Sun Boat IV
Ride a felucca, a typical Egyptian sail boat, around Elephantine Island
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Start the day at the Temple of Karnak built, over more than a thousand years, by generations of Pharaohs. Transfer to your deluxe Nile cruise boat, Sanctuary Sun Boat IV, where you are welcomed by the reception staff.
Lunch is served on board followed by a visit to the West Bank of Luxor to explore the Valley of the Kings. Then, visit at least one tomb in the Valley of the Queens and visit the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut. On the way back to the river, pass by the famed Colossi of Memnon, known in Ancient Greek times for their haunting voices at dawn.
In the evening you are greeted by your Boat Manager for a Cocktail Reception, who reviews your cruise program for the upcoming days. Complimentary cocktails and a selection of canapés are served followed by a gourmet dinner.
A breakfast buffet is served on board as you cruise northwards to Qena (if there is low water, typically between November to December, take a bus to Denderah). Enjoy a morning visit to the Ptolemaic Temple of Goddess Hathor in Denderah, complete with a massive stone roof, dark chambers, underground passages, and towering columns inscribed with hieroglyphs. Hathor was the goddess or pleasure and of love, usually associating her with Aphrodite. Return to the boat for lunch as you sail back to Luxor.
Afternoon tea is served on board. Next, your Egyptologist guides you on a tour of the East Bank of Luxor to the strikingly graceful Temple of Luxor dedicated to the God Amun. Enjoy dinner on board, followed by a belly dancer and whirling dervish show.
Breakfast is served on board as you cruise to Edfu, followed by a morning visit to explore the extraordinary Temple of Horus. Enjoy lunch and afternoon tea on board and take part in an Egyptian cooking lesson as you continue cruising to Kom Ombo. In the afternoon visit 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.
Tonight enjoy an onboard “Egyptian Night” costume party for all guests, with a chance to dress up in traditional Egyptian “galabeyya”. Dinner is a lavish buffet of Egyptian specialities, followed by oriental music and dancing for everyone.
A breakfast buffet is served on board as you cruise to Aswan, followed by a short motorboat ride to visit the majestic Philae Temple on the Island of Agilika. 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.
After lunch on board, take a ride on a felucca (a typical Egyptian sail boat, weather permitting) around Elephantine Island, Lord Kitchener’s Botanical Gardens, and the Agha Khan Mausoleum (life jackets are provided). Afternoon tea is served in the lounge.
Tonight enjoy a gala farewell dinner (jacket required), with white-gloved waiters serving gourmet cuisine.
Day 5: Aswan | Disembark
1 Breakfast
Enjoy a final buffet breakfast on board before disembarking in Aswan at 8 a.m.
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.
$1,569
Select a Date
Nile Deck Cabin
49.2- 59.1 ft². King or twin beds. A/C, window, private bath with shower & hairdryer, satellite TV & in-house movies, and mini-bar.
Select a Date
Main Deck Cabin
49.2- 59.1 ft². King or twin beds. A/C, window, private bath with shower & hairdryer, satellite TV & in-house movies, and mini-bar.
Select a Date
Bridge Deck Cabin
49.2- 59.1 ft². King or twin beds. A/C, window, private bath with shower & hairdryer, satellite TV & in-house movies, and mini-bar.
Select a Date
Promenade Deck Cabin
49.2- 59.1 ft². King or twin beds. A/C, window, private bath with shower & hairdryer, satellite TV & in-house movies, and mini-bar.
Select a Date
Presidential Suite
124.7 ft². King or twin beds. A/C, window, private bath with bathtub & hairdryer, satellite TV & in-house movies, and mini-bar.
Select a Date
Royal Suite
180.4 ft². King or twin beds. Balcony, A/C, window, private bath with bathtub & hairdryer, satellite TV & in-house movies, and mini-bar.
Notes
Children aged 3-15 inclusive pay child reduction rate when sharing with two paying adults.
Beverage packages: Unlimited: covers local wine, local beer, soft drinks, juices, tea, coffee, and mineral water throughout the cruise. $85 pp/night. Limited: covers a half bottle of wine or two bottles of local beer, mineral water, soft drinks, and juices during lunch and dinner. $55 pp/ night. Children, upon request: covers mineral water, soft drinks, and juices throughout. $35 pp/night.
Initial deposit is 30%, 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
The trip was terrific with great planning on your part. Most of the adventures were not mainstream and somewhat off the beaten path which made it especially enjoyable!! We felt taken care of and you all were readily available to respond to questions and issues. I would highly recommend your company and friends have already expressed interest based on our pictures and excitement.
Gale Cantor
TrustScore 4.8 | 175 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 175 reviews on
1 day ago
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
3 days 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
4 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.