Secrets of Egypt & the Nile

Upon arrival in Cairo, an AmaWaterways representative will greet you, assist with your luggage, and expedite your customs and immigration procedures. Once these formalities are complete, you can comfortably transfer to your hotel.

Prepare for a full day of remarkable discoveries, beginning with an exclusive visit to the Grand Egyptian Museum—the world’s largest archaeological museum—featuring 100,000 artifacts, many unveiled for the first time with its 2025 opening. Explore 12 grand galleries showcasing extraordinary Pharaonic masterpieces, including ancient mummies and the complete, priceless treasures of Tutankhamun, the legendary Boy King. Following your museum experience, enjoy a flavorful lunch highlighting local and international cuisine. Continue to the iconic Mosque of Muhammad Ali, or Alabaster Mosque, perched atop the Citadel of Saladin. Take sweeping views of Cairo and the distant Pyramids of Giza from its arcaded courtyard. Admire the mosque’s richly adorned interior and its elegant canopy of suspended lamps. Conclude the day with an evening Welcome Reception hosted by your Cruise Manager.

Note: Full access to the GEM is unofficially scheduled to open in July 2025. Dates are fluid and could change.

Discover the monuments at the UNESCO-designated ancient capital of Memphis. Visit the huge statue of Ramses II, the Alabaster Sphinx, and the necropolis of Sakkara – the site of the famous step pyramid of King Zoser, the oldest pyramid on earth. Next, enjoy a lovely lunch at the famous Mena House, a historic palatial hotel based in the shadow of the great Pyramids of Giza. Afterwards, explore the Great Sphinx and the iconic Giza complex, which consists of three large pyramids built between 2,589 BC and 2,504 BC. Enjoy the evening at your leisure.

This morning, visit Coptic Cairo, a neighborhood known for its historic churches and monasteries. Then, take an early afternoon flight south to Luxor —formerly known as Thebes, the capital city of the New Kingdom of Upper Egypt. Luxor, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to two astonishing temples — Karnak and Luxor. Welcome to your luxurious river cruise ship to begin your Nile River Valley cruise. Relax and settle in, and before dinner, meet your crew and celebrate with a Captain’s Welcome Cocktail.

Begin the day with a visit to the Valley of Queens, home to the mummified remains of more than 30 queens and princesses. Next, visit the tombs of ancient Egypt in the Valley of the Kings — one of the most famous archeological sites in the world. The spectacular rock-cut tombs on the west bank of Luxor include that of the enigmatic King Tutankhamun, whose mummified remains are still on display. This site also includes Seti 1’s Tomb, where you can enjoy rare access. Afterward, go to Deir el-Bahri to see the Temple of Hatshepsut, one of Egypt’s most successful pharaohs and the country’s first female ruler. Your day’s adventure concludes with an up-close view of the Colossi of Memnon — two gigantic statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III. Once back on board your ship, relax on the Upper Deck and take in the amazing scenery, or join the chef at an informal cooking class.

Note: As of spring 2024, Queen Nefertari’s Tomb has been temporarily closed with no official reopening date. Until reopening, the equally impressive Seti 1 tomb will be visited as an alternative.

The city of Edfu is best known for one of Egypt’s most remarkably preserved temples, dedicated to Horus, the falcon-headed god. Built in 230 BC, it is the second-largest temple in Egypt and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with walls that display compelling details about the religion and language of the country’s Greco-Roman period. After visiting Edfu, relax on board and take in the Nile River’s timeless landscapes as the ship continues to Aswan.

Enjoy free time in Aswan or go on an optional excursion to Abu Simbel (must be pre-booked). If you purchased the optional excursion, enjoy an early morning flight over Lake Nasser to the more than 3,000-year-old Abu Simbel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site dedicated to Ramses II, one of the most active of pharaohs, along with the smaller temple dedicated to his chief wife, Queen Nefertari. The front of the main temple has four gargantuan statues of Ramses II on his throne, each measuring nearly 70 feet high and half buried in sand in 1813. Later in the afternoon, take a peaceful ride in a felucca, a traditional Egyptian sailboat, around beautiful Elephantine Island, which locals say is the home to the legendary Egyptian god Khnumo. Cap the day off with an optional late afternoon tea at the historic Old Cataract Hotel, a 19th-century Victorian Palace crafted in rose granite. Delight in an authentic “high tea” experience and revel in the stunning views overlooking the Nile and Elephantine Island. After dinner tonight, continue to experience Egyptian magic with a traditional folkloric-style belly dance on board your ship.

*Guests can reserve the optional tour to Abu Simbel at time of booking your Nile adventure

Board a motorboat and cruise to the UNESCO-designated Philae Temple complex, boasting some of Egypt's most stunningly restored and preserved hieroglyphs. It was constructed between 380 BC and 362 BC and dedicated to the goddess Isis, the wife of Osiris and mother of Horus. Next, head to a colorful Nubian village on Hisa Island. Meet the warm and friendly Nubian people who will welcome you to their village. During the afternoon, cruise to the Great Temple of Kom Ombo, where its soaring columns rise above the Nile River. Unique in Egypt, this temple is dedicated to two gods — the crocodile god, Sobek, sitting on the right, and the falcon-headed Haroeris, "The Good Doctor." After visiting Kom Ombo, relax on board and take in the Nile River's timeless landscapes as the ship continues to Luxor. In the evening, join your crew outside to celebrate local customs with the chance to don a Galabeya, traditional Egyptian attire, and toast to the rich culture and history of the Nile River Valley. 

Spend a morning of scenic cruising along the glistening Nile River. Relax on the Sun Deck as you cruise from Esna back to Luxor. First, explore the Temple of Karnak, the largest religious complex in Egypt and one of the largest in the world, covering about 200 acres in a vast network of columns, hieroglyphics, obelisks, sphinxes, and colossi — even a lake is on the grounds. The Hypostyle Hall is a great architectural marvel and filled with its roof blocks, supported by colossal 134 columns standing at 70 feet high, with 12 larger columns standing at 80 feet high lining the central aisle. This hall is still the largest room of any religious building worldwide. After visiting the temple, journey to a museum and discover the art of papyrus making. Learn how the ancient Egyptians used this special plant that flourished in the Egyptian Delta and Nile River Valley. Made from the aquatic papyrus plant, also known as the paper plant, this unique writing material served many purposes in ancient times, from sails, cloth, food, and especially paper for important documents and texts. Afterward, visit the Temple of Luxor, which was constructed over hundreds of years by Amenhotep III, Ramses II, Tutankhamun, and other pharaohs. You then can return to the ship to relax or visit the colorful Luxor Market, where you can find eye-catching piles of spices, jewelry, and clothing, as well as irresistible smells of incense and perfumes.

Set sail to Qena to explore its ancient Egyptian heritage. Go to Dendara to visit the best-preserved temple in Egypt, the Temple of Hathor – the Goddess of Love, to whom the powers of joy, feminine love, and motherhood were attributed. Ptolemy built the temple, and a group of Romans worshipped her, so don’t miss the back of the temple where there is a relief depicting Cleopatra with Caesarion, her son by Julius Caesar, the Roman Emperor who brought the months of July and August. Following your visit here, sail back to Luxor.

Disembark the ship in Luxor and fly back to Cairo, where you are taken to the Abdeen Presidential Palace, which is considered one of the most luxurious palaces in the world. The palace consists of multiple museums, including the Silver Museum, the Arms Museum, the Royal Family Museum, a Presidential Gifts Museum, and a Historical Documents Museum, a relatively new addition. It is also one of the official residences and places of work for the President of Egypt. Afterward, be treated to a special lunch at the palace.

Bid farewell to Cairo and prepare for your flight home.